Would I Lie to You?
March 15, 2020 7:15 PM Subscribe
Can Bob Mortimer break and apple in half with his bare hands?
Selections from a British panel show to help you while away some time:
Was Bob Mortimer really the Cockroach King?
Did Bob Mortimer terrorize his neighbours with a game called “Theft and Shrubbery”?
Does Bob Mortimer perform his own dentistry?
Did Bob Mortimer once set fire to his house with a box of fireworks?
Was Bob Mortimer asked to leave town because he was frightening the locals?
Does Bob Mortimer crack an egg into his bath?
Did Bob Mortimer once mastermind a daring heist on a campsite tuck shop?
Selections from a British panel show to help you while away some time:
Was Bob Mortimer really the Cockroach King?
Did Bob Mortimer terrorize his neighbours with a game called “Theft and Shrubbery”?
Does Bob Mortimer perform his own dentistry?
Did Bob Mortimer once set fire to his house with a box of fireworks?
Was Bob Mortimer asked to leave town because he was frightening the locals?
Does Bob Mortimer crack an egg into his bath?
Did Bob Mortimer once mastermind a daring heist on a campsite tuck shop?
I have not tried it, but according to my mother my grandma can do the apple-breaking trick. She says it's all in the wrists.
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 7:30 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 7:30 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
His is a rare mind, that I admire like the dickens.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:51 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:51 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
These are delightful. Also wish to say that I adore David Mitchell and am glad to see him in these clips as well.
posted by acidnova at 8:42 PM on March 15, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by acidnova at 8:42 PM on March 15, 2020 [8 favorites]
The egg-in-the-bath one is sublime.
posted by migurski at 8:51 PM on March 15, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by migurski at 8:51 PM on March 15, 2020 [5 favorites]
Bob Mortimer makes everything better. I've watched the Chris Rea egg WILTY a dozen times since Christmas.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:52 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by oneirodynia at 8:52 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
Like HypotheticalWoman, according to my mother my grandma can do the apple-breaking trick, too.
posted by jazon at 8:56 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jazon at 8:56 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
I have watched the dentistry one so many times. Never gets old.
posted by in278s at 8:57 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by in278s at 8:57 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
I like that about the eighth time he is on, probably somewhere in the links above, David Mitchell expresses his exasperation that somehow every unlikely tale Bob tells is true. Confronted with still another unlikely scenario, Mitchell says, “But it was true about the apple and it was true about the hand lion and the game in the backyards and all the rest!”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:59 PM on March 15, 2020 [12 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:59 PM on March 15, 2020 [12 favorites]
I have watched the dentistry one so many times. Never gets old.
I played it recently to Ma Biscuit, retired professor of dental hygiene. She thought it a riot, and she confirmed his explanation of Fuji-9.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:02 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
I played it recently to Ma Biscuit, retired professor of dental hygiene. She thought it a riot, and she confirmed his explanation of Fuji-9.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:02 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
Kiss the Alderman! (Not in this one)
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:06 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:06 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
Is it weird that I just sent a friend a link to my favorite moment from Vic and Bob in Catterick?
posted by Catblack at 9:08 PM on March 15, 2020
posted by Catblack at 9:08 PM on March 15, 2020
I love Bob Mortimer on Wilty and have linked to him on Mefi before but the best part of all of these clips is the sheer JOY on Greg Davies face when Bob tears apart that apple. He's like a child seeing Santa.
posted by dobbs at 9:21 PM on March 15, 2020 [16 favorites]
posted by dobbs at 9:21 PM on March 15, 2020 [16 favorites]
Would I Lie to You? is such a great show. Did Kevin Bridges accidentally buy a horse? is hilarious to me, no matter how many times I've seen it.
Add in Rob Brydon, Lee Mack, and David Mitchell (whom the writers have NAILED, I mean the the one about Does David have a doorknob? is so plausible-yet-implausible and he sells it so well) and it's just so much fun.
