BRITCOMEDY DIGEST
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 1994 12:37:03 -0500
From: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (Melinda 'Bob' Casino)
Subject: BRITCOMEDY DIGEST (1/2) vol. 1, no. 2
==================================
B R I T C O M E D Y D I G E S T
==================================
V. 1 C R A I G C H A R L E S U P D A T E SEPT. 1994
no.2
A monthly electronic newsletter on British comedies.
What's Inside:
==============
Features:
* Britcom History 101: The Footlights Club
* "Confessions of a Red Dwarf Fanatic" by Michelle Casino
* Reader's Forum: Speculation on Season VII of Red Dwarf
* Review of Disney's THE LION KING
* Transcription of 'Blackadder: The Cavalier Years' (2/3)
Regular Departments:
Letters
Britcomedy News
Newsquirks
Review
Stress-Buster
Quote-O'-the-Month
Ads
"What's On"
E D I T O R 'S P A G E
=======================
Welcome to the second edition of Britcomedy Digest. Due to this issue's
length, it had to be mailed to subscribers in two parts. Readers may want
to print this issue out for easier reading.
In this issue, we've introduced a Reader's Forum, which is a selection
of posts on the Internet (in this case, discussing the future of Red
Dwarf). And our first "Letters to the Editor" have arrived!
While the Lion King has already opened across the U.S., it won't be
released in the UK for another six months or so. Keeping that in mind,
Brits can still read the review by Lee Whiteside without fear of "spoilers"
in his article.
Also included is the second part of the transcript of "Blackadder: The
Cavalier Years," a review of Disney's "The Lion King" by Lee Whiteside, and
a narrative by Michelle Casino on her odyssey from detached viewer to Red
Dwarf fanatic. And for Monty Python fans, Michael Clarkson outlines why
Python broke the mold.
Britcomedy Digest is looking for good articles/editorials/trivia, so if
you're an aspiring writer or a veteran, please submit your piece to the
editor. Thanks.
Staff
=====
Managing Editor................Melinda Casino
Contributing Editor............Michelle Street
Budget Coordinator, Monkey.....Michelle Casino
Contributing writers: Michelle Casino, Michelle Street, Lee Whiteside.
NOTE: Your name doesn't have to be Michelle to write for BD, but it helps.
<Schopenhauer Publishing Co.>
How To Reach The Editors
========================
We want to hear from you! Readers are welcome to direct "letters to the
editor," comments, praise, criticism, and general what-not to the Managing
Editor at Britcomedy Digest.
Write: Melinda Casino, Britcomedy Digest, 404 So. 20th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19146.
E-mail: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (place in subject line 'Britcomedy Digest')
For all news-related items, please contact Michelle Street:
mtstreet@prairienet.org
Michelle Street, 1118 Briarcliff, Rantoul, IL 61866.
BACK ISSUES
===========
Back issues can be located at ftp site: cathouse.org. Use an anonymous
identification, and your e-mail address as the password. The directory is:
/pub/cathouse/humor/british.humour/britcomedy.digest
Macintosh users should place a "+" symbol before their e-mail address password.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=====================
AT LAST there is a BritCom magazine on the Internet. I was trembling with
excitement when I was reading your first edition. I wish you the best and
hope for the magazine not only to become a sort of "service point" for
BritCom fans, but also a forum for discussions, essays on BritCom as well.
Michael Hildebrandt
Germany
PS: Can you e-mail me the latest editions?
EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks. Britcomedy Digest is now available using ftp. If
you don't have this software, please e-mail me and I'll gladly send you a
copy. The Digest strives to be a forum for discussions: anyone can submit
an editorial, and the "Reader's Forum" makes its debut in this issue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just thought that I would drop you a line to tell you that I think that
your e-zine is one of the best I've read for a very long time. Just the
subject-matter that I've missed so far!
What about one of the best Brit. comedies 'Bottom'?
Lars Lindstrom
Trollhattan, Sweden
EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks for the compliment. I happen to be the maintainer of
the "Bottom FAQ", so you can look forward to a lot of Bottom coverage (no
pun intended) in future issues.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Muchas gracias for your thoughtful and informative newsletter. Please do
include me on your mailing list. Alas, here in primitive NYC Queens - one
of the last areas in the nation, if not the world to be cable wired, I have
not had access to RD in over a year. The 3 PBS affiliates sporadically run
it (seemingly during pledges) and then zippo. I only saw 1st 3 seasons.
Read RD books, got some tapes from Blockbuster, want to find The Last Human
by Lister...
So sorry to hear about Craig, I hope he's innocent...
Smoke me a kipper, mate,
Superstar Bryan K. Astoria (NYC)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'd just like to point out that Alexei Sayle's name is spelled "Alexei Sayle"...
Also, the review of Alexei Sayle's "Stuff" seems to have been based on only
about 5 minutes from one of his shows.
Ian Collier
Oxford, UK
EDITOR'S REPLY: Thank you for the correction on the spelling of Alexei
Sayle's name.
Actually, it was an editorial, not a review, and as such has been written
from an opinionated rather than objective standpoint.
In preparation for the article, I watched 6 1/2 hours of "STUFF." The skits
mentioned, while certainly not exhaustive of Sayle's work, were
representative of points made in my editorial.
I'd hoped for a rebuttal from one of his fans, which I would gladly include
in the next issue. To date, none have been received. Am I to interpret this
as general agreement with my editorial?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I would like to strongly disagree with your opinions on Alexei Sayle "the
lovable fat bastard." I thought his last series, "The All New Alexei Sayle
Show" was very funny as was the column he used to write to for The
Observer. He is a funny man (and) just because you don't like him doesn't
mean others don't, I know plenty who do.
Regards,
Robert (UK)
EDITOR'S REPLY: The editorial was not based on "The All New Alexei Sayle Show."
However, your letter allows me to make a point. In the future, BD will not
publish letters that state simply "I disagree"; why do you disagree? Can
you argue against the points made in the editorial?
BD strives to foster an "open forum" atmosphere, where other people's
opinions are published, as long as they demonstrate thoughtful
argumentation and a knowledge of the subject.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I would like to argue that "AbFab" has no place in your newsletter. It is
not funny therefore it is not comedy therefore it should not go in
something called BritComedy.
Regards,
Robert (UK)
EDITOR'S REPLY: In every media source BD has at its disposal, "Absolutely
Fabulous" is billed as a comedy. Can you tell me exactly *why* you think
it's not funny, and give me some examples? Readers, any comment?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Regarding "Blackadder: The Cavalier Years": It was written and performed
for Comic Relief, a BBC comedy telethon hosted by Grif-Rhys Jones and Lenny
Henry (circa '88), and most of the money went to the third world, not AIDS
research.
Also, it *has* been released to the general public, on the Comic Relief
Video. But it is elusive, and probably impossible to find nowadays.
Yours,
Dave Ford
Bath University, UK
BRITCOMEDY NEWS
===============
CRAIG CHARLES CHARGED WITH RAPE
SHOCK WAVES SENT THROUGH "ALT.TV.RED-DWARF"
Seven million fans of the BBC comedy "Red Dwarf" were shocked last month
when they learned that Craig Charles was officially charged with rape and
assault. Charles plays the sloppy but lovable "Dave Lister" on Red Dwarf, a
n'er-do-well misfit who likes to "bum around and have a laugh," and listens
to "Rastabilly Skank."
In the July 19 issue of "The Herald" (Glasgow), it was reported that Mr.
Charles and Mr. Peploe have made three applications for bail since being
arrested, all refused. "The Herald" said that both men are in custody until
August 15, but said the prosecution should work towards a committal hearing
by September 21.
Outside the court, Charles's solicitor said: "Craig wishes us to let you
know he maintains his complete innocence. He is looking forward to clearing
his name." Both men were remanded in custody until July 18.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS HITS POLITICALLY CORRECT U.S.
Edina and Patsy have been the center of an "un-P.C." Britcom that would
have the executives of CBS, NBC, and ABC wringing their hands--never mind
PBS. But Comedy Central has bravely picked up the show, and Edina and Patsy
can be seen in the U.S. on Comedy Central's marathon beginning Sunday, July
24 at 3 PM.
The show is centered around a fashion "victim" (Joanna Lumley as
"Patsy") and her publicist (Jennifer Saunders as "Edina"). Few Americans
will recognize Julia Sawalha, who plays Edina's daughter, Saffron. Jennifer
Saunders also writes the show. Two seasons have aired in the UK and
recently, AbFab--as the Brits call it--garnered quite alot of mainstream
publicity when scenes were shot in New York for its third season. The New
York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, and Time
Magazine, and USA Today carried reviews with pictures recently.
Clearly the show that skewers the publicity machine has a good PR department.
