Series 1
From Wlwiki
Here's my analysis of the first season of 13 episodes. Don't they all look young back then? Except Clive, of course, does that man ever age? The set looks dark and a bit gloomy and the men are formally attired in suit and tie. You might think it was a political interview show. The intros feature Clive and John Sessions with brief clips of some of the other performers.
CAST: John Sessions (eleven shows and both compilations)
Josie Lawrence (six shows and both compilations)
Paul Merton (four shows and one compilation)
Tony Slattery (three shows and both compilations)
Stephen Fry, Jonathan Pryce (two shows and both compilations)
Archie Hahn (two shows and one compilation)
Mike McShane (one show and both compilations)
Rory McGrath (one show and one compilation)
Jimmy Mulville (two shows)
Rory Bremner, George McGrath, Jan Ravens, Griff Rhys-Jones, Peter Cook, Graeme Garden, Jon Glover, Richard Kaplan, Enn Reitel, Betty Thomas (one show)
Episode 01-001-000
Original Air Date: September 23, 1988
Production Number:
Transcript
Cast: Clive Anderson (first appearance) with Archie Hahn (first appearance), Josie Lawrence (first appearance), Paul Merton (first appearance), John Sessions (first appearance) and Richard Vranch (first appearance) at the piano.
Authors: It's Through the Garden Gate with Archie as Stephen King, Josie as Louisa M Allcott, Paul as the Janet and John books, and John as Charles Dickens.
Sound Effects: Paul gets dressed, with Archie providing the noises.
Song Styles: The subject is telephones as Josie does Sondheim, and John does reggae.
World's Worst: Archie, Josie, Paul and John perform the worst ITN newsreader auditions.
Props: it's Josie and Archie v Paul and John.
Party Quirks: Paul hosts, with Josie as an agony aunt, Archie as a werewolf, and John as a theatre director.
Credits Reading: Archie as an American sports commentator.
Game won by: Archie.
Best Game: A funny round of Props.
Worst Game: Authors dragged on.
Clive's Best Bit: "And then we have John Sessions, the actor, the academic and all round nice guy. Those are just a few of his ambitions."
Josie's Best Bit: A singing game often brings out the best in Josie. Here she sings sweetly if not too amusingly.
John's Best Bit: A clever reggae song.
Paul's Best Bit: Starts off Party Quirks in great quippish form.
Archie's Best Bit: Very good at providing the sounds for a miserable looking Paul.
Quote of the day: Archie Hahn with a long cord between him and Josie in Props: "Mom we have to cut the cord sometime!"
Game should have been won by: Josie, looking a million dollars in a gloomy gus type of show.
Should have stayed home and cleaned the bathtub: John hardly raises a smile.
Trivial Observation: Clive presses the buzzer rather than the doorbell in Party Quirks, causing Paul to respond "there's someone at the microwave". Paul is the first party host, and sets the tone for all of his successors, including his banter with Clive. Some crazy camera angles here!
Overall: A candidate for the weakest show in the entire series, hardly a laugh all show. Of historic interest only.
Episode 01-002-000
Original Air Date: September 30, 1988
Production Number:
Transcript
Cast: Clive Anderson with Archie Hahn, Rory Bremner (first appearance), Jimmy Mulville (first appearance), and John Sessions.
Authors: It's a day at the seaside for Archie as Truman Capote, Rory as Clive James, Jimmy as Dylan Thomas, and John as James Joyce.
Film And Theatre Styles: Archie sacks Jimmy, in the styles Godfather, Australian soap and horror. Then used car salesman Rory has John as a customer with the styles amateur dramatics, Brazilian soap opera and Noel Coward.
World's Worst: Archie, Rory, Jimmy and John perform the worst person to comfort someone on their death bed.
Props: it's Jimmy and Rory v John and Archie.
Sound Effects: Jimmy gardens as Archie provides noises.
Couples: Rory and John are at a laundrette as the couples David Attenborough and Richard Attenborough, Charles and Di, Mel Smith and Griff Rhys-Jones, Ron and Nancy, and Torville and Dean.
