51 replies to this topic

[Wolford6]

I like him; though I couldn't stand him when he first came onto the comedy scene in partnership with Hugh Laurie in the 1980's. He just seemed so smug in those days.

It seems to me that his problem is that he appears full of confidence but, underneath, he lacks it and needs reassurance. He has a sensitive personality and, yes, he is sensitive to criticism. However, in every interview I've seen, he is more than willing to debunk himself and always gives credit to his fellow-performers. I suspect that he will never be short of friends, famous or not.

He can't help being fiendishly intelligent ... many members of this board labour under the impression that they have the same problem.

[Griff9of13]

He can't help being fiendishly intelligent ... many members of this board labour under the impression that they have the same problem.

One of the most accurate statements ever made on this forum.

[gingerjon]

He can't help being fiendishly intelligent ... many members of this board labour under the impression that they have the same problem.

Which reminded me of this splendid quote from the League Against Tedium...

I remember when I posed as a customs officer to meet Oscar Wilde. "Have you anything to declare?" I enquired. "I have nothing to declare but my genius," he replied. "I shall put that down as 'nothing', then, shall I?" I said. For I am the wittiest man on Earth bar none, and have two sharp fists to prove it.

[Just Browny]

If Fry was French, JB would be all over him.

Stephen is a legend.

The French are fortunate in that their nation's intellectuals are regularly given plenty of air-time to hold intelligent debate across TV, radio and the written press. Our intellectuals are given a laptop and access to Wikipedia so they can brief a pompous windbag in an attempt to make it look like he knows everything.

Can't stand Julie Burchill but even a stopped clock is right twice a day: Fry is a stupid person's idea of a clever person.

I like him.

The documentary he made on bipolar disorder, which he himself suffers from, was groundbreaking. It revealed a lot about the illness, how it disfigures the lives of those who suffer from it and affects the people around them too, and how he deals with it himself.

Some of the mean-spirited comments in this thread are unjustified, IMO, but thats' the internet for ya.

I don't think I said anything about him not having been involved in some good programmes, he has been in some excellent stuff down the years.

However, if the internet is 'mean-spirited' then it's a case of live by the sword, die by the sword. The bloke is a self-appointed king of the internet and invariably spits his dummy out publicly on every occasion his greatness is called into question (cf. last two threats to leave Twitter, as if anyone gives a damn).

Edited by Just Browny, 05 November 2010 - 06:51 PM.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

What a strange attitude. No regional voices, no colloqualisms and nobody allowed on unless they can decline their Latin verbs.

I had no idea you were so deferential.

that's an interesting idea of what being 'properly spoken' means

[hindle xiii]

The French are fortunate in that their nation's intellectuals are regularly given plenty of air-time to hold intelligent debate across TV, radio and the written press. Our intellectuals are given a laptop and access to Wikipedia so they can brief a pompous windbag in an attempt to make it look like he knows everything.

Can't stand Julie Burchill but even a stopped clock is right twice a day: Fry is a stupid person's idea of a clever person.



I don't think I said anything about him not having been involved in some good programmes, he has been in some excellent stuff down the years.

However, if the internet is 'mean-spirited' then it's a case of live by the sword, die by the sword. The bloke is a self-appointed king of the internet and invariably spits his dummy out publicly on every occasion his greatness is called into question (cf. last two threats to leave Twitter, as if anyone gives a damn).

Or.... he has built up a wealth of knowledge, stories and personality, yet does his best not to sound like an up-himself, smart ###### looking down on those who aren't at "his" level?

[Bulletproof]

Or.... he has built up a wealth of knowledge, stories and personality, yet does his best not to sound like an up-himself, smart ###### looking down on those who aren't at "his" level?

That's precisely why I respect him so much. I've never got the impression he looks down on people.

[JohnM]

He is 6' 5" tall.

[Chairman M]

For mine - he's not nearly ubiquitous enough, is anything but pompous, and I fail to see how he is self-aggrandising at all. Indeed I would say that Stephen Fry is unduly modest, has a generosity of spirit rare in a 'celebrity;, and is one of only a few people on TV who stop the whole thing slipping into a mire of meaningless, mind-numbing, patronising, cynical drivel (see thread on ITV).

Couldn't agree more. I think he comes across as a lovely man.

[Trojan]

Am I the only one sick to death of the ubiquitous, pompous, self-aggrandising old git?

I'm a bit sick of him too. So is "Feedback" on Radio 4. Although if he's "old" god knows what that makes me

[hindle xiii]

He'd definitely be one of my guests at my 'Ideal Dinner Party' (which I assume is a Mumby Magic thread soon to be resurrected...).

[JohnM]

He;s a great guy in my opinion in many ways but I do rather get fed up of his somewhat proprietorial grin when looking down on lesser mortals and animals. I would support a quota system.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Well he has just offered to pay Paul Chambers fine in the Twitter Joke trial, a very worthy gesture for someone he doesn't know.

[Mumby Magic]

He'd definitely be one of my guests at my 'Ideal Dinner Party' (which I assume is a Mumby Magic thread soon to be resurrected...).

There isn't one.

O but good idea.

[JohnM]

The French are fortunate in that their nation's intellectuals are regularly given plenty of air-time to hold intelligent debate across TV, radio and the written press.

Hmm. I must have missed that when I was there.

[Derwent]

He deserves to be revered if only for his definition of "Countryside".

[John Drake]

However, if the internet is 'mean-spirited' then it's a case of live by the sword, die by the sword. The bloke is a self-appointed king of the internet and invariably spits his dummy out publicly on every occasion his greatness is called into question (cf. last two threats to leave Twitter, as if anyone gives a damn).

Things are not always as they seem. His latest blog post is worth a read.

"You may not believe this from my hideous omnipresence but my preferred number of publicity assignments is exactly zero. If I could get away with NO radio interviews, NO magazine profiles, NO television chat shows, NO bookshop signings, NO stage events then I would. All those who know me and work with me will confirm this. I am a very very reluctant mule when it comes to these awful moments of necessary negotiation with the publicity people attached to books and films and TV series. “Must I?”, “Oh god please let me off…”, “Surely I’m don’t need to do this?” I am as aware as you and as aware as the battalions of people who clearly loathe the sight and sound of me that my media presence can appear to be ubiquitous, overexposed and entirely de trop."

Read the whole thing, this is just a snippet.

[Just Browny]

Well he has just offered to pay Paul Chambers fine in the Twitter Joke trial, a very worthy gesture for someone he doesn't know.

Keeps him in the public eye I suppose.

Things are not always as they seem. His latest blog post is worth a read.

"You may not believe this from my hideous omnipresence but my preferred number of publicity assignments is exactly zero. If I could get away with NO radio interviews, NO magazine profiles, NO television chat shows, NO bookshop signings, NO stage events then I would. All those who know me and work with me will confirm this. I am a very very reluctant mule when it comes to these awful moments of necessary negotiation with the publicity people attached to books and films and TV series. “Must I?”, “Oh god please let me off…”, “Surely I’m don’t need to do this?” I am as aware as you and as aware as the battalions of people who clearly loathe the sight and sound of me that my media presence can appear to be ubiquitous, overexposed and entirely de trop."

Read the whole thing, this is just a snippet.

Ahh yes, keeping himself tidily out of the public eye with a public post on his public website named after himself.

[John Drake]

Ahh yes, keeping himself tidily out of the public eye with a public post on his public website named after himself.

Which no one is obliged to visit unless they choose to do so.

[Bulletproof]

Keep him in the public eye?

He fronts one of the flagship BBC entertainment shows and has fronted several others!