The Fast Show - Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases

[Malcy]

August 29th on Gold. A special with interviews clips and new scripted appearances by characters catching up with them.

https://mobile.twitter.com/monstroso/status/1292137187660750849

This must be the thing that was announced in 2018. I thought there was a recent thread but searched and saw that this was when it was announced and I think put on hold.

[McFlymo]

This popped up on my youtube suggestions t'other day.

https://youtu.be/6j0KxWT2jwo?t=740

Felt some of the audience were genuinely shocked (you can hear a lady gasp) when Higson cut Whitehouse off around 12:20. Just me? I guess Higson can be a bit of spiky prick, but this caught me off guard.

[the]

This popped up on my youtube suggestions t'other day.

https://youtu.be/6j0KxWT2jwo?t=740

Felt some of the audience were genuinely shocked (you can hear a lady gasp) when Higson cut Whitehouse off around 12:20. Just me? I guess Higson can be a bit of spiky prick, but this caught me off guard.

It's a bad edit. In the wide shot where Higson is speaking he's sat still - they've cut there and jumped to another bit where Higson is shuffling in his chair in the close-up. The murmur you can hear is just residual audience reaction from whatever was said just before the edit In-point.

[Schrodingers Cat]

Nice. Really Nice.

Expect clips, interviews and rarely seen footage. PLUS many of the show's best-loved characters return in all-new scripted segments to share what they're up to now!

Hmmm, interviews and rare footage sounds great. Not so sure about the new scripted segments. Could be great, but more likely to be lazily written, hastily cobbled together shite. Hopefully it will be like that Shooting Stars thing Vic and Bob did before they relaunched it *checks notes* 12 YEARS AGO?! Bloody hell! When did I grow old? Where did those lazy summers go, those youthful dreams, the ... porn found in hedgerows? Ah, to be young again.

Anyway, that latemid-twenties angst aside, I watched a load of the episodes on youtube a while back (I seem to remember some were missing), and it still really held up. For some reason, I wasn't sure it would, perhaps knowing what it spawned in the following decade or so. Its easy to forget how funny it was, and how much mileage they managed to get out of some characters who, on paper, were pretty one-note.

As an aside, my favourite story (albeit one most fans will already know) was the one about Simon Day writing the Competitive Dad character ("That's twelve of the Queen's runs") after seeing some bloke on holiday challenge his young children to a race in the pool, and then set off at full pelt leaving them struggling in his wake. And Simon Day simultaneously thinking this was awful and the funniest thing he'd ever seen.

[neveragain]

Given their more recent output (and even the Fosters Funny sketches), I see no reason to doubt that any new skits will be quite enjoyable.

[rilk]

Hope it's great but Caroline will be so missed

[thenoise]

It's a bad edit. In the wide shot where Higson is speaking he's sat still - they've cut there and jumped to another bit where Higson is shuffling in his chair in the close-up. The murmur you can hear is just residual audience reaction from whatever was said just before the edit In-point.

The audience is so uncomfortable it makes me think that he said something even more spiky that they cut out.

It's an enjoyable interview, but Whitehouse is being ever so slightly irritating throughout. There is a contrast between Higson, who wants to talk very frankly and seriously about the show, and Whitehouse, who wants to piss about.

[Jockice]

As an aside, my favourite story (albeit one most fans will already know) was the one about Simon Day writing the Competitive Dad character ("That's twelve of the Queen's runs") after seeing some bloke on holiday challenge his young children to a race in the pool, and then set off at full pelt leaving them struggling in his wake. And Simon Day simultaneously thinking this was awful and the funniest thing he'd ever seen.

Wasn't he based on that and Ian Botham, who got asked in an interview if he ever let his young kids win at games, said: "No. Why should I?'' Not as a joke or anything. The entire concept seemed totally alien to him.

Competitive Dad's name is Simon Johnson by the way. The same as a kid I was mates with at junior school.

[BeardFaceMan]

The audience is so uncomfortable it makes me think that he said something even more spiky that they cut out.

It's an enjoyable interview, but Whitehouse is being ever so slightly irritating throughout. There is a contrast between Higson, who wants to talk very frankly and seriously about the show, and Whitehouse, who wants to piss about.

Whitehouse hates that sort of thing, doesn't like making appearances as himself and he really doesn't like talking about comedy. He flat-out refuses to join in for the DVD extras of Swiss Toni.

[the]

The audience is so uncomfortable it makes me think that he said something even more spiky that they cut out.

But aren't you just projecting a desire for there to be some drama there, how do you know the audience are uncomfortable? It's only a moment of unreality created by the edit that makes it appear so.

