Geoffrey Perkins Movies
This British TV "dramedy" has been described as "Sex and the City with Men," and allegedly was pitched as such to the BBC2 executives. Each episode dwelt upon the lives of four middle-aged Britishers, who gathered once a week to compare notes at their local sauna. Put simply, the premise was: You may be half a century old in body, but if you're a male you've never really gotten past childhood. The four principal characters were James (Anthony Head), a prosperous, divorced 45-year-old dentist who still doggedly pursued young ladies but was no longer able to "perform" on a regular basis; Terry (Nigel Havers), a divorced stockbroker who had buried himself in his hobbies, specifically fast cars and motorbikes (he also served as the series' narrator); Gary (Ray Burdis), surprisingly still married, who told himself and everyone else that he was happy in his dull, cozy domesticity, but was fooling no one; and the enigmatic, never-married Patrick (Don Warrington), who apparently upheld his lavish lifestyle by selling off his seemingly limitless collection of Beatles memorabilia. Premiering in the U.K. on February 19, 2002, Manchild became an international hit when it was picked up by the BBC America satellite service on April 18 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
One of several British derivations of the popular American sitcom Friends, Two Pints of Lager (And a Packet of Crisps) was set in the Northern town of Runcorn. The main characters were a group of convivial chums, all in their late teens and early twenties, mostly played by newcomers. Judging by the curiously cloistered nature of the dialogue, the scripts were evidently based on "inside" jokes that had amused the cast during rehearsal. The first six episodes of Two Pints of Lager (And a Packet of Crisps) were seen on BBC2 from February 26 to April 2, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Billy Connolly stars in a rambunctious period comedy detailing the celluloid exploits of a 20th Century London photographer who specializes in deliciously scandalous snapshots. Kingdom Swan (Connolly) is an artist whose career seems to be on the downturn until he receives a camera as a gift. Subsequently establishing himself as a photographer who specializes in capturing the unclad human form in lavish classical settings, Swan quickly becomes the scornful figure of notoriety to a the painfully prudish upper crust. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Connolly, Sarah Lancashire, (more)
- 1996
Ted (Dermot Morgan) leads Dougal (Ardal O'Hanlon) and a small army of other priests out of the massive lingerie section of a department store. This isn't your mother's lingerie section, though. It's "Ireland's biggest lingerie section." For his ingenuity and leadership, he's to be awarded a Golden Cleric award, since he's seemingly saved the church from a sure-scandal. Ted dreams of bigger and better things and glorious new achievements, but there's a mysterious new priest in town, and nobody quite knows why he's there or who he is. This Father Todd Unctious fellow has plans of his own, and Ted might be a pawn in his scheme. Is he even a priest at all? And for what reason might he want to steal the Golden Cleric award out from under Ted? ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, (more)
- 1996
The religious differences that have for many years torn Northern Ireland asunder were played for laughs on the British sitcom Safe and Sound. Much of the action took place in a Belfast garage, co-owned by longtime buddies Tommy Delaney (Des McAleer) and Dougy Flynn (Sean McGinley). Despite the fact that Tommy was Catholic and Dougy was Protestant, the two men remained close chums, if a bit combative at times. Further cementing the bond between the two protagonists was Dougy's fondness for Tommy's sister, Eleanor (Michelle Fairley), a will-of-the-wisp who preferred partying to marriage. Also in the cast was Gabrielle Reidy as Tommy's ex-wife, Maggie. A Witzend production, Safe and Sound was carried by BBC1 for six half-hour episodes, seen between August 9 and September 13, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Desmond McAleer, Sean McGinley, (more)
Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean fame was the star of the BBC sitcom The Thin Blue Line. The setting was the tiny British town of Gasforth, where a squad of dedicated, but basically inept police officers held sway. Atkinson was cast as Inspector Raymond Fowler, whose self-absorption was matched by his clumsiness. Other members of the squad included Raymond's former live-in lover Sgt. Patricia Dawkins, chronically depressed Detective Inspector Grim, Constable Maggie Habib, and Constables Kevin Goody and Frank Gladstone. During the second season, two new characters were added to the mixture: Mayoress Wickerham, whose efforts at imposing "political correctness" at all costs only served to make bad situations worse, and CID Detective Boyle, whose efforts to work hand and glove with the squad usually resulted in botched arrests and public relations disasters. All of the episodes were directed by Atkinson's former Mr. Bean colleague John Birkin. Written and co-produced by Ben Elton, who admittedly patterned the program after the classic British comedy-ensemble series Dad's Army, The Thin Blue Line yielded 14 half-hour episodes between November 13, 1995, and December 23, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Serena Evans, (more)
- 1986
Though blatantly patterned after the long-running American series Saturday Night Live, Britain's Saturday Live tended to favor standup comedy over sketches. A number of major comic talents appeared on a regular basis during the series' two-season run, notably the erstwhile team of Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall, in their familiar guises as "the Dangerous Brothers" (Sir Adrian and Richard). Also frequently seen were the likes of Stephen Fry and French and Saunders. Presented by Channel Four and London Weekend Television from 1986 to 1987, Saturday Live weighed in with 11 90-minute episodes, eight 75-minute installments, and two 80-minute specials. The property would be briefly revived in 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Created by Peter Fluck, Roger Law, and Martin Lambie-Nairn, the legendary British comedy series Spitting Image can be described, albeit inadequately, as a puppet show for grown-ups. Using huge rubber puppets and marionettes, all adorned with the grotesquely caricatured faces of international celebrities, the series mercilessly skewered the Rich and Famous of every political and ideological stripe. Singled out for an inordinate amount of satirical persecution were the members of the Royal Family, although the series was just as unsparing in its attacks of Ronald Reagan, Fidel Castro, Mikhail Gorbachev, and other eminently lampoon-able authority figures. Launched as a half-hour program in 1984, the series ultimately expanded to 45 minutes, chalking up 141 episodes. In addition, nine Spitting Image specials aired between 1986 and 1996; alas, the quality of the writing diminished as the program remained on the air, at least so far as its most fervent fans were concerned. Telecast by Central Television, Spitting Image was never formally syndicated to the United States, though tantalizing vignettes of the series popped up on such American news programs as 60 Minutes, spawning a home-grown imitation from the studios of Sid and Marty Krofft titled D.C. Follies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This release captures British comedian Catherine Tate -- 'Queen of Catchphrase'-- performing a variety of Christmas themed sketches featuring the characters created by Tate for her popular TV series The Catherine Tate Show, like angsty teenager Lauren, and the trash talking Nan. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