Although various American reviewers have criticized AbFab (as William
Tynan did in the July 25 issue of Time), citing characters that are "too
broad" and the many scenes that poke fun at alcoholism, 'Absolutely
Fabulous!' is what Americans will think who are fed up with politically
correct, sugar-coated U.S. comedies that aim to give viewers the warm
fuzzies.
Standard fare on AbFab: sexual promiscuity, cattiness between women, the
shallowness of the fashion industry, falling-down drunk, drug use, and a
wardrobe full outfits that would make Ivanna Trump's head spin.
After the initial marathon on Sunday, Absolutely Fabulous will have a
regular weekly airing Saturdays at 4:30 PM ET/PT, Sundays at 11 PM, and
Mondays at 8:30 PM on Comedy Central.
-----> Know of some news? Send news item to: mtstreet@prairienet.org
NEWSQUIRKS
==========
Pixels in the press...
TELL ME IT'S AN UNREALITY BUBBLE
Rumors of Hollywood doing a Red Dwarf movie abound. The latest reports
making there way on the newsgroups is that Eddie Murphy will play "Lister,"
and Ted Danson will play "Rimmer." However, Bricomedy Digest could only
confirm that the movie is "in the pipeline." With Hollywood, that can mean
anything. Stay tuned.
YOUR SEX SPRAY, GENTLEMEN...
It may not have worked for Bottom's Richard Richard and Eddie Hitler, but
Dr. David Berliner claims pheromones are legit. Dr. Berliner's preliminary
research at his private biotechnology company points to the existence of a
human "pheromone system": essentially, a "sixth sense" which responds to
odorless chemicals and may influence sexual attraction. The discovery was
prompted by Dr. Berliner's observation that people in the lab where he was
doing research with open flasks of derivatives from human skin "were
unusually friendly and relaxed." He traced these responses to the skin
compounds and the field of pheromone research was born. But don't go
looking for bottles of pheromones on the shelves of your local sex shop
just yet. Dr. Berliner is keeping close wraps on his discovery until
patents are granted. We can only hope that products are available by next
Valentine's Day. Until then, it's raw oysters on the half shell...
###
=================================================================
Britcom History 101: The Footlights Club
=================================================================
At the beginning of the film "Peter's Friends" there is a sequence where
Stephen Fry, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, and the others are doing a
goofy musical number about the London tube system in what appears to be a
student union.
This is no doubt an affectionate tribute to a long-standing tradition in
British comedy with which many people outside of England may not be
familiar. I am referring to The Footlights Club.
The amateur theatrical society known as "The Footlights Club" is a
tradition at Cambridge University which dates back to the late 1800s.
Though it has always produced its fair share of popular performers, during
the 1950s and 60s it launched the careers of the most important names in
British comedy.
Who, you might ask? Here's a partial list of those who have appeared in
"Footlights" revues:
John Cleese
Graham Chapman
Eric Idle
David Frost
Jonathan Miller
Peter Cook
Bill Oddie
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Graeme Garden
Other distinguished members have included the National Lampoon's Tony
Hendra as well as famed director Trevor Nunn.
To become a "Footlights" member is an arduous process. To gain
membership a person must be nominated by a current "Footlights" member and
then invited to audition. The Presidency of the club is not voted on - the
current President hand picks his or her successor.
One interesting thing to note about the Footlights is that women were
not allowed to join until the late 50s. The sole exception to this was the
year 1932, and the experiment to permit women in proved so disastrous that
next year's revue was called "No More Women." What this policy did was
force men to play the women's roles and perhaps this is what started the
whole Python tradition of putting on women's clothing and hanging around in
bars. (Ok, I'll pause here so you can finish singing the song) :)
What the "Footlights" group works towards is the annual revue which is
put on for two weeks at the end of every school year. In the past, these
productions have gone on tour after closing at the school, with some of
them winding up on the West End or at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
What are these revues like? Well, over the years they have varied
greatly. Some have been frivolous nods to the music hall tradition while
others - like the 1959 revue "The Last Laugh" with Peter Cook and Eleanor
Bron - were hard-hitting political satires. The changing social climate in
Britain over the years no doubt had an important effect on the content and
tone of these shows.
Over the past decade or so the importance of the "Footlights Club" has
waned. However, there is no doubt that this will continue to be a valuable
training ground for comedy talent into the 21st century.
###
=================================================================
Confessions of a Red Dwarf Fanatic
OR: Damn It, There's Just GOT to be a Season 7
========================= by Michelle Casino ====================
I admit it. When I first saw Red Dwarf, I thought it was one of the
stupidest shows I'd ever seen. In light of my current fanaticism, my
initial response indicates one of two things: either Red Dwarf grows on
you, or I was a blind fool. Considering my past choices in boyfriends, I
think the "blind fool" theory is more likely--but there is still much truth
in the idea that RD grows on you. You can't really appreciate that first
scene in "The End" between Lister and Rimmer until you know their
characters better and have developed some affection for them. Without this
in place, the scene falls flat. With it, Lister's insistent humming and
Rimmer's officiously putting Lister on report for it are like wearing a
favorite pair of old jeans: everything just falls into place and feels
right.
So how did I come to be a fanatic if I first thought the show stupid?
Simple: ANYTHING to avoid general housework. And for all its faults (e.g.,
the Cat in Seasons 1 and 2--talk about pain), I found watching RD more
enjoyable than cleaning pink mold off the vegetable drawer in the 'fridge.
(I'm waiting til it gets 2 feet high, so I can call it 'Albert'). I soon
came to have another excuse for watching: as a philosophy student, how
could I justify not watching a show which makes references to Descartes,
Schopenhauer, and Sartre? (Sadly, not many comedies mention philosophers
even though philosophy is quite funny--if you need proof, read Hegel.)
At some point in time, (I think it was when I went out to an Indian
restaurant specifically to try Chicken Vindaloo), I realized I was no
longer watching simply to avoid 'Albert'. I had become a full-fledged fan:
able to quote scenes at length, correcting my sister on trivia, and unable
to count the number of times I'd seen "Queeg." Granted, this worried me
somewhat (why have I found this bunch of misfits so compelling that I've
spent all this time with them?), until it hit me that my fanaticism was
really consistent with my secret love of ABBA, my passion for
mathematicians, and the joy I feel at the thought of my alphabetized spice
shelf (hey--if you need curry in a hurry, you don't need to be sidetracked
by the oregano).
This explains my happy state of anticipation at hearing that there is
(was?) going to be a Christmas Special and that plans for Season 7 are
(were?) in the works--and it explains my horror at the revelation that
Craig Charles has been charged with rape. When my sister first told me that
he had been jailed and denied bail, I felt as if my world had been rocked.
Shock set in. How could this happen--first Pee Wee, then Woody, now
this...I told her that if she hears anything like this about Rowan Atkinson
DON'T TELL ME.
One thing's for sure: it will be difficult to watch the scene where
Lister accuses Rimmer of a bad attitude toward women ("Parallel Universe")
in quite the same way. I hope that the charges against Craig prove to be
false. I hope so both for his sake and for mine.
###
===============
END OF PART I
===============
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melinda 'Rikki-tikki-tavi' Casino --> Maintainer of the Bottom FAQ
casino@pobox.upenn.edu & BRITCOMEDY DIGEST
"There's nothing 'cushy' about life in the women's auxiliary
balloon corps!" - Capt. Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerty)
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 1994 12:47:36 -0500
From: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (Melinda 'Bob' Casino)
Subject: BRITCOMEDY DIGEST (2/2) vol. 1, no. 2
==================================
B R I T C O M E D Y D I G E S T
==================================
V. 1 P A R T T W O SEPT. 1994
no.2
A monthly electronic newsletter on British comedies.
Staff
=====
Managing Editor................Melinda Casino
Contributing Editor............Michelle Street
Budget Coordinator, Monkey.....Michelle Casino
Contributing writers: Michelle Casino, Michelle Street, Lee Whiteside.
NOTE: Your name doesn't have to be Michelle to write for BD, but it helps.
<Schopenhauer Publishing Co.>
How To Reach The Editors
========================
We want to hear from you! Readers are welcome to direct "letters to the
editor," comments, praise, criticism, and general what-not to the Managing
Editor at Britcomedy Digest.
Write: Melinda Casino, Britcomedy Digest, 404 So. 20th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19146.
E-mail: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (place in subject line 'Britcomedy Digest')
For all news-related items, please contact Michelle Street:
mtstreet@prairienet.org
Michelle Street, 1118 Briarcliff, Rantoul, IL 61866.
BACK ISSUES
===========
Back issues can be located at ftp site: cathouse.org. Use an anonymous
identification, and your e-mail address as the password. The directory is:
/pub/cathouse/humor/british.humour/britcomedy.digest
Macintosh users should place a "+" symbol before their e-mail address password.