I am so sad the US doesn't do panel shows. But we hate clever so I guess the best we can do is warmed-over meh like Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:23 PM on March 15, 2020 [10 favorites]
Add in Rob Brydon, Lee Mack, and David Mitchell (whom the writers have NAILED, I mean the the one about Does David have a doorknob? is so plausible-yet-implausible and he sells it so well) and it's just so much fun.
I am so sad the US doesn't do panel shows. But we hate clever so I guess the best we can do is warmed-over meh like Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:23 PM on March 15, 2020 [10 favorites]
did david mitchell once kill a rat with his BAFTA
do rob brydon and his wife use a two person "cuddle jumper" when the house is too cold
did lee mack invent his own phonetic alphabet based on things he can see in his home
posted by poffin boffin at 9:53 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
do rob brydon and his wife use a two person "cuddle jumper" when the house is too cold
did lee mack invent his own phonetic alphabet based on things he can see in his home
posted by poffin boffin at 9:53 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
This is another of those programmes which I somehow don't watch even though I "should". I do like how well it works as short Youtube-able clips though. Funnily enough I saw the Bob Mortimer Tuck Shop one only recently and (like everything else he touches) it's gold! Keep 'em coming in the comments too!
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 10:31 PM on March 15, 2020
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 10:31 PM on March 15, 2020
Oh my God, Theft And Shrubbery is something else!
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 10:53 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 10:53 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
Bob Mortimer is the king of WILTY. This James Acaster question is also amazing: Did James Acaster try to drown himself because he didn't get the gift he wanted for xmas?
posted by Miss T.Horn at 11:18 PM on March 15, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 11:18 PM on March 15, 2020 [6 favorites]
Two of my favorites that have me in stitches no matter what are ones from Greg Davies and Henning Wehn.
Did Greg Davies sleep in a bathtub at University
Did the Interpol list Henning Wehn as a missing person?
They're both so good.
posted by Carillon at 11:32 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
Did Greg Davies sleep in a bathtub at University
Did the Interpol list Henning Wehn as a missing person?
They're both so good.
posted by Carillon at 11:32 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
"So what we're saying is, if it's true, it's a really unpleasant thing and a really bad indictment on their marriage?"
posted by juv3nal at 12:26 AM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by juv3nal at 12:26 AM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
I can usually do the apple trick. Many of them have a visible shear plane.
posted by clew at 12:52 AM on March 16, 2020
posted by clew at 12:52 AM on March 16, 2020
This is my favorite show and there are tons of good bits, but James Acaster's cabbage story is probably my favorite.
posted by mmoncur at 1:02 AM on March 16, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 1:02 AM on March 16, 2020 [9 favorites]
Bob Mortimer is a national treasure. Everyone should listen to Athletico Mince.
posted by Chaffinch at 1:12 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Chaffinch at 1:12 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
I love this show so much. And I'll never be able to listen to Ultravox anymore without laughing.
posted by dominik at 1:28 AM on March 16, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by dominik at 1:28 AM on March 16, 2020 [6 favorites]
If you appreciate Acaster and his drowning and cabbages, definitely find the episode where the discussion is whether he once spent a night in a bush in Basingstoke.
posted by okayokayigive at 4:11 AM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by okayokayigive at 4:11 AM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
This is another of those programmes which I somehow don't watch even though I "should". I do like how well it works as short Youtube-able clips though. Funnily enough I saw the Bob Mortimer Tuck Shop one only recently and (like everything else he touches) it's gold! Keep 'em coming in the comments too!
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 1:31 AM
Well there’s your problem
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:26 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 1:31 AM
Well there’s your problem
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:26 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
He has grown to become my favourite guest on the show.
“I cannot stress enough that this is a very sick owl we’re dealing with here.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:34 AM on March 16, 2020 [9 favorites]
“I cannot stress enough that this is a very sick owl we’re dealing with here.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:34 AM on March 16, 2020 [9 favorites]
I am so sad the US doesn't do panel shows.
