I think they were more likely Gods or Bigfoot of comedy than giants specifically. Giants are generally disliked owing to their clumsiness and loudness, but Peter Cook certainly was not renowned for creating a general racket, or a din, or a cacophony, when he moved about on his two legs. Bigfoot, or bigfeet - when in groups - are much more dainty, and sighting a Bigfoot is cause for celebration, whereas sighting a giant is cause for scorn and loathing at best; panic and gnashing of teeth at worst.
@@mooseandspade6251 that's the strangest comment I've read in a while. "Bigfoot or bigfeet when they're in groups are dainty." Never mind the fucking part about them being dainty ...what?? I fucking lost it at the bigfeet when they're in groups part. I don't know if you were trying to seriously make a point or if you are taking the piss but that was funny. I think it was because I read it in a matter of fact kind of way it just sounded funny. What do you call a herd of bigfeet? Also can you please tell me how bigfeet (I'm laughing every time I type that) are dainty when they're moving about? Aren't these creatures that don't exist called bigfeet (lol) for a reason? Otherwise they'd be called daintyfeet. Not quite got the same ring to it though eh?
@@TheMan-WithNoName dear Bolotov Gavinski, swift of leg and firm of buttock, the bigfeet's daintiness is a matter of historical record. In the 14th century, a peasant who went by the name of William Tebbit, wife of Miriam Tebbit, sighted a bigfoot at close range (30-50 feet). This bigfoot was sufficiently close to make out important features on its countenance - its clothing, demeanour, and most crucially its possession of one foot. Suddenly, the bigfoot sighted William, and though William was not afraid, the bigfoot was, and leapt away through the forest. But it made scarce a whisper as it did so, and was said to be 'daintee and shie' by William, who subsequently gave testimony to the village Sire. All were entranced by the tale that he told, so filled with magical appearances that they too wished to see the bigfoot. But, it is said, you cannot wish to see the bigfoot - the bigfoot must wish to see you.
Peter Cook's talent is absolutely bottomless. What a pitch-perfect performer with absolutely flawless comic timing. I feel bad for the many, many people on my side of the pond who only know him from his "Mawwidge" speech in The Princess Bride.
He gets that reaction out of Dudley in every sketch they do together, but to almost get Cleese is an incredible achievement 🤣 He hardly ever laughs at anything. Honestly I think it's incredibly challenging not to laugh at Peter Cook, and I have yet to meet anyone who can sit through any of his sketches without laughing.
So happy to find this! We had the VHS way back when I was a kid, and my friend and I did this skit in our school variety show. We got some laughs and some reeeeally weird looks!
Cleese’s background in Python was based on sticking to the script. Cook was prone to flights of improvising fancy. Whoever shared the stage with him had to forget about the script, just try to keep up with him, not knowing where he was going.
I've seen a couple of comments here about Cleese on the verge of corpsing around "intestinal modelling". 100% bang on, but one of the comments says that part of Cook's genius is that he never seems aware of how funny he is. This is where I diverge sharply. What you see here is Cook instantly recognising that Cleese is on the verge and then _Cook_ gets that wicked gleam and, master that he was, re-words the 'intestinal modelling' line just for the fun of it. Wisty is, of course, ludicrously devoid of all the gifts that made Peter Cook a marvel to behold. That's what makes him such a great character.
I'm entirely aware of how old this comment is, but I am also offended by this opinion that you've observed, and want to do my part to make sure nobody else believes it. Part of what made Peter Cook so excellent was his acute sense of exactly what would make the other guy corpse, and how he liked to tease them with that power. He seemed to enjoy walking that line where he got Cleese struggling to keep a straight face, Cook has that joy in his eyes, Cleese knows that Cook only needs to say a few more words and he'd break completely, and Cook usually backs off to let the sketch continue. On some of the live shows with Dudley Moore, Cook wouldn't back off, and he'd have Moore rolling on the floor. At times Cook was definitely more focused on making Moore break than anything else. Such an unparalled master, and so indescribably funny.
My dad liked to imitate this sketch over dinner, especially the interesting fact about whales. It is a memory of him which i am fond of. Glad to have found this gem...thank you
I predicted it, actually. I thought, on the preceding line, 'this is so improbable as to clearly be a joke', and thus it was so. Only unpredictable for individuals of lesser wisdom and intelligence!
