FINDING YOUR FUNNY BONE…
Serious thoughts on comedy
The most miserable thing about humour is that it’s subjective. I mean, look at the difference in humour between America and the UK. There’s simply no you in in.
Which is sort of my point. The only person who laughed at that diabolical pun was me. And I only managed a snicker. And when I’d eaten that…
Sorry.
But in my view humour is vital in creativity. I’ve just finished a rather grim crime novel under my nom de plume MG COLE. And even amongst the murder I try to place a few smirks. Then I have been proofing next month’s release of THE CARRIER. An action-adventure thriller set around a potential deadly viral outbreak. Oh, the joy…
As I wrote those manuscripts, I watched a lot of comedy. In fact, it’s on my weekly consumption guide – be it books, films, TV shows or podcasts. For whatever reason, I find it ignites the creative process and shed light on the darkest of plots. And, it more than helps bat away the insecurities and gloom from the real world.
So I thought I’d share some of my recent inspirations, in case you need a smile on your face this weekend.
PODCASTS
Without doubt I would recommend the glorious THREE BEAN SALAD. I’m not going to bother saying anything about it. Just click and read for yourself. Madness. Insanity. Genius.
Following behind is a (currently) cancelled podcast with the same creatives behind it: ST ELWICK’S NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER PODCAST – I so want this to be a sitcom on TV.
BOOKS
There are the greats I always return to – ANYTHING by Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams. But just this week I finished Michael Palin’s THERE AND BACK. Not strictly a comedy, as it’s his personal journal, but what an amazing man. Even after a few grim entries, he finds something to make you smile.
TV
The one show that got me through the Covid lockdowns was TASKMASTER (the British version). I know there are international versions, which I am sure are superb – but the UK version is sublime. Every series makes me grin.
Another return to UK screens comes in the form of ONLY CHILD on BBC 1 – now on season 2 - about a failing actor returning to Scotland to look after his ailing father. It’s pure joy.
During lockdown I bought the DVD boxset of ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE and watched it again recently. If you’re looking for razor sharp wit and comedy timing… look no further.
FILMS
Every year I watch PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES at least once. Steve Martin and John Candy never fail to impress even after the hundredth re-run.
Then come some curve balls which have become favourites of mine over time – such as GAME NIGHT. Anything with Rachel McAdams is going to be great, but this is so good, and it amazes me how many people passed it by.
Then, as it was on last weekend, another lockdown movie that made me laugh and cry while the world was burning outside: EUROVISION. I film I thought I would hate and had no intention of watching. I rolled my eyes when I read the synopsis. Then I watched it – and Will Ferrel (as usual) made it work brilliantly.
The fact it has Rachel McAdams in it is pure coincidence.