"I have a detention book." Rowan Atkinson, ladies and gentlemen: a perfect example of how to shut down a heckler in as few words as possible without breaking character.
It took serious balls to go on stage, in front of a live audience, with no set, no props, one light, and just a list of words, and rely on your delivery alone to get laughs.
I was fortunate enough to have attended this show at Her Majesty's Theatre back in '79. I'd seen it advertised in the London Evening Standard (as it was called back then) and next day in my lunch break (the band were rehearsing in Trident nearby) I bought 4 tickets at cost of £20. A fiver a ticket can you believe it. All relevant to the times. I have never laughed so hard or so much at a live show since. Rowan Atkinson stole the entire show. Here I am, now in my 60s reliving it. Cool as fuck if you ask me.
@@Kerbeygrip Oh wow! That's fantastic. I loved the first sketch with Peter Cook and John Cleese. “An interesting fact about the ant...” “Is that a fact?” “No. That was a joke.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The man is a genius! There are only a handful of comedians who could do this sketch justice and Rowan is the best of them! It is purely the way he says words. There are almost no jokes in this what so ever!
Rowan Atkinson is one of the best comedians ever, alongside with John Cleese. They never break character or get distracted, but what makes them even greater is that they are fucking serious while playing comedy.
I remember watching this with my sister in my Grandparents house. We were crying with laughter and they were looking at each other in bemusement. It's a generational thing I guess. Brilliant! Never tire watching it!
The writer of this sketch wrote a lengthy comment on YT a few years back about how and when it was written -at university I believe - and how Rowan's brilliant delivery elevated it to timeless comedy.
Ah, finally the original headmaster sketch. This one demands much more comedian skills than the dirty version, which Rowan Atkinson displays flawlessly.
@@electrowavez1680 It’s basically the same sketch that Will Hay used on the music halls in the 1920s and 30s . As a headmaster he will stand at a lectern on the stage and read out a roll call of boys names which got progressively sillier . You might even be able to find a video of it on TH-cam as Will Hay did do this on telly in the 1950s as far as I can remember
You are absolutely right! He can say a totally non-dirty word and make it sound obscene! Genius indeed. I hadn't seen this since it first aired, and revisiting it now, I still laugh my ass off :)
One of the great scripts and performances at the Secret Policeman's Ball. He was at Uppingham School when I was at Oakham School and were in the same year. We must have rubbed shoulders as we played rugby, cricket and hockey against each other all the time, but I don't, sadly, recall his face - and it isn't one you're likely to forget!
Ah, I remember Masters exactly like this. That perfect mix of disdain and despair backed up by rapier wit and untrammeled confidence in their authority. It kept horrible boys like me in fear and awe. Do they still exist? I hope so.
@@gdj6298I had a headmistress like that (every time I see Professor McGonagall I think of her)! The magnificent Miss Holden was her name - and she was a dead shot whether with a bit of chalk, a chalkboard eraser or her acid tongue. God bless her 😂
@@tricia5792 I know a mountie here in Canada that was called into a school to arrest a teacher who had thrown a blackboard eraser at a pupil and killed him. He was convicted of manslaughter. Lucky not to get done for murder really. Nothing like that happens anymore thankfully.
Remins me of a sketch of the Dutch comedian Toon Hermans Voorzitter 'Ons Genoegen' witch was from 1968 ( also seen on TH-cam), still the Rowan Atkinsons scetch is hilarius.
Most of this sketch is a play on words. Rowan Atkinson is known for making any word funny by the way he says it. Plectrum (one would assume) would have said something about the 'Headmaster' not being allowed to 'tweak' him and being asked whether he has a solicitor is one way of saying Plectrum can't do anything about it.
Years later (about 1987) when VHS was oh so briefly king, my friends and I would learn this word for word. Haemoglobin was the one for us. Quite extraordinary how Rowan makes pretty standard words hysterical. And some funny words, funnier. I think you have to have gone through what he is lampooning, to lampoon it so effectively. So much of this will have actually been said.
Someone was commenting on confusing bits, and I think part of that may be that this was assembled from two different performances. When he lists the names of those who need to see him afterward or who did something in particular, he says names that aren't in the roll call ("German," "Quibbing"). Also, one camera seems to visibly hit the end of its film reel (at 5:03 before the cut to "NIBBLE!"), and his shirt collar is in a different position between the stage-right and stage-left cameras.
Not quibbing, cribbing. As in, copying each other. Although the rest of your points are valid (and for anyone curious, the play with a joke in it is "Comedy of Errors in which two people look alike. Twice".
We had a Mycock at my junior school, so imagine the hysterics when the headmaster announced, with as much aplomb as possible, during assembly " My secretary would like to see Mycock." True story!
