Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Ken Dodd: Is It Just Me?
Here at NigeCorp, I find myself in an embattled, much mocked minority of one, for my assertion that Ken Dodd is just about the greatest live stand-up comic in the business. Having seen him in action, reducing an audience to laugh-racked putty in his hands, I'm afraid there was no other possible conclusion to reach - though I can quite understand that those who haven't had the experience would find it hard to believe. Can anyone out there back me up on this one, or does the whole world hate Doddy?
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A blog about, among other things, imaginary ideas - What ifs? and Imagine thats. What if photographs looked nothing like what we see with our eyes? Imagine that the Berlin Wall had never come down. What if we were the punchline of an interminable joke? All contributions welcome.
John Gray likes Doddy, oddly.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen him once in Liverpool, I agree that Ken Dodd live is a phenomenon. But whatever he has doesn't work as well in any other medium.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is nothing wrong with liking whoever you want to like. Go ahead, we don't mind.
ReplyDeleteFor me Ken Dodd just seems like a man from another era. Maybe he is.
I don't especially like or dislike him. His humour just doesn't reach me.
Same goes for Charlie Chaplin et al.
But Steven, being a Terminator you don't have human emotions, so comedy obviously wouldn't affect you, surely?
ReplyDelete(That's a film quote, by the way)
ReplyDeleteSon of the camel (Steven), i spit on your eye and kick you in the shins!
ReplyDelete(that's a quote from me)
Never had the pleasure. But I can't imagine he's a patch on the late, great Les.
ReplyDeleteAh yes Johnny - the late great Les indeed - cut from the same cloth...
ReplyDeleteWe saw Doddy live at Saddleworth Town Hall about ten years ago. For the first hour we were, as my mother would say, 'chinking with laughter'. The second hour became standard showbiz stuff (including the diddymen). The third was a bit tiresome. By the fourth hour (I kid you not), it was after eleven and people were beginning to make their excuses and leave. Many legs were crossed too. Be warned, I'm sure the SAS send would-be recruits to watch his shows as an endurance test. But he's a gem and Knotty Ash is rightfully proud.
ReplyDeleteMy parents to see him a couple of times at The ?Palace? Theatre in Manchester. Guess I was about 9 or 10, so around 1960. I can't really remember whether I enjoyed myself or not!
ReplyDeleteI had the great pleasure of having Ken as my guest of my radio programe on the island of Jersey.
ReplyDeleteWe have now become good friends I'm pleased to say.
People say laughter is a life saver' if thats the case Ken has save thousands of people since the age of 14.
Along side Ken the entertainer is one other' Butch Baker of The Barron Knights' both have held the record for the biggest selling comedy show at the London Paladium!
I would like to see Ken get a Knighthood from the Queen and The Barron Knigghts also get a reward'MBE etc. Maybe we can help them' why not drop me a email if you have see them both and tell me why do you think they should get hounerd.
Best Wishes for 2008
Phil.
i.love doddy and go to see him every year anywhere been to skegness buxton blackburn blackpool southport over & over he`s just what the dr ordered a good laugh is good for you
ReplyDeleteWe saw Ken live for the first time this week. I thought he was brilliant and kept us laughing for over 5 hours - that is some going for anyone!
ReplyDeleteBring on the next tour!
I concur with your adoration for the man. He appears to have written more one-liners than any other comedian, or has at lest memorised the most. Beyond this, he is loqacious and bursting with stories to chain together his seamless barrage of jokes.
ReplyDeleteThere is a chance his goofy demeanor, unattractive appearance and scouse heritage lend people reason to see him as an amusing aside to the "real" comedy as found elsewhere. I believe this is true of most scouse comedians anyway, but those who know of such gems will forever be enhanced by them.
After all, he is 82 going on immortal isn't he?