Hi all,
I am very quick to defend the great man, John Cleese. So much so, I've gone out my way to register here to have my say.
For one, he is a very funny person. His natural dry wit and quickness is enough to convince most people that he's funny. There has to be an element of intelect and humour when you've written one of the best sitcoms we've ever witnessed, along with Python.
Yes, he is not a stand-up comedian (that's obvious - he's never done it before). It was a talk-show. I would bet you that Cleese set out to do a 'talk show' rather than some 'stand-up'. Sure, he wanted to entertain hence showing a few of his favorite moments from Fawlty Towers and the like. The audience gave a positive reaction to a lot of his material.
The key thing to remember here is, he isn't a stand-up comic. One liners and observing stories aren't his fortay. He was giving a live biography if you like. If you can't appreciate that, then that is fair enough. If you wanted easy laughs - then Michael McIntyre is a more simple taste.
I was a tad disappointed my self that he had an auto-cue, and this was in my eye line since I was sat in the Royal Box. Well.. balcony seats! But the man is obviously a perfectionist and wanted the show to be spot-on and nothing to be missed out. He still delivered the show with sheer ease and flowed very well. From where I was sitting - the laughs were regular. Especially his opening monologue. I remember him mentioning about his first live stint in a broadway musical. He was petrified. Perhaps live performances have always been something he has never been keen on. So, reading from an auto-cue is naturally something that's suited to him.
Anyway, cheers!
I am very quick to defend the great man, John Cleese. So much so, I've gone out my way to register here to have my say.
For one, he is a very funny person. His natural dry wit and quickness is enough to convince most people that he's funny. There has to be an element of intelect and humour when you've written one of the best sitcoms we've ever witnessed, along with Python.
Yes, he is not a stand-up comedian (that's obvious - he's never done it before). It was a talk-show. I would bet you that Cleese set out to do a 'talk show' rather than some 'stand-up'. Sure, he wanted to entertain hence showing a few of his favorite moments from Fawlty Towers and the like. The audience gave a positive reaction to a lot of his material.
The key thing to remember here is, he isn't a stand-up comic. One liners and observing stories aren't his fortay. He was giving a live biography if you like. If you can't appreciate that, then that is fair enough. If you wanted easy laughs - then Michael McIntyre is a more simple taste.
I was a tad disappointed my self that he had an auto-cue, and this was in my eye line since I was sat in the Royal Box. Well.. balcony seats! But the man is obviously a perfectionist and wanted the show to be spot-on and nothing to be missed out. He still delivered the show with sheer ease and flowed very well. From where I was sitting - the laughs were regular. Especially his opening monologue. I remember him mentioning about his first live stint in a broadway musical. He was petrified. Perhaps live performances have always been something he has never been keen on. So, reading from an auto-cue is naturally something that's suited to him.
Anyway, cheers!
