Topic: Overrated / Underrated

[Nelson Swillie]

Simplicity in itself. List one comedy programme, stand-up or performer you feel is overrated, followed by someone or something you feel is underrated. No explanations or excuses, just excise your gripe about the injustice of the world of the comedic arts in a couple of sentences. I'll start...

Michael Palin is overrated.
Terry Jones is underrated.

[Lfbarfe]

Palin overrated for what, though? His comedy or his exploring? I think it's simply that he's had more high-profile gigs than Jones, who's favoured directing over performing. Ripping Yarns was Palin/Jones, but Jones only appeared in the first one - and I seem to recall it was his decision to step back and concentrate on the writing.

[Nelson Swillie]

I just feel really sorry for Jonesy. Whenever people wax lyrical about Python, they almost NEVER mention Jonesy's gallery of grotesques, such as Mr Entrail ("They've got eyes like little pigs" is one of the best lines I've ever heard), Eric Idle's ratbag mum in the 'Michael Ellis' episode, Mr Git ("We've just had the outside coated in warm pus"), L.F Dibley and dozens of others. Palin's plummeted in my estimation since reading his Halfway to Hollywood diaries, which irritated the shit out of me, and his scuppering of Eric Idle's proposed 1999 Python reunion.

[CaledonianGonzo]

In the favourite Python poll that someone did on here a few years back, Jones did get a fairly scant showing.

I voted for him though.  I like his history shows.

[Shameless]

Nelson, what did you find irritating about Palin's Hollywood diaries?

I'm reading his first book of diaries and really enjoying it. He seems like the loveliest of loveliest lovelies in the world of lovelies, evuh.

[Lfbarfe]

He seems like the loveliest of loveliest lovelies in the world of lovelies, evuh.

In show business terms, he almost certainly is. The 2nd volume of diaries just makes it abundantly clear that he's also a very rich, very successful comedian/actor, who owns practically every house in his street. I have a feeling that we don't like our comedy heroes to be shrewd businessmen too.

[Shameless]

and his scuppering of Eric Idle's proposed 1999 Python reunion.

But as he explains in Almost The Truth, he just didn't wanna do it without Graham. A pretty nice and noble reason, I'd say.

Whereas Idle just came across as furious that he lost out on a big 'ol pay-day.

[Shameless]

In show business terms, he almost certainly is. The 2nd volume of diaries just makes it abundantly clear that he's also a very rich, very successful comedian/actor, who owns practically every house in his street. I have a feeling that we don't like our comedy heroes to be shrewd businessmen too.

Heh. I'll definitely be reading the Hollywood diaries after I'm through with the first book, so I'll look forward to the kingpin, monopoly years!

[Nelson Swillie]

In show business terms, he almost certainly is. The 2nd volume of diaries just makes it abundantly clear that he's also a very rich, very successful comedian/actor, who owns practically every house in his street. I have a feeling that we don't like our comedy heroes to be shrewd businessmen too.

That's pretty much nailed it. Also, he reveals a snarky, sneery side to himself that I didn't much take to. History of the World Part One (Mel Brooks) certainly isn't the greatest comedy film ever made, but it's agreeably stupid and certainly has a fair quota of laughs. Palin dismisses it as "dreadful" and complains about the lack of historical accuracy, as if he sat there chewing his lip and seething "We'd have done this much better". Anyone who doesn't find the sight of a black man walking through first century Rome with a ghetto blaster blaring out 'Funky Town' absolutely hilarious is officially a sad, joyless bastard.

Anyway, back on topic...

Kitten Kong is overrated.
Alternative Roots is underrated.

[biggytitbo]

Anyone who doesn't find the sight of a black man walking through first century Rome with a ghetto blaster blaring out 'Funky Town' absolutely hilarious is officially a sad, joyless bastard.

I didn't find it very funny. What official body is presiding over this verdict anyway?

And what is it with trying to label old men cunts at the moment? First its Peter Sallis is now a cunt because of a few comments he made about a wrinkle stockinged co-star, now its combing through every word Michael Palin ever wrote with the aim of finding something so you can label him a twat.

[Lfbarfe]

The Blood Donor is overrated.
The Bedsitter (Hancock Alone) is underrated.

[Nelson Swillie]

Four Candles is overrated.
Crosswords is underrated.

[An tSaoi]

I didn't find it very funny. What official body is presiding over this verdict anyway?

What about when Gregory Hines meets Oedipus and says "What's up motherfucker"?

[Lfbarfe]

Four Candles is overrated.
Crosswords is underrated.

There are so many great underrated Two Ronnies sketches. The Complete Rook always gets overlooked. David Nobbs firing on all cylinders, there.

"Not much of a restaurant to come to if you don't like rook, is it?"
"Not much of a restaurant to come to if you do like rook."
"Why not?"
"We use bloody tough old bleeding rooks, that's why."

