I reckon it's a safe bet that Sayle has Morris down as a say-nothing waste-of-space 90s man.

When Barcelona Plates came out he gave an interview slamming Vic&Bob, The Fast Show etc. as meaningless student-fodder that squandered the achievements of trailblazers like himself (he didn't quite put it that way, but that was the clear subtext. Anyway, there was an anti-R&M story in BC that makes it more explicit).

Jon, why does the fact that Sayle slated R&M mean that he'd dismiss Morris in the same way?

I agree. There's no connection. He might be more encouraged to diss him because of the hoax attempt, mind you.

He does it for exactly the same reasons as Johnny Rotten. They hate the fact their best years are behind them and become bitter. Of course R&M are not shit. Even people who don't find them funny respect why other people do.

Because of the reasons he gave for disliking them - that they don't "say" anything in particular. Given that Morris distinguishes himself from Mark Thomas and Michael Moore's campaigning style, and Thomas and Jeremy Hardy dislike his stuff, I'd guess that Sayle would as well. But I may be wrong.

Alexei is quite open about who he dislikes. Last night he dissed Harry Hill, Alan Bennett and Lord Winston ('a tiny Jewish man trying to prove himself with women's bits' or something). Also, when an audience member yelled out an Ali G impression, he loudly muttered 'cunt'. At a book signing, for God's sake.

More of this attitude please, comedians.

He also slagged off Baddiel and Skinner. But he likes Rob Newman's novels.

But did he comment on CM?

>But did he comment on CM?

Only what has been stated above.

im sorry, did i miss something. i didnt realise that all comedy had to be important and political and about something. im sure alexeis hilarious mussolini impression was responsible for the downfall of fascism in europe but not all jokes can be so deep and meaningful

>im sorry, did i miss something. i didnt realise that all comedy had to be important and political and about something. im sure alexeis hilarious mussolini impression was responsible for the downfall of fascism in europe but not all jokes can be so deep and meaningful

What exactly in this thread are you refering to Rich?

I'm not sure either, but I do know that I applauded out loud at this statement.
'Important' comedians are giving me the shits at the moment.

>I'm not sure either, but I do know that I applauded out loud at this statement.
>'Important' comedians are giving me the shits at the moment.

Quite. See the first Clive James thread for more opinions on this topic.

Meanwhile...can anyone give me an example of Alexei being an "important" comedian?

To me he's just a funny bloke who does comedy that was a bit political/topical and a bit surreal with some bizarre references, like Brecht, thrown in. What was nice about his referencing though was that you didn't need an intimate knowledge of Brecht or whatever it was to get the joke.

>Meanwhile...can anyone give me an example of Alexei being an "important" comedian?

Er, nope.

But to be fair to him, in the V&B-baiting story, "Nic and Tob" (such subtlety), he does make reference to their particular style of comedy becoming a success due to audiences tiring of having a fat bloke in a suit shouting at them and telling them what to think, so he must have a certain level of self-deprecation and a correct sense of his own importance remaining.

>
>>Meanwhile...can anyone give me an example of Alexei being an "important" comedian?
>
>Er, nope.
>
>But to be fair to him, in the V&B-baiting story, "Nic and Tob" (such subtlety), he does make reference to their particular style of comedy becoming a success due to audiences tiring of having a fat bloke in a suit shouting at them and telling them what to think, so he must have a certain level of self-deprecation and a correct sense of his own importance remaining.

Does he go much beyond just coming up with a parody of a contemporary comedy duo who have parody names like Vic and Bob? Does he actually parody their material.

There's a parody comedy duo in Ben Elton's novel Inconceivable who have names very similar to Ant and Dec, but Elton does not parody Ant and Dec in any other way.

>Does he go much beyond just coming up with a parody of a contemporary comedy duo who have parody names like Vic and Bob? Does he actually parody their material.

I recall a couple of other references that make it a bit more obvious (if it were necessary) - I think he mentions them being from the north and possibly something about a velvet suit, but my memory may be playing tricks about the last one.

The story itself is less an attack or satire on Vic and Bob or their material, and more about the supernatural means by which they maintain their positions as demigods of light entertainment. The actual identity of the comedians (in fact, they wouldn't have to be comedians at all) is pretty unimportant in terms of the plot.

It's been a little while since I read "Barcelona Plates", so I could be wrong, but that's how I remember it.

If you call being consistently funny over a wide range of projects 'supernatural' then there's your answer.

>If you call being consistently funny over a wide range of projects 'supernatural' then there's your answer.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. In the story, "Nic" and "Tob" really do use supernatural means to remain at the top of the showbiz pile.

But Alexi Sayle is the unfunny one in The Young ones who ruined it every time he came into it.
The failed one who did charities and comic relief etc
Some of the silly stuff Vic and Bob did in the early days ONLY has made me laugh more than anything.

im sorry, i shall elucidate, though i think i may have gone off half-cocked and misinterpreted what mr sayle was supposed to have said. he seemed to be slagging off harry hill, vic 'n' bob and others for not being about anything when i cant really see a problem with that. there is scope for all kinds of comedy, as there is music or masturbation techniques.

if i have misinterpreted his comments then i shall change the focus of the attack to someone else who thinks everything should be 'about' something or 'important'. any suggestions?

Sorry are you talking to me?

>Sorry are you talking to me?

probably not. i was replying to a couple of earlier posts that couldnt work out what i was saying so i stuck it on at the end.

why, do you want me to talk to you? are you lonely?

(Sound of howling wind outside)