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YOUNG ONES FAQ v 1.37
=====================
Created by Andrew Wong (achwong@bradford.ac.uk)
Contents
========
1. What *is* THE YOUNG ONES ?
2. So how was it all created ?
3. What were the episodes about ?
3a. DEMOLITION
3b. OIL
3c. BORING
3d. BOMB
3e. INTERESTING (the one about the party)
3f. FLOOD
3g. BAMBI (the one about exams about University Challenge)
3h. CASH
3j. NASTY
3k. TIME
3m. SICK
3n. SUMMER HOLIDAY
4. Who were the regular cast and crew ?
5. Who featured in the series ?
5a. Mark Arden and Stephen Frost
5b. Robbie Coltrane
5c. Ben Elton
5d. Dawn French
5e. Gareth Hale and Norman Pace
5f. Jools Holland
5g. David Rappaport
5h. Tony Robinson
5j. Jennifer Saunders
5k. Alexei Sayle
5m. Special Patrol Group
5n. Other people who feature once
6. What have they done since ?
6a. Adrian Edmondson
6b. Rik Mayall
6c. Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall
6d. Nigel Planer
6e. Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall and Nigel Planer
6f. Christopher Ryan
6g. Ben Elton
6h. Lise Mayer
6j. Alexei Sayle
7. British slangs and -isms
7a. Quick definitions
7b. Cliff Richard
7c. The two-fingered salute
7d. TV licences
7e. O-levels and A-levels
8. Quotable Lines
9. Location
10. Rick's (The People's Poet) Peoples' Poems
10a. Cliff
10b. House
10c. Pollution
10d. Free-form
10e. The Peoples' Poem
10f. Rick's Teen Anguish Poem
10g. Rick's Trotsky poem
11. The strange person at the back of the house
12. Memories of the time
13. When was it transmitted ?
14. What are these flash-frames I keep hearing about ?
15. Merchandise
15a. Videos
15b. Books - Batchelor Boys:The Young Ones Book
Neil's Book of The Dead
15c. Singles - Cliff Richard and The Young Ones:Living Doll
Neil: Hole In my Shoe
Neil: My White Bicycle
15d. Album - Neil: Neil's Heavy Concept Album
16. Spin-offs
17. Other articles on the Internet
18. Contributors and thanks
1. What *is* THE YOUNG ONES ?
=============================
The Young Ones is a British-made television sitcom from 1982
to 1984, about four totally mis-matched students sharing a house
together in the early 1980s.
But there's more to it than that. It became the classic
British comedy series of the early 1980s, helping to launch the
then-alternative comedy scene into mainstream TV culture.
Like Monty Python in the 1960s and The Goodies in the 1970s,
it occasionally went into totally surreal sketches and characters
that sometimes retained a vague link to the main narrative.
Almost every significant "alternative" British comedian of the
late 1980s and 1990s were featured in The Young Ones, either on
screen or behind the scenes. Chris Barrie, Robbie Coltrane, Ben
Elton, Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Hale & Pace, Lenny Henry, Hugh
Laurie, Norman Lovett, Griff Rhys Jones, Tony Robinson, Jennifer
Saunders, Mel Smith, Emma Thompson (now an Oscar winner) ....
2. So how was it all created ?
==============================
During the late 1970s to early 1980s, the British "youth"
culture was yet again in a vague alternative rebellion. Punk had
hit the music culture, with bands like The Sex Pistols spitting on
stage, and saying naughty swear words on live television, shocking
mainstream conservative Britain.
The comedy scene was no exception. Alternative comedians were
now coming to the fore, with their brand of "toilet" humour mixed
in with a bit of left-wing political satire and a few swear words.
During this time, Rik Mayall (Rick), Adrian Edmondson,
(Vyvyan) and Ben Elton had all graduated with a drama degree from
Manchester University, and headed for The Comedy Store in Leicester
Square, London. This was the "centre" of the alternative-comedy
scene. Mayall and Edmondson had set up a double-act called
Twentieth Century Coyotes. Ben Elton established himself as a
stand-up comedian and became the main compere at the Comedy Store.
Nigel Planer (Neil) and Peter Richardson (later in The Comic
Strip) were also a double-act entitled The Outer Limits.