Credits Reading: Rory as Barry Norman.
Game won by: Rory.
Best Game: The Couples game. Rory is a brilliant impressionist, and John is not far behind.
Worst Game: Props game never gets off the ground despite the props themselves having possibilities.
Clive's Best Bit: "And finally we have John Sessions who only today was described in these words: a genius with a talent unmatched by any contempoary, in fact I'm absolutely brilliant."
John's Best Bit: A series of great impressions in Couples.
Archie's Best Bit: A funny Truman Capote accent.
Rory's Best Bit: You can't go past the Couples game again.
Jimmy's best bit: World's Worst brought out Jimmy's best.
Quote of the day: Rory Bremner as Charles in a laundrette: "do you think Harry is having a nice time in there?"
Game should have been won by: John, who has some of the best ideas in each of the games.
Should have stayed home and read nursery rhymes: Archie... nuff said.
Trivial Observation: Rory looks so young and sort of... delphatic. Richard Vranch is credited but does not perform in this episode. He can be seen as the camera swings round when Rory steps up to read the credits. Jimmy Mulville is the first person to be bleeped in the show, during World's Worst.
Overall: A good effort all round, as my teacher used to say. Certainly a step up on the first show.
Episode 01-003-000
Original Air Date: October 7, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Stephen Fry (first appearance), Peter Cook (only appearance), Josie Lawrence, and John Sessions.
Authors: it's a day at the races for Stephen as John Le Carre, Peter as Albert Goldman, Josie as womens magazines, and John as Ernest Hemingway.
Film And Theatre Styles: Political candidate Stephen seeks Peter's vote in the styles Shakespeare, farce, travelogue and gangster movie. Then Josie and John are breaking up in the styles Shakespeare, British war movie and blue movie.
Props: It's John and Peter v Josie and Stephen.
Panel: The subject is smoking for Stephen, Peter, Josie and John interviewed by Clive.
Rap: John, Josie, Peter and Stephen sing about having a baby.
Credits Reading: Peter as a New York taxi driver.
Game won by: Peter.
Best Game: The Rap works brilliantly.
Worst Game: Even the performers seem bored with the Props.
Clive's Best Bit: Peter asks what style to start in, "a living style?" Clive replies "well I don't want to tax you too early on."
John's Best Bit: Cuddling up to Josie in Film and Theatre Styles in Shakespearian style: "thou art juicy fruit in my bowl, dear lady."
Josie's Best Bit: As Trixie in Panel. This particular game allows Josie to be somewhat more creative than before..
Stephen's Best Bit: On taxing cigarettes.
Peter's best bit: The Film and Theatre Styles is hysterical. Abandoning the forms and rules of the game, he rambles on in each style. Orange Beaver indeed!
Quote of the day: Stephen Fry on smoking: "I could give up smoking if I wanted to, but could he stop being a bigoted git?"
Game should have been won by: Peter Cook, a comic genius showing flashes of wonder.
Should have stayed home and cut her toenails: Josie without a song to sing seems a tad lost.
Trivial Observation: Watch Peter smoking in this show, he and Stephen are the few to ever smoke in the show's history. The only other time was when Caroline Quentin and Ryan Stiles both smoked during a game of Helping Hands in Series 7. A little-known fact, revealed in a recent interview with the show's creators is that after the afternoon dummy run, Rory McGrath took Peter for a drink to settle his nerves - he was incredibly drunk on his return for the recording later that evening!
Overall: A joy to see such a great panel in one of the few shows of the first season worth watching.
Episode 01-004-000
Original Air Date: October 14, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Tony Slattery (first appearance), Betty Thomas (only appearance), Paul Merton, and John Sessions.
Authors: It's Jack and the Beanstalk for Tony as William Burroughs, Betty as Mickey Spillane, Paul as Barbara Cartland, and John as Anthony Burgess.
