Shark Bytes
I agree with the above poster. Growing up in the 80s in Australia, the Dame Edna 'character' was already out of date (she was all over Australian TV and in the popular consciousness, though I've never seen this "Dame Edna Experience" of which you speak). But don't make the mistake of underestimating Barry Humphries as a comedian. I've seen him absolutely destroy a serious reporter in an interview (Australian 60 Minutes) in his 'Les Patterson' character with a dirty joke. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. He's a really smart guy and can be really funny (I admit Dame Edna was quite funny hosting the Queens Jubilee thing or whatever it was recently). The English I could understand "getting" her, why the Americans would is beyond me.
Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna, knighted by the Australian Prime Minister at the end of the film "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie") is one of Australia's, if not the world's, finest comedians. To see him doing his one man show with up to half a dozen characters is an evening to be never forgotten. Unfortunately the Dame Edna Experience only concentrated on his one (perhaps most famous) character and the format of the show was somewhat stifling (yes we get all of his shows here, not just those produced in the USA). The comedic genius with the character that is so smooth as silk, butter wouldn't melt etc and then within the space of two syllables stab someone with a murderous barb but still remain charming is really unmatched by anyone else in the english speaking world. The real test of a comedian is to appear as a guest on a talk-show, and completely take over the show by sheer strength of character. Barry Humphries as Dame Edna (and Sir Les Patterson) has that ability to totally destroy any talk show host who should make the mistake of underestimating the intelligence of Barry Humphries.
Okay, for all of you who insist its not a guy in drag, um..YES IT IS! A guy wearing women's clothes is a guy "in drag". That's all this garbage ever was, is and will be.
Dame Edna is not a drag act, I think that has been firmly established. It is completely irrelevant that the character is portrayed by a man. Edna is a comic character, a parody of a specific character type, and it has been hilariously funny at times. Times that passed a long time ago. The problem is that parody needs to be current, topical, relevant. Edna Everage is a parody of a character type that was common in Melbourne, Australia in the 1950s. There are no Edna Everages in Melbourne or anywhere else for that matter, in the 21st century, and the 1970s version of "Dame" Edna that we are still seeing today is a parody of fame and famous people that is now 30 years out of date, existing only because it continues to feed on itself, largely through the willing collaboration of "stars" who want to be seen as being in on a joke that anyone with half a brain understood decades ago.
To the poster a few listings back: I get the joke. I get the references. I catch the wit. Problem: he's NOT FUNNY. Sorry to bust your bubble. As an aside, if you want to see Dame Edna NOT in drag (real name: Barry Humphries), watch the original "Bedazzled" with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Barry plays the Deadly Sin "Envy". He's a hundred times funnier than he ever was as Dame Edna. Also, isn't he the voice of the Great White Shark in "Finding Nemo"? If so, him being the shark would be the ultimate irony!
Sorry, but I disagree with those that just don’t “get it”, and probably never will…Yes, the “Dame Edna” CHARACTER was (and every time I’ve seen her since) absolutely hilarious! This isn’t “a drag queen” or “female impersonator” trying to do a comedy show! Not that there would be anything wrong with either one in another type of format (and written well enough!). Dame Edna’s act, like those of Mae West’s or Marilyn Monroe’s characterizations is brilliant and in a class by itself! I feel what lacked about the specials was often times the caliber of celebrity guests that showed up that were trying to, as someone else said, “…clamor to get on them” - likely to just promote their own careers! One of my favorite bits was the time Euro-diva Nana Mouskouri came on, sang some old Van Morrison pop tune “Moon Dance” – a weak choice for her vocal capabilities IMO– and at the end, quite deadpan, Edna quips “…what a lovely little song that was….y’nknow, I’m tone-deaf and to me it’s all a lot of meaningless words and sounds…but you really got through to me….!” Nana was caught totally off-guard and it really cracked her up! Could “Babsie” Streisand (some comparing to her American counterpart) have taken the joke that well?! Doubtful these days with her reputation! Also very visually funny was when she did the photo shoot with the famed photographer (name escapes me) and you could even see her sidekick “Madge Allsop” breaking character and laughing at the antics in the background! That’s just my two cents!
Quick history lesson. The Dame Edna character first appeared in the 1960's. It's not a drag act. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it has never in those 35 odd years been the slightest bit funny.
Dame Edna's show isn't drag at all. Poor possums! Blinded by the fact that it's a man who invented and acts the role (a straight man, btw) they just fail to "get it," and miss all the irreverent fun. Dame Edna is hilarious; I was sorry the program had such a short run.
People, a man in women's clothing is not at all intrinsically funny! Why bipeds actually laugh at it is beyond me. It was not funny when Berle did it, or Klinger, or Jack Tripper, or Tom Hanks, why in hell is it funny if an atrocious foreigner does it? MEN IN DRAG IS SIMPLY NOT FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Americans don't find middle aged men in drag. Why the British find an campy Australian perform this act is beyond me. And it was another strange celebrity phenomenon like the Muppet Show. Big name celebrities clamored to be on this dumb show. And that clueless, withered old lady sidekick? Ugh.
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