Despite making so many videos about Australia he honestly has no clue as to our culture or our unusual humor. It just confirms what he himself says "Americans are so unaware of any other countries". He even thinks Barry Humphries is for real!!!!
@@kevincoleman8569 In his defence Barry was a Grand Master of pulling the wool over the worlds eyes and I don't think there's much leg pulling in America which is a shame . We are legendary pis takers after all .
I was so sick that those pompous Jerks in Melbourne left him out of the Comedy Awards... you folks should hang your head in shame... that man opened the world to Australia along with Paul Hogan (Dundee)
The person in the audience that it appeared that they threw the camera onto, was Barry Humpries. Barry was of course in character as Sir Les Patterson ( Australian Cultural Attache to Great Britain ). His most famous character is Dame Edna Everidge. Dame Eda is a must-watch. He is the best straight man doing drag that you will ever see.
I wouldn’t say above their head. American and Australian comedy is different. Our Australian comedy is more similar to British comedy where, I think, Aus & Brits can laugh at ourselves more. Brit Stephen Fry explained the difference between the countries humour ruclips.net/video/8k2AbqTBxao/видео.html
This went to air in the UK but the show is telecast in Australia. It is a running joke that both Aussies and people from the UK understood particularly at the time. He looks a bit like one of our former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke, who held a world record for drinking a yard glass of beer and suggested everyone take a day off work to basically get drunk when we won the Americas Cup. He emphasises a lot of things that some prominent Australians were famous for in terms of lacking political correctness, hard drinking, smoking, womanising, boasting etc. Its hard to describe but for all of these failings, these guys were often admired as "larikans". A "piss-up" is a boozy party essentially. "Piss" is often used interchangeably as a term for alcohol in Australia and the UK. Hence you could say "getting on the piss", "he was pissed" etc. We still used the term "pissed off" though, and that has nothing to do with alcohol, so you have to pay attention to the context in which it is used. I've been rewatching a lot of great shows from the UK lately circa the 90s to 00s and surprisingly the term poof or poofter comes up just about every time. It is less politically correct these days but a lot of gay celebrities will happily use the term as it still has great comedic effect. I feel like the UK and Australia are more relaxed about things, as they're less politicised here, however we seem to be suffering from a lot of the stuff that is going on in the States due to the more globalised news media that is starting to make everyone walk on egg shells and be afraid to talk about these things due to a subset of people who want to make a loud noise about gender based issues and equality right now.
Agree with basically everything you said. I still remember in primary/ state school, when kids used to ask other ones what are you? A "P" "tied to a tree or on the loose" and would go running around yelling "P on the loose" or "P tied to a tree" and the younger ones wouldn't know what the word even meant.
@@chucky110 All depends on context. I still use it occasionally and I am one, and so are many of my friends. So much depends on who says it, in what circumstances, and why. Similar to the incredibly offensive "dyke": the Dykes on Bikes lead off the Mardi Gras parade and no-one turns a hair, but rudely call a lesbian a dyke and you are toast.
Its sad. And given the rabid activist perpetually-offended-at-everything purple-haired types coming out of the US, it won't be too long before Sir Les and the like are not only scrubbed from living memory, but from archives as well.
Could not agree more. Sir Humphreys was an absolute comedy icon and being crass and louche as he was as Les was comedy gold, it was funny. We've lost humor to wokeism.
Barry Humphrey's was an Australian, but lived in the UK and plied his trade as a professional Australian. The British lapped it up and the Australians laughed.
dingodancer This guy would have trouble seeing anything, especially when he stops or talks over the video constantly with his dumb comments. He has to be the most annoying and stupid person to have attempted this format on youtube.
There is just so much going on in the world that most Americans are totally unaware of! Your reaction is priceless! The chap in the audience was Barry himself...
You have to remember this show was televised in 1982. Things were more risque back then compared to what we have to endure these days. Barry Humphries is a comedy genius.
The “guy” you see at 5:35 is Barry Humphries in normal clothes and character. Les Patterson is one of the many “characters” that he played so successfully. RUclips his more serious videos. He was an alcoholic in the late 1960s and nearly died from the addiction. He survived through self discipline and has spent a lot of time helping alcoholics deal with their situations. He was an erudite, intelligent, creative comedy legend. We Aussies miss him forever. Sadly, we lost him in 2023, aged 89.
Your reaction to Sir Les is priceless. I can only imagine how difficult it was for you to catch his accent let alone our weird Aussie humour... His other character, Dame Edna Everidge is a classic! Good on you for trying to understand our crazy Aussie characters!
Barry Humphries is a cultural icon, famous for his characters 'Sir Les Patterson' and 'Dame Edna Everidge'. Admittedly, his/her fame was at it's peak some 40 years ago, so much of the references will take a lot of explaining so you could understand what he/she is talking about.
It was a brilliant time, but we have lost our way... Between government and ABC pro-woke messaging 24/7. I don't see us finding our way back to those great decades...
The guy in the crowd looking embarrassed was Barry Humphries, the wonderfully talented comedian playing Sir Les (and obviously filmed earlier). Sir Les called him Brian Humphries.😂 Barry Humphries died this week....Australia is in mourning right now for this amazingly funny man who put Australian comedy on the map. Vale Barry, Dame Edna, Sir Les and Sandy.
I met Barry Humphries when he visited his mate who lived in a small town not far out of Adelaide South Australia He was so funny We “bantered” with each other Loved his as Dame Edna Great man!
Dame Edna Everidge hosted a weekly TV variety show for a while too. She was also one of the most regularly invited Queen's Royal Variety Performers. The word that you are searching for is "poofter", old English. Michael Parkinson is one of the most celebrated interviewers ever. He interviewed the very best celebrities in the 1970-90s on BBC & his interviews with Mohammed Ali (and others) are fabulous.
"Done an Erica" - Erica Roe became famous for doing a topless streak across the pitch during an England vs. Australia rugby union match on 2 January 1982.
I saw him live on his farewell tour of the UK. He is brilliant, but people in the front row were at risk from certain fluids! In truth Sir Les is Barry Humphries's second character, Dame Edna was his top role. A star in her own right for 4 or 5 decades. In real life Barry (that was him in the audience) is a hugely cultured and quietly spoken figure, but in character he can say and do the most outrageous things. If you have seen The Hobbit movies, he actually played the chief goblin of the Misty Mountains.
