Miscellaneous

[poliphilo]

1. You guys were right. I just went downstairs and found Bunny inside the walls of Fort Bunsworth. Damn and blast! Now I'm going to have to figure out a way of strengthening the defences.

2. It's nice to be able to report that Blackadder II is still very, very funny. What would it cost to assemble that cast today? And, on a sadly quizzical note, whatever happened to Rowan Atkinson? There he was, arguably the funniest man in the English speaking world- and what has he done since?

Johnny English? well yes, quite...

3. I love Rome, but does anybody else? There was a piece in the Guardian this morning calling it a turkey and castigating the BBC for wasting the licence-payers' money. And this seems to be the general opinion. Could I be wrong? No, I don't see how that could possibly be- my critical acumen and good taste are legendary.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I loved Johnny English, predictably - I was quite moved by the character's awareness that he was a bit of a sad case and determination to get the job done anyway, and his ferocious patriotism. But he's not done a lot else. I thought Mr Bean was a waste, since although he has an impressively funny face it's his voice and delivery I'm always tickled by.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I guess he's done a lot of different things- more TV, bit parts in Richard Curtis movies, roles in Hollywood comedies that no-one in their right mind would pay to watch, but it's like there's no sense of purpose or direction. Blackadder was his career high point- and that's 20 years ago now.

[airstrip.livejournal.com]

First you need to round up the Jesuit spies. Nothing short of an agent from the Pope could have undermined the security of Fort Brunsworth.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The problem is identifying them....

I suspect the guinea pigs, but how can one be sure?

[airstrip.livejournal.com]

I suggest that you convene a council to determine who the traitors are. Remember, they may be French.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Oh my God- Frenchies.

Not Guinea pigs but cochons de Guinea?

[airstrip.livejournal.com]

Clearly. They should have never built the Chunnel!!!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I didn't want them to.

But I rode through it for the first time earlier this year and changed my opinion. It makes it so ridiculously easy to travel to Europe.

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

Chicken wire is about your only hope, and I don't know if you want to go with that "look" in your living room.

Black Adder II is indeed deliciously funny. I haven't seen any Black Adder at all in years - I really should remedy that.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Chicken wire is the last resource. To start with I'm going to build the wall higher. I think I know how he got in, but I'm not sure.

Blackadder is timeless. I was amazed to see that series II is already 20 years old. It could have been made yesterday.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I just went downstairs and found Bunny inside the walls of Fort Bunsworth.

How many people on the planet have ever had such a dilemma? You are unique, Tony!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

;)

The question is what to do next. I guess I need to get building....

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

1. Ha! I win chocolate!

2. Rumour has it that a new series of Blackadder is in the air, but I don't know how serious it is.

3. I'm becoming disappointed, and have more to write on that issue when I get a chance. But I'm still very glad that it's on, and that people are talking about it, and as a historian will remain fascinated with how it is portraying the Roman world, no matter how inaccurate or artistically lacking the portrayal becomes.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure whether a new Blackadder is a good idea or not. It's been 20 years and everyone involved has moved on. Most of them are now pillars of the showbiz establishment.

I'm looking forward to your considered verdict on Rome. Thus far (after only 2 episodes admittedly) it's got me completely hooked.

[singingnettle.livejournal.com]

Hello, visiting from the_red_shoes's journal...Rowan Atkinson had a very funny small character role in the film Love Actually a year or two ago.

[singingnettle.livejournal.com]

And nothing can foil a determined bunny. I think small furry animals determined to get at something might in fact have been responsible for the Big Bang.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Your theory is at least as convincing as the account in Genesis.

[singingnettle.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The thing is he hasn't done anything big for years. He's had small roles here and there and done the odd TV sitcom but Blackadder remains his career high.

He's a very funny guy. I'd love to see him live up to his talent.

[singingnettle.livejournal.com]

Yes, my husband and I would like to see more of him as well. He has astounding comedic timing.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He's the most gifted British comedian of his generation, arguably the most gifted of the last 50 years. We don't see enough of him.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Kate says, "OMG Mother, you have never seen BlackAdder? OMG!"

She says "you will DIE. Matthew and I used to watch them constantly and just HOWL."

She also says "Rowan Atkinson has the most perfect comic timing I have ever seen. And there are Jacob sheep, my favorites, featured in the opening credits."

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There are four series.

A warning: The first series is much less funny than the other three. It's clever, but somehow the laughs just don't come. So they went away, brought Ben Elton on board as co-writer, changed things about and the remaining three series are hilarious.

[violaviolet.livejournal.com]

I adore Blackadder, the third series being my absolute favorite.:)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The first series is a bit ropey, but the other three have an equal share of my affections. I love the conclusion of series 4, where suddenly, inexplicably, the silliness gives way to tragedy.

[violaviolet.livejournal.com]

the first series is rather weak, but i usually cannot help but giggle at brian blessed's manic performance.;)

I love the conclusion of series 4, where suddenly, inexplicably, the silliness gives way to tragedy.

I have watched the last episode only once. It so shook and upset me, that I cannot bring myself to view it again.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Blessed is always fun. I don't know what's wrong with series one. All the ingredients are there, but they don't quite gell. I guess the biggest change was bringing in Ben Elton as co-writer.

That final episode made me cry. It's a quite extraordinary way to end a sit-com.

[clindau.livejournal.com]

That millennium Blackadder was just, um, strange.

But every Christmas I make time for Blackadder's Christmas Carol. My sweetie doesn't see the point, but he watches because he likes to watch me watch.

Atkinson wearing Baldrick's posey pouch--cometo think of it, *Baldrick* wearing Baldrick's posey pouch...oh dear... my eyes, my eyes.