And then he went to medical school and became Dr House : Pharyngula

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« Baby beluga! | Main | Radio reminder »

And then he went to medical school and became Dr House

Category: Humor
Posted on: June 14, 2008 10:42 PM, by PZ Myers

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Comments

Posted by: Fire Ant | June 14, 2008 10:50 PM

And don't forget Jeeves and Wooster as well..........funny stuff....

Posted by: Geoff | June 14, 2008 10:59 PM

Hugh Laurie is one of the few true celebrity skeptics out there. His father was a doctor and he grew to love and appreciate scientific method. A great number of his sketches from A Bit of Fry and Laurie were skeptical in nature.

Too bad there aren't more of them to counter the Jenny McCarthy's out there.

Posted by: Zeno | June 14, 2008 11:01 PM

Mr. Casalingua is a great name for the prefect of a British school, don't you think?

I love Fry & Laurie's humor. Hugh Laurie puts one of his American accents on display in his kick-ass song, which I think unfortunately epitomizes Bush administration foreign policy.

Posted by: Remy-Grace | June 14, 2008 11:38 PM

Hugh Laurie is uhmazing. I loved the VOTE CHANGE 08 sign in the season finale of House.

Posted by: tim Rowledge | June 14, 2008 11:42 PM

I rather think that Mr Casalingua was the headmaster (you might use 'principal' down there in the Excited States) and not a prefect. Prefects are boys (or presumably girls in the appropriate context) that are given some responsibility (and usually too much authority) for maintaining order in the school. Typically they would be the jocks and bullies in my experience, rather than anyone actually deserving of any sort of authority.
Think of it as a prison trusty.

tim
--
tim Rowledge; tim@rowledge.org; http://www.rowledge.org/tim
C++ is history repeated as tragedy. Java is history repeated as farce.

Posted by: Christopher Olson | June 14, 2008 11:46 PM

As a point of pride, I like saying I knew who Hugh Laurie was before he did House. But then I didn't recognize him as Hugh Laurie until the second season.

Posted by: Etha Williams, OM | June 14, 2008 11:55 PM

*sigh* I love A Bit of Fry and Laurie

A few of my favorite:
Mystery
Sex and Violence
Poetry Prize

Also...House on religion.

Posted by: Etha Williams, OM | June 14, 2008 11:57 PM

*sigh* I love A Bit of Fry and Laurie

A few of my favorite:
Mystery
Sex and Violence
Poetry Prize

Posted by: Jenn | June 15, 2008 12:00 AM

This comment thread is incomplete, if not sorely lacking, without reference to Blackadder. In fact, here, go watch these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaPxX-ks95Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzH_Nw-ntY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irvbpxAXRkg&

#10

Posted by: Zeno | June 15, 2008 12:00 AM

"Headmaster." Thanks, Tim. I'm sure you're right.

And here's a link to the Hugh Laurie "kick-ass" song I mentioned, sung in a throughly American accent.

#11

Posted by: Etha Williams, OM | June 15, 2008 12:05 AM

Also...House on atheism: "It's not about fun, it's about the truth."

#12

Posted by: JM Inc. | June 15, 2008 12:10 AM

Ah, I never knew Hugh Laurie was a sceptic. In an embarrassingly discriminatory fashion, I actually respect him a great deal more now than I had done previous (having done previously a great deal, in fact).

Another excellent "Bit of Fry and Laurie" sketch is The Word "Gay", also of a mocking nature in regards to extreme right wing buffoonery.

#13

Posted by: JM Inc. | June 15, 2008 12:13 AM

The Word "Gay", actually, I believe.

#14

Posted by: Falterer | June 15, 2008 12:23 AM

Yes. Fry and Laurie are both awesome. Cambridge's finest alumni!

What? Dar-who?

Never heard of him.

#15

Posted by: The Chemist | June 15, 2008 12:40 AM

I've never heard of a biology lab with just two locusts, I'd imagine they're difficult to sex.

*Covers mouth, eyes wide at such horrendous language*

I'm sorry, I meant I'd imagine they were difficult to intercourse. Yes, that's much better.

