The Genius of Sean Lock

[@kurisensei]

Love Sean Lock. Like Norm MacDonald, I think he was an Everyman down to earth bloke who succeeds in not revealing how clever he was

[@henatwork]

100%. 2 of my favourite comedians - Sean Lock and Norm MacDonald. 2021 was the toughest year to lose these geniuses.

[@pauldurand4780]

Very astute comparison. Sean played "the goof" and Norm played the oblivious naive "regular gay"...l mean deeply closeted regular *_guy_* ..lol.. Both huge losses to entertainment and humanity... cant get enough clips of new stuff l havent seen 100x already.

[@thescottishbawbag]

@kurisensei well said, thought that was just me.

[@auradmg]

Johnny Vegas, too. Looks (deliberately) like a council estate drunk but just occasionally he reveals that he's a gifted and hilarious poet.

[@pauldurand4780]

@@auradmg l agree. Hes one of the few other cfomics on the show that made Sean laugh!

[@supercrownjosie7732]

during a pretty dark period of my life, I got through it by watching endless QI. the hardest belly laugh I had during those days, and the one that's stuck with me 15 years later, was Sean, going off the premise of hallucinations that Stephen Fry had set up, said, "I used to hear voices in my head," Stephen murmurs with serious interest, "But I just ignored them and carried on killing." brilliant man, with a true one of a kind voice.

[@rainbomg]

I remember when I discovered probably my first British panel show, watching uploads of big fat quiz of the year, and Sean Lock was just going off on how those kids that do the little plays as clues, ranting about how bad they were, to no one’s delight but mine. It was the middle of the night and I was painting and had to stop bc I was cackling laughing and I remember commenting that I didn’t know who that guy was but he was a menace and I loved him. I got _many_ replies that said “that’s Sean lock, strap in” or something to that effect. I’ve really enjoyed him in my subsequent jaunt through the British panel shows, Qi being my latest discovery. I haven’t seen him on that one yet, but I look forward to it.

[@ComedyWithoutErrors]

The experiments continue! This is an idea I’ve wanted to do for ages! Comedians that haven’t really been discussed in the video essays but are still hugely influential and interesting. This is a test run for a potential series. This format is less intensive than the traditional essays and frankly, much more fun to make. Let me know what you think! Also welcome Tom Hutchinson! A good friend and extremely knowledgeable comedian/performer. Sorry the wide camera makes it look like we’re in a submarine haha. Figuring it out as we go!

[@ukcroupier]

I luv your video essays but turned this off after 10mins, couldn't face another hour of 2 blokes rambling with no direction.

[@roel.vinckens]

The Comedy U-boat. CU boat. This works for me. The subject was pure dynamite though ... Keep it up and keep on having fun. It works.

[@ChrisJohnson-ld3wq]

shame.. i was really looking forward to another 15-20min video essay of yours.. they are delightful! maybe you could still do a Sean Lock one?

[@brynley]

Loved this. Watched in a single take. Enjoyed the chilled back and forth vibe. Not familiar with either of you but agreed with a lot of what you said said and really enjoyed the technical breakdowns.

[@bodschannel]

this is great. i hope you don't stop the essays altogether but if these are easier maybe scale back on the essays and apease the algo with more of these. these could even be turned into podcasts too and that could be a way to grow too. can't believe you don't have 100k subscribers. keep up the great work

[@chenzenzo]

Sean Lock was the weird uncle/older brother many of us always wanted His absurdist humour made light of so many things, it was a breath of fresh air. I found out about him early on in the pandemic and would marathon 8 Out of 10 Cats and then 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, then finding TV Heaven/Telly Hell, then pretty much anything featuring him since I knew if he was on a show there was a damned good chance it was funny. I cried my eyes out when he died. It was a lot like finding out Norm Macdonald had passed. I think Jimmy Carr put it beautifully (I'm paraphrasing) "We experience two deaths, one is when we die and the other is when people stop talking about us, and for my Sean is very much still around in that way because I'm always talking about him." Sean was very much an everyman; a working class hero who was easy to root for. Seeing him laugh himself to tears during Joe Wilkinsons Poem on 10 cats was a joy, and I still get a thrill out of seeing him mentally destroy Jon Richardson to retain his title as World Carrot In A Box Champion. There's a great documentary where Sean and Jon go to America and you can really see that Sean was this mature, older brother figure to people. Other comics looked up to him the way they looked up to Norm. I know we all miss him dearly and I'm thankful for the laughter he gave us. Knowing that 20 years of his work is captured on screen for us to enjoy when we feel like it is a blessing. May he rest in eternal love and peace. ❤ "You can't write tears, Jim..." 😂