READER'S FORUM
============== Speculation on the Internet about Season VII of Red Dwarf
The following are selected threads from alt.fan.red-dwarf; all opinions
reprinted with permission of the postee.
Robert (UK):
"Look I as sad as the next bloke that CC has been accused of rape but I
think if he is guilty he should go to prison for a long time. If he isn't
everything will be good. But what I really writing to say is that the
original crew should remain no matter what. If it goes to Hollywood the
crew should be played by the current cast not the Hollywood big wigs, they
will just ruin it.
If CC is found guilty one of two things should happen:
1) RD should end - It may seem a shame but it will stop it turning into one
of those things that drags on forever and with people saying "that you used
to be very funny, but it sure as hell ain't no more"
2) Lister should be written out and replaced by a NEW character. Yes, a new
character, not some one trying to mimic Lister but someone new to take the
show off in a different direction. Phrase an "Ace" Rimmer type character
who could get on Rimmer's wick by being brilliant. Maybe a female character
would work (if Lister was to say I would say no way to this as there have
been point were the show has hinged around Lister's frustration that there
are no females left.) but she could work by not wanting the Cat, which
would drive him crazy."
Eric A. Drumbor ("All this IMHO of course ;)"):
"There's been TONS of speculation about CC and the future of Red Dwarf. I
thought I'd just offer my opinion of it, since it apparently differs with
most others...
Let's first assume the worst case scenario, I'm not saying this is what is
true, just speculating here ok? CC is guilty and/or convicted of these
charges. He would undoubtedly be booted from the cast either by the need to
serve jail time or just his status of guilt.
Would it be so difficult for the producers to put a small notice on an RD
show that CC is being replaced due to circumstances beyond their control?
Why the artistic script writing cover-up? I don't see why they couldn't
just come clean and say "hey look, Craig Charles is gone. We couldn't do
anything about it, and we would like to keep the show going, so just try to
accept that we needed to replace him with someone else."
Maybe it's too much of a reminder that there's a real world out there
besides the one that RD portrays. But it's much more realistic than trying
to pull a fast one, if you know what I mean. Besides, Lister comes back in
Stasis Leak to marry Christine K. There's hardly a way that they could
write anything into the script that would change this, and look halfway
decent."
MICHAEL A. CLOONAN:
Red Dwarf VII need not have Craig Charles in it, you know. If he is
"unavailable" when production goes ahead, shows like RD have the quality to
scientifically change one of its characters appearances by some great
phenomenon that mutates people or something. Of course, in the middle of a
two-part story it could be a little difficult but not necessarily
impossible.
I'm not talking Doctor Who-style regeneration stuff here, of course, but
there is a way.
Of course, whatever actor replaces CC, will have to act like him and do it
properly for it to be effective...
Damian Perry:
Well, they could always continue with the brain in the jar. It would be
kind of hard for him to move around, and he would be kind of like Holly,
but it would make for a stranger series.
BUT. Lister as Lister has to go back and marry Kockanski. Also, it kind
of defeats the purpose of the last human alive. But anyway.
###
================================================================
Rowan Atkinson in The Lion King
- or -
Black Adder Does Disney
========================= by Lee Whiteside =====================
As you probably know by now, The Lion King is looking to be the biggest
animated movie ever and likely to be the biggest movie of the year. Which
means that one of our favorite British Comedy performers will be heard by
many, many more people than he has ever reached before. I'm talking about
Rowan Atkinson, who does the voice for the hornbill Zazu in The Lion King.
Zazu is the assistant to King Mufasa and is very prominent in the first
half of the movie, assisting Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) and
keeping an eye on his heir, Simba, as he gets into trouble. As has been
made much of in the Disney publicity for the movie, a lot of the characters
look like their real life counterparts and Zazu is no exception. And when
he talks, you can close your eyes and almost hear Black Adder The Third
when Zazu is dressing down young Simba. Zazu gets a lot of laughs in the
first half of the movie, but once Simba leaves, Zazu takes a back seat to
the comic duo of Timon and Pumbaa, getting in one good bit when Scar
(Jeremy Irons) wants him to sing something cheerful, which gets one of the
biggest laughs in the movie.
The only disappointment I have with Rowan's association with The Lion
King is the lack of any mention of Rowan in all of the Disney publicity
associated with the film. In the various TV specials and interviews, I have
seen nil on Rowan and only a brief mention of the animator doing Zazu. In
light of the number of times I've seen Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones
saying some of their lines, I thought maybe they would at least acknowledge
Rowan at some point. Either Disney feels no one in the U.S. knows who he is
or Rowan decided not to do any publicity for the movie (ala Whoopi
Goldberg, who appears to be following Robin Williams lead and not doing any
interviews). It will be interesting to see if there is any publicity
mentioning Rowan when the movie opens in the U.K. later this year.
Overall, Rowan makes a nice addition to the voice cast for a very good
movie. It's definitely worth seeing to see Rowan's contribution to the
movie. There is some merchandise featuring Rowan's likeness (in the form of
Zazu) in some action figures and a stuffed Zazu doll. Rowan is also
featured on the soundtrack album with "I Just Can't Wait to be King". If
anything, maybe the response to Zazu will get Rowan noticed a bit more in
the U.S. and help him to get involved with other projects in the U.S.
###
BLACKADDER: THE CAVALIER YEARS -- Part II of transcription
==========================================================
Originally performed live for a Comic Relief benefit in the UK. A video
which includes this skit was released under the title "Exclusive Relief,"
although I'm told it's difficult to find.
Baldrick.............................Tony Robinson
Sir Edmund Blackadder................Rowan Atkinson
Oliver Cromwell......................Robbie Coltrane
King Charles.........................Stephen Fry
Narrator: (seen at the beginning of Part 1)
In 1648, King Charles was in flight from the wrath of Cromwell and his
Roundheads. Only two men remained faithful, risking certain death by their
fidelity to the crown. One was the sole descendant of a great historical
dynasty--his name, Sir Edmund Blackadder. The other was an unfortunate
mating between a pig farmer and a bearded lady. History has, quite rightly,
forgotten his name.
SCENE IV:
Tower of London
CAPTION: January 30, the Day of the Execution of King Charles the First
KC: So this is the day of the execution of King Charles the first?
BA: Absolutely not, your Majesty. The Roundhead traitors have one final
hurdle that they will never straddle.
KC: How fascinating. And what is that, exactly?
BA: They will never find a man to behead you. They'd have hundreds of
volunteers to cut Cromwell's head off, he's such an ugly devil. I hear he's
got so many warts on his face that it's only when he sneezes that you find
out which one's his nose. So they'll never find a man to execute you.
KC: Now you see, I find that that's absolutely tragic. You know, there are
so many young people who would leap at a chance like that. I don't know,
all they need is initiative, sometimes. I think, in a sense, that's what my
(work?) scheme is all about.
BA: (uninterested) Really?
KC: Yes. On the other hand, of course, I don't want my head cut off-uh,
it'd be a bit embarrassing, like so many things...
BA: Shut up with the greatest respect, your Majesty. They will never find
an executioner, and if they do may my conjugal dipstick turn into a tennis
racket. (Knock at the door. BA pulls black hood on)
Messenger: A message for the King. (BA takes it and reads it. Messenger exits)
BA: Ah. (Drops peach he's holding. Bounces back with a tennis-ball sound
effect).
SCENE V:
Blackadder Hall.
(Baldrick is singing and working. BA sits nearby)
BD: There's a tavern in the town...
BA: For God's sakes, stop that, Baldrick. It's bad enough to have one's
life in utter ruin without being serenaded by a moron with all the
entertainment value of a tap-dancing oyster.
BD: I'm so sorry, sir, I can't help it. See, I've just had a little windfall.
BA: (with disdain) Baldrick, I've told you before, if you're going to do
that, go out into the garden.
BD: I mean, I've come into some money.
BA: Really? You mean your inheritance?
BD: No, I ate that ages ago.
BA: Of course, your thoughtful father bequeathed you a turnip.
BD: No, it was 50 pounds, actually--it was delicious. A little something
just fell in my lap.
BA: Not the first time there's been a little something in your lap, Baldrick.
BD: No, but this one is a job.
BA: Really? (absorbed in reading paper) I just don't understand it. Where
on earth would they find a man so utterly devoid of heart and soul, so low
and degraded, to accept the job of beheading the King of England? (looks up
from paper) Baldrick--
BD: Yes?
BA: That little job that fell into your lap...
BD: Yes, my Lord.
BA: It wasn't by any chance something to do with an ax, a basket, a little
black box, and the King of England?
BD: Nawwww-
BA: Go on.
BD: I couldn't find the basket.
BA: You very small, total _bastard!_ (grabs kitchen knife and BD's shirt)
BD: Ahh! Please, sir! Don't kill me! I have a cunning plan.
