Barry Humphries - Sad Last Days
William Jenkins 
Dame Edna star rushed to hospital and family at his bedside.
The funniest person ever to come out of Australia.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 148 | May 12, 2023 11:24 AM |
Barry Humphries is a conservative dick. Knowing that ruined my joy for his Dame Edna character, who could be delightfully bitchy underhanded, like addressing Whoopi by her real name Caryn when she was on The View.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | April 19, 2023 12:49 PM |
Because it's all about you, R1, right?
Lonely in there, isn't it?
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | April 19, 2023 12:50 PM |
[quote]At this moment Barry is a serious condition but being kept comfortable. He's surrounded by family.
oh no
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | April 19, 2023 12:56 PM |
So sad, we need funny people in this world
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | April 19, 2023 1:09 PM |
Heklina, Lily Savage, Lady Bunny, and now Dame Edna. So sad.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | April 19, 2023 1:26 PM |
If only the dying Barry Humphries were one of them, R7.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | April 19, 2023 1:26 PM |
"Resting comfortably" = Deathwatch.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | April 19, 2023 2:15 PM |
It would be ironic if the attending nurse were trans.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | April 19, 2023 2:22 PM |
Agreed, R7. At least we won't lose any when Barry Humphries dies.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | April 19, 2023 2:24 PM |
I gotta say he was often hilarious as Edna
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | April 19, 2023 8:15 PM |
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, EDNA!
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | April 19, 2023 8:16 PM |
^ The older he got the less funny Edna and the more mean Barry came out
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | April 19, 2023 8:21 PM |
lol: In a statement, his family said: “Barry Humphries is currently in hospital receiving treatment for health issues. Barry would like to thank everybody for the support and good wishes he’s received, but would like more and more.”
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 18 | April 20, 2023 2:20 AM |
[quote]Barry Humphries is a conservative dick. Knowing that ruined my joy for his Dame Edna character
But if you couldn't tell from his work, R1, what's the problem?
I have a big problem with people who can't distinguish between the artist and the art, which is a feature of the Woke but by NO means confined to them. Probably a majority of great artists are or were narcissistic, insecure and thus awful to everyone around them. Many had extremely dodgy politics, and many espoused politics they never gave a sign of believing in. Most made the lives of their families hell. Meanwhile, mediocre artists can be some of the nicest people around. But who wants to be forced to enjoy mediocre art?
If the art itself is full of what you object to about the person, then fine, don't go see it. But if you can't tell, you're going to end up eschewing Beethoven and Van Gogh in favour of amateur string quartets and quilting projects.
You do realise Edna was made a Dame by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, the most left-wing Labor PM Australia has ever had? It was a joke, of course (we don't have Sirs and Dames), but a joke of esteem. The PM was invited to cameo in The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, greeting Barry Mc and his aunt Edna at the airport on their return from the UK. Edna gave him a deep curtsy, and he returned the irony by surprising her with, "Arise, Dame Edna." If Humphries and Whitlam had withheld their admiration from anyone who didn't agree with their politics (Les Patterson was invented to criticise Whitlam's Cabinet Ministers), she'd have ended her days as Mrs Everage.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | April 20, 2023 3:16 AM |
I'm a lefty progressive. I'm sure many on here would deride my views as "woke," but I unapologetically love Humphries while fully acknowledging that his conservative views were at odds with mine. As a child of the 80s and early 90s who grew up in the UK, Dame Edna was a constant in my childhood. It's hard to even think of her as a character vs. an actual public figure. Humphries' sparkling, razor sharp wit was such a pleasure to behold -- whether in Edna's Broadway triumphs or, as a guest on talk shows in which the hosts and fellow guests alike relished being torn to shreds by Edna.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | April 20, 2023 3:53 AM |
How DARE you, r20, being reasonable here?
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | April 20, 2023 3:59 AM |
r21 - ha! right? Don't tell, but I'm also still a Woody Allen fan!
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | April 20, 2023 6:00 AM |
He's so much fun. So he's a conservative, so what?
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | April 20, 2023 6:06 AM |
Perhaps you could throw her out and let the kitties eat his old cunt carcass. Kitties down there need help.