The character Peter Cook played here was called E.L.Wisty from the program That Was The Week That Was or TW3. I recognised him straight away as he was probably Cook’s most widely imitated character by those of us who were Sixth Formers in the sixties.
Peter was always like that. His performances always seemed like a deadly earnest combat with the straight man to force him to his quivering, shaking knees and completely corpse himself. It's why Peter always needed a straight man for the maximum effect. Watch his face carefully - he pushes the idea of intestines harder and harder at Cleese until Cleese (who was very good at staying in control usually), actually nearly cracks up.
When I was going to College the library had records. One was by Peter and Dudley called Good Evening as I recall. If I felt stressed I would put it on and listen to the Frog and Peach. Made things so much better
Remember reading that Cleese had his lines written inside the newspaper he was flicking through. I think you can see him reading them in his final speech.
@ipolson Well I just ordered the book by Harry Thompson, the one with Peter smoking a pipe on the front cover. Thanks. I don't know much about Cook, but enough to know, he's one of the most interesting people on the planet....irrelevant from the fact he may have come from another planet entirely. Thankyou, I shall get that too!!!!
@@markschildberg1667 I found that out later. He was based on a waiter that Cook knew at college, whose name (I think) was Dowling, and whom Cook started doing impersonations of to crack up his friends.
Mostly Peter Cook's sketch with John Cleese as the straight man, but at the end, Cleese seemed to do his typical act from Monty Python. Just like the parrot sketch is about how many synonyms he can find for "dead," and the cheese shop sketch is an endless variation of types of cheese, here he's finding a long list of synonyms for "boring."
They were great friends and I think it's probably down to background and language. Cleese temporarily gets the upper hand. But it tells you something about both their relationship and stature.
@MichaelPalinFan2008: Or might have been in the documentary that came with the Policeman's Ball Box Set. Can't remember now...long time ago I heard or read it
wow two best comedians ever in a double act, Peter was voted 1st in funniest person in Britain and John 2nd! I really thing john Cleese shouldve won though
Cleese had some of the lines written inside the paper. Some of the startled looks he gives Peter Cook are because Cookie was improvising, therefore JC didn't know where to pick it up again !
At, 2:20 it makes a sort of Wonderlandish sense: That a man who considers informing a randomly-met person of various random and often mangled facts to be a conversation, would consider straight-facedly informing him of completely made-up nonsense to be a joke.
A comedy hero, much loved in the UK and sorely missed.
Two of the greatest comedy geniuses together in one sketch...pure gold. 🌟🌟
The perfect rhythm,timing and phrasing of two absolute giants of comedy and they were best mates too.
I think they were more likely Gods or Bigfoot of comedy than giants specifically. Giants are generally disliked owing to their clumsiness and loudness, but Peter Cook certainly was not renowned for creating a general racket, or a din, or a cacophony, when he moved about on his two legs. Bigfoot, or bigfeet - when in groups - are much more dainty, and sighting a Bigfoot is cause for celebration, whereas sighting a giant is cause for scorn and loathing at best; panic and gnashing of teeth at worst.
Best mates at the beginning…
@@mooseandspade6251 that's the strangest comment I've read in a while. "Bigfoot or bigfeet when they're in groups are dainty." Never mind the fucking part about them being dainty ...what?? I fucking lost it at the bigfeet when they're in groups part. I don't know if you were trying to seriously make a point or if you are taking the piss but that was funny. I think it was because I read it in a matter of fact kind of way it just sounded funny. What do you call a herd of bigfeet?
Also can you please tell me how bigfeet (I'm laughing every time I type that) are dainty when they're moving about? Aren't these creatures that don't exist called bigfeet (lol) for a reason? Otherwise they'd be called daintyfeet. Not quite got the same ring to it though eh?
