Yahoo News Bethany Black: ‘I was obsessed with Duck Soup as a kid’
The funniest standup I’ve ever seen …
John Mulaney: his specials on Netflix were like an awakening. It was one of those moments where it’s like: “I should probably give up,” when you see somebody doing what you do, but just so good.
The funniest sketch I’ve ever seen ...
The couple on the train [Caroline Aherne and John Thomson] on The Fast Show – I’ve always loved that sort of shocking humour: inappropriateness suddenly coming out of nowhere when you’re not expecting it.
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The funniest book I’ve ever read ...
Terry Pratchett’s Guards! Guards! manages to absolutely nail it: it gets to the nub of what it’s like to be doing a hard job in the middle of a city when you’re trying to do the right thing but the entire system is set up against you.
The funniest TV show I’ve ever seen …
The scene with the baby-eating Bishop of Bath in Blackadder and the Young Ones episode where they make fun of Rick for being a virgin; I used to be able to recite every single word.
The funniest film I’ve ever seen ...
Duck Soup by the Marx brothers – my dad had videoed it one night on the telly and I was obsessed with it as a kid. The mirror scene where Groucho and Harpo Marx are trying to mirror each other is one of the most beautiful pieces of physical comedy I’ve ever seen.
The funniest person I know ...
My girlfriend – she’s the only person I’ve ever met who isn’t a comedian who only thinks in jokes. If she ever decided she needed to get on stage she’d probably be selling out arenas across the world.
The funniest heckle I’ve ever had …
I was doing the Download music festival and somebody shouted out: “You did this story last year.” So I replied: “Well, you’re gonna hate Iron Maiden on Saturday night.”
The funniest item of clothing I’ve ever owned …
I was a punk about 20 years too late, and I used to have a pair of assless PVC chaps that I used to wear on stage occasionally. I think anything with no ass in it has to be the funniest thing.
The funniest hairstyle I’ve ever had …
I’ve had loads: bits shaved out and mohawks and big spiky hair, and the haircut that gets called “the Karen” these days – I had one of those in about 2002. The funniest one was the first time I got half my hair shaved off. Half the people told me I looked like Gary Oldman in The Fifth Element, the other half said I looked like Hitler.
The funniest meal I’ve eaten …
Once, in France, I accidentally ordered a plate of winkles. They were like little rubber bullets covered in garlic mayonnaise, and it was bloody awful.
The funniest number …
Thirty. It’s the magic number when deindividuation occurs, the point at which teachers stop being able to control a class and individuals become an audience. Doing a gig to less than that is almost impossible – it feels really awkward.
The funniest word …
“Bulb” which I use in place of a swear word. You don’t lose the moral high ground because it’s ridiculous. It levels the pair of you immediately.
Black’s Unwinnable special is available on gofasterstripe.com
