Whoops Apocalypse

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.

This is one of the best, blackest, most satirical comedies you will ever find. Unfortunately most people will remember the abysmal big screen slapstick version. There are so many great performances, not least from Barry Morse and John Barron as the US president and his advisor; Peter Jones, Geoffrey Palmer and Richard Davies as members of the cabinet when the Labour Party wins the UK election; John Cleese as the terrorist and the brilliant double act of Bruce Montague and David Kelly as the deposed Shah of Iran and Abdab, the Shah's blindfolded manservant. You've got to see this.

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.

They don't make them like this anymore, that's for sure! One of the funniest ever TV series to come out of this country. This was from a time when you could switch the telly on and LAUGH, unlike today. Both the six part show and the film are on sale now together in a box set, and I'm SO glad I bought it! 👍

Watching this 40 years later it's difficult to not believe this isn't a fly on the wall documentary particularly of the US presidency in recent years. Suffice to say this is not at all politically correct in any fashion, and all the better for it. It takes the proverbial out of any & everything that deserves it in its quest to be a countdown to the nuclear apocalypse threatened so often in the early 80's. This would send the loony left crazy today so you best go watch it...