This is an idea that to be frank has been brewing inside my mind for some considerable time. If I am honest, there has not been a single innovative, intriguing programme that defied the bland mediocrity of mainstream for at last a year, and given the attention shown to these so-called 'ratings winners', which are merely 30-60 minutes of superficial nonsense I simply can't bear to jump on the bandwagon and watch intently.
I would rather champion those that have attained a 'cult' following during their tenure; and marvel at what they had, whilst the majority of the channel-hopping public passed by ignorant to such alternative shows. Before I begin the series of shows regarded as so under-rated; it is a complete travesty that they get no recognition instead of the turgid nonsense that incessantly remains on everyone's goggle box, I feel it is important to define what is meant by a cult.
A "Cult" is a small number of people, or a limited audience to which the media is expressed. This small following are largely drowned out by the unsilent majority praising the same old same old nothingness secreted within the U.K.'s most popular, or to put it more cynically most over-produced shows. For Slickness of production is a key factor in some of my choices for
Cult Heaven, in fact its lack thereof is the epitome of my first choice.
A Topical Comedy show, rivalling the 11 0'Clock show at the time, and
appearing on BBC Choice before it became BBC 3, this delight was
fronted by an extremely talented comedian John Gordillo, who had previously produced Eddie Izzard videos and was a reportedly talented stand-up comedian in his own right. This was a show that ran for two series in very brief spells, it main premise being that the shows were planned on the day, the budget was minimal, and the transitions between segments were devised on an ad hoc basis. Basically, the production was amateurish, but that was the charm of the show.
Anyway, in the RDA’s first series, highlights included John leaving the studio on a whim to enter the Generation Game studio, much to the chagrin of the bosses of that show, leaving John under the equivalent of “house arrest” for the remainder of the series; a fact that they gleefully played for laughs, and the reward was well received. Another highlight was Comedian Paul Foot and John beginning a topical discussion of some sort, but actually descending into Foot’s sexual idiosyncrasies, with Gordillo inadvertently ‘outing’ Foot to his Grandmother. Mind you, the show was secreted so deeply within the schedules with no promotion I doubt she was watching anyway. All through this the laughter was genuine, as you felt you were dealing with two comedians ad-libbing through a 5 minute spell, rather than a staged sketch, which was when the character, and the humour came out. Other highlights included footage of male nuns, and Canadian comedian Phil Nichol with a rabbit’s head on, and a guitar just serenading of sorts. Visually it was passably funny, but Gordillo describing it as “one fucked up day in Disneyland” was where the true laugh came.
The Second series boasted more of the same, this time including gimmicked characters like the 11 O’clock Show, but to better effect. It was funnier when ‘Politically observant android’ Cosmos transmutazoid had a joke fall flat, then punch his microphone enquiring in a scratched voice, “Is this on?”, or messing up a line and ad-libbing his way out.
Other features in the series included Britain’s Gayest Man, Daphne & Celeste performing to Huw Edwards, Latvian correspondent pulling her ear whilst reading the top vote for their country ask acknowledgement to the show, the Fax-O-Meter. All had the slick production values of Ed Wood, but thankfully all those stuttering ambling minutes between items made the show all the more enjoyable.
The final credits of the show featured a tombstone with the epitaph, “Gone but not remembered”. Shame really, as for a brief spell, we had a topical comedy show that was actually fun.
One of the highlights of the now defunct UK Play, this was the brainchild of Perrier Award Nominee Simon Munnery, who having left his Billy Bragg parody of Alan Parker Urban Warrior behind in the late nineties, reinforced the ego of his stage persona introducing himself as “The League Against Tedium”, a proclamation so refreshing, and so alternative it drew plaudits reserved for those of the Comedy Aristocracy. Armed with a camera in the form of a sword/wand, his first TV incarnation was on the surreal FuturTV – pronounced ‘futturtuv’, which first drew our attention to his hilarious soundbites, and other segments produced in a smiliar vein to the inventive nature of madcap shows of old like the Young Ones.
Then, A highly original game show descended on UK Play, which involved contestants looking like druids holding paddles of anonymity. They would then answer questions with one of two answers. They would either plump for one or
If it sounds complicated, then it is. Munnery was backed by pianist Richard Thomas and Opera Diva Lori Lixenberg, who would sing insults to the contestants upon direction from Munnery. This only added to the hilarity of one of the most original, and hilarious game shows seen in recent memory. Munnery went on to be treated like excrement by the BBC virtually, as his commissioned series “Attention Scum” – very funny, original, and better produced – was shunted into late night schedules, and a second series that was planned was later shelved. Munnery continues his stand-up, and will continue to shine at Festivals no doubt. Richard Thomas has achieved success in his own right with Jerry Springer: The Opera, which has been a sensation amongst high-brow culture journalists.
As far as Either/Or is concerned, Munnery can be content that the handful of people that saw this show, would have at least found something to show as reward for paying the licence fee. It was only for a short while, though.
3. The White Room
In the current climate of the music programmes on TV, the majority of us have to reluctantly accept that people like Andi Peters are turning everything he works on into ‘hip, trendy shows with T4-esque graphics, twenty-something presenters, and every other band is manufactured. Therefore, it is a timely reminder that “Later.. with Jools Holland” wasn’t the only show to carry on the legacy of showcasing diverse and brilliant music left by “The Old Grey Whistle Test”. In the Mid Nineties, a former producer of ‘The Tube’ recruited lesser-known DJ Mark Radcliffe to present an hour of live bands, archived footage, and he took on the job linking it all in his usual laconic, jocular manner. The thing is, this was great, and other reminder of how the Britpop era was more than just a phase of 2-3 years.
Some great stuff actually happened at that time. Obviously the standard performances of bands du jour Blur and Oasis appeared, but outstanding acts included McAlmont, who did a wonderful cover of “Alfie” as one of his performances; Supergrass who were at the time “ten year olds with facial hair” as Radcliffe described them, and delivered with a ‘scintillating, blistering’ performance. The production added to it, as every now and then you had slow-mo close ups, which some may argue were a bit to arty, but certainly worked for me, and emphasised moments of true class. Archived performances included Bill Withers, The Jam, Jimi Hendrix, and other legends interspersed between the best music of the time (and Babylon Zoo – as bands go they were OK, but too average to get such mainstream success).
In comparison to most modern music shows, The White Room was irreverent, and deserved to be on longer than the three seasons put out, but then TV Bosses do not always make the smartest of decisions.Now Radcliffe and friend/side-kick Marc Riley (aka Lard) are fortysomethings stuck in limbo producing stale segments and playing the standard playlist as if they were on auto-pilot, and couldn’t care anymore.
Who could blame them, but if they are allowed to freshen up their show a bit when the eventual transfer to Radio 2 beckons, then their listeners, and most of Radio 1’s, should follow in earnest. I live in hope that someone sees sense, and commissions another series of ‘The White Room’, or I could start a petition to bring it back?
Craig Aston.
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