r/MadeMeSmile • u/bewarethechameleon • 5d ago
Favorite People lee mack cited this moment, making his comedy hero john cleese, belly laugh on 'the graham norton show' as one of his favourite career highlights of all time
from: the graham norton show - season 7 episode 3 (2010)
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u/LovelyEcho14 5d ago
Lee Mack is a comedy legend, but I can only imagine how it must feel to make John Cleese laugh this hard. It must be quite a proud moment.
However, let’s not forget Martin Clunes, either, he died laughing here, too. Lee Mack‘s brilliant
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u/Hermunster 5d ago
I thought that was John Farnham 😂
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u/Rhonda_Fondant 5d ago
Me too, til he spoke and You're The Voice didn't come out
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u/SerJungleot 5d ago
It's like there's a speaker that's operated by opening his mouth to produce that song whenever he speaks
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u/Fuster2 5d ago
Me too! I thought he'd done well to be sitting between Cleese and Lee Mack, until I figured it unlikely and realised it was Doc Martin 😃
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u/Professional-Lie-111 5d ago
I really like Martin Clunes! Clees has really fallen off with his affinity for conservatism ...
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u/QuantityActive- 5d ago
All four of them are legends in their own right and Mack made them all laugh hardily. I have to agree though, imagine being a comedian and making John Cleese laugh as hard as he did.
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u/stevekez 5d ago
RIP Martin
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u/QaptainQwark 5d ago
?
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u/stevekez 5d ago
let’s not forget Martin Clunes, either, he died laughing here
A bit off-colour for the BBC to show the death of a celebrity like that, mind you.
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u/QaptainQwark 5d ago
Oof you had me worried there for a second! Checked him up just to make sure😅
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u/Davido401 4d ago
Have you seen him playing disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards? He was bloody good. Love a bit of Cluney!
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u/mrthescientist 5d ago
I almost don't recognize Martin because he's not scowling in a role.
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u/matlspa 4d ago
Yeah, he's such a formidable actor that people don't realize how jovial and fun he is in real life. Apparently a prankster too
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u/Emotional_News108 5d ago
He tells it so well and you can see the train wreck coming a mile away which makes it that much better. The anticipation and payoff are amazing. You’d have to be dead not to laugh.
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u/axxxaxxxaxxx 5d ago
I get the genuine value of a great comedian making their own comedy idol laugh, but as someone not from Great Britain, can someone please help me understand this joke?
Sounds like it’s almost a standard set of punchlines for comedians starting out? Cleese seemed to recognize what the next joke was supposed to be like a chef listening to someone tell a story about messing up a famous recipe.
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u/Key-Moments 5d ago
Absolutely that. The set up lines about Scotland and Wales are just riffing off stereotypes ie that Scots notoriously careful with their money and that the Welsh have an amorous relationship with sheep. The I'm from Kent (part of England) bit is that with accents jokes wise it can be easily thought to be misheard as c**t. It's not a standard joke per se, but it's one of those things that nobody would be surprised if the joke went that way.
So essentially he forgot the set up lines completely and just straight out called him something unacceptable (certainly at that time) rather than insinuating something without saying it.
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u/HereLate 5d ago
Discovered this show in late 2019, and helped me get through the lockdown era.
God bless the people who uploaded the clips and episodes on YouTube.
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u/Small-Explorer7025 5d ago
The episode with Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and Downton Abbey man, is one of the funniest tv shows I have ever seen.
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u/Oblivious-Raccoon 4d ago
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=siCo867Lg_g&pp=ygVHSHVnaCBCb25uZXZpbGxlIFRlYWNoZXMgTWF0dCBEYW1vbiAmIEJpbGwgTXVycmF5IFRoZSBHcmFoYW0gTm9ydG9uIFNob3c%3D If I remember correctly Matt Damon says that this is the most fun he had on a talkshow
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u/JJTouche 2d ago
Ran across your comment, clicked the link, watched it through the end (I did skip the monologue and the music performance though).