It was hilarious watching you Ryan trying to figure our 'cultural attachete'; Sir Les Patterson. I think you kind of got the 'map of Tasmania' references at the end. This brilliant comedian took us to places that many dared not go in order to make us lauch and that he has for 50+ years. I'm so privileged to have witnessed his amazing characters Dame Edna & Sir Les. He poked fun at everyone including himself, and he will never be forgotten. The funniest Australian of all time and Barry, I salute you! RIP and thanks for your longevity and sustained laughter over all of these years. LEGEND!
The cutaway to the audience member in the checked jacket - that’s Barry Humphries, the comedian who actually plays Sir Les. His most famous character is Dame Edna Everage, an Australian housewife
We, this week, mourn the loss of one of our greatest comedians. A genius. What you are looking at is one of my people’s greatest attributes. We laugh at ourselves. Sir Les is an exaggeration of our worst parts. Barry did this the best. He was a comedic genius. RIP Barry Humphries.
Les is that uncle that always turns up at family get-togethers. He's the one who knocks back all available grog, pisses on the lemon tree at the end of the garden, and who throws up on someone's shoes.
The embarrassed man at 5:34 is the actor/comedian (Barry Humphries) who is actually *playing* Les Patterson in the interview. He's a very refined man who spent the sixties, seventies and eighties lampooning Australian pretensions to The Yartz (the Arts) and Kulcha (Culture). Sir Les is a caricature of a slobbering, disgusting, sexist, grubby man who has risen to a position of influence in the Australian Arts establishment. Les (pronounced Lezz, short for "Leslie") is Barry Humphries' direct attack on a part of the Australian "cultural elite" who thought they were better than the rest of us. He is showing them they are no better, and in fact are just pretentious snobs with a high opinion of themselves while actually being disgustingly vulgar. The dribbling, the yellow nicotine-stained fingers, the sly scratching of his crotch (that you missed) are all part of the schtick. What very few people know is that Barry Humphries actually invented a lot of modern Australian slang - especially some disgusting bits. For example ‘to syphon the python’ and ‘to point Percy at the porcelain’ are both terms for urinating, and "technicolor yawn" is a Barry Humphries expression for vomit.
Ryan, another Aussie character to look up is Norman Gunston, the little Aussie bleeder. Another short clip you should also watch if you have not already seen it, is the clip where Paddington bear has tea with Queen Elizabeth. It is very well done and very funny. It is a comedy clip that the queen secretly made without any of the royal family knowing. Members of the royal family only saw it the same time as the general public did.
Oh yes! Norman Gunston when he interviewed Sally Struthers. I cry laughing at that each and every time. I've watched it about 37 times! "... you want to use an electric razor."
Sorry Jason mate, as much as we Aussies dislike our politicians, NO AUSTRALIAN POLITICIAN has ever been so slovenly and uncouth as this! Never, ever! And as a fellow Aussie, I really resent you TELLING LIES, to the worldwide folk here on RUclips, about our politicians 😠😠😠 “Sir Les” was a humerous parody, in the EXTREME, and never represented a real Australian politician !!
Actually, humphries has said he hatched the character of Sir Les after attending events where he observed the behaviour of Australian politicians, diplomats and upper echelon public servants.
Les Patterson is Barry Humphries stereotype of a Sydneysider (person from Sydney). Edna Everage is the Melbourne counterpart. Barry was the guy in the audience who was getting embarrassed. Barry Humphries is huge in the UK, he lives there and helps maintain British views on Australian stereotypes.
"That guy in the audience" is Barry Humphries himself, clearly being edited into the segment. I met the bloke (as Barry Humphries) years ago and he is REALLY TALL. Dame Edna must be terrifying up close.
All the info says he's only 5'10" so you're either a dwarf, often inebriated, short-sighted or met Humphry Barry the 7 foot and one half inch ruckman from Upper Currawong. I pass no judgement on you no matter your failings.
Absolute gold. Cannot believe this was 40 years ago. He was revolting, completely non politically correct by today’s standard, but bloody hilarious. Loved your reactions, mate….being an Aussie myself, I love it when you guys are completely baffled with our slang and mannerisms…granted, he stepped it up big time. And one more thing to note, yes I am Tasmanian…a state resembling an upside down triangle, very bushy back then, but as deforestation and 40 years of fashion (namely the Brazilian influence) have passed…guess both maps are are similarly less bushy I’d say. Great work. Subscribed. Rob, Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺
Ryan, only just this video. Barry Humphries created many characters like Sir Les, grotesque caricatures of us or people we know. If think this Parkinson show was good, his live shows were much much much funnier. If you deliberately came in late, or tried to heckle him, or interacted in any way he would weave you into the show and refer you to throughout his performance. He would usually pick on between six and ten people in the audience, juggling them along his script, he was very mentally sharp to pull that off. He is just a legend.
The guy in the audience showing disgust and disdain for Sir Les? That was actually Barry Humphries himself without any makeup. They must have pre-recorded it and inserted it into the interview at that point. Sir Les, despite his infamy, still stands in the shadow of Dame Edna Everidge, the character who started out as a mousey little housewife from the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds. Barry Humphries was regarded as a national living treasure before his recent passing. RIP Barry, you did us all proud.
One thing you have to remember this was comedy back in early 80's and Tv only had 4 or 5 channels back them and then went screen dead at 11pm until 6am in the morning.... This was the best comedy back in the day!
I’ve literally cried with laughter over the years when I’ve randomly watched Sir Les! Such sharp wit and in so many ways such a fantastic character and hilariously real depiction of some past Pollies !
You were puzzled by the name Chips Rafferty. He was an actor, the stereotypical Aussie in the 1940s and 50s. The last movie he was in, "Wake in Fright" (1971) is well worth a look. It is a realistic look at the darker side of Australian life at that time. If you watch the movie, that is real beer that Chips is drinking (in every take of the scene).
