Search

Paw-sitively hilarious finalists of the Comedy Pet Photography Awards 2023 revealed

The annual Comedy Pet Photography awards have announced their finalists for the competition, proving you can always rely on your furry friends to put a smile on your face. The 25 finalists have snapped their pets in their silliest moments, with the paw-sitively hilarious photos making instant classics. The finalists for the 2023 competition captured a photo-bombing dog, a lazy cat, unlikely friends, a sneak attack, a mishap at the beach and many other funny predicaments they found their furry friends in. The annual competition began several years ago, when professional photographers Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks, who already ran the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, wanted to branch out and bring awareness to the joy pets bring to people's lives. Their website shares that their mission is to "promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues and celebrate the incredible and hugely valuable contribution that pets can and do have on our lives." "Through the wonders of photography, we want to share the hilarious expressions, antics and naughty capers that your joyous pets get up to and share the love and laughter with the world!" Fans of the funny furry friends can <a href="https://www.comedypetphoto.com/peoples-choice-award/vote-peoples-choice-award.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote</a> on their favourite pic to determine the winner of the People's Choice Award for the 2023 competition. All image credits: Comedy Pet Photography Awards

Family & Pets

"I've been attacked": Barry Humphries' response to Comedy Festival incident

Anti-trans campaigner Graham Linehan has shared an email he received from the late Barry Humphries in the response to the fallout from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival incident. In 2019, Humphries name was removed from one of the key awards at the annual comedy festival after he made comments ridiculing transgender people, included labelling gender affirmation surgery as “self-mutilation”. In an interview in 2018, Humphries branded being transgender “a fashion” and criticised teachers who support trans youth in schools, declaring it a "pretty evil" practice. As a result, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which was partly founded by Humphries, renamed their 'Barry Award' amid the controversy. Now, just days after Humphries passing, writer and anti-trans campaigner Graham Linehan has shared an email he allegedly received from Humphries after the renaming of the award. The email purportedly from Humphries said, “Thanks for your letter. I’ve been banned by the Melbourne Comedy Festival which Peter Cook and I launched! I’ve been attacked and branded fascist and ‘transphobic’ by the ‘they’ brigade, and accused of racism by people who have never met an [Indigenous person]." “That actors who have become rich and famous by performing in JKR’s plays and films and then vindictively excoriated her, seems to me a cowardly betrayal. Thanks for writing to me and good luck against a powerful and malign foe.” Humphries appears to be referring to J.K. Rowling by “JKR”, as the Harry Potter creator is one of the most high-profile anti-trans campaigners and refers to herself as “TERF”, an acronym for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist”. Linehan co-created TV comedies including Father Ted, Black Books and The IT Crowd but has in recent years become better known for his strident anti-trans views. In the wake of Humphries’ death, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2019 decision has come under attack by some commentators, who accused the festival of “cancelling” the comedian. However, festival’s director Susan Provan defended the organisation for their decision, while also paying tribute to Humphries' influence on comedy. She told ABC radio in Melbourne, “We’ve never cancelled Barry Humphries. There seems to be some misconceptions going on around there. We changed the name of an award, which… was the right decision to make when we did that." “We have celebrated, and continue to celebrate Barry, an incredible comedian, comic artists, who took Australian comedy global. We will always celebrate that he was amazing. And we really value his contribution to the comedy festival too.” Provan added the decision had been made in 2019 because Humphries’ “comments did not reflect the values of our community”. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Hilarious winners of the worldwide 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

The winners of the 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced, with some hilarious photos capturing astounding moments of the most adorable animals. An image of a three-month-old lion cub falling out of a tree has been named the overall winner of this year's competition, with Jennifer Hadley in the Serengeti, Tanzania, capturing the moment late one afternoon. "It didn't even occur to me that he would make a go of getting down by himself in the most un-cat like fashion. I mean, how often do cats fall out of trees?" Hadley said in a press release. "No one expected this to happen and of course we were concerned for his safety but happily as cats do, he righted himself just in time and landed on all fours and ran off with his siblings. A happy ending for a hapless kitty who didn't quite know how to get down from a tree." Hadley also won the People's Choice Award for her photo of a dismissive penguin seemingly snubbing his friend, which was titled Talk to the Fin. All image credits: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

International Travel

Prince Harry stars in comedy skit to promote "green" travel venture

Prince Harry has flexed his acting muscles as he stars in a comedy skit promoting his new "green" travel venture in New Zealand. The Duke of Sussex's eco-tourism venture Travalyst, which he founded in 2019, has launched a new initiative to rate holidayers on their environmental credentials. Travellers will also be able to choose their hotel based on how "green" the hotels and resorts are. In the hilarious ad promoting the new move, Prince Harry is seen jogging through a park, wearing a t-shirt that says "Girl Dad", in honour of his daughter Lilibet. The clip also features New Zealand actors Rhys Darby, Dave Fane and Rena Owen. In the video, Harry is accosted by Darby, who plays a "rating agent", who accuses him of littering on a beach in Auckland during his and Meghan's royal tour in October 2018. Darby explains that the country is trialling a system in which holiday destinations rate their visitors, giving Harry three stars out of five. He gives the royal a positive review for only using one out of 12 provided towels, buying honey from local vendors and turning off the tap when he brushed his teeth. When asked about his experience in the country, Harry says, "It was an incredible time. We had an amazing time in New Zealand. It's beautiful". The Duke of Sussex made the announcement on Māori Television's Te Ao with Moana on Monday night. Harry told viewers he had always felt a deep connection and respect towards the Maori people. "Tena Koutou katoa. I've been to Aotearoa a number of times throughout my life and I've always felt a deep connection and respect towards the Māori people who make me feel so welcome every time," Harry said. You can check out the video below. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V_sUwhZhTTY" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Image credits: Travalyst

