Two Ronnies - Series 1 [DVD]

After the two rather unsatisfying `best of' DVD's, it was with some satisfaction that I heard this entire series one was being released.
This is where it started, way back in 1971. And although the duo are definitely not firing on all 4 cylinders yet, this is still fine entertainment.
Each episode contains some mixture of the following ingredients:
1) The opening prologue, in which the duo deliver `some news items just in'. Hit and miss, but classic humour - you'll be sure to find something to make you laugh.
2) The state of the party - almost every episode had a party sketch - including `bald man at a party' and the man at a party who can't stop hitting people.
3) New World - - the guest musical trio.. and you'll be shocked / amazed just how dated and 70's they are!
4) Hampton Wick - the faux drama serial in which the unbelievably naïve buxom heroine gets into all sorts of situations, most of the displaying her impressive attributes in a Benny Hill sort of way.
5) Tina Charles - please, please, do yourself a favour and skip past this musical guest -a young lady who wears the most hideous outfits known to man woman or beast and belts out come completely forgettable tunes with no grace whatsoever.
6) Ronnie Corbett's monologue - in this series it has to be said few of the monologues have any decent punchlines, and are still stilted and unsatisfying, but they have their moments and introduce the format for what was to come.
7) Various sketches - most of them playing to Ronnie Barker's incredible gift for word plays - the highlight of this entire series is probably his speech to the groom and bride.
8) The occasional cabaret act - not one of them worth watching, I am afraid.
9) The Musical number - actually still witty for the most part, and because they are parodies have not dated badly.
10) And the final epilogue - in which we hear a few jokes on supposed items due on next week, and a few items of late breaking news.

It's not 100% Gold, so treat the 5 star reviews with some trepidation. That's the nostalgia talking. But classic, it is, and worth adding to the collection to get those gems of sketches that cannot be found anywhere else. If only they made the menus easier to find the ones you like! Also - no extras or interviews which would cast an interesting light on the origins of the series. Writers included Eric Idle every week, and some of the other Python members occasionally - it would have been nice to hear something from them now, looking back.
Overall, it is patchy enough to make you wish that you could choose your own `best of' DVD - but that's the beauty of The Two Ronnies.. everyone has their own favourite parts of their repertoire, and while season one is not their high point, it's a great introduction and appetiser for what is to come.
It's an average series then, but raised to 4 stars by the incomparable Ronnie Barker.

This is a great start. After 2 'OK' compilations, finally, The Two Ronnies gets the release it deserves.

Being series one, there are still some things that need Ironing out, but the basic, great, format is there. Ronnie C is yet to appear totally comfortable with his monalogue and one or two of the sketches aren't as great as many of the later ones, but what does work, really works well.

Many sketches were written by the Monty Python team (John Cleese even appears in a sketch) and Ronnie B.

The mock drama serial isn't the best one they did, but it is all hugely watchable.

And yes the musical/novelty interlude is intact on the episodes. Although you'll have to wait another series or two to hear the phrase - 'and now, Miss Barbara Dixon'

Basically, if you love good british comedy, buy it. If you love The Two Ronnies - why haven't you got it already???????

The 8 episodes of this first series were first broadcast from 10 April 1971 to 29 May 1971, this means that the humour is not politically correct by today's standard.

The show was set up as Messrs Barker and Corbett as the main act with 3 additional acts - two regular acts (singer Tina Charles and singing group New World) with a different cabaret act each episode. These extra acts range from slapstick to ventriloquist acts.

It becomes a battle not to hit the fast forward button when they are on. Some of them are excruciating. This was, however, the time of the Good Old Days variety TV show and the BBC appeared to be trying to cash in on this popularity, as the variety style of the show continued for another couple of years.

The serial drama running through the shows is "Hampton Wick" the tale of a young woman in Victorian times starring Melanie Smith.

Sketches include:

- saying everything twice
- don't say baldy
- TV chef
- wedding of hiccups and sneezes - Ronnie Corbett can't help but laugh
- society for the clumsy
- father of the bride
- statistics
- social classes - with John Cleese - similar to the famous Social Classes sketch
- work - with John Cleese - similar to the famous Social Classes sketch

Musical sketches are:

- Jehosophat and Jones
- Gilbert and Sullivan
- Moira McKellar and Kenneth Anderson
- Spoonerism the Musical
- Elizabeth Ha Ha
- Short and Fat Minstrel Show - may cause offence
- Jehosopath and Jones

This was the start of a show which was to become regarded as a classic, and, even though the attitudes are dated and not politically correct, it is still a great show.