Customer Reviews

The Young Ones: Every Stoopid Episode

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The YOUNG ONES ran from 1982 to 1984 and consists of the 12 episodes included here. The show stars Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, and Christopher Ryan as Rick, Vyvyan, Neil, and Mike respectively. Alexei Sayle also stars as several members of the Balowski family (one of them being the landlord of their house). The show was brilliantly written by Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle, and last but not least, Ben Elton (co- writer of Black Adder and writer of The Thin Blue Line and Filthy Rich & Catflap). To begin to describe the wackiness, spontaneous combustion, and pure originality of this show is not something I'll do here. You know or you don't, but if you don't and like any other BBC comedies such as Black Adder, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Father Ted or Absolutely Fabulous, then you will love the Young Ones!

The DVD set is another impressive product from BBC video. The packaging is like the Fawlty Towers or All in the Family tri-fold case. The first series of 6 episodes (Demolition, Oil, Boring, Bomb, Interesting, & FLood) are included on disc 1 (the disc with Vyvyan's attractive face on it), the next series of 6 (Bambi, Cash, Nasty, Sick, Time, & Summer Holiday) are on disc 2 (the one with Neil the Hippie on it), and disc 3 (with el presidente Mike on it) is all extra features including 2 featurettes (with cast and writer interviews), Extensive talent files of all cast, writers, guest stars, and bands that appeared on the show, and best of all the first episode of BOTTOM and the first episode of FILTHY, RICH and CATFLAP. For those who don't know, BOTTOM is a show that ran from 1991 to 1995 and had 18 episodes. It starred Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson (both also wrote) as single and repulsive roommates, Rich Richard and Eddie Hitler, who spend half their time trying to get women and the other half beating each other senseless. Christopher Ryan would later appear on the show as well. The episode included on this disc is the first episode, "SMELLS" and it's hilarious. FILTHY, R & C is a show that ran in 1987 and only had 6 episodes. It also stars Rik and Adrian, but also Nigel Planer as Richard Rich, Ed Catflap, & Ralph Filthy respectively. The show, written by Ben Elton, is about an obnoxious celebrity and two guys that work for him. The episode here is the first episode, "Dead Milkmen". I hope BBC considers bringing out both shows on DVD as they would be nice companions to the Young Ones set. By the way, if you feel bad because Rik isnt on one of the discs, don't, because you'll see his lovely smile on the inside flap everytime you open the case (I've seen it many many times already) Anyway THE YOUNG ONES: Every Stoopid Episode has all 12 uncut episodes (not the MTV versions) with the full beginning song and original end credits (that weren't even available on VHS). All the musical moments from Motorhead to Madness are here as well. Did I mention there are 4 colorful postcards included (one for each YOUNG ONE!) I love this show! "Once in every lifetime, comes a love like this..."

*Trivia: Adrian Edmondson who plays Vyvyan Basterd the orange haired punk with four stars embedded in his forehead is married to Jennifer Saunders (Edina of Ab Fab) and they have 3 children together in real life! She also makes guest appearances in "Interesting" & "Time" on the Young Ones. Adrian also co-sings the Ab Fab theme song and appeared as Hamish in two episodes!

*Trivia: Christopher Ryan who plays Mike thecoolperson can also be seen playing one of Jennifer Saunders' ex-husbands, Marshall, on Ab Fab!

*Trivia: Three of the Young Ones: Rick, Neil, & Vyv, all have mad guest appearances in the Black Adder series. Rik Mayall is the only one to become a recurring character: Lord Flashheart ("Woof, Woof"). Additionally, Black Adder regulars: Tony Robinson (Baldrick), Hugh Laurie (Prince George), Stephen Fry (Melchett), and Robbie Coltrane (Dr. Johnson, Spirit of Christmas) can all be seen in the Young Ones episode "Bambi". Motorhead is also in this episode doing "Ace of Spades"!

The answer Rick, should be that we all like you. You were the moral center, the deepest and most flawed character, and the fever pitch gauge of the program. Your continued quest for respect, power, and acceptance was a brilliant journey. Most of this was offset of course, by the fact that you were a complete bastard.

After four plus years since the VHS release, and countless emails to the BBC, the DVD version of the Young Ones has *finally* been released. Having it on pre-order for months through Amazon[.com], I was excited to see it arrive a few days ago. Like many others, I first became aware of them during their playback on MTV in the mid/late? 80's. As hilarious as it was then, it's aged well and plays even better today as a marvelous sitcom and character study. Continued viewing brings out new subtle and not so subtle nuances each time out.

How would one describe the program to a newbie. Four students at Scumbag college, living in filth on their scholarship grants, battle daily tedium and their own stereotyped existence. Simmering beneath this conflict are abstract meetings of inanimate objects, cleaning utensils, neighbors, and random occurrences. The four students are archetypes for future comedies.

