Do Not Adjust Your Set

Before Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, and later Terry Gilliam, were members of the cast of the sketch comedy show, Do Not Adjust Your Set.

It’s hard to believe this show was originally conceived to be a children’s program. I can’t figure out why. All the sketches and references seem to be geared more towards adults and adults did start tuning in. That’s probably how it evolved into what became Monty Python. Who knows what would have happened, if anything, if it had stayed a “kiddie program.”

More than a sketch comedy show, it’s really more like a variety show with musical performances by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, headed by Neil Innes, who contributed musically to many other Python projects including “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” and “The Rutles.”

One recurring sketch is about crime fighter, Captain Fantastic. I found it too long and not all that funny. Overall, I thought the shorter sketches were funnier than the longer ones. To me, the best sketch was during the last part of the last episode of Season 1, counting down to the end of the series. It was reminiscent of The Election Night sketch from Monty Python.

Because I’m such a Python fan, I thought I’d like this show more. But I think for the very same reason, I wasn’t crazy about it, although it was interesting to see what Monty Python’s Flying Circus evolved from. I haven’t seen Season 2, but considering I wasn’t crazy about Season 1, I don’t feel that deprived.

If you’re as big a Python fan as I am, you might want to check it out along with the John Cleese/Graham Chapman prequel to Python called At Last the 1948 Show.

MAIN CAST:
Eric Idle
Michael Palin
Terry Jones
David Jason
Denise Coffey

Total Seasons: 2 (27 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 1
In Production: 1967 – 1969
Viewer Discretion: Suitable for all ages

A Bit of Fry and Laurie

Almost 20 years before Hugh Laurie limped into his role as Dr. Gregory House, he and his buddy Stephen Fry introduced us to their comic genius on a TV show called, A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Well, actually they did that in Jeeves & Wooster also, but that’s another story.

Fry and Laurie met when they were members of Cambridge University’s Footlights Dramatic Club. With Fry’s talent as a wordsmith and Laurie’s as a musician who could parody all musical genres, the two formed an incomparable comedy duo. (Although, I guess you could compare them to Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.)

I have great admiration for actors and comedians who have range, who can play so many different roles effectively. And if you take on a sketch comedy show, that’s exactly what you have to be proficient in, many different roles, many different characters. Fry and Laurie do it all in this show.

Some of their most memorable recurring characters are: Control and Tony, two overly polite secret agents who discuss issues of national security over coffee; John and Peter, hard-drinking executives who complain about their competition; and Gelliant Gutfright, the host of “The Seventh Dimension,” a show similar to The Twilight Zone.

And in between the sketches, like the most famous of all absurd sketch comedy shows, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, A Bit of Fry and Laurie features many men (and women) on the street commenting on unrelated subjects.

Even though the show is a bit dated and many of the topics were inspired by the issues of the day, it’s still great entertainment. If you only know Hugh Laurie from House, this is a great way to see him, when he was starting out as a comedian.

MAIN CAST:
Hugh Laurie
Stephen Fry

Total Seasons: 4 (26 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 4
In Production: 1987 – 1995
Viewer Discretion: Some adult situations

Little Britain

TOP PICK

When you combine a couple of extremely talented, versatile individuals and let them do what they do best – create wacky characters in even wackier situations – you have a recipe for a very entertaining sketch comedy show.

Now, that being said, Little Britain is not for everyone. The characters created by Matt Lucas and David Walliams are never “politically correct.” No topic is taboo to them. They’ll mock everybody: the disabled, the poor, the elderly, the overweight, the homosexual. But if you’re not easily offended, you’ll find this show hilarious.

          

There are many memorable, recurring characters like: Vicky Pollard, the fast-talking juvenile delinquent who’s always in some sort of trouble; Welshman Dafydd Thomas, who claims to be the “only gay in the village,” but he isn’t; Marjorie Dawes, the leader of “Fat Fighters,” who instead of encouraging the people in her weight loss group, berates them at every meeting; and Emily Howard, the most unconvincing transvestite who insists she’s “a lady.”

          

Equally as funny as the sketches and characters is the voice over narration done by the fourth Dr. Who, Tom Baker.

In addition to the three series, Little Britain Abroad, Little Britain USA and Little Britain Live were also produced.

MAIN CAST:
David Walliams
Matt Lucas

Total Seasons: 3 (23 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 3
In Production: 2003 – 2006
Viewer Discretion: nudity, language, strong adult situations

Man Stroke Woman

This quirky sketch comedy show looks at men, women, love, sex, relationships, dating, parenting and life in the workplace. It’s a witty take on dealing with life’s little problems, big problems, and things that just could never happen.

Some of my favorite recurring sketches include: a wife who tries on new outfits for her husband looking for a compliment, but the clothes are so outlandish he can’t think of anything nice to say; a new father who keeps misplacing his infant son, often unknowingly switching him with small animals or a roast turkey; and then there’s drunk Uncle Jack who takes his 12-year old nephew to very inappropriate places; and Karen who crank calls her flatmate, who works at a police emergency phone line, pretending she needs help.

The ensemble cast consists of six comedy actors, including Nick Frost and Amanda Abbington. In the various roles he plays on this show, Nick Frost is nothing like his characters on Spaced or Hyperdrive. And the first time I saw Amanda Abbington was when she portrayed a Scottish police officer in the serious crime drama, Case Histories. So it’s great to see her playing comedy.