The original plan for The Young Ones would have throw these
two double-acts together. However, for some reason Peter Richardson
either rejected the idea, or was not considered.
At this time, Christopher Ryan (a stage actor, not comedian)
was in a play called CAN'T PAY, WON'T PAY. Andy De La Tour (an
alternative comedian) recommended him for the role, Paul Jackson
(the producer) saw him at the play, and the rest is history :)
3. What were the episodes about ?
=================================
There were two series of six episodes each, making a grand total of
twelve episodes.
The first paragraph will quote the backsleeve of the BBC
video. The next paragraph will contain a brief sypnosis, follwed by
any comments I may have.
Season 1 (1982)
3a. DEMOLITON
-------------
"Fascist oiks at the Town Hall want to demolish the house. Why
bother with Vyv around to do the business for them ?"
The Town Hall announces plans to knock their house down.
This was the pilot episode, and it shows. All the essential
elements that made The Young Ones what it is is there in one form
or another, but some elements of the characters are expanded upon
here and others contracted. Mike is more of a self-styled
ladykiller, Neil keeps trying to commit suicide, Rick's poetry and
love of Cliff Richard is more fanatical, and Vyvyan makes his
entrance through a wall. The band playing in the living room is
NINE BELOW ZERO.
3b. OIL
-------
"As Rick, Vyv, Neil, and Mike move into their new house, the
talking statue at the front door begins an odyssey of zaniness that
is to culminate in a worker's revolution and a fully-fledged
benefit concert in the front room."
Moving into an new house, Vyvyan finds oil in the basement.
This was made six months after DEMOLITION, yet transmitted the
week after it. Infamous moments from this one include Buddy Holly
singing about insects, the two hard-working executives taking a
holiday in front of a 20-watt bulb, Neil having six pairs of arms
and Radical Posture / Alexei Sayle singing about Dr. Marten boots.
3c. BORING
----------
"Is life really that boring for the four students ? A
terrorist siege in their own house; a visitation from Hell; a fairy
tale world that flourishes while they are asleep. And yet they are
so B-O-R-E-D that Neil is driven to dig himself in a grave and Vyv
chops his finger off."
It's an average boring normal day in Studentville - or is it?
This features a walk down Abbey Road (in London) to the Kebab
and Calculator (in Bristol), the three bears, a red dwarf from Hell
called Footoomch (sp?), Vyvyan's mother, and Madness singing House
Of Fun. Anyone who was in Studentville will know days like this :)
3d. BOMB
--------
"A potentially explosive situation erupts when a bomb falls on
the house .... But worse ! The TV licence man calls."
The lads find an atomic bomb and try to auction it to the
highest seller. This involves Neil painting himself white to
deflect a nuclear blast, the Dicky and Dino show, and Dexys'
Midnight Runners singing "Jackie Wilson said" in the toilet.
Footage of a plane dropping the bomb precedes the credits.
Notice that when the gang switches on the TV to find out
what's going on, the picture of the test card is actually stuck
onto the TV, and the camera swings around to hide this fact after
the TV has outlived its' usefulness...
3e. INTERESTING
---------------
"It's party-time ! Where else could you mingle with the four
horsemen of the Apocalypse, a giant sandwich and a singing tomato?
Pretty amazing stuff eh ? Just ignore Neil's boring hippy friend
chilling-out in the fridge ... "
The household organises a party.
This one features Jennifer Saunders with toy mice in her
handbag, Neil on the moon, Rick's sociology professor Jim Morrison,
Cinderella and Santa Claus. The band tonight are RIP, RIG AND
PANIC, which I think features a young Neneh Cherry. If you've ever
held a party as a stoodent, you may well sympathise with this one..
3f. FLOOD
---------
"While London floods, Rick tries to elevate proceedings with
a game of hide-and-seek. Meanwhile his sociology file is set on
fire by Vyv, Mike's room is occupied by a pride of lions, and
landlord Alexei Sayle turns into an axe-wielding homicidal maniac."
It starts with the guys being bored, and Neil repeatedly
bashing himself in the face with a frying pan. The guys also try to
eat Neil when he returns from the supermarket empty-handed. Vyv
hides in the wardrobe and ends up in Narnia. No band.