1. The nillilistic punk, Vyvyan. Played by Ade Edmondson, Vyv, complete with iron stars permanently attached to his forehead exists only to destroy. Like a vengeful Hindu god, he smites everything in his path, except those he exhibits the barest traces of humanity towards; his hamster SPG, his car, and his begonia. Introduced to the viewer by crashing through a wall riding a wrecking ball, Vyv is involved in the majority of the physical humor.

2. Neil, the vegetarian hippie. Always dirty, always downtrodden, and almost always on the toilet, in the kitchen, or in bed, Neil is the shows spiritual den mother. He is also probably the recipient of most of the pain doled out by Vyv.

3. Mike, the playboy hipster. Seems a bit old to be in college still, doesn't allow is small stature to get in the way of his grand plans and over exuberant braggadocio. The only flat mate capable of reigning in Vyv and focusing that power with dictatorial precision. Mike's role doesn't have much depth as written, and perhaps that's with just cause for a guy who travels with a blow up doll and old tapes of women moaning his name. Essentially a smooth straight man in the mold of Bud Abbott.

4. Finally, Rick. The sociology student, people's poet, anarchist, and all around poseur. Rick never lets an episode go without commenting on some aspect of current life in Thatcher's Britain, how he'd fix it, or, tear it down. It seems terribly difficult to take his anarchist rantings seriously as he flops about in his yellow dungarees, red shoes, and pig tail sprigs. Still, I find Rick the most consistently amusing of the lot. His whip quick mood changes from obsequious currying Mike or Vyv's favor to righteous indignation over Neil's choice of South African lentils is priceless.

Combined, these characters create an incredible dynamic as they interact with each other and their varied guest stars. Additionally, early 80's musical groups could appear without any form of story set up and play in the bathroom or living room at any given time. When the boys would go out on the town ala Bambi, appearing on University Challenge, it was especially amusing to see the reaction of people on the street who couldn't make sense of them.

I find some of the references are still obscure to someone not familiar with early 80's English lifestyle, but the DVD contains subtitles which were definitely helpful for allowing one to hear some of the more hushed secondary conversations missed in the first go around. The third disc contains snippets of comedy documentaries produced since the Young Ones aired, as well as the first episodes of the spiritual successor series to the Young Ones. Filthy Rich & Catflap, and Bottom. They also included a 'where are they now' section that shows just who all came out of the Young Ones and got their start there. The number of today's successful actors, and comedians is staggering. Groundbreaking and incredibly funny, The Young Ones is a classic. Highly recommended.

"The Young Ones" was a groundbreaking TV show from Britain in the early '80s. Created, written, & performed by a group of comedians from England's "alternative" comedy scene, it centered around the misadventures of four ill-matched roomies all attending Scumbag College: the trendy Leftist (and complete moral coward) Rick Turpin (Rik Mayall); the violent Punker with the metal-studded forehead, Vyvyan Basterd (Adrian Edmondson); the lewd, manipulative, scheming pint-sized Cockney hustler Mike "the Cool Person" (Christopher Ryan); and the downtrodden, morose hippie Neal Pye (Nigel Planer). They were joined every week by their zany, Eastern-European landlord, Mr. Balowski (Alexei Sayle, who also played any number of Mr. Balowski's relatives). A stream-of-consciousness sitcom loaded with rude, outrageous slapstick humor, it featured guest appearances by other great Brit comedians [Jennifer Saunders ("Absolutely Fabulous"), Dawn French ("French & Saunders"), Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie ("A Bit of Fry & Laurie"), Emma Thompson ("Sense & Sensibility"), Robbie Coltrane ("Cracker"), and Mel Smith & Griff-Rhys Jones ("Alas Smith & Jones")]. It was written by Mayall, Lise Mayer, and Ben Elton (Elton also having written "The Black Adder" series, among others). Sandwiched into the crazed comedy were musical spots from well-known pop acts of the eighties (Dexy's Midnight Runners, Madness, Motorhead, etc.). Throw in some puppets, explosions, living fairy tales, random acts of comic violence, time-space juxtapositions, commentaries from God, and copious flatulence jokes, and you have the funniest TV show of all time... one which would never be gotten away with on American TV (though they were screened in censored versions from time to time of Comedy Central & MTV). From what I can gather, these versions are uncut with two exceptions: the musical number "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Ken Bishop's Nice Twelve in "Cash" and Neil singing "Hello Darkness, my old friend" in "Nasty" have been snipped because the BBC never bothered to clear the rights to use these songs. Other than that, they are complete. Buy this and laugh your... off!

And did we mention the Balovski Family? One of Britains true cult television faves,even in the U.S.! ( MTV actual proved it's worth by running these shows,ages ago.).