Grace Tame makes waves at comedy show

Grace Tame has tried her hand at comedy to the delight of attendees at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The 23-year-old Tasmanian appeared on a panel of comedians that touched on everything from climate change, housing affordability, and gender equality to Australia Day and misinformation and social media - all in a hilarious way, of course. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Last night’s <a href="https://twitter.com/ARationalFear?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARationalFear</a> live show in Melbourne was 👌 <a href="https://twitter.com/GabbiBolt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GabbiBolt</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/aliterative?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aliterative</a> hilarious, Dane Simpson & <a href="https://twitter.com/TamePunk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TamePunk</a> both nailed it, <a href="https://twitter.com/Andy_McClelland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Andy_McClelland</a> brought the bangers and <a href="https://twitter.com/vidyarrrr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vidyarrrr</a> was superb. Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/danilic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danilic</a>, creative director of Meta. Download the pod when it comes out — Charlotte George 🌈 (@ccl_george) <a href="https://twitter.com/ccl_george/status/1513289276813119488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote> She received the loudest applause as she was introduced by podcast host Dan Ilic, who pointed out how she was the master of the side-eye, referencing the famous photo of her and Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Lodge. After monologues from Ilic, Gabbi Bolt, Alice Fraser and Dane Simpson, it was Ms Tame’s turn. She joked that she wasn’t going to get political, apologising to anyone who came to see her take aim at Mr Morrison - at least not directly. “Grace Tame referring to no particular politician as ‘A giant self-saucing joke pudding’,” one attendee tweeted about Ms Tame’s monologue. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Wow! <a href="https://twitter.com/ARationalFear?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARationalFear</a> was extraordinary... Thank you to the incredible team of<a href="https://twitter.com/vidyarrrr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vidyarrrr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Andy_McClelland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Andy_McClelland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LewisHobba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LewisHobba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aliterative?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aliterative</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GabbiBolt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GabbiBolt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thedanesimpson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thedanesimpson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LewisHobba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LewisHobba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/zdaniel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zdaniel</a> And the incredible <a href="https://twitter.com/TamePunk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TamePunk</a> who brought the house down by comparing herself to an Airfryer. <a href="https://t.co/9QqNEEUPwU">pic.twitter.com/9QqNEEUPwU</a> — Dan Ilic (@danilic) <a href="https://twitter.com/danilic/status/1513254582864199680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2022</a></blockquote> Ms Tame also told stories about My Little Pony, her favourite show to watch as a child, with veiled references to Mr Morrison and his government. One of the characters who “sharted in Old MacDonald’s farm” was a particularly clear reference to the longstanding rumour that Mr Morrison soiled himself at a McDonald’s in Engadine in 1997. Ms Tame didn’t just focus on the PM, going on to describe NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham as her “favourite comedian”. A joke about someone claiming Tasmania wasn’t a real place led to Tame saying it was okay because she lived ‘rent-free’ in Mr Latham’s head, along with domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty (who he has publicly attacked), the 2004 election results (which saw him lost as Labor leader), and anyone who wasn’t a white man. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> To be clear, this isn’t a “career move”. Advocacy is my first priority, always. It’s my life and purpose. I ummed and aahed over whether or not this was the right thing to do. Would it send a hopeful, empowering message to survivors? Or would it trivialise the cause? <a href="https://t.co/UDGm7iE0UG">pic.twitter.com/UDGm7iE0UG</a> — Grace Tame (@TamePunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamePunk/status/1512934253662654464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2022</a></blockquote> Before Sunday’s gig, Ms Tame took to social media to explain her decision to take part in the comedy festival and clarify it wasn’t a ‘career move’, as many outlets reported. “Advocacy is my first priority always. It’s my life and purpose. I ummed and aahed over whether or not this was the right thing to do,” she wrote on Sunday morning. “There are risks in doing this, as there are with just about anything else in this mad life. “Things have been especially tough lately. But I reckon we could use a laugh. Either way, the joke’s on me. And if I fail, I’ll pick myself up and move. “You never know unless you try.” The show, which also included Lewis Hobba and independent candidate Goldstein Zoe Danila as a special guest, was recorded and will be released as an episode of Ilic’s podcast A Rational Fear. Image: Twitter

Beauty & Style

30 years since The Addams Family hit the big screen, it is still the perfect blend of horror and comedy

The dark side of films has always had a strong relationship with the light side. Mixing comedy with horror often ensured a hit even in the early days of cinema –comedian Harold Lloyd was making such films <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-CXQspZtMs">as early as the 1920s</a>. This combination of light hearted horror worked on the small screen as well. In the 1950s and 1960s, family sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show, My Three Sons, The Beverley Hillbillies and Leave it to Beaver were all hugely popular. But the 60s were also a time of the counter-culture revolution. Beatniks, hippies and a general anti-establishment youth culture progressively dismissed the conforming stereotypes of the wholesome family. From this a TV show, based on a long running New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams, was launched: The Addams Family, based around a family who, while not outright monsters, definitely played on the dark side of life. The series itself only ran for two seasons and was dropped for poor ratings. But in the intervening years the show’s status grew. Children of the 1960s to the 1980s discovered the reruns and grew in love with the weirdness and offbeat humour. These children grew into adults who never lost interest in one of the strangest shows ever made. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3jnymeJof4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> In 1991 this nostalgia culminated with the release of The Addams Family Movie. Set around a family of oddballs whose pastimes include grave digging, cutting the heads off roses (because the thorns are far more precious) and stealing stop signs to revel in the sound of cars crashing, 30 years on the film has not lost any of its eccentric charm or quirky sensibilities. <h2>A plot for the madness</h2> The Addams Family Movie starts with the dilemma of attempting to contact Gomez’s brother, Fester (who has been in the afterlife for 25 years) and constantly failing. When someone claiming to be Fester turns up (the ever-versatile Christopher Lloyd), he is quickly embraced by the Addams’s as the long-lost Uncle. What they don’t know is the fake Fester is just there to find and steal their hidden riches. But this whole story is just a flimsy backdrop to all the crazy jokes, one-liners and sight-gags that each member of the family gets up to throughout the film. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G388UMkJIBE?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams are difficult to describe. Gomez is somewhere between a 1930s gangster and a wide eyed man-child who finds wonder at everything. But he is definitely a Renaissance man: just as skilled with a rapier sword as he is with a golf club, his dance moves are unparalleled. The late Raul Julia plays Gomez to perfection – arguably even better than John Astin who played the TV original. Angelica Huston steals the show as his wife Morticia. Wistful, sublime and ethereal, Huston mixes eroticism with playful innocence. She also gets many of the best lines. When Gomez asks Morticia if she is “Unhappy, darling?”, Morticia smoothly supines with a smile “Oh yes, yes completely” – as though that is the ultimate state of ecstasy. Gomez looks on her with constant adoring eyes, and cannot control his unbridled lust whenever Morticia speaks French. It is a love fuelled by constant romance. As Morticia says, “Gomez, last night you were unhinged. You were like some desperate, howling demon. You frightened me … Do it again!”. And when Gomez is racked by angst Morticia tells him “Don’t torture yourself, Gomez … that’s my job”. Every horror movie needs a creepy kid. And the Addams children, daughter Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and son Pugsley (Jimmy Workman), fit the bill nicely. Wednesday is like a mini version of her mother, but in a much more dour mood, with an intense interest in instruments of torture and execution. Pugsley is more playful, always following Wednesday’s lead – to the point of climbing into her electric chair to play her game of “Is there a God?”. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5I0xFZ34uT4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <h2>Ghoulish with heart</h2> Horror is supposed to make you frightened; comedy is supposed to make you laugh. They’re genre polar opposites. Then why do horror-comedies work? The Addams Family is so accessible to a wide audience because, while it plays with the dark side of life, it’s a horror film without any of the horror. The darkness is very low level, and it isn’t represented as being real. This is why children and people who don’t like real horror films love it. They can dip their toes in the horror genre but it is played for laughs, not scares. In a way, it has a been a gateway film for when children grow older and watch real horror films. The Addams Family introduces them to the dark world, but there’s nothing to fear. For now, it’s just fun. Overall, though, the one thing The Addams Family movie teaches audiences is regardless if you’re a witch, or a ghoul, or even just a hand, the most important thing in life is family.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172042/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/daryl-sparkes-828631">Daryl Sparkes</a>, Senior Lecturer (Media Studies and Production), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/30-years-since-the-addams-family-hit-the-big-screen-it-is-still-the-perfect-blend-of-horror-and-comedy-172042">original article</a>.

From Love Actually to Christmas On The Farm: how rom-coms became a festive season staple

