THE MAKING OF THE YOUNG ONES

Once in every life time. Comes' a love like this. For I need you. You need me. Oh -- my -- darling -- can't you see, we're the... the... the... what are we called again? The Sex Pistols? The Lazy B*stards? The Political Bakers? No. Sod that. I think it best if I ask these idiots starring in this 50 minute documentary made in 2007. The ugly twats.

The Young Ones: Extra Stoopid Edition

THE STORY:

Hello everybody! My name is Rick. And I want to tell you about this rather spiffing show I was apart of 25 years ago. OK, admittedly, 'The Young Ones' wasn't just a show about me, right kids? There were three other w*nkers living with me in North London whilst I was studying politics at the time. One was a violent punk who wanted to be a doctor, called Vyvyan. Then there was the hippy, Neil, who wanted to be a... errr... lentil. And finally there was Mike, who was too busy looking at himself in the mirror, so I'm not too sure what he wanted to be really.

Here, why don't you check out what some of these sods thought about the 'Young Ones'!

"I never said 'You can't do that'. Everything was possible" -- Geoff Posner -- director -- plus the winner of 'Mister Well-Groomed Moustache' competition, 2001.
"I didn't like being hit in the head by a giant éclair during University Challenge" -- The bloody hippy -- Nigel Planer -- also known as Neil.
"We didn't put violence into the show deliberately, we just had a warped sense of humor" -- Lise Mayer -- one of the writers I shagged.
"You can't make a show as anarchistic as this by being anarchistic" -- Mr Balowski -- or Alexei Sayle as he is known in the communist community.
"A policeman told me that he wanted to get back to the police station as soon as possible, so he could watch our program" -- Paul Jackson -- producer -- and complete and utter nutter.
"As far as the audience was concerned, it grew in small throws" -- Andy de la Tour -- slap-head par-excellence come actor.
"Some of the surreal stuff went in the second season. It got better I thought" -- Mark Arden -- another slap-head who did stuff.

Oh sh*t! I just thought of something! Some of you freaks might not know what the bloody hell these cretins are talking about, huh? Well, to put it in laymen's term, it all began when I took out my di...

BANG! CRASH! SPLAT!

Now I'm sincerely sorry about that, dear reader. I've just... err... 'disposed' of Rick for the time being, because I -- your ever faithful reviewer -- want you to know some back-story about this program in a more structured fashion.

How was 'The Young Ones' developed into a sit-com? Both Rik Mayell and Lise Mayer come up with the concept behind this program a year or so after leaving University together. Thankfully, with some help from writer, Ben Elton, and producer, Geoff Posner, this concept became a reality by casting some of the 'Comedy Store' players whom Geoff spotted one dark and not so lonely night in the eighties.
OK, so who were these 'players' exactly? And did they create their characters themselves? Yes. Mostly. They were all based on creations that the actors performed at the 'Comic Store' in London's West End. Rik: 'the People's Poet', was a solo act devised by Rik Mayall. Neil: was Nigel Planer's version of a very inept and depressed folk singer. Vyvyan: was one half of the double-act, '20th Century Coyotte', Adrian Edmondson concocted with his comedy partner, Rik Mayall. Mike: was based on Peter Richardson's performance on 'The Outer Limits' with Nigel Planer. And Alexei Sayle was the stage compare to all of these shenanigans.
Was this program easy to make? No. Not really. The writers never wrote anything for television before. The producer never produced anything in his life. The actors were slightly uncomfortable to begin with. And the special-effects people wanted to kill everyone. Still, they did good in the end, didn't they?
How was 'The Young Ones' received? Mixed -- to say the least. The television critiques couldn't understand the show, yet the young children and the students just loved it. 50 / 50.
Who made special appearances though-out this sit-coms history? Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltraine, Terry Jones, Ben Elton, Lenny Hendry, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Mel Smith, and Griff Rhys Jones.
Will a third series ever be made? Lisa said that she would like to have a crack at doing this, although it was initially planned as a 'two series gig' from its very inception.
Can you smell burning? Yes. My trousers are on fire!

RICK YOU W*NKER!!!!!

THE REVIEW:

Now in my most humble opinion, there are only four things wrong with 'The Making of the Young Ones'. Firstly, this documentary is too short. Secondly, I would have liked to have heard what Rik, Adrian, and Christopher had to say about this series. Thirdly, the fractured and very flimflam nature of this piece isn't as focused as I hoped it would be. And fourthly, this documentary is too short.

Yep. You got it in one, dear reader. I'm in 'biased mode' again. I love 'The Young Ones'. No. Let me rephrase that. This slice of eighties alternate comedy has shaped my life since I first saw it on the small screen all those many years ago.

Just picture the scene: yours truly -- the ever loving reviewer -- eight years of age and painting whilst I was at school. Then suddenly, an image flashed into my mind -- one of Vyvyan hitting Rik around the head with a frying pan -- prompting me to do something I shouldn't have done with my now benefit of hindsight.

I painted my hair red. I drew stars on my forehead. And I hit the girl next to me with the largest thing I had at hand -- an easel.

But wait, it does not stop there! Although the teacher told me off. Although my parents gave me a good kick up the back-side for what I did. And although I had to apologize to the girl and her family too. A year or so later, I did the same thing again, but this time I hit a boy with a dog.

The Making of the Young Ones Television Series

Well, that's kids for you! What can I say? Impressionable weren't we? Having that rabid spark inside us that made us go on and become the people we are today. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, dear reader. In the same breath 'The Making of the Young Ones' told a tale of innovation and development. We too have developed as people as well.

Picture another scene: yours truly -- the still loving reviewer -- sitting in an exam type situation whilst studying at university, trying to think of something to write before my head turns into mush. Then suddenly, an image flashed into my mind -- one of Vyvyan hitting Rik around the head with a frying pan -- prompting me to relax, smile, and then put pen to paper in a rather easy going manner, resulting in me passing said exam with flying colors.

Ha! It's all a matter of perception, isn't it? What could be a bad story in the past, can be a great story in the future? Don't you agreed chaps?