Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Britcomedy Digest Vol 2 no 01
==================================
B R I T C O M E D Y D I G E S T
==================================
VOL. 2 STEPHEN FRY'S CONFUSED WEB WANDERINGS JULY 1995
No. 1 HUGH GRANT SLUMMING IT
A monthly electronic newsletter on British comedies.
What's Inside
=============
* FINALLY: DEATH FISH II
* TAKE THE "FISH CALLED WANDA" QUIZ!
* "BLACK ADDER" PILOT SYNOPSIS & REVIEW
* A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF A FRED NAMED SPIKE MILLIGAN
* OP/ED: LETTERMAN IN LONDON
* TOURS IN THE UK
Regular Departments:
===================
Mailbox
Britcomedy News
BD Recommends NEW!
Spotted on the Internet NEW!
Quote-o'-the-Month
etc.
Circulation/Back Issues
Staff
=====
Managing Editor..................Melinda 'Bob' Casino
Contributing Editor..............Michelle Street
Slacker..........................James Kew
Copy Editor......................Cynthia Edwards
Velocity girl....................Michelle Casino
Contributing writers: Vincent Golden, Steve Phillip, Rob Putnam, Steve
Roberts, Kristin C. Sabo.
HTML logo by Nathan Gasser.
Britcomedy Digest (ISSN 1077-6680) <Schopenhauer Publishing Co.>
Copyright (c) 1995 by Melinda Casino. Reproduction for personal and
non-profit use is permitted only if this copyright notice is retained. Any
other reproduction is prohibited without permission. Britcomedy Digest may
be uploaded without the editor's permission to bulletin boards.
MAILBOX
=======
Spotted this in the latest Britcomedy Digest: "It's hard to name a British
comedian who *hasn't* appeared in commercials or at least done
voice-overs..." ("Newsquirks," vol. 1 no. 13). One British comedian who
doesn't do commercials is Ben Elton.
Pam Wells <Vacuous_Tart@bitch.demon.co.uk>
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Vacuous Tarts Incorporated
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just finished reading the latest edition of the Digest. I enjoyed it very
much. Well done!
That said, I did notice one omission in the digest. When you were listing
Rik Mayall's appearances, you only listed his first appearance on
"Blackadder." He also was in the fourth series, "Private Plane," again as
Lord Flashheart.
Bette Llewellyn <bettelew@nando.net>
Cary, North Carolina
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The series of films about the constitution ("Cleese Ad Deemed Unsuitable
for Children," News, v. 1 no. 13) had nothing whatsoever to do with
Cleese's non-smoking ad's which, at a guess, where being paid for by the
Department of Health -- who are hardly likely to want to be responsible
for a series critising the government.
D.J. Ford <exxdjf@bath.ac.uk>
EDITOR'S RESPONSE: Thank you for the correction. Several readers wrote in
about this error; it was due to an editorial mistake, not the news staff's
doing.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Kingsley Amis's _Memoirs_ (Summit Books, 1991, p. 180), the author
writes:
"[Peter Sellers] told me that the whole resurgence or whatever it was of
British humour had been started or invented by the Goons in their radio
show of 1951-1960... It occurred to me too late that _essentially_ the
Goons (with Major Bloodnok) had derived from ITMA (with Colonel
Chinstrap), and so had much else besides."
Do any Britcomedy Digest readers know what "ITMA" was?
Ricky Fluke <ad110@rgfn.epcc.edu>
Roosevelt Dimes, Fort Worth, TX
EDITOR's RESPONSE: "ITMA" stands for "It's That Man Again," a popular radio
series in the UK during the 1950's. Any readers who know more about this
show are encouraged to write to BD.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
With regard to the remaining lost episodes of "Q5" (see "Letters," v. 1
no. 13), it now seems unlikely that the collector has the rest after
all... However, Spike Milligan fans will be pleased to know that the BBC
are producing a 90-minute documentary about his life and work, which will
feature many obscure clips. Spike was also able to view one of the
returned "Q5's" at a recent screening at the National Film Theatre.
As far as BBC Web pages go, I think you will begin to see more. Although
slow to get off the ground, the BBC is now taking the 'net very seriously,
so I think it will flourish. As with all these things, positive feedback
to their efforts so far is the best way to encourage them.
Steve Roberts <SteveR@ppr.tv.bbc.co.uk>
BBC
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Very nice job on the Digest. Regarding Spike Milligan's laudatory comments
about the Pythons, he should remember there are SIX geniuses in the
troupe, not FIVE.
My faves are Python and "Are You Being Served?". Just now getting into
"Keeping Up Appearances" ([I] never see ANYTHING written on that show
anywhere on the 'net). Question: How come no one ever writes anything
about "Dave Allen at Large"? (And NO wisecracks for answers to that
question!)
Keep up the great work.
Bill Siwicki <billofs@aol.com>
Chicago, Illinois
EDITOR'S RESONSE: I'll restrain myself from making wisecracks... There
haven't been any articles about Dave Allen for the simple reason that
you're the first to ask. With so many Britcoms out there, I tend to cover
whatever the readers request. Thank you for writing -- I hope to cover
this wonderful comedian in the future.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I surfed all your pages and links... where is the important message that
the opening night will be December 8 at the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre for
a new "Bottom" show... This could really be (for me and my 5 devoted fans)
a great oppertunity to meet other "Bottom" fans from the 'net in real
life. How about some sort of happening?
Well Byeeeeee
Christopher Lxfdahl <chris1@inet.uni-c.dk>
Denmark
EDITOR'S RESPONSE: The "Big Number Two Tour" dates are included in this
issue, along with Alexei Sayle's tour dates. And I've extended an open
invitation for a get-together to those who'd like to meet fellow Internet
Bottom fans (see "etc.").
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Saw Britcomedy Digest on alt.tv.red-dwarf. Brilliant, the URL is now in my
bookmark.
I do have a question re: "In 1965 he made a much-publicized conversion to
Christianity." ("Cliff Richard Gets Knighted," News, v. 1 no.13) I thought
his conversion came much later -- as in circa 1980. Am I confused?