BA: Well forgive me if I don't do a cartwheel of joy. Your family's record
in the department of cunning planning is about as impressive as Stumpy Oleg
McNoleg's personal best in the Market Harborough Marathon. Alright, what's
the plan? (Baldrick reaches for the pumpkin on the table and proudly hefts
it up) A _pumpkin_ is going to save the King.
BD: Ah! But over here I have one that I prepared earlier. (Baldrick reaches
off-screen and reveals another pumpkin with a face painted on it in black)
I will balance it on the King's head like this (demonstrates) then cover
his real head with a cloak, and then, when I execute him, instead of
cutting off 'is real head, I will cut off the pumpkin and the King
survives!
BA: I'm not _sure_ it's going to work, Baldrick.
BD: Why not?
BA: Because once you've cut it off, you have to hold it up in front of the
crowd and say, "This is the head of a traitor." At which point they will
shout back, "No it's not, it's a pumpkin with a pathetic mustache."
BD: I suppose it's not one-hundred percent convincing...
BA: It's not _one_ percent convincing. However, I am a busy man, and I
can't be bothered to punish you at the moment. (he walks a distance from
Baldrick and holds up a clenched fist) Here is my fist, kindly run towards
it as fast as you can. (Baldrick does so) I just don't understand it. What
possessed you to take the job?
BD: Oh, I'm sorry, sir, it was just a wild silly foolish plan. I thought,
with the money I got from executing the King, I could sneak out and buy a
brand new King when no one was looking and pop him onto the throne when no
one was noticing.
BA: Your head is as empty as a eunuch's underpants. You'd do anything for
30 pieces of silver, wouldn't you?
BD: It was 1,000 pounds, actually, sir, plus tip. (holds up bag of money)
BA: (Eyeballing the bag) Well I suppose somebody's got to do it, haven't
they? (grabs money) And if it's going to be done, it's got to be done in a
simple stroke by someone who actually owns an ax. We don't want you hacking
away at it all afternoon with that cheap pen-knife of yours. It would be
_so_ embarrassing to have King Charles staggering around Hampton Court
tomorrow morning, with his neck flapping like a fish's gills (?).
BD: Sir, you don't mean--
BA: Yep, I'm doing it. Lend me your costume. Then go meekly to the King,
and inform him that Sir Edmund Blackadder cannot be with him tomorrow. And
make sure you think up a _bloody_ good excuse.
--- THE CONCLUSION IN THE NEXT ISSUE...---
###
STRESS-BUSTER
=============
>From Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Thanks to Lindsay Ewing.
"Eric the half-a-bee":
half a bee, philosophically,
must ipso facto, half not be.
but half a bee has got to be
vis a vis, it's entity.
you see?
but can a bee be said to be
or not to be an entire bee,
when half the bee is not a bee
due to some ancient injury?
singing...
la dee dee
one two three
eric the half-a-bee
A B C D E F G
eric the half-a-bee
is this wretched demi-bee
half asleep upon my knee
a freak from a menagerie?
NO!
it's eric the half-a-bee.
fiddley dum
fiddley dee
eric the half a bee
ho ho ho
tee hee hee
eric the half-a-bee
I love this hive employee
bisected accidentally
one summer afternoon by me
I love him carnally
(he loves him carnally)
(semi-carnally)
the end.
(cyril connoley?)
no, semi-carnally
(cyril connoley)
whistle......
---------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE O' THE MONTH:
"What on earth are you eating?" Richie
"Lard." Eddie
"You are eating--lard." R
"Yeah, well I'm hungry but I'm too drunk to cook." -- Eddie
CHARACTERS: Richie (Rik Mayall) and Eddie (Adrian Edmundson)
SHOW: Bottom, Season 1, "Smells"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-- A D V E R T I S E M E N T S --
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Britcomedy Digest not held responsible for advertiser's merchandise.
Richard Berger is the first to advertise in BD. He's offering to make
copies of the following tapes for monetary compensation. All listed videos
are in excellent condition, and are in the North American NTSC format.
FOR PRICING & DETAILS CONTACT: Richard.berger@iflex.wimsey.com
j Red Dwarf - All 6 seasons (6 episodes per season) on their own individual
tape. (a few minor flaws in the video). Each tape approx. 3 hrs.
j Mr. Bean - 2 tapes are available of Rowan Atkinson's wonderfully funny
character who says little verbally, but speaks volumes with the use of body
language and facial expressions. This characterization has been rightly
compared to the genius of Charlie Chaplain. 5 episodes per video; each tape
runs approx. 2 hrs. & 20 min.
j John Cleese's "How to Irritate People" is a rare video of a stage
presentation that was filmed for British TV. Runs 65 min.
j Rik Mayall videos. The films are as follows:
- The Young Ones (The Old and the Boring-1988) 96 min.
- The Bad News Tour (1987) 84 min.
- The Dangerous Brothers (1991) 77 min.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
FANZINES AND COMPREHENSIVE LISTS:
"The Unofficial, Incomplete, But Otherwise Completely Wonderful List of
MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS fan clubs and fanzines" can be found at
alt.comedy.british and alt.fan.monty-python; or FTP:
cathouse.org/pub/cathouse/humor/british.humour/mont.python/fan.clubs
Soon to be posted at: http://www.iia.org/'rosenr1/python
Compiled & maintained by Alyce Wilson (amw108@psuvm.psu.edu)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
"The Definitive UK Sitcom list," is posted on the 1st of each month to both
rec.arts.tv.uk and alt.comedy.british. It includes the title, years first
broadcast, core cast, writer(s), and plot synopsis of British comedies. It
can also be found on the (UK) University of Manchester Information Server
(under miscellaneous) for those familiar with Gopher; and at the Tardis
archive site (now at Imperial College.) Compiled by Dave Budd
(DBudd@mcc.ac.uk)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
John Labovitz (johnl@ora.com) maintains the "'Zine FAQ" and wants the world
to know about it! But we said we'd run this ad anyway. It can be retrieved
in the following ways:
gopher: gopher.etext.org: Zines / e-zine-list
ftp: ftp.etext.org: /pub/Zines/e-zine-list
web: http://www.ora.com:8080/johnl/e-zine-list/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
An excellent "Frequently Asked Questions" list on RED DWARF, by Pat Berry,
is available via ftp:src.doc.ic.ac.uk
dir:/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/RedDwarf Everything you It's
also posted periodically at "alt.tv.red-dwarf."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
===========
"What's On"
===========
A listing on noteworthy British comedy shows on public broadcasting
stations across the U.S.A.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, Bay Area
* KTEH, PBS Ch. 54 will be showing all six episodes of season 6 of Red
Dwarf, back to back, August 28, 10:30-1:30 PM. There are no scheduled
pledge breaks, so it should be uninterrupted.
KTEH has had everything from Black Adder, French Fields, Jeeves &
Wooster, Monty Python, to Are You Being Served, at around 7:00 PM nightly.
PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia
* Channel 57 airs "Showtime Comedy" Sat. from 11 PM - midnight. The best of
comedy specials on SHOWTIME cable t.v. Past episodes have shown: Gary
Shandling, Martin Short, & Rowin Atkinson.
* Channel 12 (PBS) airs "Blackadder Goes Forth" at 11 PM every Sunday.
At 11:30, Faulty Towers is shown.
CANADA, Southwest British Columbia:
* 3rd series of "Last of the Summer Wine" is on Vision Mondays
at 7 PM Repeats at midnight and Tuesday, 10 AM.
* Home To Roost is on YTV Tuesdays at 7:30 PM.
* In Loving Memory is on Vision Wednesdays at 7 PM.
* Are You Being Served? is on KCTS (the Seattle PBS affiliate)
Thursdays at 7 PM.
* French Fields is on KCTS Thursdays at 7:30 PM.
* Rich Tea and Sympathy is on Knowledge Net Saturdays at 8 PM
starting on August 6.
* KCTS also offers two Britcoms (which change frequently) every
evening from 11 PM to midnight.
WASHINGTON, Spokane
* PBS is airing a series called 'Funny Business' which explores comedy on
stage, film, and TV. Among the episodes is one on Rowan Atkinson, called
'Visual Comedy.' It airs on PBS affiliate KSPS Tuesday, July 26 at 10 PM.
Check your local listings.
OREGON, Portland
* Master-piece Theatre's second series of Jeeves & Wooster is playing on
PBS. Mondays at 9 PM; reruns 11 PM. Most PBS stations do these reruns in
tandem; Jeeves & Wooster should be coming to your area for the next few
weeks. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie star.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melinda 'Rikki-tikki-tavi' Casino --> Maintainer of the Bottom FAQ
casino@pobox.upenn.edu & BRITCOMEDY DIGEST
"There's nothing 'cushy' about life in the women's auxiliary
balloon corps!" - Capt. Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerty)
From: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (Melinda 'Bob' Casino)
Subject: BRITCOMEDY DIGEST (1/2) vol. 1, no. 2
==================================
B R I T C O M E D Y D I G E S T
==================================
V. 1 C R A I G C H A R L E S U P D A T E SEPT. 1994
no.2
A monthly electronic newsletter on British comedies.