It is a visual language with which we are almost all familiar. It’s cold and snowing outside, but inside, next to a crackling fire, it’s warm and cosy. The tree is a deep green, festooned with fairy lights, glinting off the wrapping of the presents below. There is hot chocolate and sugar cookies and eggnog and candy canes, and the only things that can be heard are carols and the joyous laughter of our nearest and dearest. This image of Christmas is, of course, vastly different to what we usually experience in Australia – extreme heat, seafood platters, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q">white wine in the sun</a> – but it is still one with which we are very familiar. It’s present in all our retail settings, with their fake snow and holly and Santas sweating in their suits. And of course, it’s all over our media, in the increasingly ubiquitous Christmas romantic comedy film. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436574/original/file-20211209-138695-5pacow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=8%2C17%2C5982%2C3970&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436574/original/file-20211209-138695-5pacow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=8%2C17%2C5982%2C3970&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> In The Knight Before Christmas (2019), a medieval knight is transported to the present day, where he falls for a high school science teacher who’s lost her belief in love. Brooke Palmer/ Netflix <h2>Counting down to Christmas</h2> Christmas movies have a long history, dating back to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3ei1tseeM">1898 short film Santa Claus</a>, but the Christmas rom-com really hit its stride in the 21st century. Love Actually (2003), an ensemble film featuring multiple intertwined stories, is perhaps the best-known example. However, in terms of sheer quantity, it is difficult to look past the company that has made Christmas their core business: Hallmark. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437057/original/file-20211212-17-9ikar9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437057/original/file-20211212-17-9ikar9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Love Actually (2003) is one of the most popular examples of the Christmas rom-com. IMDB Since 2009, the Hallmark Channel have run a seasonal block of programming called Countdown to Christmas, central to which are their Hallmark Christmas movies. Countdown to Christmas has become increasingly extravagant: <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/hallmark-christmas-movies-2021/">in 2021</a>, it began on October 22, and will feature a total of forty new movies, along with a (very) large number from previous years. While Hallmark Christmas movies have been a cultural touchstone for many years in North America, that hasn’t been the case to the same extent in Australia, because we haven’t had widespread access to the flood of programming. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437059/original/file-20211212-23-16hf6i3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437059/original/file-20211212-23-16hf6i3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> In Write Before Christmas (2020), a Hallmark Channel original movie, recently single Jessica sends Christmas cards to five people that have impacted her life. As each person receives Jessica’s card, they are sparked to act in their own lives to make them better. Hallmark However, the advent and popularity of Netflix’s Hallmark-style Christmas movies, beginning with A Christmas Prince and Christmas Inheritance in 2017, have led to a growing familiarity and engagement with the Christmas romance genre from local audiences. As a result, after many years with <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-very-aussie-christmas-70647">a dearth of local Christmas programming</a>, Stan released A Sunburnt Christmas last year, their first Australian Christmas original film. This year, they have another original Australian Christmas offering in rom-com <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_oEqfyLpMQ">Christmas on the Farm</a>, which premiered on December 1. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r_oEqfyLpMQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Christmas on the Farm is missing a key ingredient of the Hallmark Christmas romance: snow (in the Hallmark universe, the characters <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/12/14/16752012/hallmark-christmas-movies-explained">“can’t be waiting for the snow, there has to be snow”</a>). However, it boasts a screenwriter with Hallmark credentials in Jennifer Notas Shapiro, and draws on plenty of other tropes of the Christmas rom-com. <h2>What makes a Christmas rom-com?</h2> Hallmark has a reputation for conservatism, and we cannot fail to note that for many years, their movies featured exclusively <a href="https://thewalrus.ca/the-unwatchable-whiteness-of-holiday-movies/">straight, white, middle-class characters</a> <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2021/11/gac-family-christmas-movies-cable-tv.html?utm_campaign=nym&utm_medium=s1&utm_source=tw">falling in love</a> (although they are slowly beginning to diversity their casts). It is perhaps surprising, then, that Christmas rom-coms do not tend to be particularly religious. Instead, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-makes-christmas-movies-so-popular-127972">as S Brent Rodriguez-Plate argues</a>, there’s a more secular reason for the season underpinning these films – “the power of family, true love, the meaning of home or the reconciliation of relationships”. Christmas rom-coms thus have a particular aesthetic (snow, mistletoe, ugly-but-snuggly jumpers), and a particular set of core values: family, community, selflessness, kindness, love. They’re rarely overtly supernatural, but the Christmas setting often gives rise to a little bit of “Christmas magic” or a “Christmas miracle”, which pushes our protagonists towards embracing these values. As a result, there are some very common plots, settings, and themes in the Christmas rom-com. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437069/original/file-20211212-23-d89k1x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437069/original/file-20211212-23-d89k1x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> In Happiest Season (2020), Abby, a lesbian, plans to propose to her girlfriend, Harper, in front of Harper’s family members. But she is in for a shock when she learns that Harper is yet to come out to her parents. Netflix Home for the holidays This plot is Hallmark’s bread and butter. One of our protagonists – usually the heroine – returns home for the holidays. This is often against her will: she’s usually a city-dwelling career woman, leaving behind a similarly career-driven boyfriend. But going home for Christmas reveals to her that although she might be successful, she hasn’t been happy. With the help of family and/or community and almost always a handsome hometown hunk (usually dressed in flannel), she learns to slow down and embrace what really matters to her. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437060/original/file-20211212-13-i6giq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437060/original/file-20211212-13-i6giq0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Time For Them To Come Home For Christmas (2021). During the holidays, a woman with amnesia catches a ride with her handsome nurse to investigate the only clue to her identity. IMDB. Small towns Our heroine is almost exclusively returning home to a small town, often with a Christmassy name and one or more struggling local businesses – a bakery, an inn, a Christmas tree farm. She must learn that work does not bring her joy, and that she needs to slow down and take stock. However, she nearly always finds herself using her corporate skills to re-energise and revive these businesses. For films which make it clear that we should not dream of labour, a surprising amount of attention is paid to stimulating the economy of small towns. Christmas kingdoms If our heroine is not going home for the holidays, she might find herself in a small, ambiguously European and unambiguously Christmassy kingdom. There, she’ll have a run-in with some local royalty, with whom she’ll swiftly fall in love. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437055/original/file-20211212-13-ln91xn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437055/original/file-20211212-13-ln91xn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> In A Christmas Prince (2017), a young journalist is sent abroad to go undercover to get the scoop on a playboy prince who is destined to be king, all in the lead up to Christmas. Netflix Netflix has leaned into this plot extensively in their Christmas rom-coms – it’s the foundation of both the Christmas Prince (2017-19) and Princess Switch (2018-21) trilogies. No Grinches allowed This is arguably the defining characteristic of Christmas rom-coms: they are sincere. Any cynicism towards the season is swiftly quashed. It is only by embracing the genre’s key values that the happy ending of the rom-com can be reached. Our protagonists must fall in love not only with each other, but also with Christmas. A happy ending Christmas rom-coms always end happily, with our central couple in love and everyone having a very merry Christmas. There is a familiar pattern to them - one does not watch these films to be surprised. Like many of the trappings of Christmas, watching these movies is a holiday ritual for many people, as comforting as putting on a Christmas jumper. They’re films to snuggle into, secure in the notion that for now, all’s right in the world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171819/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jodi-mcalister-135765">Jodi McAlister</a>, Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-love-actually-to-christmas-on-the-farm-how-rom-coms-became-a-festive-season-staple-171819">original article</a>. Image: Netflix

Movies

Preppers is a deep reading of colonial violence – and a hilarious, must-watch Aussie TV comedy