[@LettersAndNumbers300]

I could ‘ve written this, good job

[@binscent1]

1:06:55 - On this "who since Acaster has come with these whacky offers rather than 'just wit'?" question. I think Sam Campbell has some real potential to become a mainstay in this area. His taskmaster season had many of these moments ("Are you a child of divorce?"), and he's recently shone on WILTY. I'm a big fan of Sam Campbell and I hope he becomes a bigger part of the comedy scene.

[@rhynchocephalian]

I was also just about to comment basically this sentiment-really hope to see more of him, aside from any more specials Companion was so good

[@TheRealTrentRazor]

I hadn't considered it before, but Bob Mortimer is kinda similar to Sean. Working class, grounded in reality, then takes two steps to the absolute absurd. Great video as always!

[@auradmg]

Bob's bit on would I Lie To You about the rubber masks is eternal. He's so good at grounded absurdism that everybody thought, "this cannot possible be true, and yet I'm going to say it's true"

[@bigtombowski]

Although hasn't he always been viewed as the straight man to Vic Reeves?

[@KaryoSentiko]

Worth noting that when Bob was on panel with Sean, it was clear how much Bob enjoyed Sean’s humour.

[@praalgraf]

thoroughly enjoyed this, definitely down for more episodes ! you two riff off each other really well

[@roel.vinckens]

Sean and Norm. I still can't believe they passed. Great tribute to a great comedic mind. Thanks ! #carrotinabox #rectumoftheyear #challengingwank

[@samcollins2412]

#naziisland

[@amypauley2551]

Sean Lock is one of my absolute favourites. I miss him. When Norm MacDonald died, there was lots of videos and then retrospects on here. And there's more coming. I love that. But I haven't seen much on Sean. Thank you so much for doing this.

[@dskuit]

"thank you 'brethren', i'll see you at the next meeting"

[@liddad]

I really enjoyed this! If you do continue this as a series, you should release audio versions of it too, as the format works just as well as audio-only and most viewers won't have KZbin premium to lock their phones. So a way for people to listen for an hour plus would be a bonus. There's a couple of podcasts that talk about comedy as an art form, but almost all the good ones are interviews with a comedian about their own stuff. So it does feel like there's a space for something like this (more edited, more researched, but still a conversation) in the podcast area.

[@MinimusMango]

Love the essays, and cannot fathom the amount of effort that goes in to doing them, they are very impressive. So if this version means more content on the channel then I can get onboard, appears to me a KZbin friendly format, almost gave me the feeling of thinking man’s (inverted) reaction video. A well researched and considered opinion, followed by clip. It works. If you can keep hold of the essays insightful feel these should be great!

[@GiladZinman]

'Who's done that since Lock and Acaster?' My friends get ready for Sam Campbell

[@rossmcleod7983]

Sam is the man. Subverts, playful, unexpected, ordinary.

[@Moozic231]

I was just thinking this! It was so funny to listen to Sam's recent episode of Off Menu where he was his usual unhinged self. At one point, Ed and James had a meta conversation about how James is having to dial back his usual weirdness on account of Sam.

[@smurfette_blues7922]

I was just about to make a similar comment!

[@SahilMakhijani]

Doctor Cigarettes!!

[@morganarenewed]

Your videos are all fantastic. Thought-through analysis, and great examples. Love your colleague on this. Well observed!

[@pert-smith]

I’m from America. Watched all of Cats Does Countdown just prior to Sean’s death. Don’t ask how. It was probably legal. I binged the show. Sean’s death plus lockdown basically lead me to study his life. 15 Minutes of Misery was genius. Everything he did was brilliant. Sophististupidity.

[@martynsharman1735]

great format on this one, love the detailed analysis of the video essays, but two people chatting about something that means a lot to them is golden. Could have gone on for hours with this one!

[@AdrianGrayComedy]

Enjoyed this!

[@bigtombowski]

I fukin just love hearing 2 knowledgeable nerds needing out about what they're knowledgeable about. Great stuff fellas.

