Gilbert and Sullivan

That is, Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan who wrote (among other things) H. M. S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado.

There is a story about when Gilbert hired George Grossmith to take the parts with the patter-songs ("When I Was A Lad", "Modern Major General", etc.). George, who did not have a traditionally good singing voice, asked why he was hired.

"I would think you would want a fine man with a fine voice," George commented.

"No," said Gilbert, "that's exactly what we don't want."

True G&S fans know Gilbert and Sullivan didn't get along too well, knowledge probably not shared by most fans of Howard Stern or avid watchers of Spike TV.

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