Musical comedian JON LONG’s debut comedy hour PLANET KILLING MACHINE provides a selection of brilliantly original songs, whilst also launching into a hilarious tirade on all the ways we are destroying the planet and the steps we can all take to turn the tide. Ahead of performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he talks to Female First about his adoration of Kathy Burke.
Jon Long by Mark Dawson Photography
In 2002 my sister and I were watching the British Comedy Awards. I don’t watch awards ceremonies anymore but growing up they were regular viewing in our household. Throughout the nineties, the BCA’s (as no-one calls them) in particular had been a reliable provider of juicy live telly moments. An aged, but still lightning-quick Spike Milligan calling the Prince of Wales a “grovelling bastard”, Julian Clary’s revelation as to the cause of Norman Lamont’s red box... it was not to be missed.
2002 was my favourite year because of an acceptance speech that to this day is still one of my go-to, cheer-me-up YouTube clips. It stars Leslie Nielsen presenting an award to Kathy Burke; Best Actress for her performance in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. Share the mirth:
Watching at home, my sister and I cheer. We’re big Gimme, Gimme, Gimme fans. She’s fifteen, I’m thirteen and its over-the-top style is perfect for us. Plus, at the heart of the show is a performer we can’t take our eyes off.
This is the first time I’m seeing Kathy as herself and to best remember that feeling I now watch the clip through Leslie Nielsen’s eyes. This is clearly just a gig to Leslie. The American movie star hasn’t a clue who any of these comedians from across the Atlantic are. He’s going in completely blind.
Kathy addresses it straight away. She gives him a huge hug and takes the award, they share a couple words and then she turns to the audience: “Leslie hasn’t got a clue who I am but it don’t matter, ‘cause he’s class”.
Then addressing the award in her hands, she begins: “well, it’s about fuckin’ time, you know what I mean!?”
Over the next two minutes I fall in love with Kathy Burke, and if you watch the clip you’ll see Leslie Nielsen do the same, watching from the back of the stage whilst Kathy flits between luvie-charm (“oh, look, Martin Freeman, hello Martin, I love Martin”) to her rebel cheekiness, telling various members of the industry exactly where they can go.
She sticks up for her absent co-star against recent press criticism, she’s non-stop hilarious from start to finish, and ends by telling the TV execs in the room they should: “leave the Groucho and watch telly at home like normal people”... I love her.
Kathy was present throughout my whole childhood. I got to share her with my entire family: with my sister in that moment, and when we’d go on to watch Kevin & Perry Go Large seemingly on repeat. With my Dad it was watching her on all our favourite comedy shows like Harry Enfield and Chums or Absolutely Fabulous. Even with my Mum- more of a hard-hitting emotional drama fan- we could share Kathy’s powerful performance as the wife of an insecure and violent Ray Winstone in Nil by Mouth.
I can’t fully/concisely put into words exactly why I love her so much – but watch the acceptance speech and I think you’ll understand. You’ll fall in love with her too; but if you don’t, you should know - we can’t be friends.
Jon Long: Planet Killing Machine is at Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 31st July – 26th August. Tickets and more information: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jon-long-planet-killing-machine
Tagged in Edinburgh Festival Fringe