New episodes of Mike And Angelo (Full Episodes) on comedic.net.https://comedic.net/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/we-cannot-take-you-with-us/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/we-cannot-take-you-with-us/OggOneMon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-angelo-timeshare-tv-2000/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-angelo-timeshare-tv-2000/An episode of this classic CITV sitcom from the final series. Frist broadcast on 8th February 2000. Angelo has some trouble with Daphne's new Television set.Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e1-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e1-1998-full-episode/Oh Give Me a Gnome. Zoe's on her way round to visit, but Angelo still thinks now is a good time to test out his new patent-pending plutonium-powered matter transporter on Mike. Needless to say, the molecules soon get in a bit of a muddle, and suddenly the question of what clothes to wear to impress ceases to be the main priority. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 8th January, 1998. It's easy to see why this was chosen as the opener for the new series: just the three main characters plus recurring girlfriend, a zany Angelo invention which goes wrong, and a straightforward premise which quickly gets out of hand. Textbook stuff. But that's not to say that this is simply Mike and Angelo by numbers - on the contrary, it gets us right into the swing of things with a minimum of fuss, and the way the farce builds and then continues to grow beyond what's expected is extremely funny. Throw in the emotion and the woman-to-girl talk about the male "silly cell", and we've got one of my favourites from the later years of the show. It's fairly obvious that there seems to be an element of The Fly influencing things, and I'm also pretty sure that the brief "Eureka-ka-ka-ka" exclamation is a Shooting Stars reference. Amongst the daftness, we're exposed to the sort of teenage anxieties most of us have done our best to forget, and there's probably a vague moral somewhere about not worrying unduly about your looks or feeling insecure and paranoid in a relationship. Full marks to the make-up and costume departments, and increasingly so as the episode wears on, and also to the props people for that surprise gnome near the end. (I wonder where that ended up!) This is also the point where new credit sequences were introduced. All round excellent stuff. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e2-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e2-1998-full-episode/Room with a View. Angelo's latest invention helpfully 'recycles' Katy's £20 notes into a toilet roll, so he and Mike turn the house into a holiday hotel in order to replace the cash before they're discovered. They only need one client, and a hapless businessman fits the bill perfectly - until Katy returns home unexpectedly. Will they get away with it? This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 15th January, 1998. I've spotted a few little nods to Fawlty Towers dotted around many of these writers' shows, but this particular episode crosses brilliantly into full-on tribute territory as they pay homage to John Cleese and Connie Booth's all-time classic. Seriously, if you're a fan of the show, you'll pick out loads of little references in this one - some obvious, some relatively obscure, but all natural and never shoe-horned in. I think special praise is due for Tim Whitnall, who is excellent as the Basil-esque manager, and somehow manages to inhabit both that character and Angelo simultaneously. A real tour de force. The hapless punter who just wants a good night's sleep is played by Colin Farrell - not that one - who has credits in Oh! What a Lovely War, Dramarama, Henry's Leg, The Bill, Heartbeat, EastEnders, Last of the Summer Wine, A Touch of Frost, and even I'm Alan Partridge (a worker at Pear Tree Productions) to his name, among so many other things. I have to admit I was caught completely off-guard with the police inspector section, which he acted out very well indeed. Made me laugh, anyway. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e3-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e3-1998-full-episode/Out of the Wardrobe. Angelo's been getting increasingly frustrated by the way aliens are always portrayed so negatively in films, so decides the best course of action is to come out publicly as an extra-terrestrial to the local newspaper. Mike and Katy fear for his safety - will the reporter be happy enough to tell the truth, or will he just make trouble for the inhabitants of Larkswood Lane? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 22nd January, 1998. The guest role of journalist Brad Schnauzer is played brilliantly by Christopher Ryan, who manages to muster up just the right amount of scumminess throughout, without completely giving away whether he's ultimately going to prove to be a goodie or a baddie. I've always been intrigued that Mr Ryan somehow went from playing the cool university student on The Young Ones to a sad, middle-aged down-and-out in Bottom within about six years. As for the subject matter of the episode, although it's ostensibly about aliens, I think it's obvious that there's something a little more allegorical going on. It's possible that this was in relation to something specific and topical at the time, but I'm not going to play that guessing game, and will rather just say that it's handled very well and is maybe even more pertinent today. A deep message, but plenty of laughs accompanying throughout - the perfect way to do it! Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e4-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e4-1998-full-episode/Upstairs, Downstairs. Katy's fed up with the temporal blips she's experiencing, so tries to get Angelo to switch off his time machine once and for all. Unfortunately, the shutdown doesn't quite go according to plan, and they and Mike suddenly find themselves hurled back a hundred years to 1898, when the house was owned by a certain Albert Squeers and his chimney sweep nephew Charlie. How will the gang return to the present day? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 29th January, 1998, and in all honesty, it's a strange one. It starts out in normal enough fashion (with some extra crazy editing for comic effect), but once the time travelling has taken place, the tone changes quite a bit. Suddenly there's a vulnerability there, and more at stake than if a neighbour catches Angelo doing something weird. The tension is created by needing to be in a certain place at a certain time, and then ratcheted up a notch by failure meaning the end of the universe. But the real plot doesn't really start until about halfway through, when we find out about Albert's nasty side and his dreadful treatment of Charlie. Needless to say, the themes from A Christmas Carol fit the Victorian England setting perfectly, even if Dickens would never have resorted to such a method of resolution! (You'll see what I mean.) The character stuff is very funny in places, and I have to admit that at the beginning I had no idea what was going on with the blips. I enjoyed Katy frantically blagging it to get to stay in the house, and there are some good subtle reactions from Mike, too. The cynic in me sees the contradiction of Angelo being desperate not to create a paradox versus deliberately changing the fundamental relationship between two people living in that very house, but I doubt CITV got any letters of complaint about that. All in all, not quite as much emphasis on the comedy side and big gags as usual, but a fascinating and enjoyable episode. Young Charlie is played by Eric Graves in this one - and I can't find out much about him besides a handful of one-off appearances from him on the likes of Casualty, Holby City, and Murder in Mind between 1997 and 2003. I hope he's doing all right for himself, because he's very good in this. John Grillo, meanwhile, has a long list of TV, film, and stage credits to his name, including some proper Dickens and Shakespeare, plus recurring parts in Brideshead Revisited, Crown Court, Three Up Two Down, and many others. He also guested in both Spatz and B&B, plus had an earlier foray into the world of Mike and Angelo in series five as Herr Klugman. Other children's television includes Chocky, Watt on Earth, and Danny the Champion of the World, and you may recognise him as the doctor who prescribes Blackadder a course of leeches. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e5-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e5-1998-full-episode/Double Whammy. Neighbour Daphne Fawkes-Bentley is due to go to the Badminton Club's annual dinner and dance with her nephew, when disaster strikes. Can anyone take Freddy's place without her noticing? He *does* bear a striking resemblance to Angelo... This episode, which was originally broadcast on Thursday, 5th February, 1998, sees Tim Whitnall in dual roles and hamming it up brilliantly as a posh slimeball short on cash and charm. The difficulties of the stories arise as a direct result of Mike jumping to conclusions over a series of valuables going missing, while Daphne's opinions of Angelo are ultimately demonstrated to be nothing but pure prejudice - all good subtle lessons for the young viewers. It's also another example of why I could never be a writer: what seems like the main plot is pretty much set aside halfway through, and a new, bigger issue emerges. Great fun, though. I got quite a laugh out of the opening scene - Elizabeth Estensen being irrationally angry is never not funny - and the spoof TV show names discussed later are wonderfully cynical (e.g. "Brucie's Pro-Celebrity Sumo Blind Date Bonanza"). On a technical note, there's a fair bit of rare handheld camera work around the burglar trap scene, but unless I wasn't watching closely enough, I think the shots requiring two lots of Mr Whitnall were achieved mostly using stand-ins and clever angles, rather than special effects. Please let me know in the comments if I missed something there. Stay tuned at the end for a tiny bit of CITV continuity. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e6-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e6-1998-full-episode/Space Invaders. Angelo needs to clear out some of his crazy inventions, so decides to hold a sort of intergalactic car boot sale. Unfortunately, the advertising signal is received by a poor-tempered blob named Warnek, and Katy catches a bad case of Personality Relocation Syndrome from him. Can the boys rescue her, and can they convince their customer not to destroy the planet? This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 12th February, 1998. One thing when it comes to aliens is that it's very hard for us to comprehend life in non-human terms. For that reason, most sci-fi tends to depict beings from another planet with two arms and two legs, walking upright and breathing oxygen. But not here. Oh, no. Apart from Angelo, that is. But that's beside the point - what I'm getting at is that our visitor in this one doesn't have a usable body, doesn't have a concept of the sense of smell, can't understand humour or laughter... I'm not saying it's massively groundbreaking or anything, just a bit of a head-spinner for 4.20pm on a Thursday. Or possibly partly done for budgetary reasons - take your pick. Back to the issue at hand, and I really enjoyed this one. It's a slightly slower episode than usual with no guest stars and only a single plot point (even if it's one major enough to mean the end of the world), making it feel almost like a play. Michael Benz proves his knack for nuance with some great expressions as he tries to explain his Rice Krispies joke and finds himself talking to a singing toe. Katy Murphy essentially has two roles, sometimes simultaneously, but is as believable as could be hoped. And Tim Whitnall? We take him for granted because he *always* delivers, but he really does keep the story moving very well. Something to ponder: how to you think that spaceship visual effect was done? I'm pretty sure I know, but I'd be interested to hear other theories. Clue: it's not state-of-the-art CGI. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e8-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e8-1998-full-episode/Ike and Angelo. Zoe shows up at the house in a bad mood, and as Angelo's attempts to cover for his mate spiral out of control, Mike soon finds himself all dressed up and pretending to be his own fictitious cousin. Meanwhile, Angelo has landed a job as a singing telegram, which ultimately turns out to be bad news for Katy. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 26th February, 1998. It's not a criticism in the slightest when I say that this one quickly descends into farce, before getting even sillier. It's a nice touch for Mike to have for some reason an unconvincing accent when being his cousin, and Katy's sheer obliviousness to the issues at hand only make it all the more funny. Same goes for the costumes. Nevertheless, there's also some emotion involved, as the insecurities of teenage relationships rear their ugly head, and I think it's all handled very well. Candace Hallinan is as excellent as always as Zoe, with her knowing looks and girl-power attitude (this is 1998, remember). Unfortunately, though, this is the last we would see of her on the show, mostly because her boyfriend Mike only had another couple of episodes to go himself. I can't remember if I've mentioned Candace before, but she was previously Becky in the Nickelodeon series Ghostwriter and Sarah in The Demon Headmaster. Besides a handful of one-off appearances in the likes of The Worst Witch, Holby City, and The Bill, her IMDB entry is sadly relatively bare, and I gather she's no longer working in show business (though I'll be glad to be corrected on that). If you're out there, Candace, I hope you're doing well and looking back on these Mike and Angelos with fondness! 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e7-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e7-1998-full-episode/Stars in His Eyes. Angelo's curry-powered rocket crash lands on its maiden test flight, inconveniently causing more than a little damage to that which stood below - so he and Mike find themselves well and truly grounded. How to pay for the damage and make amends? Obviously, Angelo disguises himself as singing cowboy Hank Sinatra and goes on a TV talent show to try to win the cash prize, of course. This episode, first broadcast on Thursday, 19th February, 1998, features the irrepressible Christopher Biggins in the role of the tacky television presenter Chubby Cheese. I don't think there's any children's programme in the world that can't be improved by the presence of Biggins. But all round this is a great zany edition that definitely had me laughing, and I urge you to listen carefully to the lyrics of Angelo's song - there are some very funny lines in there. The character of Hank Sinatra would return in the last ever episode of the show a couple of years later, while this particular Mike only made it to the end of this series before leaving and being replaced. Incidentally, I'm racking my brains to try to think of just which TV talent shows were big back in 1998 and therefore ripe for parody (besides Stars in Their Eyes, after which the episode is named, of course.). This is after the heyday of New Faces and Opportunity Knocks, but well before X Factor and Britain's Got Talent started dominating Saturday evenings. Anyone? Grateful thanks to Lee for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s11e4-1999-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s11e4-1999-full-episode/Flight of Fancy. Angelo's saving up for a mega-expensive dream holiday to Egypt, but when Daphne Fawkes-Bentley gets wind of this she decides to take Mickey herself to see the Great Pyramids - and leaves Katy to book the tickets for her. What could possibly go wrong? This episode was originally broadcast on Tuesday, 26th January, 1999. This is the first episode I've uploaded from series 11, and the sharp-eyed amongst you will have noticed something different about the eponymous Mike: he's now a she. Following on from Matt Wright (Mike the First) and with Michael Benz (Mike the Second) having left after the previous run, the writers had to come up with a third Mike to keep the title of the show at least nearly accurate - and ultimately they settled on Michaela, niece of neighbour Daphne. The young actress portraying Mike the Third is Gemma Gregory, who has since made a bit of a name for herself on Made in Chelsea. Before all that, though, she can point to roles in Great Expectations, The New Adventures of Pinocchio, Gypsy Girl, My Family, and The Crust, plus apparently quite a bit of model work - but this is where it all started for Gemma (according to IMDB, anyway). So what do we think? It's probably not fair to judge on one episode alone, especially as for large sections of this particular edition through no fault of her own her part is confined to just keeping quiet and laughing to herself, but on the whole she carries it all off well and doesn't seem out-of-place. I wonder why she only lasted the one series. (Of course, this wasn't the first time the young star of the show had been a girl: in between Mike the First and Mike the Second we were treated to most of a series with no Mike at all, and Ellie was Angelo's partner in crime for a bit.) Anyway, back to this one specifically, and this is an absolutely madcap farce of the highest order. (Which isn't a criticism, by the way.) But even though there isn't a great deal of nuance to the plot, with Angelo messing up and needing to redeem himself through increasingly outlandish methods and accents, I have to admit that even three-quarters of the way through, I still had absolutely no idea how they were going to dig themselves out of their hole and resolve the story. It's excellent writing when it keeps the viewer guessing. Also, listen out for a good flannel pun that's easily missed. Needless to say, the recurring guest star playing Daphne is the amazing Elizabeth Estensen - the original T-Bag, of course - and even though we can't see her face for most of it, she's as brilliant as ever. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e9-1998-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s10e9-1998-full-episode/War and Pizza. Katy's off on a charity walk to Brighton for the local hospital, and Mike and Angelo decide to raise some money themselves by entering the fast food business. Unfortunately, it turns out they've accidentally muscled in on someone else's patch, and they soon find themselves in the process of being muscled back out again. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 5th March, 1998. There's some genuine tension in this one to accompany the usual tightly-written dialogue, plus a handful of references to draw attention to. I'm not sure whether I need to tell you that Mystic Meg was a household name back then as resident predictor of the National Lottery, who has since faded into obscurity - a fate that didn't befall the Teletubbies, who are mentioned most likely as an in-joke on Tim Whitnall, who narrated the show which just a few months earlier had had that UK number one novelty record we all remember. Again, is that common knowledge or not? Two other in-universe references are to the Mertz Mighty Fluffbuster from two years earlier (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0eLTn3C4Ms), and the recurring gangster Dan Sharkey, who sort of appeared in both series nine and an episode of Spatz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIlWKTzOMMY). He's played by Anthony O'Donnell, who I think holds the distinction of being the only actor to complete the Great Pressman/Cathro Quadruple thanks to roles in The Tomorrow People and T-Bag. Anyway, there's a nice theme of resolving problems in a non-violent manner in this one, a principle which seems to either apply or not apply depending on any given character's current predicament. Angelo's invention actually going right for once is an unexpected set-up, and the pizza-eating competition a clever resolution. I love Mike's almost postmodern "It all sounds so plausible! Something has to go horribly wrong..." gag after laying out the plot early on, but my favourite line has to be the one about Sharkey doing his bit for charity by donating three patients to the hospital. Another episodes that basically continues to escalate the whole way through, apart from the final minute or so - excellent fun. There's a tiny bit of Children's ITV continuty at the beginning, including part of a promo for Hurricanes. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s11e6-1999-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s11e6-1999-full-episode/Bargain Basement Birthday. Daphne Fawkes-Bentley is throwing a swanky fancy dress party for her big day, and everyone including her pet parrot Miguel is invited. Unfortunately, a malfunctioning door to the cellar leads to increasing numbers of our regulars missing out on the fun. This episode was first broadcast on Tuesday, 9th February, 1999. There's a lot of love round these parts for recurring guest star Elizabeth Estensen, having been the original T-Bag and all that, and she's on tip-top form in this. The way she goes from nought to convinced she's dying the instant she realises she's trapped, but even then continues to get gradually crazier - fantastic! (Have I ever mentioned Elizabeth as Marmalade Atkins's wet-behind-the-ears social worker? She's brilliant in that, and it's a Thames children's show which pre-dates T-Bag, so I wonder whether that helped her land the starring role.) Elsewhere, there are some very funny gags - the alopecia and 'It's just the way the jacket hangs' lines are personal highlights, but there are many more subtle ones - plus we get to see inside next door for the first time, not to mention Katy all done up like Princess Leia. But on the whole this is a great example of a less-zany late episode of the show, perhaps partly because Angelo isn't too prominent. In fact, it brings to mind that episode of Bottom when they get stuck on the roof or that Red Dwarf when two of them get marooned on that ice planet - lots of good comedy and character, with plenty of room to breathe. Look out at the beginning for a full ad break (featuring John Cleese, no less), plus some extended Children's ITV continuity presented by Danielle Nicholls and Ben Jones - the latter of whom also co-presented a The Top 10 of Everything around this time. (Thanks to Stu in the comments for that info.) Joining them in the studio is Nimmy March, a.k.a. The Lady Naomi Anna Gordon-Lennox according to Wikipedia, talking about her role in Whizziwig - a credit which seems to have been obliterated from her IMDB entry, incidentally. There's another show, though, that's very thin on the ground these days. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s11e7-1999-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s11e7-1999-full-episode/Name Dropper. Katy's arranged for an old actor friend to open a local supermarket, but a mix-up leaves Tony Bamber under the impression that she's booked Hollywood star Jim Carrey. Does she have to come clean, or can Angelo salvage the situation? Meanwhile, Mickey toys with the idea of taking Geronimo the space gerbil into school. This episode was originally broadcast on Tuesday, 16th February, 1999. The energy in this one is absolutely relentless, and it's really hard to believe that so much action can come from only four people and a single location. This is in a huge way thanks to Tim Whitnall, whose performance here as essentially three different characters really is something to behold. Tim was never shy about breaking out the odd impression here and there, but I can't think of another occasion when he took it to such extremes, inhabiting the role for a prolonged period. Top marks to him - this is a real tour de force. I got a good laugh out of the confused Ace Ventura conversation early on, and there's something about phone conversations on this show where the implied lines (the ones we don't hear) somehow come through loud and clear. I like Katy's natural reluctance to the scheme, and also the fact that that side of the story ties up nice and cleanly. On the other hand, I also enjoyed the fact that they didn't feel the need to tidy up the loose ends on the other storyline - the one that causes the whole instalment to take a massive turn just when you think you know where it's all heading. If anyone tries to tell me they saw *that* coming... The guest star in this episode is Philip Bird as Tony Bamber, the high-powered businessman type of a PR guru. He would return in the final episode of this series, and he plays off Tim excellently here. In fact, at times it feels like they're trying to outdo each other, which only serves to ramp up the energy further. Philip's had recurring parts in the likes of Emmerdale, Harry Enfield and Chums, French Fields, Brass, and that Bruce Forsyth sitcom everyone's forgotten about, Slinger's Day. Loads of other stuff, too, such as "Swampie Warrior" in a 1978 Doctor Who. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s12e1-2000-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s12e1-2000-full-episode/Box of Tricks. Angelo's got himself a new board game, and he and Mike sit down to play it straight away. After all, who reads the rules before trying that sort of thing, anyway? Unfortunately, a 13 is rolled and they get more than they bargained for in the shape of one fierce-looking knight. Meanwhile, Katy's at her angry angriest while trying to clean the house, so perhaps her vacuum cleaner could do with some modifications. This episode, the first of the final series, was originally broadcast on Tuesday, 4th January, 2000. For those taking notes, we're now in series 12, and the more sharp-eyed of you will have noticed something different compared to the eponymous Mike of series 11: she's now a he again. Gemma Gregory didn't return to reprise her role as neighbour Daphne's niece Michaela (Mike the Third), so Steven Geller was brought in as Katy's nephew (Mike the Fourth). Not that any of that seems to be explained in the episode, but whatever. Now, about Stephen Geller... There's no easy way to say this, but I'm sorry to have to tell you that he's sadly no longer with us, having passed away towards the end of 2015. I gather he'd been unwell for some time. After appearances in the likes of Microsoap, Bootleg, and Crossroads, Stephen went on to make quite a name for himself on the club scene as a DJ of note - even winning awards, as alluded to in this interview: http://www.teeco71.com/2012/07/steven-geller-djs-heard/ Some of his output remains available here: https://soundcloud.com/steven-geller Rather bittersweet seeing all that still up, and I hope people can still enjoy it despite the tragic news, and his episodes of Mike and Angelo, too. And what an episode this is! The board game tips obvious nods to both Jumanji and T-Bag, and also to that Mike and Angelo in which Thor escapes a computer game, but it's the character played by Gareth Marks that drives the show. Gareth had previously appeared as a Darth Vader wannabe, but this time he takes the role of the campest baddie ever to grace our screens - and he does it brilliantly! The Terminator 2 and "Yes, you're a mad woman" lines particularly made me laugh, not to mention the mini Shining parody, and as guest stars go, very few nailed the all-round tone as well as Gareth did (twice). Top marks to him, woeful pun intended. On a bit of a tangent, how do you think this late episode compares with the early ones on my channel? I find it fascinating to chart the paths taken by long-running shows, and it seems to me that Mike and Angelo started life as a comedy drama with a proper underlying emotional story arc and ended up as a full-on sitcom with the reset button pushed at the end of every episode. The best balance was perhaps struck during the Michael Benz years, but by this final series the pace was absolutely relentless, the plots crazier than ever, and characters behaving in ever more bizarre fashion - and all unashamedly so! On the one hand, this is because the instructions coming from on high were to make the episodes just as mad as possible, and then a little madder still, because that's what brought in the ratings. (Around the five million mark, since you ask - absolutely unheard of these days.) But the level of farce shouldn't come as a surprise for a second reason: many of these later episodes were directed by one Iain McLean, who earlier in his career had been assistant floor manager on none other than Fawlty Towers. (In fact, he's the crossword expert who famously came up with the anagrams for the sign during the opening titles.) Speaking of which, is the "Sybil the Pythoness" mentioned in this episode two John Cleese references rolled into one? 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s12e3-2000-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s12e3-2000-full-episode/Taking the Plunge. An old foe shows up at the house having jilted his wife-to-be at the altar. Did I mention that he looks just like Angelo? He looks just like Angelo. How will Katy calm down non-bride Tiara Thickerton-Plank, and will Mike be able to tell the difference between his best friend and this beastly impostor? This episode was originally broadcast on Tuesday, 18th January, 2000. The first thing to make clear is that the character of Freddy - played, obviously, by Tim Whitnall, even if he doesn't get a credit for it - previously showed up in series 10, and is the posh nephew of stuck-up neighbour Daphne Fawkes-Bentley (who sadly doesn't appear in this one). There's some good Looney Tunes type of doppelganger confusion to be had, and I love how they stick to the convention of the baddie's distinguishing feature being just a little bit of facial hair. The subplot about the fast-growing yucca plant is a slightly odd one, but there's no doubt that Angelo's opening musical number is a real series highlight. Cricklewood gets the Hollywood treatment via Broadway! Vaguely reminiscent of Anchors Aweigh, what with the life-on-an-ocean-wave theme early on. This is an all-round very funny episode, though it's a bit of a surprise that Mike also falls for the ruse, as usually the young person in this sort of situation has no problem telling the identical goodies and baddies apart. Top marks for the Wagga Wagga joke, though, the "Naughty Lass" pun, and Angelo's solution to springing a leak. The guest star, meanwhile, is Pippa Haywood, who's still a regular on our screens in the likes of the Porridge reboot and Bodyguard. This episode came slap bang between possibly her two most famous credits: The Brittas Empire and Green Wing. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s2e10-1989-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s2e10-1989-full-episode/California Here We Come. Mike's dad comes to visit, complete with plans to take his son on a trip of a lifetime around America. Thing is, Rita's already decided to take the boys on holiday to France, so something's got to give. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 16th November, 1989. This is a great example to cite when talking about the differences between the early Mike and Angelos and the later ones. Although always a sitcom, more room was made for the emotional side of family life back when the show began, broadly speaking. And by "family life", I of course mean the realities of divorce and its aftermath - a theme quite dark for children's television, especially for the time. But the way they chose to represent the relationship between Rita and her ex-husband Tony is very interesting indeed: rather than showing the couple as sworn enemies out for petty revenge at every opportunity, the more realistic approach of portraying them as two otherwise reasonable people who just can't get along despite their best efforts is taken. That said, there *is* a bit of an undercurrent of Mike being used as a pawn by the pair of them, which makes it all the more gritty. Anyway, it's both funny and emotional, has a nice ending, and (being an early one), we're still being treated to Angelo's fundamental misunderstandings about life on 20th-century Earth - in this case, specifically about flying to your destination and how friendship isn't always absolute. Anyway, Mike's dad is played by Jeff Harding, who was something of a stock American on British TV for a while (good work if you can get it). Besides this recurring role as Tony, Jeff is probably most famous for his "Hi, I'm Ed Winchester" character on The Fast Show - though I remember him best as the LA priest who tries to recruit Father Ted in the very last episode of that particular classic. He was also a dad with a bit of mystery behind him in the 90s reboot of The Tomorrow People, which was by the same writers as Mike and Angelo, of course. Listen out for the original theme tune at the beginning (after a brief piece of Children's ITV continuity with Jerry Foulkes and Scally, incidentally), and a completely different song at the end. Being the final episode in the series, there's a good chance the commission for more hadn't yet come through, so everything was rounded off neatly just in case. Of course, ten more series followed! 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s1e1-1989-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s1e1-1989-full-episode/Mike Meets Angelo. Mike King is a 12-year-old boy caught up in his parents' divorce, which is made all the worse by his mother Rita taking him from America to live in England - away from everything he ever knew. But when they move into their new house with a mysterious wardrobe left in one of the bedrooms... Well, there's a surprise waiting. Who - or what - is he? This is the very very first edition of what, at 123 episodes, would go on to become ITV's second-longest-running sitcom of all time (you read that correctly - CITV's #1, and ITV's #2), originally broadcast on Thursday, 16th March, 1989. The main theme of this starting point is relatively grim for a children's programme, especially considering it's a comedy: it centres on parents not having time for their children, the resulting neglect, and feelings of isolation. Not that Rita is in any way not trying her best - she absolutely is - but I suppose what passes for the modern family (in this case single-parent divorcee) was becoming ever more common in the 80s and therefore ripe for exploration. As for what Angelo is, that was left deliberately ambiguous early on. He was always definitely other-worldly, and eventually it was firmly established that he's an alien (hope that's not too much of a spoiler), but when the original story arc was mapped out, the suggestion was that perhaps he was some sort of guardian angel of children who need him most - hence his name. In fact, the show's title is obviously a play on Michelangelo, who painted The Creation of Adam, which depicts contact between the physical world and something beyond. (And also inspired the finger-touch scene of E.T. - see how it all ties in?) Sharp-eyed viewers will have noticed that this recording actually comes from the repeat shown on Wednesday, 5th September, 1990. With that in mind, unfortunately this version has been fiddled with by the powers that be: most notably, the opening titles are different and the laugh track has been added. These are serious mistakes in my humble opinion, as it causes a massive mismatch in the tone (which was originally extremely moody and filled with pathos). Not to mention the fact that Matt Zimmerman's voiceover removes all ambiguity of who or what Angelo is supposed to be! I suppose they (whoever "they" are - I'm certain it wasn't the writers) were on the third series by the time the alterations were made, and were either thinking about bringing everything into line with what was to come, or they were trying to make the show more "commercial" for selling overseas. It really seemed to lose more than it gained, though. On a personal note, I actually remember watching this episode when it was brand new, and had no idea what to expect. As the show wore on, I settled on the thought that it was just going to be some sort of light-comedy family drama - and was completely wrong-footed when suddenly there was some weird chap prancing around on the ceiling. I distinctly recall not knowing what in the world to make of it! It's difficult to get across just how outlandish such a move was back then. On a secondary personal (and slightly meandering) note, I remember watching this brand new as a child back in the 1980s. I also remember watching brand new episodes of My Parents Are Aliens as an adult in the 2000s (it was one of my little cousin's favourites), and thinking that they'd taken their cue from Mike and Angelo. That, coupled with the fact that they're still showing My Parents Are Aliens, means that in my mind the two shows are a generation or more apart. But, actually, they overlapped by a few months. Funny, that. Some unconnected minor technical observations: I was surprised that the outside bits were shot on film rather than video. Most studio sets for television don't have ceilings, but due to Angelo's shenanigans, these ones did, which probably put an extra couple of noughts on the budget. And the shot at 12:15 with both Mike and Angelo in the same frame, the latter on the ceiling, *and* a moving camera - see if you can figure out how that's done. It's quite a funny solution, really. I should mention that Matt Wright's IMDB lists only the 1988 film High Spirits besides Mike and Angelo, so your guess is as good as mine when it comes to what he's done since. Anyone? Meanwhile, his screen mother Shelley Thompson is back living in Canada and concentrating on writing, I believe. Here is her website: http://www.shelleyat.com/Shelley_personal_DAWG/Welcome.html Tyler Butterworth - son of Carry On star Peter and Thatcher-impersonator Janet Brown - was the original Angelo, and, well, I'll just leave this link here: http://londonsightsapp.com/#app-introduction Anyway, look out for some opening continuity presented by Jeanne Downs and Scally - and apologies for the end being cut off rather abruptly. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s2e6-1989-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e1-1990-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e1-1990-full-episode/The New Angelo. Angelo is unwell - very unwell. At first it seems to be just a few of his quirks being more pronounced than usual, but before too long, it becomes clear that it may be far more serious than that. This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 14th November, 1990, and stop reading here if you've no idea how the story is resolved. MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW. To cut a long story short, original Angelo actor Tyler Butterworth had decided to leave the show, but agreed to one last appearance to enable a smooth transition to new Angelo actor Tim Whitnall. And, so, Angelo is essentially on the verge of death when he transforms into his new self. I'm tempted to use the word "regeneration" here, but despite the similarities, I gather that Doctor Who wasn't really the inspiration at all - it seems that E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was in the back of the writers' minds from the very inception of the programme. (That's where the title of the show comes from - E.T. having ripped off Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam's finger touch signifying the meeting of two worlds, which is the fundamental premise of Mike and Angelo.) They just used the death and resurrection as an opportunity to change actors in between, and then carried on without further explanation. It's amazing how bleak a children's sitcom can get: as far as Mike and his mum are concerned, Angelo *is* actually dead, and they react to the tragedy accordingly. The peril is real, and there's only sporadic comic relief. I wonder whether they'd get away with going to such depths of despair nowadays. On a happier note, there's some nice Children's ITV continuity with Jeanne Downs and Scally at the beginning and end, plus I've left in some ads at the start to help boost that retro flavour. The first one in particular is really quite something. Look out also for a promo for Sea Dragon - a CITV show I seem to have no memory of whatsoever. Anyone? Many thanks as always to Lee for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e13-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e13-1991-full-episode/Invisible Paint. Angelo's keen to do a spot of decorating in the attic, and wouldn't it be terrible if someone got a bucket of paint tipped all over them? Yes, it would, but not as bad as if said bucket of paint didn't just get them all messy, but caused them to disappear from sight altogether! This series three finale was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 13th February, 1991. I've mentioned a number of times the generally received wisdom that early episodes of Mike and Angelo were more about the personal relationships between the main characters, while later shows often revolved around faster madcap action. I've also pointed out later episodes which absolutely *do* have the heart and emotion of the early years, and here I think we have an exception the other way around. That is to say, the crazy plot of this one wouldn't have felt out of place later on, but it's all written very much in the earlier style. (Am I making sense?) As such, I can't help thinking it's a slightly odd choice for the last in the series, but perhaps necessity came into that. To quote https://gladyouremember.webs.com/mikeangelo.htm: ********************************************** "According to Grant Cathro, Mike's invisibility in this episode was to allow for a planned trip abroad by Matt Wright. When this trip didn't happen, Matt was able to deliver his lines from off camera as the scenes were filmed." ********************************************** Either way, it's a very enjoyable episode, even if we're seeing less and less of Mike (take that as literally as you want) as the series wears on. We do see a more caring side to Nancy that isn't always evident, though, even if her methods are just as fussy as ever. I'm still fascinated by the subject matters of her arguments with Rita, which, for a kids' programme, are often quite grown up. But, of course, the stand-out element of this one for me has to be the special effects. If you look closely enough, you'll see evidence of practical effects, such as strings being used to manoeuvre objects. As for the video effects... Some are better than others (the vanishing toilet being an excellent example), but I really can't imagine the headache this must have all been in the analogue days! There'd have been a lot of standing around in front of blue screens and stuff, while others in the same scene were on the set itself. There may be a nod or two in there to a certain David McCallum series, but I have a feeling that the bigger influence was any number of Tom and Jerry or Looney Tunes shorts. All in all, good fun, and although Matt Wright would return basically to bid farewell in the opener of the next series, this marks his last regular episode, and I think the ending of going away on holiday was the 'just in case' happy ending they always had in their back pockets. Look out at the beginning and end for some brief Children's ITV continuity clips featuring Jeanne Downs, guest Michaela Strachan, and Scally telling them both about overpopulation or industrialisation or something. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e10-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e10-1991-full-episode/Mother's Birthday. (Or, possibly, The Goat. Take your pick.) Mike's gran is approaching her 60th, and it's making her feel like an "ancient old biddy". Rita and the others decide to arrange a nice little surprise to cheer her up, but all the secrecy only leads to paranoia - they're not planning to throw her on the scrapheap, are they? Meanwhile, Angelo has a new four-legged friend named Glenda. This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 23rd January, 1991. This is another one with very little Mike and a lot of emphasis on the (much) older generation, but amongst all the comedy, there's definite heart in there. In fact, how many other kids' sitcoms deal with issues related to ageing and the fear of being "put out to grass"? Of course, the concept of one character getting the wrong end of the stick and therefore driving the whole plot isn't new, but this episode features a couple of the funniest mishearings of that sort that I've ever come across. The writers take advantage of the fact that, when Angelo's involved, they can contrive pretty much any scenario imaginable, but my goodness do they deliver with all those old goat jokes. ("...Because she smells, and makes a mess all over the floor..." being my personal favourite.) I loved them, anyway, along with Angelo's Pancake Pitcher and Lemon Liquidiser inventions. All that, and we haven't even mentioned Bill Maynard yet! Bill - who sadly died last year, I'm sorry to say - is great fun in this, and it's always nice when an outside actor comes in as a guest and just clearly gets it, if you know what I mean. The look of puzzlement on his face as it slowly dawns on him he's in a house of loonies is brilliant, but (spoiler alert) his unexpected return after the apparent resolution gives a wonderfully happy ending to an otherwise emotional episode. I know the overarching theme of it all is that you're only as old as you feel - and, to that end, it's a sad day when it dawns on someone who's younger than Mike that he's now older than Rita - but what's the average age of people who appear in this third series? You'd be going some to find another kids' sitcom with a higher figure, I reckon. There's no Children's ITV continuity in this particular recording, but believe it or not I stumbled across it here: https://youtu.be/tixIjsSkGjQ?t=262. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e11-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e11-1991-full-episode/Mother Finds Out. Rita and Mike are off camping, leaving Angelo home alone with Rita's mother, Nancy. How will she react when she catches him walking around on the ceiling? More to the point, can they prevent the secret from going any further, particularly in the direction of committed nosey parker Mr Pinner? This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 30th January, 1991 Quite a few unusual things about this one. Firstly, Mike's largely absent. Who says you can't have a kids' sitcom with no kids in it, though? It feels a bit like a Pinner and Mother spin-off at times, but still works just fine for Children's ITV. The second unusual thing is how careless Angelo is in getting caught out, not to mention his subsequent candour in coming clean. And, thirdly, did we know that Angelo can communicate with plants? That he sleeps floating in mid-air? Or that he has that *other* power that is revealed towards the end? I'm surprised we didn't see more of these in other plots down the years. All the tricks in the book are exploited to deliver the special effects used in this one, including the Lionel Ritchie rotating room. Some of the chromakey shots are very clever, but haven't aged well in these days of CGI - though not quite as badly as that burst of background music that sounds like Sinitta's version of Right Back Where We Started From. That and Ghostbusters - the sequel film having been released in the UK the previous year - in the same episode! What an age we lived in. (And I don't mean that quite as sarcastically as it reads, either.) Mr Pinner's at his annoying best, and manages to tread the fine line between Looney Tunes and Fawlty Towers in his efforts to obtain evidence of Angelo's alien status, what with his bugging, photographing, ladder-climbing, videoing, breaking and entering... It's just dawned on me that he's very much the ARP warden of this series. Another nice touch I liked is that, of course, it's raining where Mike and Rita are camping. For our younger viewers, that's a phone box they're standing in. And as for what Nancy means when she says she'll go see if the milk has "arrived", well, ask your parents. The Children's ITV continuity for this episode can be viewed at https://youtu.be/tixIjsSkGjQ?t=315. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e2-1990-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e2-1990-full-episode/Mother's Fiance. Mike's grandmother comes to visit, and she's accompanied by the Honourable Terence Creighton-Smythe. Could this be true love, or is Rita right to be suspicious? Meanwhile, Angelo's new flying skateboard needs only a little more tweaking to make it as safe as promised, but his other invention has precisely the desired effect for once. This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 21st November, 1990, and it's the first to fully feature Tim Whitnall following the transformation of Angelo. This meant changes to the title sequence, and at this point it's worth paraphrasing the excellent Glad You Remember website at length: ***************************************************************** 'The opening credits now show the new Angelo emerging from the wardrobe, rather than the original Angelo. The change also meant that the walking on the wall and ceiling had to be re-shot. The use of a revolving room for this was, to set designer Graham Probst's knowledge, a TV first, preceded in film by revolving room sets in Royal Wedding, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the video for Lionel Richie's Dancing on the Ceiling. A 12-foot circular frame surrounded the set with the camera bolted on, due to the impossibility of the cameraman following the turn by any other means. As well as the obvious need to secure all props and furnishings, lighting had to be kept soft so that shadows didn't betray the illusion. The set was turned by a combination of Tim Whitnall's body weight and technicians with ropes and pulleys.' - http://gladyouremember.webs.com/mikeangelo.htm ***************************************************************** The change of actor also meant that Nancy - played by Libby Morris and making a return to the show - needed to have it explained to her why this Angelo isn't what she remembered. It's a nice touch, and shows that they were right on top of continuity back then. As for the episode at hand itself, while there are definitely funny moments, this is a good one to use if you want to highlight the contrast between the early era of the show and the later years. There's no doubt that, while comedy was still the main goal, drama and emotion was higher on the agenda at this point than madcap antics, and the rather serious kitchen conversations underline that. It's also interesting to see Angelo acting as a confidante to Rita, and seemingly understanding (to a point). This has been brought up many times before, but I'm still undecided as to which era I favour. I suppose there's no need to choose, so I won't! It was a delightful surprise to see Alan Ford turn up playing very much against type (mostly) as Nancy's fancy man. He also appeared fairly recently in Brian Pern and Toast of London, but other comedy fans will know him better from some famous sketches in The Armando Iannucci Shows. No? Well then *surely* you must have laughed at him playing the not-at-all-a-murderous-gangster character in Knowing Me, Knowing You, and scaring Alan Partridge with veiled threats of violence and possibly death. Thought so. Look out for a large chunk of Children's ITV continuity, featuring Jeanne Downs and Scally interviewing Graham McGrath from Sea Dragon. I'm afraid that one passed me by. There's also a full ad break, which I hope will bring back memories one way or another. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e4-1990-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e4-1990-full-episode/The Time Machine. Angelo's reading a history book, and neighbour Mr Pinner mentions his famous ancestor Sir Cedric de Pinner, hero of the Battle of Lewes back in 1264. One quick patent-pending invention later and we get to meet him - but how will a different century with its telephones, TVs, and fizzy drinks suit him? This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 5th December, 1990. Once again, Nancy is more to the forefront than expected in this one, with Rita relegated to a phone call from the office - with associated rare shot of somewhere away from the house - and Mike not making an appearance until the final third. Angelo's time machine would later reappear on a number of occasions down the years, and the overall shape of this particular story brings to mind the series nine instalment revolving around Cleopatra (complete with unexpected love interest), and the Mozart episode from series seven. All have got their own unique angle, though, and each is enjoyable in its own right - is it too late to call for a spin-off based on this formula? John Levitt is excellent in the dual roles of both Cyril and Cedric, and it takes a special actor to deliver so many different types of uncouthness in such a short period. I love the look on his face upon his return at the end. The split-screen special effects are mostly very nearly seamless, but are let down by that one where the flashing lights are out of sync. Never mind. Interesting shot of the battle, too. By the way, I'm pretty sure we still hadn't actually seen the apparently hospitalised Mrs Pinner yet at this stage, and wouldn't do for another couple of years. *There's* a relationship that raises more questions than it provides answers. Normally I'd trim such a microscopic piece of Children's ITV continuity/promo off the end, but I love Knightmare so much that I left that tiny snippet in. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e7-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e7-1991-full-episode/Brett Shrinks. Rita needs to get a wardrobe up the stairs, and Angelo has just the invention to help: a device that can alter the size of whatever it's pointed at. Clever stuff, and not at all dangerous - unless some unsuspecting guest accidentally turns it on himself. This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 2nd January, 1991. The commonly held wisdom regarding Mike and Angelo is that the early years were more of a drama series with funny moments, while later on it turned into a madcap sitcom. Well, on this channel, we've already come across later editions with highly emotional stories, and now we have our earliest example yet of a farce. (Chances are there may be even earlier ones, but time will tell.) Or maybe "farce" is too strong, but there's definitely that fundamental plot point of desperately trying to keep one particular character from discovering what's gone wrong while trying to put it right - and it's done very well. I like how the situation keeps developing, with the cat, Philippa, the vacuum cleaner, and all the other innocent actions such as throwing away an empty milk carton. It's mostly very natural, rather than forced, is what I'm trying to say. Before I forget, you can see behind-the-scenes footage of this very episode being made in this ITV Schools documentary: https://youtu.be/KKBhiUHezOY?t=62 I don't know for certain what the inspiration was, but it's worth considering that it was made within a year of the UK release of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. (Grammaticists: shouldn't it be "Honey, I Shrank the Kids" or "Honey, I've Shrunk the Kids"?) Some of the blue screen shots are very impressive for their time, though others - particularly the 'punchline' at the end - are rather more what you'd expect from the era. That said, I like that Angelo's invention looks more clunky and home-made and less polished than many of his later efforts. Other things to look out for are Angelo's deafening shout and general noisiness, what I think may be a nod to Lady and the Tramp, the Oliver Hardy catchphrase, "Why don't you do something to help me?", and mentions of Italian footballers Schillaci and Baggio in a joke exactly mirrored on Father Ted a few short years later. Have we mentioned Alessia Gwyther as Philippa before, by the way? She was a regular in the early series, and this must be one of her last appearances on the show. She'd previously been in A Little Princess, and went on to do an episode each of The Return of the Psammead, Calling the Shots, and Poirot - no idea what she's up to now, but I hope she's doing well for herself. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e8-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e8-1991-full-episode/The Form Master. Mike's in trouble at school, but perhaps he can get Angelo to take the phone call from his teacher and pretend to be Rita. There's no way his mother could possibly find out, after all. This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 9th January, 1991. Anyone who's been keeping up with the Polterguests uploads on this channel may spot a couple of familiar elements in this one. Firstly, Mr Doyle is played by Michael Bertenshaw, who showed up as T-Bag's wife in Hee Haw Hotel. (He was also in a couple of episodes of Spatz, by the way.) More obviously, though, the central plot was recycled to a degree in Face the Music and Dance, although I have to say that they toned it down a fair bit in the intervening eight years. I don't wish to make light of anything, but Angelo gets dangerously close to earning himself a MeToo hashtag at one point! At least, that's how it looks through today's eyes - I strongly suspect that the inspiration for *that* scene was actually a Looney Tunes cartoon or two, rather than anything more sinister. (I'm talking about when Bugs Bunny dresses up as a woman rather than Pepe Le Pew.) And what about Rita's tactics to combat it all?! I certainly wasn't expecting that. Shall we just say it's of its time and leap out of this minefield, post-haste? On the plus side, I really liked the slower ceiling moments, as Mike pours out his problems and Angelo plays the role of guardian angel. It's good to take a breath every now and then and escape the madness. There's a nice chemistry between the two actors, considering this is the only full series they did together. Stay tuned at the beginning and end for some Children's ITV continuity featuring Jeanne Downs and Scally, with special guest Michaela Strachan. There's also a full ad break at the start. Compare and contrast that Acorn computer with Rita's word processor in the episode. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e9-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s3e9-1991-full-episode/The Dummy. Angelo's latest find gives him the idea to take up ventriloquism, while Rita is given a daunting task by her boss. One dark and stormy night later, and it's nightmares all round. What will Mike make of it once he gets back from his school trip? This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 16th January, 1991. It never ceases to amaze me just how many boxes this show manages to tick. Viewers better versed than me in the horror genre will have to tell us exactly what's being parodied (Charlie = Chucky?), but, as Children's ITV goes, this is pure nightmare fodder in places! We should give a big shout out to puppeteer John Thirtle for doing such a great job - he sadly passed away back in the mid-90s, but his legacy lives on in the likes of Button Moon and Spitting Image. His IMDB also lists a couple of early T-Bag episodes. All the talk of prime ministers surely won't fail to bring to mind the fact that Mrs Roper - played by Maggie Ollerenshaw - has a real Theresa May vibe about her. Or is that my imagination? Either way, I hope you spotted the major anachronism: Margaret Thatcher was in power when this series started airing, but had been ousted from number 10 a month and a half before this specific episode went out. How's that for unfortunate? Eleven years, and she just couldn't hold on that extra few weeks. I wonder whether any consideration was given to re-shooting the final scene. It doesn't harm the ending these days, but they must have been kicking themselves back then. Stay tuned at the beginning and end for some Children's ITV continuity featuring Jeanne Downs and Scally, with special guest Andy Crane pretending he's never even heard of the broom cupboard. There's also a very good full ad break at the start which should bring back lots of memories. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e10-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e10-1991-full-episode/A House Divided. Rita's mother has come to stay, and soon there's talk of this becoming a permanent arrangement. They agree - for the last time in quite a while. After one blazing row too many, can Angelo cook up an ingenious plan to put an end to all the bickering? This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 19th December, 1991. The inspiration for this one was a 1972 episode of Steptoe and Son called Divided We Stand - though actually Galton and Simpson themselves may have been inspired by a similar idea done on I Love Lucy back in the 60s. The concept of splitting an entire house in half and the problem of who gets what is a funny one, and I especially like the clever logistics of it here. By that I mean that it's believable that Angelo has cobbled together that barrier with all its crazy automatic bits, rather than just a barbed wire fence or a line drawn on the floor. It's a proper alien's solution that's been thought through to a point, but no further. Other things I like include Ellie being the voice of reason (even though she takes a back seat for most of the episode), the new hairstyle skit at the beginning, and that old-fashioned music score that evokes the late silent and early talkie era of the film industry (and Laurel and Hardy specifically at one point). It's also easy to forget just how futuristic that CCTV rig would have looked back in 1991. Libby Morris appeared in Mike and Angelo as Rita's mother sporadically throughout the first four series, but this marks her last appearance in the role. (The same goes for Jade Magri as Ellie, by the way.) She's excellent in this as she throws some real cheap shots at her daughter, refusing to back down when the opportunity presents itself. Libby also notched up a guest part in Spatz, but back in the 50s she had her very own radio show before moving into TV and film. Stick around at the beginning and end for a lot more Children's ITV continuity and ads than usual. Glenn Kinsey is the presenter, there are promos for Grotbags and The Tomorrow People, two breaks, and an extra intro into a very unsettling episode of Children's Ward which dealt with themes of abuse. Oh, and what's going on with that Lucy Lou doll?! Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e1-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e1-1991-full-episode/Mike's Farewell. Despite the fact that they're always arguing, Angelo senses the chance to get Rita and Tony back together again when Mike's father flies in for a visit. What follows is a rollercoaster of emotions and a string of hellos and goodbyes, with feelings hurt and no-one quite knowing how we ended up where we did considering where we all started from. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 17th October, 1991, and just in case you don't know what happens and haven't put two and two together, MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW BELOW. This is the last episode in which Rita's son Mike King - the original Mike - appears, to be replaced by Ellie for the rest of series four (and subsequently three other Mikes). It's nice that Matt Wright agreed to round off his storyline neatly, and I sense that his departure was deliberately left open enough for future guest appearances - but such a thing unfortunately never happened. So even though it's the end of an era, at least he sort of got a personal 'Happily ever after'. So that's the destination, but on the journey there are issues explored that normally don't come anywhere near children's television, and I'm not just talking about the oyster references and similar mild innuendos. The fact is that, until everything's resolved, we simply don't know what anyone really wants or what they're really feeling. The will-they/won't-they *seems* to be the theme of the show, and everything *seems* to point to the outcome that they will - and there's an unbelievable moment as they're discussing Mike's school work that Rita's mask appears to slip and show she actually would very much welcome a reconciliation. But a moment after thinking there's a chance that the three could be a family again, the realisation hits that not only is she not regaining a husband, but he's also keen on taking away her son. Turns out the will-they/won't-they wasn't the main theme at all. Heavy stuff, and I doubt anyone saw that coming back in 1991. Which isn't to say there isn't any comedy on offer. Angelo's attempts to get Mike off the scene for a bit and the confusion over the 'OK grades' definitely made me laugh, but it's a credit to the writers that they managed to get the balance between humour and pathos just about perfect. The speeches about the inevitability of change and the 'airports are no place to say goodbye' bit really tug on the heartstrings. Of course, Ellie is played by Jade Magri, who I'm pretty sure I've spoken about before, but as this is her first appearance, I should mention her guest roles in Spatz, Harry Enfield's Television Programme, 2point4 Children, French and Saunders, Playdays, and a more substantial part in Runaway Bay. I'm still waiting to find out whatever became of her - I hope she's doing well. Meanwhile, this is the last we see of Mike's dad Tony, played by Jeff Harding of Fast Show fame. Not content with stealing Mike away from us and dragging him across the Atlantic, a few short years later Jeff tried to pull exactly the same stunt with Father Ted, coincidentally resulting in Dougal having a misunderstanding very similar to Angelo's about going too. Look out for some Children's ITV continuity presented by Tommy Boyd at the beginning and end, plus a full ad break for that extra retro flavour. So outside of the actual episode, we're also treated to a joke about Freud and dreams, unexpected Ian Rush, a quick glimpse of Chris Packham looking like *that*, and plenty more besides. Who says you don't get value round these parts? (I also wonder whether what Tommy said about the kiss was true, and that this one was a record-breaker...) 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e5-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e5-1991-full-episode/Mother's Comeback. Ellie's getting ready for her dance class, which stirs memories in Rita's mother of years gone by. Before you know it, Nancy's been bitten by the showbiz bug and is dreaming of landing a leading West End role - and Angelo is absolutely no help in taming her delusions. She couldn't actually pull it off, could she? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 14th November, 1991. Five instalments into the series, and it's interesting to see what they were doing with no Mike on board. It was an odd situation for the writers to find themselves in, but they took the chance to explore other characters and their development, while still having Angelo do crazy other-worldly stuff to keep the general flavour of the show the same. In fact, on that note, this is the one in which Ellie finally finds out the "He came from another dimension..." wardrobe truth, and is invited onto the ceiling for the first time. I like the way it's handled, with the child clearly knowing something's up, but the adult desperately trying to ignore all the uncomfortable questions. In fact, there's a bit of a "Where do babies come from?" air about the conversation with Rita, whether that was intended or not. But anyway, Angelo's enthusiasm crossing over into blatantly going too far is very funny indeed, and there are loads of brilliant lines - the 'new pyjamas' one being my favourite. On a really microscopic point, I love how Rita asks, "What are all those men doing out in my garden drinking tea?", rather than the more obvious, "Why are all those men digging up my garden?" It details like that that add so much without anyone really noticing. Meanwhile, things like the reading of the adverts, the smashing glass, the general unbearableness of 'celeb' Nancy, and the final reveal make for an excellent episode, and that's without even mentioning the rendition of Cole Porter's It's De-Lovely. That ties in nicely with the Ethel Merman talk from earlier, in case you were wondering. Look out for a little bit of Children's ITV continuity at the beginning, presented by Tommy Boyd, and featuring a rare special effect. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e3-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e3-1991-full-episode/The Hovel. Rita has a bit of a cash flow problem, and somehow finds herself persuaded that there's nothing to lose from asking her boss for a raise. Mrs Roper isn't immediately convinced, so Angelo and Ellie team up to help tip the balance in their favour. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 31st October, 1991. Just in case you're wondering: yes, Ellie. Series four of the show is the one in which Matt Wright was seen to leave early on, lumbering us all without a Mike for the time being. Instead of re-casting the part, other sidekicks for Angelo were found for this series, predominantly young actress Jade Magri. (The following year saw Michael Benz join, of course, and never again were we Mike-less.) I love just how thickly they lay it all on when putting their plan into action, not content with looking a little short of the necessities, but going full-on Victorian urchin instead. The biscuit bit particularly made me laugh. Top marks to the set dressers and costume department, too. From a technical standpoint, the shot of the airship in the window reflection is handled very elegantly indeed - but then unfortunately the effect is lost straight away by the next shot showing it directly in all its 'glory'. All adds to the charm, though. Maggie Ollerenshaw puts in a excellent guest turn in this episode, proving her versatility beyond all doubt when you compare this hard-nosed businesswoman to her character Mavis in Open All Hours. This seems to have been her Theresa May years (unless it's just me who sees the passing resemblance). Maggie's done loads of TV down the years, including recurring parts in Lovejoy, Coronation Street, First of the Summer Wine, The House of Eliott, and a whole heap of other stuff. More interesting round these parts, though, would be her one-off Grange Hill role, playing Wilma Wishbone in T-Bag, and being the voice of Henrietta in Thomas and Friends. And if that isn't versatility, I don't know what is. Look out for some complete Children's ITV continuity presented by Tommy Boyd at both the beginning and end, plus a few adverts which I just had to leave in - including the chance to win a Sega Master System, Hale and Pace demanding we adhere to the firework code, a dreadful Fruit Gums joke, plus one that just doesn't fit at all. Feel the retro goodness! Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e6-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e6-1991-full-episode/The Blob. It's Mr and Mrs Pinner's 30th wedding anniversary, and all the neighbours are invited to their celebration. Unfortunately, Angelo doesn't have a partner to go with - until he plucks up the courage to ask his good friend Marjorie. The fact that no-one has ever met this Marjorie before doesn't initially strike him as issue, but soon enough a big decision has to made on whether they can go to the party at all. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 21st November, 1991. This one's a nice combination of the funny and the emotional, plus a little surrealism, and the occasional bit of don't-open-the-door farce that we've come to love and expect from the show. There are lots of funny lines - my personal favourites being "I'm no Danny DeVito", "Three of them are blue", and "You're a poet and you didn't realise it" - and I like the concept of the intergalactic transmitter being used like a CB radio. It suits Angelo's character perfectly, and his panic about his first date is endearing. Mr Pinner's really obnoxious invitation also got a few laughs from me, as did Rita's desperate attempts to smooth things over. For all the comedy, though, there's a very sad side to this episode, and a good lesson about prejudice based on looks. To that end, Ellie's reaction to meeting Marjorie seems a little off to me, perhaps because the excellent costume and effects departments went with 'funny-scary' rather than *really* going to town and smearing her with slime or giving her pulsating somethings or others to make her *extra* hideous. (Marjorie, that is, not Ellie.) As it is, it strikes me as a touch strange that everyone focuses on their revulsion rather than the more straightforward "Aaaargh, it's an alien!", but I'm getting over-critical again. I suppose they couldn't risk scaring younger kids who may have been watching, anyway. The guest star here in the role of Marjorie is Linda Coggin. She's since gone on to become a successful children's author, releasing amongst other things the book The Boy with the Tiger's Heart and the poetry collection Dog Days. I gather Linda was presenting The Home Show for Thames around this time, having previously appeared in Ken Russell's Gothic, and I've managed to write all of this without saying "Camille" once. Look out for some Children's ITV continuity featuring Tommy Boyd, plus a Nintendo ad right at the beginning that I just had to leave in. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e7-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e7-1991-full-episode/The Dinner Party. Mr Hope next door has an important business deal he's trying to clinch, and he asks Rita if she'll help out by providing a meal for him and his prospective client. There's only one rule: Angelo is banned. Meanwhile, an attempt is made at canine hypnotism. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 28th November, 1991. One of these days I'm going to get round to counting just how many next-door neighbours the good folks of 7 Larkswood Lane managed to get through down the years, but in series four we got to meet Richard Hope and his daughter Lucy. Richard is played by Christopher Bramwell, formerly a Play School presenter and, a year after this, Penny's dad in T-Bag and the Sunstones of Montezuma. It seems he left the screen behind in the 90s. As for Lucy, that role is taken by Kate Ryan, and as far as IMDB is concerned, Mike and Angelo is her only acting credit. Anyway, this episode is unusual in that it's a rare case of Angelo being the relatively stable influence trying to save the day while insanity reigns all around. Without giving too much away, the accidental hypnotism and 'when I click my fingers' repeating joke is right out of the Looney Tunes book of comedy (and that's no bad thing), while young viewers just love to see adults acting like kids. Speaking of which, Lucy is practically incidental to the story here, making this a children's sitcom that would 100% have worked with no children in it at all. You don't get many of those. The one-off guest star, by the way, is Doyne Bird in the part of Mr Spackman. I also wonder if that's the dog from Woof. Probably not. Look out for some ads at the beginning, some CITV continuity on either side presented by Tommy Boyd, and a nice promo for Knightmare - another of my favourites from way back. (Also, the recording cuts off at the end with almost perfect comedic timing.) 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e8-1991-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s4e8-1991-full-episode/Sunflowers. Trying to teach Angelo a little about art and culture, Rita and Ellie have have taken him on a visit to The National Gallery in London. Rita in particular was very impressed by a certain Vincent Van Gogh masterpiece, so imagine everyone's surprise when the following day's newspapers carry reports of the same painting as having been stolen. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 5th December, 1991. Many Mike and Angelos start with a small problem that slowly grows with time. I absolutely love the fact that, without giving too much away, this is instantly a full-blown mega-crisis - but then still gradually gets worse anyway. Mr Pinner sticking in his perpetually unwanted oar turns it up a notch, the unexpected arrival of Mrs Roper (Rita's boss, played by either Maggie Ollerenshaw or Theresa May) takes it even further, while Angelo's sheer obliviousness throughout is positively maddening. And it all comes to a head - literally - as the drill and saw come through the basement door at the end, much to everyone's horror, including that of the viewer. It's a brilliantly excruciating moment, as the *slooooow" destruction of the priceless artwork takes place before our eyes, and all you can do is laugh. It really caps off a near enough perfectly balanced episode in terms of tone, comedy, farce, and just plain family life. I really can't praise this one highly enough, and as usual there are lots of great gags. The "I don't know my art from my elbow" line naturally stands out, but for one reason or another the "You're detached"/"Divorced, actually" exchange got the biggest chuckle out of me. Of course, the Andy and Fergie tea towel has dated worse than the rest of the show, but it somehow seems fitting to be uploading this the week their younger daughter announced her engagement. (That wasn't planned, by the way. [The coincidental uploading, I mean, not the engagement.]) One device used sparingly by the writers that always makes me giggle is the casual serious crime committed by the heroes to get themselves out of trouble. Usually, it's something like entrapment and blackmail, but here it's kidnapping and false imprisonment. Oh, and stick around for a punchline which, I suppose, they were duty-bound to use at some point, and I think they picked precisely the right moment to do so. Look out for a little bit of Children's ITV continuity at the end, presented by Tommy Boyd. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e1-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e1-1993-full-episode/New Kid on the Block. Rita's high-powered international jet-setting businesswoman of a sister comes to visit, and she brings her young son with her for the trip. You may like to think of this as the start of Mike and Angelo: The Next Generation, as this is when we're introduced to Michael Benz in the role of Mike Mason, ultimately the most prolific of all the Mikes. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 7th January, 1993, and is the first to appear under the Tetra banner (Thames having gone belly-up a week earlier). In its own right, I'd describe this one as a bit of a slow burner, as there's a lot of storyline to get through in order to lay the groundwork for the whole series to come. But by the end, though, it's absolutely classic Mike and Angelo, with all the silliness and comedy mixed in with the emotion and pathos that goes with the theme of a child being ignored by his parents. In that sense, although we're settled on the idea of Angelo being an alien, we're sort of returned to the original intended ambiguous concept of whether perhaps he's something of a guardian angel for kids who really need him. ("Angel-o" - geddit?) The pair are treated to a hilarious first impression of each other, in more ways than one, and you just knew they were going to hit it off perfectly. So, Michael Benz. I can't believe how young he looked when he started, and how quickly he grew! Maybe it's just my imagination, but there's a touch of the Macaulay Culkins about him, isn't there? I gather he used that as his starting point, and it proved very successful for him. Where is Michael now? Well: http://www.georgetown.edu/news/michael-benz-hamlet-shakespeare.html His fictional mother in this, meanwhile, is played by Jocelyn Cunningham, who I think was made Director of Arts at Lancaster University earlier this month: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2016/new-director-of-lancaster-arts-appointed/ Just for clarity, the original Mike was Mike King - Rita's son - played by Matt Wright. He was in the show for three full series, and his departure came in the first episode of the fourth. The rest of that series had no Mike at all, but from the fifth until the end of the tenth, Mike Mason - Rita's nephew, played by Michael Benz - was Angelo's regular partner in crime. There were more Mikes to follow, but I've typed "Mike" so much that it's beginning to look wrong on the page, so let's leave that there for now. Look out for the Children's ITV continuity at the beginning and end featuring - and many thanks to David for the amazingly good knowledge - a certain John Eccleston. John was a presenter on Disney Club (and I really should have recognised him from that) and Run the Risk, but is probably more renowned as a puppeteer. He's plied his trade on the likes of Get Fresh, What's Up Doc?, Live and Kicking, Ministry of Mayhem, and a whole host of more recent stuff including Horrible Histories. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e2-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e2-1993-full-episode/Robot Rita. Starting a new job is always stressful, especially when you're running late, and then your new boss brings forward that all-important first presentation you have to give. And then you find your car on a roof and yourself in hospital. Thankfully, Angelo may be able to put his latest project to good use to cover for Rita's absence. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 14th January, 1993. If the previous instalment was basically one giant setup for the new Mike to be introduced, this one is where the series gets back on track to where it wants to be: Rita's doing her best to make ends meet, Angelo is doing daft things, and his young friend does his best to dig him out of any difficulties they find themselves in. Building a robot is a very Angelo sort of thing to do, and the way it becomes useful to the plot is all woven together very nicely. I don't know whether the piano-playing arm owes anything to the Addams Family or anything like that, but it's a good joke that stops the concept from ever crossing the line into being disturbing. The super strength is a nice touch, and top marks to Shelley Thompson in what I suppose is technically a dual-role. Brilliant episode, and let's not deconstruct the special effects shots we end on too deeply. We really do take CGI for granted these days. We've previously mentioned John Savident - playing the part of Howard Fogle, Rita's boss - but this is actually the first of his appearances on the show, and as he would always prove, he's excellent value. The other guest is John Grillo, who returned to Mike and Angelo as a Victorian character in series 10, and was also in Spatz and B&B (all from the same writers), plus the likes of Chocky, Watt on Earth, and Blackadder, amongst far too many more to mention. He's good in this, and provides many hair-curling laughs. (Take that how you want.) Look out at the beginning for a brief snippet of CITV continuity presented by Glenn Kinsey. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e10-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e10-1993-full-episode/Homeward Bound. Mike's mother Patti returns from her business trip unexpectedly early, and she's ready to take her son back across the Atlantic. He hasn't even started packing yet, and, frankly, doesn't want to leave. Will Angelo's new invention solve the problem and help ease tensions? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 11th March, 1993. I really like how this one works on two levels. For the youngsters watching, this was all about Mike, what he wants, and how he feels about Melanie and the situation in general. It's very telling how he pours out his heart to Angelo rather than either his mum or his aunt. And that's the other level I'm talking about: the real story, in many ways, is much more about the warring adult sisters and the obvious decades-old baggage they're still carrying. You can sense the barely-concealed rivalry most of the way through, but in the end it's defused by a common goal and they regain their perspective. Despite all the emotion, there are loads of very funny moments in this episode. Angelo's transporter going wrong and lumbering Mike in various locations, the running joke of the clock, the phone call home (which wouldn't work these days thanks to mobiles), the closing punchline which leaves them all in trouble... Being the final episode of the series, everything is sort of wrapped up in a way that meant if they made more, they could carry on without a problem, but if the plug was pulled or certain actors didn't return, all the characters were happy enough for this to be considered a "happily ever after". Always a balancing act, but they struck it well. Nice to see so many other locations, too! Huge thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e3-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e3-1993-full-episode/The Phantom Zone. Rita's at her wits' end and, after one suspicious breakage too many, she finally tells Angelo exactly what she thinks of him and where he should go. Has she really lost Mike's best friend forever in the heat of the moment? Or is there some way back from in between the fourth and fifth dimensions? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 21st January, 1993. To say that this one is highly emotional is an understatement of mammoth proportions. Although it's bookended by comedic moments, the main body is all about relationships and how people *really* feel about each other, and it's played to perfection. That includes the main three regulars, plus Mike's mum/Rita's sister Patti (played by Jocelyn Cunningham). There have probably been deaths in TV shows that haven't hit as strongly as this. Funniest bits? Well, there's the literal confusion over the instruction not to show one's face, and the obvious self-reference to being trapped between BBC Two and Channel 4. Most upsetting? Well, I really felt for everyone at some point, but especially Angelo when he's being properly laid into over the award. That's something we can all relate to. Anyway, look out at the beginning for a nice promo for Zzzap!, plus some continuity on either side presented by Glenn Kinsey - a matter of weeks, I believe, before in-vision presentation was scrapped all together. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e4-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e4-1993-full-episode/Tunnel of Love. Mr Pinner's broken gnome is the least of his problems: his niece has come to stay, and he just can't cope with the sulky untidy moodiness. Rita invites her round for a girly chat, and there's absolutely no way that Mike would ever be interested in getting involved in that on any sort of level at all. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 28th January, 1993. Regular viewers of this channel will recognise Alexandra Milman in the part of Melanie - she was one of the stars of the B&B movie (from the same writers) the year before, and this marks the first of her recurring appearances on this show. It strikes me as a little soon into the new Mike's tenure to be giving him a whirlwind romance to fall into feet-first, but on the other hand it provides plenty of opportunity for Angelo to act as the friend, confidante, and guardian angel type of character he was always meant to be. The ceiling scenes take the show right back to its roots, while the running cupboard joke gave me a good laugh, as did the "I could murder a sandwich" silliness. Nice blend of comedy and emotion. There's probably a serious point to be made about Mr Pinner's ridiculous over-reaction to the blossoming relationship, but instead I'll just say that I like how it's portrayed in comparison to Rita's acceptance of it. (That said, I have to confess maybe I'd have asked a couple of extra questions if I'd found myself as the parent in that situation.) But the whole funfair thing keeps everything in the realms of the world as children see it, and all in all it's really quite a heart-warming episode. If anything, it could probably have done with an extra five minutes just to let the sentimental parts sink in a bit more. [EDIT: And as pointed out in the comments below, the spooky bits starting around 21:37 were reused three years later at https://youtu.be/Bi8B9-fqXR0?t=678 in the episode Night of the Zombie. Tremendously well spotted, Ludicrous Wolf!] Look out at the beginning and end for some generous chunks of CITV continuity presented by Glenn Kinsey, plus a full ad break to get you in the retro mood. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e5-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e5-1993-full-episode/Mountains out of Molehills. It's the day before Mike turns 11, and an ugly great spot has appeared on his nose. Will Angelo's carefully-brewed remedy pull out the infection as intended, or will the birthday party have to be cancelled to spare the inevitable humiliation? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 4th February, 1993. I don't think it qualifies as a spoiler to say that of course everything goes wrong. Happily for us, it goes wrong in a funny way, and suddenly the objective is to get through the big day without anyone else noticing. Not quite the level of farce that would come in later series, but rather a bit of a sense of actual peril as there's no knowing when it will wear off - if it will at all. Making your girlfriend cry isn't a recommended move, either, but there are still plenty of laughs, with "Eau de Rita" taking the top prize. I also really liked the letter-opener joke, and of course the constant stream of nose gags, cheap shots and hastily-corrected slips-of-the-tongue. Now's as good a time as any to give a shout-out to the backroom people, such as the make-up artists, who helped make Mike and Angelo what it was down the years. That nose really is surprisingly convincing, you can't see the join, and it even stands up to a bit of waggling. Then there's the props department - just look at the cake-making machine at the beginning, or the lab scene with all the science equipment. I can't figure out whether working on the show would have been seen as liberating fun for them, or a never-ending nightmare of ridiculous requests. Either way, they all did a great job, and I'm told that some of the young extras in the party scene are children of those employed by Tetra. Look out for some CITV continuity presented by Glenn Kinsey, a full ad break, and every immature viewer's favourite production company ident right at the start. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e6-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e6-1993-full-episode/Putting Up with Pinner. The neighbour from hell turns into the lodger from hell after a blazing row with his wife sees next door's Cyril thrown out of his own home. Will he swallow his pride and apologise, or are Mike, Angelo and Rita stuck with him? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 11th February, 1993. There's something about this one that foreshadows the series six closer, A Wonderful Wife - at least in tone, if not in plot. By that, I mean it all starts out in your standard knockabout Mr-Pinner's-being-annoying, everyone's-annoying-Mr-Pinner sort of way, but then it grows and grows until it takes quite a dark and emotional turn. The stark realisation of not quite being the reasonable, friendly, helpful, generous bloke he thinks he is, but actually that the others see him as arrogant, thoughtless, selfish, and the most unpopular man on the street... Well, that hits quite hard, and actor John Levitt brilliantly gives the character a dimension never seen before. I also love the way Angelo very compassionately listens and gently guides him through the Scrooge-like quandary. Many kids' shows would have resorted to trickery to get rid of Mr Pinner, but we're a class above that here. I believe this episode is the one and only time we ever actually see Mrs Pinner, and I like the way it plays out, even though it undoes the long-running joke of her being an Elizabeth Mainwaring/Her Indoors sort of unseen character. The part is played by Miranda Forbes - and I'm sorry to say she's no longer with us - who you may recognise as the school secretary in Press Gang. But I'm 100% confident that even the most ardent Beatles fan would *not* recognise her as the busty blonde (Paul's words) hostess Wendy Winters from Magical Mystery Tour. That's what it says here, anyway. My jaw hit the floor when I found that out. Elsewhere, I enjoyed the silliness regarding the sponsored bunny hop and the shelf-hanging fiasco. Mr Pinner's egregious faux pas turning out to be recording over a wrestling video that wasn't properly labelled gave me a good laugh, not least because none of that would really mean anything to the current generation. Oh, and Spatz fans may notice that Mike's choice of Sunday afternoon listening - Sins of the Flesh - is also Freddy's favourite band, if you're looking for proof that the shows take place in the same universe. Believe it or not, Sins of the Flesh were a real act who had minor local success in the early 90s: https://www.discogs.com/artist/332964-Sins-Of-The-Flesh It can be neither confirmed nor denied that one of the band's gigging musicians was related to one of the writers of Spatz and Mike and Angelo. Stay tuned at the end for a brief clip of CITV continuity presented by Glenn Kinsey, I believe the day before him being handed his P45. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e7-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e7-1993-full-episode/Fly on the Wall. Mr Fogle has some important new projects for Rita to work on, and he brings his favourite nephew Raymond along to show him how the creative process works. Angelo, meanwhile, is busy perfecting his Cranium Interchange Modulator with Mike. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 18th February, 1993. I've mentioned John Savident a few times elsewhere as he was a recurring character for a bit - and he really needs no introduction anyway - but this is a one-off appearance for Joe Greco in Mike and Angelo, and it marks something of a crossover with Spatz (from the same writers, of course). It's great to see Joe as the baddie, proving his versatility here as the lazy good-for-nothing post-Thatcherite Teflon yuppie sleazeball without a shred of conscience or ethical standards. Come to think of it, he can be seen playing someone else's nephew here: https://youtu.be/ehHwup-lu74?t=3m44s Logically speaking, within the bizarre universe of children's television, this could mean that John Savident is related, or possibly even married, to... Actually, it's probably better we don't dwell on that thought. Not treating this as a therapy session or anything, but perhaps my all-time most hated feeling as a child was that powerlessness of not being believed - or even listened to - when wronged, and the injustice that inevitably followed. The reason I remember this is that episodes like this one bring it all flooding back so clearly! I suppose it has to go down as excellent writing, as it captures that intense frustration and impotence just perfectly. Of course, these things still happen from time to time as an adult, but when you're a child and the odds are already stacked quite massively against you anyway... well, like I said, this isn't a therapy session! Moving on, and there are some nice special effects which couldn't be more analogue if they tried - all part of the retro charm - while the major plot point is somewhere between a specific episode of Red Dwarf and The Fly. I can think of a million simpler ways for Mr Fogle to have come into the necessary knowledge that resolved the episode, but why bother with any of those when you can have a Cranium Interchange Modulator instead? Brilliant. Many thanks to Joe for lending me this tape. (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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e8-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e8-1993-full-episode/Brett's Lucky Day. A mysterious little rock from another dimension beyond infinity finds its way through the wardrobe, and Angelo fashions it into a necklace of sorts. Soon, everyone who wears it experiences a change in fortune - sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Meanwhile, Rita's old friend and colleague Brett braves a visit to the house for the first time in ages. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 25th February, 1993. This is the final guest appearance on the show for Gavin Richards, and my goodness does he make the most of it. The character was always steeped in greed and gaining unfair advantages, so it's funny that Angelo's so over-the-top keen to see him again, and extra funny that Brett is so trepidatious. Highly understandable, of course. My favourite bit has to be him laying it on so thick with his tale of woe, culminating in the tragic story of Bobby the Budgie's sad demise. But there's also a really good gag towards the end, when Rita assumes Brett's asking her out on a date. I didn't see that one coming at all. It's interesting to note what each individual character counts as 'good luck' (if it's not looking too deep to do so). Winning a competition, fixing a strimmer, getting away with having broken something... and striking it rich at the local casino. I like the way Mike is the first to spot the pattern of what's going on, and Angelo's subsequent practical demonstration of what could happen is well done. The 'too much of a good thing' speech makes it all sound rather philosophical, but the way everything is tied up at the end is a good reminder of why we love the show so much. Really good episode. Huge thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e10-1994-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e10-1994-full-episode/A Wonderful Wife. Mike's mum and dad are back from their travels thanks to a new job offer - but a misunderstanding leaves Patti wishing that she'd never married Barney in the first place. Meanwhile, Mr Pinner is arrested for armed robbery. This episode, the last in the series, was originally broadcast on Tuesday, 26th April, 1994. You've heard of a game of two halves, but this is very much a story in that mould. Everything starts out happy happy happy, fun fun fun, and you naturally assume that this is just another regular episode - and then out of nowhere we get smashed in the face by the massively heavy theme of divorce, a dystopian future, and a heap of gloomy what-ifs. I'm sure you've worked out from the title that the inspiration is the Frank Capra film It's a Wonderful Life, and as a very nice in-joke for long-time fans of the show, of course Angelo plays the part of a guardian angel, as was part of the original ambiguous premise of the show. Favourite bits: the mis-hearing that you instantly suspect is a mis-hearing, but isn't obvious enough to work out for yourself; Alexandra Milman looking like *that*; and I'm going to have to try to work the "fan yourself with a mackerel" line into everyday conversation. Also, the more I see of Tim Whitnall's performances, the more I'm convinced that he's just a supremely all-round talented bloke. He's ace in this and as always hits the right tone just perfectly. Incidentally, I can't say for certain, but does anyone get the feeling from the nicely-tied-up ending that they weren't exactly certain whether Michael Benz was to return or not? Or, perhaps, that they didn't even know whether they'd get another series at all? Of course, history tells us we were only halfway through the run, but in other ways it was indeed very much the end of an era: this is the last we ever saw of every single character herein with the exception of Mike and Angelo themselves. Yes, Mr Pinner and Mel, Patti and Barney, and even Rita (who'd been there from the start) weren't to come back after this one. No continuity, but listen out for the awkward double ending to the closing theme tune that I think is unique to this series and inexplicably changes slightly every time. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e9-1993-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s5e9-1993-full-episode/Mr Perfect. Things are going great between Mike and girlfriend Melanie, right up until Jeff shows up and sweeps her off her feet. His charm is one thing, but the bigger problem is that he's a judo champion, and has the medals to prove it. Meanwhile, Rita's flute skills improve instantly thanks to Angelo's new invention. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 4th March, 1993. This is an excellent one, and there's a lot to unpack, with Mike evidently experiencing emotions he's never felt before. It's all acted extremely well, with perfectly believable jealousy and foul moods coming through, not to mention the misplaced bravado towards the end. I have to admit, I was expecting (semi-spoilers ahead) a 'weaker character thinks he has superpowers, defeats enemy, then finds he didn't have superpowers after all' type of ending, but of course not. That's been done a million times before in far lesser shows, and in a nutshell this is why I could never be a screenwriter. This takes an entirely different and less obvious approach, and although it all works out, it's not exactly plain sailing to that happy ending. The guest role is played by Nick Zwicky, and I haven't been able to track him down with any certainty. He's excellent in this, though, exuding all the necessary confidence the character would definitely have, and I hope he's doing all right for himself now. I've talked about Alexandra Milman many times before, but this has only recently come to my attention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct6irPXM8pk Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e3-1994-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e3-1994-full-episode/Like Father, Like Son. Rita's bad ankle has left her practically bed-bound, and she's determined that Mike and Angelo should wait on her hand and (dodgy) foot. But then there's a visitor from through the attic wardrobe which complicates matters greatly. This episode was first broadcast on Tuesday, 8th March, 1994. Conventional knowledge states that the first couple of series of this show had their emotional story arc, but then along came Tim Whitnall and it was all zany shenanigans for the remainder. Well, that's partly true, but this episode is a very strong argument to the contrary. Without spoiling anything, the dilemma felt by Angelo is phenomenally deep, the issue of not being listened to (a recurring theme) profound, and the concept of flying the nest while trying to remain loyal borderline upsetting. The resolution isn't the sort of thing you expect in a Children's ITV sitcom. Strangely powerful stuff. Meanwhile, I feel really stupid admitting this, but I never gave the phrase "Home is where the heart is" a second thought until now. It's not 'Everyone loves their home'; it's 'You feel most at home with those whom you love'. One thing defines the other, not the other way around. I had it upside-down all these years. Something else I'm not sure whether I've got or not is if the first line of the guest star as he enters is a Romeo and Juliet balcony scene reference... What do you reckon? Either way, said guest star in this one is, of course, Ron Moody - Fagin to you and me. He's sadly no longer with us, but he plays the part with its range of emotions brilliantly and believably. Besides the films and proper Shakespeare and all that, regular television credits of Ron's include Into the Labyrinth, Hideaway, numerous voices in The Animals of Farthing Wood, and the lead in Hart of the Yard. Now, Ron was excellent, but here's a real treat as you've bothered to read this far, with thanks to the excellent Glad You Remember website: http://gladyouremember.webs.com/ma-wisdom.JPG It turns out that enquiries were made to enlist none other than Norman Wisdom for the role! That would have been a coup and a half, and it's a pity it never came to pass. Too smutty, though? I think I must have missed something. (My mind is also conjuring up images of Derek Hatton as Angelo's dad - the Scouser from across the universe...) No continuity, but listen until the end for that weird extra burst tacked on to the theme tune. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e4-1994-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e4-1994-full-episode/Model Child. Howard Fogle, Rita's boss at the advertising agency, has landed a major contract, and they need a happy smiling youngster to star in the poster campaign. At Angelo's insistence, Mike goes for it - but soon everyone's wondering what's become of him and his new-found celebrity attitude. This episode was first broadcast on Tuesday, 15th March, 1994. This is a very funny one, but with a serious side. The opening stunt with the (actually, I won't spoil it) and the closing punchline give big laughs, and there are both gags and situations throughout that are highly amusing, but it's also a breath of fresh air to see scenes where actual good advice is being passed on from adult to child - and that happens twice in this. Meanwhile, Michael Benz proves his range by going all bratty on us *and* falling for feminine wiles at his tender age, and Alexandra Milman... Well, the more I see of her, the more I wonder why we haven't seen more of her down the years. Needless to say, Howard is played by John Savident, best known as Fred Elliot in Coronation Street. It's great to see him at his poshest, having previously been a French art critic in T-Bag. And people accuse him of being typecast! Actually, speaking of T-Bag, did anyone else pick up on the "...and I don't mean tomorrow" and "Get it?"/"Got it"/"Good" catchphrases in this one? I'm afraid there's no CITV continuity, but stay listening right until the very finish for that weird edited-on ending that was a feature of this series. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e9-1994-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s6e9-1994-full-episode/Pinner PLC. Neighbour Mr Pinner has been called "Baldilocks" by the local yobs once too often, and Angelo takes pity on him. An amazing new hair-restoring tonic soon follows, and when Rita's Accounts Executive Ralph Dimpey shows up, a get-rich-quick opportunity is spotted. But who exactly is the inventor, legally speaking? This episode was originally broadcast on Tuesday, 19th April, 1994. This is John Levitt's penultimate appearance as Cyril Pinner, and it's one of his very best in my opinion. You can feel his constant pain and torment over his state of slapheadedness quite palpably, but we are also reminded of his slimy, conniving side, as he takes advantage of (as basically blackmails) the endearingly well-meaning and still-naive Angelo. Guest star Dave Hill is also fantastic, and it's a pity his character Mr Dimpy was only a one-off. There was a lot of potential there, I think. As for the subject matter itself, well, can you think why the creators of the show might have had one reason or another to come up with it? They really do go to town with the writing, and come up with some great synonyms for baldness - I'd not really though about it, but it's the sort of 'old person' topic that children just find inherently hilarious. Have a close look at the adverts and posters, by the way - some are really quite funny, and may possibly contain a familiar face. Other big laughs came from Angelo basically pulling off a Manuel "I know nothing", and I like how Mike still cares greatly for his friend and can't do enough to help him. Excellent episode all round. Stay tuned right to the very end for another of those unexpected extra little riffs that sometimes finished the theme tune. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e10-1995-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e10-1995-full-episode/Hooray For Hollywood. It's been audition after audition for years, and now Katy's finally on the edge of her big break. But if she gets it, where does that leave Mike and Angelo? Uncle Bob and Mike's girlfriend Sam are on hand to help get what all of them - apart from Katy herself - really want. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 9th March, 1995. This episode is absolutely peppered with very funny quick gags (my favourite being the airport fog one), trademark silliness (the jetpack), plus a well-worked wardrobe malfunction and a fight over a banana, but there's a deeper moral about following your dream - or, more to the point, how to react when your friend is following theirs. The way it all ends makes it look like the show hadn't yet been recommissioned, and/or they weren't certain whether actress Katy Murphy would return for another run. It works as a thank-you-and-goodnight to both, but, of course, history tells us that each would stick around for a further five series. Ron Berglas and Katie Pearson are the recurring guest stars in this one, both making their final appearances on the show. Ron I've mentioned before, but Katie... Well, I haven't a clue, as her IMDB page lists only Mike and Angelo, and Googling hasn't thrown anything else up. Anyone? (Don't get her mixed up with an actress of the same name who was in My Parents Are Aliens.) 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e1-1995-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e1-1995-full-episode/Mrs Shoutfire. Rita's career has taken off and she's left her brother in the lurch - but he can't look after Mike too much longer. So, naturally, they start auditioning housekeepers. Which, if any, will get the job? This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 5th January, 1995, and it marks the point that the series went full-Sugababes. That is to say, the first Angelo had regenerated, the first Mike had left home, and now sole remaining original lead cast member Rita had moved on to pastures new. And thus began the Katy era: actress Katy Murphy (who you may remember from Spatz) took the role of house matriarch from now until the very end of the run. So, which era of the show is your favourite? Obviously the one you grew up with. But viewing the series with the distance of time now, a very good case can be made for these three being the best line-up of main actors. I'd say that the funniest episodes are in this era, and they strike a good balance of not being too zany. Then again, the earlier character-driven storylines have their charm, too. What do you think? One thing that works against Katy is that it's difficult to shake the feeling that she's the new girl in town. But if IMDB's figures are to be believed, Rita was in 63 episodes while Katy was only three behind on 60 - coincidentally, the same as this Mike, Michael Benz. Only Tim Whitnall as Angelo clocked up more appearances (103). Anyway, there's a recurring guest turn from Ron Berglas as Uncle Bob (also seen in The Tomorrow People and proper films such as Highlander), a scary one from Janet Henfrey (The Singing Detective, and recently in Toast of London and Wolf Hall), and a sickly sweet one from Annette Badland (currently in EastEnders, previously a Slitheen in Doctor Who). There's a tiny bit of CITV continuity at the beginning, but it's from the faceless voiceover-only era. Speaking of Doctor Who: Janet Henfrey played Miss Hardaker in that back in 1989. Here, her character is named Mrs Hardacre. I doubt that's a coincidence. Grateful thanks to Lee for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e2-1995-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e2-1995-full-episode/Maestro Mike Mozart. After falling head-over-heels for a girl he bumped into at the swimming pool, a mix-up presents Mike with the opportunity to actually talk to her. Unfortunately, the classical music CD he notices leaves him thinking she's far too cultured and out of his league - which is when Angelo hatches an ingenious plan to learn about such subjects from their primary source. