RELIABLE AND EXPENDABLE! 'THE GOODIES' RETURN...

Cycle power makes a comeback with THE GOODIES. Image: BBC.

UK TV fans of the ever enduringly quirky, surreal, often laugh-out-loud comedy and slapstick inventiveness of the classic seventies BBC series THE GOODIES, which well and truly launched the back in the day careers of writers/actors Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor (the latter's biro proving invaluable to the creative process!), will be pleased to know that their very first season from way back in 1970-seven episodes- is now available from this month to view on the BBC channel of the VIRGIN MEDIA ON DEMAND service. Still proving an artistic stigmata to some parts of the BBC management forty-three years on, though the corporation's commercial wing is perfectly happy making continued profit from it where they can, some of these original episodes have not yet been released on DVD in Blighty as far as I'm aware, so this prime factor makes them worth catching. Picture and sound quality are also of an okay standard. As to the actual content of the shows? Well, some look pretty dated in places, featuring the kind of sexism and occasional racism that you just couldn't get away with in these times of political correctness, but there's also no denying that the series format and main characters remain as inspired as ever, alongside some stand out moments that surprised me with some genuine golden belly laughs.

The Goodies opening theme - YouTube

"The Goodies are coming for you, and you, and you..."

 

GOOD TIMES WITH "THE GOODIES"!

You can never not have enough of THE GOODIES. Image: BBC.

Strange viruses that turn people into clowns, a giant kitten demolishing classic British landmarks, the mastering of the unusual Lancastrian form of martial arts known as Ecky-thump, discovering a giant cream mine in Cornwall, climbing beanstalks and taking on an army of killer geese, leading a mixed dancing revolution and ending all life on Earth!-it's all just in a days work for that lovable trio of Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and, often grouchy anarchist, Bill Oddie in the iconic classic seventies BBC 1 series-THE GOODIES (made in the days when, y'know, the corporation actually made comedy shows that were funny!).

Title sequence:‪The Goodies Theme 2‬‏ - YouTube
Episode clip "Hype Pressure": Rock 'n' Roll: ‪The Goodies Rock'n'Roll!‬‏ - YouTube
Episode clip "Sub-machine Gun": ‪The Goodies- Sub-Machine Gun‬‏ - YouTube

Often providing groundbreaking, guaranteed side-splitting laughter (so much so that a British viewer actually died laughing whilst watching an episode on its original transmissions!) and with an enduring visual brilliance still appealing to viewers of all ages, the show, despite its long being off the airwaves, with few repeats and suffering a decades spanning stigma/neglect by the BBC that has only recently started to fade, continues to capture the funny bones worldwide, particularly Down Under in Australia, where, in tribute to the colourful, stark raving bonkers adventures-packed cycling trio, they've released the ultimate collection-the entire twelve year BBC run and specials-of the series in what looks set to be a stunning presentation: a major event for GOODIES fans everywhere as the UK and other territories have not yet got anything as comprehensive as this on their shelves, and thus making it an essential purchase...

Here are the full details: Buy The Goodies: Collection at AtlanticDVD: Australia's largest Region 4 DVD Store.

"Goodie-Goodie-Yum-Yum!"