@@TheMan-WithNoName dear Bolotov Gavinski, swift of leg and firm of buttock, the bigfeet's daintiness is a matter of historical record. In the 14th century, a peasant who went by the name of William Tebbit, wife of Miriam Tebbit, sighted a bigfoot at close range (30-50 feet). This bigfoot was sufficiently close to make out important features on its countenance - its clothing, demeanour, and most crucially its possession of one foot. Suddenly, the bigfoot sighted William, and though William was not afraid, the bigfoot was, and leapt away through the forest. But it made scarce a whisper as it did so, and was said to be 'daintee and shie' by William, who subsequently gave testimony to the village Sire. All were entranced by the tale that he told, so filled with magical appearances that they too wished to see the bigfoot. But, it is said, you cannot wish to see the bigfoot - the bigfoot must wish to see you.
@@mooseandspade6251 lol thank you for confirming to me that you were indeed extracting the Michael.
‘Peter Cook is the only genius I ever worked with’ - John Cleese
He once said that in his first years as a comedian all he did was steal Peter Cook's material.
@@juliensorel5535 He's been a feeble Peter Cook imitator his entire career.
@@juliensorel5535 And Milligans
@@JETJOOBOY Rubbish, nothing like either of them.
@@rnw2739 why do you say that?
That was superb! How either one of them kept from cracking up is a testament to their professionalism. Peter Cook left us all way too soon.
YH IT COMING TO AGED
Agreed. Peter was one of the greats.
Cleese nearly lost it at 1:40
It makes me very proud to be from a country that can create such comic genius as this.
I suspect that Cleese doesn't laugh too much - but Peter nearly had him going! So bloody funny this sketch.
True, but here's John laughing hysterically at Lee Mack's story about doing a stand-up routine while drunk: czcams.com/video/dmbpagijVkk/video.html
Peter Cook's talent is absolutely bottomless. What a pitch-perfect performer with absolutely flawless comic timing. I feel bad for the many, many people on my side of the pond who only know him from his "Mawwidge" speech in The Princess Bride.
Cleese trying hard not to laugh.. Cook is just too funny and so poker faced 😆😆
He gets that reaction out of Dudley in every sketch they do together, but to almost get Cleese is an incredible achievement 🤣 He hardly ever laughs at anything. Honestly I think it's incredibly challenging not to laugh at Peter Cook, and I have yet to meet anyone who can sit through any of his sketches without laughing.
Absolutely great. Wonderful routine by two great performers.
Peter Cook could make anything sound funny! I love these guys
These guys are legendary….💜❤️🌸💜❤️
Peter Cook is perhaps the funniest man I have ever listened to.
My favorite sketch of all time performed by two genuine comic geniuses.
I know just how Cleese feels, I've met so many blokes like that, I'm a magnet for them!
possibly one of the most brilliant bits ever. Peter Cook has an amazing range and sense of timing.
What a master Peter Cook was!
So happy to find this! We had the VHS way back when I was a kid, and my friend and I did this skit in our school variety show. We got some laughs and some reeeeally weird looks!
A fine example of British life. I am so grateful to have lived a life with British humour.
"Do you know that you've got four miles of tubing in your stomach?"
Best pickup line EVER!
Two comedy legends.
The two were actually good friends in real life, Cleese also appeared in Cook's TV series "Peter Cook & Co." in 1980.
Why shouldn't they have been good friends??
John Cleese & Peter Cook = FANTASTIC
Cleese’s background in Python was based on sticking to the script. Cook was prone to flights of improvising fancy. Whoever shared the stage with him had to forget about the script, just try to keep up with him, not knowing where he was going.
That's what I love about him. The improvisation in the Pete and Dud sketches always gets me laughing out loud
I've seen a couple of comments here about Cleese on the verge of corpsing around "intestinal modelling". 100% bang on, but one of the comments says that part of Cook's genius is that he never seems aware of how funny he is.
This is where I diverge sharply.
What you see here is Cook instantly recognising that Cleese is on the verge and then _Cook_ gets that wicked gleam and, master that he was, re-words the 'intestinal modelling' line just for the fun of it. Wisty is, of course, ludicrously devoid of all the gifts that made Peter Cook a marvel to behold. That's what makes him such a great character.
Stephen Fry once said Peter Cook was the funniest man who ever drew breath. Fry was correct.
I'm entirely aware of how old this comment is, but I am also offended by this opinion that you've observed, and want to do my part to make sure nobody else believes it.
