the young ones (Young Ones, The)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Young Ones, The
Date:	18/05/08 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great comedy and brilliant humour

Disadvantages: none

Created by Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer and Ben Elton
Starring Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan and Alexei Sayle.

This comedy show began it life in 1982 until 1984, creating 12 episodes split into 2 series.
Its style of humour being new to the BBC at the time (and it did receive a lot of complaints), but soon became a hit, especially with the younger, more rebellious of the audience.

The format for the show was simple, it involved a the lives of a group of 'mature' students living in a grotty shared house. Following their day to day antics as they struggle to survive on a their student income.

**THE CAST**

*Vyvyan (played by Adrian Edmondson) is the mad punk rocker, with orange hair and a line of studs crossing his forehead. He really detests Rick and attacks him at any and every opportunity, hitting him with whatever comes to hand.
He owns a battered Ford Anglia and a Hamster called Special Patrol Group, (who happens to have a Glaswegian accent, which is strange for a hamster?)

*Rick (played by Rik Mayall), studying Sociology and domestic science, is the pretend anarchist who believes he knows best and will argue his point, usually until Vyvyan hits him with something. He is bullied by Vyvyan and in turn he tends to bully Neil, as he knows Neil is a Pacifist and will not fight back. His arrogance sees him hated and belittled by the rest of the housemates. Rick has the uncanny ability to annoy everyone and anyone.

*Neil (played by Nigel Planter) is the laid back Hippy, studying a Peace degree, who would really be happy living own. He comes across as a truly paranoid, depressed vegetarian who worries about the environment a little too much. He thinks the worlds hates him and tries to please everyone in the house by doing their ironing, cooking and cleaning. He is the butt of many jokes during the series.

*Mike (played by Christopher Ryan) is the cool and mysterious character whose role seems to be the head of the house hold, despite his rather small size. He thinks of himself as a bit of a ladies man but never seems to attract the ladies.
He is always coming up with some new money making scheme but most fall before the first hurdle.

The four of them were students at 'Scumbag' collage although they were never really seen attending any lectures.

In every episode a band would appear and plug its latest song, the bands were such as 'Motorhead' 'Madness' 'the Damned' 'Dexys Midnight Runners', 'Amazulu' and others


**EPISODES**

*SERIES 1

1} Demolition... With Neil's failed suicide attempt and Vyvyan given a human leg as part of his studies (but deciding to nail it to the bonnet of his ford Anglia), everything is as normal at the house. Then when the council informs the four housemates that their house will be demolished each one of them come up with a plan to stop it happening, each plan as insane as the last.
There plans are all wasted as an act of god, (more or less) decides the fate of the house.

2} Oil... Even before the housemates have settled into the new house Vyvyen strikes oil in the cellar, so he and Mike, (nicknamed 'El Presidente') enslave Rick and Neil into digging in the cellar for more of the black gold.
With much slapstick fighting, and some seriously funny accidents this episode is hilarious.

3} Boring... with a medley of night time characters that only the insomniac Neil can see this episode sees the group bored to death. They try everything to stem the boredom... from going to the gym to drinking in the pub, even a game of monopoly doesn't help.

4} Bomb... When a huge atom bomb is dropped onto the house it cause some ripples amongst the housemates, even the arrival of the brutish television licence man can't stop the chaos. When the bomb does explode there is a a bit of a surprise for everyone.

5}Interesting... when the housemates plan a party things don't go according to plan. As Vyvyan tries to improve the performance of the vacuum cleaner, (sucking up an unsuspecting friend of Neils doesn't help), and his rather provocative press-ups, the fun really hit's the fan.

6} Flood... When the group are trapped in the house by a raging monsoon Vyvyan thinks it would be funny to try out his new cocktail, ( a brew which would turn any one into a homicidal maniac). And when a lion tamer rents the spare room things really hot up.

*SERIES 2

1} Bambi... A trip to the launderette leads to some of Vyvyans socks to go on the rampage.
Then, with an invitation to appear on Open University the group have an adventurous time getting to the studio to record the show, (With Vyvyan getting so frustrated on the train that he loses his head), once there the fun really begins.

2} Cash... With the group very short of cash they all decide that one of them must get a job...but to the horror of Rick, it has to be him and his only option is to join the army...??? But when Ricks away trying to sign up, the other three have a stroke of luck when a lorry crashes through their front room window.

3} Nasty... Whilst its bath time for Neil, having the scummy water that the others have bathed in, Rick locks himself in his room with his favourite magazine. Mike and Vyvyan settle down to watch a video but are interrupted by a strange shaped parcel delivered to there door..?

4} Time... Rick decides to bend the truth a little to the other housemates when he wakes up next to a beautiful women, but his lies are uncovered when her true identity is revealed.
Meanwhile, the house takes a trip in time, for reasons unknown, to medieval time where things take a very weird turn.

5} Sick... The four housemates are all ill and laid up in bed but somehow still manage to cause a street riot outside. When an escaped loony then takes the four housemates hostage things really go down hill. The worst is still to come for Neil as his parents are due to visit which causes more chaos and comedy.

6} Summer Holiday... It's the end of the collage year and the final exams have been taken and it is not long before the housemates are bored again.
Vyvyan decides a game of cricket would be fun and with some fine bowling and fire starting the chaos begins.
With the threat of eviction, due to the almost demolished house, and the terrible results in their exams things seem to be getting worse.
When Mike comes up with a plan to get some easy money everything really does take a twist as the housemates end the show with some brilliant sarcasm, fantastic humour and a big red double decker bus.

**IN CONCLUSION**

The young ones was probably the funniest comedy show of its time, if you liked dry sarcasm, a lot of over the top violence and some really weird storylines..??
The hatred between Vyvyan and Rick is brilliantly acted and the fights the two have are so funny you know they must enjoy every second of it.

If you don't like sarcastic, stupidly written and some really corny jokes then steer clear of this show as you may feel insulted by the acting involved and the violence inflicted on everyone in the house.

BUT...if you do like dry sarcasm and a bit.. ,nay... a lot of slapstick violence then this is for you.... Sit back and enjoy, you wont really need to concentrate too much to keep up with the story lines.....

**MY FAVOURITE**

I loved watching each episode but if I had to chose a favourite it would have to be.. Bambi... (series 2 episode 1).. When the four are invited to appear on University Challenge, pitting their wits against a rather pompus bunch of students, the footlights team from Oxford. The hilarious scenes when they are travelling on the train and then when they begin the contest against the posh lot....pure genius.

Summary: The student 'wanna-be' anarchist....??