Something to laugh about
Why do some comedy shows never grow old, no matter how much they age?
One of my favourite pastimes when I am in England is – no, not traipsing around historical palaces, though I do that too – watching television. I know, this sounds a bit sad.
But believe me, it is anything but, because my channel of choice is the one that specialises in showing ‘retro comedy’, ie all the comedy shows that I grew up giggling on.
As I write this, I have just had my fill of the third series of Blackadder, the show that was set in the Regency period and premiered in 1987. And I am pleased to inform you that the series hasn’t lost its appeal with time.
Rowan Atkinson is still brilliant in the lead role of Blackadder. Hugh Laurie’s foppish, idiotish Prince of Wales is super fun to watch. Stephen Fry is hilarious as the bloodthirsty Duke of Wellington. Though I have to admit that Tony Robinson’s Baldrick with his catchline "I have a cunning plan" remains my favourite character.
But as I chuckled and giggled and sometimes laughed out so loud that I may have woken up guests in the next room, I also started to wonder why some comedy shows never date in decades while others lose their appeal after a couple of years.
