30 years after it was first broadcast, I was fortunate to pick up 2 quality copy DVD's from eB*y (before they stopped their listings and sale!), that are taken from original BBC source tapes of both series' of this classic cult comedy. After all this time, many of the classic lines come flooding back with Idle at his best. Punctuated by the wonderful Neil Innes and his witty musical ditties, this is a real treasure.
Many of the sketches really hark back to classic Python format, and a lot of the 'tag lines' and memorable quotes that it throws out had me realising that it was Rutland Weekend Television and NOT Monty Python that was responsible for them. A lot of it works very well, some not so. The milestone appearance of the Rutles, the classic episode of THE OLD GAY WHISTLE TEST, with Whispering Bob Harris, all great stuff. Additionally, there are some very laboured sketches and episodes. Particularly in Series 2, it seems that some of the initial idea and spark that was evident in Series 1, is somewhat missing. Whether this led to its demise after the 14 episodes, who knows? But a wonderful nostalgic trip none the less, and as to why the BBC have never officially released it on the back of the Monty Python success, again who knows?
Many of the sketches really hark back to classic Python format, and a lot of the 'tag lines' and memorable quotes that it throws out had me realising that it was Rutland Weekend Television and NOT Monty Python that was responsible for them. A lot of it works very well, some not so. The milestone appearance of the Rutles, the classic episode of THE OLD GAY WHISTLE TEST, with Whispering Bob Harris, all great stuff. Additionally, there are some very laboured sketches and episodes. Particularly in Series 2, it seems that some of the initial idea and spark that was evident in Series 1, is somewhat missing. Whether this led to its demise after the 14 episodes, who knows? But a wonderful nostalgic trip none the less, and as to why the BBC have never officially released it on the back of the Monty Python success, again who knows?
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