Product Description

Only a handful of creative works succeed in capturing the totality of human existence from birth to death through love transfiguration and redemption. "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" the BBC television series co-starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie has been said on two occasions to be among this group. Over 40 sketches in two programs of fun and frivolity.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 794051264824 Manufacturer No: E2648

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49317 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2006-08-22
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 177 minutes

Amazon.com
Season Two of A Bit of Fry & Laurie opens with Stephen Fry dressed in a green velvet smoking jacket, dancercizing as he impersonates a quantity surveyor. You don't need to know what a quantity surveyor is to appreciate Fry and Laurie's humor; it's clearly another great chapter in British absurdity. They specialize in dizzying linguistic games: to protest censorship, they made up their own vicious swearwords (like "pimhole" and "pumpslider"). Deranged flights of self-absorbed literary criticism occur regularly. They satirize conservatism and commercialism (the second episode of this season was sponsored by a carpet manufacturer, whose product was worked into every sketch), but political commentary never takes priority over silliness. Castigating former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher swiftly turns to an angry song about jars that have lost their lids, which leads to an elegy to the recently deceased Hugh Laurie, who then takes part in his own eulogy. Familiar elements from the first season--artificial facial hair, non-sequitur quotes from people on the street, and the inexplicable doings of secret agent Tony Mercheson and his affable superior, Control--return in good form. Whether scolding their audience for laughing at alcoholism and genital fungus, demonstrating the right and wrong ways to greet trick-or-treaters, or impersonating Michael Jackson, Fry and Laurie proceed with earnest gravity and gracious smiles. Fans of their later careers in movies and American television (Laurie has achieved major stardom with House) owe it to themselves to check out Fry and Laurie's delightful comedy. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

brilliant
This is SO worth buying, spec. if you are an American and only know Hugh Laurie from House and Stephen Fry from Bones. They were (and still are) one of the funniest and most talented comic duos!

Hilarious Hugh! Funny Fry! Give me more, please!
Inexplicably, Netflix does not yet have seasons 1, 3, or 4 of this early 90s sketch comedy done by friends/colleagues Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, who usually produce successful skits if they're not too esoteric or not dragged out too long.

Imagine a funnier, shorter, and very British SNL. Recurring characters include the spy Tony and his extremely polite boss, Control ("Bohhh!"); the perpetually disgruntled, swearing business partners John and Peter ("Damn, double damn, and an extra pint of damn for the weekend!"); and various interviewees on the streets of London. Much absurdity, wordplay, and amusing musical performances as well. Best bits: Hugh plays an angry man who wants to be cured of his eccentricity ("Well, give the man a bloody MEDAL!" ... I thought I would die laughing); Fry dancercises; Fry portrays Michael Jackson after much facial reconstruction; Hugh plays a song called "Where is the lid?"; Fry and Laurie make up new swear words. Is it possible they invented the word "skank" ?
My mom was in stitches after hearing the trifle/custardy joke in one of the John and Peter sketches.

Includes an extra feature--these fellows and other budding actors, including friend Emma Thompson, performing material at Cambridge University in 1982. Among the 45 minutes of this : Hugh talking nonsense, Fry teaching Hugh how to do Shakespeare; the pair plus Tony Slattery and Penny Dwyer in a hilarious game of charades; and much more.

Fry and Laurie a total hoot!
This team of comedians should be better known in America. When you are in the mood for Monty Python, but feel you've seen them all too recently, try Fry and Laurie. I think the first seasonA Bit of Fry and Laurie - Season One is a bit funnier, but both will have you rolling with laughter off the couch! It is especially sweet to see Hugh Laurie being so goofy in a broad English accent after admiring his work on "House"House, M.D. - Season One. There is a sketch in Fry and Laurie when Laurie dons a white coat and is interacting with a hospital patient and just comparing that with House, makes it even more hilarious!! Fry and Laurie has been the comedy find of the year for me!!
Highy recommended!