[Nelson Swillie]

"He wants a bleeding menu now".

[Lfbarfe]

"He wants a bleeding menu now".

Barker sitting down at the table with a beer while he takes the order. It's all just perfect and more subtly deranged than the conventional Ronnies sketch. There's an undercurrent of NF Simpson about it.

[Nelson Swillie]

Isn't 'rook' also an archaic word for a con or a swindle?

[biggytitbo]

What about when Gregory Hines meets Oedipus and says "What's up motherfucker"?

Anachronistic stuff like that is pretty tiresome through sheer overuse.

Overrated: The Office
Underrated: The Peter Principle

Overrated: Coupling
Underrated: Chalk.

[An tSaoi]

Four Candles is overrated.

Is it just me or is Four Candles horribly under-rehearsed? Corbett doesn't account for the counter being slanted slightly, hence the candles start rolling. A very minor point, but something you'd be sure to take note of before you started filming. Barker struggles so pick up one of the O's, which always distracts me. The punchline is weak too.

Anyway, the Morecambe and Wise Breakfast Sketch is overrated. Eric's great in it, but Ernie nearly jeopardises the whole thing. He can't even crack the eggs properly. He starts beating them too early as well, before the music justifies it. Meanwhile Eric nails the tricky fruit slicing and pancake business. As for the burlesque bit with the sausages, Eric twirls them around like a stripper and wraps them around his neck like a scarf, while Ernie just puts them over his shoulder and dances about. He really drags the sketch down.

'Dead Parrot' is over-rated
'The Bishop' is under-rated.

[Shameless]

Look up "underated" in't dictionary, and you'll find a glossy, wipe-away full-page spread of Dear John.

[Lfbarfe]

Isn't 'rook' also an archaic word for a con or a swindle?

Yep. Rigsby was originally Rooksby, for this very reason.

[biggytitbo]

Look up "underated" in't dictionary, and you'll find a glossy, wipe-away full-page spread of Dear John.

Is Dear John really underrated? Sitting Pretty and Roger Roger are underated...

[Lfbarfe]

Anyway, the Morecambe and Wise Breakfast Sketch is overrated. Eric's great in it, but Ernie nearly jeopardises the whole thing. He can't even crack the eggs properly. He starts beating them too early as well, before the music justifies it. Meanwhile Eric nails the tricky fruit slicing and pancake business. As for the burlesque bit with the sausages, Eric twirls them around like a stripper and wraps them around his neck like a scarf, while Ernie just puts them over his shoulder and dances about. He really drags the sketch down.

Which is interesting, as Ernie was the trained dancer, so you'd expect him to have the moves down. Someone said once of them that Ernie was the trained dancer, but Eric had a lot of natural talent, and that he moved beautifully.

The over-rated stuff tends to be self-perpetuating. It's popular, so it features in compilations and clip shows, so on and so on.

[Lfbarfe]

Is Dear John really underrated?

Compared to OFAH, yes.

Sitting Pretty and Roger Roger are underated...

To say nothing of Heartburn Hotel.

[Shameless]

I'll consider Dear John underated and undervalued until that glorious day when E4 buys the rights and puts it on 34 times a day, in Friends' place ;-D

[biggytitbo]

Compared to OFAH, yes.

To say nothing of Heartburn Hotel.

Not really a fair comparison is it? Since you could say the same about most things.

In terms of 80s sitcoms, Both Dear John and Just Good Friends aren't really underrated surely? Both really popular and critically acclaimed shows at the time.

[Lfbarfe]

In terms of 80s sitcoms, Both Dear John and Just Good Friends aren't really underrated surely? Both really popular and critically acclaimed shows at the time.

How something was perceived/received then is not the same as the general attitude to it now, so I'd say they're both underrated. Dear John in particular, as Ralph Bates died (sadly) before it could overstay its welcome. It's a dear, sweet little series in which everyone - Sullivan and cast - is on top form throughout.

[Brundle-Fly]

Anyway, the Morecambe and Wise Breakfast Sketch is overrated. Eric's great in it, but Ernie nearly jeopardises the whole thing. He can't even crack the eggs properly. He starts beating them too early as well, before the music justifies it. Meanwhile Eric nails the tricky fruit slicing and pancake business. As for the burlesque bit with the sausages, Eric twirls them around like a stripper and wraps them around his neck like a scarf, while Ernie just puts them over his shoulder and dances about. He really drags the sketch down.

Oii, Ernie is great in it. He masterfully catches the toast and his egg breaking is funny because it's so sloppy. If anything, Eric cocks up the fruit slicing on the third lemon.  They both lose points for the racist grapefruit bit,  the Nazi bastards.

[BJB]

Family Guy: Overrated
Ren and Stimpy: Underrated

[CaledonianGonzo]

If anything, Eric cocks up the fruit slicing on the third lemon. 

The incredibly unequal cleaving of that third grapefruit has always rankled.