Rich Fulcher

TV Review: Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, Series 2

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I wrote a post towards the end of July reflecting on the first episode of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy: Tales from Painted Hawaii (series two) but this series has been so dense with artistic talent and clear passion, that I couldn’t possibly not revisit it after all five episodes.

It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Noel Fielding and his work, so was obviously hugely excited that the long-anticipated second series had finally arrived. These episodes have taken a long time to produce because they are one of a kind; the process of making them seems to be more rigorous than that of various other Sitcom style shows. Love Luxury Comedy or hate it, it is impossible to deny that the makers of this show have presented their audience with great innovation: with the bright and complex animation from Nigel Coan; an eccentric soundtrack from Fielding and Kasabian‘s Serge Pizzorno; along with brilliantly intricate set and costume design from James Dillon and Ameena Kara Callender.

As well as the obvious beauty and detail involved in the visuals of Luxury Comedy, the stories are also packed full of references to art and literary culture such as Andy Warhol (of course), George Orwell and Yoko Ono. This alone is proof for me that the makers of Luxury Comedy have not been lazy during the creative process: every scene is punchy, a little bit mad, but also intelligent.

Reality Man

© MoodyComedy

Watchers of series one who weren’t impressed may be pleased to know that this series is a lot more relatable for audiences, with occasional cynical statements that can catch you off guard.

Smooth: “What do you do to escape?”

Reality Man: “Panel shows. What’s funnier than five men in shiny shirts taking a side-ways look at the week’s news?”

In this way, I think this series is a lot more self-aware, in fact, one episode even focuses on the idea of the show only having one viewer (a Brummie named Terry, played by Steve Oram) and the fact that they must save him from certain death.

In addition to the lovely Noel, the show is full of immense comedic talents such as his Mighty Boosh co-stars (Dave Brown, Rich Fulcher, Richard Ayoade, Simon Farnaby and Tom Meeten) and of course, the delightful star of Doll & Em: Dolly Wells and Tom Meeten’s partner-in-crime: Steve Oram (Sightseers).

I would have to say that this programme is probably one of my favourites to ever appear on television, particularly this new series. It appeals to all of my interests: comedy, music and art (and Noel Fielding of course) but most importantly of all: Luxury Comedy is a source of inspiration to me. Every aspect screams quality and I sincerely hope the show and its creators flourish in the coming months as a result.

The whole of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy: Tales From Painted Hawaii is available on 4OD.

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E8, Hitcher

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Episode: S1E8, Hitcher

Air Date: 6 July 2004

Summary: This episode has elements of the Boosh stage show from many years before the television series was made, with the iconic scene where Howard and the Hitcher are in the car being recreated. Ivan the bear has got too violent as a result of constant bullying from Fossil and it’s time for him to be sent to Animal Prison. Vince and Howard are sent on a road trip to get rid of the angry bear but they are soon arguing and Vince decides to “vacate the vehicle”. This leads to Vince having a wonderful time meeting the adoptive parent from his childhood, Brian Ferry, in the forest while Howard is in a spot of trouble with a strange hitch hiker with a large thumb.

The Hitcher © Baby Cow

The Hitcher © Baby Cow

 

What Else? We get a big insight into Vince’s Gary Numan obsession and yet further insight into Howard’s love of Jazz Funk, which Ivan the bear hates, that sounds very similar to Old Gregg’s song from series two. There is another animation sequence where Vince explains his childhood that was spent in the forest being raised by Brian Ferry. The storyline of this animation is very much like a warped and twisted Jungle Book. Vince’s excellent turtle impression comes in handy when passing the hours on the road with Howard and the brilliant song from the Hitcher and the Piper Twins is sung, before the hitch hiker manages to do his back in again.

Quote of the Episode:

Bob Fossil [to Naboo]:  “Technically, you’re not a Peeping Tom if it’s one of your relatives.”

Familiar Faces: Noel Fielding as the Hitcher and Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown as Jim and Jackie Piper, the Piper Twins. Julian Barratt has the role of Brian Ferry.

THE END:

So, we have reached the end of The Mighty Boosh series one and I have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting every episode with you. MoodyComedy will soon be revisiting one of the most criminally underrated British comedies ever: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. The first, and only series, of the programme aired January-March 2004.

