Hugh Laurie being interviewed on the House set about his role on Blackadder. Taken from a Blackadder documentary. Includes enough of each clip to put whatever Hugh says in his short interview in context.
I always find it odd that laurie plays and idiot in most of his british roles but send him across the pond and he's suddenly the smartest man in the room
It is my understanding that the British do not idolize anyone as Americans do, they just simply like to poke fun at themselves and others no matter their status or authority.
That bit when Baldrick says "I have a cunning plan" I remember, for that brief moment, being so relieved, thinking something comedic, was going to happen to them, until....well, you know the rest.
The Black Adder was one of the most underrated British comedies ever, at least here in North America. Very few people have even heard of the show, let alone watched any of it, which is a shame, because it was highly brilliant, and an absolute gem!
Imagine going for a beer with Hugh, Fry, Rowan, Tony, Tim, Ben and the rest of the crew when they were making Blackadder. I think you'd be lucky to make it through the night and not dying from laughter.
I'd argue Fawlty Towers as best sitcom, and Ballard Berkely as the Major as best supporting character ever. But I respect your opinion. Blackadder was and still is simply brilliant.
supafuckinmingster No. Not even close. Fawlty Towers was a one-trick pony Every episode was Basil cowering from his wife and abusing Manuel. The Major was a very pale and faceless character. John Cleese is a fantastic performer, but Fawlty Towers was far beneath his talent. A hugely over-rated show.
It is debatable how to define "the best". As a fan of Blackadder, i can't claim that it was better then, for the sake of argument, Yes Minister/Prime Minister. Different, surely, but both extraordinary.
Rewatching Blackadder goes Forth on the 100th Anniversary of the Somme..I liked the loving tribute to the soldiers depicted by George and Baldrick, even when they were being ridiculous you felt sympathy for those young men who lost their lives on mere seconds on the battlefield.
Tafami and I think this is why it works. They said here that for all the ridiculousness of the characters, they were trying to be sympathetic to the real stories. The way they juxtapose the foolishness of the characters with the foolishness if the situation they found themselves in makes it especially powerful. They may be idiots, but they're not bad people, yet bad things happened to them. That final episode though. Jesse fuck that's powerful TV, as strong as any documentary or drama.
Tafami Yes, and I think this is why it works. They said here that for all the ridiculousness of the characters, they were trying to be sympathetic to the real stories. The way they juxtapose the foolishness of the characters with the foolishness of the situation they found themselves in makes it especially powerful. They may be idiots, but they're not bad people, yet bad things happened to them. That final episode though. Jesus fuck that's powerful TV, as strong as any documentary or drama.
"Are you Private Baldrick?" "No!" "But you are Captain Blackadder's batman?" "No!" "Come on, Baldrick, help me out here a bit, it's me!" "No, he is not!"
The first time I saw that scene, Catpain Blackudder saying to Baldrick before Baldrick takes the witness box... Baldrick giving that decisive nod and literally denying everything made me pee. I was embarrassed because I was not alone in the room, but I could not stop laughing. All the seasons of that sitcom had an episode that was my absolute favorite. That episode was it ffor Blackadder goes Forth.
Blackadder is such an awesome series. I'm a sucker for Brittish comedy, but it's just filled with awesome actors and it has such black/dark humor at times.
+wadawaddah Well, I watched House a few times and the House name is Gregory. Which is close to George. So I started confusing him with Hugh Grant (because they both start with Hugh and that name I'd heared more often) and after that it became George Hugh or Hugh Gregory. So now it's just; the guy from House.' Or George xD
Huge was absolutely fantastic as Prince George. The first episode is my absolute favourite of all time. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve watch it and it still has me in fits Of laughter. As for Rowan Atkinson. Absolute genius. ( Isn’t that right Bob ) 🇬🇧
When I first started watching House MD, seeing Hugh Laurie playing a depressed, serious-minded, sarcastic doctor...I would always remember him as Lt George from Series 4, wearing a dress saying, "I feel FantASTIC!" It was a great disservice to the entire world that Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry did not do a guest-cameo on House...maybe as some old rival Doctors from Medical School; just to have a little reunion of the cast. Though the astute fan might remember that Hugh's time on Blackadder - while not official until series 3 - actually began in Series 2 with two smaller single-episode roles. He first appeared as Simon Partridge (Farters Parters/Mr. Ostrich) from the episode "Beer". He then had a much more prominent and antagonistic role as Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in "Chains."
The Blackadder series (excluding the first series) was the funniest thing on TV ever. Nothing else comes close. On a separate point, why do the English sound so sophisticated? That accent!!
Tom Hartland Muslims aren’t a race, Arabs are. In fact, there are many non-Muslim Arabs that live and suffer under Sharia Law / Islam. You might want to seriously think reevaluate what you’re saying..
It's great how unique all of the characters were. There wasn't one single favorite you'd have because they all brought something amazing. I just enjoyed Hugh Laurie in the 3rd and 4th Blackadder series.
When I first watched Blackadder, the name “Hugh Laurie” popped up and I thought to myself, “Why does that name sound familiar?” Then after seeing and noticing how young he was, it blew my mind that he was Dr. House, who a lot of people would know him as.