MAIN CAST:
Nick Frost
Amanda Abbington
Ben Crompton
Daisy Haggard
Meredith MacNeill
Nicholas Burns

Total Seasons: 2 (12 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 2
In Production: 2005 – 2007
Viewer Discretion: Adult situations, language

Monty Python’s Flying Circus

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Of all the British television shows out there, most of us probably became exposed to British TV through Monty Python’s Flying Circus when it was on PBS. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, you’ve most likely heard of the show. It was the first British show that I fell in love with, the granddaddy of all British sketch comedy shows. It’s a true classic.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus has become part of our American pop culture. Who hasn’t heard of the “Dead Parrot Sketch” or the “Ministry of Silly Walks?” Who hasn’t sung the songs “I’m a Lumberjack” or “Spam?” And what about the “Spanish Inquisition?” Nobody expects them!

I’m a Pythonoholic. I have the entire series on DVD (the first DVD series I ever bought) and watch it often. Plus I have the two volume book set called “All the Words,” which, of course, includes all the words from the 45 original episodes.

I can recite all of my favorite sketches like “How Not to Be Seen,” “The Cheese Shop,” “Crunchy Frog,” “Self Defense Against Fresh Fruit,” “The Upper Class Twit of the Year,” and “The Piranha Brothers.”

And don’t forget the composer with the longest name – Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle-dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer-spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein-nurnburger-bratwustle-gerspurten-mitz-weinmache-luber-hundsfut-gumberaber-shonendanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more!

MAIN CAST:
Graham Chapman
John Cleese
Eric Idle
Terry Gilliam
Terry Jones
Michael Palin
Carol Cleveland
Connie Booth

Total Seasons: 4 (45 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 4
In Production: 1969-1974
Viewer Discretion: Some adult situations

That Mitchell and Webb Look

TOP PICK

In my opinion, everything that David Mitchell and Robert Webb do is outrageously funny, at least so far. Their innovative program, Peep Show was hilarious and I can’t get enough of this sketch comedy show, That Mitchell and Webb Look.

Sketch comedy shows can be hit or miss. They can’t all be Monty Python’s Flying Circus. But these two guys have come up with some recurring characters and spoof sketches that keep you wanting more. Here are some of my favorites:

*Numberwang: A totally absurd game show where contestants take turns saying various numbers until the host says, “That’s Numberwang.” There’s even a German version and a word version called “Wordwang.” A couple other bits include a documentary about the origin of Numberwang, a commercial for the home game and a trailer for the movie “The Numberwang Code,”  kind of like “The Da Vinci Code.”

*The Surprising Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken Caesar: Webb plays Digby, an alcoholic, drug addicted homeless man who’s under the impression that he’s a secret agent. Along with his sidekick, Ginger, they commit various crimes while searching for their nemesis, whoever that is. This sketch is shot partially with a point of view camera, similar to the style of Peep Show.

*The Quiz Broadcast: This post-apocalyptic game show features contestants who have to answer questions about “The Event,” an unexplained cataclysm that has most likely destroyed civilization. But the Brits bravely carry on, trying to have a good time on the show and being reminded to “Remain Indoors.”

The show was nominated for several BAFTAs and won for “Best Comedy Program or Series” in 2007.

MAIN CAST:
David Mitchell
Robert Webb
Olivia Colman
James Bachman
Mark Evans
Sarah Hadland
Abigail Burdess

Total Seasons: 4 (24 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 4
In Production: 2006-2010
Viewer Discretion: Some adult situations and language

The Catherine Tate Show

This is called The Catherine Tate Show for very good reason – the show is ALL Catherine Tate. She plays all the main characters in all of the sketches, from a bratty teenager to a crotchety, bigoted granny, to a man of unknown sexual persuasion. Catherine Tate can be any nationality in any role, do every accent imaginable – and she is extremely funny doing it.

The Catherine Tate Show is a sketch comedy show with some recurring characters in different scenes and situations. One of my favorites is Karen, the new mother who just got her infant to fall asleep in the car and can’t leave the vehicle to join her friends for dinner, so they all eat in the car, making sure to whisper and not wake up the baby. Then there’s Elaine Figgis who’s traveling to America to marry a convicted murderer on Death Row. And there’s Kate who’s always bothering her co-worker, Ellen, asking her to guess answers to her crazy questions. When Ellen answers wrong, Kate berates and insults her.

Catherine Tate’s collection of ridiculous, eccentric characters has earned her six BAFTA nominations and two British Comedy Awards, including Best Comedy Newcomer in 2004 and Best TV Comedy Actress in 2006.

Now that Catherine Tate has a recurring role on the US version of The Office perhaps more people will check out her own show. The Catherine Tate Show is an excellent example of her amazing talent and versatility as an actress and comedian.

MAIN CAST:
Catherine Tate – Various characters
Mathew Horne – Ryan
Niky Wardley – Various characters
Derren Litten – Various characters

Total Seasons: 3 (22 episodes)
Seasons Available on US Formatted DVD: 2
In Production: 2004-2009
Viewer Discretion: Language