Season Two (1984)
3g. BAMBI
---------
"Who produced the world's stickiest bogey and the world's
stupidest bottom-burp ? Who's smashing the oiks on University
Challenge and who's swotting away for teacher like a total spasmo?"
The lads compete on a game show against some upper-class
students, while The Elephant Man attempts to convince Tony Robinson
that he is an elephant.
Probably the most famous episode, this is especially
appreciated after exams! This features Motorhead performing Ace Of
Spades, and lots of British stars, including someone who will later
fall to pieces in front of 500,000,000 viewers across the world...
3h. CASH
--------
"Hey man ! It's really wierd ! Strange things keep happening.
Like plates are disappearing and the tables keep, well, shrinking.
Looks like there's a poltergoost in the house...."
Our heroes find themselves running out of money, Vyvyan
announces his pregnancy and Neil becomes a police officer. The song
is Subterranean Homesick Blues performed by (amongst others) Jools
Holland, Glen Tilbrook, and Stewart Copeland (of The Police).
3j. NASTY
---------
"Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, Vyv is now a video head and
Neil's wearing a dress because some really selfish negative vibe
merchant boarded up his bedroom. Only pop music can save them now."
The video revolution catches with the gang as they decide to
rent some nasty videos with plenty of sex and violence. Of course,
a vampire (naturally from South Africa) tends to ruin things. The
band playing in the living room are The Damned with Video Nasty.
This episode has a different beginning sequence, presenting the
episode as if it were a horror film.
3k. TIME
--------
"Vyv's being violently and copiously sick because Rick's like
scored with a chick and the whole house has like gone through some
kind of time warp."
Can it be true ?!! Rick found a girlfriend ?!!!
This episode also starts with different credits, a Dallas
parody featuring a secretary typing with her nipples... The band
are AMAZULU, with So Much Love.
3m. SICK
--------
"There's bogeys on the blankets and snot on the sheets when
Neil and the others come down with the worst colds in the history
of civilisation !"
Neil has a cold, and even Vyvyan's cure of drilling a nail in
his head doesn't quite work, which is a pity since it sparks off a
street riot. They're also taken hostage by Brian Damage, an escaped
murderer. But their troubles are forgotten as the real horror
happens - Neil's parents come to tea!! Also features a good parody
of "The Good Life" (aka "Good Neighbors" in the US), Madness
singing "Our House" and the return of Vyvyan's mother.
3n. SUMMER HOLIDAY
------------------
"Hey, everybody ! School's out ! Hurray ! Hurray ! Except,
like there's nothing to do, man, apart from getting on a big red
bus and having a really explosive trip. It should be pretty good
fun, actually."
In the final episode, the summer holidays beckon. Rick's
parents die, and they are all thrown out of the house with no
money. Will Rick be forced to sell his body ? What will our
intrepid heroes do next ? The music is brought to you by John
Otway, singing Body Talk.
4. Who were the regular cast and crew ?
=======================================
Rick, the political anarchist studying Sociology (or was it
Domestic Science?) who was a poetic genius, adored Cliff Richard
and rude words, was played by RIK MAYALL. He's a bit of a twit.
Vyvyan, the violent medical punk student who liked lager and
curries (sounds like Lister) was played by ADRIAN EDMONDSON. He had
orange hair and four metal stars glued to his forehead. The back of
his jacket says VERY METAL. His little pet was Special Patrol Group
(SPG), a Scottish hamster with an attitude....
Neil, the lentil-loving depressed hippie studying Peace Studies and
occasionally abused by his friends was played by NIGEL PLANER.
Mike, the cool "straight" one who has lots and lots of girlfriends
(or so we think) and incriminating photos of the Dean, was played
by CHRISTOPHER RYAN.
The writers were: Ben Elton (now a stand-up comedian)
Rik Mayall
Lise Mayer (still writing sketches)
Additional material was by Alexei Sayle. The director was Geoff
Posner, and the producer was Paul Jackson, who went on to produce
Red Dwarf.
Ed Bye was a production assistant. He later went on to direct
GIRLS ON TOP, promoted as the "female Young Ones" and starring
French and Saunders. He used to direct some episodes of Red Dwarf
and now directs and produces The Full Wax. He's also married
to Ruby Wax.