Part of what made Peter Cook so excellent was his acute sense of exactly what would make the other guy corpse, and how he liked to tease them with that power. He seemed to enjoy walking that line where he got Cleese struggling to keep a straight face, Cook has that joy in his eyes, Cleese knows that Cook only needs to say a few more words and he'd break completely, and Cook usually backs off to let the sketch continue.
On some of the live shows with Dudley Moore, Cook wouldn't back off, and he'd have Moore rolling on the floor. At times Cook was definitely more focused on making Moore break than anything else. Such an unparalled master, and so indescribably funny.
what can you say about these geniuses!!!! absolutely great!!!
"Intestinal modeling" and John gets VERY INTERESTED in The Standard
Peter Cook should've guest starred on Fawlty Towers, that would've been EPIC :)
Or as an English villain in a Batman film.
cook never one to shy from straying from the script, always trying to crack up his cohort, 1:01 he almost cracks himself up.
My dad liked to imitate this sketch over dinner, especially the interesting fact about whales. It is a memory of him which i am fond of. Glad to have found this gem...thank you
"It's a joke." has to be one of the most brilliant, most unpredictable lines in history.
I predicted it, actually. I thought, on the preceding line, 'this is so improbable as to clearly be a joke', and thus it was so. Only unpredictable for individuals of lesser wisdom and intelligence!
@@mooseandspade6251 Good on you, sir! And I guess that makes me a man of lesser wisdom and intelligence.
How very interesting.
You can see John Cleese almost corpse at 1:43. It's part of Cook's genius that he never seems aware that anything that he is saying is funny.
Peter Cook the g. O. A. T
I miss Peter Cook.
The character Peter Cook played here was called E.L.Wisty from the program That Was The Week That Was or TW3. I recognised him straight away as he was probably Cook’s most widely imitated character by those of us who were Sixth Formers in the sixties.
God, you made my day. Thank you for sharing.
I think I've watched this about 30 times so far...
It never gets old
I knew this was going to be good just by the title.
you said tit.
I've never forgotten that skit. I SAW IT WHEN IT WAS NEW!
(Can't remember what I had for breakfast though......not then; this morning!)
That’s great, I haven’t seen that in years, back in the day on VHS.
Cleese almost cracks at "Intestinal modelling" 1:41.
Tries to duck down behind the paper!
Almost got him.
I have been watching this for years & I'm convinced they had a bet that one could make the other break.
How Peter Cook is able to say all that with a completely straight face is beyond my comprehension.
Yes, Cook knew he was about to lose it, that's why he kept repeating it.
Peter was always like that. His performances always seemed like a deadly earnest combat with the straight man to force him to his quivering, shaking knees and completely corpse himself. It's why Peter always needed a straight man for the maximum effect. Watch his face carefully - he pushes the idea of intestines harder and harder at Cleese until Cleese (who was very good at staying in control usually), actually nearly cracks up.
They are both the serious ones and they are fantastic!
When I was going to College the library had records. One was by Peter and Dudley called Good Evening as I recall. If I felt stressed I would put it on and listen to the Frog and Peach. Made things so much better
Remember reading that Cleese had his lines written inside the newspaper he was flicking through. I think you can see him reading them in his final speech.
Two of the greatest British comic performers ever.
The comic genius of Peter Cook
When you think about it, you are watching the funniest and second funniest men of all time, together.
Hmm, I'd put Spike Milligan in first there then you've got to consider Morecombe and Wise, the Two Ronnies. Its a matter of choice I guess.
Hi vox,
Oh, I was going more on votes taken by people in the comedy business.
www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/02/arts.artsnews
BruceT Thats interesting thanks Bruce.
And so many others, Richard Pryor, George Carlin for example.
@@axeman2638 Billy connolly ??
hahaha!! john cleese is finding it well hard not to laugh! the best part is when he says "i know.. it was a joke"
I like how the title reflects the content as much as the image
Peter Cook looks like Inspector Gadget here 😄
You can just catch Cleese struggling not to laugh!
yes, there's a moment where I'm sure he smiled but used the newspaper to block it.
I can't stop laughing at the whale being an insect.
Brilliannce!!
