Thinking of a title is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman.... (Swiss Toni)

Member Name: Fishbulb

Product:	Swiss Toni
Date:	10/02/03 (1444 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cast of Thousands, well, many, BBC comedy has (generally) a great reputation, Easy Watching

Disadvantages: Characters may run a bit 'dry', Will it really stretch from a 2 minute slot to 3 hours of laughs?

"Writing a DooYoo op is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman: you take your product in hand, analyse it, think about it, perhaps give it a nibble and then just pound away (at the keyboard) until you are spent."

I was quite fortunate to be allocated some (free) tickets to go and see this being filmed. So if you're not as lucky as me to have seen it already you'll probably want a little background information on exactly what it is. In fact, unless you did get some tickets, you probably wouldn't have seen it at all yet as it's not been on TV.

This programme was originally scheduled for transmission at some point in 2002. It is a six part series, which originally was to be shown exclusively on BBC Choice. However, it?s now being shown on BBC3 (which has taken the place of BBC Choice) BBC3 launched yesterday (Sunday February 9th) - this series airs tonight at 10:30pm. Though I?m confident it'll be on BBC 1 or 2 soon enough!


ORIGINS

Swiss Toni was originally a character created by the team also responsible for The Fast Show. He is a ladies man (in his mind, if no-where else) and a car showroom owner. Always smartly dressed in a bry-nylon double-breasted suit (v. 80's) with co-ordinating shirt / tie / socks.

BACKGROUND

SWISS TONI MOTORS

Swiss Toni Motors is set in one of those retail park estate things, other notable shops include; PC Warehouse, Toys & Games Warehouse, the Warehouse Warehouse and Crazy Alan's Bicycle Warehouse. But that's just during the day, in the evening you can entertain yourself at several establishments including; a posh nightclub (no trainers, only smart shoes - this is 'posh') called 'The Pussy Palace' (we've all got one of these nightclubs in our home town - you know the ones, that no trainer thing really pulls in some classy people) and you can drink at the James Bond Themed club 'Flemings' <<
; nice name! or bowl at 'Great Bowls of Fire' but my own personal choice of entertainment (based purely on the name of course) is 'William Shatner's Quasar Zone' - Quality!

CHARACTERS

++++++++++
SWISS TONI - Played by Charlie Higson

With a greying moustache and an 'original' hairstyle to say the least. He is a character that you would not forget if you met him. His hair can only be described as frightening, fairly short around the sides and on the top at the front the most bizarre flick, (reminiscent of the front of a Buick) which he keeps in shape by putting it in two rollers at night and sporting a rather cute hairnet. He is the original ladies man of the 80's - it's only a shame no ones told him they're over yet! A man, probably in his forties, thinks he's still 19!

Swiss believes 'cars are in his blood' as they are in men's blood only, woman (according to ST) are not interested in cars, in their blood they have 'Belgium chocolates & fine wine'

He tries to keep up his persona and suavity while all the time, you get the impression that inside he's fighting a loosing battle with his grip on the world. His greatest shame is that he cannot even drive and his wife is teaching him (and he's not very good at it)
He is also rather proud of his nickname 'Swiss' yet, another secret shame is that he's not actually Swiss!

Charlie Higson

Met Paul Whitehouse back at East Anglia college in 1977 and became friends with Harry Enfield 3 years later. He started his career in a band called the Higsons and then went on to become a painter, working alongside Paul Whitehouse. By the end of the 80's he was co-writing some materials with Paul & Harry including 'Loadsamoney' and 'Stavros' He has also worked with Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer and Kathy Burke.

In 1994 The Fast Show first aired. Among the other
stars include Simon Day & Caroline Aherne. The first Characters from this show to be given their own were Ted & Ralph 2 years later. And four years on, another character has earned 'own show' status Swiss Toni??..

Charlie is also an established author with 4 novels under his belt. As well as being the producer for the recent remake of Randell & Hopkick (deceased)

++++++++++
GEOFF - Played by Simon Day

The Head salesman at Swiss Toni Motors. Has an alcohol problem, in that he cannot sell cars without it. An ex-employee of BMW, was sacked for reversing a car through the showroom window. Geoff & Swiss have a bit of a love / hate relationship. Swiss is jealous of Geoff for being the better salesman, yet Swiss maintains that 'every car sold at Swiss Toni Motors, is sold under the name Swiss Toni, ergo, "I" sell ALL the cars'

Geoff would probably not get a job anywhere else because of his alcoholism; he's sarcastic, cynical and bitter about life in general. The relationship between Swiss and Geoff is very much a give & take thing in that Geoff couldn't work anywhere else and Swiss likes to look down at him because he is the boss and the fact that he is Swiss Toni's Top salesman obviously keeps him in good stead with Swiss.

