Home > Categories > Entertainment > Television > The Two Ronnies - Series 1 review

One is a little round; the other is a little, well, little. They both wear glasses and answer to the same name. They read mock news items, and engage in parody, puns and tongue-twisters. The little one tells tall stories from a big armchair. They perform absurd sketches, they sing, they dance and sometimes they even dress up in dresses.
They are Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker, the comedy duo who had a devoted following of millions around the world from 1971 to 1987. In a glorious blend of visual and verbal humour, a typical programme begins and ends with the pair seated behind a desk reading quick-fire 'news' reports. In between, "in a packed programme tonight", there are sketches, 'drama serials', musical routines and a rambling monologue from Ronnie Corbett, before finally signing off with their famous catchphrase, "It's goodnight from me', 'And it's goodnight from him."
All eight episodes from Series One are featured on this DVD, and among the many highlights are the 'Bald Man at a Party' sketch and the period drama mini-series ?Hampton Wick?. The Two Ronnies is as much a British institution as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
The Two Ronnies - Series 2
The Two Ronnies - Series 3
The Human Mind - Complete Series
The Cat in the Hat - Wings and Things
Quantum Leap : Series One
Threesome
Cuckoo: Season One
Victoria Esplanade Gardens and Park
Doctor Who: Season Six
Hemlock Grove: Season Two
Ice Age Live! A Mammoth Show on Ice - 2016
Paw Patrol: Summer Rescues
The Twilight Zone: Season OneProduct reviews...
Members are welcome to post a review. You will need to log in to post yours.
I can recall waking up late at night to the sounds of my mother howling with laughter, walking into the lounge and seeing my father, a normally tacturn man, grinning like a maniac with lockjaw, while they watched The Two Ronnies. At that tender age, I didn't really get the humour, but as I grew and experienced other British humour such as Monty Python, Open All Hours (also starring Ronnie Barker) and Blackadder, I found I understood the humour, and could appreciate it more.
Like Alas Smith and Jones, and Not The Nine O'clock News, this show is a series of staged skits, not a sitcom or series per se... this needs to be made clear really, otherwise someone might expect a more flowing, jointed show. The closest modern equivalent that I can think of would be -shudder- MadTV, which is horrible really, as the Americans just can't do "thinking man's humour"... only the Brits have that dry, intellectual wit that really makes one see the subtle layers of humour as well as the 'slap your face with a haddock' kind as well.
Overall, if you can appreciate the humour of shows such as Absolute Power or Hancock's Half Hour, then you are going to be well advised to visit the small room before watching this, because a soggy couch isn't anywhere near as funny as this is. ![]()
Random listing from 'Entertainment'...
Are you up for a challenge? An Alphabet Challenge? Join Sesame Street friends Elmo, Abby and Telly on an amazing learning adventure! Abby is excited to show her friends her new Fairy Fly Pad, a magical tablet loaded with cool games. But with a simple tap they get trapped inside the video game world of A. B. C-more, a mischievous elf obsessed with the alphabet.
In order to get back to Sesame Street, the friends must defeat A. B. C-more ... more...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"Forgive your enemies but never forget their names."
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)