h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Often forgotten in the flurry of sketch shows that the BBC produced when the format was back in fashion in the early 90's, The Mary Whitehouse Experience (like many classic comedy series of the past) began life as a radio show and featured the talents of Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis, Rob Newman and David Baddiel. The format consisted more of stand-up style material and satire than the charcater-based humour of The Fast Show and kept to a more realistic subject matter than off-the-wall acts like Reeves & Mortimer.

Though some characters did pop up in the course of the series such as Jarvis the pervayor of fine filth, Ivan the manic depressive daytime tv presenter and the milky-milky man (believe me, you'd have to see it) the show was mainly filmed before a live audience and showcased the talents of the comedians involved.

After a few series the team went their separate ways with Punt & Dennis getting their own rather weak series of sketch shows and Newman & Baddiel creating their own (far superior) series aptly titled "Newman & Baddiel: in Pieces."

David Baddiel went on to team with Frank Skinner, release awful singles and marry Morwenna Banks (git) and in all that time never seemed to come up with any new material.

Rob Newman, a comedy genius, vanished.

Any other old farts remember these guys?

You know that Rob Newman would love this. You can't see him. You're all disappointed.
And that turns..
him...
on..

Rob Newman is still performing in that strange, twilight world of LIVE COMEDY!!!

Which is where all the best stuff is found.

I heard that, but I've never seen him gigging in my area.

Which is a shame.

Wow, this is a blast from the past. I loved this show. Actually I preffered Punt and Dennis' show to Newman and Baddiels.

Now that is different.

What was the name of the James Bond type character that Hugh Dennis used to do? All I recall is the line: "Damn you, Kropotkin!"

There was also Dr Gustav Alabaster the albino alien spy.

That was quite funny for a while.

The guy was called Martin. And the skit? "A Man Called Martin"

Gustav Alabaster was funny but I loved World of wine.

I shall be sick as a dog in the morning!

"GROUSE, what did he doo?"

ah, yes, them were the days. i think they were better when they were on the radio. and they worked better as a foursome than when they split up afterwards, cos they balance each other out quite well.

anybody remember the early punt and dennis on jasper carrot's show?

rob newman is on in soho at the mo - hopefully i'll get to see him before his run stops.

I recall the spot on the brummie hasbeen's show.

Not a Carrott fan? I think he can be really funny at times.

I remember this show. I liked the two old blokes having an intellectual discussion that degenerates into:
"You see that tramp, that's your Dad that is."
"Well, do you see that McDonalds box, that's your house that is."


About Punt and Dennis's show I always remember one sketch of that.

Caveman 1: "I hunt Bear!"
He is wearing a bear skin
Caveman 2: "I hunt Lion!"
he is wearing a Lion Skin
Caveman 3: "Well, I found this squirrel."

There was a video of Rob Newman's 'Dependence Day' tour but I don't know if it's still available.

I was gutted to miss him when he was at Aberysytwh Arts Center on that one...

[Confession : I used to fancy him absolutely rotten!! I think it was the semi-permanent bemused look...]

Rob Newman is also supplementing the presumably reasonably meagre pay of the standup comedian by doubling up as a pretty successful novelist.

H.

"History Today"

As far as I can recall, this involved a pair of decrepit and vicious professors of history resorting to childish abuse to get their argument across.

One professor was "Professor Emeriotus at All Souls (i.e. sounds like "Arseholes") College Oxford."

Highlights included:

-One professor stating he was: "Above this kind of childishness" whilst being handed a coat with mittens on a piece of string hanging from the sleeves.

-The reading of the following account of a diseased and dying man: "...his skin was a mass of pustules and boils. There was not one inch of the wretches skin that was not afflicted with the most appauling of sores. He was, in short, the worst and most pitiful excuse for a man I had ever seen..." Then commenting "That's you that is; that's the nicest thing he could find to say about you."

-The comment that a dying sparrow brought in by the cat in its last throes of death was one of the professor's idea of a decent xmas turkey...followed with the expression: "Bootiful, really bootiful."

Actually Rob Newman is on BBC 2 tonight at 11:20 following him writing his latest book.

Researcher PSG

Sweet.

I missed the program on Monday was it any good?

Researcher PSG

Ah, good old Samuel Pepys' diary. History Today was brilliant.

Don't forget Ray, the man afflicted with a sarcastic tone of voice. He was really great, he was.

"Cor, well you're a really great psychiatrist. Am I cured?"


"Oh no, what a personal disaster."