General Melchett looked old regardless because Stephen Fry looks far older than he actually is. He was 32 in 1989 and could easily pass for someone in his mid 40s.
While Series Two was probably the funniest, it felt like Series Three was the Blackadder concept at its most well-defined, in part because the main cast was much smaller and also because Blackadder had an idiot on either side of him on the social ladder. And it certainly did not hurt that Rowan and Hugh were at their best in Series Three, as well.
Did you ever see Jeeves and Wooster? I loved A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, as well, but like all variety shows it had some misses as well as some hits. Jeeves only had hits as far as I was concerned. But I love P.G. Wodehouse anyway. I never saw Stuart Little, although I did enjoy the book.
@@adventureswithaurora Dare I hope you are also a fellow Blackadder fan, where I FIRST met Hugh Laurie in the second season, and then he continued in season 3 and 4?
@@keepdancingmaria Yes!!! The laugh tracks and sitcom style took me a while to get accustomed to, but the sheer brilliance of the comedy and dialogue won me over. 🤣 I do indeed love Laurie's roles in the last two seasons as well!
I always disliked Laurie as an actor because of "House". Then i saw the Blackadder series and since then i'm loving and admiring his talent. Of course i then also dug out the "A bit of Fry and Laurie" scetches - awesome!
I never watched House so I couldn't tell you about his (House's) character. However the Prince Regent George of the 3rd series had a different personality to Lieutenant George of the 4th series. While both are naive and have the minds of children, the Prince is self-serving who doesn't care about the world around him as long as his life remains comfortable and undemanding. George of the 4th series on the other hand, has a better character. (To rephrase, he is a better person.) He wants to make the world a better place and actually has honour. This George would die for his country, even when given a chance to weasel out of it. This George (4th) is a "good person" while the Prince is not. To theatrically conclude, Lieutenant George (4th) is a lamb while Prince George (3rd) is a pig. They have different personalities to one another. (Don't get me wrong, they are both enjoyable to watch.)
I read some of the older comments in this comment section, and it was... well, amusing. There were several comments about how mindblowing it is to see Laurie being silly and dim, what with him being Dr. House in House. Yeah, certainly the stuff mind=blown is made of. It's almost like he adapts to the character traits of the fictional character he plays... I think there's a word for that. Is it called atcing or something like that?
Blackadder goes forth is very very very underrated. I think there is a depth to it that makes it different from the other Blackadders. I love them all though.
@76juno I agree. Especially the forth series, which is a masterpiece, maybe the best collection of comedy writers and actors ever. I like House, but for me the things Laurie did together with his (probably best) friend Stephen Fry, is his best work. Jeeves & Wooster, A bit of fry and laurie, and the 4. blackadder.
Seeing Hugh Laurie as the stupid Prince George in the Blackadder the Third series, then contrasting it to his character of Dr. Gregory House in the Fox series. Wow! Hugh Laurie is a major talent.
It's weird hearing Hugh Laurie speak in a British accent. The first time I seen him in anything that I remembered him as an actor was House, so it blew my mind years later when I found out he was actually a comedian.
@hathawbj I'm pleased you like it. The first series isn't great but that's probably because they were still developing the characters at that early stage. The final series "Blackadder Goes Forth" is a work of comedy art and the final episode where they go "over the top" makes you laugh and cry at the same time. Pure genius.
It's a pity the four Blackadder series are not better known in the States. They are very funny and in the best traditions of British humour. Probably the best comedy since the classic Monty Python productions.
You should watch Time Team in youtube...its about archaeology in the UK and he's the presenter. Fab program, you'll love Phil and his Hampshire accent!!!
They are available on DVD, on amazon i think... i have it and im watching this just because he's so great, i think it's sad that he's totally lost the accent but nevertheless, still my favorite actor
Non blackadder related but when Hugh was being cast for house the producer/director demanded a american actor and only found out Hugh was British at an awards evening, he also was cast via a skype call whilst in a hotel bathroom
Stephen Fry needs to show up in House. House is basically Sherlock Holmes, MD- Stephen Fry as his new boss or something similar would a sort of Mycroft Holmes, MD. Hell, if they could be related- all the better!
I've noticed that now Hugh's voice sounds a lot more like House than even Maybe Baby, which was barely even before House IIRC, not to mention in Blackadder.
I loathe the whole thing about how in 2002 when Laurie was on Friends Rachel Green is nobody, now Hugh is amazing because he is House. Blackadder was on before friends, and wholly superior to in, in 2002 Hugh Laurie was superior to Anniston in every way. Love Baldrick not being thick.
He played comedic roles and nitwits in his younger years, and now has the gravity to play a character like House. Laurie is one of those actors, like Clooney and Downey Jr. who's gotten better-looking and sexier with age.
@riebit -- It IS on the newest edition of Blackadder DVDs. And somewhere on it a shot is made about Mr Laurie saying had to go because of the House set calling him on.
In the late eighties, American cable network A&E showed all four Blackadder series, albiet edited for American audiences. However, they never showed the episode from the second series where Edmond was trying to curry favor with his wealthy fanatical Puritan relatives while hosting a party of drunken rowdies at the same time (for which Laurie was casted as one of the drunkards, ironically enough). This was when A&E was a network that showed quality programs instead of the crap they have on now.