[@bleysmcnutt5500]

This channel is a godsend. I have not seen many video essays covering Comedians and am excited to witness this one. I became a fan of Lock a year before he passed (I am a Texan. British Panel Shows are not big in the states) and felt totally broken when a man who I saw as a clear master at his craft had perished far too young.

[@thekaratekidpartii2169]

Sean Lock was definitely the funniest one on any panel show and his standups are brilliant... however, as far as I'm concerned, 15 Storeys High is still the best thing he ever did. I appreciate it was never going to appeal to a mainstream audience-so, I can't entirely blame the BBC for not commissioning more than 2 series-, but for me, it was just so perfectly done. Perfectly directed, perfectly acted, and perfectly written. Simon Munnery does a bit about how comedy can never be art-well, 15 Storeys High is where the circles on that Venn diagram overlap. The Blue Rat episode is pure genius.

[@stewartcohen-jones2949]

I don’t know if anyone has noticed but some of Sean’s best bits are always done next to Claudia Winkleman . He seems to bounce off her laughter. He gets funnier and funnier until he breaks her and she’s left laughing so hard she has pain in her stomach. I always wondered if they were friends off screen. Another element to Sean’s humour was danger and fear , especially when projected on his fellow panellists. There are stories of fellow comic’s genuinely being frightened of him. There was that sense that if you got into a roast battle with him you would not only lose but you would be psychologically damaged.

[@Thomas...191]

The riddler payoff is perhaps the most I've laughed... rip Sean 🙏

[@gbzorro]

Two guys, loving the sounds of their own voices, just a wee bit more than they love Sean Lock.

[@spaghettihoop5]

On a side, you mention Jack Dee quite a lot. He was the best solo standup I've ever seen. His last tour was amazing. So underrated.

[@AA-hg5fk]

Agree, jack Dee is one of my favourites too, love his grumpy persona

[@MorpheusDreamRealm]

Your music selection is fantastic

[@PieterAnnandaleSTONE]

Personally I don't who any of you two are (out if South Africa) but you two have given me so much to think about regarding the Lock. One of the greatest Comedians in my opinion. Thank you for your insights and opinions, memories and editing. May this soul and his being never be forgotten ✊

[@lawrencepurser9925]

Great watch, loved this more free form format. keep up the good work.

[@johnjosephsmith]

This is wonderful. Been so nice revisiting Sean’s comedy. Great stuff thank you

[@seangraham392]

This is such a great tribute to the legacy of Sean Lock's comedy genius. I can't praise it enough. THANK YOU.

[@Jssssssssssssssssds]

Love this type of content going forward. Would like a few shorts to go with out though, it would make it a lot easier to get more people i know to whatch

[@rareplayz4821]

I’m so glad that I stayed up and found this! I am going to watch this when I get up!

[@auradmg]

The clip at 19:01 is so perfect, he starts getting carried away but spares just a little glance at the others as if to say, "I didn't realise this was going to happen but it's happening now" before he carries on

[@Corazonye]

The word "cartoonish", I think, sums up Sean to a significant extent. I always imagine his most playful, absurd jokes as working within the kind of logic one accepts from a cartoon universe - one where the laws of physics can be bent and twisted, but (as you mentioned) never quite to breaking point. Anvils fall from the skies, cats elongate beyond expectations, accordions are filled with sand. Foghorns are made in dedicated foghorn factories, animals can tell secrets (but secretly just want chocolate), there's nothing weird about a bespoke song for saying goodnight to yourself, and it's completely possible to trick someone into thinking your hand is, in fact, a head of hair. It's a supremely silly and yet recognisable version of reality, and part of the laugh (at least as far as I'm concerned) comes from the delight of imagining a world in which such things are possible.

[@hirondelle398]

This video was a pure delight (like always), I didn't even know you had a patreon so I immediately suscribed to it! Thank you for all this work, thoughts and entertainment.

[@spaghettihoop5]

You're completely right about the rest of the crew giving him the basis to launch into something completely surreal. I've seen him several times doing 8 out of 10 cats live recordings at mediacity. He'd say hardly say anything throughout most of the show, sitting back, observing, but when he does chime in, he completely kills it. Whatever he says, makes the cut when it goes out onto the show for C4 as it's hilarious. I miss him so much.

[@helloitsokay]

This is great! Informative, funny, and cosy. More please!