I always like the aussie movie Fortress (1985) *not to be mixed up with the Christopher Lambert movie*. The true story of the school children that were kidnapped and ransomed in the rural school house. That particular Santa mask still gets around and gives me a fright from time to time when i see it unexpectedly.
@@planetdisco4821 "Look Back in Anger (1959)" Filmed in UK. Chips wasn't in that movie. He was, however, in, "They're a Weird Mob (1966)" A classic piece of Australiana.
Michael Parkinson is a British tv legend chat show host..he was the forerunner to our fabulous Graham Norton..he had all the top stars on his show from Audrey Hepburn to Mohammed Ali...his shows was often hilariously symbolic with guests like Barry Humphries here, Freddie Starr and a very drunk Oliver Reed. Both chat shows are well worth watching ...🤓
Love this channel mate! These videos and your interpretive analyses dive into the strands of the very fabric of the Australian sociocultural psyche. A joy to watch. Thank you
Just watched you watching Sir Les. Double fun. Tried to find you reacting to Dame Edna but not there! What's going on mate? Seach; Dame Edna Everage interview (Parkinson, 2004).
That was a lot for you to take in. A lot of Aussie references & slang It’s like you needed an Australian next to you to explain it all. I like him doing Dame Edna Everage 🇦🇺
I was told by my wife, that his early rendition of Edna Everage, was based on his families house keeper, who was my wife's Grandmother, having seen a photo of her Grandmother, I can believe it.
😁 here's an odd Australian language difference, the word 'Root' means something very different here, for example, in a pub don't ever tell people that your wife roots for your favorite sports team, you might get a lot cheering but for all the wrong reasons 😉😅😂🤣😁
In the context of the 80s, forty years ago, he was funny. I never really appreciated his satire until I was a lot older. I didn't find him funny at all back then. But when I understood what he was doing, the whole schtick was comedic satire Gold. Barry Humphries knew how to do character comedy. As others have said, Dame Edna Everidge (one of his characters) became somewhat of a National Treasure. 'She' has appeared at many prestigious events, including the Royal Variety Command Performance. That is, the Queen of the United Kingdom requested 'her' specifically to perform, not Barry 'as Dame Edna'. The RVCP is an occasion where the Queen would request a number of performers to entertain us all for want of a better explanation...
Loved her US series especially the episode with Robin Williams (who surprisingly doesn't take over the stage for once). Wonder if the Dame played into Mrs Doubtfire's character at all.
He is an international comedian, satirist, poet, narrator and occasional actor since the mid 1950's. Check out the Wikipedia entry for Barry Humphries (his real name) but who died on 22 Apr 23 aged 89. Les is short for Leslie. Poofters are gay men, a term little use in Australia much now, "yarts" is the arts.
Two movies to watch "Les Patterson saves the World" and "Barry Mackenzie holds his own" both are Aussie humour at its rawest. Barry Humphries is an Australian / British institution to those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's he ranks alongside Monty Python, Morecombe and Wise etc.
Not everyone realised it was satire. Now we're more sophisticated which is better overall. I'm not nostalgic for the supposedly 'good old days'. If you look now we have Aboriginal people with their own comedy shows and you get to see their take on humour and how they see society and us. They can make jokes at their own expense but it's better if we don't make them for reasons that I shouldn't have to spell out to you. So, nah.
@@deborahcurtis1385 Everyone in Australia knew it was satire, the issue is, people judging it that weren't there, and people making assumptions on what Aboriginals believe, they're individuals you know.
@@DoubleDummy I think one of, if not the last thing John Clarke was in is called “The ex PM” with Shaun micaliff. He doesn’t play a major roll, but that is (in my opinion) one of the most underrated comedy series
The guy in in the audience at 5:34 is Barry Humphries who plays Sir Les and Dame Edna. I think Dame Edna will appeal to your sense of humour better than Sir Les
Another Aussie Icon (before his Film Debut and stardom), is the Paul Hogan Show. Paul and his sidekick ‘Strop’ (who looks like a Surf lifesaver) who was married to beautiful Delvene Delany (also on the show as a part of the cast). A second one (which you WILL find some Non politically correct humour on), is ‘Kingswood Country’. Ted Bullpit is a classic, and btw… a Kingswood is model of car here that was famous in the 70’s & 80’s (look it up before you start so you e got an idea on the inside jokes before you start!).
I was going to suggest "Kingswood Country" too. They tried to make the show again a few years later (mid '90s I think) where Ted moves to a retirement village. I think Ross Higgins (Ted) is the only person who returned for this. No where near as funny as the original though. NOT THE KINGSWOOD!!! Lol.
All it took was six weeks traveling in Australia in 1984 when I was 34 and staying with locals for this yank to "get' this humor. I remember a comedian named Rodney Rude who was a bit more blatant and not as original as Sir Les. I laugh harder with Sir Les than Dame Edna and both are crackin' good. Thank you Barry and Australia for teaching me not to take life so seriously!
He’s playing a character, that is a stereotype of how young Australians saw the relationship between the English and the older generation of Australians of the 1970/80s that suffered from terrible cultural cringe. Watch dame Edna next it’s Barrie’s best character
He's from Camberwell, the same suburb that I grew up in. i was friends with his sister who is completely different from Barry. I met Barry who is a nice bloke but you also know that he's a big star when you meet him.
We Australians are not Americans and out humour is different . Humphries was very popular in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Canada and some European countries, like Germany, however the Yanks often could not get it (the comedy).
Barry Humphreys does many voice-overs too. He was Bruce the shark in Nemo. He is actually a very well spoken, educated man with an incisive and broad ( also lewd) sense of wit. He is the man in the audience near the start looking absolutely appalled by Sir Les Patterson's behaviour. Of course it's a trick of camera and time.
Ryan when you asked who the man in the audience is, he was the genius who did the Sir Les Patterson character. His name Barry Humphries. Sadly died last week.
Barry Humphries plays 2 major characters...Sir Les Patterson & Dame Edna Everage. Dame Edna is HILARIOUS, check ger out. Even funnier than Carl at times..False teeth etc. THAT guy is HIM as he really is lol
Parkinson was really popular in Oz. Kinda like our version of Letterman. Sir Les and Dame Edna were two of the most iconic Aussie characters in our entertainment industry. Both played by Barry Humphries. So funny! 🤣
Letterman wasn't on the same respected journalistic level as Parkinson- there was no opinion shown from Parky- just respectful questions and allowing people to tell their stories. It would be nice to see interviewers with his integrity once again but I don't think that level of professional journalism will be seen again this century.
