Whoops Apocalypse

As an American, my obsession with British comedy often results in multiple letdowns (e.g. getting the wrong SINGING DETECTIVE DVD for Christmas). My encounter with WHOOPS APOCALYPSE is one-of-a-kind: while I didn't get the apparently lesser theatrical-release version with Peter Cook, I did get a truncated version which turned the six-episode series into one long 138 minute film with a laugh track. While it certainly retains all of the most hilarious moments of the show, I can't feel that I've missed something.

Still, it's absolutely hilarious. Renwick and Marshall, writers of the show, are two of the greatest British comedy writers I have ever encountered. David Renwick wrote the poignant and occasionally gross-out sitcom ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. Andrew Marshall wrote the equally quirky sitcom 2POINT4 CHILDREN. Together, they wrote for the cult classic radio sketch comedy show THE BURKISS WAY and this miniseries about Cold War brinkmanship.

U.S. President Johnny Cyclops, an obvious Reagan parody, is played perfectly as a nervous, naive showbiz icon by Barry Morse. John Barron portrays his almost Cheney-esquire adviser, The Deacon, with particular pomp. Peter Jones has the quavery voice which sounds simply ridiculous as the senile Prime Minister who believes he is Superman. But there is no denying that the show's true strong point is the writing, especially shining through in Ed Bishop's portrayal of Jay Garrick, fast-talking newscaster. (On a late edition of the news, he quickly reads out "I'm Jay Garrick, and you're an insomniac.") Overall, a grand comedy. I continue to search for copies of the full six episodes (as well as the original POLICE SQUAD! series), but meanwhile I watch my version as a double bill with the darker DR. STRANGELOVE.

No doubt much of this has aged badly since the Cold War seems well over, but Cleese's performance alone makes it worth finding. Also worth catching is the relationship between the Shah of Iran and his manservant Ahdab - a more endearing piece of subservience would be hard to imagine. Finally my favourite line is recited by one of the Soviet premiers; "Neutral countries have two options - medium or well done"! Important advice for someone living in Sweden.

FOX Broadcasting had their own version of this show, simply named "Whoops!" which aired sometime in the late 80's or early 90's. In FOX's show, a group of ethnically-diverse people escaped the destruction of WW3 in a bomb shelter. After emerging, they found refuge in an old barn accompanied by a windmill in a lush green valley. To their dismay, they couldn't leave the barn due to the fact that a 3-story tall mutant ant wandered around the area. This show was a 30 minute sitcom, and was a comedy. It lasted for only one season. Although most people don't remember this show, I think of it as a cool TV memory from my childhood.

Was a very funny show at the time, some great comedy actors pop up, Alexei Sayle also . Later of course the film with Rik Mayall stealing the show as the SAS leader , sadly Alexei Sayle even sneaked into that version as well.

The great Geoffrey Palmer amongst a fun cast with his deadpan face and delivery, definitely worth another look for its madcap way of dealing with what was a serious issue at the time. The Superman scenes always remained memorable as all these years later.

Plenty of anarchic style humour from the era and great satire , not all of it works but enough to make it a good watchable comedy even all these years later . Were some years to the film version which improved on this , some not so much but a good back to back watch again as both have some excellent moments.

This is an undeservedly forgotten gem! I wonder why you can't get this one on video or DVD; it really deserves it. At least it deserves to be aired again. As with all great comedy it is dead serious at bottom, and its message is as urgent as it was in 1982. About the only serious line in the whole film is the very last one, and the effect is really powerful.