Bob is like a comic psychiatrist here.... Asking, analysing, getting Ben to talk and open up. Really brilliant and the only man I can think of that could have done these types of interviews justice.
Meir Wise When Monkhouse died, we lost the Professor of Comedy - the only one we've had. Such an encyclopaedic knowledge of comedy as a whole ... his approach was practically scientific, really.
Disappointing that this has only has so few views. I enjoyed every minute of it. Monkhouse asks intelligent, pertinent questions and then allows Ben Elton to flow. Thanks for posting.
There was a series in which Bob monkhouse analysed comedians by looking at their history and revealing what they were really like. It was the best thing he ever did. Absorbing TV. In one episode he revealed what Peter sellers was really like. And how sellers who agreed to be on celebrity squares. Let monkhouse down spectacularly. 1 minute to air. No sign of sellers. When suddenly there was a call. Monkhouse was handed a phone. Sellers could not make the as he was on the qe 2. Heading to carribean with family. Monkhouse never forgave and he never worked with sellers again
What an absolute joy to see Ben and Bob talking about comedy and humour. Two Pro's from different generations. Yes, a joy to watch even 28 years after the event.
I used to think Ben Elton was a prat, but I've changed my mind after watching this. It was odd to see and hear Bob Monkhouse in such a quiet, thoughtful mood; not a single joke. He would have made a great chat show host, because he did what so many chat show hosts don't do, which is to listen to his guests and let them be the show.
Bob is so serious here because the mechanics of comedy were his absolute passion and obsession. He wasn't merely having a chat, he was genuinely fascinated by the answers. No room for time wasting getting a laugh. The credits show it was devised by him too.
You read my mind there, David. I was on the verge of making a fresh comment and so I am glad that I scrolled through what had already been said. Largely apart from enjoying the heyday of The Golden Shot as a youngster, and to be fair his Silent Comedy show Mad Movies in the 60s, I was never fond of Bob Monkhouse's act. Sadly, it is only more recently that I have watched the documentary series about his prodigious archive and the one about his career that I learned quite how different he was to the on stage persona. And in this show, I thought he did a great job. Equally with Ben Elton, his early act painted him as an utter knob, but I loved Blackadder and secretly ascribed all the best writing to Richard Curtis. But he comes across well here, less bursting to court approval constantly.
Bob monkhouse almost a bridge between comedy cultures here..And he was viewed as so old fashioned ..Game show credibility old school comedy etc..At the time I had these views but they were passing I was a lad..Bob monkhouse had a great appreciation for comedy of it's time.and writing and performers. Whatch a routine from him,a total master of the stage ..performer and audience ..And delivery with the jokes insightful n funny for the time and timeless Great interview very telling of its time
Thanks for this video! Excellent I've never understood why people in past never liked Ben Elton I think he's great writer. And that was a great interview, love Bens philosophy. God bless Bob.
Fascinating little series - which completely passed me by at the time. Bob Monkhouse going back to his roots as a technician of comedy - who just happens also to tell jokes.
Bob wrote over a million gags and was a professor of comedy. Ben Elton and the 80s comedy he wrote was a special, classic time. Great to dig deep into comedy.
Very good, I did not see this at the time, what a gem to have missed and thank you for posting. Bob Monkhouse got more from Ben Elton than any regular chat show.
Can’t believe I missed this when it was aired. Bob asking very good, informative questions and letting the guest talk. Like the idea of different generations of comic discussing the art. Rip Bob.
Good to see Monkhouse's intelligence shine through the persona that his performances belie. Pity he didnt pursue a serious chat show host career. Ben Elton at his ranting best is drop dead screamingly funny about very serious topics and personalities. Two amazing intelligent English funny comedy geniuses in different comedy niches.
I would ask him an hour's worth of questions just on how the 12 Young Ones scripts came into being... who was responsible for what, how the process evolved, etc.
The point of comedy is that there should be different styles, genres, topics that a comedian covers. There should be at least one comedian for every person's own preference and style. For me Billy Connolly, Dave Allen, Jasper Carrott are my favourite of old style comedians.
31:21 is the key why Bob and Ben will never be seen as great stand ups(very good yes but great no). Vulnerability. All great stand-ups have a pain behind the veneer that the audience will sense and sometimes glimpse first hand. Bob and Ben never let the mask slip enough. Ben talks about sadness being part of the human condition and comedians are only expressing that part of the condition among others. But not everyone needs that affirmation of getting laughs to make them feel alive. Pain and sadness are the driving force behind the comedians onslaught and the biggest drive of all fear of rejection. Or to quote Harry Lime..."In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, and they had 500 years of democracy and peace. And what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."
That's the kind of crack Bob Monkhouse often came out with himself. A bit like his gag "they used to laugh when I said I wanted to be a comedian; they're not laughing now.
This feels like a pilot for a series which, sadly, never got made. However the pilot was so good it got televised. I agree that Monkhouse plays it a little too straight, and rarely even breaks into a smile. That said, I think if it had gone to a series he would've relaxed somewhat.
Ben Elton was more of a political comic observer, so much of his material had to be fresh and new almost each week so i applaud him for his work ethic there.
George Carlin was an amazing american comic, I have never found ben particularly funny, and george was a better writer, there was no political correctness with george
what part don't you get? the part where one much loved and respected comedy performer asks another what makes him tick? or are you just too young to appreciate their combined works & accept they above many others know what their talking about?
Just brilliant. A very much changed perception of Ben Elton as a performer. Always loved his writing though. And Bob, as well prepared as ever. Isn't it great when the interviewer has actually studied his interviewee? Great, and more importantly, intelligent interview. RIP Bob.
The last couple of series Bob monkhouse did for the BBC was all about seeing what made comedians tick. The first series was all about people he knew. It was one of the best things he ever did. It was deeply serious bob monkhouse. Who was a very intelligent man