Warning: Do not read paragraph three if you are sensitive flowers, it's brutal.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 24 | April 20, 2023 6:10 AM |
Oh that's sad. I'm a tree kissing Greenie and absolutely LOVE Barry Humphries. Used to watch the Dame Edna show when we were kids. I'm also Australian and had no idea he was a conservative. He kept his political views out of his performances.
That's horrific R24. I read paragraph #3.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | April 20, 2023 6:17 AM |
[quote] I'm also Australian and had no idea he was a conservative.
I watched Molly Meldrum for decades on Countdown and Hey Hey It's Saturday and had no idea he was gay AND a rice queen. I'm still gob-smacked.
Fun fact: Dame Edna's official title: Dame Edna Everage of Moonee Ponds (northern Melbourne yabbo/bogan suburb).
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | April 20, 2023 6:23 AM |
It's not that he's conservative, it's that he's tricked people into thinking cruel insults that he truly means are funny because he's in a camp dress. No accident that Dame Edna hasn't had a successful long-lasting engagement and built a career on one-off appearances and shirt runs. She doesn't wear well.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | April 20, 2023 6:50 AM |
[quote] I'm a lefty progressive.
Sure Jan. Was that before or after you couldn't vote for Hillary Clinton, because the way she handled her emails?
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | April 20, 2023 6:53 AM |
[quote] I have a big problem with people who can't distinguish between the artist and the art, which is a feature of the Woke but by NO means confined to them.
Who the fuck are you: Dean Cain, Kevin Sorbo, Scott Baio, Roseanne, or Victoria Jackson?
You're all has-beens.
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | April 20, 2023 6:58 AM |
Ugliest tranny out of that country. He was another Milton Berle, and that’s not a compliment either.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | April 20, 2023 7:04 AM |
Re the R27 clip was Patrick Wilson dating Jennifer Love Hewitt?
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | April 20, 2023 7:06 AM |
Guess he will do be doing the Les Patterson drooling for real now.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | April 20, 2023 7:08 AM |
Comic genius. Dame Edna was a creation of horrific brilliance. Sir Les Patterson was (for me) the funniest comic turn of modern times. Both were absolute grotesques, animated by an acutely sophisticated mind.
So glad I saw Humphries on his farewell tour last year. Astonished to find later he was 88. Fascinating charming evening, to a full adoring house.
He alluded to getting a telegram from The Queen, as she then was, upon reaching three figures. Optimism it seems unfounded, but it was good to hear. This is sad news indeed, but Barry had a great run as a genuine showbiz legend.
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | April 20, 2023 7:21 AM |
@r31, Milton Berle had the biggest dick in Hollywood and THAT'S a compliment 😜
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | April 20, 2023 7:39 AM |
[quote]The funniest person ever to come out of Australia.
Which says everything about Australia.
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | April 20, 2023 7:49 AM |
R31 - what? Barry Humphries isn't trans. Hell, he isn't even a drag queen. He's portraying a female character. Yes, he's doing so in drag, but there is a big distinction between what he does and being trans or being a drag queen.
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | April 20, 2023 8:00 AM |
^ He's an old white man in a dress for money... Like Bruce Jenner 😏
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | April 20, 2023 8:37 AM |
I find him very funny but I wonder if it’s as funny if he wasn’t in drag.
| by Anonymous | reply 39 | April 20, 2023 9:13 AM |
R26, come on man, are you a troglodyte? Everyone could tell Molly was gay from outer space. His funeral/memorial service will be fabulous!! Elton will pop over to sing of course.
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | April 20, 2023 9:23 AM |
r28 I question your post. Dame Edna has had 3 TV shows that lasted at least a season or two. The Dame Edna Experience, Dame Edna's Neighborhood Watch, and Dr Dame Edna kisses it and makes it better She's had a number of hour-long TV specials. Loads of TV appearances in sitcoms and TV films, as well as in a few feature films - and of course, hundreds of tour shows and television talk show appearances.
I think she was a riot. Some said that her comedy ratcheted up during Thatcher's time in office, because the "care and compassion" of Thatcher were so obviously hypocritical, and Dame Edna poked fun at that all the time, so she wasn't THAT right wing. Her friends describe Barry Humphries as a conservative contrarian - which I take to mean conservative in a British eccentric style, not at all like the American radical right-wring.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | April 20, 2023 9:23 AM |
Dame Edna was just a device, like a ventriloquist's dummy, that let him say awful things he could never say as Barry Humphries. Same technique Edgar Bergen used with Charlie McCarthy.