That man in the audience who puts his hand to his face is Barry Humphries who actually is the character Les Paterson without make up on. They slotted him into the vision.
I can never handle watching physically gross characters, so could never watch Sir Les, but was always a big fan of Barry Humphries' more famous alter-ego, Dame Edna Everidge. Dame Edna is so quick-witted and clever.
I don't know what's more hilarious Les Patterson or an American trying to work him out 🤣
The look of confusion on his face is priceless. If he watches Les on Mike Willisees show he may never recover.
@@davidbarlow6860 Absolutely . And that was a current affair lol
His confusion was hilarious .
Despite making so many videos about Australia he honestly has no clue as to our culture or our unusual humor. It just confirms what he himself says "Americans are so unaware of any other countries". He even thinks Barry Humphries is for real!!!!
@@kevincoleman8569 In his defence Barry was a Grand Master of pulling the wool over the worlds eyes and I don't think there's much leg pulling in America which is a shame . We are legendary pis takers after all .
We will miss Sir Les Patterson who passed away today man what a classic thumbs up from Australia 🇦🇺👍🏼🙋🏼♂️🇦🇺
We have lost yet another icon. Barry Humphries and his unique characters gone but never forgotten.
I love watching Sir Les Patterson. I would claim him as my Uncle if I thought I could make people believe me! What a character 🤣
I was so sick that those pompous Jerks in Melbourne left him out of the Comedy Awards... you folks should hang your head in shame... that man opened the world to Australia along with Paul Hogan (Dundee)
😂
He is so funny but Grose..😅
The person in the audience that it appeared that they threw the camera onto, was Barry Humpries. Barry was of course in character as Sir Les Patterson ( Australian Cultural Attache to Great Britain ). His most famous character is Dame Edna Everidge. Dame Eda is a must-watch. He is the best straight man doing drag that you will ever see.
I second this.
I third this
Yep. Dame Edna.
Bloody oath
Ryan here's a link for Dame Edna ruclips.net/video/PsAcU48pJIE/видео.html
RIP Barry Humphries!!! A beautiful man and an Australian legend!!!!
Watching an American not get any of this was sheer agony and was a perfect example of how Americans don't get Australian and British humour.
this guy is a bit dim to be honest.
The funniest things about Americans reacting to humour, is that the humour is almost always way above their heads.
I agree. They just don't seem to understand humor the way we do.
Kudos to this guy, at least his exploring Aussie humour. 👍🏻
I wouldn’t say above their head. American and Australian comedy is different. Our Australian comedy is more similar to British comedy where, I think, Aus & Brits can laugh at ourselves more. Brit Stephen Fry explained the difference between the countries humour
ruclips.net/video/8k2AbqTBxao/видео.html
@@bernadettelanders7306 yes, I agree with you. And Stephen fry gives a good analysis also. Mind you, Stephen is a cranial giant !!
@@mikelloyd520 oh yes, Stephen definitely is a very informative and interesting man.
He IS a character. One of Australia's greatest comedians. World famous.
As dame Edna maybe
Damn it's almost like Ryan knows it's a character
@@pitchen Hmmm, it takes him a while for the penny to drop completely.
He really needs to see him as himself and Dame Edna to truly appreciate his genius.
Not one of Aussies, but the best they have ever produced by a mile.
Useless watching Barry Humphries if you don't like laughing. He is a legend. The iconic Dame Edna and one of the most creative comics to ever live.
I had the opportunity to see Sir Les live on the Gold Coast once... the first 3 rows closest to the stage needed towels by the end.
True comic genius! 👍
@@nancinyols8015 🤣👍
@@benjaminshiels1824 👍🤣
And a great actor
This guy’s innocence is mesmerising
He's a grown man, too!
@Phil McKenna Hasn't been around much???
Poor little powder puff.
Worrying, I think you mean!
@@julianbarber4708 For a grown man.
This makes me proud to be Australian.
This went to air in the UK but the show is telecast in Australia. It is a running joke that both Aussies and people from the UK understood particularly at the time. He looks a bit like one of our former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke, who held a world record for drinking a yard glass of beer and suggested everyone take a day off work to basically get drunk when we won the Americas Cup. He emphasises a lot of things that some prominent Australians were famous for in terms of lacking political correctness, hard drinking, smoking, womanising, boasting etc. Its hard to describe but for all of these failings, these guys were often admired as "larikans". A "piss-up" is a boozy party essentially. "Piss" is often used interchangeably as a term for alcohol in Australia and the UK. Hence you could say "getting on the piss", "he was pissed" etc. We still used the term "pissed off" though, and that has nothing to do with alcohol, so you have to pay attention to the context in which it is used. I've been rewatching a lot of great shows from the UK lately circa the 90s to 00s and surprisingly the term poof or poofter comes up just about every time. It is less politically correct these days but a lot of gay celebrities will happily use the term as it still has great comedic effect. I feel like the UK and Australia are more relaxed about things, as they're less politicised here, however we seem to be suffering from a lot of the stuff that is going on in the States due to the more globalised news media that is starting to make everyone walk on egg shells and be afraid to talk about these things due to a subset of people who want to make a loud noise about gender based issues and equality right now.
Agree with basically everything you said. I still remember in primary/ state school, when kids used to ask other ones what are you? A "P" "tied to a tree or on the loose" and would go running around yelling "P on the loose" or "P tied to a tree" and the younger ones wouldn't know what the word even meant.
i'm fortunate enough to be older generation and don't give a fuck if someone's offended
Les is based on John Kerr. There's film of Kerr on a podium dressed in a tuxedo swaying from being half-pissed. Humphries based Les on that.
@@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494 good riddance. speed it up a bit. ta.
Me too. 👏👏👏@@shakeyhandsshedmodelrailwa2494 me too
Barry Humphries is a national treasure, his characters go back decades. Note also the banana he always has inside his pants.