A sophisticated multi-layered critique of colonialism, capitalism and patriarchy with an all-star Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cast (along with some well-known non-Indigenous personalities playing an assortment of “allies”), Preppers is hilarious. Trying to navigate being the only Indigenous person on an all-white TV morning show, Wake up Australia, and dealing with <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/unmasking-the-racial-contract-debbie-bargallie/book/9781925302653.html">daily microaggressions</a>, Charlie (Nakkiah Lui) finds herself suffering feelings of inadequacy and soothing herself with self-help affirmations. Then, after a series of unfortunate events, she wakes to find herself at a doomsday preppers hold out known as “Eden 2”. The six-part series then unfolds in an isolated camp where power relations shift as everyone prepares for the end of the world. The core cast of seven is led by a group of brilliant Blak actors: Lui is joined by Jack Charles, Meyne Wyatt, Ursula Yovich and Aaron McGrath, with non-Indigenous actors Eryn Jean Norvill and Chum Ehelepola rounding out the preppers. Many other wonderful actors move in and out of the series, including Miranda Tapsell, Luke Carroll and Christine Anu, as it tackles some big issues such as colonial violence, frontier wars, inter-generational trauma and the politics of identity. But it does this all in the great Aussie tradition of <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-84796-8_6">taking the piss</a>: making fun of the things that are absurd, risible, offensive and hurtful. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nvb1Mx34TiA?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <h2>A story of allyship</h2> <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-84796-8_10">Much has been written on the topic of allyship</a> with Indigenous people, particularly the danger that, in seeking “ally” status one is really seeking to position oneself as the “good white person”. If white allies are motivated solely by a desire to be seen as a “good person”, there is a danger they might remain <a href="https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers/2070/">ignorant of or indifferent</a> to larger structures of power. Preppers explores this complexity in a way that will make us all laugh, while also revealing how allyship operates to silence or take from Indigenous people. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430732/original/file-20211108-25-bmjnpb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430732/original/file-20211108-25-bmjnpb.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A white woman dressed like a coloniser, and an Aboriginal woman dressed as an Aussie flag thong." /></a> Is this allyship? ABC TV In one episode, the group is accidentally locked in the bunker. Jayden (Aaron McGrath) calls on Kirby (Eryn Jean Norvill) to be sacrificed before they run out of air. As Jayden describes it, this would be “the ultimate display of white allyship”. Kirby, not very happy to comply, responds by stating she should survive to go on and tell the story. “We don’t need another white person to tell a Black story,” says Jayden. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430731/original/file-20211108-10550-nd7vuv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430731/original/file-20211108-10550-nd7vuv.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A white woman with a shotgun mike, looked on by three Aboriginal people." /></a> ‘We don’t need another white person to tell a Black story’, Jayden tells Kirby. ABC TV Becoming an ally is no simple or straightforward matter. Instead, it requires constant reflection on your social position, and remaining accountable to those with whom you are “allied” – but you probably won’t be called to self-sacrifice to ensure enough air is left in your doomsday bunker. In true Hollywood end-of-days fashion, the group turns on itself. Kirby declares Charlie (Lui) will be the one to die. Charlie’s reward will be becoming the namesake for a future child of born again Christians Lionel (New Zealand-Sri Lankan actor Chum Ehelepola) and Kelly (Ursula Yovich). Not the first or the second child but one of the later ones, Kelly notes. An annual day of honour will also be bestowed upon Charlie – “a day of mourning and dancing and stuff”. Thankfully, they are saved by the arrival of Charlie’s mum, Marie (Christine Anu). <h2>Tough truths through comedy</h2> Preppers unpacks what we think we know – and what has been taught to us as truth – about colonisation. In one scene, bones are found. The preppers suspect the bones could be those of an Aboriginal person killed during the frontier wars. The truth of these atrocities is questioned by some members of the group. “Don’t they teach you that in school?”, Jayden asks. “We used to make boomerangs out of Popsicle sticks, does that count?”, asks Lionel. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430733/original/file-20211108-10010-1o9yuk7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/430733/original/file-20211108-10010-1o9yuk7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Jack Charles" /></a> Through Monty (Jack Charles), Preppers tells the truth about Australia’s history. ABC TV The resident Elder, Monty (Jack Charles), reveals he may have some records of local frontier wars and quips “that is the thing with you white fellas. You deny it but you wrote it down”. Describing <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/this-interactive-map-highlights-150-indigenous-massacres">frontier violence</a> as an apocalypse, Monty shows the group a series of slides of colonial soldiers and settlers killing Aboriginal people, declaring they were “led by a cruel man, a real dog. He shot, burnt, beat, hung local Aboriginal people”. Even though Preppers is a comedy, the show provides a deep reading often left out of recollections of colonial violence. Indigenous people were not just passive victims of the heinous crimes. They were people who fought for their lives and Country. “They ambushed this colonial dog and his men, stole their weapons and turned the guns back on them. The Blackfullas had their revenge”, says Monty. <h2>Blackfulla deadly</h2> From Charlie, whose anxiety manifests into uncontrollable flatulence, to a Black <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2019/04/is-you-vs-wild-real-netflix-bear-gryllls.html">Bear Grylls</a>-alpha-male-wannabe (Guy, played by Meyne Wyatt), to a pair of amorous born again Christians practising abstinence, Preppers includes brilliant performances from all in the cast. Preppers embodies the true definition of Blak humour in all its intricacies, and the unique ways Indigenous comedy can address the complexities of everyday life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in contemporary Australia. The series is, to quote a line in one of the episodes, “like deadly, like Blackfulla deadly, not like gammin [fake or pretend]” - a must watch! Preppers is on ABC from November 10.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/170100/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bronwyn-carlson-136214">Bronwyn Carlson</a>, Professor, Indigenous Studies and Director of The Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/preppers-is-a-deep-reading-of-colonial-violence-and-a-hilarious-must-watch-aussie-tv-comedy-170100">original article</a>. Image: ABC

