'This week I've been mostly eating / wearing... ,' '...hardest job in the world,' 'Oh Bugger,' & so on...

On their own they don't seem Funny at all, although mention them in certain company & you'll elicit a number of responses for those in the know. The strangest thing is that this still seems to be an 'underground' event. At work, for example, there is one other person, out of nearly 20, who finds it Funny.

The Best of the Best is the ongoing Saga of Ted & Ralph (Paul Whitehouse & Charlie Higson, respectively - the main Stars, if that Label can be applied). The Impoverished & Repressed Lord of the Manor & his Faithful Handyman (oops, slipping into Rocky Horror mode there ;-).

There undercurrents of Homosexuality (on both sides?), or the call of a Lonely Man, Ralph, who just wants a Friend. Even though Ted is not comfortable with the Circumstances, there is an over-riding Protectiveness from him that never quite surfaces due to his own View that the Social Distinctions should be Maintained.

The Story Line is developed over the Series', including a 1 hour Special. It has a Sorrowful Depth that is not often seen, particularly in a Comedy Setting, yet manages to work to great effect. It fits the pattern that, If You Don't Laugh You'll Cry, a situation that occurs throughout Life.

One of the other Series of Sketches that has this mix of Humour & Sadness (a different type of Sadness though) is Competitive Dad. He takes Winning to an extreme & Points the Finger at those who like to Win a little too much (including me - see Here for more on my Competitiveness in the World of Games). Fortunately I have Conquered this tendency in myself - until the next Game :-0

The Cast List:

Arabella Weir (Yes, your BUM does look big in that ;-)

Caroline Aherne (What did I say, Roy?)

John Thomson (Mmmm... ...Great!)

Mark Williams (Which is Nice :-)

Simon Day (That's Amazing!)

His Forte was the Interview, He would Question Prominent & / or Influential People under the Guise of trying to get a Message across to the 'Kids on the Street' - at least I hope this is the case as I would find it Incredible to Believe that They would have done it Willingly. As the Interview progressed Ali would lead the Interviewee done a path of his making, getting to Subscribe to to some Weird or Outrageous Statement.

The Best One was getting Rhodes - Boyson, Tory ex - Education Minister, to admit to being Cain'ed at School & that it was a Good thing that didn't cause him any Harm. The Master Stroke was that R - B appeared to be Completely Unaware of what was going on & Merrily Continued Promoting the Advantages of Reinstating Caning into Schools.

The Interview he did with the Head of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) in the US was a Work of Genius. It would be Extremely Difficult to even try & Reproduce the Conversation as so much was put across in the Tone & Interaction that went on between them. Written down it would just not be as Funny, still Amusing though.

All I can put it that there is a great deal of difference between me laughing at myself & my own Cultural Stereotypes & me having a laugh at someone else's, especially when, in the Past, did not have the Right to Counter those Images at the Time.

We all, if I may be so bold, fall into some sort of Stereotype at some Time in our Lives. I even get to Play the Angry Redhead (Ginger to some - let's call it Orange) on occasion & spent most of my Childhood Coping (or not) with that as well as being overweight, amongst other things.

So why Goodness Gracious Me? In years to come We may look back on the Show with the same Views that some Voice now over, say, Alf Garnett (Indian! Who else could maintain such a Narrow Range of Opinions when all else around them has moved on - an in Joke, I hope, for those that enjoy the Series ;-)

YES, it can be seen as Fuel for the Fire. NO, the ability to see our Cultures for what they are & not take ourselves so Seriously is more Important. To Laugh, or Cry for that matter, is not Unique to any particular background, we can all do it if we put our minds to - if not let's call for Bhangraman he'll know what to do, especially if Skipinder, The Punjabi Kangaroo, can get the message to him in time.

The Blend of Cultures in these Shows is what lies at the heart of its Appeal, although the Kapoors (Coopers) may not agree, it may go some way to building a Bridge between us that Politicians & Political Correctness haven't managed to do anywhere efficiently enough. Smeeta Smitten, Showbiz Kitten, for World President!!!