The Goodies look into their family histories; Graeme's ancestor, Celtic Kilty, was from a remote part of Scotland where the inhabitants enjoyed hunting the haggis and bathing in porridge; Bill's ancestor, Kinda Kinky, came from Cornwall and was a member of the 'oo ah, oo ah' tribe who wore smocks and drank cider; Tim's ancestor, County Cutie, was an upper-class sheep-stealer. The trio are rounded up by the whip-wielding Tourmaster, taken to the B.B.C. T.V. Centre, London, and auctioned off for use as dancers in light entertainment shows. No-one wants the Goodies' ancestors, so they are put on 'The Black & White Minstrel Show', where they organise a revolt...
Alex Haley's book 'Roots' became a blockbuster television mini-series in 1977. Watched by the highest recorded audience ever, it told of a shameful period in American history - how native Africans were snatched from their homeland and transported by sea ( in the most appalling conditions imaginable ) to the United States to be sold off as slaves. No-one who saw the series can possibly hope to forget it.
Which makes it all the more strange why the Goodies should think it a suitable subject for parody. Had The Goodies been around in the mid-90's, do you think they'd have meted out similar treatment to 'Schindler's List'? I don't think so somehow.
The Goodies' ancestors' whirlwind journey round London is reminiscent of the famous 'Lightning Tours' sketch from Marty Feldman's show.
This may seem like a daft question, but the adventure of the Goodies' ancestors is clearly taking place in the '70's, so how can they exist at the same time as their descendants? The late, great Brian Pringle crops up as the sinister 'Tourmaster', though he's woefully underused. Once the action moves to the B.B.C., the Goodies abandon the 'Roots' spoof and switch their attention to a somewhat less revered show of that era - 'The Black & White Minstrel Show'. Attempting to equate blacked-up Welsh singers with oppressed African slaves is just not on, lads.
Jim Franklin had been taken off directorial duties, and was replaced by Bob Spiers, who had worked on 'Dad's Army' and would go on to helm the second season of 'Fawlty Towers', 'The Comic Strip Presents' and more recently, 'Absolutely Fabulous'. He would stay with the Goodies right until the end.
Funniest moment - despite the appalling taste exhibited by this episode, there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, such as the restaurant above the G.P.O. Tower spinning faster and faster to the accompaniment of the theme from Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Carousel'.
Alex Haley's book 'Roots' became a blockbuster television mini-series in 1977. Watched by the highest recorded audience ever, it told of a shameful period in American history - how native Africans were snatched from their homeland and transported by sea ( in the most appalling conditions imaginable ) to the United States to be sold off as slaves. No-one who saw the series can possibly hope to forget it.
Which makes it all the more strange why the Goodies should think it a suitable subject for parody. Had The Goodies been around in the mid-90's, do you think they'd have meted out similar treatment to 'Schindler's List'? I don't think so somehow.
The Goodies' ancestors' whirlwind journey round London is reminiscent of the famous 'Lightning Tours' sketch from Marty Feldman's show.
This may seem like a daft question, but the adventure of the Goodies' ancestors is clearly taking place in the '70's, so how can they exist at the same time as their descendants? The late, great Brian Pringle crops up as the sinister 'Tourmaster', though he's woefully underused. Once the action moves to the B.B.C., the Goodies abandon the 'Roots' spoof and switch their attention to a somewhat less revered show of that era - 'The Black & White Minstrel Show'. Attempting to equate blacked-up Welsh singers with oppressed African slaves is just not on, lads.
Jim Franklin had been taken off directorial duties, and was replaced by Bob Spiers, who had worked on 'Dad's Army' and would go on to helm the second season of 'Fawlty Towers', 'The Comic Strip Presents' and more recently, 'Absolutely Fabulous'. He would stay with the Goodies right until the end.
Funniest moment - despite the appalling taste exhibited by this episode, there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, such as the restaurant above the G.P.O. Tower spinning faster and faster to the accompaniment of the theme from Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Carousel'.