Benny Hill considered funnier than Monty Python - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Best Man · 08-19-2012, 02:18 PM

Proof is the 1983 Current Biography on Hill showing he was considered the funniest man in the UK. TV stations like WOR considered Hill funnier too. This is mentioned in the bio The Benny Hill Story by John Smith.

Retro4Life · 08-19-2012, 02:26 PM

Respectfully disagree. Strongly.

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-20-2012, 05:01 PM

.....especially the banana peels that Benny might have occasionally used in his sketches. Let me explain:

Benny Hill's brand of humor was from the burlesque/vaudeville/English music hall school of comedy. Broad {including the women and their semi-nude appearances}, "lowbrow", and obvious "silly" gags were his forte. If it was funny, flaunt it!

"Monty Python", on the other hand, was pure "absurdist" comedy, poking fun at everyone and everything, with sharp satire (and occasional "broad" humor, as the kind Benny practiced) and deft writing. Some of it may have gone over viewers' heads, but it was funny [during a sketch about possible usage of magic by English policemen, some of them are seen using a Ouija board, guiding a little device in spelling out a message from the "spirit world"- BOBBIES {in unison}: "U....P.....Y...O....U....R....S..." GRAHAM CHAPMAN: "'Up yours'?? What a rude Ouija board!"].

loaferman · 08-21-2012, 10:28 AM

Both have their strong points. I prefer Benny easily. The only thing with Benny was the show ran so long that it often got repetitive. It seemed risque' in the time but is now tame by current standards. Benny could make people laugh with just a facial expression. He was one of the all-time greats in my book.

Marvo301 · 08-21-2012, 01:48 PM

It's not really fair to compare Benny Hill and Monty Python. Benny Hill is one person. Monty Python is a group of people. So the statement that Benny Hill is the funniest man in the U.K. does not mean that he is funnier than Monty Python. It simply means that he is considered funnier than any other individual person in the U.K. Monty Python, being a group, are in a whole other category.

robyrob · 08-21-2012, 03:15 PM

completely subjective and impossible to "prove".

they're both great in their own ways, problem solved.

Best Man · 09-07-2012, 05:53 PM

hill best indeed

Best Man · 09-22-2012, 04:30 AM

benny called himself benny after jack benny.

jetboy24 · 09-23-2012, 10:48 PM

they are totally different kinds of humor, Benny Hill never tackled politics, etc..

MrCleveland · 09-30-2012, 10:42 PM

I prefer Monty Python over Benny Hill anyday, It's like saying The Three Stooges are funnier than The Marx Brothers!

To me, Benny Hill was like The Three Stooges. Low-brow and a lot of slapstick. The Marx Bros. are more wittier and sarcastic (Groucho was more sarcastic, Chico had some wits, and Harpo was The Quiet One).

visaman666 · 10-09-2012, 01:37 AM

The Benny Hill Show, actually was a special that ran a few times a year, and was later cut up to fit the 30 minute format for US TV. Whereas Python was a weekly series.

Best Man · 10-14-2012, 02:12 AM

Benny was the UK's greatest comic ever

Best Man · 10-21-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Best Man

Proof is the 1983 Current Biography on Hill showing he was considered the funniest man in the UK. TV stations like WOR considered Hill funnier too. This is mentioned in the bio The Benny Hill Story by John Smith.

The above mentioned is the best bio on Hill.

howilu · 10-23-2012, 10:23 AM

To me, Monty Python was more funnier than Benny Hill since they were a group of bright, funny people who wrote and performed their own material, including a large number of female roles in drag. Terry Gilliam added a lot to the shows with his unique animation style.

Best Man · 10-27-2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Best Man

Proof is the 1983 Current Biography on Hill showing he was considered the funniest man in the UK. TV stations like WOR considered Hill funnier too. This is mentioned in the bio The Benny Hill Story by John Smith.

I repeat this message.

08-19-2012, 02:18 PM	#1
Best Man Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 15, 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 594	Benny Hill considered funnier than Monty Python Proof is the 1983 Current Biography on Hill showing he was considered the funniest man in the UK. TV stations like WOR considered Hill funnier too. This is mentioned in the bio The Benny Hill Story by John Smith.

08-19-2012, 02:26 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Respectfully disagree. Strongly.
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08-20-2012, 05:01 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	It's the same as comparing apples and bananas... .....especially the banana peels that Benny might have occasionally used in his sketches. Let me explain: Benny Hill's brand of humor was from the burlesque/vaudeville/English music hall school of comedy. Broad {including the women and their semi-nude appearances}, "lowbrow", and obvious "silly" gags were his forte. If it was funny, flaunt it! "Monty Python", on the other hand, was pure "absurdist" comedy, poking fun at everyone and everything, with sharp satire (and occasional "broad" humor, as the kind Benny practiced) and deft writing. Some of it may have gone over viewers' heads, but it was funny [during a sketch about possible usage of magic by English policemen, some of them are seen using a Ouija board, guiding a little device in spelling out a message from the "spirit world"- BOBBIES {in unison}: "U....P.....Y...O....U....R....S..." GRAHAM CHAPMAN: "'Up yours'?? What a rude Ouija board!"].

08-21-2012, 10:28 AM	#4
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	Both have their strong points. I prefer Benny easily. The only thing with Benny was the show ran so long that it often got repetitive. It seemed risque' in the time but is now tame by current standards. Benny could make people laugh with just a facial expression. He was one of the all-time greats in my book.
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08-21-2012, 01:48 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	It's not really fair to compare Benny Hill and Monty Python. Benny Hill is one person. Monty Python is a group of people. So the statement that Benny Hill is the funniest man in the U.K. does not mean that he is funnier than Monty Python. It simply means that he is considered funnier than any other individual person in the U.K. Monty Python, being a group, are in a whole other category.
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08-21-2012, 03:15 PM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,197	completely subjective and impossible to "prove". they're both great in their own ways, problem solved.
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09-07-2012, 05:53 PM	#7
Best Man Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 15, 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 594	hill best indeed

09-22-2012, 04:30 AM	#8
Best Man Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 15, 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 594	benny called himself benny after jack benny.

09-23-2012, 10:48 PM	#9
jetboy24 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2012 Location: DC Posts: 8	they are totally different kinds of humor, Benny Hill never tackled politics, etc..

09-30-2012, 10:42 PM	#10
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,228	I prefer Monty Python over Benny Hill anyday, It's like saying The Three Stooges are funnier than The Marx Brothers! To me, Benny Hill was like The Three Stooges. Low-brow and a lot of slapstick. The Marx Bros. are more wittier and sarcastic (Groucho was more sarcastic, Chico had some wits, and Harpo was The Quiet One).
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10-09-2012, 01:37 AM	#11
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	The Benny Hill Show, actually was a special that ran a few times a year, and was later cut up to fit the 30 minute format for US TV. Whereas Python was a weekly series.

10-14-2012, 02:12 AM	#12
Best Man Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 15, 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 594	Benny was the UK's greatest comic ever

10-23-2012, 10:23 AM	#14
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,962	To me, Monty Python was more funnier than Benny Hill since they were a group of bright, funny people who wrote and performed their own material, including a large number of female roles in drag. Terry Gilliam added a lot to the shows with his unique animation style.