Yeah, I don't get it! I recently discovered UK panel shows due to receiving a subscription to Britbox as a gift. QI was my gateway drug, and then I discovered WILTY. 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown kind of blows my mind every time I watch it.
posted by sriracha at 4:45 AM on March 16, 2020
Yeah, I don't get it! I recently discovered UK panel shows due to receiving a subscription to Britbox as a gift. QI was my gateway drug, and then I discovered WILTY. 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown kind of blows my mind every time I watch it.
posted by sriracha at 4:45 AM on March 16, 2020
As a Brit, I’m genuinely surprised to hear that you don’t have panel games in the US. They’re such a staple of British TV & radio that I can’t imagine either without them.
In an attempt to stay on topic, I’ll add that WILTY is probably the best of the bunch right now IMHO, on TV at least.
If you enjoy WILTY, I can recommend “The Unbelievable Truth” on BBC Radio 4.
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 5:06 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
In an attempt to stay on topic, I’ll add that WILTY is probably the best of the bunch right now IMHO, on TV at least.
If you enjoy WILTY, I can recommend “The Unbelievable Truth” on BBC Radio 4.
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 5:06 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
So as not to abuse the edit window, I should add that The Unbelievable Truth is also hosted by David Mitchell.
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 5:09 AM on March 16, 2020
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 5:09 AM on March 16, 2020
More than once I've wondered if Mortimer is actually lying after all but he just doesn't take the premise seriously. There have been occasions where they've offered evidence to back him up, but I wouldn't put it past him to screw with the show just for fun. If it was anybody else that prospect would annoy me but Mortimer is such a delight that I don't care if he's making it all up. He's the jolly weirdo uncle we need in these dark times.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:44 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:44 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
To truly appreciate the show... to really get how wonderful it is: Did Lee Mack skip Prince Harry's wedding because of Would I Lie to You?
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:14 AM on March 16, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:14 AM on March 16, 2020 [11 favorites]
did charles dance have a chimpanzee over to his house for tea
posted by poffin boffin at 6:19 AM on March 16, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 6:19 AM on March 16, 2020 [7 favorites]
Fantastic content everyone, this is what web communities are for!
For those who don't already know about it, 8 out of 10 cats does countdown is my favorite - the perfect combo of panel hamminess with actual word and math puzzles that you can solve.
posted by Think_Long at 6:27 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
For those who don't already know about it, 8 out of 10 cats does countdown is my favorite - the perfect combo of panel hamminess with actual word and math puzzles that you can solve.
posted by Think_Long at 6:27 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
WILTY can be extremely funny. Lee Mack in particular is great at coming up with vaguely plausible silliness. The best part is that the series regulars (Mack and Mitchell) have long since exhausted their supplies of true anecdotes and are now forced to defend increasingly ridiculous tales.
My favorite - Lee Mack's BERMUDA system.
posted by AndrewStephens at 6:52 AM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
My favorite - Lee Mack's BERMUDA system.
posted by AndrewStephens at 6:52 AM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
I've never seen this show or Bob Mortimer, but these were fabulous. I do love David Mitchell though and these just cemented my love for him. I've seen some panel shows via Reddit, now I'll have to check this one out.
posted by ceejaytee at 6:58 AM on March 16, 2020
posted by ceejaytee at 6:58 AM on March 16, 2020
Has Lee Mack developed a system to help him remember the names of the Teletubbies?
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:11 AM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:11 AM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
the one with jack whitehall drawing a portrait of gyles brandreth's cat is also excellent. that whole episode is like top 5 best.
posted by poffin boffin at 8:00 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 8:00 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
Bob Mortimer is a gem. It's been on here before, but he also likes helping cats.
Edit - to raise money for cat charities, just to be clear!
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 8:22 AM on March 16, 2020
Edit - to raise money for cat charities, just to be clear!
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 8:22 AM on March 16, 2020
Lee did once caution David, “Never ask Bob the name of anything.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:53 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:53 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Has Lee Mack developed a system to help him remember the names of the Teletubbies?