5. Who featured in the series ?
===============================
5a. Mark Arden and Stephen Frost
--------------------------------
BORING: two policemen in the front page of The Guardian
INTERESTING: two party crashers
CASH: two Elizabethan ghosts
NASTY: two secret agents (Sweater & Ruffles)
SICK: two muck-men, Mick & Tess
5b. Robbie Coltrane
-------------------
OIL: Sully the bouncer at Mike's roller-disco
BAMBI: Dr. Carlisle who finds human beings the size of amoebas
5c. Ben Elton
-------------
DEMOLISH: the presenter of Nozin' Around
BAMBI: Kendal Mintcake, the Oxbridge oik who was given the
Socialist Worker Party for his birthday
FLOOD: The blind DJ interviewing an armless female singer
SICK: The schoolboy in the Grange Hill spoof
SUMMER HOLIDAY: the guy in the advert drinking Sharp lager
5d. Dawn French
---------------
INTERESTING: the violent Bible-bashing preacher
NASTY: the Devil in the Pain-Away commercial
TIME: The Easter Bunny
5e. Gareth Hale (the one with the moustache) & Norman Pace
----------------------------------------------------------
NASTY: two grave diggers
TIME: two peasants
5f. Jools Holland
-----------------
CASH: part of the band
SUMMER HOLIDAY: the punk with the enormous mohawk at the bank
5g. David Rappaport (the dwarf in TIME BANDITS and LA LAW)
-------------------
BORING: Footumch, the red dwarf from Hell
FLOOD: Shirley, the Wicked Witch's servant
(He later killed himself partly due to the lack of serious roles)
5h. Tony Robinson
-----------------
BAMBI: The doctor looking after the Elephant Man
NASTY: one of the criminals bound for Australia
5j. Jennifer Saunders
---------------------
INTERESTING: the party-goer with lots of toy mice in her handbag
TIME: Helen Mucus, Rick's girlfriend ?!!!
5k. Alexei Sayle (The Balowski family)
----------------
DEMOLISH: Jerzei Balowski, their Polish landlord.
OIL: Alexei Yuri...Balowski, the lead singer of the band.
BORING: Jerzei Balovski's clinically insane brother, who drove
in from Brazil to imitate a Dalek using a cactus pot.
BOMB: Reggie Balowski, the Cockney arms dealer.
INTERESTING: drunk party-goer who pukes all over a posh person.
FLOOD: Jerzei (the landlord), who turns into an axe-wielding
homicidal maniac.
BAMBI: A train driver
CASH: A police officer who looks remarakbly similar to
Mussolini and becomes a stand-up comedian at nights
NASTY: A South African Communist vampire - or is he ?
TIME: Host of "Jester Balowski's Medieval Torture Hour"
SICK: Brian Damage Balowski, an escaped murderer
SUMMER HOLIDAY: Jerzei Balowski, the dreaded landlord
5m. Special Patrol Group
------------------------
Vyvyan's pet, a Scottish hamster with an attitude who likes
sleeping in front of Vyvyan's car, and biting teddy bears.
5n. People who occasionally pop up
----------------------------------
Mark Arden: BOMB as the gay husband on the cornflakes
packet
Helen Atkinson-Wood: NASTY as the woman condemned to Hell
Chris Barrie: NASTY as Captain of the ship bound for
Australia
Arthur Brown: FLOOD
Alan Freeman: CASH and SUMMER HOLIDAY as God
Stephen Fry: BAMBI as Lord Snot, a contestant on University
Challenge from Footlights College, Oxbridge
Ronnie Golden: OIL as Buddy Holly
Lenny Henry: SUMMER HOLIDAY as the Nazi postman
Griff Rhys Jones: BAMBI as the quiz-host of University Challenge
Terry Jones: NASTY as the drunken priest. He is better
known as a member of the Monty Python team.
Hugh Laurie: BAMBI as Lord Monty from Footlights College
Helen Lederer: SUMMER HOLIDAY, as the female
"Good morning sir" bank teller.
Norman Lovett: SUMMER HOLIDAY - the owner of the Penny Arcade
Lise Mayer: SUMMER HOLIDAY, as the woman Ben Elton is
chatting up in the Sharp advert ?
