i think english comedians have a more refined sense of the absurd than most american comics. eddie izzard, python, the day today, brass eye, i think there's just this tradition from maybe the old music hall days of sheer absurdity that clicked with surrealism and produced the goons (milligan one of biggest influences in british comedy easily) and that slowly merged with the peter cook satirical bent to create this very elaborate intricate satire and wit. seinfeld is more in line with english comedy than american, it seems to me. i'm a bit strapped to think of great american stand ups, other than bill hicks and woody allen. the great strand in american comedy for me is that jewish/sid caesar line, with brooks and simon and reiner and then the great woody. if any of you in america ever get the chance to see alan partridge, the day today or brass eye: do watch. they are the three best comedy programmes of the past twenty years and will explain a lot about this satire/absurdity thing i love and that's so crucial over here. aye aye, craig p.s: i'm trying to find a t-shirt that says I WENT DOWN ON KENNETH STARR. anyone seen one?