Film And Theatre Styles: Home owner Paul is complaining to builder Tony in the styles Greek tragedy, Hollywood epic, musical and soap opera. Then Betty and John argue about a map in the styles Ealing comedy, mime, method acting and Bogart.
Props: It's Betty and Paul v John and Tony.
Every Other Line: John reads from The Poison Party while Paul gets instructions on a mission.
Film Dub: Betty and Tony argue about what to watch on television.
Party Quirks: Paul hosts while Tony has no backbone, Betty is an investigative reporter and John is an intrepid explorer.
Credits Reading: John as Anthony Hopkins.
Game won by: John.
Best Game: Tony and Betty's Film Dub is a hoot.
Worst Game: They try hard at Authors but it doesn't quite work.
Clive's Best Bit: "There's been an enormous popular response since Paul was last on the programme but despite that, we've decided to have him back anyway."
John's Best Bit: His performance in Film and Theatre Styles.
Paul's Best Bit: A typically grumpy performance as Party Quirks host.
Tony's Best Bit: The Film Dub sees Tony at his smutty best.
Betty's best bit: Backing up Tony in the Film Dub.
Quote of the day: After Tony has been especially tragic in F&TS, Paul says "that's rather unlucky in Peckham isn't it"
Game should have been won by: Tony, his first appearance, and all the signs were there of the great performer he was to become.
Should have stayed home and done a jigsaw puzzle: Betty should have stuck to being a great Lucy Bates in Hill Street Blues, because she's out of her depth here.
Trivial Observation: Clive asks Betty "do you have maps in America?" the beginning of one of the series' longest running jokes, usually directed at Greg Proops.
Overall: Like the curate's egg, good in parts.
Episode 01-005-000
Original Air Date: October 21, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Jonathan Pryce (first appearance), Paul Merton, John Sessions and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: It's a day in the life of a horny llama for Josie as Agatha Christie, Jonathan as the King James Bible, Paul as a do-it-yourself handbook, and John as Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Film And Theatre Styles: Paul and Josie are Jack and Jill in the styles spaghetti western, pantomime, German art film and Bond film. Then Jonathan and John report a crime in the styles Samuel Beckett, pirate film, commedia dell'arte and John Le Carré.
World's Worst: Josie, Jonathan, Paul and John do the worst Romeo and Juliet auditions.
Song Styles: The subject is television with Josie doing heavy metal and John doing folk.
Film Dub: Paul books a holiday from Jonathan.
Party Quirks: Paul hosts with Josie as a superhero, Jonathan as an exorcist, and John is under water.
Credits Reading: Josie as an angry viewer.
Game won by: Josie.
Best Game: Jack and Jill went up the hill and fetched a few laughs, God bless 'em.
Worst Game: The Film Dub just gets too silly for words.
Clive's Best Bit: "(This show has) some of the most exciting talent available in comedy today, but that's enough about me..."
John's Best Bit: In top form with his song, the best he ever did.
Josie's Best Bit: A typically sparkling heavy metal ditty about television sets.
Paul's Best Bit: Some good World's Worst ideas.
Jonathan's best bit: He makes a good exorcist.
Quote of the day: Josie: "It seems only a few years ago that we went up that hill together Jack, and now we're married with 42 children, and all because I took you home to bedand put vinegar and brown paper on your sore head." Paul: "yes, not much of a contraceptive, was it?"
Game should have been won by: Paul, consistently sharp witted throughout.
Should have stayed home and cleared out her emails: They should play Jonathan Pryce clips as a cure for insomnia.
Trivial Observation: The Josie song gives the first sign of how important the singing games were to become, simply sensational. This episode also marks the only time in Party Quirks' history where a guest left because the performer blurted out his own quirk. Nice going, John!
Overall: It's okay but nowt to write home about.
Episode 01-006-000
Original Air Date: October 28, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Graeme Garden (only appearance), Jan Ravens (first appearance), George McGrath (first appearance), John Sessions and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: It's Sleeping Beauty for Graeme as JB Priestley, Jan as Pam Ayres, George as Roget, and John as DH Lawrence.