What's Inside:
==============
Features:
* Britcom History 101: The Footlights Club
* "Confessions of a Red Dwarf Fanatic" by Michelle Casino
* Reader's Forum: Speculation on Season VII of Red Dwarf
* Review of Disney's THE LION KING
* Transcription of 'Blackadder: The Cavalier Years' (2/3)
Regular Departments:
Letters
Britcomedy News
Newsquirks
Review
Stress-Buster
Quote-O'-the-Month
Ads
"What's On"
E D I T O R 'S P A G E
=======================
Welcome to the second edition of Britcomedy Digest. Due to this issue's
length, it had to be mailed to subscribers in two parts. Readers may want
to print this issue out for easier reading.
In this issue, we've introduced a Reader's Forum, which is a selection
of posts on the Internet (in this case, discussing the future of Red
Dwarf). And our first "Letters to the Editor" have arrived!
While the Lion King has already opened across the U.S., it won't be
released in the UK for another six months or so. Keeping that in mind,
Brits can still read the review by Lee Whiteside without fear of "spoilers"
in his article.
Also included is the second part of the transcript of "Blackadder: The
Cavalier Years," a review of Disney's "The Lion King" by Lee Whiteside, and
a narrative by Michelle Casino on her odyssey from detached viewer to Red
Dwarf fanatic. And for Monty Python fans, Michael Clarkson outlines why
Python broke the mold.
Britcomedy Digest is looking for good articles/editorials/trivia, so if
you're an aspiring writer or a veteran, please submit your piece to the
editor. Thanks.
Staff
=====
Managing Editor................Melinda Casino
Contributing Editor............Michelle Street
Budget Coordinator, Monkey.....Michelle Casino
Contributing writers: Michelle Casino, Michelle Street, Lee Whiteside.
NOTE: Your name doesn't have to be Michelle to write for BD, but it helps.
<Schopenhauer Publishing Co.>
How To Reach The Editors
========================
We want to hear from you! Readers are welcome to direct "letters to the
editor," comments, praise, criticism, and general what-not to the Managing
Editor at Britcomedy Digest.
Write: Melinda Casino, Britcomedy Digest, 404 So. 20th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19146.
E-mail: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (place in subject line 'Britcomedy Digest')
For all news-related items, please contact Michelle Street:
mtstreet@prairienet.org
Michelle Street, 1118 Briarcliff, Rantoul, IL 61866.
BACK ISSUES
===========
Back issues can be located at ftp site: cathouse.org. Use an anonymous
identification, and your e-mail address as the password. The directory is:
/pub/cathouse/humor/british.humour/britcomedy.digest
Macintosh users should place a "+" symbol before their e-mail address password.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=====================
AT LAST there is a BritCom magazine on the Internet. I was trembling with
excitement when I was reading your first edition. I wish you the best and
hope for the magazine not only to become a sort of "service point" for
BritCom fans, but also a forum for discussions, essays on BritCom as well.
Michael Hildebrandt
Germany
PS: Can you e-mail me the latest editions?
EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks. Britcomedy Digest is now available using ftp. If
you don't have this software, please e-mail me and I'll gladly send you a
copy. The Digest strives to be a forum for discussions: anyone can submit
an editorial, and the "Reader's Forum" makes its debut in this issue.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just thought that I would drop you a line to tell you that I think that
your e-zine is one of the best I've read for a very long time. Just the
subject-matter that I've missed so far!
What about one of the best Brit. comedies 'Bottom'?
Lars Lindstrom
Trollhattan, Sweden
EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks for the compliment. I happen to be the maintainer of
the "Bottom FAQ", so you can look forward to a lot of Bottom coverage (no
pun intended) in future issues.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Muchas gracias for your thoughtful and informative newsletter. Please do
include me on your mailing list. Alas, here in primitive NYC Queens - one
of the last areas in the nation, if not the world to be cable wired, I have
not had access to RD in over a year. The 3 PBS affiliates sporadically run
it (seemingly during pledges) and then zippo. I only saw 1st 3 seasons.
Read RD books, got some tapes from Blockbuster, want to find The Last Human
by Lister...
So sorry to hear about Craig, I hope he's innocent...
Smoke me a kipper, mate,
Superstar Bryan K. Astoria (NYC)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'd just like to point out that Alexei Sayle's name is spelled "Alexei Sayle"...
Also, the review of Alexei Sayle's "Stuff" seems to have been based on only
about 5 minutes from one of his shows.
Ian Collier
Oxford, UK
EDITOR'S REPLY: Thank you for the correction on the spelling of Alexei
Sayle's name.
Actually, it was an editorial, not a review, and as such has been written
from an opinionated rather than objective standpoint.
In preparation for the article, I watched 6 1/2 hours of "STUFF." The skits
mentioned, while certainly not exhaustive of Sayle's work, were
representative of points made in my editorial.
I'd hoped for a rebuttal from one of his fans, which I would gladly include
in the next issue. To date, none have been received. Am I to interpret this
as general agreement with my editorial?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I would like to strongly disagree with your opinions on Alexei Sayle "the
lovable fat bastard." I thought his last series, "The All New Alexei Sayle
Show" was very funny as was the column he used to write to for The
Observer. He is a funny man (and) just because you don't like him doesn't
mean others don't, I know plenty who do.
Regards,
Robert (UK)
EDITOR'S REPLY: The editorial was not based on "The All New Alexei Sayle Show."
However, your letter allows me to make a point. In the future, BD will not
publish letters that state simply "I disagree"; why do you disagree? Can
you argue against the points made in the editorial?
BD strives to foster an "open forum" atmosphere, where other people's
opinions are published, as long as they demonstrate thoughtful
argumentation and a knowledge of the subject.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I would like to argue that "AbFab" has no place in your newsletter. It is
not funny therefore it is not comedy therefore it should not go in
something called BritComedy.
Regards,
Robert (UK)
EDITOR'S REPLY: In every media source BD has at its disposal, "Absolutely
Fabulous" is billed as a comedy. Can you tell me exactly *why* you think
it's not funny, and give me some examples? Readers, any comment?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Regarding "Blackadder: The Cavalier Years": It was written and performed
for Comic Relief, a BBC comedy telethon hosted by Grif-Rhys Jones and Lenny
Henry (circa '88), and most of the money went to the third world, not AIDS
research.
Also, it *has* been released to the general public, on the Comic Relief
Video. But it is elusive, and probably impossible to find nowadays.
Yours,
Dave Ford
Bath University, UK
BRITCOMEDY NEWS
===============
CRAIG CHARLES CHARGED WITH RAPE
SHOCK WAVES SENT THROUGH "ALT.TV.RED-DWARF"
Seven million fans of the BBC comedy "Red Dwarf" were shocked last month
when they learned that Craig Charles was officially charged with rape and
assault. Charles plays the sloppy but lovable "Dave Lister" on Red Dwarf, a
n'er-do-well misfit who likes to "bum around and have a laugh," and listens
to "Rastabilly Skank."
In the July 19 issue of "The Herald" (Glasgow), it was reported that Mr.
Charles and Mr. Peploe have made three applications for bail since being
arrested, all refused. "The Herald" said that both men are in custody until
August 15, but said the prosecution should work towards a committal hearing
by September 21.
Outside the court, Charles's solicitor said: "Craig wishes us to let you
know he maintains his complete innocence. He is looking forward to clearing
his name." Both men were remanded in custody until July 18.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS HITS POLITICALLY CORRECT U.S.
Edina and Patsy have been the center of an "un-P.C." Britcom that would
have the executives of CBS, NBC, and ABC wringing their hands--never mind
PBS. But Comedy Central has bravely picked up the show, and Edina and Patsy
can be seen in the U.S. on Comedy Central's marathon beginning Sunday, July
24 at 3 PM.
The show is centered around a fashion "victim" (Joanna Lumley as
"Patsy") and her publicist (Jennifer Saunders as "Edina"). Few Americans
will recognize Julia Sawalha, who plays Edina's daughter, Saffron. Jennifer
Saunders also writes the show. Two seasons have aired in the UK and
recently, AbFab--as the Brits call it--garnered quite alot of mainstream
publicity when scenes were shot in New York for its third season. The New
York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, and Time
Magazine, and USA Today carried reviews with pictures recently.
Clearly the show that skewers the publicity machine has a good PR department.