David’s team questions whether or not he had a pre-existing system or whether he managed to half-assedly invent a system on the spot. Without revealing the answer, I will say that the mnemonic Lee presents is now firmly lodged in my head as what I will use on whatever the next occasion is that I need to identify said Teletubbies.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:59 AM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
David’s team questions whether or not he had a pre-existing system or whether he managed to half-assedly invent a system on the spot. Without revealing the answer, I will say that the mnemonic Lee presents is now firmly lodged in my head as what I will use on whatever the next occasion is that I need to identify said Teletubbies.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:59 AM on March 16, 2020 [10 favorites]
More ripping-an-apple-in-half material from Bob, this time on Taskmaster (extremely good program fwiw).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:08 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:08 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Throwback to Bob on Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:19 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:19 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Bob Mortimer reminds me of a younger Bill Murray, and I would love to see Murray on a three-hour WILTY episode.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:27 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 9:27 AM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
The trick to the game, as far as I can tell, is always to follow my gut instinct when I first hear the claim, and before all the bullshit starts. That way I'm right about 7/10 times, but my accuracy is totally random if I go with my guess after watching the explanation.
posted by howfar at 9:33 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by howfar at 9:33 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
Throwback to Bob on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
If it weren't for the rather offensive (in the US) word, I'd really want to change my username to the phrase Bob used to describe "Mr. Blobby".
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:41 AM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
If it weren't for the rather offensive (in the US) word, I'd really want to change my username to the phrase Bob used to describe "Mr. Blobby".
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:41 AM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
Without revealing the answer, I will say that the mnemonic Lee presents is now firmly lodged in my head as what I will use on whatever the next occasion is that I need to identify said Teletubbies.
Same. I will never ever forget it. And I never even knew all their names before I saw this bit.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:52 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
Same. I will never ever forget it. And I never even knew all their names before I saw this bit.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:52 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
my accuracy is totally random if I go with my guess after watching the explanation.
The problem with/awesome thing about this show is, by the more recent seasons, you can tell that the majority of guests have actually watched the show a fair bit. So they understand the metagame of trying to look like you're lying when you're not, or vice versa.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:55 AM on March 16, 2020
The problem with/awesome thing about this show is, by the more recent seasons, you can tell that the majority of guests have actually watched the show a fair bit. So they understand the metagame of trying to look like you're lying when you're not, or vice versa.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:55 AM on March 16, 2020
Did Bob Mortimer charm a spider out of his shoe using a flute? His response to David Mitchell asking him "Was this a gerbil?" (at 47 seconds in) is my favorite ad-lib in the whole world.
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 10:11 AM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 10:11 AM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
I've been working my way through British Panel Shows (and Taskmaster!) and WILTY? is one of the very best. If you watch the lead video in this link and then want to watch all the rest of Bob's appearances in fewer videos, there's a couple compilation videos:
Mortimerian Tales
Mortimeriados (Part 2)
And a few other excellent comps from the other regulars:
Greg Davies: Supercalifragilisticgregspialidocious
Rhod Gilbert: On the Rhod to Happiness
Lee Mack: Mack Speed
David Mitchell: Barbigerous Harbinger of Exuberance & Posh & Repressed
Miles Jupp: Miles Smiles & Guffaws
and my favorite,
James Acaster: A Whimsical RollAcaster
posted by carsonb at 11:00 AM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
Mortimerian Tales
Mortimeriados (Part 2)
And a few other excellent comps from the other regulars:
Greg Davies: Supercalifragilisticgregspialidocious
Rhod Gilbert: On the Rhod to Happiness
Lee Mack: Mack Speed
David Mitchell: Barbigerous Harbinger of Exuberance & Posh & Repressed
Miles Jupp: Miles Smiles & Guffaws
and my favorite,
James Acaster: A Whimsical RollAcaster
posted by carsonb at 11:00 AM on March 16, 2020 [8 favorites]
Also, since it's already come up, if you can stand pretty terrible corpsing from the panelists this poem by Joe Wilkinson (judged by John Cooper Clarke on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) is the most hilarious thing I have ever seen on TV:
Hanging About in a Train Station Toilet Naming People's Penises
posted by carsonb at 11:08 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
Hanging About in a Train Station Toilet Naming People's Penises
posted by carsonb at 11:08 AM on March 16, 2020 [4 favorites]
Oh I forgot the Henning Wehn compilation! Wehn? For 3 weeks in the 90's...
posted by carsonb at 11:14 AM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by carsonb at 11:14 AM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
If you like Bob, watch out for Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. Gentle 'two blokes chatting' humour, rather than the side-splitting WILTY stuff.
