QuoteAllen's maverick, contrarian impulses are impressive. They reveal themselves as we talk. My phone rings. I'm told that Rik Mayall has died suddenly. I tentatively break the news to Allen about his peer. His reaction is an instant critique of Mayall's work with long-time comedy partner Ade Edmondson. "I hated their work," he says. "I hated it." But you wrote some of it, I say. The Yob, The Bull*****ers . . . these were early "alternative comedy" classics.
Allen sighs and assembles a roll-up, like a teacher gearing up to make one final effort at explaining the difference between left and right to a notorious dunce. "Obviously condolences to his family," he says, "but there's personal tragedy and then there's the work. I enjoyed working with Peter Richardson (co-writer on The Comic Strip Presents . . .), but to me it was childish. And I felt Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson went on to produce just s***. Bland rubbish that the BBC laps up, the sort of b******s that makes you a national treasure. I think Rik was actually talented but, Edmondson, no. Absolutely talentless."
He waves away a bee. "I can't give you a eulogy," he says. "I'm sorry but this country has got to do something about applauding mediocrity."
QuoteI'm not quite sure how I got hold of this.... A very hard to find recording of the 1977 Cambridge Footlights Revue called Tag!, which was televised on BBC2. It stars a beardless Rory McGrath, future Cold Feet star Robert Bathurst, future Artisitc Director of the National Theatre (now Sir) Nicholas Hytner, future Hat-Trick MD Jimmy Mulville, future Hollywood producer Martin Bergman, plus Paul Hudson and Carrie Simcocks (not sure what happened to them). The show was directed by Griff Rhys Jones, who was one of the writers, along with Bergman, McGrath, Mulville and Hytner. The music was by my future boss at Talkback, Peter Fincham.
He's strong to the finish cos he eats his spinach.
So, CaB. What's up with Popeye? Let's talk about the comedy of Popeye.
He's a sailor man. You know... for kids.
As a kid, I was fond enough of Popeye but I never really understood it. Thinking about it now, I still don't. Popeye was just... on. My dad seemed to like it.
Apparently, he started out as a newspaper comic strip. Which makes sense. He doesn't look like anything designed for kids really.
But he was on TV a lot and it seemed (to me) to be for kids. I could tell he was extremely popular before I was born. Watching Popeye cartoons felt like joining in with older people, or a lesson in history or something.
Is Popeye funny? I am not against Popeye. He was far from my favourite cartoon character but I didn't dislike him. Popeye was alright. He eats his spinach.
And when he eats spinach he becomes supernaturally strong, usually in order to "saves" his love interest, Olive Oyl, from the would-be kidnapper-rapist Bluto.
Why is Bluto in a humorous kids' show? He's horrible.
Why is Olive Oyl like that? All gawky and silly? Is the joke that she's not the typical damsel in distress or something?
What is Wimpy? "I'll gladly pay your Tuesday for a hamburger today." Okay, no sweat Wimpy, you got it. Wait, is this a joke in some way?
My dad really liked Wimpy, as seemingly did most of his generation and his parents' generation. They fondly nicknamed a plane after him in the war. He seems charming but is he a comedy character? What's funny about borrowing money for food? What's the deal with Wimpy?
Is it funny that the baby is called Sweet Pea? Is he Popeye's baby or what? From a previous relationship? Is Popeye a shagger? Does spinach put wowser in your trouser?
I remember "the Goon" from an '80s spinoff cartoon called Olive and Goon, apparently a segment from something called The All New Popeye Hour though I don't remember anything else about that. Olive and Goon are in the military for some reason and aren't very good at it. It had M*A*S*H vibes. Goon is also called Alice sometimes and speaks in a nonsense "what-nip-nip-what" language that we can't understand but Olive can, like Han and Chewie. Actually, I liked Goon. Goon was entertaining to me as a kid.
Please share your Popeye memories, understandings, analyses and theories.
*toot-toot!"*
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