Which Billy Connolly?

[auld argonian]

So...we in the US have Robin Williams and our North-of-the-border have Mike Meyers (and a whole lot of others too numerous to mention...) and our Scottish friends have Billy Connolly.

So if I was going to pick up a Billy Connolly DVD or CD, which would any of you who are familiar with his body of work recommend?

Bear in mind that the availability of Billy's comedy material is somewhat limited in the US and that the DVD's have to be available in area 1 for us to be able to play them.

A limited amount of his stuff is available on iTunes...I now know what a "jobbie weecha" is, thank you. But the dude seriously makes me laugh until I can't breathe. He came in for Howard Hessman on the TV series "Head of the Class" and just killed...his history bits (notably about Rasputin and Bonney Prince Charlie) are frickin' classic...and we have been lucky enough to have him show up on Jay Leno once in a rare while. But I have to get some of the recorded material...which are worthwhile?

best

AA

[Blu (Ontario)]

Doesn't really matter... it's all pretty funny stuff. Sorta like Jeff Foxworthy. :smile:

[Bob C]

I always liked his stuff. I remember him talking about Scotsmen, tanning on the beach. "We start out blue. It takes us three hours just to get white!"

[ByDand]

You can always find him on Amazon.com. The prices range from about $15 to $20. :-)

[dowofbuchanan]

well all of his specials are class ... but if you want an interesting movie experiance check out the man who sued god ... it stars the big yin and its not so much a comedy but i loved it .. and i got it a blockbuster so its available made in australia i believe

[Arlen]

I'm a big fan of his World tour of Scotland and also his world tour of Australia.
You could always get Billy Connolly Live: The greatest hits. Best of both worlds.

[cessna152towser]

I absolutely loathe Billy Connolly's style of so-called entertainment. As a Scot, I cringe with embarrassment at his crudeness and vulgarity. I don't find any of his stuff amusing. He really is a disgrace to his native Scotland.

[Phil]

I absolutely loathe Billy Connolly's style of so-called entertainment. As a Scot, I cringe with embarrassment at his crudeness and vulgarity. I don't find any of his stuff amusing.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Cessna. When I first heard him many years ago he was genuinely funny and had the knack of telling anecdotes that rang a bell in your subconscious which made you identify with them. Sadly for the last 20 years or so he has resorted to standing on stage spouting a string of foul expletives in place of the genuine humour he used to have and listening to him is no pleasure at all. I can only imagine that he has lost what inspiration he used to have but if you can get some of his early stuff it was really good.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Another vote agreeing with Cessna and Phil. Where once, say twenty years ago, Mr. Connolly was funny, he is now crude, vulgar, and bitter to the point of appearing twisted when on stage. I frankly couldn't be bothered to buy any of his stuff.

[Finn]

I've followed his work since the '80's (pre-US TV) and found his change of demeanor & comedy to be almost a natural progression. It seems that as he ages he feels less constrained to abide by polite social conventions. Yes, perhaps embittered by the entertainment industry, and definitely less willing to be nice.
I still remember his bit about flying in Africa and British pilots.
Netflix has three or four concert DVDs of his.
The zombie spoof "Fido" has him acting- and not as Billy Connolly. It's full of pathos and endearing humor.