Eric
Sykes has led a fascinating career - hugely popular in the 1960's
and 70's for his long-running BBC sitcom and his short, pseudo-silent
films like The Plank (which were later effectively
ripped off by Mr Bean), he was more or less written
off in the Eighties by the alternatives, only to later to recognised
as an elder statesman of comedy. This DVD collection of three
less well known shows made for Thames Television are an interesting
selection - two pretty entertaining specials and one that almost
suggests that the new wave had a point in sweeping out the old
guard.
1971's
Sykes - With the Lid Off features a handful of
sketches that are pretty solid - similar in feel to a lot of Morecombe
and Wise shows of the era, with vaguely surreal, if not exactly
edgy comedy that includes taking the studio (and home) audience
into deconstructed jokes as the show plays with the formula of
TV production (complete with interruptions from the floor manager
and director). Regular sidekick Hattie Jacques guests, and the
highlight is a sketch about the disastrous filming of a vampire
movie that takes a few barbed sideswipes at pretentious actors.
The
Likes of Sykes, from 1981 has a similar format, with
a vague linking story about Eric wanting to stage a spectacular
Broadway show but failing miserably, thanks in part to jobsworth
union officials (something that would've been a familiar experience
for many viewers at the time). Diana Coupland (from Bless
This House) and Hugh Burden co-star, and although not
as good as the first special, the show, there is still much to
enjoy here.
It
all goes downhill with 1982's The Eric Sykes 1990 Show.
The premise here is that by 1990, TV stars will have to pay for
their own shows - cue lots of skits with missing props or in black
and white (because colour costs extra). There are amusing moments
here, but a lot of the interaction with Sykes and co-star Tommy
Cooper seems incredibly self-indulgent. The two of them are clearly
having a great time, but it's rarely funny. Having said that,
my parents howled with laughter throughout all three shows when
I took the DVD up during my Christmas visit, so perhaps I'm being
overly harsh.
In
any case, the generally excellent first show and solid second
make this collection well worthwhile. Let's hope some of Syke's
BBC shows make their way onto DVD before too long.
Eric
Sykes has led a fascinating career - hugely popular in the 1960's
and 70's for his long-running BBC sitcom and his short, pseudo-silent
films like The Plank (which were later effectively
ripped off by Mr Bean), he was more or less written
off in the Eighties by the alternatives, only to later to recognised
as an elder statesman of comedy. This DVD collection of three
less well known shows made for Thames Television are an interesting
selection - two pretty entertaining specials and one that almost
suggests that the new wave had a point in sweeping out the old
guard.