Comic Relief (1997) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Release Date:

14 May 1997 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Fundraiser | Telethon | TV Special

Cast

Geri Halliwell	...	Herself
Emma Bunton	...	Herself
Melanie Chisholm	...	Herself
Melanie Brown	...	Herself
Victoria Beckham	...	Herself
Lenny Henry	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rowan Atkinson
Jane Bassett	...	Mousey (voice)
Andy Cunningham	...	Simon Bodger / Badger (voice)
Ben Elton
Dustin Hoffman	...	Benjamin Braddock (archive footage)
Barry Humphries	...	Dame Edna Everage
Andrew Lloyd Webber	...	Himself
Emily Perry	...	Madge Allsop
Anne Robinson	...	Mrs. Robinson

Runtime:

370 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Comic Relief

Movie Connections:

Edited from The Graduate (1967)

Since when were the Spice Girls comedians?

This time around, the Red Noses were of a Furry kind. There was an increase in sketches starring non comic celebrities, and the Spice Girls seemed to be everywhere all through the night. Apparently their breakout single 'Who do you think you are' was re-released with the addition of a Spoof Girls group headed by Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Kathy Burke (doing their 1989 Bananarama routine all over again). I don't think anyone remembers who filled in as the remaining two 'Spicy women', but still, 672.577 copies went over the counter. Then, in another act of repetitiveness (or should would that be bi-annual running gags?) The real Spicey's returned to snog classic hosts Griff Rhys Jones, Jonathan Ross and Lenny Henry (to make up in his case for having to see his wife lock lips with Hugh Grant two years earlier).

Dame Edna was there in all her glorious self indulgence. A special episode of "Men behaving (very) badly" featured Kylie Minogue as herself. In "Prime Cracker": Robbie Coltrane as Fitz confessed his love for Hellen Mirren as Tennison with special comedy guest Pete Postlethwaite. Silly sketches centered around archive footage from famous films included Anne Robinson seducing a young Dustin Hoffman in 'The Gratuate'. This was of course back in the days when she was still nice, helpful Anne from 'Points of View' and 'Watchdog', not the catty mega beast she became on 'The Weakest Link'. Some of the most enjoyable bits of the evening were nothing new at all, but rather classic comedy bloopers from all series of Blackadder and Red Dwarf, amongst others, shown under the collective title of 'Comic Relief's Complete Fluff-ups'. As usual, some Channel 4 stars made a one time trip to Television center, in this case the cast of "Father Ted". Ben Elton appeared in "Bedtime with Ben" but on the whole there was far too much Harry Enfield (and Kathy Burke again) as Wayne and Waynetta Slob and Steve Coogan, singing a duet with Bjork as Tony Ferrino and appearing as various different characters throughout the night.

3 furry noses