The Dame Edna Experience

Barry Humphries is Dame Edna Everidge in "The Dame Edna Experience," a riotously funny talk show from England. At the beginning of each episode, Dame Edna, after an introduction that has her standing with the Queen, the Prime Minster and various others, stands at the top of a tall staircase, yells "Hello, Possums!" and reveals herself in an outrageous gown and walks down the stairs to music and thunderous applause. She then introduces her former bridesmaid when she married Norm, Madge (Emily Perry) who sits straight-faced through the entire show.

Dame Edna's guests are an eclectic bunch, everyone from Sir Cliff Richard, Grace Jones, Jerry Hall, Liza Minnelli, Lauren Bacall, Tom Jones, Tony Curtis, Charlton Heston (who went careening down aforementioned staircase in a wheelchair after a tennis accident -- all a bit, of course), and some British celebrities and politicians not known in this country. She left Jane Fonda out on her stoop and never did let her in.

The guests very often are reduced to laughing out loud, obviously not knowing what's going to come out of her mouth. In the second season, Dame Edna moved her show into her luxurious apartment, 34 floors up with an elevator that winds up trapping Tom Jones and injuring British actors David Suchet, Malcolm MacDowell, and several others in a very funny sequence. It was out of service when Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. came on the show, so he walked up the 34 flights with her groceries.

There's usually a musical number at the end of a show that goes way too quickly. I can only say, I wish I had Dame Edna's legs.

Very funny and great to see if you're feeling down.

My local PBS station ran this series several years ago, and I still can't get this riotous program out of my mind. I usually watch the first few minutes of Letterman or Leno, but this is one talk show that I watch to the zany end.

All talk shows have some boring guests, but this will definitely not be tolerated on Dame Edna's show! At the touch of a button, Dame Edna removes any tiresome talker. He or she may fall through a trap door or be removed with an ejection seat. I hope Dave and Jay are listening!

The sets are lovely, except for the private elevator which has trapped several super stars. Dame Edna, as always, is beautifully dressed. My favorite gown is adorned with a large animated stuffed lizard which on command can stick out it's lovely forked tongue. Don't miss this wonderful experience!

This is Dame Edna just as she is in person -- a consummate entertainer! Please try to see her in person, you must do yourself a favor. DE was so very current, so this is a snapshot of certain age. The only reason for not giving it a 10, is because of my personal lack of knowledge of British references throughout the show.

Always surprises, always on target, always multiple steps ahead of the audience and guests.

Prior to this show, I only "heard" about Madge Alsop, so it was a delight to finally see her in the flesh.

I was so thrilled to see her DVD available, that I bought it without any information of what to expect.

That she managed to get some guests of great renown is simply a tribute to DE! Hold your gladdies high, and enjoy possums everywhere! ..Zoe

PS for those of you who are too caught up with who she is, please do yourself a favor and suspend belief for a while, let go and laugh!