I don't think rowan was trying not to laugh at all. If you watched many of his interviews, you can tell that he is really serious when he is having a performance.
Ainsley (? is this right? if so, why would it be funny - English isn't my mother tongue) Babcock Bland (probably wants it written Blande - less… common place) Carthorse (heard first Hearthorse) Didnt (?) Elseworth-Beast Major Elseworth-Beast Minor Hemoglobine (Haemoglobine) Kosygin Loudhailer Muttock Nancyboy-Potter Nibble Orifice Plectrum Poince Sediment Soda Tare Undermanager Zob Correct my spelling if you will, I'm especailly curious how the two Elseworth Beasts would be written: can there be a name like Smythe-Brown-Jones(-Major)? Yep, you'll get a football team of them. Imagine their pride when they have their name on the jersey!
It's a reference to the elder and younger brothers. The elder brother is always called Major, the younger Minor and if there is a third at the school at the same time (as sometime happens with the Catholic families) he is called Minimus. Very unusual to have two brothers in the same class (year) so I guess we're talking twins here...
It's in the delivery. What sells this sketch is Atkinson's ability to make even the most otherwise dull and boring of words into hilarious sounding side-splitters entirely by how he uses vocal inflections when pronouncing the words. You can't convey that in print, it takes someone like Atkinson, who has an instinctive and intuitive knack for finding the right inflections to use to make the material funny. That's NOT a dig at the writer, it just means that the writer intended for this sketch to be performed ONLY by comedians who could do his writing justice.
"I have a detention book."
Rowan Atkinson, ladies and gentlemen: a perfect example of how to shut down a heckler in as few words as possible without breaking character.
+Alex Quill Actually my favorite part. haha
For those of us too lazy to look back and to find it after watching, it's at 0:53
It took serious balls to go on stage, in front of a live audience, with no set, no props, one light, and just a list of words, and rely on your delivery alone to get laughs.
Serious balls, or talent?
I was fortunate enough to have attended this show at Her Majesty's Theatre back in '79. I'd seen it advertised in the London Evening Standard (as it was called back then) and next day in my lunch break (the band were rehearsing in Trident nearby) I bought 4 tickets at cost of £20. A fiver a ticket can you believe it. All relevant to the times. I have never laughed so hard or so much at a live show since. Rowan Atkinson stole the entire show. Here I am, now in my 60s reliving it. Cool as fuck if you ask me.
Me too
@@Kerbeygrip It sure was some night Patricia and it's terrific we can both relive it here 😁👍🏻
@@hugohackenbush1554 i have a video of the show. It e en has a clip of me and my husband in the audience. Fabulous night.
@@Kerbeygrip Oh wow! That's fantastic. I loved the first sketch with Peter Cook and John Cleese. “An interesting fact about the ant...”
“Is that a fact?” “No. That was a joke.”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I have never laughed as much in my life before or since!
The man is a genius! There are only a handful of comedians who could do this sketch justice and Rowan is the best of them! It is purely the way he says words. There are almost no jokes in this what so ever!
23 fresh out of Engineering school and destined for greatness. This had the comics in the audience beside themselves.
Launched his career.
Rowan Atkinson is one of the best comedians ever, alongside with John Cleese. They never break character or get distracted, but what makes them even greater is that they are fucking serious while playing comedy.
I remember watching this with my sister in my Grandparents house. We were crying with laughter and they were looking at each other in bemusement. It's a generational thing I guess. Brilliant! Never tire watching it!
He could read out any Terms & Conditions and have you rolling on the floor laughing.
The writer of this sketch wrote a lengthy comment on YT a few years back about how and when it was written -at university I believe - and how Rowan's brilliant delivery elevated it to timeless comedy.
I read that comment also.
Ah, finally the original headmaster sketch. This one demands much more comedian skills than the dirty version, which Rowan Atkinson displays flawlessly.
Fully agree 👍
Those of us who went to an English boys-only school in the 60s will have gone through this kind of thing every day.
Yeah, and my name is Potter....
Its like his face is made out of elastic. He can convey every emotion to its absolute fullest with such little effort.
I love the way how he does the improvisations with one member shouting out during the role call.
The headmaster shut him down right quick.
This was the sketch which Atkinson employed to get into the Cambridge Footlights. Simply brilliant.
Although it is a copy of a Will Hay stand-up routine from about 40 years earlier
@@steveosborne2297what was the routine?
@@electrowavez1680 It’s basically the same sketch that Will Hay used on the music halls in the 1920s and 30s .
As a headmaster he will stand at a lectern on the stage and read out a roll call of boys names which got progressively sillier .