Simon Day

Simon has worked alongside Paul Whitehouse on 'Happiness' as well as co-writing and appearing in The Fast Show. He also accepts responsibility for Jumpers for Goalposts (again working alongside Paul Whitehouse) and along with the rest of the cast toured last year (2001) taking The Fast Show 'live' all around the country. For those of you who are interested, this year they will be touring again. Simon still does 'live' stand-up.

Simon has appeared in 'A Royal Celebration' and in 'Shakespeare in Love' - The Guardian described him as 'an inspired comedy creation' enough said.

+
+++++++++
PAUL - Played by Rhys Thomas

A young, naïve junior salesman, has picked Geoff & Swiss as his mentors, can't help but think this may be a bit of a bad choice. Paul has the capability of being a better salesman than either of them, but I think he may have a bit of an issue being 'vertically challenged' he isn't taken as seriously as he could be. Currently reading 'Selling for Morons' He is keen and un-cynical, taking advice on selling cars and 'making love to beautiful woman' from his mentors. Swiss teaches him to mimic customers mannerisms to aid him in 'creating a bond' with the customer. Paul does an outstanding impression of Swiss when pretending to sell a car to him. He takes this a little too far mimicking peoples disabilities and accents.

Rhys Thomas

Was in the right place at the right time. Rhys entered the BBC Talent thing last year and what do you know - he's now in a soon-to-be-big sit-com. An excellent performer, with the stage presence of Lee Evans (without the confidence that comes from knowing how funny you are.) In my humble Fishbulb opinion keep an eye on this one - he'll be a household name in a couple of years.

++++++++++
MIRANDA - Played by Emma Rydal

A rather sassy wacky-dressing receptionist. She dons a spiky blonde hairstyle and more make-up than the whole of the average Boots store. Miranda doesn't take any slack from the guys in the showroom. A friend to both the mechanics and to Paul, she appears to take him under her wing, sharing office jokes about Swiss & Geoff. Worryingly enough probably the most 'normal' person who works there. She is particularly fond of Belgium chocolates, going out 'straight from work' and generally knows pretty much everything that goes on in the showroom. (Like every good receptionist would!)

Emma Rydal
A relatively unknown English actress who's only film
(at the time of writing) is East is East. In 1994 she won both the 1994 Guardian International Student Award & National Student Drama Festival. British television appearances include, 'Dalziel and Pascoe' & 'Playing the Field'

++++++++++
RUTH - Played by Matilda Ziegler

Swiss's poor downtrodden wife, she's quiet, humble, gentle and submissive. She is currently taken 'assertiveness' lessons. Swiss constantly buys her Belgium chocolates but she secretly hates them and gives them to Miranda. I think they have a friendly relationship. Miranda pities Ruth, for being stuck with Swiss and is always grateful for the choccies (wouldn't we all be!)

++++++++++
TONI'S MUM - Played by Elizabeth Spriggs

A very peculiar loud, outspoken woman with a female hairdo that rivals Swiss's himself. A Grey haired large woman who is single-handedly responsibly for making Toni the man he is today. She is a back seat driver and a very pushy woman.

Elizabeth Spriggs

Born September 18th 1929, Elizabeth is a well-established 'all British' actor who has just finished filming 'Nice Guy Eddie' a 6 part drama for BBC1. You may also recognise Elizabeth from, Dr Who, Jeeves & Wooster or Lovejoy. Films she has appeared in include, Paradise Road (1997), The Secret Agent (1996) Sense and Sensibility (1995) & Lady Chatterley's Lover.

CONCLUSION

A bit of a Bertie Bassetts bag (allsorts) of a cast here, with classical actors, like Elizabeth Spriggs, established comedians and writers and a couple of newbies thrown in for good measure surprising enough - it does work, very well. I was a little stunned at some of the language used in this programme (and I'm not a prude - honest) but it fitted in well with the characters and wasn't 'gratuitous' swearing (although behind the scenes WHOA that's a whole other op's worth of profanities!!!) but
even watching some of the scenes being filmed over and over again, I was still laughing on the third and fourth take so I'm really keen to see it when it comes out on television.

I think it's fairly obvious that any fans of The Fast Show will love Swiss. There's a bit of a mixture of visual comedy (slapstick), insulting comedy and embarrassing comedy in here - something for everyone. As well as some good one-liners.

British comedy tends to be outstanding brilliant (Fawlty Towers, The Fast Show, The Office, Alan Partridge) or not so great (My Hero, Keeping Up Appearances, Birds of a Feather) Although I?m sure this falls comfortably under the same umbrella as The Brittas Empire ? if you liked that, you?ll (probably) like this.

This was the first time I'd been to anything like this, I've seen my fair share of stand-ups and worked in a pub for a long time that had a 'comedy' night (Chris Moyles, was the compare - he wasn't very funny - ever!) and I watch a lot of comedy on TV. After a stressful week trying to organise my friends into this trip it had me laughing - laughing so much it hurt!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Summary: