# I Finally Figured Out "Benny Hill" (I Think) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613 "2011-05-29T00:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/21 "2011-05-29T14:32:55Z")
Going back who-knows-how-long there was the British Musical Hall. Sort of their Vaudeville. Variety acts including comics. The comics told the same jokes over and over and over. The Benny Hill Show was a throwback to that style of show. So most of the jokes were indeed unbelievably old and familiar to the UK audience. Now, as to why so many people _like_ unoriginal humor … I have no flooping clue. Note that Americans are not immune to this, to wit “Everybody Loves Raymond” type shows. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/22 "2011-05-29T15:11:22Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I have fond memories of Benny Hill from when I was 18 or so. For nostalgia I rented it one weekend and found that it did not live up to my memories. > > I figure that it was perfect for that time in my life. My buddies would come over, we’d have a few beers, which made the jokes funnier and we’d look at the hot girls. What could be better for someone in their late teens? Oh man, this was exactly my life as a teen except adding a little pot to the mix also. My friends and I thought this was the funniest show ever, and the hotties didn’t hurt either. The 70’s were a very strange time for me. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/23 "2011-05-29T15:42:54Z")
A modern interpretation on the Benny Hill style of comedy, courtesy of _That Mitchell and Webb Look_: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HLatYsE-78) ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/24 "2011-05-29T17:34:33Z")
The thing that struck me about Benny Hill and even Monty Python was how any skit done in drag is apparently ipso facto funny. American comedy uses a lot of drag humor, but not nearly to the extent as British. I swear that they couldn’t get through an entire show without one bit in drag. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/25 "2011-05-30T13:25:54Z")
Always remember, _The Benny Hill Show_ were 80 minute specials, produced by, well, I dunno exactly, presumably by Benny Hill at Thames Studios, for release on UK TV every 9 months or so. The half hour shows we see in the US are bastardized mish-mashes of episodes. They weren’t at all ashamed, in the '80’s, of cutting up the shows any old way, even cutting skits in half, and showing the parts on different days. Of course, as a kid, I couldn’t get enough of Hill’s angels, and the naughty skits revolving around torn skirts, up-skirts, etc. But nowadays, I am appreciating his songs and jokes more. I thought I’d never see his complete shows, since his estate is so messy. But I have seen DVD’s for sale lately, comprising much of his shows. So someday, when I hear of a definitive collection: complete, as shown in the UK, not US mish-mash cut, subtitled (hey sorry Brit dopers, I need it sometimes), I’ll buy them. Some things are out now, but not ready for me to purchase just yet. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/26 "2011-05-30T13:32:34Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > mish-mash cut, subtitled (hey sorry Brit dopers, I need it sometimes), I’ll buy them. Some things are out now, but not ready for me to purchase just yet. Sorry, missed edit window, I meant close captioned, not subtitled. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/27 "2011-06-01T20:04:25Z")
Benny Hill: The master of the single entendre. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/28 "2011-06-01T20:44:27Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > The thing that struck me about Benny Hill and even Monty Python was how any skit done in drag is apparently ipso facto funny. American comedy uses a lot of drag humor, but not nearly to the extent as British. I swear that they couldn’t get through an entire show without one bit in drag. It seems that nothing can be funnier to the British than a man wearing women’s clothing. Did you know that Ernest Shackleton _brought women’s clothing to antartica_ so the men could have a proper Christmas show? Because god forbid your ship gets stuck in and then crushed by the ice, and you have to shoot your favorite dog and cross the Antartic ocean in a rowboat – at least your Christmas panto wasn’t ruined by a lack of men in drag. Also, in response to a previous post: anything set to “Yakety Sax” is automatically hilarious (as long as it is also sped up frame speed). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/29 "2011-06-01T20:44:50Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > A modern interpretation on the Benny Hill style of comedy, courtesy of _That Mitchell and Webb Look_: > > [http://youtu.be/1HLatYsE-78](http://youtu.be/1HLatYsE-78) That was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/30 "2011-06-01T20:52:11Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > How can you not laugh at Yakety Sax? Ask my wife. She made me take it off as my ring tone. ☹ Benny Hill was always fun, and not even always in a girls-in-lingerie kind of way. The old guy got slapped a lot. 🙂 -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/31 "2011-06-01T21:05:39Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > This is all I remember of Benny Hill from when I was a kid, but it cracked me up then: > > Birdy, birdy in the sky > Please don’t poop right in my eye > I’m sure glad that cows can’t fly > Birdy, birdy in the sky No. That was Henry Gibson on the Rowan and Martin Laugh In. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/32 "2011-06-01T21:11:18Z")
> [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](#): > > Nobody much laughs at old Charlie Chaplain movies either. We’re just letting that one go? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/33 "2011-06-01T23:47:46Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Actually, having just watched a [Benny Hill New York Special](http://www.youtube.com/user/thebennyhillchannel?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/2/Mwt_zqKvMBk) on Youtube, I remembered the other reason I liked his show as a kid - it was basically aimed at kids. It started with a cartoon, was mostly silent and involved a lot of toilet humour. The silent comedy would also explain why it was so popular abroad (it was huge in Spain for a while). What it most reminds me of is Mr Bean. I don’t find Mr Bean funny, but many do. “Benny Hill” and “New York” makes me think of [this](http://www.veoh.com/watch/v6411605RwWxme4B). ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/34 "2011-06-02T11:16:32Z")
> [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](#): > > Nobody much laughs at old Charlie Chaplain movies either. > [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > We’re just letting that one go? I agree with Kim o the Concrete Jungle. Never found Chaplin very funny - occasional funny bits, but the rest is over-acting, not much comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/35 "2011-06-02T11:50:00Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > I agree with Kim o the Concrete Jungle. Never found Chaplin very funny - occasional funny bits, but the rest is over-acting, not much comedy. Chaplin has a few funny bits that still hold up, but even in his own day he liked to wallow in pathos. For still funny silent comedy you need to look at Buster Keaton. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/36 "2011-06-02T16:45:05Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Ah Benny Hill. If you discuss comedy with a Brit and then bring up Benny Hill, they usually give you the look and say, “Benny Hill? Well my grand-parents liked him but come on, Benny Hill???” I wonder if Benny Hill occupies somewhat the same niche on British TV that Hee Haw does on American TV. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/37 "2011-06-02T16:49:17Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Also, in response to a previous post: anything set to “Yakety Sax” is automatically hilarious (as long as it is also sped up frame speed). Damn, I came in here to say this. If there is _nothing_ else Benny Hill has contributed, this fact alone justifies the show’s existence. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/38 "2011-06-02T16:58:45Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I wonder if Benny Hill occupies somewhat the same niche on British TV that Hee Haw does on American TV. 20-some years ago a friend from the UK told me that the Benny Hill Show was aimed at the same demographic in his country that was served by Sha-Na-Na’s show in the US. You did know that Sha-Na-Na once had a syndicated show, didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/39 "2011-06-02T17:11:05Z")
Personally, I prefered [_Dave Allen At Large_](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578767) to _Benny Hill_. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613/40 "2011-06-02T17:23:14Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Chaplin has a few funny bits that still hold up, but even in his own day he liked to wallow in pathos. For still funny silent comedy you need to look at Buster Keaton. So is it wrong to give out a few chuckles during The Great Dictator? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-figured-out-benny-hill-i-think/583613.md?page=3)