I base the above on the fact that I moved to the US (from Kenya) in 1979,
and the music I remember him producing at the time was decidedly secular.
As the article points out Cliff Richard is almost completely unknown in the
US so I did not hear about him for a while. It seems to me that the next
time I heard anything about him was the great conversion, heralded by a
song with a title like "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" Or
something like that.
Sami Mikhail <mikhail@onramp.net>
EDITOR'S RESPONSE: Yikes. Has BD made another embarrassing mistake? Readers,
write in and enlighten both myself and Sami on this one.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MAILBOX: Send letters to <melinda@cathouse.org> with the subject heading
"Letter to the Editor." Include your full name and location.
BRITCOMEDY NEWS
---------------
HUGH GRANT FACES THE MUSIC
"What the hell were you thinking?"
With that question, American chat show host Jay Leno kicked off Hugh
Grant's first television interview since "the incident." Much to his
credit, Grant didn't skirt the issue, and although he seemed uncomfortable
at times and tired, his natural charm served him well.
"I think you know in life pretty much what's a good thing to do and what's
a bad thing. I did a bad thing and there you have it," he told Leno.
For those of you who may have been on holiday in Outer Mongolia, the star
of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was arrested in Los Angeles last month
for "lewd conduct" with a prostitute named Divine Brown. Though it looks
as if he won't be serving any jail time, the publicity surrounding the
arrest could not have come at a worse time. His girlfriend, actress/model
Elizabeth Hurley, had just signed a contract to promote Estee Lauder
products and Grant's new movie, "Nine Months," is opening in the States
this week.
However, judging from the reaction of the studio audience, Grant's troubles
will more than likely soon be forgotten. The audience greeted him with
massive cheering and applause and the buzz on "Nine Months," which also
stars Tom Arnold and Robin Williams, is exceptionally good.
Grant seemed genuinely remorseful about having hurt the people he cares
about the most. In regards to his relationship with his girlfriend his
only comment was that "we're going to try and work it out."
"MELCHETT" HAS A HOME PAGE
It's common knowledge that there are a lot of celebrities hooked up to the
net. Jodie Foster is said to lurk on alt.showbiz.gossip and some people
claim that she even posts under an assumed name. Others such as Douglas
Adams, Terry Pratchett, and Dave Barry have been known to post using their
true identities.
Stephen Fry, however, has gone everyone else one better and created his own
homepage, which can be found at http://www.phantom.com/~stephenf. Entitled
"SJF's Confused Wanderings," it enables net surfers to download a picture
of the great man, e-mail him, and hey, he even takes the time to thank you
for stopping by. (And yes, he *does* answer his e-mail, but please be
patient as it sometimes takes him a couple of days.--ed.)
No, thank *you* Stephen, for creating such a lovely web site and giving us
the opportunity to join you in your "confused wanderings." Now tell us,
how do we get "Britcomedy Digest" added to your hotlist, huh? :) Can we
grovel enough to get you to contribute an article? You know where to reach
us. :)
STEVE COOGAN SHOOTING NEXT SERIES
Steve Coogan has teamed up with his "Knowing Me, Knowing You" colleague
Patrick Marber for a new series set in the Lancastrian town of Ottle.
Coogan's familiar Lancastrian creations "Paul Calf" and "Pauline Calf"
will be joined by new ones in his first attempt at "narrational comedy."
According to an interview in The Guardian (July 10), the as of yet unnamed
series will be strongly character-driven, and each episode will be
directed in a completely different style by Geoff Posner. Posner has
worked with Harry Enfield, French and Saunders, Victoria Wood and Josie
Lawrence. Watch for a review of this BBC 2 series in upcoming issues of
BD.
BRAVO TO BRAVO
Viewers of the Bravo network are being treated this month to classic British
comedy from the vaults of Ealing Studio. Friday nights in July have been
reserved for such memorable films as "The Lady-killers," with Alec Guinness
and Peter Sellers, "The Green Man" with Alastair Sim, "The Lavender Hill
Mob" with Alec Guinness, plus "School For Scoundrels" with Ian Carmichael
and Terry-Thomas.
Sadly, films are no longer made at Ealing but set your VCR and you'll be
able to preserve for posterity classic comedy from this once-great studio.
MORECAMBE TO BE SITE OF COMEDY MUSEUM
Continuing our series "Unsung Heroes of British Comedy," we have the story
of Jeremy Gomm, editor-in-chief of Lancaster and Morecambe newspapers. Mr.
Gomm has devised a plan for Britain's first National Museum of Comedy and
Laughter.
A charitable trust has been established to obtain and administer funding
for this multi-million pound celebration of the British sense of humour.
Much of the money is expected to come from the Arts Council, the National
Heritage Memorial Fund, and the Millenium Commission.
"Comedy is an essential element of the British way of life," Mr. Gomm said.
"It is part of our national character and deserves a place in the nation's
heritage. Yet there is no national archive of comedy material, no centre
of comic studies, nowhere to learn about our comic heritage. The National
Museum of Comedy will change all that."
The proposed museum will be associated with Lancaster University, whose
honorary graduates include Eric Morecambe, Thora Hird, and Victoria Wood.
The plan has the support of the university officials as well as the local
council and, if all goes well, will be located on the Morecambe sea front.
DONALD SINCLAIR DIES
Donald Sinclair, the man who was the basis for the character of "Siegfried
Farnon" in James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small," died
Wednesday, July 5, at the age of 84. James Herriot passed away only four
months earlier.
-------> Send news items to Michelle Street <mtstreet@soltec.com>.
E D I T O R I A L / O P I N I O N P A G E
===========================================
DAVID LETTERMAN, WHIPPING-BOY FOR REC.ARTS.TV.UK
by Kristin C. Sabo <sabo@rouge.phys.lsu.edu>
Letterman went continental recently. And true to the new CBS Dave, "The
Late Show" caravan rolled into London amid pomp, press, and paparazzi. By
the time Dave began broadcasting across the pond, there were few in Great
Britain who hadn't heard that a week of Letterman in London was underway.