Story: George tells the story A Day In The Life Of A Rubber Duck with the moral a rolling stone gathers no moss with Jan as a little girl, Graeme as her grandfather and John as Keith Richards.
Props: It's John and Jan v George and Graeme.
Party Quirks: Graeme hosts with George as an alien, Jan thinks it's her house, and John is a leprechaun.
Every Other Line: John reads from Hay Fever as Graeme is a pilot in trouble wanting to be talked down.
Film Dub: Jan and George after a heavy night.
Musical: The subjects for Graeme, John, Jan and George are puberty, coming to see a television show and making a cup of tea.
Credits Reading: Jan as Paula Yates.
Game won by: Jan.
Best Game: Party Quirks offered the odd snicker of mirth.
Worst Game: The Props round is possibly the worst Props round in the history of the show.
Clive's Best Bit: "(George is) regarded as one of the funniest performers in America by those who haven't seen Dan Quayle yet."
John's Best Bit: John makes a fine leprechaun, to be sure, to be sure.
George's Best Bit: Contributes to the Musical.
Jan's Best Bit: Takes over the Party well.
Graeme's best bit: A delightful showing of wit from the old master during Every Other Line.
Quote of the day: George: "Something weird's happening"... and it wasn't his googly eyes!
Game should have been won by: John, the only spark of light in this episode.
Should have stayed home and updated his will: George tries hard but is only of interest for his eyes.
Trivial Observation: Graeme almost picks Jan's quirk at the beginning of the scene, and then misses it entirely. This show is the only one, apart from the first, to have three performers making their WLIIA debut. None were a huge success: George and Jan got one more show each, while this was the only appearance for Graeme.
Overall: Another first season show that makes you wonder why they bothered with a second.
Episode 01-007-000
Original Air Date: November 4, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Tony Slattery, Jonathan Pryce, Rory McGrath (first appearance), and John Sessions.
Authors: It's Stanley the Stockbroker and the Day of the Big Bang for Tony as Dennis Wheatley, Jonathan as Egon Ronay, Rory as Jorge Luis Borges and John as Robert Louis Stevenson.
Film And Theatre Styles: Loan shark Tony talks to debtor Jonathan in the styles Japanese no theatre, bedroom farce, amateur dramatics and Gilbert and Sullivan. Then John smashes into chief constable Rory's car in the styles Punch and Judy, Brecht and Black and White Minstrels.
World's Worst: Tony, Jonathan, Rory and John perform the worst person to meet on a blind date.
Props: John and Jonathan v Rory and Tony.
Advertisement: Tony advertises a BMW while John touts a toupee.
Film Dub: Rory complains to hotel manager Jonathan.
Remote Control: The Tony does Star Trek, Jonathan does Call My Bluff, Rory does breakfast TV and John does Bilko, all on the subject of pornography.
Credits Reading: Rory as his mother.
Game won by: Rory.
Best Game: Remote Control is the highlight.
Worst Game: Authors doesn't work yet again.
Clive's Best Bit: "Tony Slattery was a great success with the viewers last time, you can stop writing the letters now, Mrs Slattery."
John's Best Bit: A pleasing impression of Bilko in Remote Control.
Tony's Best Bit: The smutmeister excels both in Remote Control and Advertisement.
Jonathan's Best Bit: At the end of World's Worst, "I would just like to say that I did lots but they were all edited out."
Rory's best bit: Talented in Remote Control.
Quote of the day: Tony: "Have you ever wanted to own something that was an extension of your penis?"
Game should have been won by: Tony shows all the signs of the star he was to become.
Should have stayed home and balanced his chequebook: Jonathan is a talented performer, everyone knows that, but this format doesn't suit him.
Trivial Observation: Tony sits in the first seat on this show, as he did in an earlier appearance... he never sat in the second seat, graduating to the third and fourth seats in later shows. Also Jonathan Pryce sings a little bit during F&TS, but holds a tune quite well. Maybe we should have seen a proper musical game with him...
