In England, Harry Enfield----tragically, you may know him only as the voice of the Travelocity Gnome--- had a hit comedy show (described in more detail here) in the 1990's which he---supported by the great Kathy Burke and the equally great Paul Whitehouse---starred as a variety of characters who very quickly evolved into English comedy classics, which is how I came to know and love him. You can rent Harry Enfield and Chums from Netflix, and you really, reallly should.
Here's one sample recommended by my internet friend Chris H. And it is indeed one of my favorites: the sex education video to end all sex education videos, newsreel style (circa 1940). In this educational video, Harry Enfield is Mr. Grayson. Learn all you need to know about the "horrid beastliness" marriage requires:
And of course, Grayson is just one of the many characters created by Harry Enfield (and his chums).
Most recently, Harry Enfield starred in the BBC radio program "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency," based on my very favorite Douglas Adams book called (will you be surprised to learn?) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (here's the Wikipedia summary). I can't wait to hear it!
The late Douglas Adams is one of my heroes, and if you read Dirk Gently or---an excellent beginning place---The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (never mind the recent execrable film) or listen to the BBC radio series, he'll be one of yours as well. He was, and is, one of the funniest writers in English history, according to me.
And I can't think of a better voice for DG than HE.....
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