=-=-=-=-= Society of the Rusting TARDIS Newsletter (#42, 07/22/96)
-=-=-=-=-=
>>> Items of interest to British media fans and Seattle-area residents,
<<<
>>> and whatever else I feel like spewing about. You have been warned.
<<<
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
On tap this time:
Quick news items
SotRT Web site released from stasis chamber
Why _is_ Bob your uncle, anyway?
"Have I Got News For You" fined for contempt of court
Hugh Laurie: His Life and Times
Upcoming SotRT events
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Subject: Quick news items
Sound bites:
Shooting should be starting right about now for a second season of
"The Thin Blue Line", Rowan Atkinson's disappointing new sitcom
written by Ben Elton. (Sample episodes from the first season will
be showing up soon at the video meetings - we'll see how they are
received.) BTW, tickets for the new series may still be available -
visit http://www.bbcnc.org.uk/tv/entertainment/whats_on.html
According to Stephanie Cole, there will be no more "Waiting for God".
(She played Diana in the series.)
British Television Magazine #6 will contain an interview with Lenny
Henry. Also included is an interview with "Are You Being Served"'s
Trevor Bannister (Mr. Lucas). For a sample copy and subscription
info, e-mail your name and (snail mail) address to sciencemjr@aol.com.
The BBC will release a "Bottom" blooper tape in November. In
addition to bloopers from all three seasons, it will also include
scenes that were cut before broadcast.
Hugh Laurie's first novel, "The Gun Seller", has been published in
the UK. Interestingly, it's a rather hardboiled spy novel. It can be
ordered from the publisher's web site or
via British Books@American Prices .
Local news:
The annual Rusting TARDIS picnic will be held Sunday, August 18th
starting at 11am at Discovery Park (in Seattle) near the Ranger
Station (look for the hanging TARDIS towel). Come one, come all,
bring some food, bring a frisbee, bring a friend.
Festival Hong Kong at the Varsity: July 25 - "Once a Cop", a semi-
sequel to the about-to-be-released Jackie Chan film "Supercop".
Jackie has a cameo (in drag). Call 632-3131 for details. And BTW,
"Supercop" is a fine, fine film - go see it at least once. (Those
of you who've seen the Hong Kong video panels at Anglicon may
remember the scene where Michelle Khan jumps her motorcycle onto a
moving train.)
Also at the Varsity (July 26-August 1) - "Butterfly Kiss", an unusual
British psychotic lesbian serial killer film. The film itself is
okay, but the performances more than make up for it.
Coming up at the Fremont Almost Free Outdoor Cinema: July 27 -
"Casablanca", August 3 - "King of Hearts". B.Y.O. seating
starting at 7pm, located behind the Red Door Ale House, 670 N. 34th
St. Program starts at dusk. $5 donation. There are prizes for best
costumes and "most original seating".
Miscellany:
Have I mentioned any "Fist of Fun" web sites? Well, the official one
is at "http://spodbox.linux.org.uk/fist/", and there's another at
"http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/3535".
I saw "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" on a flight to Pittsburgh
recently. Image my surprise to see Ben Chapman (who plays Matthew
in "Game On") in a starring role. A pleasant little flick, well
worth the price (even if I hadn't brought my own headphones).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Subject: SotRT Web site released from stasis chamber
From: Jim Taylor
You may have been wondering why the Rusting TARDIS Web site hasn't
been updated recently. Due to billing mistakes the account got
deactivated. It took some time to get it reactived, and then to get
access rights to the directory restored. But it's now back in its full
and rust-covered glory at www.halcyon.com/sotrt/.
[Everyone repeat after me..."Thanks, Jim" --jeff]
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Subject: Why _is_ Bob your uncle, anyway?
From: Lisa Van Every
X-URL: http://www.urbanlegends.com/language/etymology/bobs_your_uncle.html
Somebody asked about this some time back, maybe at Anglicon last year.
Well,
here's the answer!
> From: linden@positive.eng.sun.com (Peter van der Linden)
>
> BOB'S YOUR UNCLE
>
> All you have to do is one simple action and Bob's your uncle! You have
> attained something very easily. Just like Arthur Balfour did in 1886.
>
> Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable says the nephew was A.J.Balfour
> and the post in question was Chief Secretary for Ireland.
> Since Uncle Bob had previously appointed him as
> (1) President of the Local Government Board, and
> (2) Secretary for Scotland
> this third posting lead some uncharitable souls to mutter darkly about
> nepotism. The uncle in question was the Prime Minister Lord Robert
Marquis
> of Salisbury.
>
> Many considered the appointment was not made on merit but because "Bob
was
> his uncle". He was the nephew of Lord Salisbury, whose Christian name
was
> Robert, or Bob for short.
>
> In fact, Mr Balfour proved a formidable politician and later became Prime
> minister himself.