Overall: A funny episode, one of the best of the first year. Rory could easily have become a regular, but made only one more appearance.
Episode 01-008-000
Original Air Date: November 11, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Richard Kaplan (only appearance), Griff Rhys-Jones (first appearance), Paul Merton, and John Sessions.
Authors: It's Kurt Waldheim's Diaries for Richard as Raymond Chandler, Griff as Milton, Paul as Sunday Sport, and John as Frederick Nietschke.
Film And Theatre Styles: Richard is a businessman buying Paul's sandwich shop in the styles spaghetti western, Monty Python and horror. Then John shows Griff how to operate the nuclear button in the styles Laurel and Hardy, Arthur Miller, Whodunnit and Swedish erotica.
World's Worst: Richard, Griff, Paul and John perform the worst person to be President of the United States.
Props: John and Griff v Paul and Richard.
Remote Control: The subject is traffic for Richard as an American game show, Griff as One Man and his Dog, Paul as a cop show, and John as Noggin the Nog.
Party Quirks: Paul hosts with Richard from Mission Impossible, Griff as a bad ventriloquist, and John's from the future.
Credits Reading: John and Griff as Griff.
Game won by: John and Griff.
Best Game: One of the best credit readings in the entire history of the show. Watch Griff stop and watch John doing a better Griff than he can!
Worst Game: Remote Control is a turn-off.
Clive's Best Bit: "Paul Merton whose radiant face and cheery grin we have yet to see."
John's Best Bit: His impressions of Griff are both accurate and very funny.
Paul's Best Bit: Takes over Film and Theatre Styles with his deadpan humour.
Griff's Best Bit: Makes a good bad ventriloquist.
Richard's best bit: Got off to a passable start in Authors.
Quote of the day: Paul: "When in doubt, go for the twiglet joke."
Game should have been won by: Paul holds some of the games together.
Should have stayed home and watched Infomercials: Richard is just out of his league, despite his enthusiasm, poor chap.
Trivial Observation: John is a very good impressionist, why didn't they make more use of this skill?
Overall: Only average.
Episode 01-009-000
Original Air Date: November 18, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane (first appearance), Josie Lawrence, Tony Slattery, John Sessions and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: It's Night of the Crumpet with Mike as Louis L'Amour, Josie as the Brothers Grimm, Tony as Dr Alex Comfort, and John as William Faulkner.
Film And Theatre Styles: Josie tries to murder her husband Mike in the styles Russ Mayer, Film Noir, Star Wars and Gilbert and Sullivan. Then party host Tony borrows coffee from neighbour John in the styles stock exchange information documentary, escape movie and restoration comedy.
World's Worst: Mike, Josie, Tony and John perform the worst person to get an Oscar.
Remote Control: The subject is hedgehogs for Mike as Miami Vice, Josie from Treasure Hunt, Tony's Game For A Laugh and John is Floyd on Fish.
Musical: Mike, Josie, Tony and John sing of playing football, being stopped by the police and waking up.
Credits Reading: Mike as Jimmy Stewart.
Game won by: Mike.
Best Game: Clever comedy between Mike and Josie in Film and Theatre Styles.
Worst Game: The Musical dragged on without much entertainment.
Clive's Best Bit: "The joy of sex, that's an unusual choice for you Tony."
John's Best Bit: A good impression of Keith Floyd.
Josie's Best Bit: Pairs up well with Mike in a couple of games.
Tony's Best Bit: Laps up the innuendo in Authors.
Mike's Best Bit: In Film and Theatre Styles with Josie.
Quote of the day: Tony: "I was walking down the street, on my way to luncheon, when I was stopped by a policeman who abused me with his truncheon."
Game should have been won by: Mike, just great throughout.
Should have stayed home and weeded his garden: John seems a bit overshadowed by his talented rivals.
Trivial Observation: Mike's debut shows why he was a permanent fixture in the next two years. Tony moves to the third seat, his home for a couple of years.
Overall: The strongest quartet of the season provides outstanding comedy.
