# Benny Hill or Mr. Bean...who's funnier? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893 "2003-07-30T13:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/1 "2003-07-30T13:25:31Z")
I remember growing up in the 70’s and 80’s watching Benny Hill. My parents would always make me leave the room because there was too much T & A all the time. My wife hates Benny Hill. She likens him to a comedic pedophile…I think he’s pretty funny sometimes in a very plucky way. Mr.Bean on the other hand…is more slapsticky funny. In a duncey sort of way. More like a court Jester. And when he speaks…that low voice just kills me! I laugh so hard… Anyone else care to weigh in on this? ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/2 "2003-07-30T13:27:26Z")
I have not found anyone funnier than Mr. Bean on his old TV show. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/3 "2003-07-30T13:31:15Z")
That’s like asking who’s pretter - Tammy Faye Baker or Phyllis Diller. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/4 "2003-07-30T13:35:14Z")
I’m not a big Benny Hill fan, but he did occasionally feature some good old-fashioned music-hall comedy that I liked. Mr. Bean, however, is simply a mime without the whiteface. Oh, and Phyllis Diller is much prettier than Tammy Faye . . . ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/5 "2003-07-30T13:36:47Z")
Batman, if he’s prepared. ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/6 "2003-07-30T13:43:24Z")
I adore Rowan Atkinson and have enjoyed Mr. Bean (but I think Blackadder is much better.) I never could stand Benny Hill–and pretty much for the reason your wife mentions, **Phlosphr** –that dirty old man routine just seems so icky when he did it. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/7 "2003-07-30T13:52:06Z")
In my youth I enjoyed Benny Hill. I have never enjoyed Mr. Bean. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/8 "2003-07-30T13:53:58Z")
Benny seems like a lovable ol’ perv while Bean’s skits are a bit more developed and build on each other. All in all I can watch Bean about 4 to 5 times longer than Benny. I also miss The Two Ronnies. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/9 "2003-07-30T13:59:47Z")
Since Benny Hill sucks and never even raises a smile, and Mr Bean has occasionally been marginally funny, I vote Mr Bean. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/10 "2003-07-30T14:37:24Z")
I don’t like Mr. Bean. His comedy seems to be written for every move and comment he makes. Nothing seems funny about him. Too mechanical. Benny Hill used improv a lot and that is what made him funny. His show was a little risque and worth the watching. I particularly think the actor that is NOT supposed to laugh but begins to laugh in his skit is much funnier to watch then either of the guys mentioned above. Havey Korman is hysterical ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/11 "2003-07-30T14:42:56Z")
Mr. Bean just never interested me that much (though I’ll agree that Blackadder is entirely a different story) Benny Hills perverted guy routines did get quite shopworn and could be more than a bit icky but some of his songs were birlliant ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/12 "2003-07-30T14:44:31Z")
Benny Hill’s brilliant … sorry … ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/13 "2003-07-30T15:09:52Z")
Benny Hill by a mile. Bean’s ok, but not nearly in the same class. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/14 "2003-07-30T15:41:30Z")
Benny Hill is funnier because he’s dead. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/15 "2003-07-30T15:43:24Z")
Definitely Bean, (but I’m another Blackadder fan). Sometimes I find it hard to believe that Rowan Atkinson is an Oxford graduate. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/16 "2003-07-30T15:57:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Arky \* > \*\*That’s like asking who’s pretter - Tammy Faye Baker or Phyllis Diller. \*\* Phyllis Diller was a babe before she started to dress like a bad drag act for her show. Anyway, as much as it kills me to admit, I think Benny is better than Bean, but Blackadder is better than both by far. Also, see sig, below. * * * _“Lets get them meek bastards **NOW!** ”_ ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/17 "2003-07-30T16:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Arky \* > \*\*That’s like asking who’s pretter - Tammy Faye Baker or Phyllis Diller. \*\* Phyllis Diller is a good comedienne. And you have obviously been deprived of seeing the Pruitts of Southhampton. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/18 "2003-07-30T16:15:22Z")
Both Benny Hill and Rowan Atkinson are hillarious. And another vote for **The Two Ronnies**. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/19 "2003-07-30T18:11:29Z")
Mr. Bean (but Blackadder even better). Rowan Atkinson by a mile. ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893/20 "2003-07-30T18:14:53Z")
What’s blackadder? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benny-hill-or-mr-bean-whos-funnier/191893.md?page=2)