Peter Cook passes judgement on television advertisements, travelling on the tube, the art of striptease (especially as performed by Italian housewives), 'crimewatch' type shows, Stacy Keach, TV crews, and professional wrestling.
I was the stills researcher on these shows, and this one is especially memorable as I escorted Peter Cook back to the hospitality room when he'd finished his chat with Clive. He was looking forward to a drink, but the drinks' cabinet was locked and the key had been hidden to make sure that our guest was sober when he joined Clive in the studio. Peter was very good natured about the situation and had me laughing all the time. We eventually found the key and enjoyed a few drinks together before the rest of the crew joined us. It was a real privilege to meet and talk with him.
Actually, Clive James is a great WIT (!) himself and was fantastic in these Clive James On Television programmes over a long period. A great writer, wit and raconteur. You are quite right that Peter Cook is a genius.
If I had to pick who would I like to sit on the same table with during a meal Peter Cook would be high on the list. I could sit and listen to him speak about anything.
Clive was essential viewing back in the 80s and early 90s....kind of like a television internet before the proper one really took orf....a popular semi sophisticated readers digest of world entertainment media....a time of compact cassettes....VHS....laserdisc.... LP's.... CDs....fax machines.....cable satellite message boards.... personal computers....video game consoles.... prototype mobile phones.... cordless home phones....land lines.....recent memories of party lines....max headroom....channel 4 youth programming.... MTV....Stock Aitken and Waterman....with something hovering exciting but still out of reach on the horizon....all seems like yesterday....which it was in a way....but also over 30 years ago....
There will never be another Peter Cook. Clive James and other presenters will come, entertain us and then disappear - but sheer, utter comic genius is a very rare commodity.
Listening to Peter Cook frightens me because I can hear everybody laughing and I can't find anything funny about what he says! I'm the same with Tommy Cooper.
