Billy Connolly - Winging It

Billy Connolly is a bit of a legend. Growing up in the Glasgow tenements he ascended what was, at the time, a rigid rank of suit-and-tie comedians to become the UK's most electric performer.
He's been booed onstage (opening for Elton John nonetheless!), worn custom-made banana boots, and been picketed by the Christian right. He arguably birthed observational comedy in the UK.
In a career spanning 50 years, you may be surprised to learn that Connolly did all this without any notes, rehearsals, or really any forethought at all.
For educational purposes only. You can donate or support the channel at:
www.patreon.com/comedywithouterrors

[@ComedyWithoutErrors]

Howdy comedy brethren, Sorry it's been so long, had an absolute nightmare with copyright on this one so some of the clips (particularly Connolly in action) aren't as long as I wanted them to be. However, it's still in good shape and I hope you enjoy. Connolly is a bit of hero of mine, as I'm sure he is to a lot of comedians, so it was cool to dig into his philosophy. I guess this is my wee tribute to the Big Yin. Much love and stay safe in these crazy times, Josh :)

[@jackiechan8840]

Thanks for putting together m8

[@DedalusStew]

Always looking forward to your videos. Hope to see this channel go further and further.

[@admstick]

I really enjoy your channel. Thank you.

[@lukejack5837]

Brilliant job man, coming from someone from Glasgow if that might add any certification to my opinion :)

[@malcolmmillbrook9498]

Great video, well worth the wait! I'd love to know what you think of Ross Noble, he's also likes winging it and going on tangents. Though I think he creates a structure for his ad libs beforehand which he inserts audience suggestions into, rather than being 100% improvised.

[@tartanrocker5926]

Pamela...you are an angel....without you, Billy may not have made it....you saw something in him worth rescuing, and the world is a better place because you saw it, and we can never thank you enough....but here's my one little voice, saying it anyway....thank you...

[@gaelic_rose]

He isn't with Pamela, I am his current wife since 12/21/2020

[@jedhill8972]

What a really lovely guy Billy is, thank you for being you 😊

[@bigoldgrizzly]

An insightful take on the workings of Billy - a true genius and a lovely fellow. My abiding memory was going to see him with my Dad many years ago. Dad laughed so hard, his dentures flew out like a bullet and were eventually passed back to him, hand over hand, from 3 rows forward, wrapped in a tissue. I did seriously wonder that night, if Billy might give the old man a heart attack. We both ached for days afterwards.

[@bubblybuttons3042]

This is the best channel on KZbin, change my mind

[@jaredtweed7826]

It is truly the best

[@joseraimi]

I will not, sir!

[@theothertonydutch]

Are Sounds Elektrik is pretty good

[@howdj]

Why change your mind? Stop seeking validation so desperately.

[@gipsyundead]

I love that line........"a storyteller between campfires"

[@LewisBuchan]

one of the biggest comedy icons to ever live. if i can be even 10% of that man i'll die happy.

[@Bart-tk9um]

you’re certainly getting the windswept and interesting look down as you get older

[@patrickoconnor2760]

Congratulations on Stewart Lee giving you a shout out, which was well deserved. I would be taken aback if Billy Connolly did the same though.

[@danielralph8052]

Where did Stewart lee give the shout out I’d love to see that

[@patrickoconnor2760]

@@danielralph8052 I may have got the wrong end of the stick, but I was referring to this kzbin.infoUgyWmPSGRHo3zUW9Cid4AaABCQ

[@fightingforanimals3961]

@@patrickoconnor2760 that's dead cool

[@dnicol73]

👍

[@lesleysmith9143]

This man is a legend. Please look after him. We love you😂

[@warrenmoyses4424]

Connely, Williams and Carlin were all a gift to the world. Nothing exists like them anymore.

[@duncb7937]

Thank you Mr C, for being you

[@ukcroupier]

Please don't let the copyright problems get you down, you're doing fantastic work here.

[@SourSourSour]

As an individual wrapped in the confines of overthinking and worrying about everything, seeing Billy Connolly and Robin WIlliams do their thing is just absolute magic to me. That level of charisma and giving yourself to the moment is astounding and inspiring. Thanks for the video CwE

[@grant1133]

Love the Big Yin, an absolute legend in Scotland and one of those people you just think are immortal.

[@LiquidSpiral]

This is probably in the top 10 KZbin channels

[@kellybuentiempo6924]

Billy your the best! Thank you!😎👍

[@locumcat]

If you don't laugh, you cry. And he was a master.

[@Ethnography1000]

The art of a born storyteller! Bravissimo Billy and Robin!

[@chrisholzhauer3698]

What a wonderful tribute to such a talent, Connolly is a treasure.

[@jplewis01]

Went to See him Christchurch N.Z. in the late 80's. Show started at 7:30. We were still gradually getting to the end of the Starting story around 11:30pm after so many hilarious tangents taken along the way. We ran out of tears from laughing so hard around 10pm. Absolutely the funniest show I have ever witnessed!!! Billy is my all time favorite Scotsman ever!