#16

Posted by: JM Inc. | June 15, 2008 1:01 AM

And just to inject again, I'm sure you'll all enjoy this one, as well.

#17

Posted by: McH | June 15, 2008 1:03 AM

Not to forget the upcoming highlight of having Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine teaming up to revisit some of the most critically endangered species 20 years after Douglas Adams wrote "last chance to see".

http://www.markcarwardine.com/last.php

#18

Posted by: BubbaRich | June 15, 2008 1:36 AM

I was just watching this episode this week on DVD. It's one of the better bits from the first series.

#19

Posted by: Brian Coughlan | June 15, 2008 1:52 AM

House in drag ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB8ghpl8318

#20

Posted by: Michael Norrish | June 15, 2008 2:08 AM

Hugh Laurie also rowed in the annual University Boat Race one year while at Cambridge; he's clearly a talented guy...

#21

Posted by: Kimbits | June 15, 2008 2:46 AM

Re: #16

Oh! That's wonderful! And sad. And really very awesome. I'm so excited.

I was very disappointed when I couldn't find a hard copy of Last Chance to See. I eventually downloaded the audiobook and it was fantastic. Read by DNA of course.

#22

Posted by: anandamide | June 15, 2008 5:16 AM

One of the many joys of watching House as a Brit is that half of you is enjoying the series on it's own merits, and the other half is screaming "IT'S HUGH LAURIE! Like, y'know, HUGH LAURIE! From Blackadder and Fry and Laurie and all those sketches where he prances around like an upper-class buffoon! And he's being nasty and mean and drug-addicted... but it's HUGH LAURIE! How cool is that?!!!"

#23

Posted by: Lassi Hippeläinen | June 15, 2008 5:18 AM

#13: "Cambridge's finest alumni!"

Here's a list of them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footlights

The mandatory Monty Python reference: half of them (Chapman, Cleese, and Idle) graduated from Footligths. So did David Frost, their sort-of godfather.

#24

Posted by: bric | June 15, 2008 5:35 AM

Stephen Fry on a world without gods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q715ty5hLt4

Hugh Laurie has made acouple of appearances on Fry's QI quiz show, here they are tackling actors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0rWp1ebTs4

#25

Posted by: bric | June 15, 2008 5:41 AM

Can't resist another clip from QI, when Alan Davies asks Stephen why people believe religious myths

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHcBF-g7-c&feature=related

#26

Posted by: Lurky | June 15, 2008 6:05 AM

#16 and #20

I'm hoping someone will record it and put a torrent up for all to see. Don't think we'll be seeing it anytime soon in Finland. I just read Last Chance to See a month ago and it's brilliant, definitely as funny as any book Adams has ever written.

#27

Posted by: Matt Penfold | June 15, 2008 6:18 AM

Only last week I bought the complete boxed set of "A Bit of Fry and Laurie".

For a series that began 20 years ago it remains incredibly fresh and pertinent today.

#28

Posted by: Ted D | June 15, 2008 7:17 AM

I was just entertaining a rather nice girl last night with clips of Hugh Laurie songs. I never get tired of them.

#29

Posted by: Charles Darwin | June 15, 2008 7:17 AM

Falterer: be careful. I've got bulldogs.

#30

Posted by: scooter | June 15, 2008 7:21 AM

you owe me a pair of jockey shorts

#31

Posted by: Muzz | June 15, 2008 7:31 AM

Not to break up the Laurie love, but this Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch is similarly amusing

#32

Posted by: JeffreyD | June 15, 2008 7:43 AM

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but a nice bit by Stepen Fry on the beauty of the human spirit, in the non theist use of the word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q715ty5hLt4&feature=related

Ciao y'all

#33

Posted by: Gareth | June 15, 2008 7:52 AM

Further to post #8, this is one of the better ones from series 4 of Blackadder:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pgJjyWvtwXc

#34

Posted by: JoJo | June 15, 2008 8:26 AM

"I'd like a son who isn't soiled."