I haven't a clue as to the exact number of Britains that actually tuned DL
in, but a reasonably large amount of regulars in the rec.arts.tv.uk forum
on USENET certainly took a gander at Diamond Dave. Apparently they did not
like what they saw for the most part -- at least those who voiced an
opinion right away definitely didn't. "Letterman in London was dire", the
subject line pronounced. Having seen a bit of the imported Dave myself, I
read the follow-up comments in hope of finding an explanation for the
judgment. Oh boy...
Did I just say "comments"? Comments would have been appropriate. After all,
USENET is an open forum, fielding opinions and fostering communication and
discussion among a wide range of international computer users. Consensus
is not necessarily the goal of a dialogue on USENET. Understanding reason
and motivation certainly is, and as the majority of USENET participants
are college educated, one expects for the most part a certain rationality
in a post. This at least in theory, and one is usually rewarded in
practice.
Such were my expectations regarding the UK rec.arts.tv.uk analysis of
Dave-Across-The-Pond.
What I actually saw there completely shocked me. Initial reaction slammed
old Dave big-time. Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion... but I
wasn't prepared for such severe negativity, often levelled without
explanation or rationale.
Then it got nasty.
"What a waste of the [tv] license fee", and "I cannot believe Americans
watch this crap."
Nasty became ugly. One British gentleman stated that if Letterman was
America's idea of humor, then it was best that we Americans keep stabbing
and killing one another in the streets. Another writer claimed that DL was
incredibly racist -- she couldn't see how we could tolerate such a bigot.
A yet different thread preached the arguable "fact" that Americans have
taken the British version of irony and crudely shoved it well over the
top, and in fact we do this with *everything* we get our American hands
upon...
The tirade was at best snobbish and hostile, at worst hypocritical. And
amazingly popular, based on the number of those who jumped on the
bandwagon. Oh no, we've never seen the British make racist jokes about the
French, Italians, Americans, Germans, and even the Welsh, have we? Nor do
the British have anything even approaching the 'in-jokiness' of "The Late
Show"... right? In fact, UK television has had its own "Late Show," a
horrid little thing called "Noel's House Party." You want your continental
Letterman, insipid in-jokes and all? Check out Mr. Noel Edmonds sometime.
Yes, America has its share of garbage television, but we aren't the only
ones, mate.
Other USENET posts asserted that all of America tunes into "The Late Show".
In reality, Dave typically garners a 4.5 share -- about 4 million viewers,
you can do the math to determine what percent of US televisions are
actually watching our national in-joke. Meanwhile, Noel had one of five UK
sets tuned in. That's 20% of all UK televisions. Bad as so many of the
'netters claimed the House Party was, a substantial fraction of the UK
viewing public watched it. Now, I find the attraction of "Noel's House
Party" completely incomprehensible, but I would never extrapolate about
the British television industry based solely upon "Noel's House Party".
And wishing the deaths of Britains based upon a perceived impaired
national sense of humor? (much less wishing anyone's expiration, period)
Uh huh... one might as well slap a big, neon sign reading "egotistical
paranoid lunatic" on one's forehead.
To witness rec.arts.tv.uk use David Letterman as an excuse to air their
anti-American sentiments was frustrating. There were actually a few posts
that contained discussion and analysis- some actually admitted they liked
Letterman- but for the most part, nobody pointed out that a shark-feeding
thread, with Americans as bait, had begun. So on it went.
I realize DL will have limited appeal to a foreign audience. Heck, it's not
exactly hurting me if no one likes DL a bit. Yet I fail to realize why one
show caused such an unfounded outburst of hostility towards Americans.
It's fairly clear that the King of Late Night's appearance in London
certainly wasn't the direct cause of the tirade, just appeared to be a
good excuse to unleash it. And I wonder why... why all this anger from
people who share far more with us than they care to admit at times? I have
quite a few friends on the other side of the pond; I admire many an aspect
of British culture as do others over here. Witness the popularity of UK
television and the pledges it generates month after month on PBS. Then
there is the American preoccupation with the Royals, the popularity an
actor with 'the accent' often achieves in American media... and on and on.
America likes Great Britain -- a lot. For some reason I believed the
sentiment to be mutual. The wildly- escalating USENET attack upon 'the
Americans' hurt, confused, and disappointed me. And I do not understand
it; I expect I never will.
And so one has to wonder, what might cause this monster to rear its head
again?
###
Britcomedy Digest welcomes contrasting views. Mail rebuttals and editorials
to <melinda@cathouse.org> with the subject "EDITORIAL".
Finally: Death Fish II ;-)
By Rob Putnam
<rputnam@midway.uchicago.edu>
The long awaited follow-up film to John Cleese's 1990 hit "A Fish Called
Wanda" is finally underway. Cleese, along with Wanda stars Jamie Lee
Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin, began filming "Fierce Creatures,"
this spring. The script has been over two years in the writing.
Although this is referred to by many as a sequel to "Wanda" (read "Death
Fish II"), it is, in Kline's words, "an equal, not a sequel." I don't mind
saying I'm glad that Cleese, in his wisdom, saw fit to leave "Wanda" well
enough alone. I count it among my favorite films, and I wouldn't like to
see its memory detracted from by trying to enhance an already perfect
story. But I digress.
Perhaps in a conscious effort to disassociate "Fierce Creatures" from
"Wanda," Cleese has taken pains to cast the actors in an altogether
different light than they appeared in "Wanda." Cleese plays an ex-Hong
Kong police officer, who, in his words, "has got a lot more balls than old
Archie had in 'Wanda,' but isn't really very romantic in his attitudes"
(Willman, 1994). Palin, in an about-face, is cast as a person who seems to
never stop chattering; Curtis is cast as a hot-shot executive, and Kline
has dual roles of rich guy and his marketing professional nephew. Beyond
this, I will reveal nothing of the plot (largely because that's all I know
of it). In fact, I will actively avoid learning more of it, as I love
surprises. I've come to expect some wonderful surprises from him, and so
far, I haven't been let down.
Some of you may recall that "Wanda" operated at a budget of $7.5 million.
In view of it's $190 million international earnings, I'd call that money
well spent.