There is one small problem,especially if you already bought the BBC Video releases....you already have as "complete" a set as BBC Video is going to release apparently.

What's missing? DISC.1/Episode:"Boring" is missing the intro. music.( "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles.). DISC.2/Episode: "Cash",the musical number,"Subterranean Homesick Blues" performed by "Ken Bishop's Nice Twelve" ( Featuring Jools Holland,and Stewart Copeland among others. ). Apparently musical clearances aren't available from Bob Dylan or The Fab Four?? ( So those home recorded MTV broadcastings,might be worth saving! )

Disc 3 is the bonus material,largely,exerpts from BBC shows about the history of televised comedy. You see a little bit of Nigel & Rick circa 2002 in interviews.( Plus Alexei Sayle,Lisa Mayer,and Ben Elton. ). A live poem reading by Rick when he was in "20Th Century Coyote". And...the first episodes of "Bottom" ( with Rick & Ade ),and "Filthy,Rich,& Catflap" ( Nigel,Rick & Ade ),which are amusing,but not half as much as The Young Ones.

Frankly,its Disc 3 that you'll be paying for,since Disc 1 & 2,any self respecting Cliff Richard fan already owns. (Oh,and the 4 postcards,as well. )

Free advice for you my little Thunderbird puppets!

The Young Ones is an incredible TV show, and was shown uncut in the US on MTV back in 1987-1989. Unfortunately BBC America has NEVER been kind enough to package the entire series without cutting it to ribbons....

The musical sequence is missing from 'Cash' and the subliminal frame flashes have been removed!!!

Why?? Can't they atleast place an explaination on the disk to explain why this show is always mutilated from its original artistic package of the eighties?? ... Aside from that, this 20 year old TV series is still brilliant, and the overall collection/package is perfect. If kids see this today, it still holds up exceptionally well since nothing has been made since that is quite as mean spirited and creatively diverse for television. A must have for TV/humor lovers, but a sadly edited version, even if it is more complete then the VHS and recent TV versions.

I can not believe that there are only 2 Seasons of this show....and only 12 episodes at that. This was a great show! It reminds me of Monty Python with the Sex Pistols mixed in a blender.
I was watching this show in my Dental clinic in Iraq when we had a bunch of British and Scottish guys come in. They all freaked out and went off about the show and how old they were when it came out and how fondly they loved the show. I also got a lesson on some of the other shows like Bottom and a stage show with members of the cast etc. The 1st episode of Bottom was one of the extras in the set!!
I love the show and it is still funny today even though I was 2 when the show came out, all the jokes still work, and it has that timeless apeal to it. I watched almost the whole series with the Brits and Scotts, it was my first time seeing all the episodes but we all laughed like it was the first time an of us had seen the shows.

How ever Malek the Iraqi who was here did not get the humor at all.......but that is mostly his culture and British humor does not transfer that well to them I guess, but it made it that much funnier when he would ask why Vyvian was breaking everything.

But seriously, this DVD is soooo great! I love it. I had all the episodes on VHS and the quality was pretty bad. However, the show looks and sounds great on disc. I'm so glad this was finally released! This is definitely one of the best TV shows ever--it's fun to watch, and it's very quotable (not that anyone knows what you're quoting, but hey...). Anyway, it is absolutely worth buying! Go for it!

There is no better sitcom in the history of the planet as The Young Ones. It is funny, crazy, full of the unexpected, and much much more. In many ways it is the direct decendant to the throne of Duck Soup and the Marx Brothers. Amazing show!

Being only 18, I might have been born a decade too late, but The Young Ones is still as apparently funny now in 2003 as it was back in 1982. The constant bad jokes, the stereotypical characters, (Mike the playboy, Rick the anarchist, Vyvyan the metalhead punk and Neil the hippie) but mostly the pure physical comedy dynamic of Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall is what gives this show its extra brilliance.
I was subjected to Drop Dead Fred and Bottom before I'd ever seen The Young Ones, so I was properly prepared for the humour value of Rik. The real talent in the show lies in underappreciated comedian, Alexei Sayle, who wrote all the extra sketches within the show, and starred as all the members of the Balowski family - Jerzei, Reggie, Alexei, Tommy, Billy, and Brian.

Basic lowdown of the show -

Series 1 -

Episode 1 - Demolition
This episode is just when the characters are first being developed, so they're a little sketchy. Still really funny. Vyvyan comes home and tells the guys that the council has given the okay for the house to be demolished the next morning. After attempting to kill himself, Neil makes his last lentil supper as a final positive action, Rik goes on a protest, Mike tries to bed the lady from the council board, and Vyv smashes the place up. Classic.
Features Nine Below Zero playing live.