I think he is wired differently to most folk.
posted by StephenB at 11:22 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
I think he is wired differently to most folk.
posted by StephenB at 11:22 AM on March 16, 2020 [3 favorites]
I think he is wired differently to most folk.
And yet was a working lawyer for a while in the 80s. Imagine going to discuss a potential lawsuit against your landlord and finding that mind on the other side of the desk. He's a genius.
posted by YoungStencil at 11:50 AM on March 16, 2020 [5 favorites]
And yet was a working lawyer for a while in the 80s. Imagine going to discuss a potential lawsuit against your landlord and finding that mind on the other side of the desk. He's a genius.
posted by YoungStencil at 11:50 AM on March 16, 2020 [5 favorites]
I'm at home in Toronto, binging on panels show clips because I was booked to fly out Saturday for a two week holiday in London.
I loved the clip of James Acaster linked above and this bit of standup on the BM is amazing
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:28 PM on March 16, 2020
Is this the Acaster British Museum link you meant to include?
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:47 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:47 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yes. Thank you LobsterMitten.
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:08 PM on March 16, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:08 PM on March 16, 2020
Compulsory link: Bob Mortimer on Desert Island Discs - which is actually surprisingly straight and reveals all sorts of surprising things about someone who seems as if he's a born entertainer. In fact, it turns out he was a painfully shy loner and literally had no friends at University, would just go to class and back home and that was it. It was pure chance that he met Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) and their brains sparked perfectly with one another to create a whole world of beautiful lunacy that they've been leaving in their wake for 25 years or whatever the hell it is now. They're still best friends, live near each other, hang out together all the time, and it sounds like Bob still doesn't have many other friends but cherishes the relationship he has with Jim.
Also features various tales from his days as a solicitor (lawyer).
If for some reason that BBC link doesn't work overseas, scour your podcast providers to see if you can listen - it's wonderful.
posted by penguin pie at 5:14 PM on March 16, 2020 [6 favorites]
Also features various tales from his days as a solicitor (lawyer).
If for some reason that BBC link doesn't work overseas, scour your podcast providers to see if you can listen - it's wonderful.
posted by penguin pie at 5:14 PM on March 16, 2020 [6 favorites]
If you don't have easy access to Taskmaster and you want to catch up, the first four seasons (Bob Mortimer was on the fifth, I think) have so far been released in lightly censored but complete versions on youtube. Lately I've been reliant on some slightly more under the table methods for watching panel shows.
Also second the recommendation of Mortimer's Athletico Mince podcast (with Andy Dawson!)
posted by villanelles at dawn at 5:41 PM on March 16, 2020
Also second the recommendation of Mortimer's Athletico Mince podcast (with Andy Dawson!)
posted by villanelles at dawn at 5:41 PM on March 16, 2020
Lately I've been reliant on some slightly more under the table methods for watching panel shows
As of the last time I looked for them, at least, all the Taskmaster episodes not on the official youtube could be found on dailymotion, including the champion of champions thing.
You might have to weed through some bogus ones that are just ads for spy/adware crap and if I remember correctly some others are left-right mirror flipped to try and evade content detection, but as of the last time I checked it was all there (in non-mirror flipped form even).
posted by juv3nal at 6:38 PM on March 16, 2020
As of the last time I looked for them, at least, all the Taskmaster episodes not on the official youtube could be found on dailymotion, including the champion of champions thing.
