British Comedy: The Young Ones

Years: 1982-1984
Broadcaster: BBC
Genre: Sitcom
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer
Alexei Sayle (Additional)
Stars: Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall
Episodes: 12
Episode Average: 8.417

BEST EPISODES:
Bambi (1984), Bomb (1982)

SERIES ONE

(1982)
6 episodes
Series Score: 47
Episode Average: 7.83
Perfect 10's: 1

S1E1

DEMOLITION

Originally broadcast: 9 November 1982
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

When a letter arrives telling them that the council plan to demolish the house, they each deal with the crisis in their own unique way, but it all proves to be fruitless in the end.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Eleven Plus Eleven
Nine Below Zero

"Yeah, look, I really think I should lay this one on you man, that's a really negative way to kill yourself you know, I've tried it hundreds of times, there's no way you can hammer in the last nail."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

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S1E2

OIL

Originally broadcast: 16 November 1982
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

Life in the new house gets off to a good start when Vyvyan strikes oil in the cellar, Rick and Neil are quickly put to work to dig it up.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Dr. Martens Boots
Radical Posture

"Really... Well I don't believe you, I think you did it on purpose because you know I've got a runny bottom!"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S1E3

BORING

Originally broadcast: 23 November 1982
Directed by: Geoff Posner
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

There's excitment aplenty, but the boys are too bored to notice.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
House of Fun
Madness

"Oh yeah, this is a friend of mine called Mike, ahh, this is a friend of mine called Neil, and that's complete bastard I know called Rick."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

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S1E4

BOMB

Originally broadcast: 30 November 1982
Directed by: Geoff Posner
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

Neil builds a bomb shelter when an atom bomb lands in the kitchen, and Vyvyan eats the telly.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Jackie Wilson Said
Dexys Midnight Runners

"It's alright lads, I always poo before I get up."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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S1E5

INTERESTING

Originally broadcast: 7 December 1982
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

The boys host a party, and it attracts all kinds of weird and wonderful guests.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Rip Rig + Panic (with Andrea Oliver)
You're My Kind of Climate

"Well that's just typical... five minutes to go to the most important party of my life and half the house has been wrecked by a gigantic sandwich."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S1E6

FLOOD

Originally broadcast: 14 December 1982
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

All kinds of rain lead to London being flooded, and it looks like Neil's going in the pot.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
No musical guest
Lion tamer performing to music (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)

"It's a potion I've invented where when the patient drinks it, he turns into an axe-wielding homicidal maniac, it's basically a cure... for not being an axe-wielding homicidal maniac, the potential market's enormous."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

SERIES TWO

(1982)
6 episodes
Series Score: 54
Episode Average: 9.00
Perfect 10's: 3

S2E1

BAMBI

Originally broadcast: 8 May 1984
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

It's time for a long overdue visit to the launderette, before appearing on University Challenge.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Ace of Spades
Motörhead

"But why Michael? I myself have three pairs of socks and three pairs of knickers. That means I've only worn them 269 times each since the last wash."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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S2E2

CASH

Originally broadcast: 16 November 1982
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

The furniture's on the fire, Vyvyan's pregnant, and Neil joins the pigs.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Ken Bishop's Nice Twelve
Also... Stupid Noises - Alexei Sayle

"Neil, is it really necessary to nail the plates to the table? What happens when we want to play Monopoly? Go directly to plate? Do not pass plate, nailed to the table by a stupid hippie?"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S2E3

NASTY

Originally broadcast: 15 May 1984
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

Vyvyan makes sure the new VCR is free from dirt and dust, and a package from abroad threatens to spoil their planned viewing pleasure.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Nasty
The Damned

"It's a video nasty!" "It's a carpet farty!"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S2E4

TIME

Originally broadcast: 29 May 1984
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

Neil has a dream where he and Rick are stars of 'Dallas', and Rick wakes up next to a beautiful girl... who likes throwing cups.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Moonlight Romance
Amazulu

"Ha! I'm not jealous! I find the idea of spending a night with you completely revolting!"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S2E5

SICK

Originally broadcast: 5 June 1984
Directed by: Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

The house is full of snot... and an escaped criminal, the street is full of rioters, and Neil's parents visit.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Our House
Madness

"You can't clean the toilet Neil, it'll lose all its character."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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S2E6

SUMMER HOLIDAY

Originally broadcast: 12 June 1984
Directed by: Ed Bye, Paul Jackson
Written by: Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer, Alexei Sayle

The boys are evicted, and end up robbing a bank, before making their getaway in a bus.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Body Talk
John Otway

"What's the difference? There'll be plenty of chicks for these tigers on the road to the promised land. This is it, it's really happening. Who needs qualifications? Who cares about Thatcher and unemployment? We cando just exactly whatever we want to do. And you know why? Because we're Young Ones. Bachelor boys. Crazy, mad, wild-eyed, big-bottomed anarchists!"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

VYVYAN BASTERD

Played by Adrian Edmondson
in... Bored (1982)

RICK

Played by Rik Mayall
in... Demolition (1982)

NEIL PYE

Played by Nigel Planer
in... Sick (1984)

MIKE 'THE COOL PERSON'

Played by Christopher Ryan
in... Oil (1982)

JERZY BALOWSKI

...and various other Balowskis
Played by Alexei Sayle
in... Flood(1982)