Although various American reviewers have criticized AbFab (as William
Tynan did in the July 25 issue of Time), citing characters that are "too
broad" and the many scenes that poke fun at alcoholism, 'Absolutely
Fabulous!' is what Americans will think who are fed up with politically
correct, sugar-coated U.S. comedies that aim to give viewers the warm
fuzzies.
Standard fare on AbFab: sexual promiscuity, cattiness between women, the
shallowness of the fashion industry, falling-down drunk, drug use, and a
wardrobe full outfits that would make Ivanna Trump's head spin.
After the initial marathon on Sunday, Absolutely Fabulous will have a
regular weekly airing Saturdays at 4:30 PM ET/PT, Sundays at 11 PM, and
Mondays at 8:30 PM on Comedy Central.
-----> Know of some news? Send news item to: mtstreet@prairienet.org
NEWSQUIRKS
==========
Pixels in the press...
TELL ME IT'S AN UNREALITY BUBBLE
Rumors of Hollywood doing a Red Dwarf movie abound. The latest reports
making there way on the newsgroups is that Eddie Murphy will play "Lister,"
and Ted Danson will play "Rimmer." However, Bricomedy Digest could only
confirm that the movie is "in the pipeline." With Hollywood, that can mean
anything. Stay tuned.
YOUR SEX SPRAY, GENTLEMEN...
It may not have worked for Bottom's Richard Richard and Eddie Hitler, but
Dr. David Berliner claims pheromones are legit. Dr. Berliner's preliminary
research at his private biotechnology company points to the existence of a
human "pheromone system": essentially, a "sixth sense" which responds to
odorless chemicals and may influence sexual attraction. The discovery was
prompted by Dr. Berliner's observation that people in the lab where he was
doing research with open flasks of derivatives from human skin "were
unusually friendly and relaxed." He traced these responses to the skin
compounds and the field of pheromone research was born. But don't go
looking for bottles of pheromones on the shelves of your local sex shop
just yet. Dr. Berliner is keeping close wraps on his discovery until
patents are granted. We can only hope that products are available by next
Valentine's Day. Until then, it's raw oysters on the half shell...
###
=================================================================
Britcom History 101: The Footlights Club
=================================================================
At the beginning of the film "Peter's Friends" there is a sequence where
Stephen Fry, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, and the others are doing a
goofy musical number about the London tube system in what appears to be a
student union.
This is no doubt an affectionate tribute to a long-standing tradition in
British comedy with which many people outside of England may not be
familiar. I am referring to The Footlights Club.
The amateur theatrical society known as "The Footlights Club" is a
tradition at Cambridge University which dates back to the late 1800s.
Though it has always produced its fair share of popular performers, during
the 1950s and 60s it launched the careers of the most important names in
British comedy.
Who, you might ask? Here's a partial list of those who have appeared in
"Footlights" revues:
John Cleese
Graham Chapman
Eric Idle
David Frost
Jonathan Miller
Peter Cook
Bill Oddie
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Graeme Garden
Other distinguished members have included the National Lampoon's Tony
Hendra as well as famed director Trevor Nunn.
To become a "Footlights" member is an arduous process. To gain
membership a person must be nominated by a current "Footlights" member and
then invited to audition. The Presidency of the club is not voted on - the
current President hand picks his or her successor.
One interesting thing to note about the Footlights is that women were
not allowed to join until the late 50s. The sole exception to this was the
year 1932, and the experiment to permit women in proved so disastrous that
next year's revue was called "No More Women." What this policy did was
force men to play the women's roles and perhaps this is what started the
whole Python tradition of putting on women's clothing and hanging around in
bars. (Ok, I'll pause here so you can finish singing the song) :)
What the "Footlights" group works towards is the annual revue which is
put on for two weeks at the end of every school year. In the past, these
productions have gone on tour after closing at the school, with some of
them winding up on the West End or at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
What are these revues like? Well, over the years they have varied
greatly. Some have been frivolous nods to the music hall tradition while
others - like the 1959 revue "The Last Laugh" with Peter Cook and Eleanor
Bron - were hard-hitting political satires. The changing social climate in
Britain over the years no doubt had an important effect on the content and
tone of these shows.
Over the past decade or so the importance of the "Footlights Club" has
waned. However, there is no doubt that this will continue to be a valuable
training ground for comedy talent into the 21st century.
###
=================================================================
Confessions of a Red Dwarf Fanatic
OR: Damn It, There's Just GOT to be a Season 7
========================= by Michelle Casino ====================
I admit it. When I first saw Red Dwarf, I thought it was one of the
stupidest shows I'd ever seen. In light of my current fanaticism, my
initial response indicates one of two things: either Red Dwarf grows on
you, or I was a blind fool. Considering my past choices in boyfriends, I
think the "blind fool" theory is more likely--but there is still much truth
in the idea that RD grows on you. You can't really appreciate that first
scene in "The End" between Lister and Rimmer until you know their
characters better and have developed some affection for them. Without this
in place, the scene falls flat. With it, Lister's insistent humming and
Rimmer's officiously putting Lister on report for it are like wearing a
favorite pair of old jeans: everything just falls into place and feels
right.
So how did I come to be a fanatic if I first thought the show stupid?
Simple: ANYTHING to avoid general housework. And for all its faults (e.g.,
the Cat in Seasons 1 and 2--talk about pain), I found watching RD more
enjoyable than cleaning pink mold off the vegetable drawer in the 'fridge.
(I'm waiting til it gets 2 feet high, so I can call it 'Albert'). I soon
came to have another excuse for watching: as a philosophy student, how
could I justify not watching a show which makes references to Descartes,
Schopenhauer, and Sartre? (Sadly, not many comedies mention philosophers
even though philosophy is quite funny--if you need proof, read Hegel.)
At some point in time, (I think it was when I went out to an Indian
restaurant specifically to try Chicken Vindaloo), I realized I was no
longer watching simply to avoid 'Albert'. I had become a full-fledged fan:
able to quote scenes at length, correcting my sister on trivia, and unable
to count the number of times I'd seen "Queeg." Granted, this worried me
somewhat (why have I found this bunch of misfits so compelling that I've
spent all this time with them?), until it hit me that my fanaticism was
really consistent with my secret love of ABBA, my passion for
mathematicians, and the joy I feel at the thought of my alphabetized spice
shelf (hey--if you need curry in a hurry, you don't need to be sidetracked
by the oregano).
This explains my happy state of anticipation at hearing that there is
(was?) going to be a Christmas Special and that plans for Season 7 are
(were?) in the works--and it explains my horror at the revelation that
Craig Charles has been charged with rape. When my sister first told me that
he had been jailed and denied bail, I felt as if my world had been rocked.
Shock set in. How could this happen--first Pee Wee, then Woody, now
this...I told her that if she hears anything like this about Rowan Atkinson
DON'T TELL ME.
One thing's for sure: it will be difficult to watch the scene where
Lister accuses Rimmer of a bad attitude toward women ("Parallel Universe")
in quite the same way. I hope that the charges against Craig prove to be
false. I hope so both for his sake and for mine.
###
===============
END OF PART I
===============
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melinda 'Rikki-tikki-tavi' Casino --> Maintainer of the Bottom FAQ
casino@pobox.upenn.edu & BRITCOMEDY DIGEST
"There's nothing 'cushy' about life in the women's auxiliary
balloon corps!" - Capt. Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerty)
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 1994 12:47:36 -0500
From: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (Melinda 'Bob' Casino)
Subject: BRITCOMEDY DIGEST (2/2) vol. 1, no. 2
==================================
B R I T C O M E D Y D I G E S T
==================================
V. 1 P A R T T W O SEPT. 1994
no.2
A monthly electronic newsletter on British comedies.
Staff
=====
Managing Editor................Melinda Casino
Contributing Editor............Michelle Street
Budget Coordinator, Monkey.....Michelle Casino
Contributing writers: Michelle Casino, Michelle Street, Lee Whiteside.
NOTE: Your name doesn't have to be Michelle to write for BD, but it helps.
<Schopenhauer Publishing Co.>
How To Reach The Editors
========================
We want to hear from you! Readers are welcome to direct "letters to the
editor," comments, praise, criticism, and general what-not to the Managing
Editor at Britcomedy Digest.
Write: Melinda Casino, Britcomedy Digest, 404 So. 20th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19146.
E-mail: casino@pobox.upenn.edu (place in subject line 'Britcomedy Digest')
For all news-related items, please contact Michelle Street:
mtstreet@prairienet.org
Michelle Street, 1118 Briarcliff, Rantoul, IL 61866.
BACK ISSUES
===========
Back issues can be located at ftp site: cathouse.org. Use an anonymous
identification, and your e-mail address as the password. The directory is:
/pub/cathouse/humor/british.humour/britcomedy.digest
Macintosh users should place a "+" symbol before their e-mail address password.