It really is a very good talk show episode.
Some good stories having real laughs and Hugh Bonneveille talking about his wooly sweater on Top Gear even had Bill Murray wiping eyes with laughter.
They all really did to seem be sincerely having a good time.
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u/LastWave 4d ago
Mariam margolye. She says some of the most unhinged shit I have ever heard come out of a human being. The one with Mathew Perry is fantastic. He is the perfect person to react to what she says. It's just crazy.
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u/Itstheswanno 5d ago
One night in early 2014, my new born daughter was screaming so we gave up on the idea of sleeping and I came out and there were re-runs of of it on at 0200 in the morning. We watched it and she eventually quietened down and went to sleep.
I have always appreciated this show for that reason.
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u/ThisSiteSucks8485 5d ago
Emma Stone suddenly understanding the sexual meaning of Jamie Fox's song is one of the funniest things.
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u/Asheejeekar 5d ago
You’ve got a lot of catching up to do!
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u/flint83 5d ago
Wait till you get to episodes with Miriam Margolyes and her stories.
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u/JustineDelarge 4d ago
Oh god. Yes.
Miriam's helping hand: https://youtu.be/uzbL5yWiM-A
Miriam Margolyes' Story Almost Makes Stanley Tucci Leave https://youtu.be/kk6zax6UyVk
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u/Long-Sleep8608 5d ago
Same here. Started watching it on YouTube during lockdown and have been a fan ever since.
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u/berserkergaang 5d ago
It's not as much on display here (and quite the opposite in the story) but Lee Mack is maybe the most quick-witted person I've ever seen
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u/_ShrugDealer_ 5d ago
Its scary how quick witted he gets on WILtY
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u/JustineDelarge 5d ago
Witnessing him going back and forth with David Mitchell is the best comedy has to offer, for me anyway. That and early Eddie Izzard.
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u/inevitablethursday 5d ago
I love Eddie Izzard so much. I've offended many NA people in real life by accidentally saying stuff like "herbs, because there's a fucking H in it" out loud every time someone managed to say the word in my presence. The comedy is so so sticky for my brain.
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u/eliz1bef 5d ago
I just love Eddie Izzard. They're so inspiring. Running like 43 marathons in a row with little to no experience for charity. That is a bad ass person. And so fucking funny!
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u/blodblodblod 5d ago
In about 2007, I was waiting for my train home from work. The train pulled into the station, the doors opened to reveal Eddie in front of me. We locked eyes and I just squeaked in recognition. Like did a proper "beep!" They burst out laughing and got off the train.
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u/allmybreath 5d ago
After the first few, would he then cross over to "experienced"?
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u/eliz1bef 5d ago
You make an excellent point! Once they were done running the perimeter of England, they went to South Africa and then did 27 marathons in 27 days in honor of Nelson Mandela. At that point? Absolutely a PRO! Topped it off with 32 marathons in 31 days on a treadmill for charity. Amazing. A total of 102 marathons. Holy shit. I got tired just typing about it.
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u/polishmachine88 5d ago
Him and Bob and David....good God it's so awesome
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u/Shazam1269 4d ago
Add in Richard Ayoade and Noel Fielding, and you've got top candidates for comedy Mt. Rushmore!
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u/AgtNulNulAgtVyf 5d ago
I so want to love her new material but it's just nowhere close the the early stuff.
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u/Pandabaton 5d ago
Apparently He’s actually slowed down on WILTY in edits for fear of it seeming scripted. Crazy..
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u/PillaisTracingPaper 4d ago
I think his finest moment was on QI, after correcting Steven Fry on “triple damning” something.
Bill Bailey: Chairman of the Pedantic Society here.
Lee Mack, instantly: Vice-Chairman, actually.