Paul Merton: He *MAY* be in TIME, as there is a credit
there for "Paul Morton"...
Roger Sloman: BOMB as the TV licence inspector
Mel Smith: BAMBI, the security guard at Granada studios.
Emma Thompson: BAMBI as Miss Money-Sterling, the Oxbridge oik
who has a Porsche.
6. What have they done since ?
==============================
6a. ADRIAN EDMONDSON (a more detailed biography is available)
--------------------
ABSOLUTLEY FABULOUS - a food reviewer
THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS...GREGORY:DIARY OF A NUTCASE as Gregory
He is married to Jennifer Saunders, and on a Hysteria AIDS benefit
concert said "You might remember me .. I used to be very funny. But
it's been a long time since The Young Ones, and I've just come to
this benefit to boost my sadly flagging career, though I don't know
what the f**k this do is all about."
He also co-wrote a book entitled HOW TO BE A COMPLETE B*STARD, and
the ISBN number is 0-86369-182X.
6b. RIK MAYALL (a more detailed biography is available)
--------------
SHOCK TREATMENT: Ricki, the male nurse
THE NEW STATESMAN: Alan B'stard, a right-wing Tory MP
DROP DEAD FRED: his first Hollywood movie with Phoebe Cates
RIK MAYALL PRESENTS....: a series of 3 60-minutes TV films
BLACKADDER 1: final episode as Mad Gerald
BLACKADDER 2, BLACKADDER GOES FORTH: Lord Flash-heart
and much much more... see the biography for more details
6c. ADRIAN EDMONDSON and RIK MAYALL
-----------------------------------
WAITING FOR GODOT: the stage play
BOTTOM - Rik = Richard Adrian = Eddie Hitler
BLACKADDER GOES FORTH (Private Plane)
Rik = Lord Flash-heart Adrian = Baron Von Richtoften
6d. NIGEL PLANER
----------------
KING AND CASTLE: pacifist martial artist employed by a debt
collection agency
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN: a short-lived ITV sitcom with Liza Goddard.
TRIALS OF OZ: played John Peel (Radio 1 DJ) in a re-enactment
of The Trails Of Oz
BRAZIL (film): one of the technicians unable to plug the hole
in Buttle's ceiling
BLACKADDER THE THIRD (Nob and Nobility): Lord Smedley
NICHOLAS CRAIG MASTERCLASSES: a pretentious actor doing 10-minute
lessons on BBC2. Brilliant !
BONJOUR LA CLASSE: a French teacher
THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS...GREGORY:DIARY OF A NUTCASE as the
psychiatrist
Apparently, he's also in an American Bud Light beer advert as a
restaurant reviewer, though I doubt this...
6e. ADRIAN EDMONDSON, RIK MAYALL and NIGEL PLANER
-------------------------------------------------
FILTHY, RICH AND CATFLAP
THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS... EAT THE RICH
Rik = Union organiser Nigel = unemployment office worker
Ade = obnoxious posh guy
and many other COMIC STRIPS, which deserve an FAQ of their own...
6f. CHRISTOPHER RYAN
--------------------
WAITING FOR GODOT - the stage play (with Rik and Adrian)
SANTA CLAUS THE MOTION PICTURE - one of the elfs
DR WHO : TRIALS OF A TIME LORD (MINDWARP)
ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE - a plumber
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS - a doped out ex-husband with a horrible
New-Age American wife
BOTTOM - as Hedgehog, in ACCIDENT, HOLY and PARADE (with Rik & Ade)
He's predominately a stage actor, and was in GUYS AND DOLLS and OFF
THE LEDGE. He also appeared in Only Fools And Horses.
6g. BEN ELTON (writer, actor/comedian)
-------------
Co-wrote Blackadder 2, Blackadder 3 and Blackadder Goes Forth.
Released three comedic albums - MOTORMOUTH, MOTORVATION and LIVE'89
Written three novels - STARK, GRIDLOCK, THIS OTHER EDEN
Written two plays - GASPING, SILLY COW
Co-hosted FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (UK)
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1993) - he's Michael Keaton's sidekick
STARK (1993) - a BBC-ABC (Australian) co-production, as CD.
For more info, read the Ben Elton FAQ available via FTP or me.
6h. LISE MAYER (writer - probably responsible for the tampon bit)
--------------
PARAMOUNT CITY (LONDON UNDERGROUND - U.S.) - producer
NO CURE FOR CANCER - worked with Denis Leary
MONTREAL COMEDY FESTIVAL - wrote a sketch with Rowan Atkinson
as a Canada tourism salesman
AMASSED HYSTERIA! - co-edited the book with Rachel Swann.
She was the girlfriend of Rik Mayall at the time - until he left
her when she was pregnant for his current wife (I think). She also
went out with Rowan Atkinson, Harry Enfield and is now going
out with Angus Deayton !
For more detailed info, refer to the FTP site (cathouse.org) or
E-mail me (achwong@bradford.ac.uk) for the press biographies.
6j. Alexei Sayle
----------------
DR WHO:REVELATION OF THE DALEKS as the crazy American DJ
THE ALEXEI SAYLE SHOW
STUFF
7. British slangs and -isms
===========================
7a. Quick definitions
---------------------
biro: Bic / ball-point pen
Bob's your uncle: there you are etc.
call: to visit or telephone someone (erm....)
flares: bell-bottoms
out on the pull: trying to find someone of the opposite sex
pavement: sidewalk
ring: call on the telephone
skiving: to shirk away from doing any work
snog: any kiss that isn't platonic <;-)
Sorry?: Huh ? What ?
take the piss: to make fun of, to deflate one's Ego
ta: Thanks (informal)
wanker: derogatory term for a person who masturbates
7b. Cliff Richard
-----------------
He is such an institution in the UK, I find it difficult to believe
no-one in the US has heard of him, but anyway...
Cliff started out as being Britain's answer to Elvis Presley during
the 1960s, and at one stage his records out-sold Elvis's!! Like
Elvis, he starred in a few British films that involved Cliff saving
Youth culture from the big square daddy-ios, films like THE YOUNG
ONES, and SUMMER HOLIDAY - in which Cliff chartered a London bus to
take his chums to Greece for a holiday and a quick snog...
Anyway, around the mid 1970s he discovered religion, and he is
still going strong today. His audience now is mainly comprised of
middle-aged women.
For a guy who's 50 years old, it's amazing he's managed to stay
so long in the business. And it cannot be denied he has a better
voice than most "pop" stars today. The quality of the songs he
sings are rather questionable to say the least...
Basically, he's not the sort of artiste a hip, happening
politically aware student like Rik would be into. I think Cliff
supports the Conservative Party :)
On the other hand, this could represent the student trendiness that
is to like things that no-one else likes - hence the current
revival of 1970s fashions and Abba....
7c. The two-fingered salute
---------------------------
The UK equivalent of the middle-finger salute, though not as rude.
It's like saying Piss Off or something equally strong.
7d. TV licences (BOMB)
----------------------
The BBC does not rely on advertising for its' revenue. Instead
any household that owns a TV in the United Kingdom is required to
pay a licence fee to the Government for the privilege of owning a
television that can pick up terrestial signals. This money is then
handed over to the BBC and used to fund its' programming.
It's illegal to own a TV without a licence (unless you can
persuade the courts you're only using the TV to pick up satellite
television), so occasionally, TV detector vans are sent out that
detect TVs (obviously). Then the house is checked with the TV
licence records, and if the house does not have a licence, the
house is in biiiiiiig trouble - a fine of up to 2000 pounds ($3000)
can be charged. At the moment, a year's licence costs around 80
pounds ($120)
Students are reknown for not paying their licence. Myself, I
only got away with it because I wasn't in when they came knocking
at my door !
7e. O-levels and A-levels
-------------------------
O-levels were the exams taken by 16 year olds before they left
school. A "C" grade was considered a pass. You needed to get 5
passes to be allowed to the next stage of British education, which
was usually A-levels. Generally, British students take 3 A-levels,
and the grades you eventually get determine which university you
get to. If you get AAA, you get to go to the great universities of
Oxford, Cambridge and Bradford :) If you get less than that, you
are more likely to head for the "red-brick" universities or the
polytechnics.
Of course, this varies. Quite a few people who get AAA don't go
to Oxford and Cambridge, either because they were rejected or they
didn't like the place. Some prefer to go to polytechnics because
you get a better chance of a job upon graduation. And a
little-known fellow called John Major only managed to get 2
O-levels when he was 16...
O-levels were eliminated in 1987 in favour of GCSEs. Many older
people tend to complain that GCSEs are much easier than O-levels...
Anything else the international community finds unfathomable ?
8. Quotable Lines
=================
Neil : "Guys, there's some dinner on the floor if you want it" - DEMOLITION
Rik & Vyv : "Neil, your bedroom's on fire !" - OIL
Neil : "No way man ! Everyone knows sleep gives you CANCER!" - OIL
Neil : "I just looked at it and it blew up !" - BORING
Policeman : "That's white man's electricity you're using." - BORING
(to be used with heavily emphasised smilies !)
Neil : "Guys, why don't we, like, try going to lectures tomorrow ?"
Mike : "Neil, I know things are bad but there's no need to panic !
No, I'll just treat this problem like my mattress - and
sleep on it." - BORING
Neil : "It's like the kettle killed itself rather than be used by me..." - BOMB
Mike : "If people weren't sick, we wouldn't need penicillin" - BOMB
Mike : "A social conscience is like a garden fence, you try to eat
it, it'll get stuck in your throat." - BOMB
Rick : "No, YOU put my address down. Rick, 15 Credibility Street"
(at the Social Security office, BOMB)
Rick : "Tomorrow everyone in England will be free, and there will be no more
social prejudice or hatred. GET UP NEIL, I HATE YOU !!!!!!!" - BOMB
Neil's hippie friend Neil : "My barely adequate psychic defences
are crumbling !" - INTERESTING
Rick : "You bought me a present! It's a telescope -- a telescope
with a mouse in it!" - INTERESTING
Professor Jim Morrison : "Wow, what is this stuff - tobacco or ...
Pink Floyd ?" - INTERESTING
Neil's hippie friend Neil : "Wow - it's so uncoool !" - INTERESTING
Rick : "Wouldn't it be amazing if all this (Monopoly) money were real?"
Vyv : "Rick, that has got to be the most predictable, pathetic, boring
statement someone always says in a game of Monopoly." - BORING
Rick : "God, I'm bored. Might as well be listening to Genesis" - FLOOD
Rick : "There's nothing poofy about a man wanting to love his
fellow man- It's just when they start touching each others'
bottoms...." - (to be used with heavy smilies) - FLOOD
Vyv: "I've put it (serum that turns you into an axe-wielding homicidal
maniac) in this Coca-Cola can so no-one will drink it !"
Neil: "You know, I just bet that a bit later on someone does drink it."
Rick: "Yes, I bet that's just the kind of zany imaginative
thing that happens around here." - FLOOD
Mr. Balowski : "Ah, Coca-Cola, symbol of free West!" - FLOOD
Rick : "There's no one in here, Mr. Balowski! We're all holograms !" - FLOOD
Neil : "Oh, well, out of one frying pan, into another frying pan." - FLOOD
Vyv : "You haven't got a sister, Rick! You're the classic
example of an only child." - BAMBI
Vyv : "This calls for a very special blend of psychology and
extreme violence." - BAMBI
Neil : "Socks aren't vegetables,man, they should be wiped out !" - BAMBI
Rick : "Hands up who likes me !" - BAMBI
Miss Money-Sterling : "I've got a Porsche -bwaha haha ha"
(a.k.a. Emma Thompson) - BAMBI
Vyv : "Neil, is it really necessary to nail the plates to the
table? What happens when we want to play Monopoly? Go
directly to plate? Do not pass plate nailed to the table by
a stupid hippie?" - CASH
Neil : "Boom shanka...May the seed of your loins be fruitful in the
belly of your woman." - CASH
Rick: "Oh, that's right, Vyvyan. If the mountain won't come to
Muhammed, smash the drawing room to pieces. That's very
Buddhist, isn't it!" - NASTY
Rick: "Neil, the bathroom's free! Unlike the country under the
Thatcherite junta." - NASTY
Rick: "Neil, is it really necessary to have the light on when
you're in the bath?"
