THE YOUNG BUMS (YOUNG ONES)

THE YOUNG ONES
BBC2 1982-1984

THE YOUNG BUMS
MAD UK #270, October 1984
w: Robert Seaville
a: David Stoten

Surreal sitcom from Britain that was a huge hit in the US when rerun on MTV, about four college students and their landlord. Rick (Rik Mayall) was the student who went through his leftist politics and anarchy phase and thought he was better than everyone, but secretly into mainstream entertainment like Cliff Richard (The Young Ones was named after an earlier movie and song of his). Vivian (Ade Edmondson) was the violent metal punk with a pet hamster named Special Patrol Group , Neil (Nigel Planer) was a hippie that was always ignored by the group, Mike The Cool Guy (Christopher Ryan) was publicly a ladies man and straight man of the group (he wasn't in the comedy circle the rest of them were part of). Jerzy Bulofsky (Alexei Sayle) was the landlord who dropped in time to time, drifting in and out of a Russian accent, and usually doing monologues from his stand-up routine.

Coincidentally, Bottom was the name of a show some of them did later on.

Neil was responsible for doing the cooking in the house, usually making things with lentils.

Rik Mayall was also one of the writers for the show.

Every week, there were two minutes with a musical guest, the reason it was rerun on MTV in the eighties.

The show would often be interrupted by talking animals and objects that had nothing to do with the plot. At the end is an appearance by Cliff Richard himself.

MINDLESS

MINDER
ITV 1979-1994

MINDLESS
MAD UK #257, August 1983
w: Robin Seaville
a: Dave Stoten

Series about two detectives in London, Terry McCann (Dennis Waterman) and Arthur Daley (George Cole). Like most duos, one is the prim and proper by-the book one, and the other is the sleazy ne'er-do-well. Dennis Waterman also sang the theme, being a professional singer as well. He had been in a series called The Sweeney, and his co-stars make an appearance in this splash panel. There are also appearances by John Steed and Emma Peel of The Avengers, Starsky and Hutch, Kojak, Columbo, and Cannon, Eddie Shoestring, and Bergerac.

One of Terry's girlfriends was a stripper (Diana Malin).

Dave Harris (Glynn Edwards) was a bar owner. They knew a lot of shady characters with various nicknames.

Inspector Rycott (Peter Childs) was one of their rivals from the police.

THE NOT-SO-PROFESSIONALS

THE PROFESSIONALS
1977-1983 ITV

THE NOT-SO-PROFESSIONALS
MAD UK #232, August 1981
w: Neil Bailey
a: David Stoten

There was also an American movie in the 60s of the same name, completely different, also parodied by MAD

Crime series about agents William Bodie (Lewis Collins) and Ray Doyle (Martin Shaw) that worked for an agency called “Criminal Intelligence 5”, or CI5, under the supervision of George Cowley (Gordon Jackson). Sort of a British version of Starsky and Hutch.

There are many refernces to British personalities and events that this ugly American doesn't get. It was made by London Weekend Television.

Brian Clemens, the show's creator, is the victim in the next to last panel and the people at the end are The Avengers, his previous series.

THE ELEPHINK MAN

THE ELEPHANT MAN
dir: David Lynch

THE ELEPHINK MAN
Crazy #74, May 1981
w: Paul Kupperberg
a: Bob Camp

The sequence of events isn't quite the same as was in the movie, but no bother.

John Merrick (John Hurt) a/k/a The Elephant Man is kept captive and exhibited in a circus freakshow by Mr. Bytes (Freddie Jones).

Dr. Treves (Anthony Hopkins) discovers him and pays to bring him to his hospital for study, teaches him to speak.

Treves brings him in.

Dr. Gomm (John Gielgud) initially doesn't approve of Merrick's stay, as he is incurable and scaring the nurses (not shown: the doctors approve once the queen sends a note congratulating them for what they're doing). Treves brings Merrick home to meet his wife (Hannah Gordon). Mr. Bytes comes to take him back (Not shown: He is part of a group of bargoers and prostitutes the night porter [Michael Elphinck] brings in to stare at Merrick and defile him.)

Mrs. Kendal (Anne Bancroft), an actress, comes to meet Mr. Merrick, and invites him to see her in a play.

He has been making a model of a cathedral he sees from his window.

He is not taken away by Bytes at the end but in the last act. He escapes and runs to the train station and is discovered by the hospital and returned. He does not wear a sack over his head except at the beginning.

UPDATE:

THE ELEPHONETIC MAN
MAD UK #236, December 1981
w: Neil Bailey
a: Dave Stoten

Often the foreign editions of MAD have original content, but it's odd for the British version to do a parody of an American film.

Patrick Moore was an astronomer who often appeared on TV known for self-parody, sort of the Neil DeGrasse Tyson of England.

Nicholas Parsons was another British TV personality.

Blue Peter is a long-running childrens' television program.

John Collier is a clothing retailer. Billy Smart was a circus performer. The reference to Hannibal is to the one who crossed the Alps. It's only a coincidence that Anthony Hopkins' most famous role happens to have the same name. Leyland manufactures buses.

From Steve Martin's Best Show Ever