>
> Peter van der Linden linden@eng.sun.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Subject: "Have I Got News For You" fined for contempt of court
From: 100720.132@compuserve.com (John Parr)
[From "The Guardian, 20-07-96, by David Connett]
The BBC and Hat Trick Productions, makers of the television quiz "Have
I Got News For You", have been fined 10,000 Pounds each for contempt
of court after broadcasting remarks about the Maxwell brothers. Two
High Court judges ruled that the remarks created "a serious risk that
the course of justice would be seriously prejudiced".
The offending programme was broadcast twice in April 1994 - before the
Maxwell brothers were tried for fraud at the Old Bailey and acquitted
this January.
The offending words occurred in a 90-second part called Odd One Out,
in which four photographs were displayed - one showing Mirror pensioners.
The court was told the show's host, Angus Deayton, said: "All have
profited from misfortune except the Mirror pensioners, from whose
misfortune others have profited. No mentioning no Maxwells, er, names.
The BBC are in fact cracking down on references to Ian and Kevin
Maxwell just in case programme-makers appear biased in their treatment
of these two heartless, scheming bastards."
Later Ian Hislop asked Deayton: "You're not going to leave in that bit
about the Maxwell brothers being heartless, scheming bastards?"
Deayton: "Well ..."
Hislop: "Nothing personal, Angus, contempt of court has a statutory
two-year imprisonment."
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Subject: Hugh Laurie: His Life and Times
[Extracted from Britcomedy Digest , written by Peg
Haley, CHPM23B@prodigy.com]
Hugh Laurie was born June 11, 1959 in Oxford, England, the youngest of
four children of Dr. W.G.R.M. and Patricia Laurie. His father was one
of the outstanding Cambridge University oarsmen of the 1930s, winning
numerous trophies at Henley and a gold medal at the 1948 London
Olympics. Hugh had a very posh education, attending the Dragon School,
Oxford, and Eton College. At Eton he achieved success as an oarsman
himself, rowing with J.S. Palmer in a coxed pair which won the 1977
national junior championship. They were selected to represent Great
Britain in the world junior championships, where they finished fourth.
In 1978 Hugh went up to Selwyn College, Cambridge, to read archaeology
and anthropology. He also went there to row, which is one of the most
popular college sports in Britain. The biggest event on the
university sporting calendar is the Boat Race, rowed between two
eight-man crews from Oxford and Cambridge on a four-and-a quarter-mile
course on the Thames in early spring. It's been held almost every
year since the mid-1800's, has a world-wide television audience, and
is considered one of the most gruelling tests of strength and stamina
in the world of sport. There's no real equivalent in North America,
but in terms of national prestige it might be likened to an American
college football team winning the Rose Bowl.
Hugh was rowing in the "A" trials crew and was considered a
certainty for Boat Race selection his first year, but he had to
withdraw due to a bad bout of glandular fever. He did make the crew in
1980 and rowed in one of the closest races this century, which ended
with Cambridge losing to Oxford by less than ten feet. A few months
later, Laurie and Palmer entered for the Siver Goblets at Henley Royal
Regatta and were the only British crew that year to reach the final in
that elite event, coming in second to a much-favored American crew.
Athletics were not his only love, however. He developed an affection
for the arts, including music and theatre, which led him to join
Cambridge's amateur theatrical society, the Footlights Club. Over the
years the Footlights club has counted among its members Peter Cook,
Eleanor Bron, John Cleese, and numerous other Britcomedy legends.
In his third year Laurie was chosen Footlights President and Emma
Thompson (who he'd briefly dated) served as Vice- President. At the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 1980, he saw a play called Latin!
and was so impressed that he asked Thompson to introduce him to the
author, one Stephen Fry, and voila -- a comedy duo was born. They
ended up writing together for that year's Footlights revue, entitled
"The Cellar Tapes," which starred Laurie, Fry, Thompson, and Tony
Slattery. It was performed at Edinburgh in August 1981 and won the
first Perrier "Pick of the Fringe" Award for comedy at the festival. A
short run at the Theatre at New End, Hampstead, and a tour of
Australia followed.
As a result of all this, Laurie, Fry and Thompson appeared in 1982
(with Ben Elton and Robbie Coltrane) in a sketch comedy series called
"Alfresco" with a second series following in 1983. Ben Elton
described this show as having a "slightly larger cast than audience,"
but that would definitely not be true of Laurie's next projects, which
included "Blackadder," "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie," and "Jeeves and
Wooster."
It had a bit of a shaky start, but "Blackadder" went on to become
enormously popular. Part of the reason for its success was the
wonderful cast including Laurie, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, and Tim
McInnerny. In Blackadder II, Laurie played Simon Partridge and Prince
Ludwig, but in the next series he is most memorable as the dimwitted
object of Blackadder's derision and sarcasm, Prince Regent George. In
"Blackadder Goes Forth" he plays another somewhat loveable but
clueless scatterbrain, Lt. George St. Barleigh.
He and Fry were also given a chance to do their own series and came up
with "A Bit Of Fry & Laurie," which during its run introduced viewers
to Gordon and Stewart, Spies, many amusing Vox Pop and even a few
musical cocktails. This was basically a two man show with very few
outside guest stars, but Fry and Laurie made it sparkle because of
their superb writing and ability to create characters.
