Customer Reviews

The Young Ones : Oil/Boring/Flood [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Back when MTV was relevant in our culture it played the reruns of the Young Ones and I like many others were turned onto them for this reason. These are the episodes I remember most, not only because they were the first ones I saw on MTV but this was the only video you could rent of them at any video store in my town. Well that video store shut down and I don't own a single solitary episode. I may get desparate and buy the VHS copies but I would much rather have them on DVD - if they existed. These and other BBC classics like Fawlty Towers, Mr. Bean, and Black Adder should all be available on DVD - I really hope to see Rik, Niel, Vivyan, and Mike on DVD at some point but I will settle for VHS to own this priceless series.

My wife introduced me to these British maniacs of the '80s, and I was instantly hooked.

The Young Ones--ah, why did they make so few episodes? At least, you can enjoy these three.

OIL has several highlights: "What is that little white dot, anyway?" Mike moves from a roller-disco owner (the disco being Rik's room) to Godfather (who puts a deer's head in Neil's bed) to international oil magnate (after Vyvyan discovers oil in the basement while playing murder in the dark). Strange thing: when my wife taped this off t.v. back in the 80s there is a song playing in the background--"Working on the Chain Gang" I think--while Rik and Neil dig for oil. On this tape, the song is edited out. (See my "Cash" episode comments.)

BORING--Oblivious to the strange things going around in their home, the boys try to come up with ways to fight ennui. The episode culminates in a trip to the pub where the band Madness comes up with every excuse not to play for the lads. The best part is when Vyvyan runs into his mum. What a strange bird!

FLOOD--Rik and Vyv are at it again. Neil bangs a frying pan against his head for no apparent reason, and landlord Alexei drinks Vyv's potion that turns a normal person into a homicidal maniac. Fortunately, Alexei's transformation into Jack Nicholson's "The Shining" character rescues Neil from being cannibalized by his housemates.

Prepare yourself for a stomach ache from laughing.

This is a great video. The best episode on it has to be boring. Although Bambi, Nasty, Time is the best video out of the four this one is definatly a close second, if you fell in love with these guys on MTv then you have to get this video.

All the main characters are hilarious send-ups of types. Indeed, they are the farcical extreme of lots that were too common in Thatcher's England in the early '80's. The show also manages to use racial stereotypes for comic fodder. It really plays around with fear and the tenuous nature of identity. Well, Vyv and Mike are pretty solid--but Rick and Neil are soft little girlie blouses blowin' in the wind. There was no place for them back then. Unfortunately, they are all to prevelant in our own social climate. Thank you Margaret Thatcher! Of course, she's got nothing to do with the jellofication of our political system. Right?

OIL

This one is brilliant. Mike turns into Kim Jong II and forces the lads to mine the oil that Vyv has says is in the basement. The best part is Vyv--who turns into a bullyboy to keep the pathetic ladies' blouses of the house in line. Rick and Neil spend most the episode under Mike's boot. Then Rick stages a benefit concert for the opressed working classes of the house (Neil). Alexei Sayle sings a promo for Dr. Marten's (crap) boots with Radical Posture in the drawing room. Rick is sickened by the mass commericialization of the performance.

BORING

The boys try anything to stave off the black pangs of boredom. They play Vyv's new souped-up version of Monopoly where many of the answers are ammended to include doing something horrible to Rick. Neil digs his own grave in preperation for his big exit. Goldilocks and the three bears visit and are naturally bored.

FLOOD

Vyv reads the classic 'SS Death Camp Criminal Battalion go to Monte Casino for the Massacre'. Later, he falls into the secret world of Narnia and is nearly capsized by the Wicked Witch before locating the exit back to the cellar. Alexei Sayle plays Jerzei the landlord who drinks from the Coke Can Vyv has filled with a potion that turns people into axe-wieiding homocidal maniacs. He too winds up wandering around Narnia before finding the exit back to the cellar. He then grabs himself an axe and terrorizes the boys.

While the Young Ones is indeed a truly hysterically funny TV show, when I ordered the VHS tapes, I was suprised to see that, though brand new, the sound level on the first tape (for the first 10 min) was so low as to be nearly inaudible, and that the second tape would not play at all in the VHS player. Just a heads up.

as a big rik mayall fan, this is a highly recommended series to view and enjoy. Vyvian Basterd, Rik, sometimes pronounced and spelled with a preceding silent "P"(Prik), groovy Neil, and,hormonial Mike, are the aspiring medical students of Scumbag University. The show hosts random musical act appearances such as Madness, Motorhead, Dexy's Midnight Runners, and also pop appearances by Jennifer Saunders, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry,and more. A definitive portrayal of struggling college life with a chunk of fun. Suspense, action,poetry, experiments, D.I.Y.'s, and brotherhood like you've never seen.

A trio of episodes from the 80s British comedy series THE YOUNG ONES. Written by Rik Mayall and Ben Elton, the show starred Mayall, Ade Edmonson, Nigel Planer and Christopher Ryan. Alexi Sayle has a recurring role as "the Bulowski family." Other guest stars include David Rappaport, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French.

OIL - (1982 season) - Vyvyan finds oil in the basement, leading to secret meetings in the cupboard under the stairs, fascist fantasies and musical benefits for oppressed workers in the drawing room. Musical guest is Alexi Sayle and Radical Posture singing about Dr. Marten's boots.

BORING - (1982 season) - The boys don't notice their freaky existences as they are too busy obsessing about how boring their lives are. Vyv cuts off one of his fingers. A trip to the Kebab and Calculator (the pub) includes the band Madness singing "House of Fun."

FLOOD - (1982 season) - London has flooded and the boys are trapped at home without adequate breakfast. Will they be forced to eat each other or will Vyvyan's homemade submarine save the day? A game of hide-and-seek includes a hysterical visit to the Land of Narnia. No musical guest.

All episodes of The Young Ones are a riot!!! I'm so glad I found them on VHS for sale... my old tv-copies are literally worn out!

The Young Ones is better than any other comedy produced. Saturday Night Live came close and The kids in the hall came closer but Vivian is the funniest character in history. I give it five stars. Keep up the good work. END

I LOVE THE YOUNG ONES!!! THEY ARE THE FUNNIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN! HONEST!! MY FAVORITE IS NEIL, THE HIPPY. I LOVE HIM! I LOVE THEM ALL!! END