My godfather's neighbour was actually in that brass ensemble (being from around the Aldershot area). Every time that sketch is played on TV, the ensemble gets money from the rights. I wouldn't say that the ensemble is rolling in money, but considering that it's one of the more popular Two Ronnies sketches, they do alright out of it.
Ronnie Barker was brilliant - make sure you catch Porridge and Open All Hours (Porridge being the better of the two series, IMHO).
Some clips on YouTube from the Beebhere, although they're not necessarily the funniest. Well worth picking up the DVD. posted by djgh at 12:57 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]
Great stuff that I never would have seen otherwise. Thanks for posting this. posted by joedan at 1:11 PM on August 25, 2008
The Two Ronnies are brilliant. That mastermind sketch is hilarious. I remember seeing it for the first time when I was about 7, I used to be allowed to stay up late to watch them on telly. posted by handee at 1:13 PM on August 25, 2008
Sorry, I need some bleedin' 'elp 'ere. I know what a billhook is (basically a machete variant) -- but what could the misunderstanding be? A man named Bill Hooks? (Searching yields naught.) Also, what could "saw tips" mean?
"Mastermind" is brilliant. posted by dhartung at 1:43 PM on August 25, 2008
He sees billhooks as "bollocks" (literally testicles, figuratively "garbage" or "nonsense").
I remember this sketch from back in the day! Though I thought then and now that the punch line was weak, it's a great sketch still.
There are others I remember even more fondly - a great one which starts with Corbett saying something like, "Hello, pleased to meet you," and Barker responding, "It wasn't my fault, she shot herself in the head and buried herself under the stairs." posted by lupus_yonderboy at 1:59 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]
bollocks posted by unSane at 2:01 PM on August 25, 2008
Also, see Barker's excellent performance in "Robin and Marian" which is unfortunately not on YouTube etc. posted by lupus_yonderboy at 2:03 PM on August 25, 2008
My dad got some fancy Irish digital TV and apparently watches the Two Ronnies every night. Driving my mother up the wall. It's great stuff though, has held up really well. posted by jamesonandwater at 3:20 PM on August 25, 2008
The Mastermind sketch is great, and I'd never seen it thanks. Apparently simple, but damned hard to do it so well. posted by Wolfdog at 3:20 PM on August 25, 2008
Barker wrote many of these sketches (as Gerald Wiley) posted by A189Nut at 5:20 PM on August 25, 2008
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Ronnie Barker was brilliant - make sure you catch Porridge and Open All Hours (Porridge being the better of the two series, IMHO).
Some clips on YouTube from the Beeb here, although they're not necessarily the funniest. Well worth picking up the DVD.
posted by djgh at 12:57 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]