You might even be able to find a video of it on TH-cam as Will Hay did do this on telly in the 1950s as far as I can remember
You are absolutely right! He can say a totally non-dirty word and make it sound obscene! Genius indeed. I hadn't seen this since it first aired, and revisiting it now, I still laugh my ass off :)
The comedic equivalency of a comic genius making the reading of phone book funny. Not many of them around anymore.
One of the great scripts and performances at the Secret Policeman's Ball. He was at Uppingham School when I was at Oakham School and were in the same year. We must have rubbed shoulders as we played rugby, cricket and hockey against each other all the time, but I don't, sadly, recall his face - and it isn't one you're likely to forget!
Ah, I remember Masters exactly like this. That perfect mix of disdain and despair backed up by rapier wit and untrammeled confidence in their authority. It kept horrible boys like me in fear and awe. Do they still exist? I hope so.
Plus the ability to whirl round from the blackboard and hurl the chalk at any offender, all in one sudden, pinpoint move !
@@gdj6298I had a headmistress like that (every time I see Professor McGonagall I think of her)! The magnificent Miss Holden was her name - and she was a dead shot whether with a bit of chalk, a chalkboard eraser or her acid tongue. God bless her 😂
Yes. In Australia.
@@tricia5792 I know a mountie here in Canada that was called into a school to arrest a teacher who had thrown a blackboard eraser at a pupil and killed him. He was convicted of manslaughter. Lucky not to get done for murder really. Nothing like that happens anymore thankfully.
Its so funny . Always a Nancy Boy Potter or a Elsworth Beast-major in an English school lol .
Paul Hewett Oh so those were real names? 😂
Having a long talk with Undermanager for bullying Zob
An unknown Rowan Atkinson in 1979 in the sketch that made him a star overnight.
Absolutely hysterical! Rowan Atkinson = Comedy Legend.
This is much funnier than his "dirty" version.
That’s the highest summit of the British humor,Rowan Atkinson
NIBBLE! LEAVE ORIFICE ALONE! Lol XD the funniest part!
Remins me of a sketch of the Dutch comedian Toon Hermans Voorzitter 'Ons Genoegen' witch was from 1968 ( also seen on TH-cam), still the Rowan Atkinsons scetch is hilarius.
he is the best!!!
10 years old and still brilliant"
10 years old? This sketch was first performed in 1979. It’s 44 years old. And still brilliant.
Comedy gold, purest fecking 110% gold.
Saw this live brilliant
Most of this sketch is a play on words. Rowan Atkinson is known for making any word funny by the way he says it. Plectrum (one would assume) would have said something about the 'Headmaster' not being allowed to 'tweak' him and being asked whether he has a solicitor is one way of saying Plectrum can't do anything about it.
I have not laughed like I did when watching this in a long long time. Definitely being bookmarked.
A very young Rowan Atkinson.
My favorote sketch from this live show is the one where he keeps making those noises while he was talking to John Cleeses character. Lol!
"NIBBLE! Leave - Orifice - alooone!"
Years of experience of education made this sketch
My favorite actor is Rowan atkinson
Brilliant!!!!
Years later (about 1987) when VHS was oh so briefly king, my friends and I would learn this word for word. Haemoglobin was the one for us.
Quite extraordinary how Rowan makes pretty standard words hysterical. And some funny words, funnier. I think you have to have gone through what he is lampooning, to lampoon it so effectively. So much of this will have actually been said.
Someone was commenting on confusing bits, and I think part of that may be that this was assembled from two different performances. When he lists the names of those who need to see him afterward or who did something in particular, he says names that aren't in the roll call ("German," "Quibbing"). Also, one camera seems to visibly hit the end of its film reel (at 5:03 before the cut to "NIBBLE!"), and his shirt collar is in a different position between the stage-right and stage-left cameras.
Also the section with Williams Witchly Wocket has been cut
Not quibbing, cribbing. As in, copying each other. Although the rest of your points are valid (and for anyone curious, the play with a joke in it is "Comedy of Errors in which two people look alike. Twice".
when i came here i was thinking he's going talk! HEEEEEEEEE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING JUST TO BE FUNNY ? HE DONT NEED IT !
A comedic genius.
He was 24 here. A very old 24 year old.
?
Am I crazy or does he look exactly like he did in the mid 80s?
it is the 80s.... maybe the late 70s
1979 this is from
ah the well dressed sadists in british public schools......funny sketch,thanks.
And universities, media.
1:05 I have a detention book
2:48 haha
At 4:07 HE'S LAUGHING INSIDE HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
I was there!
