h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Brian Johnston's Corpse - A87823254
Author: Icy North - U225620

Greetings, Peer Reviewers.

This event is briefly mentioned in A6564341 - TV and Radio Sport's Howlers, but I thought I'd write a fuller version.

Comments and suggestions welcome

Icy

I love this Icy!

Sorry it's taken me so long to review and comment, I've been a bit more distracted than normal

I wonder whether the title is just a bit obscure, or whether there are not enough cricket lovers among our Researchers this weekend? Probably the latter, or maybe they are just too young to remember Test Match Special from long ago - when whole days' programming was devoted to the glorious game. The programme was always on in the background for me whenever the opportunity arose.

I wonder if you'd mind finding one or two internal links to relevant h2g2 Entries please? That will save the sub-editor a bit of time. Cheers.

Anyway, good luck with this - I do hope your audience finds you soon!

In the meantime, here is a cake sent in by Mrs Trellis

Thanks Lanzababy

Mrs Trellis? That's the wrong show

TMS does still cover the ball-by-ball cricket, as it did in Brian's day, but they lost something when he died, as indeed they did when Arlott, CMJ and Bill Frindall died. I still listen, when I can. It's a perfect accompaniment for driving, or for DIY.

I usually add links after the content's stabilised. I haven't had much feedback on that yet.

Hi Icy, great article on what was an absolute classic piece of commentating.
I remember it well and defy anyone not to get caught up in the contagious laughing.
Nothing to add in terms of content, it did make me again listening to the archive clip.

Thanks BMT

I've added links now.

I really enjoyed this Entry too I'm not familiar with the actual event, but the description evokes the scene well "silence, wheezing, and speaking very slowly in a high pitched voice"

The only query I have is about the actual definition of 'corpsing' - I thought it was about getting the giggles, as happened in this case, rather than forgetting lines (I thought the term arose because of actors having to play dead, and being unable to keep still because someone made them laugh).

Thanks Sasha - click on the BBC link and you can hear the event for real.

Did you ever watch those Denis Norden 'It'll be Alright on the Night' outtake shows? 'Corpsing' was his favourite word, and he used it to describe the amnesiac moments, particularly. It is used more generally too for actors putting others off - I can reproduce the OED definition if it helps.

Michael Gambon famously used to put off other cast members by performing his character's dying words in the style of a different actor each night.

I did watch It'll be Alright on the Night brilliant shows!

That's where I got my impression of the definition from, though... all the people in hospital beds pretending to be unconscious or dead, and laughing hysterically because someone set them off when they were trying to stay as still as a corpse...

I think my definition fits better with the event being described, too, as Brian Johnston didn't forget his lines and wasn't sitting in embarrassed silence...

I shall listen to the radio clip later

Getting the giggles is a consequence of the second definition, putting someone else off. Johnston was clearly put off by Agnew here.

I think I'm reading the first paragraph wrongly, then - I read the second bit as saying someone can corpse someone else, which implies they cause the other person to forget their lines and sit in embarrassed silence...

I've made a small change to clarify that, thanks Sasha

Nothing to add to this, Icy.

I brought a smile to face listening to the BBC clip again.

Good entry, Icy, but I think it ends somewhat weakly.

Thank you for this one Icy, a lovely read and listening to the commentary made me giggle on a Monday morning

Thanks Gnomon.

Yes, I agree it could be stronger at the end. Let me put in a short paragraph on his death and the reaction to it. I'll be back...

...and thanks Peanut

Closing paragraph added. Let me know if this improves it.

Yes, that's much better.

Thanks Gnomon

I have nothing else to add in that case.