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.