"Fierce Creatures" is written by John Cleese and Iain Johnstone, and
co-produced by Michael Shamberg (who past works include "Wanda" and "Pulp
Fiction"). Interestingly, "Fierce Creatures" is directed by Robert Young,
who has directed Cleese in over 50 television commercials. "Wanda"
director Charles Crichton, now aged 85, is helping with the script.
"Fierce Creatures" is being produced by MGM/Universal.
###
Rob Putnam's chief claim to fame is that his sig is in this issue.
Test your Wanda smarts: Take the Wanda Trivia Quiz!
===================================================
1. Who was Ilene Cody, and where did she live?
2. What was the name of Portia's horse?
3. What was the pseudonym that Otto assumed upon meeting Wendy Leech?
4. Where did George move the stolen diamonds to?
5. How much were the diamonds worth (in pounds)?
6. Who does George quote during the robbery planning scene?
7. Where did George live?
8. What were the names of the people that interrupted Archie and Wanda
in the flat at 2B honest?
9. What were Otto's three misconceptions that Wanda corrected him on?
10. What actor/comedian does Otto knock over the head after distracting
with the line "Look--the Queen!"?
11. What happens to Otto after Archie and Wanda leave for South America?
12. What language, besides Italian, turns Wanda on?
======================
Answers in back of BD.
======================
References: Chris Willman, "Los Angeles TImes," November 25, 1994, Section
F, Page 1, Column 2.
###
BD RECOMMENDS
=============
Capsule reviews on radio programs, television, and stage.
THUMB SIDEWAYS
Feature Review: The Other Side of Chris Barrie
June 20-29, 1995
I caught Chris Barrie's one-man show at the Reading Hexagon -- a night he'd
probably like to forget. Amongst microphone problems and faulty
pre-recorded music, Barrie ("Red Dwarf," "The Brittas Empire") managed to
plod through 2 hours of skits, song, and stand-up. Supported by an
excellent cast of three women (one of whom is his girlfriend) and one man,
the troupe managed to entertain even when the gags were predictable and
fell flat.
There were three songs, the most audience-pleasing being the finale when
Barrie came out dressed as "Gordon Brittas" and sang (and danced!) about
the benefits of exercise. The cast even tried, in vain, to get the
audience out of their seats to participate in the aerobics.
Another highlight came during one of the three stand-up bits. I say
"stand-up" but it was really much more rough than that; Barrie talked to
the audience in an intimate way that didn't feel like the pat spiel of a
stand-up comedian. Barrie opened, "A lot of people have been coming up to
me after the show and asking why there hasn't been any Red Dwarf in the
show." (Huge audience applause.) "Well, it's a little difficult to
transport an entire set and cast onto the stage of the Reading Hexagon
..." But he responded to audience cheers by doing a hilarious routine
(which seemed off-the-cuff) where he performed a typical plot, poking fun
at the predictability of each character's lines.
It went *roughly* like this:
KRYTEN: "Sir," (audience cheers/laughs) "Sir, there is an extra-terrestrial
being approaching the ship. What should we do?"
RIMMER: "KRYTEN!" [Chris breaks in with a smile, "That's me."] "KRYTEN!
We've got to destroy it before it destroys us!"
CAT: "OOOOOOOOWWWW!" [twirling around] "A new life form? Let's see if I can
have SEX with it! Yeah, I'm so excited, all SIX of my nipples are
*tingling*..."
LISTER: "Hol, can you give us a reading on it?"
HOLLY: "Oh... wot? Uh..."
KRYTEN: "Holly, I thought you'd left after season 2 ..." [Barrie: "Probably
the biggest mistake of his career." Audience laughs, then realizes how
mean that is, and Barrie winces along with them.]
All in all, I'm not sure the night was worth it; if you're not a "Red
Dwarf"/"Brittas Empire" fan (and this is not an either/or stipulation --
you must be wildly into *both*), save your tenner and rent a movie
instead. Watching "the other side of Barrie" with anything less than a
oh-my-god-I'm-seeing-him-live-in-the-flesh mind-set is just not worth it.
NOTE: Britcomedy Digest is offering a free color 6"x8" flyer promoting "The
Other Side of Chris Barrie." Contact the editor <melinda@cathouse.org> for
details. Offer good for those outside the UK only. While supplies last.
THUMBS UP
Men Behaving Badly
9:30 PM Thursdays BBC 1
The first series this show ran, everyone said it was crap. Now it's the
darling of the comedy line-up Thursday nights. The show takes a tired
format -- two loser bachelor boys and their misguided attempts at running
their lives -- and actually makes it feel new, partly due to the writing
and partly due to the wonderful actors. Tune in for an instant self-esteem
boost.
THUMBS UP
Terry Pratchett's "The Wyrd Sisters"
11 PM Thursdays Radio 4
With Sheila Hancock, Lynda Baron, and Deborah Berlin. This is the first
radio-adaptation of a Terry Pratchett novel; so far, this series is doing
the disc-world novel justice. Don't miss it and turn the lights off for a
creepy experience.
THUMBS UP
The All-New Alexei Sayle Show 2
9:30 PM Fridays BBC2
Alexei Sayle is actually funny in this series, as he relies more on an
adept supporting cast and writers than on dominating the show with his
walking/talking to the camera format that he's relied on in the past. One
episode spoofs comic-book hero Superman by plunking him down in a coal
mining town (Superman gets out of a phone booth and promptly spits on the
ground.) Other highlights include "Drunk in Time," a paparazzi skit, and
"Menstral Cycles" (a bicycle program for lesbians).
###
BLACK ADDER: THE PILOT -- a summary and review
----------------------------------------------
by Steve Roberts <SteveR@ppr.tv.bbc.co.uk>, Steve Phillips
<eec@portia.umds.ac.uk>, and Michelle Street <mtstreet@soltec.com>.
Incredible as it may seem, the pilot of "Blackadder" was actually recorded
thirteen years ago. Though not rip-roaringly funny, it is nevertheless a
fascinating television document in its own right and definitely worthy of
a television showing or video release.
The script, credited to Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, begins with the
following narration:
"It is Europe, 400 years ago. In Spain, war rages, as Christians from every
land fight off the threatening terror of Turkish invasion.
