Comments on: Happy Birthday, Alan Simpson. http://crookedtimber.org/2009/11/27/happy-birthday-alan-simpson/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 27 May 2012 09:28:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kenny Easwaran http://crookedtimber.org/2009/11/27/happy-birthday-alan-simpson/comment-page-1/#comment-297886 Kenny Easwaran Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:05:59 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=13961#comment-297886 I was wondering why Crooked Timber was celebrating the former Republican whip in the senate! I was wondering why Crooked Timber was celebrating the former Republican whip in the senate!

]]> By: Harry http://crookedtimber.org/2009/11/27/happy-birthday-alan-simpson/comment-page-1/#comment-296847 Harry Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:19:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=13961#comment-296847 Sanford and Son was the first "franchised" show from Britain (soon to be followed by All In the Family and, er, Three's Company). Galton and Simpson insisted that Steptoe and Son would work in the US if the protagonists were black, and Sanford was played by Redd Foxx (Sanford is his real last name). This was the late sixties, and every network turned them down (can't have two black leads in a network show), while being happy to cast the show with whites. After a number of years, they were approached by an executive who had no knowledge of the earlier negotiations, with a request to transplant it, and the suggestion that Redd Foxx would be a good lead. Hancock is extraordinary, even now. Perfect writing for a perfect performer. Sanford and Son was the first “franchised” show from Britain (soon to be followed by All In the Family and, er, Three’s Company). Galton and Simpson insisted that Steptoe and Son would work in the US if the protagonists were black, and Sanford was played by Redd Foxx (Sanford is his real last name). This was the late sixties, and every network turned them down (can’t have two black leads in a network show), while being happy to cast the show with whites. After a number of years, they were approached by an executive who had no knowledge of the earlier negotiations, with a request to transplant it, and the suggestion that Redd Foxx would be a good lead.

Hancock is extraordinary, even now. Perfect writing for a perfect performer.

]]> By: vivian http://crookedtimber.org/2009/11/27/happy-birthday-alan-simpson/comment-page-1/#comment-296772 vivian Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:57:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=13961#comment-296772 I had forgotten how good Redd Foxx was - thanks for the reminder. Hoping that Hancock is even funnier when the net is less clogged later. I had forgotten how good Redd Foxx was – thanks for the reminder. Hoping that Hancock is even funnier when the net is less clogged later.

]]> By: JJ http://crookedtimber.org/2009/11/27/happy-birthday-alan-simpson/comment-page-1/#comment-296628 JJ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:44:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=13961#comment-296628 I thought you meant the former Senator from the Great State of Wyoming. I thought you meant the former Senator from the Great State of Wyoming.

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