FILTHY, RICH & CATFLAP [1986]

“There's something horrible on your trousers area.”

Coming off the massive success of The Young Ones, the BBC wasted no time recruiting the same team for another series of alternative comedy, resulting in Filthy, Rich & Catflap.

Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmonson and Nigel Planer return, with The Young Ones headwriter Ben Elton and director Paul Jackson.  Mayall plays a disgusting out of work “actor” who believes he's bigger than he really is, so he hires an alcoholic bodyguard (Edmonson) who could care less about protecting anybody much less himself, while Planer executes an impressive sleazy performance as a Polari speaking showbiz agent.

FRC might have the same actors, comedic elements and writers as The Young Ones but it sadly falls short in comparison.  The performances seemed strained and sloppy, the writing is aimless and at times feels like nothing more than a paycheque for all parties involved.  There are a few good chuckles throughout the series but they're spread so thin I can hardly recommend it to anybody other than a Mayall & Edmonson enthusiast like myself…

…and even then prepare for disappointment.

6 Episodes.  35 minutes each.

Must See Episodes:

1x01:  The pilot episode offers a healhy dose of comedic violence & mayhem and hilarious performances all around but things just completely fall apart afterwards.

Episodes To Avoid:

Everything else, unless you have the patience to wait for a few good chuckles here and there.

Buyer’s Guide: 

The complete series is widely available on DVD…save your money and youtube ‘em instead.

2 Blankety Blanks? out of 5

THE YOUNG ONES - The Complete Series [1982, 1984]

"We can do just exactly whatever we want to do. 

And do you know why?

Because we're young ones! Bachelor boys!

Crazy, mad, wild-eyed, big bottomed anarchists!”

The early ‘80’s saw a lot of change in culture, attitude and all around lifestyles.  With all these changes, a new breed of entertainers, suitably labeled The Alternative Comedians, were rising from the underground scene. They were crude, angry and out to offend anybody who didn't know what a Sid Vicious was.   The British wave of Alternative Comedians were fueled by their love for punk rock music & Monty Python and their hatred towards Margaret Thatcher.  The AC scene was mostly known through comedy clubs and people heavily involved with the movement, as it wasn't part of the mainstream yet. Then a group of these offbeat reprobates gathered together and were allowed to bring their special brand of comedy to the BBC2 television station. 

The Young Ones ran for 2 series, consisting of 6 episodes each, in 1982 and 1984.  A loud, surreal and violent sitcom, thinly disguised as a variety show with a musical performance each week and strangely timed sketches inserted through out each episode.  It followed the lives of four immensely unlikable undergrads just barely making ends meet by holing up together in a rundown public house.  At first it seems like it's just violent slapstick humor and jokes involving bodily fluids, but with a little knowledge of the era, the message it was trying to make and what it took to produce the show, you might see quite a bit more under the surface. 

The DVD transfer is a little spotty at best, but it can be forgiven seeing as the quality of something filmed 30 years ago isn't expected to be crystal clear.  Be warned though, the Extra Stupid Edition contains extra stupid edits and cut down episodes for licensing reasons.  You'll be wanting to get the Every Stoopid Episode edition as it contains the episodes in their original presentation and an extra disc of special features that are actually quite interesting to watch. 

It might not be for everybody, considering how disgusting these characters and crude jokes are but if the thought of combining Fawlty Towers and Married…with Children appeals to you, then The Young Ones is probably right down your urine-soaked alley.

12 episodes.  35 minutes each.

Buyer’s Guide:

As stated above, there are two editions of the complete series on DVD.  Go with the Every Stoopid Episode set.  It has yet to be released on Blu-Ray.

4 tampon rodents out of 5