The Best Sketches of All Time

Its two days after the annual student sketch off, which sees the Durham Revue, the Oxford Revue and the Leeds Tealights battle it out to see who has the best comedy sketch. But what is the Nation’s favourite comedy sketch, Too Much Culture takes a look at some classics:

Hardware Sketch: The Two Ronnies

Who can forget the first time they saw Ronnie Corbett walk into a hardware shop and ask for some Ball-Lock Clamps. The sight of Ronnie writhing in agony is classic, the sketch was originally part of a set of three which culminated in Corbett going to the Poultry Verification Board and asking them to stamp his cock.

Going for an English: Goodness Gracious Me

A great sketch, an absolute classic, but who can forget the sketch by the 2006 Durham Revue: “Going for an Indian.” Where some drunk English diners abuse an Indian waiter, subverting the original perfectly.

Class: The Frost Report

We all remember the lines for this classic sketch:

John Cleese: “I am upper class”

Ronnie Barker: “I am middle class.”

David Mitchell: “and I’m a PC.”

John Cleese: “I look down on him.”

Ronnie Barker: “I look up to him, but down on him”

David Mitchell:  “I am more prone to viruses.”

Tarzan Audition: Pete and Dud

Amazingly Peter Cook wrote this sketch when he was just 19, a great sketch based on a very simple premise, a man audition to be Tarzan who doesn’t have any strong opinions about his anatomy. As the punch-line goes: “I’ve got nothing against your left leg, the problem is neither have you.”

The Spanish Inquisition: Monty Python

This sketch is certainly a must have on this list, even though it is an almost line for line copy of John Hannah’s famous Sliding Doors speech. It’s a shame the Python boys went on to such success while Hannah’s work remains unheralded.

Kitchen: Morecombe and Wise

The incredible sight of Eric Morecombe and Ernie Wise making breakfast to the soundtrack of Motorhead’s The Ace of Spades was Eric Morecombe’s last performance as he collapsed and died seconds after.

Michael Jackson: Bo’ Selecta

Something about masks or something…

Old lady: Little Britain

We all know about David Walliams’ Anne character, who is obsessed with her own faecal matter, his old lady character who can’t help vomiting, and his old lady who can’t help peeing herself, but less well known is his character which combines all three. The sketch was only transmitted once and was described by The Evening Standard as “deeply upsetting.”

Shouty rich man: Harry Enfield

The creation of Enfield’s shouty rich man defined a decade with “Loads a Money” and defined a decade with “I am considerably richer than yaw.” Unfortunately his characters ended up being adopted by the very people he was trying to satirise, shouty rich people such as yuppies and Harry Enfield.

An open letter to Julia Chamberlain

Earlier this week, reviewer Julia Chamberlain passed me in the street, this is my open letter to her…

Dear Julia,

I hope you are having a lovely fringe, you looked happy and I was pleased to see you.

Tom Neenan

The Best of YouTube

Too Much Culture is up at the fringe, and with so many shows vying for your attention marketing is crucial, many shows are turning to Youtube to promote their shows. Here are some of the YouTube’s greatest hits for your enjoyment.

Charlie Bit Me

The adorable clip which shows a young child showing affection to his baby brother who bites his finger. The clip is a YouTube sensation, it’s just a shame it turned out to be a cynical viral marketing campaign to sell infant finger protectors.

Girl In Her Underwear Playing Wii-Fit

Another astonishing video, clocking millions of hits. The clip shows a man secretly filming his semi-clothed girlfriend playing on her Wii-Fit. YouTube user D-BAX’87 summarises the phenomena of the clip perfectly in his comment: “GrL Thnkz She B SlamZ bt n8 2 SoOn.” (sic)

Star Wars Kid

This video appears to show Jurassic Park’s Wayne Knight having a fight with a broom handle. It is unclear who eventually wins the dual, but one thing is clear, Wayne defends himself with honour and comes away from the clip with his dignity intact.

Crying Man under sheet

A desperately upset, androgynous YouTube user makes an impassioned plea to end the hostility and  towards a cultural and administrative region of North West France. The chap may be hysterical, but he makes a very good point.

Chinese Prison Thriller

Some of China’s most dangerous and disturbed criminals recreate the video for Thriller with a stunningly choreographed dance routine. The video is note worthy as it shows for the first time ever, a paedophile dancing to Thriller.

The Evolution of Dance

One man charts the development of western dances, from irritating hip swinging to obnoxious grand standing, in just three minutes.

Reaction to “that video”

YouTube users gag, gaps and gawp at the disturbing and horrendous images of Chevy Chase dancing with Paul Simon in a pastel grey studio.

Laughing Baby

A video of a baby enjoying a quick giggle, the clip begins just after the baby has been told the punch-line to a joke: “…and then he zipped it up.”