...and is always adjusting :-)
Banana? That's a bloody crowbar.
@@mrmockatoo6786 Nah, that is a one kilo Strasberg.
Poofter is an extremely derogatory word for gay men. We definitely do not use that anymore.
@@chucky110 All depends on context. I still use it occasionally and I am one, and so are many of my friends. So much depends on who says it, in what circumstances, and why. Similar to the incredibly offensive "dyke": the Dykes on Bikes lead off the Mardi Gras parade and no-one turns a hair, but rudely call a lesbian a dyke and you are toast.
I think that’s your best reaction yet to anything Australian. Even the younger folks of today in Australia would have no idea about Sir Les.
Its sad. And given the rabid activist perpetually-offended-at-everything purple-haired types coming out of the US, it won't be too long before Sir Les and the like are not only scrubbed from living memory, but from archives as well.
Absolutely not
Sad but true- Ur average teenager would have no idea of the joy of dame Edna or Sir Les - absolutely classic and utterly brilliant stuff
Watching Sir Les reminds me how far we have fallen culturally in 40 years.
Brilliant one! I agree totally.
Well said!
Literally, exactly what I was thinking.
Could not agree more. Sir Humphreys was an absolute comedy icon and being crass and louche as he was as Les was comedy gold, it was funny. We've lost humor to wokeism.
It’s so sad, what has happened to our country
Barry Humphrey's was an Australian, but lived in the UK and plied his trade as a professional Australian. The British lapped it up and the Australians laughed.
Can't believe you can't instantly see this as comedy. The man is a legend.
Maybe because Les isn't particularly funny. I just find him repulsive.
dingodancer
This guy would have trouble seeing anything, especially when he stops or talks over the video
constantly with his dumb comments. He has to be the most annoying and stupid person to
have attempted this format on youtube.
He could have been a real freak like Tiny Tim :)
@@TheRoswellCode tiny Tim was far from a freak. Bloody hell.
@@carokat1111 that's your right. Those that arnt repulsed by him find him funny. Such is the way of the world
There is just so much going on in the world that most Americans are totally unaware of! Your reaction is priceless! The chap in the audience was Barry himself...
You have to remember this show was televised in 1982. Things were more risque back then compared to what we have to endure these days. Barry Humphries is a comedy genius.
I remember watching this in 1982. God bless the comedy Barry Humphries gave us.
The “guy” you see at 5:35 is Barry Humphries in normal clothes and character. Les Patterson is one of the many “characters” that he played so successfully. RUclips his more serious videos. He was an alcoholic in the late 1960s and nearly died from the addiction. He survived through self discipline and has spent a lot of time helping alcoholics deal with their situations. He was an erudite, intelligent, creative comedy legend. We Aussies miss him forever. Sadly, we lost him in 2023, aged 89.
Your reaction to Sir Les is priceless. I can only imagine how difficult it was for you to catch his accent let alone our weird Aussie humour... His other character, Dame Edna Everidge is a classic! Good on you for trying to understand our crazy Aussie characters!
Sir Les creeped me out more than creepy clowns 🤡
Loved Dame Edna
Really worth checking out Dame Edna Everage as suggested, Ryan. Linking for you. ruclips.net/video/Ac0CJn0-6tE/видео.html&ab_channel=ppotter
Don't forget Sandy Stone
All hale dame Edna!
I like the way that Barry Humphries appears as his normal self during this sketch - 😂
Barry Humphries is a cultural icon, famous for his characters 'Sir Les Patterson' and 'Dame Edna Everidge'. Admittedly, his/her fame was at it's peak some 40 years ago, so much of the references will take a lot of explaining so you could understand what he/she is talking about.
I was going to challenge you on the 40 years ago comment, then I realised, where have all the years gone. Seems like yesterday :-)
@@petersutton2182 He first performed as Mrs. Norm Everage in 1955! That's 67 years ago. A lot of gladioli have dropped their petals since then.
I wouldn't say 40 yrs ago Dame Edna was still well known and popular in the US and The UK as recently as 10-15 years ago
70s and 80s OZ was a different time - a bloody brilliant time.
@@em_c-chucky5554
I think it's been legislated out of existence. If you say it now, the "Feelings Police" will probably be called!
It was a brilliant time, but we have lost our way...
Between government and ABC pro-woke messaging 24/7. I don't see us finding our way back to those great decades...
My Grand Dad and Dad used the rhyming slang ‘Woolie Woofter’
@@em_c-chucky5554 I remember Sir Les Patterson going up to a lesbian and saying..." I'm a Les to!"....
The guy in the crowd looking embarrassed was Barry Humphries, the wonderfully talented comedian playing Sir Les (and obviously filmed earlier). Sir Les called him Brian Humphries.😂 Barry Humphries died this week....Australia is in mourning right now for this amazingly funny man who put Australian comedy on the map. Vale Barry, Dame Edna, Sir Les and Sandy.
I met Barry Humphries when he visited his mate who lived in a small town not far out of Adelaide South Australia
He was so funny
We “bantered” with each other
Loved his as Dame Edna
Great man!
Dame Edna Everidge hosted a weekly TV variety show for a while too. She was also one of the most regularly invited Queen's Royal Variety Performers. The word that you are searching for is "poofter", old English. Michael Parkinson is one of the most celebrated interviewers ever. He interviewed the very best celebrities in the 1970-90s on BBC & his interviews with Mohammed Ali (and others) are fabulous.
"Done an Erica" - Erica Roe became famous for doing a topless streak across the pitch during an England vs. Australia rugby union match on 2 January 1982.
You can find it on RUclips. She was a fine figure of a woman!
I saw him live on his farewell tour of the UK. He is brilliant, but people in the front row were at risk from certain fluids! In truth Sir Les is Barry Humphries's second character, Dame Edna was his top role. A star in her own right for 4 or 5 decades. In real life Barry (that was him in the audience) is a hugely cultured and quietly spoken figure, but in character he can say and do the most outrageous things. If you have seen The Hobbit movies, he actually played the chief goblin of the Misty Mountains.