What really made Barry stand out was his brilliant, quick-witted stage repartee. Of all comedians, only Joan Rivers was in the same league, but Barry was tops.
"Toodle-oo possums! I'll be seeing you all later."
| by Anonymous | reply 43 | April 20, 2023 9:39 AM |
[quote]I have a big problem with people who can't distinguish between the artist and the art
Because, in general, you can't separate the two. Art is part of the artist, they are inseparable, and if you don't understand that, you don't understand art.
It's different with commercial art in that there are a lot of people who put on a complete act that is at odds with their personal views, beliefs, morals and opinions, because commercial art is about money, not so much about art. Humphries is one of those people. Their art is business and, like any business, if they use their profits to donate to conservative issues, I generally don't give them any of my money. That's how commerce works.
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | April 20, 2023 10:18 AM |
Humphries's use of Edna to say the unsayable was maybe more than ventriloquism.
In his farewell tour and elsewhere, he said that the fact of inhabiting Edna brought out spontaneous zingers he didn't know he had in him.
Watching back or remembering a show as Barry, he would catch himself thinking: "I wish I'd thought of that."
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | April 20, 2023 10:35 AM |
What do you mean Dame Edna is Barry Humphries in drag? I don't understand.
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | April 20, 2023 10:51 AM |
R42 Madge dear sorry to tell you but you have been dead for years and have only walking around to save on funeral expenses.
| by Anonymous | reply 47 | April 20, 2023 10:55 AM |
"I was vulnerable in private before Barbra Streisand was vulnerable in private.'
| by Anonymous | reply 48 | April 20, 2023 11:17 AM |
R44, at some level of course they must be inseparable, but that level is not always evident unless you study the artist in invasive depth. If you as an audience member can't tell from the art that you don't like the artist, and you need his or her biography to tell you that, then your relationship with art is based on never making a personal connection with it.
I'm not sure what country you live in (perhaps the US, which has seen the least of him?). In Australia, where we've seen the full spectrum of his work since the 1950s, extending far beyond Dame Edna, you would be laughed out of town for suggesting Humphries is nothing but a commercial artist who does it for the money. A commercial artist's career trajectory would have trouble mimicking Humphries's--from Dadaist to National Living Treasure.
| by Anonymous | reply 49 | April 20, 2023 11:40 AM |
Saw her perform on Broadway when she did her one-person show maybe 30 years ago. Very funny.
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | April 20, 2023 11:52 AM |
This interview 'she' did with Alan Alda cracked me up - he was a good sport.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 51 | April 20, 2023 11:52 AM |
R28 Your view is distorted, and your information is inaccurate.
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | April 20, 2023 11:54 AM |
R45 But I'd say that's true of great ventriloquism as well: the dummy develops a life and character of his own, maybe even controlling the ventriloquist, not vice versa.
(There's a message in here somewhere for AI programmers.)
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | April 20, 2023 12:01 PM |
She has a fine arse but she couldn't last forever. I wonder who will get her glasses and gowns.
| by Anonymous | reply 54 | April 20, 2023 12:03 PM |
I always thought he was channeling Barbara Cartland
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 55 | April 20, 2023 12:17 PM |
R54 Not to mention the wigs! How can you forget that hair?
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | April 20, 2023 12:25 PM |
Memories flow. The farewell tour included film clips from past chat shows, and guests latterly more prominent featured, for topicality.
Boris Johnson droning on and losing the room led deservedly to Edna full-face to camera, grimacing and rolling her terrifying eyes. Trump was altogether baffled by the personage of Edna, unable to place her in any hierarchy he'd ever known.
If it's indeed his time, the tribute shows for Humphries have an absolute wealth of material to use. We won't see his like again.
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | April 20, 2023 12:36 PM |
Fun (and somewhat surprising) fact: BH is the late bisexual poet Stephen Spender's son-in-law.
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | April 20, 2023 12:37 PM |
@r58, "late bisexual"
Well, as long as they eventually show up I'm good 😉
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | April 20, 2023 1:08 PM |
I accept people have stupid and irrational opinions, it's the adamancy that's hard to bear.
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | April 20, 2023 3:04 PM |
His interaction with Lenny Henry here is priceless. When Lenny says about his Mother "Why couldn't you have called me Steve or Kunta Kunte"
Edna grimaces "What was that last name you said Lenny?"
"Kunta Kinte it's an African name"
Edna "Well I'm glad you didn't abbreviate it"
Hilarious
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 62 | April 20, 2023 6:43 PM |
'I'm afraid lesbianism always leaves a very funny taste in my mouth'
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | April 20, 2023 8:25 PM |
To Jeffrey Archer, after he said you have to laugh at yourself, 'If you can't laugh at yourself, Jeffrey, you're missing the joke of the century!'
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | April 20, 2023 8:26 PM |
To politician David Steele's wife: 'Darling, I love your dress! Obviously an old favourite - some sort of furnishing fabric, is it?'
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | April 20, 2023 8:28 PM |
His time has passed. Vaya con dios.
| by Anonymous | reply 66 | April 20, 2023 8:36 PM |
On the Graham Norton show and some Frau in the audience asked her a question and she said "Darling you look just lovely, I'm trying to think of how I can describe that outfit you're in. I've just found it. Affordable"
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | April 20, 2023 9:15 PM |
[quote] Barry Humphries is a conservative dick
Who told you that, R1? How did that news affect you?
| by Anonymous | reply 68 | April 20, 2023 9:45 PM |
[quote] It's not that he's conservative, it's that he's tricked people into thinking cruel insults that he truly means are funny because he's in a camp dress.
R28 Are you a Christian, or a feminist?
| by Anonymous | reply 69 | April 20, 2023 9:58 PM |
Legend. Complete and utter legend.
| by Anonymous | reply 70 | April 20, 2023 10:14 PM |
[quote] Les Patterson was invented to criticise Whitlam's Cabinet Ministers
1. No, Humphries' invented characters are meant to satirise, not don't criticise.
2. Humphries invented Lance Boyle, General Secretary of the NSW Branch of the ACU*T to satirise trade unionists in the late 70s.
3. Humphries retired the Lance Boyle character and replaced him with Les Patterson— who is an example of broad crude music-hall humour to please the vulgar British audience.
Gough Whitlam enjoyed Humphries' Australian satirical observational humour but deplored Humphries' British-style vulgar, toilet humour.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 71 | April 20, 2023 10:16 PM |
[quote] No accident that Dame Edna hasn't had a successful long-lasting engagement and built a career on one-off appearances and shirt runs. She doesn't wear well.
But R28, how many housewives from suburbia can build a career on one-off appearances and short runs?
You will have noticed that this particular housewife from suburbia has been making comparatively-short theatre engagements for over 40 years.
| by Anonymous | reply 72 | April 20, 2023 10:21 PM |
[quote] He was another Milton Berle
That man was before my time. Did he have any of Humphries' verbal acuity and quick wit?
| by Anonymous | reply 73 | April 20, 2023 10:23 PM |
R71 - I think that's part of Humphries' appeal with Edna. Even when she was putting on airs, she was also cracking crude (often gynecological) jokes out the other side of her mouth. The way Edna would simultaneously claim to be above it all while gleefully playing 'in the mud' was perhaps its own form of satire within the construct of the character.
That mix of Humphries' sparkling wit and sharp intellect with those crasser elements is undoubtedly part of the appeal of Edna.
| by Anonymous | reply 74 | April 20, 2023 10:24 PM |
[quote] I find him very funny but I wonder if it’s as funny if he wasn’t in drag.
R39 Humphries is a genius and the Edna character is genius.
But Les Patterson is vulgar and Sandy Stone is pathetic. Edna's music-hall songs are embarrassing.
But Humphries, when not in character, can still hold an audience. IMO.
| by Anonymous | reply 75 | April 20, 2023 10:36 PM |
R54 Some of her dresses are in Melbourne museums along with Kylie's cast-offs.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 76 | April 20, 2023 10:44 PM |
But, R61, whose adamancy is hard to bear?
| by Anonymous | reply 77 | April 20, 2023 10:48 PM |
On tour she would ask if anyone in the audience had a babysitter that night as she wanted to check on their "little possums."
The couple would call the babysitter and then Edna would direct her to go through their bedroom drawers, closet, etc. and report on what they found -- on speakerphone.
I love her.
| by Anonymous | reply 78 | April 20, 2023 10:57 PM |
Humphries' maxims are so true for all theatre.
"Audiences demand Colour And Movement!"
| by Anonymous | reply 79 | April 20, 2023 11:02 PM |
I thought he'd been dead for a few years already.
| by Anonymous | reply 80 | April 20, 2023 11:16 PM |
R80 You're obviously happy to display your ignorance.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 81 | April 20, 2023 11:44 PM |
[quote]Saw her perform on Broadway when she did her one-person show maybe 30 years ago
I saw that show in Chicago and I’ve never laughed that hard before or since.
| by Anonymous | reply 82 | April 21, 2023 12:04 AM |
KD Lang and Ivana Trump, good sports
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 83 | April 21, 2023 1:23 AM |
Friend who worked on one of his shows said Barry never picks gays in the audience. Always selects Senior Citizens.. Gays are too good at bouncing back at his quips
| by Anonymous | reply 84 | April 21, 2023 1:54 AM |
You sound like you are perpetually deeply emotionally offended and perpetually searching for something to be deeply emotionally offended about. Non?
| by Anonymous | reply 85 | April 21, 2023 2:03 AM |
My favorite memories of Barry are as Barry Humphries -a soft-spoken man with razor-sharp wit and keen intelligence. You could always see the spark that was Edna being held in check. He loved art and literature. But more than anything else he loved to have an audience.
| by Anonymous | reply 86 | April 21, 2023 2:51 AM |
@r83, Very funny and probably would have gotten in so much trouble in today's world
| by Anonymous | reply 87 | April 21, 2023 3:24 AM |
Dame Edna's interview with DL fave Lauren Bacall was hilarious
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 88 | April 21, 2023 3:37 AM |
[quote] Barry never picks gays in the audience … Gays are too good at bouncing back at his quip.
After some years of appreciating Edna I have NEVER seen an audience member bouncing at his quips.
| by Anonymous | reply 89 | April 21, 2023 5:19 AM |
This morning's headline news said he had gone 'into an unresponsive state' in St Vincent's Hospital.
But the news at midday says it's not that bad.
| by Anonymous | reply 90 | April 21, 2023 5:23 AM |
[quote]My favorite memories of Barry are as Barry Humphries... He loved art and literature.
To quote Edna, "And to some extent still does."
| by Anonymous | reply 91 | April 21, 2023 6:15 AM |
R71, you are correct that Humphries is a satirist, not a critic, but Les Patterson was widely believed to represent Whitlam's Minister for Media and the Arts. (An on-air spray against the same gent and the part of his bureaucracy responsible for television censorship was also the cause of Graham Kennedy's demise on live TV.) Les has become broader over the years, but the point being made at the time was that the guy in charge of media and arts was a boor who had no idea what he should be doing.
[quote]But Les Patterson is vulgar and Sandy Stone is pathetic.
Humphries would say thank you. They are meant to be.
Humphries's best ever interlocutor was the Australian midday TV host Mike Walsh, who was one of the smartest people ever on Oz TV. He knew exactly how to play to Edna without stepping on her, but occasionally he would anticipate that the conversation was trending somewhere he didn't think appropriate for his (live) midday show, and in close-up you could see him catch Humphries's eye, underneath Edna, with a distinct "No". You could also see Humphries decide whether to obey or not. Humphries probably doesn't have that level of control over Edna on stage, though, especially if it's going really well. (Another instance of where the person and the art are not really quite the same.)
| by Anonymous | reply 92 | April 21, 2023 6:35 AM |
Well put, R92
The best interviewers were the ones who didn’t love the sound of their own voice too much. Especially someone like Michael Parkinson, who knew when to simply allow for Edna to take over his show.
“And what about your bridesmaid, Madge?”
- Well, she wanted to play a role in the Titanic movie.
“Oh did she..?”
- Yes.. it would suit her, she looks like something you’d find at the bottom of the sea: Talk about a sunken chest!
| by Anonymous | reply 93 | April 21, 2023 6:44 AM |
R92 Rumor was Mike Walsh was gay.
| by Anonymous | reply 94 | April 21, 2023 7:00 AM |
Rumour was Mike Walsh was Catholic.
| by Anonymous | reply 95 | April 21, 2023 7:15 AM |
Loving that nobody of consequence will remember Humphries in 5-10 years.
| by Anonymous | reply 96 | April 21, 2023 11:12 AM |
[quote] His time has passed. Vaya con dios.
Are you Spanish, R66?
Non-English-speakers have a hard time appreciating a wordsmith like Humphries.
Only sophisticated Americans can appreciate him.
| by Anonymous | reply 97 | April 21, 2023 11:24 AM |
Loving that nobody of consequence will remember R96 within 5-10 minutes after she croaked.
| by Anonymous | reply 99 | April 21, 2023 11:29 AM |
Accepting that's.a likely scenario many moons ago has made my life tnisands of times better, Dutchie. Now begone, before a Delft blue house falls on you, too!
| by Anonymous | reply 100 | April 21, 2023 11:39 AM |
What do you have against Barry Humphries, R100?
| by Anonymous | reply 101 | April 21, 2023 11:42 AM |
R96 seems to think that she can declare not only future public memory, but also the capacity to declare who is a person of 'substance."
Nasty.
| by Anonymous | reply 102 | April 21, 2023 11:51 AM |
Would never have made it to air these days!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 103 | April 21, 2023 11:13 PM |
What a ridiculous thing to claim R96.
| by Anonymous | reply 104 | April 21, 2023 11:52 PM |
R89, that's why Barrry picks old ladies and men. They have no quick responses for his comments.
| by Anonymous | reply 105 | April 21, 2023 11:54 PM |
No news from the hospital today.
| by Anonymous | reply 106 | April 22, 2023 5:57 AM |
Will Young gave Edna a taste of her own medicine (at 2:24), one of the rare moments that rendered Humphries speechless!
Of course Edna steals the show, but Humphries graciously circles back to Will Young so that he gets a chance to promote his album.
Another example of a great host, Rob Brydon, who simply allows for Edna to take over the entire thing.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 107 | April 22, 2023 9:49 AM |
We've lost a brilliant artist.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 111 | April 22, 2023 12:48 PM |
"Are you all happy now?? "
Shocked! Shocked, I tell you. So young... 😢
| by Anonymous | reply 112 | April 22, 2023 12:53 PM |
‘Bye Possums’💃🏻 Thanks for the laughs. There’ll never be another you 💖
| by Anonymous | reply 113 | April 22, 2023 3:12 PM |
OP, the funniest person ever to come out of Australia was Nicole Kidman. What she has done to her face, and how she takes herself so seriously causes gut-crunching laughter.
| by Anonymous | reply 114 | April 22, 2023 3:14 PM |
R107, that was a wonderful clip to life my spirits today. Thank you!
RIP Barry Humphries!
| by Anonymous | reply 116 | April 22, 2023 4:41 PM |
What we ordered what we got
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 117 | April 22, 2023 4:49 PM |
Thank the Lord my kids can sleep soundly at last.
| by Anonymous | reply 118 | April 22, 2023 4:51 PM |
"We have lost not only a beloved friend but a trusted fashion adviser."
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 119 | April 22, 2023 5:06 PM |
Awww, that's a shame. I adored him in "Are You Being Served?"
| by Anonymous | reply 120 | April 22, 2023 5:07 PM |
RIP to this legend. I was just thinking about him the other day and took a trip down memory lane by watching many Dame Edna clips.
First, Lily Savage and now Dame Edna. End of an era.
| by Anonymous | reply 121 | April 22, 2023 6:11 PM |
An unflattering portrait by Beaton.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 122 | April 22, 2023 10:36 PM |
[quote] Lily Savage and now Dame Edna
Many in this thread might consider that as an unfair grouping.
| by Anonymous | reply 123 | April 22, 2023 11:28 PM |
I assume this old Melbourne boy will want to be buried in his home town.
But I bet 'Albo the Vulgarian' will not permit a State Funeral.
| by Anonymous | reply 124 | April 23, 2023 1:07 AM |
[quote] Another example of a great host, Rob Brydon…
Brydon visited Humphries in hospital last week.
| by Anonymous | reply 125 | April 23, 2023 2:23 AM |
[quote] Many in this thread might consider that as an unfair grouping.
True. Even Paul O'Grady knew to allow Edna to do her thing without trying to one-up her.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 126 | April 23, 2023 4:00 AM |
Nobodies like R96 should talk.
Boy, there really are a lot of morons on this thread.
| by Anonymous | reply 127 | April 23, 2023 4:29 AM |
^ Then you should know there's a lot of morons on this site
| by Anonymous | reply 130 | April 23, 2023 7:06 AM |
Sometimes the level of idiocy can surprise even me, R130.
| by Anonymous | reply 131 | April 23, 2023 7:18 AM |
I'm waiting for a response from Germaine Greer at the passing of her compatriot.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 132 | April 23, 2023 7:22 AM |
Certain members of the Labour Party adored Barry.
Other loathed him.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 133 | April 23, 2023 7:32 AM |
This lesbian loathes him.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 134 | April 23, 2023 7:44 AM |
I suspect many of Edna's interviews were partly scripted but this interview looks completely spontaneous.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 135 | April 23, 2023 7:51 AM |
R134, Hannah has to be the most dull as dishwater Leso out there. She must have had a really hard time growing up in Tassie (Yes I realise she had mental health issues) She was boring on Adam Hills shows and as for Spicks and Specks...blimey. There's awkward and there's AWKWARD.
| by Anonymous | reply 136 | April 23, 2023 8:56 AM |
[quote] There's awkward and there's AWKWARD.
Almost all the young Aussie wannabe-comedians celebrate awkwardness.
They were raised by this so-called comedian called Gunston—
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 137 | April 23, 2023 9:18 AM |
Mia Farrow had an Australian grandfather who was decidedly odd.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 138 | April 23, 2023 10:11 AM |
R137, yes Norman, loved his AWKWARDNESS. He was brilliant in 'Mother and Son'....such comedic timing. (Much better 'talent' than Hannah).
| by Anonymous | reply 139 | April 23, 2023 10:12 AM |
I'm surprised so many Americans appreciated Humphries.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 140 | April 23, 2023 10:16 AM |
Got to meet Humphries when he was on Broadway. He seemed genuinely surprised I wanted to talk about the movie "Shock Treatment" where he played the blind man Bert Schnick and surprised I had the soundtrack (which I love) and he signed.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 141 | April 23, 2023 11:53 AM |
For R124, the "vulgarian" PM's response to Humphries's death:
"For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us through a galaxy of personas, from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone. But the brightest star in that galaxy was always Barry. A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and a gift. May he rest in peace."
PS It's not up to him whether Humphries has a State funeral. Australia is a federation and only states confer this type of honour. The actual situation is that both NSW and Victoria have implied they would be willing to offer one, but they believe it is too early to approach the family at this stage to determine what THEY want. (They may well want to take him back to the UK for burial there.) Either way, both states are bound to memorialise him somehow.
The Melbourne Comedy Festival, which he co-founded, is on right now. A bit embarrassing for them this evening that they cancelled the award that was named after him over the trans dispute. Even though they are not resiling, having to be interviewed about it on the occasion of his death is pretty awkward for them.
| by Anonymous | reply 142 | April 23, 2023 1:47 PM |
Saw an old interview with Edna tonight, where she was asked who she thought could play her in a biopic. She said, "Little Nicole is falling over herself to play me! And Cate Blanchett. They're tearing each other's hair out over it." Then she added, "Of course, I don't know who could play the YOUNG me."
| by Anonymous | reply 143 | April 23, 2023 2:34 PM |
Fantastic, R143
In the same vein during her interview with Helen Mirren:
“Well, I auditioned for your role in the Queen, Helen, but they turned me down.”
..silence..
“They said I looked too young.”
| by Anonymous | reply 144 | April 23, 2023 2:58 PM |
[quote] Hannah has to be the most dull as dishwater Leso out there
They suffered with Elephantiasis.
They have legs as thick as elephant legs.
| by Anonymous | reply 145 | April 25, 2023 12:13 AM |
[quote] The Melbourne Comedy Festival, which he co-founded, is on right now. A bit embarrassing for them this evening that they cancelled the award that was named after him
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 146 | April 26, 2023 10:34 PM |
Still no news.
Germaine is NOT on Twitter.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 147 | April 26, 2023 10:40 PM |
Even Betty Bacall like Edna, and she didn't like anyone
| by Anonymous | reply 148 | May 12, 2023 11:24 AM |
