Filthy Rich & Catflap

I really enjoyed this series. This was obviously a transitional work for Ade and Rik. They are far enough from The Young Ones, although they are clearly playing with the deconstruction of the sitcom format, similarly to TYO. Rich and Eddie are slightly unpolished versions of Richard Richard and Edward Hitler (the same can be said for their characters from Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door from 1988. - a very Bottomesque episode of The Comic Strip Presents). This show surely paved the way for Bottom an at times is similar to Bottom Live shows.

The plots are interesting and there is a lot of fourth wall breaking, reminding the viewers that this is a sitcom (albeit deconstructed, but nevertheless funny). David Cross tried to play with the sitcom format in a similar manner with his Todd Margaret, but he failed miserably. This proves a point that it's really difficult to make this type of comedy work, but Rik and Ade are masters of this craft.

I agree with other reviewers who noticed that this show is still relevant today, with all the nobodies who appear on reality shows and "celebrities" with no talent who are flooding the media with their pay-per-view weddings and "leaked" porn videos. If only they were as hilarious as Rich! My favorite episode is definitely the fourth. I've seen it a few times and it makes me laugh just as hard on repeated viewings as it did the first time, especially the scene in the bar with Jumbo Whiffy. It's a shame that this show is nearly forgotten today.

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.

Hi

Filthy rich and catflap was kind of a follow on from the the young ones, but it never had mike in it thats christopher ryan to the non young ones fans, OK first of all i need to say this first its coming to DVD THIS JULY BUY IT YOU WONT REGRET IT OK it was available on VHS about 7yrs OK but since then its been deleted i myself i have a them VHS myself but quality over time has been dropping so i really cant wait till july 26, as you may have read in other comments filthy rich and catflap has never been repeated on the bbc why, it has been repeated on uk gold but only twice anyway thats about to end when the DVD comes out and most places are only charging between £9.99 and £12.99 so buy it and laugh to one of the most underrated comedies of all time.

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.