Something every parent wants at one time or another.

#35

Posted by: Chris | June 15, 2008 9:46 AM

"Well, I don't actually call myself a school..." I love those wordjokes!
I never thought of Hugh Laurie as a great actor until I saw him in House (in Jeeves & Wooster he more or less plays the same upperclass twit he always does, even though it was a great show).
Despite not having enough patience to tune in weekly to a tv-show, I watched a lot of episodes just because of Hugh's great acting.

#36

Posted by: Kimpatsu | June 15, 2008 10:03 AM

I can't believe no one else has mentioned the Uri Geller parody before me!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qUxWdIQVT_c

#37

Posted by: stewart | June 15, 2008 11:39 AM

Let's give Stephen Fry his full due. He's written a skeptic novel, 'The Hippopotamus', and his philosophy shows through in all his writing and self-scripted work. I'm glad to be of the same species (although he could stand to inspire me more - it's his fault I'm not a better person). His straight lines and straight face are a good springboard for Laurie's inanity.

#38

Posted by: Sili | June 15, 2008 11:39 AM

That certainly beat the choral evensong on Radio 3 (not that it takes much). I suspect I'll be wasting an aweful long time on the links in this thread.

#39

Posted by: MPW | June 15, 2008 11:51 AM

Wow. I may have to break down and start watching "House" after this thread.

I'm a little depressed that this sketch "plays" in the UK... i.e., that there are enough people there who think and talk like this for it to be recognizable and funny. I'd thought of this "type" as a very American one - switch up the accents and a little of the syntax and it would play perfectly on U.S. TV, then or now.

#40

Posted by: Etha Williams, OM | June 15, 2008 12:02 PM

@#32 JeffreyD --

That was beautiful -- thank you for sharing it. I've posted it on my blog.

#41

Posted by: Matt Penfold | June 15, 2008 12:06 PM

Sili,

If you liked this clip, as well as the other Fry and Laurie clips I strongly recommend getting the DVD sets of all four series. I did so last week, after someone posted a link of the kicking ass song. I remembered the programs from when they were first shown, and had forgotten just how good they were. For some reason they do not get shown on UK TV anymore, not even on satellite which has channels that shows inane and racists sit-coms from the 70s that were not funny then and have not improved.

#42

Posted by: Matt Penfold | June 15, 2008 12:27 PM

MPW,

That sketch can be seen as a parody on creationism, but I doubt it was written as such. The sketch comes from the first program of the first series of "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" and dates to 1987. There were no issues with creationism being taught in schools back then: For all their faults the Conservative government of the time were not a bunch of creationists. It was possibly an attack on the government's policy on sex education at the time, which did seem to put morality above simple facts (although do not confuse that with abstinence-only sex education), although it is more likely to be a comment on the rather British reticence to discuss matter involving sex in public.

#43

Posted by: negentropyeater | June 15, 2008 12:48 PM

... as if the typical "british prudishness" in their children's education was a myth...

Random example from 2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1543427/Under-18s-are-banned-from-x-rated-exhibition.html

#44

Posted by: Zeno | June 15, 2008 1:08 PM

Re #36:

The great thing about the fork-bending skit is that Hugh Laurie clearly has exactly the same powers as Uri Geller himself. (He's just more cheeky about employing them.)

#45

Posted by: negentropyeater | June 15, 2008 1:14 PM

To demonstrate British prudishness, the exhibition will feature a two-foot high stone fig leaf.
It was hastily made when a cast of Michelangelo's David was lent to London in the 1850s. Fearing Queen Victoria's reaction when she saw the statue, the fig leaf was hung in front of David's naked manhood by two iron bolts.

So, this sketch (1987) is about the typical british prudishness in children's education.

But what about 2008 ?

Any brits care to comment ?

#46

Posted by: Bert Chadick | June 15, 2008 1:38 PM

So what is "Black Adder"? Chopped liver? I'll tell you. The best comedy ever. Even the curse of Rowan Atkinson couldn't stifle his talent.