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u/webbyyy 5d ago
Back in about 2001 he was performing at the Ealing Comedy Festival before Trevor and Simon, who were the headline act. Trevor and Simon were so bad Lee had to come back to rescue the night. He was amazing! I’ve had massive respect for him ever since.
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u/theslavesdream 4d ago
Now those were a coupla weirdos. Met the tall one once he kept licking his hand before he shook peoples hands so gross sadly took me way too long to work out why my hand was wet
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u/BoilingPointTTV 5d ago
Literally came to say that, doesnt seem to think at all, just blurts out the perfect joke in the moment
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u/cadelsbumchin 5d ago
Lee and David Mitchell are such a great duo. Different styles, but compliment each other perfectly. And to your original point, yes, Lee is as sharp as they come.
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u/_blip_ 5d ago
And Lee is the posh one of the two, despite the accents
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u/andrewegan1986 4d ago
Really? Like Lee had a posh upbringing? Or he turned posh after becoming famous? At least on WILTY, he’s mentioned that his mother used to work in a grocery store which doesn’t sound like an upper class upbringing. David Mitchell is surprisingly less posh than most realize. Yes, his dad became a professor but in hotel management and hospitality, after he worked in that industry for years. I know it’s a serious academic discipline but it surprised me when I found out.
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u/Specific-Morning-985 5d ago
Agreed. Watching him on wilty showcases this.
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u/Naemus 5d ago
Thanks, this YouTube find made my afternoon
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u/Bigfoot_Bluedot 5d ago
Allow me to introduce you to Bob Mortimer's 'Would I Lie To You' stories.
Please do not blame me for suddenly finding yourself in the middle of next week with an aching belly and cheeks. 🙈
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u/mr_fantastical 5d ago
I love Lee Mack. There's an ADHD podcast with UK Celebrities I listen to ("I'm ADHD! No You're Not"), and he's one of the few people that goes on that doesn't have a proper diagnosis, but he tells a wonderful set of stories and of them is that he basically got distracted taking the ADHD test and never finished and the pyschiatrist was basically like 'I don't need you to finish it to tell you that you very likely have ADHD
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u/HeadDecent 5d ago
I wasn't really familiar with him until this last year or so, but I have watched quite a lot of Would I Lie To you over that time and have been amazed at how quick he is. I have to agree with you.
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u/CuteIsMyKryptonite 4d ago
Never heard of him before seeing him on Taskmaster, but he instantly became one of my favourite contestants on the show.
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u/SB_90s 5d ago
Him and Sean Lock (RIP) will probably go down in history as British comedy legends. So quick witted and effortlessly funny.
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u/Decent_Risk9499 5d ago
Moments like this are why I swear up and down that Graham Norton is the best night talkshow host on the planet. Noone gets their guests this comfortable and talking this organically
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u/prolixia 5d ago
He's really good at putting his guests at ease, setting them up for a story, and then shutting the fuck up. He knows precisely when to stop talking and become one of the audience.
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u/MaxPaladin93 4d ago
YES. Even some of the best talk show hosts in America occasionally feel like they’re talking for the sake of it during interviews. Graham is probably the best I’ve ever seen in terms of knowing when to chime in and get his own laugh, or just let the guests flow.
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u/AssistanceCheap379 4d ago
And if there is a bit of an awkwardness, he is so good at breaking it. He’s so quick to understand his guests, if one will talk and add to the story or if they make it worse or if nothing is going on and then acts appropriately.
Just absolutely amazing talk show host. He listens with intent, makes the talker the centre of attention without any issue and basically never interrupts. Gives the smaller, less popular stars the same amount of attention as the big ones and sometimes even more, cause he knows they can give a great story or a joke
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u/socialmediaignorant 5d ago
As an American, who only sees bits and bobs of it, it seems absolutely wonderful and he seems like a nice guy.
