Following a gap year, 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' returned in 1982 for a fourth and final series. Unfortunately, as happened with 'Monty Python', it had lost its edge completely, disappointing fans. Knowing fully well there was unlikely to be a fifth season, the team went for broke with their very last show, which managed to offend more viewers than the earlier editions combined.
Following filmed shots ( presumably taken from a wildlife programme ) of animals copulating, we were treated to the sight of Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones as 'The Two Ninnies'. This was no affectionate send-up ( sorry, Ben Elton, you're wrong ) of 'The Two Ronnies', genuine hatred for old-school comedy was on full display here. The opening mock news item was guyed, as was the closing song. Dressed as beef-eaters, the Ninnies sang a crass ditty that included explicit references to female genitalia. It now seems ironic that Smith and Jones later sneered at other comics for sticking to tried and tested routines, as they did the very same thing when they resurrected their famous head-to-head skits in 2006's 'The Smith & Jones Sketchbook'. Ronnie Barker was allegedly hurt by the item, and it is not surprising. Aside from being mean-spirited, it was neither original ( Jasper Carrott did a much better spoof on 'Carrott's Lib', called 'The Two Normans' ) or funny.
Next up was a pub sketch in which Mel Smith orders a salad and is shocked to find a caterpillar amongst the lettuce. When he complains to landlord Griff Rhys Jones, he gets the reply: "Well, you did order the pub grub!". That kind of joke is funny only after a few beers.
Worse was to come. The series bowed out with a song allegedly entitled 'Kinda Lingers', but you did not need to be a lip reader to see that what they were actually singing was 'cunnilingus'. Shocking stuff at the time. Afterwards, a light was switched off, and the 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' universe was plunged into eternal darkness.
On 'Points Of View', outraged viewers vented their spleens. Aside from the over-the-top smut, desperation was all-too evident, as though the producers were openly admitting the rest of the fourth series had been a failure. Compare this to the finale of the first season of 'Spitting Image' ( it concluded with the superb 'Every Job You Take' ), and you will see a startling difference.
As a fan of this series, I felt that this was not the best way for it to end. It was as though they had gathered together all the worst bits from the earlier shows and stuffed them in one programme.
Fortunately, the end of 'Not' left the cast free to do other ( better ) things, namely 'Alas Smith & Jones' and 'The Black Adder'.
Following filmed shots ( presumably taken from a wildlife programme ) of animals copulating, we were treated to the sight of Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones as 'The Two Ninnies'. This was no affectionate send-up ( sorry, Ben Elton, you're wrong ) of 'The Two Ronnies', genuine hatred for old-school comedy was on full display here. The opening mock news item was guyed, as was the closing song. Dressed as beef-eaters, the Ninnies sang a crass ditty that included explicit references to female genitalia. It now seems ironic that Smith and Jones later sneered at other comics for sticking to tried and tested routines, as they did the very same thing when they resurrected their famous head-to-head skits in 2006's 'The Smith & Jones Sketchbook'. Ronnie Barker was allegedly hurt by the item, and it is not surprising. Aside from being mean-spirited, it was neither original ( Jasper Carrott did a much better spoof on 'Carrott's Lib', called 'The Two Normans' ) or funny.
Next up was a pub sketch in which Mel Smith orders a salad and is shocked to find a caterpillar amongst the lettuce. When he complains to landlord Griff Rhys Jones, he gets the reply: "Well, you did order the pub grub!". That kind of joke is funny only after a few beers.
Worse was to come. The series bowed out with a song allegedly entitled 'Kinda Lingers', but you did not need to be a lip reader to see that what they were actually singing was 'cunnilingus'. Shocking stuff at the time. Afterwards, a light was switched off, and the 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' universe was plunged into eternal darkness.
On 'Points Of View', outraged viewers vented their spleens. Aside from the over-the-top smut, desperation was all-too evident, as though the producers were openly admitting the rest of the fourth series had been a failure. Compare this to the finale of the first season of 'Spitting Image' ( it concluded with the superb 'Every Job You Take' ), and you will see a startling difference.
As a fan of this series, I felt that this was not the best way for it to end. It was as though they had gathered together all the worst bits from the earlier shows and stuffed them in one programme.
Fortunately, the end of 'Not' left the cast free to do other ( better ) things, namely 'Alas Smith & Jones' and 'The Black Adder'.
