I was never a great fan of Monty Python as their humour was always a little too far off-the-wall for me to enjoy. But I am happy to hear the comedy troupe is set to return in the form of a flying circus reunion that will see old time laugh-makers John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin back on stage and television.
Of the above, only Cleese is really rated by me and that's due to the superb and ageless comedy series Fawlty Towers, but I do support the return - albeit a likely brief one - of the Monty Python team as there is a paucity of laughs on TV these days. Comedy seems to have fallen victim to some brand of so-called upmarket, yuppy BS that passes as "funny" but, to my mind, is generally painful, pathetic and talentless.
If it wasn't for repeated reruns of the old classics like Dad's Army, The Vicar of Dibley, Are You Being Served, On the Buses and the arrival on Sky of the Jones channel, I doubt there would be any chance to relax and laugh in front of the telly.
Unless you are a fan of the modern-era stand-up comics - and there must be some of you - who don't actually create funny situations or crack funny jokes but rely instead on getting laughs from a stacked audience who feel obliged to, then you must agree with me. Where are the new Ronnie Barkers, Tommy Coopers, Clive Dunns, Frankie Howerds, Benny Hills?
British comedy has always been our favourite brand, aside from an occasional success story out of the United States such as Cheers, and it has largely disappeared from our screens. Even the best of New Zealand comedy has long departed.