You might have to weed through some bogus ones that are just ads for spy/adware crap and if I remember correctly some others are left-right mirror flipped to try and evade content detection, but as of the last time I checked it was all there (in non-mirror flipped form even).
posted by juv3nal at 6:38 PM on March 16, 2020
An incredible treasury, but naked without the inclusion of Bob's hand lion story (in which the hand lion is not even the thing at issue, merely a totally implausible grace note), which made me nearly asphyxiate.
posted by babelfish at 8:04 PM on March 16, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by babelfish at 8:04 PM on March 16, 2020 [5 favorites]
Mitchell and Mortimer on Was It Something I Said? Bonus: Brian Blessed.
posted by flabdablet at 10:17 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 10:17 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
I love how much Richard Ayoade loves listening to Brian Blessed talk.
posted by acidnova at 12:03 AM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by acidnova at 12:03 AM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Sometimes they seem completely set up to fail. One of my favorites: David O'Doherty trying to explain why he sees a hypnotist to cure him of a compulsion to visit hypnotists.
posted by kwartel at 12:44 AM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by kwartel at 12:44 AM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
god and it's not even the same episode as the bird legwarmers
posted by poffin boffin at 2:03 AM on March 17, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:03 AM on March 17, 2020 [5 favorites]
a totally implausible grace note
and yet seemingly true?
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:37 PM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
and yet seemingly true?
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:37 PM on March 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Hmmmm, no licking or striking. I think he threw the hand lion in because he was getting the sense that his story was too believable. His chum only admitted to the tape recorder part.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:21 PM on March 17, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:21 PM on March 17, 2020
I watched a bunch of these last night and then this morning I tried to break an apple but I couldn't do it. Now that I know its possible I'll probably keep trying until I'm able to do it or I bruise too many apples and the rest of my family complains.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:29 PM on March 18, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:29 PM on March 18, 2020 [2 favorites]
I haven't tried the apple thing but I've never quite understood how he does it. I know, hands are for gripping, not ripping. It's like, you don't pull the apple apart, but you somehow... pop it apart?
Before this thread totally dies out, I had a question for UK folks. I've heard it said that Reeves and Mortimer were seen as the alternative to alternative comedy, but what I've seen of their stuff is surreal as hell. Lots of swears, comic violence and dream logic that sometimes turns nightmarish. It doesn't seem much less edgy than, say, The Young Ones, which is considered part of the alternative comedy boom. Why were Reeves and Mortimer considered the anti-alternative?
Finally, I had to offer up this WILTY clip about David Mitchell's childhood teddy bear, Table Cloth.
(SPOILER AHEAD:)
It turns out to be fake but what fascinates me is how, until we know that, the bear takes on a kind of semi-life due to us believing that Mitchell loved him as a child, and when Lee Mack abuses the bear we feel bad for Mitchell but there's also a feeling like, "No, you mustn't hurt poor Table Cloth!" Then, when we find out it's a fake, Table Cloth instantly loses any anthropomorphism and becomes a lump of cloth and cotton. That's how it worked for me, anyhow. Mack and Mitchell have a fascinating dynamic, witty, affectionate joshing that sometimes has a real edge to it. That bear thing was brutal.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:33 PM on March 18, 2020 [3 favorites]
Before this thread totally dies out, I had a question for UK folks. I've heard it said that Reeves and Mortimer were seen as the alternative to alternative comedy, but what I've seen of their stuff is surreal as hell. Lots of swears, comic violence and dream logic that sometimes turns nightmarish. It doesn't seem much less edgy than, say, The Young Ones, which is considered part of the alternative comedy boom. Why were Reeves and Mortimer considered the anti-alternative?
Finally, I had to offer up this WILTY clip about David Mitchell's childhood teddy bear, Table Cloth.