Episode 2 - Oil
The guys move into a new place. Mike turns Rick's room into a roller disco, and forces him to double up with Neil. The next day, Vyvyan strikes oil in the basement while playing Murder in The Dark, and as a result, Mike becomes the fascist "El Presidente". Together with his henchman Colonel Vyvyan, they order Neil and Rick to dig up all the oil.
Rick organises a mass rock concert benefit to help the oppressed workers of the house, and it goes horribly wrong.

Episode 3 - Boring
The guys are absolutely bored, and nothing can save them now. A round of Monopoly bores Neil so much that he goes and digs a grave for himself, "just in case." To combat boredom, the guys leave the house and go down to the Kebab and Calculator to find that Vyv's mum is a bartender who turns out to have it on for Mike in a bad way.

Episode 4 - Bomb
The lads wake up to find a bomb in the house. Everyone seems to have their own idea on how to deal with it. Mike decides to contact every ethnic majority in London and try auction it off. Rick decides to hold London at ransom, and gets done up in his activist gear to go send a telegram to Thatcher. Neil builds a bomb shelter under the kitchen table, and all Vyv seems to want to do is blow the thing up. All this, plus a visit from the TV detector man, and they haven't even got a license.

Episode 5 - Interesting
It's the most important party of Rick's life, and the house has been crushed by a giant sandwich.
The boys hold a little get together at their place, which turns out to become pretty hectic. Rick has an embarassing episode with some tampons, Mike scores a princess, Vyv tries to dissect random people, and Neil gets massively stoned and takes a trip to the moon.
Very funny episode.

Episode 6 - Flood
Probably my favourite of all time.
London starts to flood, and Rick starts a game of hide and seek to pass the time. Vyvyan, meanwhile, has made a cure for not being a axe wielding homocidal maniac, and left it inside a Coke can where no-one will dare drink it. Problem is, Jerzei Balowski comes along and devours the lot. What more could you want in Britcom?

Second Series

Bambi - Episode 1
It's washing day. The guys make a long awaited trip to the laundrette, and then Neil remembers that they've been picked to go on the game-show, University Challenge.
Guest stars Emma Thompson, Motorhead, Ben Elton, and Hugh Laurie. Awesome episode.

Episode 2 - Cash
My favourite.
The guys are very low on cash. Vyv starts burning random objects around the house, until Mike decides someone should get a job. Rick has a burst eardrum, Mike has a bad leg... and Vyvyan's pregnant, so looks like Neil has to bite the bullet and become a member of the police force to support Vyv's baby on the way.

Episode 3 - Nasty
Mike borrows a VCR for the night from one of his contacts, and he and Vyv decide to indulge in an all night orgy of sex and violence... video-wise, of course. Naturally, the guys are sent a package from the Transvaal, and a South African vampire seems to stuff their video plans up just a tad. Features The Damned playing live.

Episode 4 - Time

Rick wakes up with a woman in his bed. She turns out to be a homicidal maniac. Enough said.

Episode 5 - Sick
All the boys have come down with the flu. Time for a chill out day. In an effort to stay somewhat clean, they tie snotty Neil up in a garbage bag, until Brian Damage, one of the Balowski boys, decides to hold up the house and ruin their plans. And Neil's just remembered, his parents are coming for tea!
This episode features a really funny parody on The Good Life, although non Brit and Australian viewers probably won't understand it.

Episode 6 - Final - Summer Holiday
Such a tragic end.
The summer holidays are upon the boys. Yay. After a lot of fussing around with boredom and playing Rick's stupid games, his parents die, and they're all thrown out of the house with no money. Best thing to do? Rob a bank and steal a big red bus.

After all that, if you're still comedy starved, I highly suggest trying to get your hands on a copy of Bottom Live, because the first episode featured on this DVD, "Smells", isn't nearly as funny as the improvisation that goes on whilst Ade and Rik are onstage.

Happy viewing, ....

You've already got episode synopsis and whatnot from other reviews, so I'll skip that. This set is definately the bomb. However, with the exception of adding the Dexy's Midnight Runner's back into the episode entitled BOMB, there is no difference from this and the VHS versions, as some episodes are missing sections. Some are small(one or two lines in NASTY and OIL) and others are whole scenes (The musical number in CASH). However, as said before it's the frigging Young Ones on DVD! get the frickin DVD already!

Naturally, the third disc is the main reason for the boxset, as the episode of Filthy, Rich, and Catflap and the episode of Bottom possibly means that BBC Video is thinking of releasing them to the states, which is perfectly fine with me! The episodes are Filthy, Rich, and Catflap episode 1 where Richie has been hit with a paternity suit, and the Bottom episode is entitled SMELLS, where Eddie and Richie get pherome spray to help them "catch the birds".