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E7, Electro

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Episode: S1E7, Electro

Air Date: 29 June 2004

Summary: Bad memories are stirred up for Howard when Vince is asked to join a band called Kraftwork Orange. Vince upsets one of the members of his new band, Johnny Two-Hats, who storms off when Vince criticises his fashion sense and this means the band are one person down for their important show that night. Vince asks the only person he can, Howard, but jazz-loving Howard Moon cannot play any instrument any more as a result of a meeting with the Spirit of Jazz many years ago. He was tricked into signing his soul away ‘in blood?’ no, ‘biro’s fine’. The concert has to go ahead with the Spirit of Jazz on the loose inside a vacuum cleaner and this causes chaos.

What Else? The conversation between a young Howard Moon and the Spirit of Jazz is obviously an iconic part of this episode, with the brilliant snippet of: “Yorkshire? What is Yorkshire?” “Yorkshire is a place. Yorkshire is a state of mind”. We get to see the Spirit of Jazz’s hat go up in flames, because apparently it wasn’t part of his “look”, but also a mini crisis when Vince gets angry about the Zoo and there is a lot of out-of-place bleeped out swearing as well as: “Vince, I thought you said you wanted to help the animals?” “I do, I want to help them all to die”.

Quote of the Episode:

Vince [to Howard]: “Science teachers and the mentally ill, that’s what Jazz is for.”

Familiar Faces: Sue Denim and Dee Plume (Robots in Disguise) play the parts of the girls in the band Kraftwork Orange. Fielding has the role of the Spirit of Jazz and Simon Farnaby pops up as NOT the manager of PieFace Records. Johnny Two-Hats is played by Dan Clark.

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The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E6, Charlie

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Episode: S1E6, Charlie

Air Date: 22 June 2004

Summary: Howard decides he is going to become a writer in order to impress Mrs Gideon and the famous Hamilton Cork but is horrified to learn that Vince is already doing just that. Vince explains the basis of his Charlie books which receives dismissal from Howard: “That’s not a novel, that’s the scribblings of a retard”. Meanwhile, Bob Fossil has noticed a brilliant new way to make money from the Zoo: he is going to breed the ‘black-eyed Chinese people that eat sticks’ as this will attract visitors. Vince is bullied into dressing up as a panda and flirting with the female panda to get the male jealous. That evening, Dixon Bainbridge organises a writer’s party and Vince is invited but not Howard. Chaos quickly arises as Charlie decides to pay a personal visit to the gathering…

What Else? This episode made me learn that I want to be everything that Vince is; he’s the happiest kid at the Zoo. Naboo introduces the photograph of the kitten, Phillip, who helps calm Howard down in times of frustration and Vince shows off his poncho that makes him happy no matter what. The infamous “you know the black bits in bananas, are they tarantulas’ eggs?” scene is in this episode as well as the ‘Swear on Jagger’ joke. The brilliant Charlie song is played towards the end where the giant Hubba Bubba nightmare causes a scene. This episode is artistically very inspiring with heavy use of animation and great attention to detail (Dave Brown can be thanked for a lot of that, I expect).

Quote of the Episode:

Howard [to Vince]: “You’re always happy aren’t you. Everything’s fun. You see a peanut, the day’s off to a good start. You witness some soil, it’s a jamboree for Vince Noir. I need something more.”

Familiar Faces: Simon Farnaby as Simon McFarnaby (before the show) and Hamilton Cork (McFarnaby’s character in the show).

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The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E5, Jungle

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Episode: S1E5, Jungle

Air Date: 15 June 2004

Summary: Ten years ago (well, technically twenty now) Tommy Nookah, previous owner of the Zoo, allegedly fell in the ocelot pit and died. Howard refuses to believe it and when Dixon Bainbridge, as the current owner, threatens to close the Zoo, it is clear that Howard must solve the mystery of Tommy’s disappearance once and for all. Vince and Howard work out that Tommy must be in the Jungle Room and set off in the hope of finding the calcium-faced midget. After hours of searching, Howard manages to find Tommy but he is old and his cheese eating habits are out of control (this bit always freaks me out as I have a stupid phobia of cheese). It is decided that they must grate Tommy’s head in order to save the Zoo: Tommy can help them, even in death.

