Laughter is often said to be the best medicine, I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Usually it isn’t tough to get me to laugh, I am the type of person who finds the lamest, and corniest joke funny. However, the effect of such jokes wears off after some seconds and you wouldn’t laugh at them again. True comic genius on the other hand is the ability to put a person in stitches over again with the same joke countless times. I want to dedicate this post to some of the book and television characters who make me laugh all the time, no matter how often I read their books or watch their shows. They are sarcastic, bumbling, or just plain stupid; here they are in no particular order.
1. Bertie Wooster and Jeeves
The immortal characters of P.G. Wodehouse, this duo of master and valet have made people laugh since their escapades were first published. Bertie Wooster is the typical affluent British man; an uncanny ability of getting himself engaged to almost every girl in his acquaintance, and a fierce loyalty towards his friends gets him into plenty of trouble. His faithful manservant Jeeves (“Very good sir”- love the catchphrase) is always there to help him, and his buddies, get out of the mess they create. From being arrested for stealing a police helmet, to kidnapping babies these two lovable characters have done it all. These characters were played on-screen by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in ITV’s Jeeves and Wooster.
Hugh Laurie as Bertie, aided by his manservant Jeeves (played by Stephen Fry)
2. William Brown
Probably the most naughtiest eleven year old in the world was created by Richmal Crompton. When I think of him the phrase “larger than life” comes to my mind, this kid is hilarious!! His adventures have me cracking-up every time I read them. He is the leader of a gang called the Outlaws. Alternately, he has experience being a pirate, a highwayman, a secret service agent all in a days’ work. William is also a brilliant orator, and has the ability to inspire his peers, but the people immune to his charm are the “grown-ups”. Living in constant battle against his family and the rest of the older community in his village, William finds consolation in his absurd reasoning and the support of his friends.
William with his sister Ethel and one of her admirers
3. The Doctor
The brilliant protagonist if the BBC Show Doctor Who is not a comic character, but one does not live to nine hundred years without developing some good comic timing. Specially the Tenth Doctor, with his classic “What?? What? What?” and his “wells”, is great. I am not an authority on any of the Doctor’s regenerations before the ninth, therefore I would not be able to comment much on them. As for the eleventh incarnation, I can say that I have faith in his ability to make me laugh.
David Tennant, who played the former Tenth incarnation, regenerates into Eleventh played by Matt Smith
These are some of the characters who make me laugh. I suppose the real credit goes to the writers. However, I think that you have a stronger relationship with the character and it seems natural to think of them as real persons in charge of their own life. I guess that is the magic of writing and television, you can connect…..
I would like to add that all the images in the post are courtesy of Google images, I own nothing 🙂