The French... are in uneasy peace. But in England, under the tutelage of a
powerful king, the Ship of State ploughs a steady course as the court
awaits the Queen's birthday and the return of a Scottish hero from the
war... "
The show then opens with Prince Henry, the King, and the Queen discussing
the war with the Spanish. They hope it will soon be over so they can get
on with fighting the French. The Queen is in high spirits, as it is her
birthday and she has been given the county of Shropshire as a present.
Prince Edmund is in his chambers with his servants Percy and Baldrick. He
is clearly unhappy about the task he has been given, which is to arrange
the festivities for both the Queen's birthday and the return of the
Scottish hero McAngus to the court. He refers to his brother Henry as
"the bastard." Baldrick points out that if Henry actually was a bastard,
Edmund would one day be King. When he finds out that the eunuchs scheduled
to appear have cancelled, Edmund decides to have them executed. ("This is
a Royal command performance -- there are only two options. Either you do
it, or you don't do it. If you do it, you don't get paid. If you don't do
it, you get beheaded.")
Later -- the main hall. The Scottish hero, McAngus, appears. It is clear
that Edmund treats him with contempt, feeling that slaughtering a few
Turks is not very heroic. He is stunned when the King gives all Edmund's
lands in Scotland to McAngus.
Edmund's Chambers -- Edmund is furious. He, Percy and Baldrick plot to kill
McAngus. Percy warns that the King will cut Edmund off if he thinks he has
deliberately killed McAngus, so they agree to make it look like an
accident. Baldrick suggests putting McAngus's head in the mouth of a
cannon and firing it, but Edmund dismisses this as feeble.
McAngus's Room -- Edmund enters looking for McAngus, but the room is empty.
He finds a spiked Turkish helmet on the table and tries it on, but it gets
stuck. Hearing someone approaching, he hides behind the door. McAngus
enters, followed by the Queen. McAngus tells the Queen that his father
sends her his regards -- they used to know each other very well! The Queen
leaves, and McAngus discovers Edmund. They manage to get the helmet off,
and Edmund invites McAngus to act as the Scotsman in the play "The Death
of the Scotsman," to be performed for the Queens birthday.
The main hall, later that evening -- They are about to start the play, when
they discover that McAngus is drunk. Percy and Baldrick begin the play,
and are later joined by Edmund and McAngus. In the play, McAngus insults
the Queen, then stabs Edmund with a fake telescopic sword. He is sentenced
to be hung from the gallows. Leaving the stage, Edmund instructs Percy and
Baldrick to remove the safety hook from the gallows, and warns them that
whatever happens, if the Scotsman lives, they will die.
Off-stage, McAngus tells Edmund about hidden love letters from the Queen to
McAngus's father, casting doubts on the lineage of Prince Henry. McAngus
is back on stage about to be hanged before Edmund realises he needs him
alive to show him the letters. He tries to stop the hanging from off-stage
by cutting the noose with a spear, but it fails, so in a last-ditch
attempt, he throws a sheet over his head, and enters the stage as the
ghost of the Prince. He pleads mercy for the Scotsman, but Percy and
Baldrick, mindful of his previous threat, are determined to carry out the
execution. A comic fight sequence ensues, which ends with Edmund
inadvertently hanging McAngus himself, but then holding him up to stop him
choking.
Later, in McAngus's room -- A gleeful Edmund is shown the love letters that
his mother wrote. He instructs Baldrick to have the court assembled in the
morning.
The main hall, the following morning -- Edmund tells everyone about the
letters, which are dated November and December 1526. He begins to falter
as he realises that this was nine months AFTER Henry's birth, but nine
months BEFORE his own -- it is he who is the bastard, not Henry! McAngus
is as surprised at this revelation as Edmund is. Edmund tries to pretend
that McAngus has forged the letters, and challenges him to a duel -- to
the death. Edmund instructs Baldrick to get the fake telescopic sword, but
Percy gives Edmund the fake instead. There is a big fight, which
culminates in Edmund stabbing McAngus with the fake sword. On finding out
that Edmund tried to set him up with the fake sword, McAngus is furious
and is about to kill Edmund, when the King begs him for clemency. McAngus
agrees, but only if Edmund begs for mercy, which he does.
Later, in the King's chambers -- The King, Queen and Henry are discussing
the letters, which apparently turned out to be French forgeries. Edmund
and McAngus are now supposed to be the best of friends. However, up on the
tower, McAngus is peering down the barrel of a large cannon, at Edmund's
request. Back in the King's chambers, a loud bang is heard. Edmund comes
rushing in to announce that there has been a terrible accident -- as
everyone else leaves the room, he turns to the camera, and waves both fists
in triumph...
Closing Credits:
"The Black Adder" by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson
Prince Edmund............Rowan Atkinson
The King.................John Savident
The Queen................Elspet Gray
Prince Henry.............Robert Bathurst
Percy....................Tim McInnery
Baldrick.................Philip Fox
McAngus..................Alex Norton
Rudkin...................Simon Gipps Kent
Jesuit...................Oengus Macnamara
Music....................Howard Goodall
Fight Arranger...........Malcolm Ranson
Senior Cameraman.........Pete Ware
Vision Mixer.............Angela Wilson
Properties Buyer.........Tricia Ruddell
Visual Effects...........John Brace, Simon Taylor
V.T. Editor..............Graham Hutchings
Technical Manager........Dave Hare
Graphic Designer.........Marc Ortmans
Costume Designer.........Richard Croft
Make-up Artist...........Jill Sharlow
Production Team..........Camilla Howard, Hilary Bevan Jones
Lighting.................Peter Winn
Sound....................Richard Chamberlain
Production Manager.......Michael Leggo
Designers................Roger Cann, Philip Lindley
Producer.................Geoff Posner
The final shot is of the family coat of arms, inscribed with the motto:
"Veni Vidi Castratavi Illegitimos."
This very roughly translates as:
"I came, I saw, I castrated the bastards!"
No Director credit is given, presumably this was also Posner.
This episode was re-made as "Born to be King," which is fairly similar to
the pilot. However, in the transmitted version, McAngus clearly realises
that the letters cast doubt over Edmund rather than Henry (Harry) and is
deliberately setting him up, whereas in the pilot it comes as a complete
surprise to him.