I was laugh - crying at this! Rest in peace Barry Humphries, you bloody legend!! You will be sadly missed. ❤️😂😘🇦🇺
It was hilarious watching you Ryan trying to figure our 'cultural attachete'; Sir Les Patterson. I think you kind of got the 'map of Tasmania' references at the end. This brilliant comedian took us to places that many dared not go in order to make us lauch and that he has for 50+ years. I'm so privileged to have witnessed his amazing characters Dame Edna & Sir Les. He poked fun at everyone including himself, and he will never be forgotten. The funniest Australian of all time and Barry, I salute you! RIP and thanks for your longevity and sustained laughter over all of these years. LEGEND!
His knob laying on his leg is classic!
The cutaway to the audience member in the checked jacket - that’s Barry Humphries, the comedian who actually plays Sir Les. His most famous character is Dame Edna Everage, an Australian housewife
We, this week, mourn the loss of one of our greatest comedians. A genius.
What you are looking at is one of my people’s greatest attributes. We laugh at ourselves.
Sir Les is an exaggeration of our worst parts.
Barry did this the best. He was a comedic genius.
RIP Barry Humphries.
Never again will we see a comedian with such brilliance. R.I.P Sir Barry.
Les is that uncle that always turns up at family get-togethers. He's the one who knocks back all available grog, pisses on the lemon tree at the end of the garden, and who throws up on someone's shoes.
😂😂😂😂😂🎉
The embarrassed man at 5:34 is the actor/comedian (Barry Humphries) who is actually *playing* Les Patterson in the interview. He's a very refined man who spent the sixties, seventies and eighties lampooning Australian pretensions to The Yartz (the Arts) and Kulcha (Culture).
Sir Les is a caricature of a slobbering, disgusting, sexist, grubby man who has risen to a position of influence in the Australian Arts establishment. Les (pronounced Lezz, short for "Leslie") is Barry Humphries' direct attack on a part of the Australian "cultural elite" who thought they were better than the rest of us. He is showing them they are no better, and in fact are just pretentious snobs with a high opinion of themselves while actually being disgustingly vulgar. The dribbling, the yellow nicotine-stained fingers, the sly scratching of his crotch (that you missed) are all part of the schtick.
What very few people know is that Barry Humphries actually invented a lot of modern Australian slang - especially some disgusting bits. For example ‘to syphon the python’ and ‘to point Percy at the porcelain’ are both terms for urinating, and "technicolor yawn" is a Barry Humphries expression for vomit.
I went to his memorial at the Sydney Opera House 15 December 2023. Awesome & funny
Could you imagine this being on prime time tv today haha good old Les
Sir Les. A true legend.
He was hugely popular in the UK. His character of Dame Edna had her own talk show on Tv...both characters he does are truly hilarious, he's a legend.
Don't forget Sandy Stone and Lance Boyle. He did lots of characters.
Ryan, another Aussie character to look up is Norman Gunston, the little Aussie bleeder.
Another short clip you should also watch if you have not already seen it, is the clip where Paddington bear has tea with Queen Elizabeth. It is very well done and very funny. It is a comedy clip that the queen secretly made without any of the royal family knowing. Members of the royal family only saw it the same time as the general public did.
Oh yes! Norman Gunston when he interviewed Sally Struthers. I cry laughing at that each and every time. I've watched it about 37 times! "... you want to use an electric razor."
@@anniej8311 "Yeah- I do!"
@@brokensuave Brilliant reply, wasn't it?
Loved watching him interview Elton John
Gough Whitlam wasn't too impressed when Norman tried to ask him something after his dismissal.
Every aussie has a bit of Les in them. R.I.P. Barry Humphries. Your comedy was one of a kind.
An Australian legend my friend. Only Aussies could truly understand.
He is the epitome of our politicians of a time gone by.
Sorry Jason mate, as much as we Aussies dislike our politicians, NO AUSTRALIAN POLITICIAN has ever been so slovenly and uncouth as this! Never, ever!
And as a fellow Aussie, I really resent you TELLING LIES, to the worldwide folk here on RUclips, about our politicians 😠😠😠
“Sir Les” was a humerous parody, in the EXTREME, and never represented a real Australian politician !!
Sir Les Patterson is a character of what the English thought Australians were like at the time
Actually, humphries has said he hatched the character of Sir Les after attending events where he observed the behaviour of Australian politicians, diplomats and upper echelon public servants.
Les Patterson is Barry Humphries stereotype of a Sydneysider (person from Sydney). Edna Everage is the Melbourne counterpart. Barry was the guy in the audience who was getting embarrassed. Barry Humphries is huge in the UK, he lives there and helps maintain British views on Australian stereotypes.
When Barry hit the stage the world was envious of Aussies. 💖
Even though you were confused by some of the humour I noticed you were still laughing. Says something of the genius of Barry Humphries.
Sir Les can only be watched and appreciated for what he is. He cannot be talked about.
"That guy in the audience" is Barry Humphries himself, clearly being edited into the segment. I met the bloke (as Barry Humphries) years ago and he is REALLY TALL. Dame Edna must be terrifying up close.
All the info says he's only 5'10" so you're either a dwarf, often inebriated, short-sighted or met Humphry Barry the 7 foot and one half inch ruckman from Upper Currawong. I pass no judgement on you no matter your failings.
@@TheZodiacz Mate, you're hilarious. Fuck off
@@TheZodiacz You are a scream! Boom Boom!
It has been many years since I went to a Barry Humphries show, one thing to remember is, do not be late.
Absolutely!
Or go to the toilet!
Absolute gold. Cannot believe this was 40 years ago. He was revolting, completely non politically correct by today’s standard, but bloody hilarious.
Loved your reactions, mate….being an Aussie myself, I love it when you guys are completely baffled with our slang and mannerisms…granted, he stepped it up big time.
And one more thing to note, yes I am Tasmanian…a state resembling an upside down triangle, very bushy back then, but as deforestation and 40 years of fashion (namely the Brazilian influence) have passed…guess both maps are are similarly less bushy I’d say.
Great work. Subscribed.