4:09 or so - it's just for a second or two, but he's corpsing.
jackal59 I prefer to view it as the smirk of a man who has firmly put a boy in his rightful place.
He's laughing inside LMAO I CANT HAHAHHAHA
The control though, the way he forces his muscles into that scowl after, masterful!
Just part of the overall performance.
The full list is missing
5:08 lol XD
being italian i didn't understand this like i did the dirty names one
In another version, he calls out to, "Mydick" , "Has anyone seen Mydick".
Surely Mycock would be better because it's a real surname.
We had a Mycock at my junior school, so imagine the hysterics when the headmaster announced, with as much aplomb as possible, during assembly " My secretary would like to see Mycock."
True story!
Yup, Matron!!
yes he is ^.^
5:07 LOL
5:11 LOL!
I don't think rowan was trying not to laugh at all. If you watched many of his interviews, you can tell that he is really serious when he is having a performance.
But if you are Rowan Atkinson, it tweren't nothing.
Do you have a solicitor plectrum...
Great skit. Almost as funny as the "no one called jones" one.
Brilliant
Spiritual successor to Alan Bennett's "Forty Years On"?
Zob....absent. Is a reference to Unman, Wittering and Zigo
N I B B L E ! ! !
My school to a T!
Yes
NIBBLE!!!! Leave Orifice alone!😂
Pause at 5:07
it is an honor: the bean
Hercules Balls
“If it was meant to be funny.. he would have put a joke in it”
Is Rowan talking about his lil sketch here?!?!
Ainsley (? is this right? if so, why would it be funny - English isn't my mother tongue)
Babcock
Bland (probably wants it written Blande - less… common place)
Carthorse (heard first Hearthorse)
Didnt (?)
Elseworth-Beast Major
Elseworth-Beast Minor
Hemoglobine (Haemoglobine)
Kosygin
Loudhailer
Muttock
Nancyboy-Potter
Nibble
Orifice
Plectrum
Poince
Sediment
Soda
Tare
Undermanager
Zob
Correct my spelling if you will, I'm especailly curious how the two Elseworth Beasts would be written: can there be a name like
Smythe-Brown-Jones(-Major)?
Yep, you'll get a football team of them.
Imagine their pride when they have their name on the jersey!
It's a reference to the elder and younger brothers. The elder brother is always called Major, the younger Minor and if there is a third at the school at the same time (as sometime happens with the Catholic families) he is called Minimus.
Very unusual to have two brothers in the same class (year) so I guess we're talking twins here...
@@RO8s Or the third brother might be called Tertius.
@@sirknight1399 Yes, you are right, but not at either of my schools! Possibly somewhere snotty like Eton... :))
Has anyone ever told him, he looks the spitting image of that Mr Bean?
great
Bibble?
Is it the writing or the performance - or are they the same thing?
It's in the delivery. What sells this sketch is Atkinson's ability to make even the most otherwise dull and boring of words into hilarious sounding side-splitters entirely by how he uses vocal inflections when pronouncing the words. You can't convey that in print, it takes someone like Atkinson, who has an instinctive and intuitive knack for finding the right inflections to use to make the material funny. That's NOT a dig at the writer, it just means that the writer intended for this sketch to be performed ONLY by comedians who could do his writing justice.
A shame Rowan didn't do this in Not the Nine O'clock News.
Haha legend ❤
Presente professore Rowan😂
Right , quiet please , genius is on stage 😊
mr bean!
Really funny names, but who are the names of the girls with the high pitch laughs in the show? Can you name them?.
OMG! So Funny!
Elsworth-Beast-Major
Funny video
Wonder if Nancyboy-Potter is related to Harry Potter, on his mother's side?
JK Rowling was a kid when this was made. What are you talking about? Or are you referring to Big D?
He doesn’t look 24!
Hemoglobins
"horrid little top..."
🤣🤣🤣!!
'Horrid little twerp ' I think 😄
Would.nt be allowed today.how crazy.it s comedy for goodness sake.poor benny hill .one of the funniest men who ever lived.❤
I don't get all these jokes... why would plectrum need a solicitor? sorry, my english is approximate...
If Plectrum has a solicitor, the teacher wont beat him too badly. If he hasn't...
Ah, I miss school? Americans want these things to have fully automatic weapons and a free fire zone?
Nibble?............NIBBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LEAVE... ORIFICE... ALONE!!!
Harry Nancy Boy Potter
When mentioning their essays he refers to “Jones, M.” However no such person is mentioned on the register? How queer!
Zob
There are no obvious jokes. So yes unfortunately you do have to be English to be able to laugh at this.
You dont have to be English, I am not.
I'm not English and I am laughing like crazy ...
British comedy at its very best