@ipolson Well I just ordered the book by Harry Thompson, the one with Peter smoking a pipe on the front cover. Thanks. I don't know much about Cook, but enough to know, he's one of the most interesting people on the planet....irrelevant from the fact he may have come from another planet entirely. Thankyou, I shall get that too!!!!
Cook always kept a little back before going into a live sketch in an attempt to make others corpse.. see 1:42
priceless british comedy!
1:42 did John Cleese use the newspaper there to hide his smiling :0?
This "Benefit" was for Amnesty International; who've been rather quiet the last 2/3 years..!
Mosquitos and mosques.
I'm dead.
Is that Ray Davies at 2:56? Brilliant sketch.
I don't know what (if anything) Peter Cook called the Droning-Voiced Man, whether he had a name or not - but he was almost always a howl.
I think the character’s name was E.L. Wisty.
@@markschildberg1667 I found that out later. He was based on a waiter that Cook knew at college, whose name (I think) was Dowling, and whom Cook started doing impersonations of to crack up his friends.
Brilliant.
really better than today's stuff
John Cleese as a straight man. Whoda thunk?
Brilliant! 😂👍🏻
Mostly Peter Cook's sketch with John Cleese as the straight man, but at the end, Cleese seemed to do his typical act from Monty Python. Just like the parrot sketch is about how many synonyms he can find for "dead," and the cheese shop sketch is an endless variation of types of cheese, here he's finding a long list of synonyms for "boring."
Peter Cook was very, very funny. Yet, he will forever be remembered for saying, "mawwiage."
I used to watch John Cleese do funny walks on Haven Green -- that's a fact.
So this is why Stephen Fry was so awestruck with Peter Cooke… because he got most of his ideas from him..😏
Only Peter Cook could play this part.
Bloody brilliant . thank god i watched all this first times round . this was when funny was funny . not the shit they come out with now !
Cleese was corpsing more than once during this, but he (barely) hid it with his prop (the newspaper).
this is hilarious peter cook is a genius
Peter Cook looks like a combination of George Harrison & Bill Wyman
They were great friends and I think it's probably down to background and language. Cleese temporarily gets the upper hand. But it tells you something about both their relationship and stature.
No entiendo pero Cook era gracioso .Y lo mejor es que no se reía de sus comentarios. 😆😂😃
@TheAnxiousMan Yes, he really does! I was just getting ready to write that on here.
There's no real pay off or punchline. But it's funny. Proves that it's all in the delivery.
A Clash of the Titans!
@MichaelPalinFan2008: Or might have been in the documentary that came with the Policeman's Ball Box Set. Can't remember now...long time ago I heard or read it
Comedy classic! "The interesting thing about you Arab is, he can live for a whole year on one grain of rice..." :-)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 👈
don't see comedy like that anymore
great
hahaha i love it, how incredibly dull and humourless he is. 'one grain of rice??' 'no.'
Reminds me of the 'Not an Asp' monologue by Kenneth Williams 😂
This came from a Kenneth Williams revue called "One Over The Eight". The Kenneth Williams version is also on here.
Alan Page This came from a Kenneth Williams revue written by Peter Cook.
Indeed.
wow two best comedians ever in a double act, Peter was voted 1st in funniest person in Britain and John 2nd! I really thing john Cleese shouldve won though
Cleese had some of the lines written inside the paper. Some of the startled looks he gives Peter Cook are because Cookie was improvising, therefore JC didn't know where to pick it up again !
Rubbish, can you read them?
At, 2:20 it makes a sort of Wonderlandish sense:
That a man who considers informing a randomly-met person of various random and often mangled facts to be a conversation, would consider straight-facedly informing him of completely made-up nonsense to be a joke.
Intestinal modelling is a gift of Conservative government
Agree.
the original PC!
GENIOUS............Is that a fact?
You know, 'I'd' like a job as an intestinal modeller. I'll do anything to get that job. Even die.
@ipolson Is that true? Or is that what you think?
Is that a fact! How very interesting.
feekin genius
Quit possibly the two funniest people ever to walk the earth queenie1972
@MichaelPalinFan2008: Its true according to what I have read. I believe it is in the biography by Harry Thopmson.
Would be good to have this on QI hehe :)
I can see it too
@TheAnxiousMan I was just about to type that, it's really weird how much he does