#47

Posted by: Matt Penfold | June 15, 2008 1:45 PM

negentropyeater ,

I suspect the British are far less prudish these days, especially when compared to Americans. However it is probably still the case that compared to mainland Europe the UK is still somewhat reticent to talk about sex, or another bodily functions for that matter.

For example, I have heard of examples of breast-feeding women being threatened with arrest for doing so in a public place in the US. In the UK I suspect a good number of people might feel uncomfortable seeing a women breast-feeding but not many would think it a matter for the police.

#48

Posted by: chris | June 15, 2008 1:59 PM

Stephen Fry, from the clip in #25:

Anybody who tells me what happens to me after I'm dead is either a liar or a fool, because they don't know.

#49

Posted by: John Phillips, FCD | June 15, 2008 2:05 PM

negentropyeater: Sadly, even in 2008 we still have them. Just read something like the The Telegraph or The Daily Mail, if you can stomach them, and you will see plenty of articles and letters bemoaning just about any portrayal of sex and especially anything to do with sex education. One of the reasons that of the European countries the UK has about the worst teen pregnancy and STD rates.

#50

Posted by: negentropyeater | June 15, 2008 2:12 PM

I suspect the British are far less prudish these days, especially when compared to Americans.

Any notable consequences ?
My parents were rather prudish (french mother, british father), rarely talked about sex, always wondered if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Today, I tend to think that it's not beneficial for the children's education to be prudish, but are there studies that show evidence of the benefits ?

#51

Posted by: negentropyeater | June 15, 2008 2:17 PM

sorry fucked up post...

I suspect the British are far less prudish these days, especially when compared to Americans.
Any notable consequences ?

My parents were rather prudish (french mother, british father), rarely talked about sex, always wondered if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Today, I tend to think that it's not beneficial for the children's education to be prudish, but are there studies that show evidence of the drawbacks ?

#52

Posted by: negentropyeater | June 15, 2008 2:23 PM

ok forget it, don't know what's wrong with me today. One last try.

I suspect the British are far less prudish these days, especially when compared to Americans.

(seems I'm nervous when talking about my own failed sexual education)

#53

Posted by: Matt Penfold | June 15, 2008 2:25 PM

negentropyeater,

I am not sure there are any studies that directly show any benefits of being less prudish, but there are those which show an indirect link.

The UK and The Netherlands are often used as comparisons. The Netherlands has an very open policy on sex education, easy access to contraception and the age of consent is 14(*). Such a policy seems to have pretty widespread support. The teenage pregnancy rate in the Netherlands is low. The UK does not have such an open policy, with religious politicians and groups often sabotaging attempts to improve sex education. The same applies with the availability of contraception. It is legal in the UK to provide contraception to a person under 16 (16 being the age of consent in the UK) without informing their parents. However religious groups have ensured that medical professionals are looking over their shoulder when they do so. Pretty much the same arguments apply when comparing the dugs policy of the Netherlands and the UK.

(*) The age of consent in the Netherlands depends on the age of both partners. As I understand it if both are under 16 then the age of consent is 14, but if one is over 16 then the other must be as well.

#54

Posted by: tim Rowledge | June 15, 2008 2:56 PM

--"I'd like a son who isn't soiled."
Something every parent wants at one time or another.--

See http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/01/Nov/encrapulation.html for a more technical approach

tim
--
tim Rowledge; tim@rowledge.org; http://www.rowledge.org/tim
Useful Latin Phrases:- Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant! = May barbarians invade your personal space!

#55

Posted by: Rey Fox | June 15, 2008 3:03 PM

*has a first edition hardcover of Last Chance To See bought for a song at the local used book store* *gloat gloat*

#56

Posted by: Emmet Caulfield | June 15, 2008 3:37 PM

tim Rowledge@#54,

I propose that we adopt the (highly appropriate) nomenclature for trolls and spammers:

Level 1 Encrapulation: Extensive trolling/spamming by unhinged loon/deluded nutter, e.g. Dennis Markuze, Mike Hallet, etc.