(SPOILER AHEAD:)
It turns out to be fake but what fascinates me is how, until we know that, the bear takes on a kind of semi-life due to us believing that Mitchell loved him as a child, and when Lee Mack abuses the bear we feel bad for Mitchell but there's also a feeling like, "No, you mustn't hurt poor Table Cloth!" Then, when we find out it's a fake, Table Cloth instantly loses any anthropomorphism and becomes a lump of cloth and cotton. That's how it worked for me, anyhow. Mack and Mitchell have a fascinating dynamic, witty, affectionate joshing that sometimes has a real edge to it. That bear thing was brutal.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:33 PM on March 18, 2020 [3 favorites]
It's like, you don't pull the apple apart, but you somehow... pop it apart?
You shear* it apart -- there's a plane through the center that isn't as strong as the rest of the apple. Sometimes you can see a little cusp on that plane where the apple curves in to the stem. If you grip on either side of that cusp, and twist as though you were unscrewing the apple, most of them just pop apart as neatly as anything.
* physics shear
posted by clew at 3:41 PM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
You shear* it apart -- there's a plane through the center that isn't as strong as the rest of the apple. Sometimes you can see a little cusp on that plane where the apple curves in to the stem. If you grip on either side of that cusp, and twist as though you were unscrewing the apple, most of them just pop apart as neatly as anything.
* physics shear
posted by clew at 3:41 PM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
David O'Doherty trying to explain why he sees a hypnotist to cure him of a compulsion to visit hypnotists.Cackling with glee at "We are nearly out of the woods"
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 6:06 PM on March 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
Oh God, it gets better!
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 6:09 PM on March 18, 2020
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 6:09 PM on March 18, 2020
Before this thread totally dies out, I had a question for UK folks. I've heard it said that Reeves and Mortimer were seen as the alternative to alternative comedy, but what I've seen of their stuff is surreal as hell. Lots of swears, comic violence and dream logic that sometimes turns nightmarish. It doesn't seem much less edgy than, say, The Young Ones, which is considered part of the alternative comedy boom. Why were Reeves and Mortimer considered the anti-alternative?As a Brit Of A Certain Age that's a really interesting take, one which I've not heard before. Mouth flapping with brain half-engaged from here-on in!
From my personal perspective I'm guessing there's a fairly straightforward answer, namely Time (as a proxy for Fashion) stroke Fashion (as a proxy for Time) [note both Capitalised Concepts just happen to be Bowie songs, one from the early '70s and one from the early '80s. This serendipity signifies nothing!] In any case, you're talking about a decade's difference! I love them all but the whimsical is entirely dominant with Reeves And Mortimer and that '80s Right On element is completely absent. R+M's comedy is definitely less of an overt reaction to the decade which came before though, I mean, the '80s seemed to hate the '70s as much as it did Thatcher.
Allow me perhaps to offer an anaemic anecdote in lieu of anything remotely resembling a proper argument. Teenage Me grew up loving The Young Ones, Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle, Kenny Everett, Lenny Henry et al and was thus well into Bottom come the mid '90s. Teenage Me's one-and-a-half-year-younger '90s Girlfriend overlapped heavily tastewise, but was more into Drop Dead Fred (feat. Rick Mayall) and totally discovered Vic Reeves before he was popular. I swear it's like (pop) music, where one can deeply imprint on one's own certain incredibly narrow but vital slice of popular culture.
In conclusion: comedy is not a cheese, it's a residue, but it's a residue that is good for you.
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 6:59 PM on March 18, 2020 [4 favorites]
I haven't tried the apple thing but I've never quite understood how he does it. I know, hands are for gripping, not ripping. It's like, you don't pull the apple apart, but you somehow... pop it apart?
So after watching more videos of the apple splitting, and switching apples (don't use a granny smith) I was finally able to do it last night, and again this morning. Hands are for gripping not ripping is correct. Your hands hold onto the apple but it is your arms that are applying the force to split it apart. So keep your wrist immobile and hands tight on the apple and then pull down with your arms. Also some apples may be harder than others. I had a granny smith and 2 fujis. The granny smith has resisted but the fujis split.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:30 PM on March 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
So after watching more videos of the apple splitting, and switching apples (don't use a granny smith) I was finally able to do it last night, and again this morning. Hands are for gripping not ripping is correct. Your hands hold onto the apple but it is your arms that are applying the force to split it apart. So keep your wrist immobile and hands tight on the apple and then pull down with your arms. Also some apples may be harder than others. I had a granny smith and 2 fujis. The granny smith has resisted but the fujis split.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:30 PM on March 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
Clew claims you twist. Did you twist? I’d tried a Gala without success. I didn't twist because Bob says twisting=tears.