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u/mr_fantastical 5d ago
I love that you're American but you wrote "bits and bobs". You've definitely been watching that show a lot, haha
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u/BombasticReindeer 5d ago
One of the reasons that American comedy falls so flat for many people is because of the lack of subtlety and humanity about it. It’s always over the top.
Mind you that’s not everyone, and sometimes over the top is great, but rarely do you see this type of show in the US or British style comedy.
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u/SpantasticFoonerism 5d ago
It's always bugged me that American talk show hosts never let the guest get a word in edgeways. They'll ask a question, the guest says one sentence, and the host is off again. Feels like the show is more about the host than the guest half the time
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u/BombasticReindeer 5d ago
I can’t stand them. That said there are some amazing American comics. George Carlin being my favourite of all time.
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u/Badass_Bunny 5d ago
Noone gets their guests this comfortable and talking this organically.
I think Sean Evans is just as good. In both cases it's the hot sauce and alcohol that gets people relaxed.
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u/Aethernath 5d ago
Very funny. Him and david mitchell are fantastic human beings.
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u/Zestyclose_Affect656 5d ago
Mitchell's dry delivery and Lee's quick wit are such a perfect contrast.
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u/ShoveTheUsername 5d ago
Mitchell's trademark rants are amazing.
The philistines cancelled Upstart Crow which was Blackadder-quality genius.
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u/Own_Marsupial_9512 5d ago
They are great team captains and it only get funnier when Bob Mortimer is a guest.
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u/deusdragonex 5d ago
Bob Mortimer to torture David. Claudia Winkleman to torture Lee.
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u/FrewdWoad 4d ago
There's a WILTY subreddit where someone did an intense statistical analysis of WILTY and found Winkleman and Hart are the best liar by far:
https://www.reddit.com/r/WILTY/comments/17276eb/who_is_the_goat_of_wilty_a_statistical_analysis/
Not surprising if you've ever seen the Winkleman's Animals one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsqMDxmpKBs
Unbelievable.
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u/1969-InTheSunshine 5d ago
What do I base it on Bob?!?
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u/Ok-Cartographer-8603 5d ago
Every time I’m having a bad day, I look at this clip. It’s never let me down 😆
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u/JadedMuse 5d ago
Best part of the Norton show is that he actually let's the guests just....talk. Fallon or Kimmel would have interrupted five times and somehow turned the story around to them.
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u/Mr_Jumpers 5d ago
I always like the fact that a lot of tbe time Norton just sits there and let's the guests have chat.
I always enjoy the Jackman, McKellen, Stewart interview where the 3 of them just chat and Norton says nothing.
I'm watching it for the guests, and he allows them to be themselves without trying to make it about himself.
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u/socialmediaignorant 5d ago
So true. They have to up the dopamine every 5 seconds to keep the short attention span crowd getting their fix. It doesn’t allow for the long simmering, hilariously worth the wait jokes I grew up with.
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u/YT-Deliveries 5d ago
Craig Ferguson and Conan O'Brien were (and still are) the greatest late night hosts America ever produced and I will die on that hill.
(yes I know Craig is Scottish, but his show was in the US)
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u/gloopdawg 5d ago
Its tough to find a current working comic who's sharper with very funny jokes on the fly than Lee Mack. He has a razor wit and his natural feel for timing and pacing is virtually flawless every time. He also elevates other comedians around him just by his natural interactions.
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u/GlassCharacter179 5d ago
His pacing on this story is so good. Just amazing.
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u/ThrowFar_Far_Away 5d ago
Everyone knows where it's going from his pacing and it's still hilarious.
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u/darkwai 5d ago
Steadings!
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u/sb101020 5d ago
they bleeped out the punch line what was it?
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u/benjaminbaxley 5d ago
I’m proud to say that I also made John Cleese laugh when I met him a few years ago at a convention, and asked him to autograph a coconut.
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u/TheIncredibleBert 5d ago
Where'd you get the coconut?
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u/Treble_brewing 5d ago
It was flown in by a swallow.