[@BadMedicineDC]

His voice is a huge factor in his comedy. It just sounds so good when he says things. Also his hair. Good hair movement is key in physical comedy. haha

[@MB-xw1tu]

Billy Connolly has said something similar about his hair himself.

[@grahammccready2647]

i've seen billy 3 times and i always thought his amazing talent was that you forgot you were at a performance. he had the ability to make you think he was speaking to you. he welcomed you in then told you some stories and only at the end did you realised there were other people in the room too

[@williamagar7160]

Billy Connolly is one of the most real human beings a person could ever meet. A man who has excelled in all the amazing things he's done, from his stand up shows, the films he's been in, the TV series he's presented about the world, just...everything has been top of the game. I've never met him but I feel like I know him, he's that kind of person. I've hurt myself laughing at his stories, I've broken down in tears too. Thank you very much for this video.

[@BNL07604]

You know the feeling when you just, plain, look up to Billy Connolly? I've felt that for a long time. Never really knew why...and then this video came.

[@Looneyboy]

Really appreciate this channel dude

[@alexroxhissox]

Mate. I think - by clipping and commentating this video together - you may have accidentally made the best biography of Billy that exists anywhere. I say that as a man who has seen them all. You really captured him here man. You did something special.

[@shanecommins7968]

I sometimes wonder if Billy is one of the reasons that an illusion of spontaneity is so coveted in standup comedy. Whole generations of comics have seen his ability to 'wing it' as the high ideal of standup, but because they're not mad geniuses like him, they have to settle for either appearing spontaneous, or abandoning spontaneity altogether, like Stewart Lee does. Pretentious thought over. Great work as always, and god bloody bless the Big Yin.

[@TheLambLive]

7:08 - Billy's HBO special 1991... I'll always remember how fragmented and wild the story tangents were. It blew my mind... I have never seen anyone else quite like Billy.

[@SimonGonzales]

Loving this channel so much. These breakdowns are so good

[@jpjapers]

These videos are phenomenal and have really made me rewatch comedy with a completely different perspective

[@downsjmmyjones101]

Truly amazing. This deserves to be seen by so many people.

[@nigethejedimaster]

What a perfect way to spend an hour. Billy is pure genius and you've captured that very well. Thank you.

[@HotBreathPod]

Wow these keep getting better and better! Billy is one of our favorites! We heard he’d always take a shot of espresso before the show and ZOOM!

[@0TE9]

You've made a beautiful video. Thank you.

[@stewmott3763]

Great video. Connolly's one of the greatest stand-ups of all time (top five for me, anyway), and he deserves a video that seeks to understand how he does it.

[@simonfanning4512]

Thankyou so much for doing this ,best ever of Billy.

[@BS-cm8in]

Well done, Billy Connolly is a legend. All my love from Denmark!

[@leightonmilton5162]

Keep ‘em coming please!

[@innovativeatavist159]

The real question is- Which Billy beard is best?

[@jackiejohnson1252]

Goatee!!! ❤

[@ThePatientWolf]

You are a wonderful story telling talent. One of the few channels I watch without fail. You will most def have 100k+ subs before you know it!

[@dannyrowleyyt]

Brilliant and beautiful video. Thank you.

[@levimcglinchey5843]

Does the small amount of views in comparison to the other videos on this channel suggest people are forgetting how big this yin is? I hope not, while it would no doubt be obvious that current topics would get more interest this man is timeless Great work as always!

[@MrWeedCat7070]

Love this guy

[@gargus6287]

This channel deserves to blow up, keep up the great work

[@floodhaha]

Love these videos. Keep 'em up

[@SuzyQ334]

Gorgeous Billy. One of the UK's funniest, nicest comedians. Love you to bits Billy.

[@brianyule1289]

Great stuff. The Big Yin is a hero of mine. Keep making these thoughtful & well made videos.

[@padawansound6423]

Fantastic video, this one deserves so many more views.

[@weirdcatastrophebykodycava]

Some of your best work here.

[@deemueller6470]

Thank you! I'm a subscribed new viewer. That was awesome narration on the piece.

[@kenaustinardenol1338]

At some point in my life I became interested in British comedy, though I always loved to laugh. Of course i got since then a lot of favorites, but one man always stood far above: Billy Connolly. Just watched an old movie of him again, probably no one knows of, The man who sued God, classic Billy. I want to add one thing to the specifics of his comedy talent and that is that he is Scottish and has still an understandable but unmisstakenly that wonderful scottish accent. It makes his storytelling absolutely perfect. Oh yeah, no one uses the F-word so effortlessly as Billy does!

[@skafiiphantom]

Thank you made me cry :)

[@unnunn12]

this is beautiful

[@GazRossatron]

These videos are incredible

[@randomacousticthoughts]

Quality! Love your channel

[@davidrankin516]

Thanks for the Video there

[@HenOutOfHen]

Loved this, great work, new sub!

