Chris Morris's "ON THE HOUR" double CD Boxset is to be released on Warp records - 24th November 2008
After a sixteen year wait, one of the most highly acclaimed radio programmes of the nineties, featuring a uniquely talented combination of acclaimed comedy writers and actors, is finally released on Warp Records.
As well as featuring the first appearance of Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, this hilarious satirical comedy (originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4) formed the basis for TV show ‘The Day Today’ and was described by the Independent on Sunday as “the most brilliant radio comedy to emerge in the last ten years or more” for it’s savage dissection of news and current affairs programming.
Each box set will feature one full series (six half hour episodes). In addition an hour of bonus material will be spread between the two box sets, including the pilot episode and previously unheard Alan Partridge improvisation.
I've blogged this before but this is one of the best clips I can remember from it...
You know when Indian call centres call you up and they give you fake names likes James Smith or Rosie o'Donnell or Conan O'Brien? Well, today I was phoned up by someone from the UK National Accident survey, claiming to be Chris Carter. He had a thick Indian accent. The name Chris Carter immediately conjures up the surfer dude who created the X Files. This is where we join the scene.
CARTER: This is Chris Carter calling from the UK National Accident Survey. Have you had an accident there in the last 2 years.
ME: No I haven't. Please take me off your list. Thank you.
CARTER: Sir! I believe you will find this is not a promotional call. This is a governmental matter.
ME: Are you from the FBI?
CARTER: Sir! I do not understand.
ME: Never mind. Your name is the same as the guy who created the X Files.
CARTER: People are always telling me this. Now, where were you on 14th May 2006?
ME: I don't know.
CARTER: I believe the truth is you were having a road accident. Is this correct?
ME: Not me. I've never been in a road accident.
CARTER: Not according to these records. Are you claiming they are falsified.
ME: Are you sure you mean me?
CARTER: You are MR SHUKLA YES? Then you had the accident.
ME: I didn't have an accident.
CARTER (reading me my address like I'm thick):....
ME: You know, I didn't live at this address in 2006.
CARTER: Yes you did... you had a road accident then. It is in our records.
ME: WHat are you talking about? I didn't.
CARTER: Sir, telling me a lie now will damage your compensation claim.
ME: But I didn't have an accident!
CARTER: Oh!
ME: I didn't live here in 2006.
CARTER: Oh!
ME: Maybe it was the previous tenant.
CARTER: Oh! Sorry. This is a mystery...
ME: Well, the truth is out there...
CARTER: I will solve this unexplained mystery. Thank you and sorry.
Red Dwarf turned 20 this year and, in an interview for UKTV, Robert Llewellyn announced that to celebrate its 21st next year 4 special shows will be aired [www.reddwarf.co.uk].
Only 2 of the 4 shows will sadly be new episodes (in actual fact a 2 part special). The other two will be a making of and a clip show. The hope is that, if taken well, we could well see some more of our favourite curry eating, beer swilling cosmic adventurers in the future.
Here's a couple of my favourite clips to keep you going:
Hello and welcome and yeah... in an oversaturated blog-o-glob... we throw our 2 dubloons in.
Avocado Picker: 28, author, journalist... specialist subjects include: the Wire, the post X-Files career of Agent Scully, Bollywood music 1950-1970, Spider-man, Dare Devil, The Sopranos, British comedy 1990-present, the complete works of Chuck Palahniuk and Aniruddha Bahal, Arnie films pre- True Lies, and different uses for cheese in culinary situations.
The Mystery Voice: 30, software engineer, time waster... specialist subjects include: Linux (etc), C++ & PHP (and other animals, yawn), Physics (blah), British comedy past and present (yay), grand master Mornington Crescent (huh?), the incomplete works of Douglas Adams and Bill Bailey (wtf?)