Fun fact: I just searched butler on Google, and there are butler schools you can go to to learn the trade. The web page says some butlers can earn upwards of 200k a year! I might switch careers.
For me, on the comic side it's always and forever Jeeves; and for dramatic butlers, there is nobody to top Mr. Stevens from "The Remains of the Day." Unless it's Mr. Stevens, Sr. and his story about the tiger in the dining room.
I did consider whether or not to go with Jarvis, butler extraoirdinaire to Tony Stark and the Avengers, but Alfred in any incarnation* is a better choice.
*For all their sins, the one consistent bright spot of the Burton/Schumacher films was Michael Gough as Alfred.
Let me nominate that moustachioed hunka Southern comfort, Mr. Rhett Butler, the one who suggested Scarlett name her department store the "Caveat Emptorium."
Joseph: For all its race weirdness, great book and supremely watchable movie.
Back when I was in a very competitive NL-only keeper fantasy baseball league of dorks (tm Bill Simmons), complete with minor league draft, I followed with great interest the career of Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Adam Butler. Didn't work out too well.
My take: even beyond the distasteful attempts at historical revisionism, the novel is shoddily written, full of stock characters and trite dialogue but slightly redeemed in the film version by excellent filmmaking that almost makes up for the flaws of the crummy source material.
At the start of the evening, Yvette was here, by herself, waiting to offer you all a glass of champagne. I was in the hall.... I know because I was there.
I'm torn; Alfred Pennyworth or Jeeves?
ReplyDeleteCadbury from the Richie Rich comic books.
ReplyDeleteHodgson. (Hodson?) "I'll alert the media."
ReplyDeleteSir Jon Gielgud from the original "Arthur".
ReplyDeleteFun fact: I just searched butler on Google, and there are butler schools you can go to to learn the trade. The web page says some butlers can earn upwards of 200k a year! I might switch careers.
Jeeves, always and forever. I like Bunter, too, but I think he is technically a valet.
ReplyDeleteArcher's Woodhouse. (Though I'm sure that you can dispute whether he is in fact a butler, manservant or given that it's Archer, who knows what.)
ReplyDeleteLeo McGarry (as far as Marbury is concerned).
ReplyDeleteBut seriously Mr. Belvidere.
Anyone for Benson, the butler who then spun-off as head of household for the governor, eventually rising to Lt. Governor?
ReplyDeleteI've only seen bits and pieces of Clone High, but my understanding is that Mr. Butlertron belongs on this list.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading a sci-fi mystery story that featured a robot butler, Didit.
ReplyDeleteAnd, possibly, Governor, since they never resolved the end-of-series cliffhanger?
ReplyDeleteAlfred, Michael Caine version.
ReplyDeleteWin and Will Butler from Arcade Fire. (If I can connect ANYTHING back to Arcade Fire, I will.)
ReplyDeleteFor me, on the comic side it's always and forever Jeeves; and for dramatic butlers, there is nobody to top Mr. Stevens from "The Remains of the Day." Unless it's Mr. Stevens, Sr. and his story about the tiger in the dining room.
ReplyDeleteMr. 'udson, Upstairs Downstairs. (Oh, Sunday Night PBS Masterpiece Theatre. . . .)
ReplyDeleteWas Brandt from The Big Lebowski a butler?
"We've met. Several times."
ReplyDeleteEdmund Blackadder, butler to the Prince Regent
ReplyDeleteGrievous oversight: Coleman, from Trading Places. ("Eggnog?")
ReplyDeleteAll butlers but my heart belongs to Benson.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, 19 comments and no Coleman? Isn't that an ALOTT5MA sacrilege? Anyway, he is and always will be my favorite.
ReplyDeleteAll hail Brocktoon!
ReplyDeleteI did consider whether or not to go with Jarvis, butler extraoirdinaire to Tony Stark and the Avengers, but Alfred in any incarnation* is a better choice.
ReplyDelete*For all their sins, the one consistent bright spot of the Burton/Schumacher films was Michael Gough as Alfred.
I'm curious as to why Rhett hasn't come up yet ... that whole, y'know, "raped Scarlett O'Hara" thing?
ReplyDeleteMy son, Jonah Butler spaceman!
ReplyDeleteThat it's not a very (as in, at all) good book or movie?
ReplyDeleteLet me nominate that moustachioed hunka Southern comfort, Mr. Rhett Butler, the one who suggested Scarlett name her department store the "Caveat Emptorium."
ReplyDeleteJoseph: For all its race weirdness, great book and supremely watchable movie.
Tim Curry in Clue as Wadsworth.
ReplyDelete"I'm the butler"
"What do you do?"
"I buttle, sir"
Yes, this list begins and ends with Mr. Stevens. (The one from the book, not the movie, though that was ok too.)
ReplyDeleteCommunism was just a red herring . . .
ReplyDeleteBack when I was in a very competitive NL-only keeper fantasy baseball league of dorks (tm Bill Simmons), complete with minor league draft, I followed with great interest the career of Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Adam Butler. Didn't work out too well.
ReplyDelete"Monkey's brains, though popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington D.C."
ReplyDeleteMy take: even beyond the distasteful attempts at historical revisionism, the novel is shoddily written, full of stock characters and trite dialogue but slightly redeemed in the film version by excellent filmmaking that almost makes up for the flaws of the crummy source material.
ReplyDeleteMore tea Wesley?
ReplyDelete(so much love for Clone High)
At the start of the evening, Yvette was here, by herself, waiting to offer you all a glass of champagne. I was in the hall.... I know because I was there.
ReplyDeleteGeoffrey from Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
ReplyDelete