British Hilarity

I've been obsessed with Big Train lately (I love getting on little kicks like this). So for the past hour or so I have been revisting some of my all-time favorite British comedy sketches, Big Train and otherwise. Saturday Night Live needs to take note and start producing funny sketches again. It's been a loooong time since I could honestly say that show makes me laugh. I think the last episode that I made a point to watch was when Hugh Laurie hosted it and all I remember is the hotel sketch where he's giving (or getting - I forget) instructions on how to prepare the Queen's room.

So, here's a Big Train sketch with the amazingly hilarious Mark Heap playing a man that will read a snide remark about his not being married in something as unconnected as a Coke can:


Big Train: I've heard that child labor is huge in the radio scene. Here's Simon Pegg in a sort-of public-service announcement that is so asinine it is amazing:


Catherine Tate is definitely a one-woman show. She popped up in Big Train sketches many times but her own show produced so many great moments. I had completely forgotten about the Ginger Refuge sketch and am so thrilled that I have found it again:


And honestly, how could it get better than Monty Python? I had such an amazing crush on John Cleese as a kid. That tall handsome drink of water with amazingly flexible and crazy legs. He may have ruined me for normal men.
Did you know that no one expects the Spanish Inquisition?


I don't think I need to post the dead parrot sketch or the silly walk sketch, because those two are what people generally think of when they think Monty Python (the movies as well, of course). So I'm posting a sketch about how to defend yourself against fruit. Seems ridiculous but that's what they did so very well; they took a ridiculous premise and infused it with so much witty intelligence that you managed to feel a little dumb while enjoying it, as if you knew that there was something more you just weren't grasping yet.


Oops, Doctor Who is on. I'm digging the new Doctor. Didn't expect to latch on to him but Matt Smith has won me over. He may want to lose the bowtie at some point but he better not do away with the suspenders. They are so sexy.