Atkinson's performance as Edmund is somewhere between the portrayal in
series one and that of the latter series, although the strong sarcasm is
missing. If you realise that what makes the series 2-4 character work *is*
the sarcastic/sardonic attitude, you'll see that the character here is
rather thinly drawn and ambiguous. In fitting with the harsher, brasher
image -- gone is the pudding-basin haircut, to be replaced by tight curls.
Such is the change in the character that the idiocy of the
head-stuck-in-the-helmet slapstick, whilst fine for the re-make, is out of
place here.
The biggest let-down by far in this pilot is the actor playing Baldrick.
Tony Robinson is not exactly Olivier but having somebody else play the
part reveals just how missed he is. The blonde-haired Philip Fox fails
miserably on every level but the character is only weakly sketched in the
script so he cannot be blamed for all the shortcomings.
The other major casting change is the King's part. Instead of Brian
Blessed, John Savalent turns in a more reserved and thoughtful performance
(I was never a fan of Blessed's stock-in-trade "shouting kings" anyhow).
A criticism, which can also be levelled at most of the first series proper,
is that the plot is over-complicated. Indeed, during the performance of
"The Death Of A Scotsman" play, it's quite difficult to work out what is
going on. The production team must have realised this, hence the
re-working and simplifying of this scene prior to the re-make.
The pilot also suffers from not having the dramatic theme music of the
first series, although the opening silhouetted castle graphics are quite
effective.
Despite these criticisms, people who like the approach of the latter three
series will feel much more at home with the character of Blackadder here
than a random dip into any of the series one episodes.
###
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Bibliography of a Fred named Spike Milligan. 1.0
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Vincent Golden <golden@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu>
The following is an excerpt from the new "Spike Milligan Bibliography of
Printed Works." The full document can be found at:
http://www.cathouse.org/BritishComedy/SpikeMilligan/Milligan_Bibliography.txt
____________
INTRODUCTION
Spike Milligan is best known for writing and starring in the 1950's radio
show, "The Goon Show," with Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. This show
influenced later comics such as Peter Cook, the members of Monty Python,
and "The Goodies." After the end of "The Goon Show," Spike created the "Q"
series for the BBC and wrote a play, "The Bed-Sitting Room." He has also
appeared in other stage plays and movies.
He started writing books in the 1960s and has accumulated more than 84
books to his writing resume. These include children's books, parodies,
autobiography, letters, novels, scripts, and poetry.
_______________
ABOUT THIS LIST
The following is a list of books authored or edited by Spike Milligan
through the first part of 1995. This bibliography was compiled by combing
through some on-line databases; the British Library printed catalogue
through 1987; and Whitaker's British Books in Print for the past 35 years.
This list does not contain recordings or publications where Spike Milligan
was a contributor.
Those editions marked with an * are listed as still in print in the 1995
edition of Whitaker's British Books in Print.
____________________________________________________________
Adolf Hitler : my part in his downfall. (War autobiography, vol. 1)
London: Michael Joseph, 1971.
ISBN: 0718108663
*Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin, 1972. paperback
ISBN: 0140035206
Oxford: ISIS Large Print, 1987 (Mainstream series)
ISBN: 1850891966
London: Book Club Assoc., 1972
New York: Harper's Magazine Press, 1974
ISBN: 006126380X
Badjelly the witch : a fairy story [written in his own
handwriting, reproduced from manuscript]
Walton-on-Thames: M. and J. Hobbs ; London: Joseph, 1973
ISBN: 0718111125
London: Target Books, 1974 paperback
ISBN: 0426105672
The bedside Milligan, or, Read yourself to insomnia
Walton-on-Thames: Margaret and Jack Hobbs, 1968
ISBN: 0851380042
London: Tandem, 1971
ISBN: 0426069471
ISBN: 0426054776 1972 paperback
Walton-on-Thames: Hobbs in association with Michael Joseph,
1983
ISBN: 0718122275
Star Books, 1979
ISBN: 0352306270
(written with John Antrobus) The bed-sitting room
Walton-on-Thames: Margaret and Jack Hobbs, 1970
ISBN: 0851380123
London: Tandem, 1972
ISBN: 0426068599, 0426158008
The Bible : the Old Testament according to Spike Milligan
London: Michael Joseph, 1993
ISBN: 0718137361
*London: Penguin, 1994 paperback
ISBN: 0140239707
The book of the Goons : incorporating a new selection of Spike
Milligan's Goon Show scripts and, by courtesy of Whacklow, Futtle
& Crun (Commissioniers for Oaths, threats issued), the authentic,
unexpurgated inter-Goonal correspondence of certain naughty
gentlemen and sundry others, alias Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and
Spike Milligan including photographs by Snowdon and drawings by the
Goons.
London: Robson Books, 1974
ISBN: 0903895269
London: Corgi, 1975
ISBN: 0552999563
*London: Robson, 1984 paperback
ISBN: 086051286X
New York: St. Martin's Press, 1975
NOTE: The following scripts are in the book:
- The terrible revenge of Fred Fumanchu
- The great string robberies
- The Spon Plague
- Tales of men's shirts
- Robin's post
Chill air
[Leicester]: New Broom Press, 1981
ISBN: 0901870498
NOTE: Drawing by Rigby Graham. Limited edition of 150 copies.
Cyclists please dismount : and other photographs from Kodak
Limited's "Humour '70" exhibition.
London: Angus & Robertson, 1971
ISBN: 0207954402
Dear Robert, Dear Spike : the Graves-Milligan correspondence
Stroud, Gloucestershire: A. Sutton, 1991
ISBN: 0862996481
(with Anthony W. Clare)
Depression and how to survive it.
