History Creator / BennyHill

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy geniuses, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, who see him as a somewhat cheesy relic of a bygone age; for many years his show was not repeated on TV in his home country after ITV cancelled it in 1989, although it was always available on video and (later) DVD.

He also recorded several novelty records, of which the best-known is "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West" [[note]] this was released in the early Seventies, a time when very few hit songs had accompanying "videos" -- a trend bucked by Benny, who recorded a silent-movie style film to accompany the song; in releasing a promotional "video" at the same time, he was ahead of even Music/{{Queen|Band}} who are usually thought of as the pioneers [[/note]] which was a number one hit [[note]] although since three of the others also got into the top forty, he doesn't count as a OneHitWonder [[/note]].

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy geniuses, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West" [[note]] this was released in the early Seventies, a time when very few hit songs had accompanying "videos". Benny recorded a silent-movie style film to accompany the song; in releasing a promotional "video" at the same time, he was ahead of even Music/{{Queen|Band}} who are usually thought of as the pioneers [[/note]] does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD. In 2022, it is noticable that Benny is being rehabilitated: original shows are now being repeated in Britain on nostalgia channels lower down the Freeview listings.

In the mid-noughties there was a TV show entitled ''Is Benny Hill Still Funny?'' in which a cross-section of the British public, most of whom were too young to have seen his original broadcasts, were shown a selection of his sketches and asked the eponymous question. The consensus was "Yes".

Most of his comedy is visual, which typically leads to good video sales worldwide. No translation needed for the most part, especially for the pretty girls in colorful dresses.

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy genius, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West"[[note]]This was released in the Seventies, a time when a vanishingly small number of hit songs had accompanying "videos". Benny recorded a silent-movie style film to accompany the song; in releasing a promotional "video" at the same time, he was ahead of even Music/{{Queen|Band}} who are usually thought of as the pioneers.[[/note]] does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD. In 2022, it is noticable that Benny is being rehabilitated: original shows are now being repeated in Britain on nostalgia channels lower down the Freeview listings.

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy genius, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West"[[note]]This was released in the Seventies, a time when a vanishingly small number of hit songs had accompanying "videos". Benny recorded a silent-movie style film to accompany the song; in releasing a promotional "video" at the same time, he was ahead of even Music/{{Queen}} who are usually thought of as the pioneers.[[/note]] does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD. In 2022, it is noticable that Benny is being rehabilitated: original shows are now being repeated in Britain on nostalgia channels lower down the Freeview listings.

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy genius, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West"[[note]]This was released in the Seventies, a time when a vanishingly small number of hit songs had accompanying "videos". Benny recorded a silent-movie style film to accompany the song; in releasing a promotional "video" at the same time, he was ahead of even Music/{{Queen}} who are usually thought of as the pioneers.[[/note]].[[/note]] does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD. In 2022, it is noticable that Benny is being rehabilitated: original shows are now being repeated in Britain on nostalgia channels lower down the Freeview listings.

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy genius, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West" does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD. In 2022, it is noticable that Benny is being rehabilitated: original shows are now being repeated in Britain on nostalgia channels lower down the Freeview listings.

That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy genius, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West" does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD.

His on-screen persona was as a skirt-chasing DirtyOldMan (or, sometimes, a skirt-chasing young man), and there was much {{Fanservice}}. Some of his humour today walks into the sexist, which has [[ValuesDissonance affected his reputation]], although the women involved with his shows have denied that they perceived the shows (or Hill himself) as sexist.

* Series/TheBennyHillShow

'''Benny Hill''' (real name Alfred Hawthorne Hill, 21 January 1924 -- 20 April 1992) was a prolific English comic, actor, and singer best known for his television programme ''Series/TheBennyHillShow''.

His on-screen persona was as a skirt-chasing DirtyOldMan (or, sometimes, a skirt-chasing young man), and there was much {{Fanservice}}. Some of his humour today walks into the sexist, which has [[ValuesDissonance affected his reputation]], although the women involved with his shows have denied that they they perceived the shows (or Hill himself) as sexist.

Most of his comedy is visual, which typically leads to good video sales worldwide. No translation needed for the most part, especially for the pretty girls in colourful dresses.

His on-screen persona was as a skirt-chasing DirtyOldMan, and there was much {{Fanservice}}. Some of his humour today walks into the sexist, which has [[ValuesDissonance affected his reputation]], although the women involved with his shows have denied that they were sexist. That said, when non-Britons are speaking of British comedy genius, Hill is often [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff mentioned in the same breath]] as, say, ''Creator/MontyPython''. This mystifies many Brits, and the series is rarely repeated in his home country. His novelty record OneHitWonder "Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West" does get more play, though, and his shows are available on DVD.

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'''Benny Hill''' (real name Alfred Hawthorne Hill, January 21, 1924 -- April 20, 1992) was a prolific English comic, actor, and singer best known for his television programme ''Series/TheBennyHillShow''.

'''Benny Hill''' (real name Alfred Hawthorne Hill, 1924-1992) was a prolific English comic, actor, and singer best known for his television programme ''Series/TheBennyHillShow''.

The ending song of ''The Benny Hill Show'' was "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ Yakety Sax]]" by Boots Randolph, an ''infamous'' EarWorm if there ever was one. Endlessly parodied, if there's a nonsensical ChaseScene (or [[http://bennyhillifier.com/ anything]], really), play Benny Hill!

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