[@wileyjaycomedy]

I love this channel and your special x

[@samfelton5009]

This is the weirdest episode of off menu I’ve ever seen

[@alexplorer]

This completely cracked the code (or picked the Sean Lock) for me. Some comedians always stick to the highway while others are off-roaders. Sean turned up looking like your buddy's dad giving you ride, but in this case you never knew when the journey was about to take a sharp turn and blaze an uncharted path through some thick woods. If a wild character comes on stage, then you expect the unexpected. No one was ever prepared for Sean. Not knowing if or when to expected the unexpected is a form of 4-dimensional chess that is scarier than when Mr. Jangles goes up the stairs.

[@joebutler4784]

Excellent. Can you now do Norm McDonald please?

[@matthewspencer7849]

I think you blokes are 100% spot on. I love Sean Locke and I'm an Aussie. I often watch 8 out of 10 cats on KZbin because it wasn't broadcast here in Australia. The guy is a genius and an awesome comedian

[@DanDavisonCam]

Great comedian to start with - if you enjoy making this style more, definitely make more, you still communicated all the usual quality information you usually do!

[@jongarry5505]

Awesome new format. Could do with some de-essing in parts, particularly your recaps, but also some of the interviews etc.

[@logan666]

Fantastic breakdown! Some great insights. Sean Lock is the 🐐

[@joseraimi]

My god, I don't quite know what it is, but every single video of yours is hitting my soft spots and I can't stop watching

[@johngreenwood1972]

A very good interpretation of why I love Mr Lock.

[@petrify4814]

I adored Sean, may he rest in peace. I've watched so much 8 out of 10 cats and I just can't watch it without him.

[@sammy63611]

Very enjoyable watch. Bittersweet at times as I personally don't think I appreciated Mr. Lock fully. He really was a one of a kind artist who could successfully disrupt the flow of a topic and take it in hilarious avenues. RIP.

[@GreasyDaddy]

I loved this so much.

[@CarShooterBro]

Great chat. Thank you...

[@RinZ3993]

The soundguy is clinching his cheeks when Sean swings that mic

[@irishhabibi]

Loved the video, the change in facial expressions from premise to absurdism might sound obvious to others but I found it really useful, another banger of a video! P.S. Giving Adam Bloom's book a read tomorrow on my kindle cause of you 🔥

[@slorrin]

As a Canadian, love both Sean and Norm. I am the luckiest man alive.

[@gestalt86]

I really love when Sean riffed off James Acaster's joke about pranks. Acaster is absurd, but that's the lane Sean was always in. When James said the premise, Sean saw the chance and took it and made the jokes even better.

[@pearse9116]

Sean Locke described his comedy style best with three words, the name of one of his tours: Purple Van Man

[@jdixon390]

Been asking for a Sean Lock before he died, thank you!

[@shanecommins7968]

Loved this!

[@CowardEdd]

I think you hit the nail on the head at 11:50, Sean hit a sweet-spot for surrealism for me, one that Mighty Boosh frequently stepped far past for my liking.

[@andymcneil7085]

I agree with you both. Lock was a master of his game.

[@LivesInLibertyCity]

I got admittedly obsessed with Sean after the criminally underrated '15 storeys high'. But he exploded onto our screens a few years later. In fact I was watching 'Purple van man' when I heard the news of his death. It was like losing a mate. God I miss him and the world is a less funny place without him

[@SimonAlexanderMarlow]

15 Storeys High, I watch it at least once a year. Obviously it's a collaboration but essentially it's pure Sean. So much awesome U.K. comedy throughout my life and it did seem to die with Sean. Rip.

[@captainunderpants200]

Been watching a few of your videos. Are you familiar with Maria Bamford? I think you'll like her stuff. I saw her live a couple of months ago. Her opening line was 'I'm a comedian, as far as I'M concerned.'

[@AndrewWilsonStooshie]

You are right, he's a combination of Jack Dee and The Might Boosh, but, with a hint of Stewart Lee. He has that little hint of a self-referential wink in his eye like "we all know where this is going ... or think we do".

[@lindastone6868]

He didn't use his Lockipedia when I saw that tour, it was only after I bought the DVD did I know why the tour was called that! You made no mention of his sitcom, first done on radio, then TV 15 Storeys High, very funny and well worth seeking out.

[@paulpvhl1930]

I enjoyed that, thanks.

