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My television series The Lenny Henry show finished this week

Posted Saturday, June 19, 2004

I have had a wonderful time making it, despite the demanding schedule and my bad back. I think one of the most gratifying things about this show was the fact that even with this weird thing that’s going on with my lower back, with the Pilates and the physio and pre show massage I was going on there and doing all kinds of physical stuff. I’m not sure it’s ‘Dr Footlights’ or what, but something was going on.

I felt that Friday’s show was one of the strongest in the series, which is weird because there was no Star guest for the ‘Sound bite news digest’ news desk bit –which is usually a high light for various reasons. I think it’s a testament to Tamsin Greig’s quality as a performer that no one noticed the lack of a big time celeb in Sound bite part two, I thought it was funny, so there.

I’d be interested to find out what you think –this isn’t a vacuum any more. I know that people take a while to absorb new material / programmes –but if you have anything constructive to say about the last series, I’d like to hear it – What did you think of the show as a whole?
Did you like the pre title messing about in the audience? Were there too many audience shots? Which characters did you like?

The DJ
The African Midwife
Ronson the prison poet
The church ladies
The ragga girl
Mr Lister
The Chuggers?
Mrs Omokorede ?
Roly Dixon and Sam Fford ?

If you could do one thing to improve the show (apart from ‘ditch the black guy with all the jokes –who the hell does he think he is ‘) what would it be?

Let me know soon. Between four and five million of you watched every week, so you must be out there somewhere –come on, talk to me!

I’m working on my Shakespeare essay at the moment, consider the significance of father/children relationships in King Lear and The Tempest .

I’m enjoying the work, but I feel as if I’m really behind. I attacked the essay this morning and managed to get quite a lot done, so keep your fingers crossed.

***

I’m still reading comics (this is probably what’s stopping me from studying) I’m still very much into Alan Moore’s Promethea, which is coming to an apocalyptic end –shame, its been an incredibly interesting journey through mystical realms with which Alan seems to be on very intimate terms. (Is that even English?)

I loved the ending of Smax too –very silly - Warren Ellis has taken over writing on Ultimate Fantastic four, so I’ll have to start re reading that stuff now.
He does a lot of stuff, old Warren, but his writing is never less than interesting, I highly recommend The Planetary,
Also Global Frequency and whatever else you can get hold of. Tran metropolitan is good fun too –you can get trade paper backs of that, I think.
Neil Gaiman has just sent me a very cherry copy of the ‘Death’ movie screenplay. When I’ve read it, I might tell you what I think…
I think Neil will be doing more stuff for Marvel, so keep your eyes open for that – Oh, I did a voice for Dave Mckean’s full-length semi animated movie . It is beautifully designed as you would expect, weird and …well, you’ll just have to wait and see. It’s very strange –and Gina McKee is in it (hey Gina!)

Cerebus is over! He’s finally dead and gone, and now Dave Sim can lie down after 30 years of graft, and not have to worry about meeting deadlines or being quite so obsessive. He’s finished his masterwork. Perhaps, now Dave will be able to have some fun and relax a little.
I’m still enjoying Brian Michael Bendis’s treatment of Daredevil; Powers has come full circle after a bit of a history lesson, here’s to upping the ante, Brian. I love the Ultimates – Bendis has a fantastic way with hard-boiled dialogue. If ever they do a movie about Nick Fury Agent of Shield, Bendis must be the prime candidate to write that puppy.

I’m loving this website, you guys are really cool, I think you’re notes and messages are inspiring and encouraging and I don’t know what I did before. Some of you are a little cryptic with your messages. One guy just writes in text message language –things like HI ln , yr wbste is rlly cl : ) , br bck Dnvn…

I don’t know what he’s talking about. But I love him – he’s mine.

I love the serious messages keep them coming.

I love the fan mail from America about Chef! If you write enough, who knows, we might get a break through as far as a DVD release.

I like the argumentative mails about comedy people get in a bit of a state about comedy, I guess because its such a subjective thing. I am very aware that I am not everyone's cup of tea -I can live with that. However, I reserve the right to tell a joke, if I think it is funny.

I make mistakes all the time, but I don't make the mistake of not thinking about my job.

We're getting lots of mails about people who want to write comedy and also people who want to perform.

I think I am definitely going to begin writing my column I want to be a comedian but I don't know how

Very soon indeed, so watch out for that also I might try and get hold of some writer mates and have lunch and talk about what they do, and I'll maybe print the transcript.

Music list:

I burned a CD the other day it was very funky

Here's the track list:

1. Musicology prince

2. You haven't done nuthin-Stevie

3. Sunshower Dr Buzzard's original Savannah band

4. Funkentelechy Parliament

5. Who is he and what is he to you? Bill Withers

6. Party Down Little Beaver

7. Use me Bill Withers

8. Chain of Fools Aretha Franklin

9. Dr Funkenstein's supergroovalisticprosifunkstication-Parilament.

I had it on while I was sorting my office out and it got my hips to moving

Well, end of the series and I have to gear up to the tour of So Much Things to say . We're going to Australia mid July, then New Zealand. Then I come back, take a break, and then from September 24, I'm going on a UK tour its going to rock, so keep your eye on the website for touring details, etc.

I have meetings with the guys at DVA, who do the site (HI Martin) about accessing more comedy bits for the site, and also some audio of me doing radio interviews and stand up comedy, we might also be able to place some clips from my TV show on the site for a limited period, so watch out, things are going to change very soon*

Speak soon.

Len

*Len's given us the infamous big bag of tapes', so we have got a bit of reviewing to do (Steve! Get to it!) before we can get some video clips and stuff up