Philosophy
My Fellow Comedists,
This week we celebrate the feast of Saint Rowan. Rowan Atkinson will turn 55. Appearing in the late 70's in Not the Nine O'Clock News, the BBC's version of The Daily Show. It's success led to his shot in Black Adder. This, of course, led to Black Adder II, Black Adder the Third, and Black Adder Goes Forth.
Following Black Adder, Atkinson created Mr. Bean, probably his most well-known persona. The quality of slapstick work Atkinson turns out rivals Peter Sellars. Even Hollywood couldn't destroy it.
He's become a mainstream character actor, appearing in a number of high profile roles, but one of my favorites came from one of his first appearances. In The Secret Policeman's Ball, he appears beside Peter Cook and several members of Monty Python, a hall of fame collection of British comic talent, and still -- as a young nobody -- manages to still the scene. No small feat.
Happy Birthday Rowan Atkinson.
Live, love, and laugh,
Irreverend Steve
- The Feast Of Saint Martin
My Fellow Comedists, This weekend, we celebrate the feast of Saint Martin. Martin Lawrence turns 45 today. There is a long tradition of African-American stand-up comics who were major players in every generation, from Moms Mabley to Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory...
- The Feast Of Saint Gary
My Fellow Comedists, This weekend is the feast of Saint Gary. Gary Larson turns 60. Creator of The Far Side, the most consistently clever comic strip ever. A couple classics: Your favorite? Live, love, and laugh, Irreverend Steve...
- The Feast Of Saint Pigmeat
My Fellow Comedists, This week marks the feast day of Dewey Markham, better known as Pigmeat from one of the characters he played in his routine, "Sweet Papa Pigmeat." Born in Durham, north Carolina, he started in show business as a tap dancer, but quickly...
- The Feast Of Saint Jo Anne
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, This week we celebrate the feast of Saint Jo Anne. Thursday was Jo Anne Worley's 70th birthday. A regular on The Merv Griffin Show, she became one the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In...
- The Feast Of Saint Paul
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, This week brings us the feast day of Saint Paul. Paul Lynde would have been 81. A stand-up comedian before becoming a character actor and appearing in Bewitched, The Munsters, The Phil Silvers...
Philosophy
The Feast of Saint Rowan
My Fellow Comedists,
This week we celebrate the feast of Saint Rowan. Rowan Atkinson will turn 55. Appearing in the late 70's in Not the Nine O'Clock News, the BBC's version of The Daily Show. It's success led to his shot in Black Adder. This, of course, led to Black Adder II, Black Adder the Third, and Black Adder Goes Forth.
Following Black Adder, Atkinson created Mr. Bean, probably his most well-known persona. The quality of slapstick work Atkinson turns out rivals Peter Sellars. Even Hollywood couldn't destroy it.
He's become a mainstream character actor, appearing in a number of high profile roles, but one of my favorites came from one of his first appearances. In The Secret Policeman's Ball, he appears beside Peter Cook and several members of Monty Python, a hall of fame collection of British comic talent, and still -- as a young nobody -- manages to still the scene. No small feat.
Happy Birthday Rowan Atkinson.
Live, love, and laugh,
Irreverend Steve
- The Feast Of Saint Martin
My Fellow Comedists, This weekend, we celebrate the feast of Saint Martin. Martin Lawrence turns 45 today. There is a long tradition of African-American stand-up comics who were major players in every generation, from Moms Mabley to Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory...
- The Feast Of Saint Gary
My Fellow Comedists, This weekend is the feast of Saint Gary. Gary Larson turns 60. Creator of The Far Side, the most consistently clever comic strip ever. A couple classics: Your favorite? Live, love, and laugh, Irreverend Steve...
- The Feast Of Saint Pigmeat
My Fellow Comedists, This week marks the feast day of Dewey Markham, better known as Pigmeat from one of the characters he played in his routine, "Sweet Papa Pigmeat." Born in Durham, north Carolina, he started in show business as a tap dancer, but quickly...
- The Feast Of Saint Jo Anne
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, This week we celebrate the feast of Saint Jo Anne. Thursday was Jo Anne Worley's 70th birthday. A regular on The Merv Griffin Show, she became one the cast of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In...
- The Feast Of Saint Paul
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, This week brings us the feast day of Saint Paul. Paul Lynde would have been 81. A stand-up comedian before becoming a character actor and appearing in Bewitched, The Munsters, The Phil Silvers...