Mike and Angelo S2E6 (1989) - FULL EPISODE

Angelo's Big Break. Rita's watching a TV talent show for the sake of research, but Angelo's so taken by the glitz and glamour of it all that he starts to get big ideas for himself. If he goes on television, though, won't the big secret of his origins be at risk of discovery? This episode was broadcast on Thursday, 19th October, 1989. The first thing you'll notice when watching is that we have here an original recording - that is to say, it's not a repeat with the theme tune changed and laugh track added. Pure Mike and Angelo! The second thing you'll notice is a moonwalking Mike - all part of a nice sequence demonstrating the generation gap between Rita and her son, which culminates in her putting on some records (yes, records) and them all having a bit of a dance. It's not necessary to the plot and doesn't really go anywhere, but I love it when they have time to throw bits like that in. Needless to say, the talent show itself is a broad parody of Opportunity Knocks - or, as it was at the time, "Bob Says.... Opportunity Knocks". The Bob in that case was Bob Monkhouse, but here it's the irrepressible Matt Zimmerman in the role of the television host. I've said it before, but he's always great value, is Matt, and perfectly believable no matter the role. The parodies, references, and in-jokes don't end there, either: the "last week's winners" photos, for instance, feature the staff of Thames Television, including executive producer Charles Warren and stage manager Bobby Webber. The tap-dancing Seraphina Spratt - there's a Dahl-esque name, if ever I heard one! - is deliberately done up like Debbie from T-Bag. (Actress Lucie Carey went on to play Hammy in Grange Hill, incidentally.) And the "Do Not Adjust Your Set" message? Well, there's a story there, too: writer Grant Cathro contributed some jokes to that show as a young teenager, and its director Daphne Shadwell subsequently gave him an even bigger break in the early 80s when she asked him to write some episodes of Take a Chance - a programme which collaborator-to-be Lee Pressman also wrote for. Anyway, Angelo is at his best and his worst in this episode. He's at his most irritating when star-struck by Bob Bright, but then his most endearing with his optimistic attitude even after things haven't gone according to plan. The final punchline is a bit cheesy, but it's all good fun in general, and there are plenty of big laughs throughout - thankfully without the canned laughter. I'm now off to build a guitar out of a lawnmower and rehearse my unicycling trouser-press-operating routine. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (To the best of my knowledge, the contents of this video have never been available commercially anywhere in the world. Please also note that I don't monetise any of my uploads. Nevertheless, if you are a copyright holder and have an objection, please don't hesitate to contact me.)