Rab C. Nesbitt was my Holden Caulfield. At least I'm assuming he was. I didn't get past page two of Catcher In The Rye. But "Scotch and Wry" – a compilation of sketches Dad had on VHS, starring Rikki Fulton and Gregor Fisher who would go on to play Nesbitt – was something I'd watch religiously, meaning not necessarily understanding all of it. When Fisher got his own sitcom in 1988 it had my full attention. Beautifully scripted by Ian Pattison, the fourth episode of "Rab C. Nesbitt" particularly, "Holiday", was a revelation. What a journey this speech goes on, digging and digging until we're out the other side. I remember thinking: "Oh wow, comedy can also do this?" I would have been thirteen.
But what had I meant by "this"? Well, now I've spent a couple of days revisiting King Lear, I think I have a clearer idea. This was the same time as my first acquaintance with Lear and Othello, two surprisingly entertaining and downright funny Great Works of Tragedy. I can see Rab's unaccommodated ranting at the Universe striking a similar chord. More compact than Shakespeare too. Comedy also equals tragedy minus time.
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