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:47 PM on March 20, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:47 PM on March 20, 2020
Before this thread totally dies out, I had a question for UK folks. I've heard it said that Reeves and Mortimer were seen as the alternative to alternative comedy, but what I've seen of their stuff is surreal as hell. Lots of swears, comic violence and dream logic that sometimes turns nightmarish. It doesn't seem much less edgy than, say, The Young Ones, which is considered part of the alternative comedy boom. Why were Reeves and Mortimer considered the anti-alternative?
I think when alternative comedy began in the early 80s, it was live, in comedy clubs, and there were a whole range of acts, from the bonkers surreal/cabaret style stuff to much more political, social issue-based work which was predominently stand-up, observational, very much rooted in the realities of the day.
The Young Ones kind of stands at the beginning of alternative comedy transferring onto TV and so it contains a little of both ends of the spectrum: It was definitely rooted in social commentary, focussing on the student class of the 1980s and their political concerns, but it incorporated some of the surreal stuff.
However, as the move onto TV continued through the 80s, the surreal arm of alternative comedy failed to make the leap, and the stand-up/sketch shows became dominant. Saturday Live, Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle, the early days of French & Saunders and Fry & Laurie, all came to represent alternative comedy as it was being recognised by a wider audience. The men playing accordions with fireworks up their arses didn't get past the TV execs and were left playing to a couple of dozen drunks at The Tunnel Club/Up the Creek.
So, by the time Reeves and Mortimer came along in the 90s, alternative comedy was only really known in the wider world as the social/political, left-leaning, stand-up style of comedy. The only people who remembered the really surreal stuff were people who'd been on the live circuit 10 years earlier - who are fairly low in number, compared to the number of people who'd watched Saturday Live and associated alternative comedy with political stand-up.
So when Big Night Out arrived, there were these two guys doing something that was totally surreal, totally lacking any roots in the real, contemporary world outside the stage, no political points to make, creating a world of their own for pure entertainment value. It was totally different to what most people, by then, thought of as alternative comedy.
Hope that makes sense!
Coda: I guess the odd exception to that rule is Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, who carried on doing physical comedy through the 80s and 90s and were definitely under the alternative comedy umbrella. But I'd posit that Bottom was never really surreal in the way Big Night Out was - it's more physical comedy based in a realistic narrative (two losers share a flat) and came under the alternative umbrella mostly because of Mayall and Edmondson's background and pedigree as much as for the content.
posted by penguin pie at 7:40 AM on March 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Also: I still think one of the most exciting nights of my life was when, as a sixth former in the early 90s, I went to see Sean's Show live at the tiny Cramphorn Theatre in Chelmsford, and Bob Mortimer was in the audience.
posted by penguin pie at 2:59 PM on March 21, 2020
posted by penguin pie at 2:59 PM on March 21, 2020
No, I did not twist. I sent the WILTY video to some friends and one of them sent a video of him splitting an apple by twisting it. It didn't break as cleanly as when Bob Mortimer did it but it was impressive to see.
I also agree that there is some kind of shear plane in the apple. If my initial attempt doesn't work I give the apple a slight turn and try again. The same amount of force on a different plane will split the apple.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:11 PM on March 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
I also agree that there is some kind of shear plane in the apple. If my initial attempt doesn't work I give the apple a slight turn and try again. The same amount of force on a different plane will split the apple.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:11 PM on March 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
I tried this the past two nights while preparing snacks for my dad. I had no luck with Grannies Smith. Will try a different type the next time I do a grocery run or order.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:14 PM on March 25, 2020
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:14 PM on March 25, 2020
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posted by juv3nal at 7:23 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]