Ivermectin fan Joe Rogan thought an Australian comedy sketch was ‘propaganda’

Former reality TV host and podcaster Joe Rogan shared a video on his Instagram on Monday night, writing, “Not only has Australia had the worst reaction to the pandemic with dystopian, police-state measures that are truly inconceivable to the rest of the civilized world, but they also have the absolute dumbest propaganda.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVvyYXzgrD2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVvyYXzgrD2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan)</a> </div> </blockquote> The biggest problem with his caption was that the video was from the satirical ABC show Gruen, and Rogan had just made the embarrassing mistake of being unable to distinguish between satire and reality. An easy mistake to make for someone who can’t differentiate between human medicine and horse medicine; after contracting COVID-19, Rogan <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/01/1033485152/joe-rogan-covid-ivermectin" target="_blank">made sure his fans knew</a> that he had included Ivermectin as part of his treatment, despite the FDA confirming it to be ineffective against COVID-19. This isn't Rogan's first time expressing concern about the plight of innocent Australians who are living in a police state and being force fed dumb propaganda; he <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ladbible.com/news/latest-joe-rogans-interview-with-yeonmi-park-is-being-called-his-best-ever-20210805" target="_blank">told North Korean defector Yeonmi Park that</a>, “There’s some crazy s*** going on right now where the army is trying to keep people inside in Australia." He continued, "They have full-on government lockdowns where the government is flying helicopters over the streets (and telling people) ‘go back indoors, you’re not allowed to be outside’, which is crazy.” The Gruen video features a man falling to the floor while having an allergic reaction, and a woman crouched over him, reassuring him while getting ready to use an EpiPen on him. He stops her and asks, “Wait, what brand EpiPen is that?”, “What’s in it?”, “Medicine? How long was it researched for?”, “What are the stats from Europe?”, and, most importantly, and why Rogan posted the video, the man wheezes as his throat is closing up, “What does Joe Rogan say?” before grabbing her by the shoulders, croaking out “Call Joe”, and dying. To an even slightly informed viewer, it’s an obvious send-up of anti-vaxxers who get their information from increasingly dubious sources like relatives on Facebook, Joe Rogan and other podcasters with no medical or scientific qualifications or expertise, or dodgy websites based in Eastern Europe. To Joe Rogan, it was another example of how the tyrannical Australian government was fighting back against COVID-19, apparently. A lot of his supporters seemed to also believe the sketch was genuine, with one commenting, “Australia is fine as long as you don’t watch the free TV”, and another, Australian jiujitsu black belt holder Kit Dale, commenting, “Australia has become weak”. Others pointed out that Rogan, who self-identifies as a comedian, should be able to take jokes about him since he’s more than happy to make jokes at the expense of others. Rogan eventually edited the caption to add, “apparently this is not a real ad. It’s from a satirical show.” Yeah Joe, we know. Thirty seconds of doing your own research would have told you that from the beginning. The video's creators continue to have a good sense of humour, with Paper Moose CEO Nick Hunter <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/joe-rogan-calls-gruen-transfer-covid-19-vaccine-satire-advertisement-australian-propaganda/ac0c5bb5-45fa-404f-9715-e56fdac74088" target="_blank">telling 9News.com.au</a>, "Gruen is a satirical show. The point of the video was to talk about some of the issues anti-vaxxers have and put it in a humorous context to show the ridiculousness of what is out there." "Its literally a demonstration of the problem we are trying to solve in the world today, so it was kind of hilarious that Joe Rogan reacted the way he did." Image: Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images

Legal

“We lost a comedy giant today”: Norm Macdonald dead at 61

The comedy world is in mourning after Norm Macdonald died of cancer on Tuesday at age 61. The Canadian stand-up comic and Saturday Night Live cast member had been battling cancer in private for nearly a decade, according to his lifelong friend Lori Jo Hoekstra who was with him when he dies. "He was most proud of his comedy", she said. "He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him." "Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.” Norm was known in the comedic circle for his signature deadpan delivery and dry style of humour that quickly made him an icon of the craft. Norm's impressions of famous figures, such as TV star Burt Reynolds, became a teaching tool and huge inspiration for up and coming comics. “I essentially ripped off his delivery when I first started acting,” actor and fellow Canadian Seth Rogen tweeted. “I would stay up specifically to watch him on talk shows. He was the funniest guest of all time. We lost a comedy giant today. One of the all time greats.” Norm shot to fame when he was cast on Saturday Night Live in 1993 after performing in comedy circuits in Canada for several years. He performed on SNL until 1998, serving as a co-host of Weekend Update for three seasons. Norm then went on to star in his own ABC sitcom, The Norm Show, from 1999 until 2001, and also became a hilarious regular on a series of talk shows. In 2018, he hosted a Netflix talk show, Norm Macdonald Has a Show, that was inspired by his podcast and garnered an international audience. Hundred of comedians have shared their stories of Norm on Twitter in remembrance of the comedy giant and all he did for the world of show business. Actor Josh Gad wrote, "Absolutely gutted. One of the most underrated and hilarious SNL performers." Writer and director Edgar Wright also tweeted, saying, "Of the many addictive rabbit holes you can disappear down on the internet, the most pleasurable is ‘Norm MacDonald chat show appearances'." “Thanks for all the laughs Norm, very sorry to see you go.” Image credit: Getty Images

News

Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards showcase hilarious moments

The annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are an opportunity for photographers to capture the beauty of the animal kingdom, with a comedic twist. This year’s finalists have produced images of all shapes and sizes striking unexpected and silly poses. From giraffes in Africa and polar bears in the Arctic, to pigeons in the city and otters in rivers, these animals have been immortalised in these hilarious photographs. The finals for the competition will take place on October 22nd, with judges set to have a difficult time choosing from the pictures. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards began in 2015, and was established with the goal of promoting the conservation of wildlife and their surrounds through the use of positive and upbeat imagery. The unique use of humorous images has seen the competition gain a global following, and offers a new approach to building conservation awareness. The photographs “transcend cultures and ages to bring a smile to everyone’s face”, through these hilarious animal moments that would otherwise remain unseen. Image credit: Comedy Wildlife Awards Photography credits: <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Monkey riding a giraffe: Dirk Jan Steehouwer</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pigeon blinded by a leaf: John Speirs</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Argumentative polar bears: Cheryl Strahl</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Surprised baby otter: Chee Kee Teo</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Excitable fish: Chi Han Lin</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stunned eagle: Arthur Trevino</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bear lazing in the dirt: Wenona Suydam</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dancing monkeys: Sarosh Lodhi</li> </ol>

Technology

Jean Smart leads new comedy series

The award-winning actress stars in the new US comedy Hacks, one of the most talked about new shows this year. Starring Smart as the legendary Las Vegas comedian, Deborah Vance, the series follows the dark mentorship which develops between her and young writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder). The show’s cast also includes Carl Clemons Hopkins (Hamilton) as Deborah’s chief operating officer, and guest appearances from Kaitlin Olson (Coyote Ugly), Christopher McDonald (Thelma & Louise), and Rose Abdoo (Gilmore Girls). Hacks was created by the trio behind Broad City, with critics raving about its originality and humour. The 69-year-old has shared her enthusiasm about the role, which allows her full skill and talent to shine through. “I read it, and I just said, ‘This has it all. This could be so great’,” she told the Los Angeles Times of the script. “It’s so funny, and it’s balanced with these dark moments. If I could pick out a dozen of my favourite parts I’ve ever done, on stage or in front of the camera, and put them in the body of one person, I feel like [Deborah] is an amalgam of a lot of my favourite things.” Smart’s co-star, Einbinder, is a stand-up comedian and a newcomer to scripted TV. In a show of comradery, Smart helped ease Einbinder’s nerves ahead of her final audition according to an interview she did with Glamour. “The last stage of the audition was the screen test with Jean," Einbinder said. "I was really nervous going in, but Jean called me the night before and said, ‘I know it may feel a little surgical tomorrow with all the COVID precautions, but I just want to let you know, I think you’re really great. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun’." “She was just so classy and cool. I credit a lot of our chemistry to Jean being so warm.” Hacks premieres to Australian audiences on Friday, August 6, with all 10 episodes available. Image: Stan

Comedy awards reveal the funniest animal pictures of 2020

The annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has come back around again for 2020 and this year has definitely taken the cake. Each year, keen-eyed photographers from all around the globe capture some of the funniest photos of animals stuck in moments that seem to replicate human emotions or other hilarious poses. Together the founders Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks set out to create the contest in order to raise awareness and funds for wildlife conservation. The hilarious photographs are used to encourage people to shop responsibly, be mindful of their water use as well as giving people everywhere a good chuckle. See Over60’s top 11 picks here! Image credits: Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020 / Marcuss Wesyberg, Petr Sochman, Olin Rogers, Martin Grace, Mark Fitzpatrick, Luis Martí, Kay Kotzian, Arthur Telle Thiemann, Sally Lloyd, Yarin Klein, Roland Kranitz.

Family & Pets

Ray Martin as shocked as anyone that he's hosting a new comedy lifestyle series

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> As many are spending more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, national treasure Ray Martin has realised his life-long dream of hosting a new lifestyle show on the ABC called At Home Alone Together. “I’ve worked in journalism for over 50 years, but it’s always been my dream to front a lifestyle show. 60 Minutes was all well and good, but it never gave me an opportunity to build a pergola. Australians are experiencing a difficult time and I believe I’m the right person to step up to hold the country’s hand through it – just so long as that hand has been thoroughly sanitised,” Martin lamented in the press release. Martin is the host of the eight-part comedy series that gives audiences advice on how to live their best lives in COVID-19. Some of Australia’s best comedians and actors, including Anne Edmonds, Ryan Shelton, Beck Lucas and Adele Vuko will be joining Martin to give advice, but Martin has cautioned people that he hasn’t jumped onto the COVID-19 cooking spree. “I’m not even a cook, let alone a chef,” he tells Hibernation, with a laugh. “I grew up with a mother and three older sisters, I was banished from the kitchen except for wiping up. I married a kitchen Nazi and my wife has also kept me out of the kitchen. I lament the fact that I can barely cook baked beans. “Thankfully Dianne’s hung around for 40 years – if she was to leave me, I’d be kind of dependent on UberEats I think.” If you’re thinking that Martin has spent this time to relax and take advantage of this time in isolation to learn new skills, you’d be wrong. He’s busier than ever and hasn’t even watched all the shows or read the books he’s planned to. “I got out Great Expectations which is one of my all time favourite books and I haven’t had time to read it, I’ve been going to do much more of that than I’ve done,” he says. “Suddenly, I’ll find it’s Thursday or Friday and I’ll think ‘Gee, what has happened to this week’.” Martin is positively thrilled about his new role, explaining that it’s taken people 50 years to realise just how funny he really is. “My daughter and son have always said ‘Dad, don’t dance, don’t sing’ and now are saying ‘Dad, don’t for a moment think you’re funny’. I guess I’ll prove them wrong or right.” At Home Alone Together airs this Wednesday at 9 pm on ABC and iView. Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://about.abc.net.au/media-room/abc-screen-australia-announce-at-home-alone-together-a-lifestyle-show-for-a-world-in-which-nobody-has-a-life/" target="_blank">ABC</a> </div> </div> </div>