READER'S FORUM
============== Speculation on the Internet about Season VII of Red Dwarf
The following are selected threads from alt.fan.red-dwarf; all opinions
reprinted with permission of the postee.
Robert (UK):
"Look I as sad as the next bloke that CC has been accused of rape but I
think if he is guilty he should go to prison for a long time. If he isn't
everything will be good. But what I really writing to say is that the
original crew should remain no matter what. If it goes to Hollywood the
crew should be played by the current cast not the Hollywood big wigs, they
will just ruin it.
If CC is found guilty one of two things should happen:
1) RD should end - It may seem a shame but it will stop it turning into one
of those things that drags on forever and with people saying "that you used
to be very funny, but it sure as hell ain't no more"
2) Lister should be written out and replaced by a NEW character. Yes, a new
character, not some one trying to mimic Lister but someone new to take the
show off in a different direction. Phrase an "Ace" Rimmer type character
who could get on Rimmer's wick by being brilliant. Maybe a female character
would work (if Lister was to say I would say no way to this as there have
been point were the show has hinged around Lister's frustration that there
are no females left.) but she could work by not wanting the Cat, which
would drive him crazy."
Eric A. Drumbor ("All this IMHO of course ;)"):
"There's been TONS of speculation about CC and the future of Red Dwarf. I
thought I'd just offer my opinion of it, since it apparently differs with
most others...
Let's first assume the worst case scenario, I'm not saying this is what is
true, just speculating here ok? CC is guilty and/or convicted of these
charges. He would undoubtedly be booted from the cast either by the need to
serve jail time or just his status of guilt.
Would it be so difficult for the producers to put a small notice on an RD
show that CC is being replaced due to circumstances beyond their control?
Why the artistic script writing cover-up? I don't see why they couldn't
just come clean and say "hey look, Craig Charles is gone. We couldn't do
anything about it, and we would like to keep the show going, so just try to
accept that we needed to replace him with someone else."
Maybe it's too much of a reminder that there's a real world out there
besides the one that RD portrays. But it's much more realistic than trying
to pull a fast one, if you know what I mean. Besides, Lister comes back in
Stasis Leak to marry Christine K. There's hardly a way that they could
write anything into the script that would change this, and look halfway
decent."
MICHAEL A. CLOONAN:
Red Dwarf VII need not have Craig Charles in it, you know. If he is
"unavailable" when production goes ahead, shows like RD have the quality to
scientifically change one of its characters appearances by some great
phenomenon that mutates people or something. Of course, in the middle of a
two-part story it could be a little difficult but not necessarily
impossible.
I'm not talking Doctor Who-style regeneration stuff here, of course, but
there is a way.
Of course, whatever actor replaces CC, will have to act like him and do it
properly for it to be effective...
Damian Perry:
Well, they could always continue with the brain in the jar. It would be
kind of hard for him to move around, and he would be kind of like Holly,
but it would make for a stranger series.
BUT. Lister as Lister has to go back and marry Kockanski. Also, it kind
of defeats the purpose of the last human alive. But anyway.
###
================================================================
Rowan Atkinson in The Lion King
- or -
Black Adder Does Disney
========================= by Lee Whiteside =====================
As you probably know by now, The Lion King is looking to be the biggest
animated movie ever and likely to be the biggest movie of the year. Which
means that one of our favorite British Comedy performers will be heard by
many, many more people than he has ever reached before. I'm talking about
Rowan Atkinson, who does the voice for the hornbill Zazu in The Lion King.
Zazu is the assistant to King Mufasa and is very prominent in the first
half of the movie, assisting Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) and
keeping an eye on his heir, Simba, as he gets into trouble. As has been
made much of in the Disney publicity for the movie, a lot of the characters
look like their real life counterparts and Zazu is no exception. And when
he talks, you can close your eyes and almost hear Black Adder The Third
when Zazu is dressing down young Simba. Zazu gets a lot of laughs in the
first half of the movie, but once Simba leaves, Zazu takes a back seat to
the comic duo of Timon and Pumbaa, getting in one good bit when Scar
(Jeremy Irons) wants him to sing something cheerful, which gets one of the
biggest laughs in the movie.
The only disappointment I have with Rowan's association with The Lion
King is the lack of any mention of Rowan in all of the Disney publicity
associated with the film. In the various TV specials and interviews, I have
seen nil on Rowan and only a brief mention of the animator doing Zazu. In
light of the number of times I've seen Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones
saying some of their lines, I thought maybe they would at least acknowledge
Rowan at some point. Either Disney feels no one in the U.S. knows who he is
or Rowan decided not to do any publicity for the movie (ala Whoopi
Goldberg, who appears to be following Robin Williams lead and not doing any
interviews). It will be interesting to see if there is any publicity
mentioning Rowan when the movie opens in the U.K. later this year.
Overall, Rowan makes a nice addition to the voice cast for a very good
movie. It's definitely worth seeing to see Rowan's contribution to the
movie. There is some merchandise featuring Rowan's likeness (in the form of
Zazu) in some action figures and a stuffed Zazu doll. Rowan is also
featured on the soundtrack album with "I Just Can't Wait to be King". If
anything, maybe the response to Zazu will get Rowan noticed a bit more in
the U.S. and help him to get involved with other projects in the U.S.
###
BLACKADDER: THE CAVALIER YEARS -- Part II of transcription
==========================================================
Originally performed live for a Comic Relief benefit in the UK. A video
which includes this skit was released under the title "Exclusive Relief,"
although I'm told it's difficult to find.
Baldrick.............................Tony Robinson
Sir Edmund Blackadder................Rowan Atkinson
Oliver Cromwell......................Robbie Coltrane
King Charles.........................Stephen Fry
Narrator: (seen at the beginning of Part 1)
In 1648, King Charles was in flight from the wrath of Cromwell and his
Roundheads. Only two men remained faithful, risking certain death by their
fidelity to the crown. One was the sole descendant of a great historical
dynasty--his name, Sir Edmund Blackadder. The other was an unfortunate
mating between a pig farmer and a bearded lady. History has, quite rightly,
forgotten his name.
SCENE IV:
Tower of London
CAPTION: January 30, the Day of the Execution of King Charles the First
KC: So this is the day of the execution of King Charles the first?
BA: Absolutely not, your Majesty. The Roundhead traitors have one final
hurdle that they will never straddle.
KC: How fascinating. And what is that, exactly?
BA: They will never find a man to behead you. They'd have hundreds of
volunteers to cut Cromwell's head off, he's such an ugly devil. I hear he's
got so many warts on his face that it's only when he sneezes that you find
out which one's his nose. So they'll never find a man to execute you.
KC: Now you see, I find that that's absolutely tragic. You know, there are
so many young people who would leap at a chance like that. I don't know,
all they need is initiative, sometimes. I think, in a sense, that's what my
(work?) scheme is all about.
BA: (uninterested) Really?
KC: Yes. On the other hand, of course, I don't want my head cut off-uh,
it'd be a bit embarrassing, like so many things...
BA: Shut up with the greatest respect, your Majesty. They will never find
an executioner, and if they do may my conjugal dipstick turn into a tennis
racket. (Knock at the door. BA pulls black hood on)
Messenger: A message for the King. (BA takes it and reads it. Messenger exits)
BA: Ah. (Drops peach he's holding. Bounces back with a tennis-ball sound
effect).
SCENE V:
Blackadder Hall.
(Baldrick is singing and working. BA sits nearby)
BD: There's a tavern in the town...
BA: For God's sakes, stop that, Baldrick. It's bad enough to have one's
life in utter ruin without being serenaded by a moron with all the
entertainment value of a tap-dancing oyster.
BD: I'm so sorry, sir, I can't help it. See, I've just had a little windfall.
BA: (with disdain) Baldrick, I've told you before, if you're going to do
that, go out into the garden.
BD: I mean, I've come into some money.
BA: Really? You mean your inheritance?
BD: No, I ate that ages ago.
BA: Of course, your thoughtful father bequeathed you a turnip.
BD: No, it was 50 pounds, actually--it was delicious. A little something
just fell in my lap.
BA: Not the first time there's been a little something in your lap, Baldrick.
BD: No, but this one is a job.
BA: Really? (absorbed in reading paper) I just don't understand it. Where
on earth would they find a man so utterly devoid of heart and soul, so low
and degraded, to accept the job of beheading the King of England? (looks up
from paper) Baldrick--
BD: Yes?
BA: That little job that fell into your lap...
BD: Yes, my Lord.
BA: It wasn't by any chance something to do with an ax, a basket, a little
black box, and the King of England?
BD: Nawwww-
BA: Go on.
BD: I couldn't find the basket.
BA: You very small, total _bastard!_ (grabs kitchen knife and BD's shirt)
BD: Ahh! Please, sir! Don't kill me! I have a cunning plan.
BA: Well forgive me if I don't do a cartwheel of joy. Your family's record
in the department of cunning planning is about as impressive as Stumpy Oleg
McNoleg's personal best in the Market Harborough Marathon. Alright, what's
the plan? (Baldrick reaches for the pumpkin on the table and proudly hefts
it up) A _pumpkin_ is going to save the King.
BD: Ah! But over here I have one that I prepared earlier. (Baldrick reaches
off-screen and reveals another pumpkin with a face painted on it in black)
I will balance it on the King's head like this (demonstrates) then cover
his real head with a cloak, and then, when I execute him, instead of
cutting off 'is real head, I will cut off the pumpkin and the King
survives!
BA: I'm not _sure_ it's going to work, Baldrick.
BD: Why not?
BA: Because once you've cut it off, you have to hold it up in front of the
crowd and say, "This is the head of a traitor." At which point they will
shout back, "No it's not, it's a pumpkin with a pathetic mustache."
BD: I suppose it's not one-hundred percent convincing...
BA: It's not _one_ percent convincing. However, I am a busy man, and I
can't be bothered to punish you at the moment. (he walks a distance from
Baldrick and holds up a clenched fist) Here is my fist, kindly run towards
it as fast as you can. (Baldrick does so) I just don't understand it. What
possessed you to take the job?
BD: Oh, I'm sorry, sir, it was just a wild silly foolish plan. I thought,
with the money I got from executing the King, I could sneak out and buy a
brand new King when no one was looking and pop him onto the throne when no
one was noticing.
BA: Your head is as empty as a eunuch's underpants. You'd do anything for
30 pieces of silver, wouldn't you?
BD: It was 1,000 pounds, actually, sir, plus tip. (holds up bag of money)
BA: (Eyeballing the bag) Well I suppose somebody's got to do it, haven't
they? (grabs money) And if it's going to be done, it's got to be done in a
simple stroke by someone who actually owns an ax. We don't want you hacking
away at it all afternoon with that cheap pen-knife of yours. It would be
_so_ embarrassing to have King Charles staggering around Hampton Court
tomorrow morning, with his neck flapping like a fish's gills (?).
BD: Sir, you don't mean--
BA: Yep, I'm doing it. Lend me your costume. Then go meekly to the King,
and inform him that Sir Edmund Blackadder cannot be with him tomorrow. And
make sure you think up a _bloody_ good excuse.
--- THE CONCLUSION IN THE NEXT ISSUE...---
###
STRESS-BUSTER
=============
>From Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Thanks to Lindsay Ewing.
"Eric the half-a-bee":
half a bee, philosophically,
must ipso facto, half not be.
but half a bee has got to be
vis a vis, it's entity.
you see?
but can a bee be said to be
or not to be an entire bee,
when half the bee is not a bee
due to some ancient injury?
singing...
la dee dee
one two three
eric the half-a-bee
A B C D E F G
eric the half-a-bee
is this wretched demi-bee
half asleep upon my knee
a freak from a menagerie?
NO!
it's eric the half-a-bee.
fiddley dum
fiddley dee
eric the half a bee
ho ho ho
tee hee hee
eric the half-a-bee
I love this hive employee
bisected accidentally
one summer afternoon by me
I love him carnally
(he loves him carnally)
(semi-carnally)
the end.
(cyril connoley?)
no, semi-carnally
(cyril connoley)
whistle......
---------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE O' THE MONTH:
"What on earth are you eating?" Richie
"Lard." Eddie
"You are eating--lard." R
"Yeah, well I'm hungry but I'm too drunk to cook." -- Eddie
CHARACTERS: Richie (Rik Mayall) and Eddie (Adrian Edmundson)
SHOW: Bottom, Season 1, "Smells"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-- A D V E R T I S E M E N T S --
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Britcomedy Digest not held responsible for advertiser's merchandise.
Richard Berger is the first to advertise in BD. He's offering to make
copies of the following tapes for monetary compensation. All listed videos
are in excellent condition, and are in the North American NTSC format.
FOR PRICING & DETAILS CONTACT: Richard.berger@iflex.wimsey.com
j Red Dwarf - All 6 seasons (6 episodes per season) on their own individual
tape. (a few minor flaws in the video). Each tape approx. 3 hrs.
j Mr. Bean - 2 tapes are available of Rowan Atkinson's wonderfully funny
character who says little verbally, but speaks volumes with the use of body
language and facial expressions. This characterization has been rightly
compared to the genius of Charlie Chaplain. 5 episodes per video; each tape
runs approx. 2 hrs. & 20 min.
j John Cleese's "How to Irritate People" is a rare video of a stage
presentation that was filmed for British TV. Runs 65 min.
j Rik Mayall videos. The films are as follows:
- The Young Ones (The Old and the Boring-1988) 96 min.
- The Bad News Tour (1987) 84 min.
- The Dangerous Brothers (1991) 77 min.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
FANZINES AND COMPREHENSIVE LISTS:
"The Unofficial, Incomplete, But Otherwise Completely Wonderful List of
MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS fan clubs and fanzines" can be found at
alt.comedy.british and alt.fan.monty-python; or FTP:
cathouse.org/pub/cathouse/humor/british.humour/mont.python/fan.clubs
Soon to be posted at: http://www.iia.org/'rosenr1/python
Compiled & maintained by Alyce Wilson (amw108@psuvm.psu.edu)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
"The Definitive UK Sitcom list," is posted on the 1st of each month to both
rec.arts.tv.uk and alt.comedy.british. It includes the title, years first
broadcast, core cast, writer(s), and plot synopsis of British comedies. It
can also be found on the (UK) University of Manchester Information Server
(under miscellaneous) for those familiar with Gopher; and at the Tardis
archive site (now at Imperial College.) Compiled by Dave Budd
(DBudd@mcc.ac.uk)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
John Labovitz (johnl@ora.com) maintains the "'Zine FAQ" and wants the world
to know about it! But we said we'd run this ad anyway. It can be retrieved
in the following ways:
gopher: gopher.etext.org: Zines / e-zine-list
ftp: ftp.etext.org: /pub/Zines/e-zine-list
web: http://www.ora.com:8080/johnl/e-zine-list/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
An excellent "Frequently Asked Questions" list on RED DWARF, by Pat Berry,
is available via ftp:src.doc.ic.ac.uk
dir:/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/RedDwarf Everything you It's
also posted periodically at "alt.tv.red-dwarf."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
===========
"What's On"
===========
A listing on noteworthy British comedy shows on public broadcasting
stations across the U.S.A.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, Bay Area
* KTEH, PBS Ch. 54 will be showing all six episodes of season 6 of Red
Dwarf, back to back, August 28, 10:30-1:30 PM. There are no scheduled
pledge breaks, so it should be uninterrupted.
KTEH has had everything from Black Adder, French Fields, Jeeves &
Wooster, Monty Python, to Are You Being Served, at around 7:00 PM nightly.
PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia
* Channel 57 airs "Showtime Comedy" Sat. from 11 PM - midnight. The best of
comedy specials on SHOWTIME cable t.v. Past episodes have shown: Gary
Shandling, Martin Short, & Rowin Atkinson.
* Channel 12 (PBS) airs "Blackadder Goes Forth" at 11 PM every Sunday.
At 11:30, Faulty Towers is shown.
CANADA, Southwest British Columbia:
* 3rd series of "Last of the Summer Wine" is on Vision Mondays
at 7 PM Repeats at midnight and Tuesday, 10 AM.
* Home To Roost is on YTV Tuesdays at 7:30 PM.
* In Loving Memory is on Vision Wednesdays at 7 PM.
* Are You Being Served? is on KCTS (the Seattle PBS affiliate)
Thursdays at 7 PM.
* French Fields is on KCTS Thursdays at 7:30 PM.
* Rich Tea and Sympathy is on Knowledge Net Saturdays at 8 PM
starting on August 6.
* KCTS also offers two Britcoms (which change frequently) every
evening from 11 PM to midnight.
WASHINGTON, Spokane
* PBS is airing a series called 'Funny Business' which explores comedy on
stage, film, and TV. Among the episodes is one on Rowan Atkinson, called
'Visual Comedy.' It airs on PBS affiliate KSPS Tuesday, July 26 at 10 PM.
Check your local listings.
OREGON, Portland
* Master-piece Theatre's second series of Jeeves & Wooster is playing on
PBS. Mondays at 9 PM; reruns 11 PM. Most PBS stations do these reruns in
tandem; Jeeves & Wooster should be coming to your area for the next few
weeks. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie star.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melinda 'Rikki-tikki-tavi' Casino --> Maintainer of the Bottom FAQ
casino@pobox.upenn.edu & BRITCOMEDY DIGEST
"There's nothing 'cushy' about life in the women's auxiliary
balloon corps!" - Capt. Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerty)
Comments
Post a Comment