Before He Was House, MD: Must-Sees for Hugh Laurie Fans - Comments Page 2

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• 26 - Colin

  Dec 14, 2007 at 5:47 am

  As I've said I have never seen House, so perhaps it's just my personal comedic baggage - and as 0.00000001 percent of the British television audience I can be easily disregarded! (Have a look at my blog of 20 years on the lash, and you'll see that I'm not overqualified to comment on any of this such has been my disengagement) Holmesians, I think, tend to have a very developed view of the great (fictional) man, and the late and very great Jeremy Brett has come closest to mine - possibly to the extent that he's queered the pitch for others. As a double act I don't think you can go from Jeeves and Wooster to H and W but, really, that is just me and I don't think I am in any way typical and the pair are marquee names, so why the flip not. I don't think a British production is likely for a while anyhow - the Brett series' long shadow, but with Hugh's name such a hit in the states... Well, why not?
  I have lots of dreamy dreams, and writing a Holmes feature script is one of them, I think the time for a big screener is really ripe - The Hound would be the usual and most likely suspect.
  Ben Elton is now routinely traduced by people on the left in this country - he started out as a very political stand up and is considered a 'sell out' by many lefties (a bogus concept in my view) particularly after he worked with Andrew Lloyd Weber for some reason - as if musical theatre is in some sense an inherently right wing form...
  Sorry, I do go on don't I?
  So, I shall now desist - or as it's a slightly medical thread I shall now de-cyst!

• 27 - bertas

  Dec 14, 2007 at 2:27 pm

  Oh Colin I know what you mean about Jeremy Brett, I just wrote a blog post a few days ago about it actually :) I agree, he was the closest to Holmes in any of the TV versions ever... and may I nudge you, I know I am by no means objective, but do give House a try, you'll be astonished at what Laurie is doing these days :)
  Barbara I'm glad you have enjoyed Moab it has been my favorite book of late, but I have to say I dont see Stephen Fry (goodness I have such a great affection for that man :) as just any common old patient... he would either have to have some illness House could not treat OR as some type of an authority figure that would make him even more miserable... like Melchy on Black Adder :) I would suggest if I may to see any of Stephen Fry's documentaries, the one about his bi-polar disorder is just... well you will have to see for yourself... knocked my socks off with his honesty...

• 28 - Barbara Barnett

  Dec 14, 2007 at 5:57 pm

  It would be best I think (if Fry ever did guest on House)if Fry played (if not a clinic patient) a straight up patient--and played it serious (not with humorous overtones. I love the delicate balance of the show never tipping over into outright comedy without a great deal of gravitas and pathos to keep it drama.

• 29 - Colin

  Dec 15, 2007 at 9:40 am

  Hey Bertas - I tried clicking your URL thingy in the comment and nothing came up - where is yer blog? I just want to look at your Brett-love...
  
  

• 30 - Christopher Rose

  Dec 15, 2007 at 10:50 am

  Try it now Colin. Bertas didn't put the full url in the little box above the comments box so I fixed it. He'll need to do it himself if he comments again for the change to be permanent...

• 31 - colin

  Dec 15, 2007 at 11:44 am

  Thanks Christopher...
  
  I posted on another thread that Snarky has now arrived in this country - I think I saw it in or on the Guardian website! Bastards... I don't like Americanisms coming in. Gosh darn hot diggity no sirree I do not!
  That was in a Fry and Laurie sketch once actually... The man who goes on holiday to return and find the police have been privatised:
  HLaurie: "Fill OUT a form! Fill OUT a form! Surely you mean fill IN a form."

• 32 - bertas

  Dec 16, 2007 at 3:09 am

  You know, I dont understand how I have waited this long not to see A bit of Fry and Laurie, shame on me :)
  

• 33 - Andrea L.T.

  Dec 18, 2007 at 5:10 pm

  For those who have had difficulty locating some of the DVD's mentioned, and aren't necessarily in a position to buy them, I have found that Netflix has all of the seasons of A Bit of Fry & Laurie, Wooster & Jeeves, Girl From Rio, The Young Visiters, MI-5, and a bunch of Hugh Laurie's other work.
  
  I'd also recommend getting the Saturday Night Live episode he did on October 28th of 2006 (I bought it from iTunes, but it's no longer available there; you can now get it on Amazon Unbox). There are some great sketches, and he did sing "The Protest Song" there as well.
  
  For myself, after having rented all of ABOFAL, I thoroughly intend to purchase the DVD set as soon as I can. Also, thanks for the information about Fortysomething being available next year!

• 34 - Barbara Barnett

  Dec 18, 2007 at 5:27 pm

  thanks for adding that information, Andrea. Hugh's Protest Song is one of those great parody songs that are timeless. It worked back in the mid 1990s and still works in 2007. In writing those songs for A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Hugh called upon so many different genres and musical styles. Each was a perfectly done parody, and the fact that he performed each perfectly within its own genre, whether on guitar, piano or harmonica marks him as an exceptionally talented musician.

• 35 - Holly Forrest

  Jan 03, 2008 at 10:35 pm

  This is a great summary and listing of where to get a look at Laurie's other work. I'm wondering if anyone knows where we can get sheet music for his songs. My son would love to play them. I can get lyrics easily enough, but need the music. Thanks!

• 36 - Barbara Barnett

  Jan 03, 2008 at 10:43 pm

  Thanks Holly. What instrument does your son play? A lot of Hugh's ABOFL songs are of very simple chord structure and pretty easy to figure out. I don't think there is sheet music for any of Hugh's compositions, so that would be your best bet if he plays guitar. Some music software will transcribe music that is recorded as midi files into sheet music and/or guitar tabs.
  
  Barbara

• 37 - NYC House Lover

  Jan 05, 2008 at 4:27 pm

  So nice when one finds others with the same obsessions. I now own all three seasons of House, the entire ABFAL, the entire Jeeves and Wooster, Maybe Baby, and Girl from Rio... as well as The Gun Seller. Other things are in my Netflix queue. I just love the guy!!!
  This was a wonderful compilation of his work. Thank you Barbara!