Thanks for the great memories.

A man once sidled up to me and said . . .“You know, Phil, some comedians’ popularity completely baffles me.  When I see other people doubled-up with laughter watching them – on stage, on film or on TV – while I sit there unmoved, my face a silent mask of bewilderment at the giggling, chortling and thigh-slapping going on around me, I often wonder if I’m a member of the same species!”.

Well, I don’t know what you’d say in response to that, but my reply was simple and direct.

“I can see you feel strongly about this, but would you please get off the stage because I’m only half-way through my act!”

One comedian who divided opinion was Jerry Lewis, who sadly died on August 20th. aged 91. Like him or not, he’d been world-famous since the late 1940s.

In life, his comedy timing was immaculate – but in death it failed him because he had the misfortune to pass away while British newspapers and TV channels were still eulogising Bruce Forsyth, who’d died a couple of days before.

Although Bruce had an incredible career on British television, he regretted that, despite several attempts, he never made it in America. I suppose the U.S.A. had so many of their own ‘song and dance men’ it didn’t need to import one from across The Pond

Conversely, while Jerry’s talents as comedian, writer and director were revered in America, over here his often manic style of comedy wasn’t quite so popular.

However, even if you’re not a Jerry Lewis fan but interested in the nuts and bolts of comedy, see Martin Scorsese’s “King Of Comedy” in which Jerry’s superb as an egotistical TV talk show host.

No doubt Bruce and Jerry teed off today on the great celestial golf course while arguing good-naturedly about who was the funniest!

Goodbye Bruce and Jerry. And thanks for the laughs.