"Harry Enfield and Chums" (1994) TV series 1994-1997

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Geoff Posner

Writers:

Dave Cummings (additional material)
Gary Howe (additional material)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

4 November 1994 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Harry Enfield	...	Various Characters / ... (7 episodes, 1994-1997)
Paul Whitehouse	...	Various Characters (6 episodes, 1994-1997)
Kathy Burke	...	Various Characters / ... (6 episodes, 1994-1997)
David Barber	...	Fat bloke (4 episodes, 1994)
Louisa Rix	...	Kevin's Mum / ... (4 episodes, 1994-1997)
Gary Bleasdale	...	Gary Scouser (4 episodes, 1994-1997)
Mark Moraghan	...	Barry Scouser (4 episodes, 1994-1997)
Martin Clunes	...	Charlie / ... (3 episodes, 1994)

Runtime:

UK:30 min (12 episodes) | UK:40 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:12 | UK:15 (Some Episodes)

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Comedy Connections: Harry Enfield and Chums (#3.4)" (2005)

1994 series - mostly great. 1997 series - mostly trash.

Most of the 1994 series is just as good as the previous two Harry Enfield's TV Program series but it starts off very badly. Who exactly is warped enough to think that jokes about mental retards, not to mention tinnitus, are in the slightest bit funny? They just come across as malicious. Why these sketches were included in the video of the series is a mystery. And the two characters talking in that pub do no more than shout about celebrities in rather infantile name-calling torrents of abuse.

However, the 1994 series thankfully picks up. The send-ups of 40's documentaries are as hilarious as ever, Mr Don't and the Old G*ts are at their best and there are also some inventive new characters - Kevin the teenager, the randy old ladies etc.

The fourth series (first shown in 1997) is just a waste of time. Though it has its moments, it just seems filled with unfunny sketches about gays, northerners and the like. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who found that dated stereotypical German to be nothing but offensive. The 'Mr Dead' sketches are okay and there are some humorous send-ups of 40's adverts, documentaries etc, but most of it's just tired and the humor is mostly forced.