"Brass Eye" (1997) TV series 1997-2001

User Rating:

9.4/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

29 January 1997 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Controversal spoof of current-affairs TV and the role of celebrity in the UK.

Plot Keywords:

Current Affairs | Spoof | Celebrity | Broadcasting | Sutcliffe

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Morris	...	Christopher Morris / ... (7 episodes, 1997-2001)
Mark Heap	...	'Would You?' Man / ... (7 episodes, 1997-2001)
Kevin Eldon	...	Alan, Role Play Husband / ... (5 episodes, 1997-2001)
Doon Mackichan	...	Accelorata Jengold / ... (5 episodes, 1997-2001)
David Cann	...	Vicar / ... (4 episodes, 1997)
Barbara Durkin	...	French Woman / ... (4 episodes, 1997)
Amelia Bullmore	...	Beauty Pageant Mother / ... (3 episodes, 1997-2001)
Albert Welling	...	Clerk of the Court / ... (3 episodes, 1997)
Gina McKee	...	Libby Shuss / ... (3 episodes, 1997)
Claire Skinner	...	Board Member / ... (3 episodes, 1997)
Bill Moody	...	Bill Laswell / ... (3 episodes, 1997)

Also Known As:

"BrassEye" (UK) (alternative spelling)
"Torque TV" (UK) (working title)
"Trip TV" (UK)

Runtime:

25 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

TalkBack Productions

Trivia:

An untransmitted pilot episode of Brass Eye called "Torque TV" exists, though for some reason it was never included on the Brass Eye DVD. It was made in 1995 by Christopher Morris and the rest of the crew. Most of the material in "Torque..." was re-used for the Animals episode of this series, but there are several scenes that are either unique to "Torque...", or were edited down for inclusion in the series. Of note is an entirely excised interview between David Jatt (Morris) and Sir Peregrine Worsthorne, ex-editor of The Sunday Telegraph talking about domestic hippos; an extended WOFDCAP sequence in which the animal rights activists have a telephone conversation with Martin Amis about the plight of Karla the elephant; a thrilling look at how animals are gaining respect, including the heartwarming tale of a mouse that saved a drowning tramp; an extended sequence in which Dr. Jonathan Kwattes (Ian Gelder) explains why all animals are vegetarian - even the carnivores - to a press conference; a heartfelt plea from murderous scamp Reggie Kray, and an extended interview with Carla Lane.

Quotes:

Christopher Morris: Can you imagine the fear of knowing that there's a gay man on board? You'd be thinking, "My God. Will I wake up and find everybody dead?"

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Britain's 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches (2005) (TV)

Pure Genius

Brass Eye is a quite awesome achievement. As I write this review, most of Britain's press is up in arms over the recent one-off episode which satirised the particularly sensitive subject of paedophilia. The majority of people claim that it is simply sick to even attempt to make a comedy based on such a theme. However, while not for the easily offended, Chris Morris' style has always been to approach serious issues using interesting methods. This particular episode managed to make some very interesting points, often highlighting the gross inconsistencies in the way in which crime and taboo subjects are dealt with.

A great deal of the humour comes from Morris managing to get celebrities to say the stupidest things. The fact that they are so easily convinced to speak such nonsense, highlights the ignorance and paranoia surrounding the whole subject. Amongst other things, we are told that paedophiles can feel children's faces via computer screens, that they occupy an area of internet the size of Ireland, that they can make toxic fumes rise from keyboards to make children more suggestible, that, genetically, they have more in common with crabs than people. At one stage, Kate Thornton tells us with utter seriousness that HOECS games are used by paedophiles to interact with children. It is quite incredible to see these people saying such things with such belief.

Other highlights include the Eminem spoof, JL B8; a story about a cheeky cockney ex-paedophile who does bus tours of his 'old haunts' - a brilliant spoof of the way the press treats the old east-end London gangsters these days; and an on-going news report showing a crowd lynching a paedophile when released from prison and burning him in a wicker phallus: scarily reminiscent of the mobs that ran wild in Britain in summer 2000.

To dismiss this or any other episode in the '97 series as sick and utterly unamusing, is to display an ignorance or unwillingness to address the very serious issues being dealt with. Just because there is humour involved, does not mean the issues are being sanitised - it actually makes them more poignant.