News

Billy Connolly quits stand-up comedy amid Parkinson’s diagnosis

Sir Billy Connolly has confirmed his career as a stand-up comedian has ended due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis. The 77-year-old made his diagnosis public in 2013 and retired five years later, but said last year he had hoped to continue performing in some way. “I’m finished with stand-up – it was lovely, and it was lovely being good at it,” he told <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/sir-billy-connolly-comedian-says-im-finished-with-stand-up-as-he-talks-about-his-new-career-as-an-artist-11950537">Sky News</a>. Connolly, who now works as an artist, said he does not want Parkinson’s to define him. “I’m always being asked to go to Parkinson’s things and spend time with Parkinson’s people, having lunch or something like that. And I don’t approve of it,” he said. “I don’t think you should let Parkinson’s define you and all your pals be Parkinson’s people. I don’t think it’s particularly good for you. So I don’t do it.” He said living with the condition was difficult at times. “Certain things go wrong, your brain goes adrift and affects your body, and so you walk differently, you walk like a drunk man sometimes. And you’re frightened you’ll be judged on it. And you shake sometimes.” However, he said he had “no regrets at all” and urged more people to “listen to comedians and poets”. “More people should listen to comedians, and fewer people should listen to politicians,” he said. “People should listen to comedians and poets, they’re telling the truth.”

News

Hugh Grant's surprising admission: "No more romantic comedies for me"

Few actors are as synonymous with a genre as Hugh Grant is with romantic comedies, but don’t expect the star of Brigit Jones and Notting Hill to star in one any time soon. The 57-year-old actor, who is set to appear in BBC television drama A Very English Scandal, told The Guardian his days as a romcom leading man might have come to an end. “I’ve always tried to take whatever was the most entertaining thing in front of me at the time. And getting older and uglier has made the parts, you know, more varied,” he said. “That bird (appearing in romantic comedies) has flown.” A Very English Scandal is Grant’s first TV role since the 1990s, and is a return to the screen for the star who took something of a hiatus after his phone-hacking scandal. Do you think you’ll watch A Very English Scandal? What’s your favourite Hugh Grant film?

Movies

10 greatest comedies of all time

Everybody loves a movie that has both an exceptional story and the ability to make you laugh. In recent times, very few comedies are receiving industry recognition for their quality. <a href="http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170821-the-100-greatest-comedies-of-all-time" target="_blank">BBC Culture</a> asked 253 film critics from six different continents to share what 10 comedies they think are the greatest. Films from any country were eligible and there was no definition of “comedy” for the critics to adhere to. Scroll through the gallery above to see which comedies made the top ten list. How many of these titles have you watched? Let us know in the comments below.

Movies

8 stars you didn't know got their big break on this comedy show

Having started in 1975, you’ll be surprised to learn just how many people have got there big break on the hit show, Saturday Night Live. From Bill Murray to Chevy Chase, all of these successful comedians (and more) got their big break on Saturday Night Live. 1. Chevy Chase While Chase was a key player of The National Lampoon Radio Hour alongside friend and co-star John Belushi, it was in 1975 he became one of SNL‘s original cast members and hosted the first version of the “Weekend Update” sketch. He left after a year and this was his springboard into many of his famous roles… 2. Bill Murray It was future co-star, John Belushi, that recruited Bill for The National Lampoon Radio Hour in 1977. Following this he went on to become one of the most successful big-screen comedic actors of his time taking on roles in Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Caddyshack. 3. John Belushi Becoming popular in Chicago comedy troupe, The Second City, Belushi was recruited as an original member of the SNL cast in 1975. A regular on the “Weekend Update” segment, it was on SNL that Belushi and co-star Dan Aykroyd first conceived their characters, The Blues Brothers. Sadly, his career was cut short in 1982 when he died of a drug overdose. 4. Eddie Murphy While Eddie Murphy was in some comedy prior to SNL, his characters such as Gumby, Mr Robinson and Buckwheat that were developed on SNL made him a true star. Murphy went on to act in Beverly Hills Cop, lend his voice to the character of Donkey in Shrek and has become one of the most popular stand-up comedians of his era. 5. Robert Downey Jr. After being in the Broadway musical, American Passion in 1983, Downey Jr was cast in SNL in 1985. Although he was only on for year, it was still enough time for him to be labelled the worst SNL cast member ever by Rolling Stone. His career did pick up again following 2007 thriller Zodiac and his role as Marvel’s hero Iron Man has seen him much success. 6. Mike Myers His sketch ‘Sprockets’ alongside Dana Anderson proved to be one of his most popular roles, in addition to an early incarnation of ‘Wayne’s World’. When Myers left the show in 1995 he went on to write and star in the Austin Powers franchise, as well as providing the voice for the titular character in animated film franchise Shrek. 7. Adam Sandler SNL hired Sandler as a writer in 1990 where he is best remembered for crafting songs such as ‘The Thanksgiving Song’ and ‘The Chanukah Song’. Fired from the show in 1995, Sandler went on to write and star in a number of very successful comedies including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy. 8. Will Ferrell His impression of then-President George W. Bush on SNL is widely considered one of the best ever seen on the show. Ferrell left the show in 2005 and continued starring in comedy films such as Anchorman, Stepbrothers, Semi-Pro and The Other Guys.

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Paw-sitively hilarious finalists of the Comedy Pet Photography Awards 2023 revealed

"I've been attacked": Barry Humphries' response to Comedy Festival incident

Hilarious winners of the worldwide 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards