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The Comedy Portal

Comedy has a popular meaning (stand-up, along with any discourse generally intended to amuse), which differs from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in Ancient Greece. The theatrical genre can be simply described as a dramatic performance pitting two societies against each other in an amusing agon or conflict. Comedy contains variations on the elements of surprise, incongruity, conflict, repetitiveness, and the effect of opposite expectations, and there are many recognized genres.

Satire and political satire use ironic comedy to portray persons or social institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, thus alienating their audience from the object of humor. Parody borrows the form of some popular genre, artwork, or text but uses certain ironic changes to critique that form from within (though not necessarily in a condemning way). Screwball comedy derives its humor largely from bizarre, surprising (and improbable) situations or characters. Black comedy is defined by dark humor that makes light of so called dark or evil elements in human nature. Similarly scatological humor, sexual humor, and race humor create comedy by violating social conventions or taboos in comedic ways. A comedy of manners typically takes as its subject a particular part of society (usually upper class society) and uses humor to parody or satirize the behavior and mannerisms of its members. Romantic comedy is a popular genre that depicts burgeoning romance in humorous terms and focuses on the foibles of those falling in love.

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Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that airs on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973, and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. Since 1983, Alan J. W. Bell has produced and directed all episodes of the show. Reruns of the show air in the UK on satellite stations UKTV Gold and UKTV Drama, and it is also seen in more than twenty-five countries, including various PBS stations in the United States. Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running comedy programme in Britain and the longest-running sitcom in the world. Last of the Summer Wine is set and filmed in and around Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, and centres around a trio of old men whose lineup has changed over the years. The original trio consisted of Bill Owen as the scruffy and child-like Compo, Peter Sallis as deep-thinking, meek Clegg, and Michael Bates as authoritarian and snobbish Blamire. Brian Wilde joined the cast as the quirky war veteran Foggy when Bates left in 1976 after two series. The men never seem to grow up, and develop a unique perspective on their equally eccentric fellow townspeople through their youthful stunts. The cast has grown to include a variety of supporting characters, each contributing their own subplots to the show and often becoming unwillingly involved in the schemes of the trio. The main cast of the 29th series consists of Sallis, Frank Thornton as former police officer Truly, Brian Murphy as the childish Alvin, and Kathy Staff as Alvin's grumpy next door neighbour, Nora Batty.

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Credit: The Lucky Dog

Laurel and Hardy were the American-based comedy team of thin, British-born Stan Laurel (1890-1965) and heavy, American-born Oliver Hardy (1892-1957). They became famous during the early half of the 20th century for their work in motion pictures, and also appeared on stage throughout America and Europe. The team is considered one of the most famous and finest double acts in motion-picture history.

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Did you know...

...that NHS Together, a group of unions which support Britain's National Health Service, are supported by celebrities such as football (soccer) player Geoff Hurst, adventurer Ranulph Fiennes, actress Tamsin Greig and comedian Arthur Smith?
...that Nerima Daikon Brothers is a rare musical comedy format anime series that pokes fun of Junichiro Koizumi, Michael Jackson, Bae Yong-Joon, and other contemporary topics in Japan?
.. that comedian Al Madrigal's first television series, The Ortegas, was dropped from the Fox Network schedule in 2003 before any episodes were broadcast?
... that deadpan comedian Kevin Wu was one of three Asians under the age of 21 to be in the top five of YouTube's all time most subscribed in 2008?
... that eight years before being cast in I Dream of Jeannie, Barbara Eden portrayed the former Marilyn Monroe role of Loco Jones in the syndicated TV series How to Marry a Millionaire?
... that the audio series The Dongle of Donald Trefusis by Stephen Fry went to No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart when it was released for download in 2009?
... that in 1988, Bill Cosby became the first recipient to accept a Golden Raspberry Award, for his work on the film Leonard Part 6?

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I'd like to make you laugh for about ten minutes. Though I'm gonna be on for an hour.

— Richard Pryor

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Featured topics: Seasons of 30 Rock • Seasons of The Office (US TV series) • Simpson family

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Buster Keaton by Bain News Service	Gilbert and Sullivan, by Alfred Bryan	H.M.S. Pinafore, by A.S. Seer Print	Josh Blue, by Bryce Boyer
Barnum & Bailey circus clown, by The Strobridge Litho. Co.	1814 cartoon giving an example of double entendre, by Charles Williams (engraver), W. Holland (publisher)