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’.