What Else? This episode contains the brilliant: “We dream, but do we really dream?” sequence and also a mini instalment of: “Gather round, come closer, not you Fire!”. The Mod Wolves make a splendid appearance and delight us with the wonderful Mod Wolf Dance and we also hear one of my favourite crimps: Calm a Llama Down. The incredibly well-known Cheese song is in this episode. I love this little song but it gets so overplayed by people who haven’t ever seen the show so that irks me somewhat, so it’s nice to hear it in its natural habitat. We get to meet Rudy, the man who goes by many names and holds many tests, such as the Pipe Test (“many men would have taken the pipe…”).

Tommy Nookah © Baby Cow

Tommy Nookah © Baby Cow

Quote of the Episode:

Tommy Nookah: “I have survived only by eating cheese, and as the saying goes: you are what you eat. And I’m freaking cheese!”

Familiar Faces: Rich Fulcher as Tommy Nookah and Dave Brown briefly as Fire. We also get to see Martin Trenaman as the locksmith.

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E4, Tundra

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Episode: S1E4, Tundra

Air Date: 8 June 2004

Summary: This episode has elements from the Boosh’s beginnings as it used many ideas from the television pilot and one of the radio episodes. Dixon Bainbridge has just returned from his trip to the Tundra where he failed to successfully steal the Egg of Mantumbi and Howard is annoyed at the attention Bainbridge is getting because he didn’t actually do anything. Despite the fact that the last person to get near the egg was frozen by the ‘icy bastard’ that is The Black Frost, Howard and Vince decide to make an attempt and head out to the Tundra in Gary Numan’s private jet. While they are there, Vince is abducted by a giant polar bear and Howard is visited by one of the Parka People who takes him to the cave where the egg is (though the little man is taking him there to kill him, not help him).

What Else? This episode features the often forgotten song: the Stickleback Crimp, and also has the brilliant little scene where Bob Fossil is interviewing two cavemen-like people to be Howard and Vince’s replacements: they just point at things saying ‘Topshop’ constantly. The brilliant Tundra song comes from this episode as well; one of the few genuine songs from The Mighty Boosh that is more than a few lines long. Vince claims he is ‘like Mowgli, the retro version’ and Howard’s moustache is accused of being more of a ‘cappuccino stain’.

Quote of the Episode:

Howard: The wind is my only friend.

Wind: I haaaaaate you.

Howard: Shut up wind!

Familiar Faces: Dave Brown as The Black Frost and Bob Fossil’s replacements for Howard and Vince were played by Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding themselves.

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E3, Bollo

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Episode: S1E3, Bollo

Air Date: 1 June 2004

Summary: This episode is an exploration of death: Bollo is getting old and it is clear that he is dying (not that anybody seems too bothered, as always). While Vince is busy caring for Bollo in his last hours, Bob Fossil alerts Howard to yet another problem: the woman who sponsors Bollo is coming to visit and Fossil cannot let her see that the gorilla is ill. Howard is forced into dressing up as a gorilla and sitting in Bollo’s enclosure for the day and this results in The Grim Reaper getting confused and taking the wrong person off to ‘Monkey Hell’. Vince must rescue Howard from the Ape of Death before he is dropped into the fiery pits…

What Else? This episode has a beautiful moment near the beginning where both Noel and Howard are trying not to laugh for whatever reason. It also has the brilliant ‘floating cup’ scene as well as the appearance of Mr Susan and his mirror balls (look at them shine). Whilst Bollo is on his deathbed, the lovely little jingle of ‘the sun is shining, and you’re feeling fine, and the birds are singing in the trees’ is sung as well as the brilliant song from the Ape of Death towards the end.

Quote of the Episode:

Phone Caller: How’s your Pauline?

The Grim Reaper [on the phone]: She’s alright, she’s dead. How’s your Pauline?

Phone Caller: She’s dead.

Familiar Faces: Rich Fulcher as the Ape of Death, Julian Barratt as Mr Susan (look at them shine).

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E2, Mutants

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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

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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

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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