"The Comic Strip Presents..." (1982) TV series 1982-????

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

2 November 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A series of self contained TV films starring performers from London's "Comic Strip" comedy club and their friends. Noted for a high sense of parody of previous films, literature, and generally everyone in sight.

Plot Keywords:

Parody | Actor Playing Multiple Roles | Satire

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Peter Richardson	...	Foyle / ... (38 episodes, 1982-2000)
Adrian Edmondson	...	Billy / ... (29 episodes, 1982-2000)
Jennifer Saunders	...	Anne / ... (28 episodes, 1982-1998)
Dawn French	...	Frances / ... (25 episodes, 1982-1998)
Nigel Planer	...	Den Dennis / ... (25 episodes, 1983-2005)
Robbie Coltrane	...	Max / ... (17 episodes, 1982-1993)
Rik Mayall	...	Colin Grigson / ... (17 episodes, 1983-2005)
Keith Allen	...	Bonehead / ... (17 episodes, 1983-1993)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White (episode "Beat Generation, The") | Black and White (episode "Spaghetti Hoops") | Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

ABC Cinema, Ewell, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Trivia:

Only five of the planned six shows from the first series were produced when Channel 4 decided that "Back to Normal With Eddie Monsoon" (also referred to as "An evening With Eddie Monsoon" by some sources) was unsuitable for broadcast. The character was revived in the second series episode "Eddie Monsoon: A Life" and features Adrian Edmondson in the title role as the washed-up South African TV host. The name Eddie Monsoon is, of course, a pun on the name Edmondson. Many years later, Edmondson's real-life wife Jennifer Saunders resurrected the name Eddie (short for Edina) Monsoon for her character in the sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992).

Quotes:

Colin Grigson: [trying to sound cool] Uh, yeah, thanks, Mrs Grigson.
Colin's mum: No need to be so formal Colin. After all, I am your mother.
[he cringes]

Movie Connections:

Featured in 50 Most Shocking Comedy Moments (2006) (TV)

must be seen to be believed

unique, hilarious parodies of cliche-ridden entertainment by a semiregular group of brits. I particularly remember their spoofs of spaghetti westerns ('a fistful of travelers checks') and post-apocalyptic flicks ('the slags'), as well as shots at kids shows, Rebecca, back-to-the-wilderness retreats, and a pre-Spinal Tap metal band's misfortunes. the Slags featured a young Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy tVS) as the leader of a gang called the Hawaiians ('that's not...nice!'). my personal favorite is the 'Travelers Checks' episode; the music and scenery and camera work would have made a perfectly good movie of the genre (especially the guitar-and-whistle music); and who could forget 'Billy Balfour, the Man with No Name'?! some of the regulars (Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer) played in the bizzare 'Young Ones' series.