Level 2 Encrapulation: Visitation of banned, but not obviously crazy, person up to their usual tricks, e.g. PlanetKiller/Kenny, etc. Severe thread derailment imminent.

Level 3 Encrapulation: Visitation of known, but as yet unbanned vile liar, godbot, e.g. Teddy Beale and minions.

#57

Posted by: Cheezits | June 15, 2008 4:10 PM

But then I didn't recognize him as Hugh Laurie until the second season.

Same here! Well, actually it wasn't quite until the second season, but it was months before I realized who he was. I never watched the credits, and the accent completely fooled me.

#58

Posted by: QrazyQat | June 15, 2008 4:42 PM

The harsh reality of the marketplace. It's coming for you next, PZ!

#59

Posted by: Carl Buell | June 15, 2008 5:10 PM

I'm a great Stephan Fry fan on his "new" show for the BBC "QI, quite interesting". Well not quite new (it's had 5 13 show seasons - all of which can be found on You Tube in 3 or 4 segments). I listen while I paint, laugh out loud often, and it's amazing what you learn and how fast the time goes.

#60

Posted by: Senritsu | June 15, 2008 6:54 PM

*has a first edition hardcover of Last Chance To See bought for a song at the local used book store* *gloat gloat*

Oh yeah? Well, I see your first edition and raise you a signed first edition hardcover. When Douglas Adams was on the book tour, he came to The Hungry Mind bookstore (now deceased) in St. Paul, and I squeezed into a small room with lots of other fans to hear him give a short talk before signing copies of his book. *gloat gloat gloat*

#61

Posted by: Rey Fox | June 15, 2008 7:48 PM

Yes, of course I got it too late for it to be signed.

#62

Posted by: Wowbagger | June 15, 2008 8:02 PM

I have a hardcover copy of 'Last Chance to See' as well - I didn't realise it had become a rarity. But I couldn't not own it since it combines two of my all-time favourite things: Douglas Adams (who tops my list of 'People I Really Wish Were Still With Us') and komodo dragons.

#63

Posted by: j a higginbotham | June 15, 2008 8:33 PM

What's with the "mardi gras in new orleans" sound clip at the beginning?

#64

Posted by: Jack Rawlinson | June 15, 2008 8:40 PM

Fry and Laurie are GODS. Even for an atheist like me.

Here they are at the UHT milk container, chalice or pot witch trials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7nSScHFR7c

#65

Posted by: Jack Rawlinson | June 15, 2008 8:45 PM

And as we've had "America"... let's have "God Save the Queen"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ_bFF_Oc5U

#66

Posted by: Peter Ashby | June 16, 2008 2:43 AM

Stephen Fry is a National Treasure. So much so that we have decided to clone him. The program is called The Boys From Norfolk.

Now we have so kindly lent you Americans Hugh Laurie, do you think we can have him back? No, you cannot have Stephen Fry, as a National Treasure there is an export ban on him.

BTW amongst his many other talents Stephen Fry has also written a very good guide to prosody called The Ode Less Travelled. I also have a first edition Last Chance to See and am similarly bemused that it has become rare.

#67

Posted by: bric | June 16, 2008 5:48 AM

#66 - Stephen Fry is a National Treasure. Indeed, one of the Stately Homos of England. He talks about the documentary with mark Cawardine (amongst many other things) on his podcast, available through itunes

#68

Posted by: Mark A. Siefert | June 16, 2008 8:16 PM

Oy vey! Hugh is literal playing a British version of my father!

#69

Posted by: Wowbagger | June 16, 2008 8:43 PM

I recently read the superb Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell which features the Duke of Wellington as a character. Thanks to Mr Fry's (hilarious) portrayal of him in a Blackadder episode I could only hear Wellington's dialogue as if it were spoken by him.

And I always remember his describtion of the regimental crest: 'two crossed dead Frenchmen on a mound of dead Frenchmen motif'...

#70

Posted by: Eli | June 28, 2008 10:12 PM

Thanks for posting this. I know this is a late comment, but prior to this post I'd had no idea of the existence of Stephen Fry, who is now my favorite actor ever.