In 1990 Laurie starred in "Gasping," Ben Elton's first West End
play. His character was Philip, a young businessman who in his
search for the next Pot Noodle style marketing craze hits upon the
idea of selling "designer air" under the name "Suck and Blow." Of
course it becomes an enormous hit but a catastrophe to the world's
environment, leading to moral conflicts which Philip has to resolve.
The plot sounds heavy, as usual Elton came through with something that
made you think and laugh. (In case you think this was Laurie without
Fry, think again. Stephen did voiceovers which were heard at various
times throughout the play.)
For many people, however, Laurie will always be indelibly etched in
their minds as Bertie Wooster in "Jeeves and Wooster," adapted from
the works of P.G. Wodehouse. Laurie is utterly charming as Bertie,
who lives in fear of his Aunt Agatha and whose butt is constantly
being saved by his butler Jeeves, played to perfection by Stephen Fry.
Three series of "Jeeves and Wooster" were made between 1990 and 1993.
Hugh is also a musician who plays keyboards in a band fronted by
Lenny Henry; Adrian Edmonson is also a member. He is married, has
children, and is from all reports a shy, private man. He may not toot
his own horn, but his talents as a writer, actor (check out his very
subdued, effective performance in the film "Peter's Friends"), comic,
and musician will no doubt keep him a busy man and in the limelight
for many years to come. Even if the limelight isn't necessarily a
place he wants to be.
Hugh Laurie's credits:
Stage: The Cellar Tapes Theatre at New End, 1981; Beyond the
Footlights, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 1982; Hysteria! and Comic
Relief benefits; Gasping, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1990
Film: Plenty, 1987; Strapless, 1988; Peter's Friends, 1992; A Pin for
the Butterfly, 1994; Sense and Sensibility, 1995; 101 Dalmations
(upcoming release)
Television: Alfresco, 1982-83; The Young Ones, 1984; Filthy Rich and
Catflap; Happy Families; The New Statesman; Girls On Top; Friday Night
Live; Saturday Live; Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, Blackadder
Goes Forth, Blackadder's Christmas Carol, 1985-89; Letters from a
Bomber Pilot, 1986; A Bit of Fry & Laurie, 1988-95; Jeeves and
Wooster, 1990-93; All or Nothing At All. 1993; Wildlife Showcase: The
Fly- An Everyday Monster, 1994; Fry & Laurie Host a Christmas Night
with the Stars, 1994; Unspeakable Verse, 1995; Tracey Takes On...
Royalty, 1996
Music videos: Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox; Kate Bush
video, title unknown
Other video: John Cleese's Video Arts - 6 programs
Books on Tape: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, 1995; The Wind
in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, 1996
Books: A Bit of Fry & Laurie, 1990; A Bit More of Fry & Laurie,
1991; 3 Bits of Fry & Laurie - 1992; The Gun Seller, 1996
CDs: The World of Jeeves and Wooster
Britcomedy Digest (ISSN 1077-6680) Copyright (c) 1995, 96 by
Melinda Casino. Reproduction for personal and non-profit use is
permitted only if this copyright notice is retained. Any other
reproduction is prohibited without permission.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Subject: Upcoming SotRT events
Jul 24: Video night Round Table Pizza, 5111 25th Ave. NE, Seattle
Jul 30: Social Round Table Pizza, 5111 25th Ave. NE, Seattle
Jul 31: Video night Round Table Pizza, 5111 25th Ave. NE, Seattle
Aug 06: Social Round Table Pizza, 5111 25th Ave. NE, Seattle
Aug 14: Video night Round Table Pizza, 5111 25th Ave. NE, Seattle
Aug 18: Picnic Discovery Park, Seattle (near the Ranger Station,
look for the hanging TARDIS towel), 11am
All events start at 7pm unless noted.
Currently planned for the next video night (Jul 24):
Have I Got News For You: Fall 1995 season, episode 1
Rory Bremner...Who Else?: Latest season, Episode 3 (brutal
satire/comedy)
Hale and Pace: Latest season, Episode 5
Shooting Stars (the best TV game show since "Remote Control")
Paul Merton's Life of Comedy: Episode 5 (final episode)
DON'T FORGET - NEXT WEEK THERE IS A SPECIAL BONUS 5TH WEDNESDAY VIDEO
NIGHT!
See you on Wednesday.
"He felt as a chicken must feel when trussed by a
conscientious poulterer."
--"Space No Barrier", Pel Torro (a.k.a.
Robert Lionel Fanthorpe)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
The standard disclaimers apply to everything here except this statement.
Contents Copyright 1996, Hand of Onan Enterprises, unless otherwise noted.
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this list, send mail to "onan@eskimo.com".
The Society of the Rusting TARDIS web page - http://www.halcyon.com/sotrt/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=
Back to the Rusting TARDIS Archives
Page