*Ebury, 1993
ISBN: 009177019X
*London: Arrow, 1994 paperback
ISBN: 0099858304
A dustbin of Milligan
London: D. Dobson, 1961
ISBN: 0234775688
London: Louvain Landsborough, 1963
London: Tandem Books, 1965
ISBN: 0426042719
Star Books, 1979
ISBN: 0352306297
(and Tracey Boyd)
Floored masterpieces with worse verse
London: Macmillan, 1985 paperback
ISBN: 333393147
Get in the Q annual
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey: London: M & J Hobbs ; M. Joseph,
1980
ISBN: 0718119622
Good-bye soldier
London: M. Joseph in association with J. Hobbs, 1986
(War biography, vol. 6)
ISBN: 0718125045
*Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1987 paperback
ISBN: 0140103384
The Goon cartoons
London: M. Joseph in association with M. & J. Hobbs, 1982
ISBN: 0718122003
The Goon Show scripts
London: Woburn Press, 1972
ISBN: 0713000767
London: Sphere Books, 1973
ISBN: 0722160585
London: Sphere, 1976 paperback
ISBN: 0722160747
New York: St. Martin's Press, 1972
ISBN: 0713000767
Melbourne: Lansdowne, 1972
ISBN: 070180047X
NOTE: The following scripts are in the book:
- The dreaded batter pudding hurler
- The phantom head-shaver
- The affair of the lone banana
- The canal
- Napoleon's piano
- Foiled by President Fred
- The mighty wurlitzer
- The Hastings flyer
- The house of teeth
(with Jack Hobbs)
The great McGonagall scrap book
Walton-on-Thames: London: M. and J. Hobbs; Joseph, 1975
ISBN: 071811258X
Hidden words : collected poems
*London: Michael Joseph, 1993
ISBN: 0718136152
Indefinite articles : culled from his newspaper writings and
Scunthorpe
London: M & J Hobbs in association with Michael Joseph, 1981
ISBN: 0718120787
London: Sphere, 1983 (paperback)
ISBN: 0722161115
London: M. & J. Hobbs in association with M. Joseph, 1981
[Special late royal wedding ed.]
ISBN: 0718120787
It ends with magic : a Milligan family story
*London: M. Joseph, 1990
ISBN: 071813432X
*London: Penguin, 1991 paperback
ISBN: 0140139125
Lady Chatterley's lover : according to Spike Milligan
*London: M. Joseph, 1994
ISBN: 0718138120
*London: Penguin, 1995
ISBN: 0140242996 paperback
The lost Goon Shows
London: Robson Books, 1987
ISBN: 0860514609
London: Penguin, 1988 paperback
ISBN: 0140114173
*London: Robson, 1993 paperback
ISBN: 0860518876
The Melting Pot
London: Robson Books, 1983
ISBN: 0860511952
NOTE: A script of a recorded television program which was never
aired.
The Milligan book of records: games, cartoons and commercials
Walton-on-Thames: London: M. and J. Hobbs; Joseph, 1975
ISBN: 0718113772
Star Books, 1977
ISBN: 0352396407
(and Jack Hobbs, editors)
Milligan's ark
Walton-on-Thames: London: Hobbs; Distributed by M. Joseph,
1971
ISBN: 0851380174
London: Sphere, 1977 paperback
ISBN: 0722160801
NOTE: Foreword by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Milligan's war : the selected war memoirs of Spike Milligan
London: Joseph, 1988
ISBN: 0718130359
*Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1989 paperback
ISBN: 0140110828
Monty, his part in my victory (War autobiography, vol. 3)
London: Joseph, 1976
ISBN: 0718115317
*Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1978 paperback
ISBN: 0140045031
London: Book Club Associates, 1977
More Goon cartoons
[Walton-on-Thames]: M. & J. Hobbs in association with Joseph,
1983
ISBN: 0718123417
(edited by Norma Farnes)
More Spike Milligan letters
London: M. & J. Hobbs in association with M. Joseph, 1984
ISBN: 0718124367
Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1985 (paperback)
ISBN: 0140081631
Peace work (Peace/war autobiography, vol. 7)
London: Michael Joseph, 1991
ISBN: 0718135334
*London: Penguin, 1992 paperback
ISBN: 0140149708
The 'Q' annual
London: M. Joseph in association with M. &. J. Hobbs, 1979
ISBN: 0718118707
Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1980
ISBN: 0140056491
NOTE: 'Based on material for the BBC Television "Q" series by
Spike Milligan and Neil Shand.'
"Rommel?"-"Gunner Who?" : a confrontation in the desert
(War autobiography, vol. 2)
London: Joseph, 1974
ISBN: 0718107330
London: Book Club Associates, 1975
Harmondsworth: Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1976 paperback
ISBN: 0140041079
Silly verse for kids and animals
Walton-on-Thames: M. & J. Hobbs in association with M.
Jackson, 1984
ISBN: 0718124049
Small dreams of a scorpion : poems
Walton-on-Thames: London: M. and J. Hobbs, Joseph, 1972
ISBN: 0718110498
Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1973 paperback
ISBN: 0140035648
Spike Milligan -- paintings, drawings, manuscripts and recordings:
[catalogue of an exhibition held] 5th December -- 23rd December
1972
London: Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1973
ISBN: 0854880127
There's lot of it about!
London: M. & J. Hobbs in association with M. Joseph, 1983
ISBN: 0718122437
NOTE: Based on material written for the BBC Television series.
Twelve poems that made December colder
Leicester: New Broom Private Press, 1979
ISBN: 0901870374
NOTE: Limited ed. of 90 numbered copies
Where have all the bullets gone? (War autobiography, vol. 5)
Walton-on-Thames: M. & J. Hobbs in association with M.
Joseph, 1985
ISBN: 0718124308
*Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1986 paperback
ISBN: 014008892X
(with Jack Hobbs)
William McGonagall meets George Gershwin : a Scottish fantasy
London: Joseph, 1988
ISBN: 0718131274
*Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1989 paperback
ISBN: 0140119353
Wuthering Heights
*London: Michael Joseph, 1994
ISBN: 0718137876
____________________________________________________________
"The Spike Milligan Bibliography of Printed Works" compilation copyright
(c) 1995 by Vincent Golden. This document is FREE, and should not be used
by anyone for monetary gain. Reproductions without written permission are
forbidden, except for individual use.
FEEDBACK WELCOME!
If you know of other editions, titles, or find any mistakes, please let me
know. If you can, mail me a photocopy of the title page and the verso
(that's the back side of the title page) -- it would help in updating the
list.