[@HeLovesZelda]

Not sure why your stuff doesn’t come up on my feeds

[@Caroleonus]

Love this, and I love Sean Lock. But having just popped up in my recommended, you (or guest, sorry don't know whose channel) sound exactly like Alt Shift X 👀

[@gejh3]

Great conversation guys

[@randomacousticthoughts]

Great video.

[@Soladrin]

I'd love an actual analytic video on sean lock

[@gravyboooby]

❤Sean and I ❤Norm. 15 Storeys High is Sean's magnum opus.

[@timothyrayner3626]

Possibly a little late to suggest this and not sure how it could be acheved, but I really fitting tribute to lock would be to get every definition of "Assange" into the Oxford English Dictionary.

[@iconoclast137]

3 american comedians who would be great on british comedy panel shows: matt gourley, andy daly, paul f. tompkins

[@dielaughing73]

I don't know the other two but PFT would absolutely destroy on those shows. Good call!

[@iconoclast137]

@@dielaughing73 the travel bug with august lindt if you wanna hear all three of them together. search on youtube you will find it

[@rayallan8481]

If Sean didn't make you laugh I think there is something wrong with you. We miss your angel on life 😂❤

[@thescottishbawbag]

I don't know who you 2 are, however... for lauding my comedy God, you've gained an ounce of my respect. The fact I have not heard of you slightly pales into insignificance. So well done , kinda... I suppose. Sean Lock., There is NO better, appraising him is an insult he would enjoy..maybe... or would I?

[@Johnathan-hj3mm]

4th time watching this in the 6 days its been out

[@ulightronx4259]

ANKI DETECTED

[@mrbenoit5018]

They do a little fridge

[@mrbenoit5018]

Shit I didn’t finish the sentence you said. They do a little fridge laugh

[@kurisensei]

He’s also something like Stewart Lee in his contempt for simple humor but perhaps his working class aspect or just his grumpy dad persona makes him more generally likeable than Stewart

[@jagobouffler6206]

Look into Jethro. A real once in generation

[@stirwoodcraft]

He would write skits for specific people on the panel, ie the arse of the year, if it hadn't hit so well with Claudia, he would have abandoned it earlier.

[@QIKUGAMES-QIKU]

😢 🌹

[@ellisbyrne359]

Love Sean, but Jimmy Carr gets far too overlooked in the success of 8/10 cats, and specifically being the real foil to Sean Lock and keeping it all structured. Absolute once in a generation British TV Icon, Jimmy Carr; very archetypal

[@bibliopolist]

I also think he was best in panel shows, exactly because of the restrictions that put on him, and exactly because the other fine comedians on those shows were more predictable. I find "novelty" comedians exhausting at best, and when it's gets just too weird all the time (like Joe Wilkinson on these exact panel shows) it seems contrived and is not really funny to me.

[@Johnathan-hj3mm]

tom talks like his windpipe has been punched my guy is not relaxed sounding

[@danielboard9510]

Qell this is a ride down a rabbit hole......of bullshit!

[@pauldurand4780]

Without Sean 8 of 10 or anything else he was on, was not nearly as funny. Like a box without the carrot...

[@AA-hg5fk]

Comedy panel shows are a bit tired nowadays IMO, Mock the Week finally got axed about a decade after it stopped being funny; Have I Got News For You is similarly very tedious, Paul Merton makes the same stupid annoying interjections.

[@jonasj67]

No way I'm listening to an hour of Hutchinson

[@pauldurand4780]

WAAAAAAAAY TOO MUCH BLAH BLAH!! LET THE MAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF!

[@Sir-Bobby-Brown]

Who are you guys? You slag Peter Kay off but 'hack' or not he's more successful than you'll ever be.

[@AA-hg5fk]

I don't think they'd deny that Peter Kay is indeed a highly successful and much revered comedian, doesn't mean they have to like his work though.

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

I dig the English panel shows too, but it's sketch comedy that was the best, from Peter Sellers, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore to the Pythons and beyond. In fact, the influence of English sketch comedy is so huge that it's hard to fully describe. In Germany, for example, there was Sketch History, which was just absolutely brilliant and as fully absurd and biting as anything my beloved Pythons did. Mind you, I do really love Dara and Sean, etc, and their spontaneous humor is obviously genius, but there's just something about a well-crafted script...

[@nickg1743]

One of the best we've ever had