Obviously I'm just guessing, but it seems likely that after Charlie disagreed with Paul's assessment of the speed, Paul might have responded with something like a jokey 'well fuck you then!', making a cut necessary (for swearing) and causing the laugh tail/murmur.

I will never understand comedy fans' hunger to detect some sort of nasty power struggle burning away in comedy partnerships.

It's an enjoyable interview, but Whitehouse is being ever so slightly irritating throughout. There is a contrast between Higson, who wants to talk very frankly and seriously about the show, and Whitehouse, who wants to piss about.

(Not that I've watched the interview) That just sounds like it tallies with their own assessment of their production roles given in interviews - Charlie as the stricter focused technician and Paul as the more effervescent one who challenges the decisions.

Whitehouse hates that sort of thing, doesn't like making appearances as himself and he really doesn't like talking about comedy. He flat-out refuses to join in for the DVD extras of Swiss Toni.

That's not true, he is interviewed in his dressing room by Adam Buxton, but does point out that he feels like it's an intrusion. Given that this is foisted upon him either just before or just after his performance in an episode, I'd say that's fair enough. Having a camera in your face in those circumstances is entirely different to going somewhere specifically to do a retrospective interview about a show.

(Some of the cast are also put off by being filmed rehearsing, again, an entirely fair objection when you're trying to work on your performance.)

[BeardFaceMan]

Being filmed rehearsing is different, you don't want people to watch you fucking up or trying to make lines funny, that's understandable. Whitehouse just didn't want to be on camera as himself and he doesn't enjoy talking about comedy. He's mellowed a bit in later years but it's still hard to find videos of him talking as himself, or about himself, or his comedy (unless it's in a doc and then he's usually flanked by either Higson or Enfield). A DVD extra of someone talking behind the scenes at a comedy show is not something he is interested in watching or doing.

[Shaky]

The brilliance of the Jazz Club sketches totally escaped me at the time, but watching clips recently it struck me how good they are. A real slow burn with lots of lovely little touches as time progresses.

[the]

Being filmed rehearsing is different, you don't want people to watch you fucking up or trying to make lines funny, that's understandable. Whitehouse just didn't want to be on camera as himself and he doesn't enjoy talking about comedy. He's mellowed a bit in later years but it's still hard to find videos of him talking as himself, or about himself, or his comedy (unless it's in a doc and then he's usually flanked by either Higson or Enfield). A DVD extra of someone talking behind the scenes at a comedy show is not something he is interested in watching or doing.

Buxton asks if he can put his finger on what he doesn't like about being filmed by him, and he says:

Well it's just an intrusion... If I choose to do something in front of a camera, that's one thing. Somebody pointing a camera at me - I don't like it.

But you seem keen on pursuing the idea that he in fact hates talking about comedy, which seems far-fetched given his insightful contributions to interviews on The Fast Show DVDs, Comedy Connections, promotional stuff with Bob Mortimer, podcasts, Q&As, Absolutely DVDs (which he didn't even make) etc etc.

I don't really understand what your minimum requirement is for how often someone should be popping up and talking about themselves.

[BeardFaceMan]

As I've said, he's mellowed in recent years and has started being himself more, but other than the docs (which he had to take part in because they were a team effort) you don't see on his own talking about comedy, you never saw him on the chat shows, or on the panel shows, he has no interest in it, I've heard him say he doesn't like talking about comedy, he's of the 'dissecting a frog' view of comedy. Which is fair enough.

Edit - just had a check of the extras and the very first exchange is this when Whitehouse sees Buxton with the camera -

PW - I'll be off in a minute then
AB - Don't you ever watch these things on DVD then Paul?
PW - Never
AB - Never?
PW - I honestly, I can say I've never watched one
AB -  Why not? Have you got no interest in it whatsoever?
PW - No

then Buxton asks if he watches Louis Theroux type shows and says it's the same sort of fascination and Whitehouse says "Yes, but I don't have to be part of it, do I?"

So reasons like that would be why.

[the]

Again, I'm not sure what you're saying this indicates, and why it's of importance. A person doesn't watch DVD extras, doesn't raise their profile on chat and panel shows, doesn't feel particularly comfortable being interviewed... so what?

As mentioned there's a decent amount of material around of him being interviewed about comedy and himself, just seemingly not enough for your satisfaction.

[BeardFaceMan]

Again, I'm not sure what you're saying this indicates, and why it's of importance. A person doesn't watch DVD extras, doesn't raise their profile on chat and panel shows, doesn't feel particularly comfortable being interviewed... so what?

As mentioned there's a decent amount of material around of him being interviewed about comedy and himself, just seemingly not enough for your satisfaction.

There isn't a so what, it was just an observation. Fucking hell.

And as mentioned, that was usually done as part as an official doc where it was a group thing. Can you find, let's say, 2 videos of him talking about comedy that isn't part of a Fast Show/ Harry Enfield doc? Not the Absolutely one because also as mentioned, he has mellowed a bit in recent years. Note how it was said that he doesn't like doing them, not that he doesn't do them under any circumstances. I suppose Whitehouse saying he doesn't like it isn't enough to satisfy you that he doesn't like it? Fair enough.

[the]

Maybe I misread the tone from when you began talking about this, I'd got the impression that you were asserting there was something negative or sinister about Whitehouse's attitude/personality. I was just saying that he seems quite reasonable and does participate, that was all.

[the science eel]

I'm still trying to work out what you're talking about with this AUDIENCE SHOCK!! business at 12:20. I can't see anything at all there to indicate any kind of arseyness or dismay or anything. Not a jot.

[BeardFaceMan]

Maybe I misread the tone from when you began talking about this, I'd got the impression that you were asserting there was something negative or sinister about Whitehouse's attitude/personality. I was just saying that he seems quite reasonable and does participate, that was all.

Not at all. I haven't watched the linked video yet, I was just saying that a reason for him looking uncomfortable might be that he doesn't like doing that sort of thing.

[Glebe]

Ooh nice!

[rilk]

The brilliance of the Jazz Club sketches totally escaped me at the time, but watching clips recently it struck me how good they are. A real slow burn with lots of lovely little touches as time progresses.

I'll find them a different watch now having got deep into the Phil Minton rabbit hole

[petril]

The brilliance of the Jazz Club sketches totally escaped me at the time, but watching clips recently it struck me how good they are. A real slow burn with lots of lovely little touches as time progresses.

still one of my favourite bits

[Shaky]

I'll find them a different watch now having got deep into the Phil Minton rabbit hole

Ha, yes. At the risk of sounding like a fanny, I think an appreciation of jazzy weirdness does help.

[Malcy]

Another special is airing on Sunday the 30th. More Blooming Catchphrases.

Gold has ordered a second Fast Show reunion special before the first has even aired, British Comedy Guide can reveal.

The belated 25th anniversary retrospective, Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases, broadcasts on Saturday 29th August and will be immediately followed by More Blooming Catchphrases on 30th Sunday, in which Charlie Higson revisits his personal archive of scripts and memorabilia from the show.

BCG understands that Higson, Paul Whitehouse, Arabella Weir, John Thomson, Simon Day and Mark Williams shot so much footage for the original two-hour retrospective, in which they are interviewed, but also speak in character as the likes of Swiss Toni, Dave Angel, Jesse and Rowley Birkin QC, that there was enough material for a second, 30-minute show.

More Blooming Catchphrases promises to take "a deeper dive into the archives and unearth a mixture of hidden gems and the stories behind classic sketches".

Higson returns to the University of East Anglia, where he met Whitehouse, and trawls through the archive of his career held there, sharing "old scripts [and] forgotten characters" from The Fast Show "and just how the team put the shows together".

https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/5882/fast-show-more-blooming-catchphrases/

[EOLAN]

For all those who say Paul Whitehouse never/hardly ever will look to discuss comedy; he appear on an episode of Sally Phillips 'My Favorite Sketch' on Gold; spending half an hour discussing; you guessed it; some of his favorite TV Sketches. Was probably one of the better episodes as well.

Also led to him doing this recreation of a Mortimer and Reeves sketch with a bearded Sally: https://youtu.be/QVNC0u5LDOU

[paruses]

Did Mark Williams fall out with everyone? He's missing from that radio 4 audience with thing (not sure if that's what we're all talking about on here) and I thought the reason was alluded to on here or possibly in a review of it.

[Jerzy Bondov]

I don't think it was a falling out, but I seem to remember he's absent from the Fosters episodes because he didn't want to do any more 'stupid Brummie' characters and he was fed up with being labelled a comedian when he considers himself an actor. Since he's back for this new one maybe he feels like he's put enough distance between himself and the show.

[Gulftastic]

I don't think it was a falling out, but I seem to remember he's absent from the Fosters episodes because he didn't want to do any more 'stupid Brummie' characters and he was fed up with being labelled a comedian when he considers himself an actor. Since he's back for this new one maybe he feels like he's put enough distance between himself and the show.

I suppose his Potter stuff now means he's better known for that and always will be.

[neveragain]

I heard he had some problems with alcohol. Might not be true (if so, hope he's doing well) but could also explain some absences. That and the being an actor thing.

[Jerzy Bondov]

Yes his struggles with the demon drink are well documented

_Sorry