Rob, Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺
hell yeah mate,to right,fair dinkum true blue is Sir less and Dame Edna
Ryan, only just this video. Barry Humphries created many characters like Sir Les, grotesque caricatures of us or people we know. If think this Parkinson show was good, his live shows were much much much funnier. If you deliberately came in late, or tried to heckle him, or interacted in any way he would weave you into the show and refer you to throughout his performance. He would usually pick on between six and ten people in the audience, juggling them along his script, he was very mentally sharp to pull that off. He is just a legend.
The guy in the audience showing disgust and disdain for Sir Les? That was actually Barry Humphries himself without any makeup. They must have pre-recorded it and inserted it into the interview at that point. Sir Les, despite his infamy, still stands in the shadow of Dame Edna Everidge, the character who started out as a mousey little housewife from the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds. Barry Humphries was regarded as a national living treasure before his recent passing. RIP Barry, you did us all proud.
The guy in the audience is the real person playing the character. Don't look too closely at Sir Les' upper left trouser leg - he dresses to the left.
Mate you are as hilarious as Sir Les himself. It's crazy how foreign this natural Aussie language is to a 'Merican.
This "reaction" was painful to watch
One thing you have to remember this was comedy back in early 80's and Tv only had 4 or 5 channels back them and then went screen dead at 11pm until 6am in the morning.... This was the best comedy back in the day!
and wouldn't be allowed by the woke today
Absolute legend . Surely you have seen Dame Edna Everage? That would be his most well known character
I’ve literally cried with laughter over the years when I’ve randomly watched Sir Les! Such sharp wit and in so many ways such a fantastic character and hilariously real depiction of some past Pollies !
You were puzzled by the name Chips Rafferty. He was an actor, the stereotypical Aussie in the 1940s and 50s. The last movie he was in, "Wake in Fright" (1971) is well worth a look. It is a realistic look at the darker side of Australian life at that time. If you watch the movie, that is real beer that Chips is drinking (in every take of the scene).
I love that movie!!!!
One of Australia’s greats films.
I always like the aussie movie Fortress (1985) *not to be mixed up with the Christopher Lambert movie*. The true story of the school children that were kidnapped and ransomed in the rural school house.
That particular Santa mask still gets around and gives me a fright from time to time when i see it unexpectedly.
I thought it was “look back in anger”
@@planetdisco4821 "Look Back in Anger (1959)" Filmed in UK. Chips wasn't in that movie. He was, however, in, "They're a Weird Mob (1966)" A classic piece of Australiana.
Michael Parkinson is a British tv legend chat show host..he was the forerunner to our fabulous Graham Norton..he had all the top stars on his show from Audrey Hepburn to Mohammed Ali...his shows was often hilariously symbolic with guests like Barry Humphries here, Freddie Starr and a very drunk Oliver Reed. Both chat shows are well worth watching ...🤓
*shambolic
Love this channel mate! These videos and your interpretive analyses dive into the strands of the very fabric of the Australian sociocultural psyche. A joy to watch. Thank you
I'm dying laughing at you looking up the words. Ryan you're a gem
Just watched you watching Sir Les. Double fun. Tried to find you reacting to Dame Edna but not there! What's going on mate? Seach; Dame Edna Everage interview (Parkinson, 2004).
You’ve led a very sheltered life my friend. Sir Les is a national treasure in Oz
It sheltered just American
he is our cultural ambassador...a man of high integrity....[ you can smell it ] and wisdom beyond belief...we love him....
That was a lot for you to take in. A lot of Aussie references & slang
It’s like you needed an Australian next to you to explain it all. I like him doing Dame Edna Everage 🇦🇺
Also, Ryan was born a good 10 years after this was aired, and society changed a lot over that time, so that wouldn't help 😅
That’s right I thought the same there were different current affairs et cetera
You didn't stand a chance there.
He also plays Dame Edna you know who Dame Edna is don't you 🤔. I use to watch Les Patterson (Barry Humphrey) all the time when i was a little kid.
I was told by my wife, that his early rendition of Edna Everage, was based on his families house keeper, who was my wife's Grandmother, having seen a photo of her Grandmother, I can believe it.
This was 40 years ago.He is speaking quite normal English, for an Australian.
😁 here's an odd Australian language difference, the word 'Root' means something very different here, for example, in a pub don't ever tell people that your wife roots for your favorite sports team, you might get a lot cheering but for all the wrong reasons 😉😅😂🤣😁
In the context of the 80s, forty years ago, he was funny. I never really appreciated his satire until I was a lot older. I didn't find him funny at all back then. But when I understood what he was doing, the whole schtick was comedic satire Gold.
Barry Humphries knew how to do character comedy. As others have said, Dame Edna Everidge (one of his characters) became somewhat of a National Treasure. 'She' has appeared at many prestigious events, including the Royal Variety Command Performance. That is, the Queen of the United Kingdom requested 'her' specifically to perform, not Barry 'as Dame Edna'. The RVCP is an occasion where the Queen would request a number of performers to entertain us all for want of a better explanation...
Loved her US series especially the episode with Robin Williams (who surprisingly doesn't take over the stage for once). Wonder if the Dame played into Mrs Doubtfire's character at all.
Been watching him for years and he still hilarious and to see your reaction was gold !
He is an international comedian, satirist, poet, narrator and occasional actor since the mid 1950's. Check out the Wikipedia entry for Barry Humphries (his real name) but who died on 22 Apr 23 aged 89. Les is short for Leslie. Poofters are gay men, a term little use in Australia much now, "yarts" is the arts.
Bulgarian tap dancer , poofter and shirtlifter are all references for the same thing
Two movies to watch "Les Patterson saves the World" and "Barry Mackenzie holds his own" both are Aussie humour at its rawest. Barry Humphries is an Australian / British institution to those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's he ranks alongside Monty Python, Morecombe and Wise etc.
I have The adventures of Barry Mackenzie- was lucky enough to find it in stock at Target on sale. Still looking for the other 2.
Don't forget Alvin Purple! Those movies were SO funny!!
It was a simpler time....
You could make jokes and nobody tried to "cancel" you. Everyone laughed along in the knowledge that it was satire.
No pronouns then
I'm glad l grew up watching this, life was never anal.
