Contains Adult Language

Dudley Moore and Peter Cook recorded three albums between ’76 and ’78 as the characters Derek and Clive respectively: “Derek and Clive (Live)”, “Derek and Clive Come Again”, and “Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam”. This is some of the most offensive and vulgar stuff I’ve ever heard in a long while and I’ve heard a lot of offensive and vulgar stuff, mostly among my friends (cut me). And I love it. Most of the “perfomances” were “less like dialogues and more like vindictive attacks on the increasingly successful Moore by Cook, whose career had stalled somewhat in comparison. One such merciless assault was in a cancer themed diatribe when Cook was fully aware that Moore had recently lost his father to the disease.”

One of the most famous bits is the one about Jayne Mansfield’s arse needing to be extricated of lobsters. This is pretty tame compared to the one about Clive kicking his wife’s c*nt in. You can probably get an idea of where these drunken ramblings go but I’ve provided some video of the Peter Fonda-ish looking Peter Cook and the “Arthur”-days looking Dudley Moore doing thier proverbial thing. Probably the last highlight of Cook’s career, besides an insomniad and bored Cook calling into a late night television show as Sven the Norwegian Fisherman. (Look forward to a future post!!!!!)

Too Much Information

Men in drag (comically) are passe; I realize this. No need to tell me. But ever since I’ve finished reading “Michael Palin’s Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years” I can’t help but go through my daily life realizing the comedic possibilities of the absurd. To be honest the absurd seed was probably planted the first time I watched the movie “Hard Day’s Night” back in the day, or was it night, I can’t remember which. Ever since then I’ve found the cartoonish in reality to be my favorite cup of tea. And I thank the Beatles and Richard Lester for helping me appreciate the likes of the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, and Mel Brooks. Absurdity is fully realized in “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” which I know everyone and their dog has heard of/seen er whatever and if you’ve been around me after a few beers within the last 8 months you’ve probably been subjected to some sort of weird Graham Chapman trivia. ANYWAY, Michael Palin goes a little bit unnoticed out of the above mentioned group but a trained eye will soon spot him as a frightfully amazing comedic actor. After reading MP’s diaries that span fron ’69 to ’79 over a period of 5 months I feel I know that man’s life better that he does. Obviously untrue, it still feels a bit strange to know his bowel habit’s inside and out (so to speak) alongside his oppressively particularized opinion of Thomas Hardy. It was a very illuminating book (written in real time as things like the moon landing were happening) and I would recommend it to anyone who is into Michael Palin and diaries. But seriously, a winning combination. Volume 2, “Halfway to Hollywood”, just came out recently… in the United Kingdom and can be yours for only thirty american dollars… if you know the right places to look.

The Comedian’s Comedian

Ah, the lighthearted. That’s originally what I wanted this blog to be about: comedians, comedy. But it’s also MY blog so who knows, maybe I’ll talk about how finely mashed the mashed potatoes were at K&W today (I basically drank them). This shit can go anywhere. It’s crazy!!!! And I never use exclamation marks, so, you know.

I would like to talk about Peter Cook. My hero to top all heroes. I am aware of the fact that he died in 1995 but it bothers me that some feel that he died with the word “failure” on his proverbial tombstone.

I like to think that I know something about comedy, in that I’ve been watching or listening to comedians from this century and the last, and the one before that (Eddie Cantor to Jim Gaffigan) since 1996 (I was born in 1985) and only one man has left me in so many sentimental pieces. There’s an inherent sadness in his face, voice, and delivery that remind you/me of the “chance that was wasted” – Cole Porter. Here is a little sampling of all that I appreciate about Peter Cook.