OF ALL OF the Britich comedy shows that permeated American Television in the 1970's, all seemed to gravitate toward the Public Broadcastin System's stations. All, that is except for BENNY HILL. Perhaps low brow Mr. Hill was not up to the sanctimonious standards of PBS; which always has liked to portray itself as being a cut above "commercuial television.IN ONE SENSE, perhaps they were right; inasmuch as the energetic Benny did use a lot of double entende in his material. Perhaps being introduced to Burlesque early in his life influenced him in that area.ANOTHER POINT THAT we should make, as observed by my brother, Bob, is that when they say THE BENNY HILL Show, it truly is just that. Hardly a frame of film or an instant of videotape is exposed without his being there. Be it at the center of a sketch, singing a song or just mugging for the cameras, Mr. Hill is always out there.PERHAPS WE SHOULD reserve any of our criticisms until we get their verdict that was silently pronounced by a great comedian. So it was that Benny Hill, himself, found out that the now eighty-plus Charles Spencer Chaplin had personally videotaped and saved Benny Hill's TV Comedies; in order to view them over again.WELL, IF IT'S good enough for "the Little Tramp", who are we to disagree?

When I was young in the early eighties I would stay up late every weekend to watch Benny Hill and just got the DVD set not having seen it since. I have to say it's still as funny as I remember (probably even more so now that I understand more of the jokes) and one of the funniest things I've seen in years. After growing up watching Benny Hill I now understand why I just don't find many of today's comics funny, because they're not. You can all have your Adam Sandlers and the like I'll take Benny any day. I find it very sad reading about his early death and treatment in his home country, to think we were all denied probably years more of his comic genius because of a bunch of over sensitive loudmouth idiots is beyond me. I can understand if you didn't like him, not everyone has the same taste, but to vilify the man who was obviously doing something right by staying popular for so long is a true travesty. Thank goodness we have video to enjoy what he did do to keep those of us who do find him funny laughing for as long as we like.

Mention 'Benny Hill' to most people and the first thing they'll think off is the great man himself, a lecherous grin on his face, fleeing from scantily-clad girls to the strains of 'Yakety Sax'. Yet his Thames show, which spanned an incredible twenty years, was about far more than mere sexism. Nobody did spoofs better than Benny Hill; when he took off 'Sale Of The Century' starring Nicholas Parsons, for a long time afterwards it was impossible to view the real thing without laughing. He also spoofed 'Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?' with himself playing both the Burton and Taylor roles, Tennessee Williams, 'I Claudius', French language movies, and 'The Collector' starring Terence Stamp. So his show wasn't as crass and mindless as some would have us think. Yes, he went out of fashion in the '80's, but should not have been sacked. The alternative comedians who railed against Benny and helped end his career have yet to match him for sheer entertainment value. Besides, Hill did not humiliate women as much as Ben Elton did with his awful 'Maybe, Baby'.

Really. Nothing compares to Benny Hill. Long time ago I became aware of the fact that there isn't anything so difficult as good comedy. Because making anyone cry... that is easy; anyone can do it: just tell someone about the saddest moments of your life, do it convincingly and you are done. But to make others laugh... that falls absolutely under other category. Of course, there have been almost equally talented comedians last century: Charles Chaplin, Peter Sellers, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Steve Martin in his first films... ... ... ... and stop counting. I cannot think of anyone else right now, and, worst of all, don't know of anyone alive at present. Two very big thumbs up for Benny (and his brilliant crew as well).