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7.9/10
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British sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith.British sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith.British sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith.
- Won 2 BAFTA Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total
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Did you know
- TriviaThe original pilot episode had a different cast: Rowan Atkinson and Chris Langham were joined by Chris Emmett, Christopher Godwin, John Gorman, Willoughby Goddard and Jonathan Hyde. The pilot was due to air on April 2, 1979, but was cancelled due to BBC fears over its political content just before a general election, and has never been broadcast.
- Quotes
Various roles: [opens a back door and shouts] Why don't you grow up, you little bastards?
Various roles: What's the matter, dear?
Various roles: Nothing, I'm just talking to the plants.
- Alternate versionsThe series was edited down to eight 25-minute compilation episodes in 1995; these have been released on video, and are the versions used for repeats on British TV.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Wood and Walters: Episode #1.4 (1982)
Featured review
Cult British satirical TV show
This show was practically compulsory viewing for teenagers and students in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It introduced the British public to Griff Rys-Jones, Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson. Chris Langham was in the first season but seemed to get replaced by G R-J after that.
It consisted of a series of sketches, some purely comedic, others with political overtones. The pizza parlour worker, played by Rowan Atkinson, sneezing on the pizza and declaring "Extra mozzarella" is the former, the close-up of a yobbish Griff R-J talking about him and his mates picking on some black blokes "because we 'ate 'em, right?" and the camera gradually pulling away during the monologue to show he's a uniformed policeman would be the latter.
Some great writing (Clive Anderson, Andy Hamilton, a pre-"Four Weddings and a Funeral" Richard Curtis), go-for-it acting and sketches that hit frequently enough to forgive the ones that didn't. The sketch with the trendy lefty social worker declaring the only way to deal with young men who misbehaved was to "cut their goolies off" is still a classic, as is Gerald the talking gorilla.
It consisted of a series of sketches, some purely comedic, others with political overtones. The pizza parlour worker, played by Rowan Atkinson, sneezing on the pizza and declaring "Extra mozzarella" is the former, the close-up of a yobbish Griff R-J talking about him and his mates picking on some black blokes "because we 'ate 'em, right?" and the camera gradually pulling away during the monologue to show he's a uniformed policeman would be the latter.
Some great writing (Clive Anderson, Andy Hamilton, a pre-"Four Weddings and a Funeral" Richard Curtis), go-for-it acting and sketches that hit frequently enough to forgive the ones that didn't. The sketch with the trendy lefty social worker declaring the only way to deal with young men who misbehaved was to "cut their goolies off" is still a classic, as is Gerald the talking gorilla.
helpful•92
- harry-105
- Jul 6, 2003
- How many seasons does Not the Nine O'Clock News have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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By what name was Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979) officially released in India in English?
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