Vincent Golden
1117 Austin Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801
###
=====================================
THE "FISH CALLED WANDA" QUIZ ANSWERS:
=====================================
1. Ilene Cody was the primary witness placing George at the scene
of the robbery. She lived at 69 Basil Street. 2. Phantom 3. Harvey
Man-frin-st.john-sen 4. Cathcart Towers Hotel 5. 13 million 6. Oscar
Wilde 7. Kipling Mansions, Murray Road, London W9 8. Hazel & Ian Johnson
9. Aristotle was not Belgian; the central message of Buddhism is not every
man for himself; and the London Underground is not a political movement.
10. Stephen Fry 11. He emigrates to South Africa to become the Minister
for Justice. 12. Russian.
SPOTTED ON THE INTERNET
=======================
A Black Adder-inspired sig?
**************************************************************************
Rob Putnam, University of Chicago rputnam@midway.uchicago.edu
,.;. Squirrels: a source of campus nutrition
|\__/| .~ ~.
/o=o'`./ .' Recipe for squirrel au vin:
{o__, \ { Ingredients:
/ . . ) \ 1 squirrel (remove hair)
`-` '-' \ } 1 bottle of Boones Strawberry Hill
.( _( )_.' To prepare:
:. '---.~_ _ _| Get really drunk, eat the squirrel.
**************************************************************************
QUOTE-O'-THE-MONTH:
===================
Dedicated to Hugh Grant.
"To Err Is Human
To Forgive, Divine"
(or perhaps it should be dedicated to Liz Hurley...)
TOUR GUIDE
==========
If you know of someone taking the show on the road, do let us know!
Phil McIntyre presents Alexei Sayle
===================================
Tickets: £9.50/£11.50/£13.50
Subject to booking fee.
Oct. 8 Aylesbury Civic Centre
Oct. 10 Newcastle City Hall
Oct. 11 Bristol Colston Hall
Oct. 12 Cambridge Corn Exchange
Oct. 14 Oxford Apollo
Oct. 15 Liverpool Empire
Oct. 16 Preston Guildhall
Oct. 17 Nottingham Royal Centre
Oct. 18 Edinburgh Festival Theatre
Oct. 20 York Barbican
Oct. 21 Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Oct. 22 Southampton Mayflower
Oct. 24 Glasgow Pavilion
Oct. 25 Sheffield City Hall
Oct. 27 Hull City Hall
Oct. 28 Manchester Apollo
Oct. 29 London Palladium
Oct. 30 Brighton Dome
Oct. 31 Birmingham Symphony Hall
Nov. 1 Plymouth Pavilions
Nov. 2 Cardiff St. David's Hall
Nov. 3 Reading Hexagon
Nov. 4 Ipswich Regent
BOTTOM -- "THE BIG NUMBER TWO TOUR" LIVE!
"Following the success of their sell out 1993 tour, Rik Mayall and Ade
Edmondson return in a brand new 2-hour stage show based on the award
winning BBC2 TV series."
Tickets: #10.50/12.50/14.50. (available from Box Offices and all usual
agents subject to booking fee.)
SEPT. 18-23 Bristol Hippodrome
SEPT. 25-27 Woking New Victoria Theatre
SEPT. 28 Wolverhampton Civic Hall
OCT. 1 Bournemouth BIC
OCT. 5-6 Plymouth Pavilions
OCT. 9-11 Oxford Apollo
OCT. 16-17 Brighton Dome
OCT. 18 Manchester Apollo
OCT. 19-20 Edinburgh Festival Theatre
OCT. 23-25 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
OCT. 27-28 Portsmouth Guildhall
OCT. 30 -
NOV. 4 Leeds Grand Theatre
NOV. 6-11 Birmingham Hippodrome
NOV. 12-14 Cardiff St. David's
NOV. 16-17 Manchester Apollo
NOV. 19 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
NOV. 20 Leicester De Montfort Hall
NOV. 21-23 Ipswich Regent
NOV. 25 Blackburn King George's Hall
NOV. 26-28 Newcastle City Hall
NOV. 29 Hull City Hall
DEC. 1-3 Wolverhampton Civic Hall
DEC. 5-6 Sheffield City Hall
DEC. 8-9 Hammersmith Apollo
DEC. 11-13 Liverpool Empire
DEC. 18 Scarborough Futurist
DEC. 19-20 Nottingham Royal Centre
__________________________________________________________________________
etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc
__________________________________________________________________________
Mike Phillips has a decent collection of BRITCOMS--Red Dwarf, 10%ers, The
Brittas Empire, Bottom, and more! Looking to trade. Write him at: 2377
Apollo Rd #324, Garland TX 75044.
__________________________________________________________________________
US video catalog SIGNALS offers the first and second series of "ABSOLUTELY
FABULOUS" Telephone: 1-800-669-9696. Mail: Signals, WGBH Educational
Foundation, P.O. Box 64428, St. Paul, MN 55164-0428.
__________________________________________________________________________
"BOTTOM" fans interested in meeting other like-minded netters are invited
to email the editor for the Hammersmith performance of "THE BIG NUMBER TWO"
Tour. RSVP <melinda@cathouse.org>.
__________________________________________________________________________
CIRCULATION/SUBSCRIPTIONS:
==========================
Britcomedy Digest (ISSN 1077-6680) is a free electronic newsletter posted
monthly to alt.comedy.british and rec.arts.tv.uk.comedy.
DELPHI: In the "UK-American Connexion" forum, cf171.
GENIE: In the "Showbiz" roundtable, page 185.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: To receive an issue every month, send your email address to
<melinda@cathouse.org> with the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject header.
BACK ISSUES:
============
WWW:
[US] http://www.cathouse.org/BritishComedy/BD/
[UK] http://paul.acorn.co.uk:8080/Britcom/
FTP:
Log on as "anonymous," giving your email account as your password.
ftp://ftp.etext.org/pub/Zines/BritComedy
ftp://ftp.cathouse.org/pub/cathouse/british.humour/britcomedy.digest
GOPHER:
gopher://gopher.etext.org/11/Zines/BritComedy
gopher://cathouse.org:6969/11/british.humour/britcomedy.digest