[@roberthenrypoet]

This was awesome! Great work. :)

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I absolutely love him for being himself. We are all messed up in one way or another. It's part of being human . He has embarased who he is and made the best of it. Especially making the world laugh at it self . It's like a Drs bed side Humor. If you can laugh at your situation it's time well spent and beats crying about it. I like to think like him we have similar situations and problems . 😁 that's just Brilliant Billy.😁

[@kildogery]

Another great video. Long live The Big Yin!

[@beirbua3968]

OUTSTANDING

[@Lankymax1]

Great work! Keep going - I hope you can build a huge audience for this valuable channel.

[@Jason-md2fn]

One of a kind,brilliant

[@andrewmckenna00]

When he uses the name Joe Bananas people think that's made up, but it is the name of a Glasgow gangster

[@neilmckinlay]

Great work

[@maggiemiller5309]

What an incredible genius ❤❤❤

[@dsan5825]

Great video. Good job!

[@theoppressionchamber5814]

this is great

[@designerstuart]

Beautiful

[@kieranmajury9623]

Beautiful as always Josh. One of the best analysis. Would love to see you take a crack at Norm Macdonald

[@SourabhVourabh]

Great channel man. Love from India.

[@G.reviewz]

Such a lovely video

[@aj5690]

I love this channel

[@MrCrystalwarrior1]

Richard Pryor in his early shows did the same as Billy did. Pryor just had a list of things he'd take inspiration from, and go from there. Pryor and Billy mastered the free-form comedy style, and enhanced so may lives with their shows :-D

[@spoopify5560]

What a fantastic video

[@annmc8392]

Love this brave funny man. 💛

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

Billy has something raw and untamed you don't get from Live at the apollo's middle class acting school brigade.

[@SamuelBlack84]

Windswept and interesting🙂

[@jonmeehan7604]

Great video as per!

[@mantumbi_]

Fantastic video

[@jikmnhuhujnbgy]

is that the essential craftsman soundtrack I hear? love your editing and production.

[@quasimodo1562]

Really enjoy the content man, you should do a video on how richard pryor made jokes and his rhythm

[@Cumquatlounge]

I think Billy represents how most Scots see themselves. This was key to his success and his hero status. Billy himself would be the first to testify to that , when he talked about the characters in the shipyards being bigger and funnier than he ever was but the difference is that he was able to articulate it. Those that hate him because of a stupid Ken Bigley joke need to look at themselves and their understanding of comedy in general. The man is a legend, he showed people how to live life; charismatic, not caring and determined to make the most of it. They should be tearing down statues of false heros in Glasgow and erecting one of Billy and sticking a traffic cone on his head! - THe only sadness is that we all know we will collectively cry an ocean of tears once the great man is gone. worse still, we know that could be any minute and day now.

[@dianacasey6002]

Could not agree with you more. I discovered Billy Connelly in 1974 and have loved him ever since. If I’m taking myself to seriously I just find a B C set and laugh and laugh.

[@druss69harad61]

Still my favourite human.

[@Happipaws]

Hi Josh, This was a well researched, educational delight as ever. I would really enjoy your musings on Dylan Moran if possible. Thanks

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

He's a drunker, coarser, more disheveled (yet remarkably standing up, rather than sitting down) modern take on Dave Allen so far as I can see. No disrespect to either of them - both top class comedians.

[@DrunkChimp]

The greatest.

[@LiquidSpiral]

Very classy to include his banjo music

[@theoak64]

When I watch Billy I never got the sense that he was doing a set or telling jokes. I refer to him as a gifted story teller. The old lady and is my favorite story.

[@stevebaker6711]

Billy banjo Connolly is a gentleman and a scholar. I think he's Great.

[@Billcornfield]

There'll never be another of the sort & for that he will be cherished

[@dielaughing73]

A true original

[@stephengilbert5612]

A very special guy .

[@Daplin1]

Just curious if you'll ever do a comparison of American and British comedy

[@seasmacfarlane6418]

No comparison between Billy Connolly and Robin Williams........ Robin Williams was brilliant, but Billy Connolly is far, far beyond brilliant. There's no-one like him, not even close, and there will never be another.❤

[@josholeary1796]

Fantastic work. Would love to see a video on Frankie Boyle at some point.

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

Richard Prior and Robin Williams both saw clips of Billy early in their careers and it inspired them to let loose and invent as they went along.

[@gavinallan7897]

Billy ❤

[@kildogery]

It's like jazz.

[@insidebriansmind]

Love the Big Yin

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

As long as there are Scots this kind of comedy will never disappear. Storytelling is what they do: Billy Connolly, Danny Bhoy, Craig Ferguson...

[@dielaughing73]

When Billy Connolly was asked what his commandments would be if he were god, he replied "Thou Shalt".