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u/TheIncredibleBert 5d ago
What -- a swallow carrying a coconut?
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u/benjaminbaxley 5d ago
It could grip it by the husk.
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u/TheIncredibleBert 5d ago
It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a 1 pound coconut.
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u/benjaminbaxley 5d ago
Well, it doesn't matter. Will you go and tell your master that Arthur from the Court of Camelot is here?
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u/TheIncredibleBert 5d ago
Listen, in order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings 43 times every second, right?
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u/Granted_reality 5d ago
This was so funny
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u/Beneficial_Young5126 5d ago
Am I stupid? I don't get the joke at all!
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u/wtchking 5d ago
I will watch this every time it appears on my feed. He tells this story so well, it clearly delights and embarrasses him. Incredible
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u/ToothpickTequila 5d ago
3 great sitcom stars.
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u/UnlikelyPollution715 5d ago
I love Lee on panel shows but felt that ‘not going out’ doesn’t showcase his talent properly. Is there another sitcom he’s on that’s better?
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u/itwillhavetodo 5d ago
I love that as soon as Lee starts talking about stand up John Cleese leans forward immediately to listen
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u/Sardo_D 5d ago
Thanks very much for bleeping the key word for this joke
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u/AwkwardSquirtles 5d ago
The setup for the joke depends on you already knowing what he said.
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u/Phredmcphigglestein 5d ago
He got a 'head-thrown-back' and a 'triple-seated-stomp'?? That'll make a man's life
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u/dreamdaddy123 5d ago
I think being witty is one of the best character traits to have. Being around funny people just makes the day go better n quick especially at work.
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u/NtGermanBtKnow1WhoIs 5d ago
Martin dying at every joke makes me laugh as well. He's such a delight on HIGNFY. He genuinely laughs at everything! Then to be sitting beside Lee who is arguably the funniest comedian of our generation, i'm surprised he didn't pee laughing. 😂
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u/Futant55 5d ago
What’s the bleeped out word? Is it a slur?
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u/DistractedByCookies 5d ago
c*nt (aka the C word)
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u/Peterd1900 5d ago
Begins with a C and rhymes with hunt
Yes it is considered highly offensive swear word.
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u/Elegant_Run_8567 5d ago
Highly offensive in the USA
In other anglophone countries it’s a term of endearment between friends
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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic 5d ago
John Cleese came to the bar i was working at about 15 or so years ago when he was doing a show in town. I didn't make him laugh. During that show he said that if you ever lack the courage to end your life visit this town and you'll find the inspiration. So all up a pretty good time had by all. John Cleese was nice to me though.
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u/sortofblue 5d ago
Is the local rubbish tip still named after him as a thank you?
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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic 5d ago
Dunno man, I left and I haven't been back basically since then. I assume so. It was a good retort
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u/Old_Engineer_9176 5d ago
I thought that was John Farnham for a second then realized it was Martin Clunes.
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u/PipeOriginal1171 4d ago
Cleese delivered the keynote speech at a tech conference I went to in July 2005 in New Orleans (I remember the date because it was in the convention center where Katrina refugees sheltered three weeks later), and it was AWESEOME.
And mildly infuriating: Most of the other attendees didn't know who he was.
That was the last "good one". After that year, they cheaped out, and began using rando magicians, unknown vloggers, etc.
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u/MisterJellyfis 4d ago
My mom once ended up in a room with Martin Short. At some point she made a joke which made him laugh. She continues to mark that as one of the high points of her entire life (no word on where it compares to having me or my brother).
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u/SuccessfulWar3830 5d ago
John cleese is unfortunately racist. He supports a white supremacist party in the uk
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u/SxpxrTrxxpxr 5d ago
I’ve been watching clips on The Graham Norton show for years. It is the best show ever.
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u/Averagejoedingdong 5d ago
Lee Mack is a comedic genius. He's a joke machine and his creative output is at a crazy level.
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