Neil: "Well, yeah."
Rick: "Why, what are you planning to do - photosynthesize?" (NASTY)
Mike : "What's that thumping?"
Vyv : "Oh, it's probably Rick doing a bit of reading." - NASTY
Vyv : "YES !! WE'VE GOT A VIDEO !!!" - NASTY
Mike : "I hate to say anything negative, but no." - NASTY
Vyv : "Rick, shut up or I'll kill you." - NASTY
Neil : "Flares are coming back in -- I read it in my horoscope!" - NASTY
Rick : "Neil, how are you keeping that flowerpot up?!?" - NASTY
Rick : "Oh, no. The front door's exploded." - NASTY
Vyv : "'Vyvyan, Vyvyan, Vyvyan!' Honestly, whenever anything
explodes in this house, it's always 'blame Vyvyan!'" (NASTY)
Rick : "What, me, Rick, a virgin? Try telling that to some of the
foxy chicks who owe me favours." - NASTY
Rick : "So in fact, all four of us have stayed up for the entire
night. Now that's what I call anarchy!" - NASTY
Neil : "Oh no, I'll die if I miss 'Scooby-Doo'!" - TIME
Rick : "And that's Vyvyan....being sick" - TIME
Mike : "Last one to find the jungle animal has to take off all
their clothes. (to Helen Mucus) All right, your turn."
(TIME)
Rick : "We never clean the toilet, Neil! That's what being a
student is all about!" - SICK
Neil: "I hope Mike hurries back with the cure!"
Vyv: "No Neil, it's Madness this week!" - SICK
Mr. Balowski : "Aw, some sod broke your chair! That's 20 pounds you
owe me." - SUMMER HOLIDAY
Rick : "What's the difference ? There'll be plenty of chicks for
these tigers on the road to the promised land ! Who cares
about Thatcher and unemployment ? We can do just exactly
whatever we want to do ! And do you know why ? Because
we're Young Ones ! Bachelor Boys ! Wild eyed big bottomed
anarchists ! LOOK OUT !!! CLLLLLIIIIIFFFF !!!"
(SUMMER HOLIDAY)
Rick: "Honestly, I don't know why I bother sometimes..."
Vyv: "I don't know why you bother ever." - ?
9. Location
===========
Though The Young Ones was based in London (they all went to a
North London polytechnic - like a technical college), it was
actually filmed in Bristol.
- The train station in BAMBI is Bristol Temple Meads (though I
still maintain it's King's Cross, London).
- The Kebab And Calculator (their local as seen in BORING) is in
Bristol and is actually called The Cock of The North, though the
landlord is reputed to be a complete b*stard.
- In BOMB, Rick walks past Coopington Road...
- When Neil goes to the police station to get a job (CASH) it is
actually the Bristol North Swimming Baths that he goes to. The
army careers office he goes to first is about 50 yards down the
road (and is actually an RSPCA charity shop now). Both are on
Gloucester Road, Bristol and are about 100 yards away from the
shop used as a launderette in BAMBI. They are in the Bishopston
area of Bristol, where the house might have been set.
- In SUMMER HOLIDAY, the bank that they raid is also the Bristol
North Swimming Baths. The sign is covered by the 'Fascist Pig
Bank' sign or whatever it was called. The getaway car is parked
beside a line of bollards outside what is now the Bristol Flyer
pub which is next door to the baths.
(Just shows the lengths to which this FAQ has been carefully
researched ;)
10. Rick's (The People's Poet) Peoples' Poems
=============================================
For your delectation and delight, some of Rick's superb poems...
10a. "Cliff" (DEMOLITION)
-------------------------
Oh, Cliff
Sometimes it must be difficult not to feel as if
You really are a Cliff
When fascists keep trying to push you over it
Are they the lemmings?
Or are you *Cliff*?
Or *are* you, Cliff?
(According to Jon Drukman, it's the second line that makes
sense but Rick has to go and mess up his own poem :)
10b. "House" (DEMOLITION)
-------------------------
House, house, house
Oh, you are made of stone
But you are not alone
-Ly house!
10c. "Pollution" (BOMB)
-----------------------