London Underground: Richard Vranch, Dana Gould, True Image, Michael Redmond, and Danitra Vance

Vance as That Black Girl on SNL

London Underground: Richard Vranch, Dana Gould, True Image, Michael Redmond, and Danitra Vance
BBC
1990
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C

The best comes last this time, with the marvelous Danitra Vance (who was the best of her era on Saturday Night Live and who would die too young, at 40, of cancer), but it is tough slogging, especially through Redmond, whom Smith claims is "the funniest Irishman in Britain."  Note that Vranch accompanies Smith on "the squeezbox."

London Underground: George Wallace, Chris Langham, B-52s, Helen Lederer

London Underground: George Wallace, Chris Langham, B-52s, Helen Lederer
BBC
1990
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C

While it's lovely to see and hear a "live" performance from the B-52s, and Chris Langham (who'd done impro on Whose Line Is It Anyway? the same series as Arthur Smith) proves to be a pretty good stand-up, Wallace and Lederer are unfunny.  And, no, music doesn't change the genre from stand-up comedy to variety.

London Underground: Emo Philips, Kit Hollerbach, Paul Merton, and Richard Belzer

London Underground: Emo Philips, Kit Hollerbach, Paul Merton, and Richard Belzer
BBC
1990
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C-

Merton is of course the best of the lot, although we'd hear some of these jokes on Paul Merton, The Series.  Smith does a nice job hosting, but the episode never recovers from opening with the painfully unfunny Philips.

Josie: Episode 1.5

Josie: Episode 1.5
Channel Four
29 May 1991
Variety
DVD
C

Nothing too memorable here, other than a woman in the audience doing a Geordie (Newcastle-ish) accent better than Josie expects, and Richard Vranch uttering an audible full sentence.  Felicity Montagu was also on the previous episode, while Michael Fenton Stevens was on the first episode.  Damian Hunt would appear on Paul Merton: The Series as well.  Arthur Smith again co-wrote.

Josie: Episode 1.4

Glover and Lawrence, a long three years ago

Josie: Episode 1.4
Channel Four
22 May 1991
Variety
DVD
B-

Most of this is a well-done documentary parody, Edward and Mrs. Tufnell, where the future King of England falls for a working-class female criminal, with Lawrence playing both Mrs. T in "archive footage" and their 54-year-old daughter in contemporary interviews.  It's silly but also poignant and I wish this programme would do more things like it.

Jon Glover had appeared with Josie on the Whose Line Is It Anyway? pilot and has an unspecified role here.  Felicity Montagu would also appear in the fifth episode, but is perhaps more recognizable to American viewers as Perpetua in the first Bridget Jones movie.  Arthur Smith is again one of the co-writers.

Josie: Episode 1.1

Hoppy, the parody of Skippy

Josie: Episode 1.1
Channel Four
1 May 1991
Variety
DVD
C+

Ms. Lawrence's short-lived series is uneven, more interesting than funny.  It's a mix of music (with Vranch accompanying Lawrence), sketches, and even some impro.  WLIIA fans, especially Josie/Paul shippers, will want to see the sketch where they're a not very bright couple looking at their photo album, and licking each other's faces!  The other highlight is the too long, but somewhat amusing profile of a not very bright Australian actress now turned pop star.  I didn't get all the references, but I got the gist of what they were parodying.

Michael Fenton Stevens would appear in the fifth episode as well, but there doesn't seem to be a supporting ensemble as such.  Arthur Smith is tagged as one of the co-writers.  Geoff Posner directs this and the other five episodes.  We'll be skipping the second episode because it was burned without sound.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 2.11

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 2.11
Channel Four
26 January 1990
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

One-timer Arthur Smith does two historic things here: he picks Clive for World's Worst, and instead of feigning modesty like most contestants over a win, he's triumphant.  The main reason to watch this episode though is for the top-notch Musical Producers, with Sandi and Arthur as the Producers, and Josie and Mike as the various characters (some of them inanimate) in Bricks!  I also have a soft spot for Props, with Sandi the only one taking Mike's outrageousness in stride (Clive is thoroughly embarrassed again), and Josie looking offended when the audience groans at her "pieces of eight" pun.  There's Mike/Sandi and Mike/Josie, and a bit of Sandi/Josie at the end of Party Quirks.