What happened to your trousers? (Bottom)

Member Name: latino reheat

Product:	Bottom
Date:	05/06/02 (279 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Witty, Well written, great stunts and effects

Disadvantages: Only 3 series

.......Oh they blew off in a storm.... Classic stuff.

Toilet humour thats actually funny and gross at the same time.
This BBC show began in 1992 and since has had 3 series and 4 live stage shows. Each series consists of 6 foul episodes.

The basic premise, a dirty 2 storey flat in Hammersmith. The home to two sad gits, Eddie Hitler (who's mother was named Adolf) a crazed balding lard mound that drinks whatever he can find (during the show he has consumed bleach, old spice aftershave and a yoghurt thats started growing it's own cress), and Richard Richard, a sad act that is sweaty, has a microscopic penis and is a virgin desperate to lose it to anything.

They are best mates, but you wouldn't know it from all the fights they have. This is one of the many reasons Bottom appeals to me, it's great fights, which would kill ordinary people. For instance, Richie cuts Eddies legs off with a chainsaw in one episode.
Inbetween the violence and swearing, the two have funny little conversations, like in the episode "s'up" where they talk about their holiday to France.

I have to say, theres alot of "Double Entendres" and innuendo, which is fresh and funny. The plots are well concieved, from them going Camping, to stealing their enemies honeymoon tickets. From forging their own money to Richie mistaking himself as the new Virgin Mary. Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall are comic geniuses that deserve alot of credit (especially when Rik was almost killed in a quad bike accident a few years ago).

Some of the earlier episodes were particulary dirty, maybe just to make an impact on the audience in an attempt to draw ratings. The very first episode see's the lads visiting a sex shop, which is damn hilarious.

My favourite episode has to be "Culture" where the boy's rented telly is taken back because Eddie spent the rent money on magic beans. No telly means they have to fin
d other ways to entertain themselves. The two devise a tournament to see who is the best. First game, stick a bit of cellotape on the fridge (originating from pin the tail on the donkey), second game, a "see how much custard you can hold in your underpants competition". The last game is chess, with most of the pieces missing, so they improvise with household items, like prawns, a sausage and some other funny items.
The characters are very nicely developed in the short space of time as they frequently reminisce about old times and family members. Aswell as Eddie and Richie, there is their two mates, Dave Hedgehog (a midget unemployable wretch) and Spudgun (named based on what he can do with a potato), there is also Dick Head, the local pub landlord and Mr Harris, the extortionate landlord of their flat.

On a TV program about 6 years ago, Adrian Edmondson was noted to say that series 4 was in development, yet nothing materialised (except two live shows). Which was a shame, because I felt the show had alot more left to produce a quality 4th series.
So far, all the episodes have been released on video, with a scratch and sniff boxset, a best off video and an outakes video. On DVD we have all 4 live shows and coming soon is the best of DVD.

Speaking of the live shows, they are just as funny as the TV series, but alot ruder.
Bottom Live 1 - Richie trys to get it on with an inflatable doll, while Eddie trys to con Richie out of a £15,000 inheritance.
Bottom Live 2 - The lads prepare for a visit from the Queen.
Bottom Live 3, Hooligans Island - This one sees our two protaganists stranded on a tropical island, after sinking a cruise ship.
Bottom Live 4, 2001 an arse oddity - The weakest of the four shows, with only the first half worth watching.

Oh ok then, heres a small episode guide -
Series 1 :
Bottom "Smells" - The two lard buckets try to pull some birds using a new love spray.
Bottom &quo
t;Gas" - The gas man arrives, which means they have to get rid of their illegal supply from the next door neighbour.
Bottom "Contest" - Eddie gets the sack and he and Richie fall out over what to watch on the TV.
Bottom "Apocalypse" - A gyspy woman tells Richie he will die in 3 days.
Bottom "s'up" - The landlord forces Richie and Eddie to run his shop while he's away.
Bottom "Birthday" - It's Richies birthday and he's broken his leg !

Series 2 :
Bottom "Digger" - The lads sign up for a dating agency.
Bottom "Culture" - When the telly's away, the lads will pla....fight.
Bottom "Burglary" - Richie squashes a would-be burglar and holds him hostage.
Bottom "Parade" - Richie and Eddie both take part in an identity parade.
Bottom "Holy" - It's christmas time and Richie has to scrub his sprouts !
Bottom "s'out" - The lads lose a bet and have to go camping for a week.

Series 3 :
Bottom "Hole" - Richie and Eddie are stuck at the top of a huge ferris wheel.
Bottom "Terror" - It's halloween, Richies in his tights, Eddie is a halloween banana and a huge cattle prod guarentees cash.
Bottom "Break" - The two plan a holiday to Bridlington.
Bottom "Dough" - Eddie starts forging his own money.
Bottom "Finger" - Richie and Eddie steal honeymoon tickets of their enemy and spend some time in a swanky hotel.
Bottom "Carnival" - Richies stolen a video camera and discovers a home video belonging to the Prime Minister.

This isn't shown much anymore, BBC2 occasionaly show episodes now and again, but watch out for UK Gold, which shows them more often. Now if you'll excuse me, someones giving my knocker a damn good banging....

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