It doesn't age well
But then again nothing from that period does because the world has changed too and the simple, music hall slapstick seems tired and dated. Even classic comedy like Monty Python leaves me cold now when I know I found it hilarious when I watched it live. I doubt most of the the things we laugh at today will age well either, the Little Britain team already cringe over what they did not so long ago.
Having said all that, I think it misses the point to judge old TV by the standards of today, tastes change and humour gets more sophisticated. So I'm telling myself I'm wrong to be so harsh on it as well, you have to remember what it was like when you saw it for the first time as a kid. And thinking about it that way, I enjoyed Starr's unpredictability in live performance, but the filmed stuff never really worked. It doesn't capture the manic behaviour. It seems old hat now but you really didn't know what he would do next and that was truly exciting back then.
As for his personal life, I am sure he could be a dick, but judging behaviour (and I mean non-criminal behaviour) by today's standards won't give you any insight into how someone compared to those around them, although it may make you feel morally superior if that's what you are looking for.
(, Sun 12 May 2019, 21:42, Reply)