Noel Fielding

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E2, Mutants

Leave a Comment

Episode: S1E2, Mutants

Air Date: 25 May 2004

Summary: There is a crisis at the Zooniverse: the animals, and even the quiet Joey Moose, have gradually been going missing and nobody knows who the culprit is (well, half of the staff haven’t even noticed). However, all hell breaks loose when Vince discovers that Bollo, too, has been snatched, as well as Mrs Gideon’s beloved python. The evil mastermind behind the trouble is the one and only Dixon Bainbridge who has been making mutants in his Secret Lab. Don’t worry, he has his reasoning: “Times have changed, zoos are over. You see a rhino, big deal. You see a wolf, who cares? You see a rhino with a wolf’s head- that’s a kind of twisted poetry”. His demands are getting out of hand as he orders Fossil to “get me a human person” and Howard is in severe danger of becoming a ‘mansnake’…

What Else? This episode features another one of Fossil’s iconic scenes, his quirky song: “Nicey nicey zoo zoo, for him and her, and me and you” as well as further development of Fossil’s inability to name the animals, for example, he refers to the elephant as the ‘grey leg faced man’. Howard demonstrates his brilliant skill for disguises, such as hiding behind a bunch of pink balloons: it’s true, he is a maverick.

Quote of the Episode:

Howard: “It’s very visually noisy, your face. It’s like a brass band under a wig”

Familiar Faces: Dave Brown as Joey Moose again, and more of Matt Berry’s Dixon Bainbridge. If you look closely, Dave Brown and Rich Fulcher can be picked out behind the mutant make up!

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E1, Killeroo

Leave a Comment

Episode: S1E1, Killeroo

Air Date: 18 May 2004

Summary: All is well at the Zooniverse until Bob Fossil sends a message over for Howard to visit him in his office urgently. It turns out that Mr Fossil has acquired some photos of Howard ‘in the nude’ and he subsequently uses them to blackmail Howard into fighting a kangaroo in order to get some more money circulating the Zoo. Mrs Gideon, a reptile keeper at the Zoo, has a special place in the heart of old Howard and Vince convinces him to fight the kangaroo to impress her (anything would be better than dear Mrs Gideon witnessing Howard’s additional growth). Howard must now prepare for the big fight, which everyone knows he is destined to lose…

What Else? This episode features the first ever properly televised Boosh crimp: Captain Cabinets and also includes the famous I Don’t Like Cricket! scene. It seems that many of the most famous Boosh moments originated in the first episode. There is a definite feeling that the people behind The Mighty Boosh were very keen to challenge the basic principles of a sitcom, such as in the scene where Vince takes Howard to visit his ‘uncle’ to train him for the fight:

‘Uncle’: “There’s only one way to get this boy ready for the fight”

Vince: “Training montage!”

‘Uncle’: “With music!”

Quote of the Episode:

Vince: “I’ve felt your moves, how flimsy are they? They’re like being caressed with a natural yoghurt.”

Familiar Faces: Dave Brown as marsupial expert, Joey Moose. Rich Fulcher as Vince’s ‘uncle’.

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh, Revisited

Leave a Comment

The 18th May 2014 marks the ten year anniversary of the first episode of The Mighty Boosh and as it is my favourite programme of all time, I thought I should do something a bit special to celebrate. I feel that the rush of everyday life can get in the way of appreciating the show in all its glory so have decided to revisit every episode from the very beginning. There will be an individual post each of the show’s 20 episodes, staggered over a few months, as I want to keep a variation of posts on the site. If you haven’t watched The Mighty Boosh before, this is your push to do so as it is honestly one of the loveliest, funniest and most original shows there has ever been.

© babycow

© babycow

But first, a little overview of the show for those of you who somehow haven’t seen it, or maybe just want a recap.

The Mighty Boosh is the birthplace of many of my favourite comedians and is a work of visual, as well as comedic art. The frontmen, of course, are Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) and Howard Moon (Julian Barratt), an unlikely pairing of two complete opposites. Howard, a sombre, mellow jazz maverick with a great interest in poetry and stationery, and Vince, doe-eyed bimbo sunshine man, obsessed with fashion and celebrity culture. Series One is set in the Zooniverse where the duo live with Naboo, the mystical shaman (Mike Fielding) and Bollo, the sarcastic gorilla (Dave Brown). The Zoo is run by foul-mouthed dancing queen Bob Fossil (Rich Fulcher). A well-rounded group I’d say. Throughout this series, the Zoo undergoes many difficulties as well as being visited by many questionable personalities such as Dixon Bainbridge (Matt Berry).

Series Two signalled a change for the Boosh Boys upon their move to the flat above the Nabootique, a gift shop. Bollo has been promoted to shopkeeper’s assistant and Bob Fossil has disappeared off the scene (although Fulcher reoccurs as various characters throughout). And finally, Series Three is where the boys are given reign over the shop, while Naboo goes out on various errands. In most episodes, Naboo returns with Bollo to find his shop in disarray and it is up to him to fix whatever went wrong. Oh trusty Naboo.

babycow

© babycow

The programme features many familiar faces (that I will go into as they appear during the episode guides) but most of the characters are played by Noel, Julian, Dave, Mike and Rich. I’m sure you are aware of the variety of characters involved, ranging from Tommy Nooka with his head of cheese to sexual predator of the sea, Old Gregg. The episodes are also broken up with the most wonderful little songs, called Crimps, that can lighten the mood no matter how desperate the situation.

Stay tuned for part one of The Mighty Boosh, Revisited!

THE REVISITED SERIES

Noel’s Art Club

Leave a Comment

Twitter is often used by young and old people alike to stalk their favourite celebrities, express mundane facts and controversial opinions or to sell products to the public. Noel Fielding, however, has recently decided to use the social networking site in a new way- he has made a brave attempt at trying to spread some creativity throughout the world of Twitter and encourage people to revive their artistic side.

I love art and thought it was a brilliant idea which was picked up by hundreds of bright and adoring fans. Noel gave himself and his followers half an hour on two separate occasions to create an artistic response to a given theme (first, horses and secondly, Elvis Presley). When the time was up, he would post his creations (always absolutely wonderful) then retweet a load of other peoples’ that were his favourites. After all this, he reposted his third, second and first place.

The competition was open to everyone: artistic genius to quirky doodler and everything in between which gained an awesome response from the people of Twitter. I think Twitter should have more of this stuff going on as it is refreshing, inspiring and original. Hats off to you Mr Fielding! Now let’s have another Art Club soon yeah.

The galleries above and below feature some of my favourite responses to both themes.