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Brief But Memorable - Stephen Fry

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Robert L. TorresMar 18, 2008
 

 
Not sure why I'm mentioning him in the category of 'Brief But
Memorable' because for all we know there may still lay many more
appearances in the future for this exceptional individual. But I
still think it would be good to talk about him anyway: the one, the
only Stephen Fry.

What can I say? Stephen Fry is an exceptional individual who just
immediately struck the right chords within JAM, being funny,
informative and doing jolly well in the challenges and on speaking on
a variety of topics. It seemed that he simply fit the confines of
JAM like a well worn pair of shoes. NOt only that, but he could
argue and wrangle not only over his own points, but in defense of
others as well.

One prime example of this is from an episode in 2004, when he was on
the panel with Tony Hawks, Clement Freud and Paul Merton. It was
somewhere near the last round, the subject being 'The Person I would
Like to play in a movie', and Stephen rushed to Tony's defense in
regards to Tony being challenged on the grounds of it being deviation
that it would be a surprise for Tony to walk with elegance all dolled
up as Florence Nightingale. it was one of my all time favorite
moments.

Another instance with regards to applying a strange sort of logic to
things I think came in an episode for 2005 or 2006, when he was on
the panel with Tim Rice, Paul and Clement. I think it had to do with
CCTV, in the realm that someone said that someone would challenge for
repetition, Tim challenged saying that it was deviation because they
wouldn't challenge cuz its in the title. Tim starts talking, and
gets challenged because of repetition of CC even though its in the
title.

A wonderful argument and discussion erupts which takes about 5
minutes perhaps, I don't know. but it was incredible, I absolutely
loved it. Stephen Fry is kind of the JAM barrister or something, its
wonderful. What I also love is that in some cases he can be rather
camp, if he allows himself to be, on the one hand can be quite
complimentary towards Nicholas, and on the other being very
derogatory towards him, which is brilliant.

What else can I say about this exceptionally gifted, intelligent and
talented man? What's so strange is that he has exceptional range as
an actor and a performer, and yet he has a very distinctive voice
which is instantly recognizable.

He was part of an exceptionally talented comedy duo with Hugh Laurie,
they had their own sketch comedy show 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie' which
they wrote and produced themselves. They also took part in the
serialized TV adaptation of PG Wodehouse's stories about Bertie
Wooster and his faithful manservant Jeeves in the series 'Jeeves and
Wooster'. Stephen Fry was amongst the first to take part in the very
early days of 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' and proves himself quite
adept with improvisation, which shows the depth of his intellect and
his creative powers.

He's been in numerous films, guest starred all over the place on
television and radio. He was one of the stars of an exceptionally
funny radio series called 'Absolute Power' with John Byrd.

He's also made several appearances on 'ISIHAC', as well as being the
host of his own panel show 'QI' I believe its called.

what's interesting is that I've noticed on his appearances on Whose
Line and ISIHAC, he isn't very adept at singing, and doesn't even
make a effort to do so, but manages to speak his way through, and
still manage to come up with clever and funny rhymes, which is
extraordinary.

But although Stephen Fry does have that penchant for comedy, and is
quite adept at it, many people may not realize he also has a great
talent for dramatic roles as well.

One such example is from a BBC sanctioned Dr. Who audio drama
called 'Death Comes to Time', which allegedy was to serve as a pilot
for bringing the series as a weekly or semi-weekly webcast, even
though the animation was a bit dodgy, it seemed more like a talking
picture book. but anyway, he played a character called 'The Minister
of Chance' and was simply phenomenal.

another excellent example was when he took part in the big screen
adaptation of the graphic novel 'V for Vendetta'. he played a man
named Dietrich, who was the host of a talk show, who held a dark
secret... the fact that he was a homosexual, in a government that is
rather extreme in its views about homosexuality and anything else
that they view as unholy or ungodly. He took a brave step forward by
using his position as a media celebrity to use humor to poke fun at
the government in a slapstick, farcical and satirical manner. Anyone
who has seen the film will know what I'm talking about.

I also seem to recall that he played Oscar Wilde in a made for TV
movie or mini-series for the BBC.

it's interesting the fact that Fry played someone who was a closeted
homosexual, because the fact is... we all know that Stephen Fry is a
very public homosexual. but his sexual preference doesn't keep him
from being embraced by the public at large as an exceptionally
talented individual, and frankly just one hell of a loveable chap all
around.

 
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