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 12th January, 1995. Stand by for a heap of great musical puns in this one, plus a catastrophically terrible aardvark joke. Michael Benz deserves a lot of credit for his dual-role performance as both hormonal Mike and young Wolfgang (though why Mozart would have a dead posh English accent is probably something we shouldn't think about too long), and in many ways there are dual storylines on show that would have been strong enough to work separately. The main body is made up by the time-travelling character's adventures in the 20th century, but then there's the whole girlfriend issue, which itself is underpinned by the conflict between being yourself versus trying to be something you're not. It's a good message cleverly played out. Regulars on this channel may notice that the device of the mixed-up bags was recycled into the very last episode of Polterguests four years later (from the same writer, of course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmcFNpNG4sE One minor technical point: the freeze-frame they end on (around 18:48) isn't actually a freeze-frame at all. How odd. Anyway, this is Katie Pearson's first appearance on the show as Sam, but she would go on to be a recurring character throughout series seven. Does anyone know what became of her? I'd love to know what she was in before this, and, indeed, what Katie did next. Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e3-1995-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e3-1995-full-episode/Beat It, Kid. Mike's determined to find reasons to spend some time with Samantha, and her band looking for somewhere to rehearse seems to offer the perfect excuse. But is everything really as it seems, or is he getting the wrong kind of attention for all the wrong reasons? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 19th January, 1995. Katy is excellent in this one, showing that she is responsible, knows what's what, and ultimately really cares - even if she can get hilariously irrationally angry at the drop of a hat. Mike's moments of reflection with Angelo are quite touching, too, and the theme of people being used and how that feels is put across very cleverly. It's funny to see Mike hitting the age at which he just can't say no to a flirtatious girl, while the mere image of someone sawing a dustbin in half is something to behold indeed. All round, a very good episode, with the caveat that the song is nowhere near as bad as it was supposed to be. And by that I mean that in my opinion even the drum-less version has a fair bit of potential, in a raw Britpoppy sort of way. How's that for a bizarre criticism? Of the guest stars, Rebecca Weeks is brilliantly devious as Kelly, while Richard Janes is believably selfish and uncaring. Rebecca seems to have just re-entered the acting profession after taking a decade or so out, but I can't find anything super-recent about her. Perhaps her most impressive credit to date is for The Ghost of Greville Lodge back in 2000. Richard, meanwhile, has mostly turned his hand to producing and directing and boasts a student RTS Award nomination. I'm still hoping someone out there can update us on Katie Pearson (Sam), because I haven't managed to find much at all on her. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e6-1995-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s7e6-1995-full-episode/A Dog's Life. Neighbour Daphne Fawkes-Bentley is so impressed with Katy's housekeeping skills that she invites her to come work for her instead. The worse-than-usual behaviour of Mike, Angelo, and a mysterious four-legged friend makes Katy seriously consider the proposition. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 9th February, 1995. I've got to say that this one's an absolute hoot for several reasons, but, first and foremost, this marks the debut of Elizabeth Estensen on the show. Regulars on this channel will no doubt have got a big laugh out of her very first conversation being to ask if she can fill a kettle, and her pained cry of "If I don't get a cup of tea in the next two minutes..." There are numerous other references to said beverage ("Nobody dumps me like an old teabag"), and, speaking of in-jokes, I hope that Mike's "I feel like that kid in Home Alone" wasn't lost on anyone. Another reason I particularly enjoyed this episode was that there are at least three plots that could have been strung out for the whole running time, but are unexpectedly resolved within moments. I mean, obviously Katy's misunderstanding of the boys' apparent insults is the main story, right? Not this time - she soon twigs, laughs about it, and that side of things is back to normal. There's a reward for the dog? Well, now it's going to run off, and they'll have to catch it, and hilarity will... Nope, they returned it and received the money without a hitch. Sneaking Alice around the house, the dress, and a few other things could all have made for full episodes, but instead, we're treated to 20 frantic jam-packed fun-filled minutes that could go in any direction at any time. But I think the clincher for this being just so good is that mad bit towards the end when Angelo uses his powers to do whatever it is he did. The way it plays out is really quite trippy, and more than a little spooky, almost psychedelic. Love it. Throw in a daft conversation about Daphne's old servant and the roof, plus a fit of anger about entering a Mrs Worzel Gummidge lookalike competition, and I just have to say that it's brilliant all round. Obligatory technical notes: (1) We get a rare glimpse inside next door's house; (2) I'm not sure that garden fence we see through the front door is correct; and (3) The music Mike's rocking out to isn't Iron Maiden, but that Crying on the Floor song by his girlfriend's band from three episodes earlier. I still quite like the tune, in a raw mid-90s indie/Britpoppy sort of way. Stay tuned at the end for a little bit of Children's ITV continuity. What's that Databurst thing all about? I remember the Bad Influence Datablast, but not a CITV one... Many thanks to Lee 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e1-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e1-1996-full-episode/Night of the Zombie. Or, the banned episode of Mike and Angelo (sort of). Katy's back with a bang from Hollywood, and is not impressed to find that Mike has developed a penchant for staying up late watching horror films. But how can she wean him off this unhealthy obsession? She and Angelo come up with a fiendish plan - but is everything really as it seems? This spooky episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 4th January, 1996, and if you didn't watch it that day, there's a chance you've never seen it at all. By all accounts, a scheduled repeat was pulled due to a complaint about the apparent scariness, and I'm not certain it ever saw the light of day again - until now. Another way in which this one is a bit of a rarity in that only the three core cast members - Mike, Angelo and Katy - appear, without any guest stars whatsoever. Obviously it's the opening episode of a new series, and I like the way it re-establishes the characters, while also subtly demonstrating that Mike is that little bit older compared to when we last saw him. I love the absolute mess the house is always in whenever the boys are left to their own devices. The Scrabble scene also made me laugh, and the in-the-cupboard shenanigans (trying not to spoil anything) were staged very well in a deadpan kind of way. All in all, a fun curtain-raiser to a very strong series. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e2-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e2-1996-full-episode/Private Angelo. An expensive mishap with a window-cleaning machine proves one expensive mishap too many, so Angelo is 'encouraged' to find a job for himself so that he can pay his own way. Unfortunately, he soon finds himself signed up for the army, and hasn't reckoned on Sergeant Sayers when he tries to back out. This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 11th January, 1996. The guest star of this one is Tom Mannion, who was a regular in Emmerdale as Steve Harland and has most recently appeared in Mr Selfridge and Stan Lee's Lucky Man. Looking down his IMDB entry, things like Hustle and Life on Mars are good, but I was most impressed to see Return of the Jedi listed - apparently he was Stardestroyer Captain #2. Topping even that, though, he was a busker in Spatz as well. There's probably a serious point to be made about the forces portraying too exciting and positive an image of themselves and essentially hoodwinking young people of certain backgrounds into joining, but I'm not going to be the one to make it. Instead, I'll just draw attention to Angelo's endearing naivety, Mike's dedication and ingenuity, and an all-round really good episode with a very strong performance from a one-off character. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e4-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e4-1996-full-episode/My Pal Puck. Katy sitting down to watch Romeo and Juliet is Angelo's first exposure to the wonders of Shakespeare, and after declaring that he's going to become a writer himself, he decides to research the playwright in closer detail than is strictly normal. But does he have what it takes to pen good television comedy, and how will Katy shake off some unwanted attention? Oh, and Mike's there, too. This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 25th January, 1996, and anyone who criticises children's TV for 'dumbing down' can rest assured that this particular one is above that. Waaaay above that. I picked up on quite a few of the Shakespeare references watching this now, but I wouldn't have back then - and even now I know I failed to fully grasp loads. The final payoff about having accidentally inspired one of Will's classics is remarkably well-crafted, and I'm sure sailed above the heads of younger viewers, but how refreshing to see sophisticated highbrow jokes on CITV (even if it was two full decades ago)! Whenever I watch something that features the process of writing or filming a television show as part of the plot, I immediately wonder just how autobiographical it is. I'm certain there are plenty of in-jokes included - not least shooting a scene in a studio with the actual set of the show in the background - and the lampooning of the business side of things tells its own story. Even funnier with the benefit of hindsight is the fact that Tim Whitnall is actually now a BAFTA-winning writer himself! Meanwhile, according to the excellent Glad You Remember website (which, as I've mentioned before, I'm finding an invaluable resource: http://gladyouremember.webs.com/mikeangelo.htm), this episode "was the all-time favourite of director Neville Green", and it is indeed superb fun. Jasper Britton is right at home playing the great man himself, having appeared in loads of Shakespeare down the years - most recently starring as King Henry IV in the RSC's two adaptations of the plays. Turns out Jasper is the half-brother of TV presenter Fern Britton and her sister Cherry, who is in turn married to the great Brian Cant. Nice little kids' TV connection, there. The other guest actor, Debora Weston, has a number of smaller parts to her credit - including in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Lennon Naked - and was invited back for a later episode as Katy's cousin. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e5-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e5-1996-full-episode/Good Morning, Cricklewood. No-one's in the right mood to hold a conversation with Angelo, so he does the only sensible thing he can think of in the circumstances: sets up his own talk radio station. Eventually, an unexpected rivalry develops, leading to a battle of the airwaves. Meanwhile, Mike has a rival of his own to contend with. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 1st February, 1996. I enjoyed this one a lot, mostly because you have no idea where it's going until it gets there. Tim Whitnall is very funny as he cracks out a few of his voices in this one, including an all-purpose Smashie and Nicey type of DJ, plus another impersonation which he probably doesn't do that much any more. Mike's solution to the problem is a very clever one, and didn't go down the more obvious route that suggested itself (doing my best to avoid spoilers). The only three people we actually see on-screen in this episode are Mike, Angelo and Katy, but the callers to the phone-in obviously required guest talent, and that was provided by Brian Shelley and Deborah Grant. Brian has a few minor television credits to his name, such as a vicar in Coupling and Ralph in Black Books, and has done a lot of stage work. Deborah has had recurring roles in the likes of Bread, Bergerac, Peak Practice, and as Tim Vine's mum in Not Going Out. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e7-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e7-1996-full-episode/The Fugitive. Angelo comes home with a holdall that he found in the street, while Mike's watching a newsflash about a local bank robbery. Is there a possibility that the two events are interconnected? Once Katy returns, she's determined to do the right thing, but then matters begin to get complicated. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 15th February, 1996. There's a good lesson about honesty in this one, plus a tense atmosphere once they find themselves hostages in their own house, but it's all set against a backdrop of the usual madcap antics of the show. I like how both the robber and the CID officer are extremely intimidating in a very kids'-TV sort of way, with it all down to demeanour and not a single weapon on view. (Although, come to think of it, I'm not sure it's properly explained how the police tracked down the accidental accomplice - I suppose the CCTV footage must be what did it, but that was quick work). I also got a good laugh out of Katy and Mike's plan almost succeeding, only to be unwittingly foiled by Angelo himself, plus the further twist of how he'd dug himself even deeper into trouble by that point. I wonder whose idea it was to get Tim Whitnall to do his Groucho impression - it's completely irrelevant to the plot, but it's unnecessary details such as these that really add an extra layer to proceedings. There aren't enough Marx Brothers references in children's television these days. Sebastien Abinieri takes the role of Henry Hanks in this one - he's been in loads of things down the years, but round these parts we know him best for a couple of appearances in T-Bag. (Speaking of which, the classic "Get it?"/"Got it"/"Good" catchphrase gets taken out and dusted down at one point.) He plays the vain, hard-of-thinking, hoist-with-his-own-petard character very well, and Ron Donachie as Archie McDuff is likewise excellent. Ron's IMDB lists plenty of recent work, such as The Loch, River City, and even Game of Thrones, plus - fittingly - parts in Taggart, The Bill, Rebus, and Silent Witness. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e6-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e6-1996-full-episode/An Actor's Life for Me. Katy needs cheering up after her acting career hits a new low, so a plan is hatched to bring her to the attention of a top film director casting for his sequel to Gone with the Wind. Meanwhile, one Mervyn Mertz has a vacuum cleaner he wants to sell, and by George (and Mildred), he's persistent. This particular one was first broadcast on Thursday, 8th February, 1996, and there's a nice bit of CITV continuity at the beginning, but I'm afraid the end credits are missing. This is a great episode, helped in no small part by guest star Brian Murphy, who is truly brilliant as he bumbles his way through his sales pitch and ultimately finds himself the victim of an unusual misunderstanding. There are actually a couple of gags I'm surprised they got away with (the model one in particular), plus listen out for the great name of the film and an inside-joke based around the director. And doesn't Angelo look fetching all dressed up as... Well, I won't spoil the surprise, even though the CITV continuity did its best to. I believe I'm right in saying that to this day Mike and Angelo is still Children's ITV's longest-running and most successful sitcom of all time - over 100 episodes made between 1989 and 2000, huge viewing figures, and it even survived the unfortunate messy demise of Thames Television - but I sense that the show finds itself in an unusual position in the history of kids' TV these days. Let me put it this way: ask people of the right age whether or not they enjoyed Mike and Angelo, and the vast majority will say yes. Practically everyone did, and even if they didn't, no-one really hated it. But if you ask the same group of people first to name their favourite kids' show of the era, for some reason you'd be waiting a long time before most would think to mention it. Or am I making that up? It was also notable by its complete absence from the CITV 20th Birthday Bash (also posted on this YouTube channel), though this wrong was righted over the 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend. I'm not saying that the show has been forgotten - far from it - but it's more like it was part of the furniture that has become under-appreciated with time. Agree or disagree? (Anyone still reading?) Either way, hopefully by bringing a few Mike and Angelos back to the masses we can remind ourselves why we liked it in the first place and start to enjoy them all over again. Many thanks indeed to Lee for providing this recording. I'd also like to take this opportunity to give a big shout out to the website http://gladyouremember.webs.com for being an invaluable resource when it comes to filling in the details regarding the likes of Mike and Angelo and Spatz. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e9-1996-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s8e9-1996-full-episode/The Big Flap. Mike makes friends with Jodie, the girl who's just moved in next door, and Katy invites her to join them on their planned camping trip. Unfortunately, there's a strict and over-protective father on the scene ready to scupper all the fun. Can he be won round by charm, politeness, and/or blatant trickery? Meanwhile, Angelo's having trouble with his animatronic pterodactyl. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 29th February, 1996. Every so often in kids' television, the moral of the story is aimed at the parents watching, and in many ways that's the case here. That said, it does help to underline that the relationship between a parent and child is two-way, drawing attention to the needs and motives of each - and subtly stresses that neither is inherently evil, even if the other seems objectively wrong to both involved. Or perhaps I'm looking too deeply. What I do know is that it starts with some of the classic madcap action we've come to expect, there are plenty of good gags along the way, all combined with some state-of-the-art 90s video effects that I honestly can't get enough of. The Confucius lines and the bluff about having two dads take on entirely different significances these days, but no harm intended or done (I hope). I love Katy's phone calls, where we somehow instantly know exactly what's said without hearing anything, while the attitude of Jodie's father gets right to that childhood feeling of powerlessness and injustice that I've mentioned here before and I'd better not mention too often again if I don't wan't people to assume I have "issues"! By far my favourite thing about this episode, though, is the casual revelation that the whole street has this particular house down as a bunch of weirdos, to the point that they would send sympathy cards. There I was thinking they'd somehow managed to keep the madness a secret all these years... Unfortunately, at this point, everything is going to take a very depressing turn. The part of Mr Miller is played by William Chubb, who is still acting, but a quick Google brings up a series of sombre pieces about his late wife, the journalist Cassandra Jardine (e.g. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/telegraphchristmasappeal/12043702/Our-new-Christmas-ritual-is-visiting-thecemetery.html). Brace yourself, though, for the pretty devastating news that Vanessa Cavanagh, who plays Jodie, tragically died at the age of 18 in a car accident back in 2002. At the time of her passing, Vanessa was apparently on the brink of big things in the music industry, and earlier that year she'd made it through to the final 50 in the first series of Pop Idol. Very sad indeed. You can read more here: http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/232976.online_pill_service_launched/ I hope this episode can stand as some sort of tribute. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e3-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e3-1997-full-episode/The Boomers. The gang get some new next-door neighbours: a nice fun-loving Australian couple with a penchant for barbecues and music. What could possibly go wrong? Katy for one is determined that the boys are understanding and give them every chance. To begin with. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 23rd January, 1997, and it's only fair to mention that in the unlikely event of the series ever being repeated, this episode certainly wouldn't be thanks to Tim Whitnall's (admittedly brilliant) impression of a certain Aussie artist. Plenty of silliness here to get you laughing, including the practical jokes, the strained polite reactions of the regulars in front of their new friends, the crazy schemes, and the kangaroo. Oh, and don't miss the 'thumb' visual gag within the first minute. This is another one that had me scratching my head as to how they were going to hit the big reset button that gets pushed at the close of every sitcom episode, but Angelo cooks up an unlikely plan, and we're treated to an ending that's rather bizarre yet nevertheless doesn't feel too out of place. Brilliant stuff, and you can never accuse the show of being too predictable. The guest stars playing the over-the-top dual stereotypes (Australians and neighbours from hell) in this one are Moya O'Shea and Brad Hall. Moya doesn't do a great deal of live-action acting these days, but instead has focused that side of her career on being a voice artist. More impressive than that, though, she's gone on to become a very successful screen and radio writer too. Brad, on the other hand... well, his IMDB doesn't list anything at all other than this episode of Mike and Angelo. Can anyone reading this shed any light at all on what became of Baz Boomer? Many thanks to Lee for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e1-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e1-1997-full-episode/Down in the Dumps. A leaky roof leads to Katy applying to the council for a grant to fix things up a bit, but matters soon escalate to the point of the entire house being condemned. Quite a way to open a brand new series! (In a strange way, it feels more like a finale in places.) How will they dig themselves out of this mess? This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 9th January, 1997. There are plenty of laughs to be had at small one-liners ("Genius with a capital J" got me), medium jokes (the opening invention), unintentional contemporary references (the accidental mannequin challenge two minutes in), and absolutely ginormous visual gags - and by that I mean (without spoiling too much) when things go *very* wrong. You know that it's going to be bad, but the reveal once the door opens doesn't disappoint in the slightest. What an absolute wreck! Top marks to the set designers for making it look so brilliantly catastrophic. To be honest, this is one of those episodes where it looks like they've written themselves into a bit of a hole, and you wonder how in the world they're going to work their way out again. I certainly had no idea how the story was going to resolve itself! But thanks to Angelo's resourcefulness, everything turns out just fine against all the odds. And that, in a nutshell, is one of many reasons why I could never be a television writer. The guest star in this one in Philip Pope. If you know him from anything, it's likely to be as the singer with the Elmer Fudd speech impediment that Del Boy signs up in Only Fools and Horses, resulting in him belting out Roy Orbison's "Cwying" on stage with Raquel. (Speaking of excellent comedy reveals, as we were.) Or maybe KYTV and its forerunner Radio Active, for which Philip also provided the songs. Oh yes, our Phil is a very talented musician whose credits include the theme tune to Whose Line Is It Anyway? and A Bit of Fry and Laurie, and musical director on The Fast Show (amongst others). None of that is doing him justice - look him up some time if you get the chance. Personally, I wish Graham Grimsdale had got his own spin-off series... Many thanks to Lee for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e10-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e10-1997-full-episode/A Turn Up for the Books. A mysterious scary bloke from another galaxy gatecrashes through the wardrobe, stating in no uncertain terms that he "has business with Angelo" - which is all Mike needs, as he's just about to head off to his debate contest. Who exactly is this Darth Vader wannabe, and how deep is the trouble in which Angelo finds himself? This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 20th March, 1997. This one is an absolute cracker, and that's thanks in no small part to the two guest actors. The more I see of Matt Zimmerman, the more I wonder why he isn't more of a household name - he notched up a number of appearances in Mike and Angelo, Spatz, and a fair few T-Bags, and was always terrific value. He was the original voice of Alan Tracy in Thunderbirds, too. Gareth Marks, meanwhile, is another of those guest actors who you can immediately tell absolutely 'gets it'. He's a familiar face and has lots of small parts to his credit (you may recognise him from the honeymoon hotel front desk in Bottom), but by far his most notorious role is also his least famous: that of Adolf's downtrodden long-suffering Jewish neighbour in the cancelled-after-one-episode sitcom, Heil Honey I'm Home. I still live in hope of getting hold of recordings of the unaired editions of that one, but that would be like finding the Holy Grail within the Fountain of Youth. In Atlantis. (Seriously, though, collectors everywhere are looking for those, and I know there are copies out there - if you can help, please feel free to get in touch.) Anyway, children's comedy for me is all about being silly and fun, without being simplistic or patronising - and this fits the bill perfectly. The situation progressively keeps hitting new levels of ridiculousness, and the guest stars playing their characters in an almost pantomime style only improves matters further. On top of that, there's a level of sophistication (e.g. the legal case) that means it's not just a farcical romp, but a properly thought-through storyline. What better way to round off series nine of Mike and Angelo? Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e5-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e5-1997-full-episode/Antics Roadshow. A spate of burglaries have taken their toll on the area, and things really come to a head when neighbour Daphne Fawkes-Bentley has her unbelievably valuable Ming vase stolen. Ever willing and determined to fight injustice, Angelo resolves to be the detective who gets to the bottom of the mystery. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 6th February, 1997. I'm sure I've no need to tell you that Daphne is of course played by T-Bag herself, Elizabeth Estensen - and wonderfully engaging she is, too (especially in the early scene). Her tangle with the security device plays against her posh and proper character brilliantly, the anecdote about the vase is sold perfectly, and the "No, Barry Manilow" line is eye-rollingly funny. But I think it's fair to say that Angelo's stint and the private eye also adds weight to the episode, and I got a good chuckle out of his "Basildon" line, for some reason. Maybe it's just me, but I found it amazing just how tense everything feels when the vase eventually turns up. You just know with 100% certainty that it's going to be smashed (I don't think I'm spoiling anything when I tell you that), and all the near-misses and teases absolutely tied me in knots. The solution and eventual pay-off is wonderfully silly and very cleverly worked out, though. Stay tuned for a microscopic clip of Children's ITV continuity at the end. Many thanks to Lee for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e4-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e4-1997-full-episode/Skin Deep. Angelo discovers the world of video dating, and decides that this is the perfect way to improve the tragic state of Katy's love life. But can a "Scots thistle" ever pass for an "English rose"? Meanwhile, an enterprising Mike has set up a dog-walking service in order to supplement his pocket money. This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 30th January, 1997. Without spoiling too much, amongst the standard fun and silliness, there's actually quite a deep message to this, which I hope didn't fly over the heads of the young viewers back then. I suppose what *may* fly over the heads of young people these days is the concept of pre-internet dating agencies, but there you go. I've obviously got Rik Mayall in my mind somehow, as all that viewing and making of the vids reminds me of a certain episode of Bottom, while Katy as Petronella is for some reason reminiscent of Alan B'Stard's wife. Well, her and Debbie McGee. I don't know what all that says about me and my subconscious. Anyway, I really like how they present the relatively controversial subject (by kids' TV standards) and give all conflicting opinions - Is it just a bit of fun? Is it the solution to love? Is it tacky and thus should be avoided at all costs? - before doing what they do without really passing any sort of judgement. There are some very funny moments, but none more than Katy having to bear increasingly worse opinions of herself through gritted teeth. Also, keep watching after the main plot is resolved, as something relatively minor happens which actually causes a fundamental shift in the entire show's story arc and character development. Guest starring as Jean-Pierre is James Vaughan, who has an extensive IMDB listing that includes the likes of Great Expectations, Dalziel and Pascoe, Spooks, The Grimleys, and Chucklevision. He's also done plenty of stage and radio work, and is excellent as the French "hunk-and-a-half" here. 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.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e6-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e6-1997-full-episode/Angelo and Cleopatra. Katy's landed a lead role as the Queen of ancient Egypt, so is determined to learn all she can about her - enter the ever-helpful Angelo with a source of primary research. Mike, meanwhile, has somehow stumbled into having a date arranged with Zoe, which of course carries with it all the angst and trepidation that any other teenager would experience. At least he can learn some lessons on how to treat members of the opposite sex from all that surrounds him... This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday, 13th February, 1997, and is amazingly good fun. As I'm re-watching all the Mike and Angelos, I'm gradually picking up on the general trends as the series wore on, and it's possibly around this point that they hit the perfect blend. My opinion on that keeps wavering, admittedly, as the early ones had a more defined story arc and the pathos that went with it, plus Rita was very good as the matriarch, but Angelo was less zany; here, in the Michael Benz/Tim Whitnall/Katy Murphy years, the balance has shifted and they commit 100% to the pure, unadulterated, almost cartoon-like silliness (which is absolutely not a criticism), but still manage to inject the right level of emotion through whatever it is the characters are going through - in this case, Mike and Zoe's relationship. In fact, they managed to pack a *lot* into only 20 minutes, and it's superbly tight. This is the sort of episode I'd show an adult sceptical of children's comedy. It doesn't have to be crude or controversial to be funny. But enough of my waffling: how about a quick quiz? Jennifer Calvert completes the Pressman-Cathro 'Big Three' by guesting in this episode of Mike and Angelo, having already appeared in Spatz and T-Bag. How many other actors and actresses can you think of who managed the same feat? Tricky, but then again, only the real fans read this far! Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e7-1997-full-episode/https://comedic.net/videos/mike-and-angelo-full-episodes/mike-and-angelo-s9e7-1997-full-episode/Jitterbugs. Mike's happily heading off to his swimming training, until Zoe turns up at the house - as arranged, but subsequently forgotten. Can he possibly be in two places at once, thanks to Angelo's latest invention? Meanwhile, Katy's parents arrive for a visit ahead of the final of their dance competition, and they find themselves having a bit of a domestic. Who's going to end up partnering whom in the final? This episode was first broadcast on Thursday, 27th February, 1997 (which actually means a week was skipped, but I've no idea why). I've said it before, but I like the fact that the show grew up with the character, giving Mike the usual teenage 'complications' - if it's fair to call Zoe that - rather than pretending he was 10 years old or making him get excited about Playmobil or something equally ridiculous. Having him trying to keep a young lady sweet added so much, but it was never overplayed and just treated as part of a natural progression. Something else I like is that the zaniness never descends _so_ far into farce as to lose all relationship with reality. Take Mike's belt in this one, for instance: I can think of lesser shows that would have run that gag into the ground and kept the deception up way beyond what's funny, and then have a massive argument at the end as the lazy pay-off. Instead, though, (without spoiling anything) the daft idea turns out to be its own punishment, and Mike learns his lesson accordingly - much cleaner, and nobody loses the audience's sympathy. Katy's parents are played by June Watson (whose impressively long IMDB entry lists the likes of Z Cars and Angels, plus Dickens and Sherlock Holmes, and I gather she's still working) and James Ellis (sadly no longer with us, but also in Z Cars - 627 episodes as Bert Lynch, in fact - plus regular appearances in Nightingales and In Sickness and in Health, amongst so many other things). While we're busy singing the praises of all and sundry, these two are both excellent: June as the angry mum (and boy do the creators of the show do a good line in angry women!) is excellent, but James as the melancholy dad who just accepts his lot in life and carries on despite obviously being very upset really steals the show in an understated way, if that's not a contradiction. I'm pleased that it was all done in a non-patronising, non-signposted way, rather than stating aloud everyone's emotions. Again, I can think of lesser shows that would have spelled everything out in great detail for the hard-of-thinking, rather than treating the young audience with the respect it deserves. Many thanks to Grant for providing this recording. (This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.) Sat, 21 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT