Filthy Rich & Catflap

After reading a LOT of really negative comments about this series, I admit I was fully prepared to hate it. Nevertheless, I trawled thru my local DVD shop, found a copy, brought it home and settled down to watch the first ep. Three hours later, still giggling like a loon, I went around telling everyone they HAVE to watch this. I agree it's kinda like "The Young Ones" grown up, and could be Richard Richard and Eddie Hitler before they were quite such sad losers, but it's so much more. Okay, the satire isn't exactly biting but it's nibbling at least. If you're a fan of Rik and Ade, give this a try. It's a very underrated comedy that you have to make your own mind up about, but I don't think you'll be disappointed. I leave you with one of my fave quotes...

Richie: So you don't like the police, eh? Next time you've been beaten up, try calling an alternative comedian!

FR&C was an excellent follow-on from "The Young Ones" but I feel that too many people were too stuck in the past to appreciate it. Then, blow me down, a few years later along comes "Bottom" and everybody loves it?! FR&C was far superior to Bottom, better scripts, better plots and not 'dumbed down' like Bottom is. There was at least some plausible rationale why these disgusting characters were involved in each other lives. There were also a couple of brilliant celebrity slots by Midge Ure and the Nolans - the latter being so out of character for those clean living Irish girls.

I also loved the 'asides' to camera which I feel were an excellent way of inviting the audience into the plot. I could easily exceed the word limit singing the praises of this series, but I shall end with a quote from the first episode (which still makes me laugh out loud);

Ralph Filthy: "Richie - it doesn't matter how many milkmen you kill, it still won't become fashionable you know..."

Well worth while watching if you get the chance.

This Is A truly great comedy that provides laughs for the viewer from start to finish. The characters Rich and Eddie Catflap are the forerunners for the characters Ritchie and Eddie in Bottom. I feel it was a shame that this great work did not enjoy more success and a second series, although on the other hand if it did enjoy more success then Bottom might not ever being made as the similarities between the two comedies are not hard to find. Although there is only the one series and is not the most recognizable comedy it is still a cracking comedy and worth a watch. If you have trouble finding it visit the playback universal website or try somewhere like HMV it won't be cheap but worth the money.

Although probably overshadowed by Blackadder, Filthy, Rich & Catflap acquired a highly quoteable cult status when I was at school coming as it did straight after The Young Ones and forerunning Bottom (also alongside the also long forgotten Happy Families, created by the same team).

It's easy to see what this show influenced- and what influences it left. For me, looking at it now, the surreal antics of Filthy, Ritchie & Eddie are still hilarious as ever (although you now have to have a serious knowledge of 1980s pop culture) but the satire of broken down, Z List celebrity culture - minus the phones, social media, chat rags and reality TV - is right on the money.

I doubt no show before or since could pull a stunt like the boys preparing to drunkly drop their trousers in front of Anne Diamond live on TV AM....Come On! Let's Show The World!!

This series, which by the way is a brilliant satire on celebrity and the state of it, stars 1/3 of The Young Ones and was filmed in between that series and Bottom. This is not very (or at all) well known in the U.S. sadly. Although all Young Ones Fans would love it. Imagine BOTTOM and THE YOUNG ONES combined, shake em up a bit and FILTHY, RICH AND CATFLAP is what you'd get. The shows get better upon repeat viewings and the jokes don't beat you over the head (as on BOTTOM). Highly recommended for all fans of any comedy at all.