Barry Cryer (Retro) - "The Oxfam of Comedy"
Summary
Richard Herring hosts a retro episode of his Edinburgh Fringe podcast featuring legendary comedian Barry Cryer. They discuss Cryer’s extensive career, including writing for Morecambe & Wise and working with Richard Pryor and Jack Benny. The conversation covers anecdotes about Nicholas Parsons, audience mishaps, and the secret of comedy, concluding with Herring’s signature absurd question.
Topics discussed
Intro: Edinburgh Fringe announcement and sponsors
Sponsor ads and intro to retro podcast episode
Welcome to Rehef and Barry Cryer introduction
Declining the Perspex box gig offer
Gérard Depardieu plane incident and toilet stories
Competition prizes and Ronnie Corbett anecdotes
Rupert Murdoch, Paul Daniels, and intelligent jokes
Ross Noble, Richard Pryor, and Nicholas Parsons stories
Ronnie Corbett's resilience and straight man dynamics
Meeting Richard Pryor and Jack Benny anecdotes
Jack Benny's interaction with James Stewart
Sponsor ads: ZocDoc, BetterHelp, and Bombas
Eric Morecambe stories and Barry's Finnish hit
Swearing in comedy and Barry's writing career
Barry's longevity and Richard's solo show debut
Audience phone ringing and texting incidents
Stuart Lee, Tommy Cooper, and Catherine Ryan
Guest editing The Observer and smoking habits
Kenny Everett, Freddie Starr, and Michael McIntyre's rise
True or False audience competition and closing jokes
Outro and sponsor ads: Wayfair and Acast
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