Not everyone realised it was satire. Now we're more sophisticated which is better overall. I'm not nostalgic for the supposedly 'good old days'. If you look now we have Aboriginal people with their own comedy shows and you get to see their take on humour and how they see society and us. They can make jokes at their own expense but it's better if we don't make them for reasons that I shouldn't have to spell out to you. So, nah.
@@deborahcurtis1385 Everyone in Australia knew it was satire, the issue is, people judging it that weren't there, and people making assumptions on what Aboriginals believe, they're individuals you know.
Before too many allowed the cultural Marxists in the Woke brigade to take over.
You have to watch the Clarke and Dawe skit "The front fell off". One of the funniest bit of comedy of all time
I'd suggest watching more than 1 of their interviews. Possibly the cleverest comedy from Australia belongs to Clarke and Dawe
@@DoubleDummy I think one of, if not the last thing John Clarke was in is called “The ex PM” with Shaun micaliff. He doesn’t play a major roll, but that is (in my opinion) one of the most underrated comedy series
The Games!
@@dominiquemmaurice yes the 100 m track ??
I'd suggest 'Review with Myles Barlow',an absolute genius of deadpan chaos comedy. Too bad he left the trade.
Then you must watch An audience with Dame Edna Everidge. Barry Humphries in drag. He is wonderfully cheeky. 🙂
R.I.P. Barry Humphreys you only passed away few days ago. You ARE the funniest comedian EVER you will not be forgotten 😇
The guy in in the audience at 5:34 is Barry Humphries who plays Sir Les and Dame Edna. I think Dame Edna will appeal to your sense of humour better than Sir Les
“Ok I’m looking that word up” 😂😂
I was thinking you don't wanna do that
Another Aussie Icon (before his Film Debut and stardom), is the Paul Hogan Show. Paul and his sidekick ‘Strop’ (who looks like a Surf lifesaver) who was married to beautiful Delvene Delany (also on the show as a part of the cast).
A second one (which you WILL find some Non politically correct humour on), is ‘Kingswood Country’. Ted Bullpit is a classic, and btw… a Kingswood is model of car here that was famous in the 70’s & 80’s (look it up before you start so you e got an idea on the inside jokes before you start!).
The Last of The Australians with Alwyn Kurts as Ted Cook was a bloody good show too.
The Paul Hogan show was so bloody good
I was going to suggest "Kingswood Country" too. They tried to make the show again a few years later (mid '90s I think) where Ted moves to a retirement village. I think Ross Higgins (Ted) is the only person who returned for this. No where near as funny as the original though. NOT THE KINGSWOOD!!! Lol.
"It's NOT a 'car', Thelma, ...it's a KINGSWOOD!"
@@repentorperish1405 'leave your money on the fridge wog'
Thank you Ryan, for trying to understand our Australian character 😊
All it took was six weeks traveling in Australia in 1984 when I was 34 and staying with locals for this yank to "get' this humor. I remember a comedian named Rodney Rude who was a bit more blatant and not as original as Sir Les. I laugh harder with Sir Les than Dame Edna and both are crackin' good. Thank you Barry and Australia for teaching me not to take life so seriously!
He is saying poofter. Not puffter
You're wasting your time trying to explain this shit to yanks.
If it isn't a gun they have no idea
He’s playing a character, that is a stereotype of how young Australians saw the relationship between the English and the older generation of Australians of the 1970/80s that suffered from terrible cultural cringe. Watch dame Edna next it’s Barrie’s best character
yes definitely Dame Edna is a must-see,she was even on the view
He's from Camberwell, the same suburb that I grew up in. i was friends with his sister who is completely different from Barry. I met Barry who is a nice bloke but you also know that he's a big star when you meet him.
my neck of the woods I live just down the Road from Camberwell and on a Side note Kylie Minogue attended Camberwell Grammar
@@stuartmcquade3407 Camberwell Primary and Camberwell High. I had a mate who went there with her. My brother was mates with her brother.
@@nickhanlon9331 yes that's it 👍
I'm English and love the Aussies,(except when it's The Ashes!) Sir Les and Dame Edna were hilarious!
We Australians are not Americans and out humour is different . Humphries was very popular in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Canada and some European countries, like Germany, however the Yanks often could not get it (the comedy).
Barry Humphreys does many voice-overs too. He was Bruce the shark in Nemo.
He is actually a very well spoken, educated man with an incisive and broad ( also lewd) sense of wit.
He is the man in the audience near the start looking absolutely appalled by Sir Les Patterson's behaviour. Of course it's a trick of camera and time.
Smart and funny 😂
And played the Great Goblin in The Hobbit! Love that one.
Gosh, I laughed so much at your reaction to Sir Les and to some of the terms that you didn’t understand! 😂
Ryan you must’ve heard of the character, Dame Edna Everage. Aka Barry Humphries and sir Les Patterson. If not, look up Dame Edna Everage.
Ryan when you asked who the man in the audience is, he was the genius who did the Sir Les Patterson character. His name Barry Humphries. Sadly died last week.
From what I observed is... that he 's 1) a very good actor and comedian 2) very good at remembering his cues
He's magnifying the 'cultural cringe' element in Australia we all felt back then.
Barry Humphries plays 2 major characters...Sir Les Patterson & Dame Edna Everage. Dame Edna is HILARIOUS, check ger out. Even funnier than Carl at times..False teeth etc. THAT guy is HIM as he really is lol
Parkinson was really popular in Oz. Kinda like our version of Letterman.
Sir Les and Dame Edna were two of the most iconic Aussie characters in our entertainment industry. Both played by Barry Humphries. So funny! 🤣
Letterman wasn't on the same respected journalistic level as Parkinson- there was no opinion shown from Parky- just respectful questions and allowing people to tell their stories. It would be nice to see interviewers with his integrity once again but I don't think that level of professional journalism will be seen again this century.
@@rossbrumby1957 very true. I admit, it was a loose analogy 😁
That man in the audience who puts his hand to his face is Barry Humphries who actually is the character Les Paterson without make up on. They slotted him into the vision.
A total legend. RIP Barry Humphries
I can never handle watching physically gross characters, so could never watch Sir Les, but was always a big fan of Barry Humphries' more famous alter-ego, Dame Edna Everidge. Dame Edna is so quick-witted and clever.