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Why do comedians think they have to sing?

Why do producers of so many comedy shows think we need a musical interlude halfway through a program?

It doesn't happen elsewhere, half way through a football match there may be some entertainment laid on for the crowd, but only so the buggers don't start ripping up the seats out of boredom while the players are having a breather. Cricketers manage to keep the crowd occupied for up to five days without anybody feeling the need to change the mood by doing a bit of ballet or having a sealion balance a ball on its nose. The Chancellor of the Exchequer does not pause halfway through his budget speech to do a short trombone solo or change the pace with five minutes of sword swallowing. Megadeth don't stop halfway through a concert and change the tone with a demonstration of their skills as jugglers, Paris Hilton doesn't stop halfway through a porn video to demonstrate that she has any form of talent.

These days we are quite cool with the idea that people don't have to be multi-talented to be worth watching. I like comedy. When I am watching a comedian or a comedy sketch show I expect to be entertained by the comedy. I don't need to be wowed by singing, special effects, sparkly costumes and formations of high-kicking yet strangely sex-less women. I don't expect or want music, unless it is very funny. Sticking any kind of musical performance in the middle of comedy splits and alienates part of the audience. I liked it when you were funny, I don't care whether you have any form of musical appreciation or not, I am not impressed with your singing, I just don't care whether or not you can play the guitar.

One of my comedy heroes is Humphrey Lyttelton. A funny man who is also a very accomplished musician, when he is running I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue he restricts his musical output to sounding an old fashioned car horn, despite being a virtuoso jazz trumpeter. Music and comedy should not mix, both suffer when they do. Nothing would kill the comedy of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue faster than a serious five minute trumpet solo in the middle, regardless of how good it was.

Spike Milligan could play the trumpet. I don't care if you couldn't play Ludo. The important thing is he was funny.

Music may be a universal language but the fundamental reality is that the audience for comedy produced by comedian A is not by any stretch of the imagination the same as the audience who would be impressed by listening to the musical choice of comedian A. There are quite a few geriatric New York Jews who are funny, but I am not interested in their musical choices. Round the Horne was hilarious but I am not interested in the Fraser Hayes Four.

I hope I never find out what kind of music Eddie Izzard or Emo Philips like.

© 1999 - 2008 by Martin Willett.

mwillett.org: Debate Unlimited