Episode 01-010-000
Original Air Date: November 25, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Stephen Fry, Josie Lawrence, Enn Reitel (only appearance), and John Sessions.
Authors: It's the day I became a merchant banker with Stephen as 1001 Arabian nights, Josie as Mary Shelley, Enn as Dashell Hammett and John as Frank Richards.
Story: Stephen tells the story of Tarzan and the Lager Louts with the moral you can't put all your eggs in one basket with John as Tarzan, Josie as Jane and Enn as a lager lout.
Props: It's John and Stephen v Josie and Enn.
Couples: The John tells Enn's fortune in the styles Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier, Donald Sinden and Edward Fox, Alec Guinness and Vincent Price, Sean Connery and Dame Edna, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, and Reagan and Gorbachev.
World's Worst: Stephen, Josie, Enn and John perform the worst thing to say to the Royal Family.
Wrong Theme Tune: Stephen and Josie perform a documentary on contraception.
Rap: John, Enn, Josie and Stephen sing of sheep.
Credits Reading: Stephen as an American announcer.
Game won by: Stephen.
Best Game: World's Worst for about the first time in the series has some original ideas.
Worst Game: Wrong Theme Tune was never played again and seeing it here, I think I know why.
Clive's Best Bit: "John Sessions who as far as this show is concerned is absolutely irreplaceable, and goodness knows, we;ve tried."
John's Best Bit: Showing off his impressionist skills again in Couples.
Josie's Best Bit: A very clever Rap, she was the only one who really tried.
Stephen's Best Bit: Does well keeping the Story together.
Enn's Best Bit: Some good lines in World's Worst.
Quote of the day: Josie after some comments about her hair: "Cheetah does it for me, what do you expect?"
Game should have been won by: Josie seems acut above the others here.
Should have stayed home and waltzed divinely: John is more than a tad overshadowed.
Trivial Observation: An interesting show... for the first time Josie does a funny song, World's Worst works... at last the show as we love it seems to be coming together.
Overall: Some good moments, and the odd bad ones.
Episode 01-011-000-COMPILATION
Original Air Date: December 2, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with John Sessions, Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, Tony Slattery, Archie Hahn, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Pryce, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Josie returns a faulty purchase to Paul in the styles German expressionism, Hammer horror, Whitehall farce and Disney. Then jealous husband Archie comes home to find the wife's lover John in the styles Rambo movie, Greek tragedy and kung fu.
Every Other Line: Jonathan reads from Robin Hood, The Truth Behind The Tights as Paul tries to get his TV fixed.
Song Styles: Josie sings a gospel about a toothbrush.
Props: John and Mike v Tony and Josie.
Film Dub: Stephen and Josie discuss how to decorate the room.
Party Quirks: Tony hosts with Josie hearing voices, Mike as a kissogram and John is a cub scout leader.
Opera: Josie, John, Archie and Paul sing about being a guard on the Northern Line, making instant mashed potato and smoking.
Game won by: No winner as it's a compilation.
Best Game: An excellent round of Party Quirks.
Worst Game: Every Other Line seldom works and it doesn't work here.
Clive's Best Bit: "These quirks were selected by members of our audience and inserted into envelopes, thats the quirks that is, that could be interesting."
John's Best Bit: Has his moments in the Musical.
Josie's Best Bit: Very believable when hearing voices.
Paul's Best Bit: Works well with Josie in Film and Theatre Styles.
Tony's Best Bit: Good at Props.
Archie's Best Bit: Has the odd moment in Film and Theatre Styles.
Stephen's Best Bit: Was very amusing in Film Dub.
Jonathan's Best Bit: Reads adequately in Every Other Line.
Mike's Best Bit: Some excellent Props ideas.
Quote of the day: Josie: "you can be my real human dinkydoo". Paul: "I'd rather have a career in the civil service."
Game should have been won by: Josie is in sparkling form every time she appears.
Should have stayed home and trimmed his nostril hair: Archie's shortcomings are exposed I'm afraid.
Trivial Observation: For once Paul seems comfortable in a singing game.
Overall: Some very good stuff mixed with the dross.
Episode 01-012-000-COMPILATION
Original Air Date: December 9, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with John Sessions, Josie Lawrence, Tony Slattery, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Pryce, Mike McShane, Rory McGrath and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Josie is John's museum guide in the styles Bill Forsythe movie, Dirty Harry, Doctor in the House and Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Story: Rory tells the story I Was A Russian Fighter Pilot with the moral don't do it on the first date with John as John Jonavitch Jonavitch Denisenov, Tony as Toni and Jonathan as Mikhail Gorbachev.
Rap: John, Tony, Josie and Mike sing about handbags.
Song Styles: Josie sings about a television set in Eurovision Song Contest style.
Party Quirks: Tony hosts with Rory as a compulsive liar, Jonathan as an undertaker looking for business and John as a character from Thunderbirds.
Every Other Line: Josie reads from The Happiest Days of Your Life as Stephen tries to book a holiday in a hurry.
Musical: Josie, Mike, Tony and John sing about gliding, getting lost in a maze and going to a party.
Game won by: No winner as it's a compilation.
Best Game: Very good raps all round.
Worst Game: The Story was less than scintilating.
Clive's Best Bit: Joking with a member of the audience before the Musical.
John's Best Bit: Very good impression of Professor Loftus from Doctor In The House.
Josie's Best Bit: A very funny Eurovision Song.
Tony's Best Bit: Some good lines as the party host.
Stephen's Best Bit: Almost makes Every Other Line funny.
Jonathan's Best Bit: Pairs Very effective as an undertaker drumming up business, a part that fits somehow.
Mike's Best Bit: Gives his all in the Raps.
Rory's Best Bit: Tries hard as the Storyteller.
Quote of the day: Tony: "I was walking with my bag the other day and my friend saw me and he said hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey he was really repetitive so I shot him."
Game should have been won by: An even race, nobody stood out but if you press me, Tony.
Should have stayed home and cleaned his hairbrush: John, nothing memorable from the star here.
Trivial Observation: Strange that Clive seems so uncomfortable in a studio without an audience.
Overall: Pretty good by the standards of this season.
Episode 01-013-000-PILOT
Original Air Date: December 16, 1988
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Jon Glover (only appearance), Jimmy Mulville, Josie Lawrence, John Sessions and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: It's a visit to the dentist with Jon as Daniel Defoe, Jimmy as Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Josie as Jackie Collins and John as TS Eliot.
Film And Theatre Styles: Jimmy and Josie are chatting each other up in the styles western, Harold Pinter, horror and Disney. Then estate agent John shows Jon around a property in the styles Restoration comedy, fire brigade training film, Star Trek, and Carry On film.
Film Dub: Jon and Jimmy are in tin suits.
Song Styles: The subject is a washing machine for Josie doing country and western and John doing music hall.
Props: Josie and Jimmy v Jon and John.
Opera: The opera is about brushing teeth, missing the train and having a barbecue for Josie, John, Jon and Jimmy.
Game won by: Jon.
Best Game: Two good songs in Song Styles.
Worst Game: Authors doesn't work here at all.
Clive's Best Bit: A crack in his intro that the pilot was hosted by his identical twin brother who looks very uncomfortable.
John's Best Bit: In top form with the Song Style.
Josie's Best Bit: Uses her beautiful voice to good effect in the Opera.
Jimmy's Best Bit: Some good Props ideas.
Jon's best bit: A top rate impression of Kenneth Williams in Film and Theatre Styles.
Quote of the day: Josie: "Why don't we sing our favourite song?" Jimmy: "Okay." Josie: "You start."
Game should have been won by: John whose genius carries some dodgy games here.
Should have stayed home and fed the cat: Jon seems a nice guy but his brain doesn't seem to move quickly enough.
Trivial Observation: A blue set and a funny sounding buzzer - more like a bell really.
Overall: If this is the pilot, how did the show get picked up?
