Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned
Encyclopedia
Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned (2000-2003, 2005) is a free-form talk show
hosted by British
comedian
s/personalities David Baddiel
and Frank Skinner
and produced by Avalon Television. Its concept was developed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and had a run in the West End
at the Shaftesbury Theatre
in 2001.
The show features the two hosts sitting on a couch on-stage and responding to questions from the audience — at times rather seriously, but usually with bizarre digressions into satirical comedy
. An audience member is chosen as "Secretary" and has the job of keeping a note of the topics covered on a white board. In practice, the personality of the secretary
will also prompt many jokes — usually at his or her expense. At the end of the show Skinner asks either the secretary or the audience to choose between two song books, and to pick a page number between 1 and 20. This process determines which song is performed by the duo, sung by Skinner with Baddiel accompanying him on piano
(or, on at least one occasion, acoustic guitar
).
Topics of discussion are wholly mandated by the audience and have ranged from discussions of the war against Iraq
and other political events to comments on the latest plot twists of popular soap opera
s and the Atkins Diet. Skinner's Catholicism
and Baddiel's Jewish faith are also occasional targets of humour (Baddiel describing Skinner's faith as being "insane" and Skinner often using a music-hall Jewish accent to hold mock dialogues among members of Baddiel's extended family, as well as both performers demonstrating how to "play the piano in a convincingly Jewish manner").
To avoid the show becoming too similar to the pair's other show, Fantasy Football League
, an unofficial rule has been in effect to prevent discussion of football
-related topics.
One of the most notable moments from the series, was when an audience member asked Skinner and Baddiel if the jokes are actually rehearsed before the show goes out live, only to rip his clothes off in one go exposing himself naked only to be escorted out by security.
The first series ran for four consecutive nights (Sunday - Wednesday) for three consecutive weeks. It was transmitted live at around 22:30, each edition being of thirty minutes' duration. It is often repeated on Paramount Comedy 2
.
In 2004, a similar series, with Australian comedy duo Merrick & Rosso, aired in Australia - Merrick & Rosso Unplanned.
The intro to the show begins with a slow pan along an empty street before focussing on actor Lewis Rose
who sings the intro before the crowds come in to join with a chant of 'It'll never work.'
for Avalon Television and The Times
. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28749-2192317,00.html
A special edition for Comic Relief called Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned & Unpaid was done in front of a celebrity audience in 2001.
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
hosted by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s/personalities David Baddiel
David Baddiel
David Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, novelist and television presenter.-Early life:Baddiel was born in New York, and moved to England when he was four months old. His father, Colin Brian Baddiel, was a Welsh research chemist with Unilever before being made redundant in the 1980s, after...
and Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
and produced by Avalon Television. Its concept was developed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and had a run in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...
in 2001.
The show features the two hosts sitting on a couch on-stage and responding to questions from the audience — at times rather seriously, but usually with bizarre digressions into satirical comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
. An audience member is chosen as "Secretary" and has the job of keeping a note of the topics covered on a white board. In practice, the personality of the secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
will also prompt many jokes — usually at his or her expense. At the end of the show Skinner asks either the secretary or the audience to choose between two song books, and to pick a page number between 1 and 20. This process determines which song is performed by the duo, sung by Skinner with Baddiel accompanying him on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
(or, on at least one occasion, acoustic guitar
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
).
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and other political events to comments on the latest plot twists of popular soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s and the Atkins Diet. Skinner's Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and Baddiel's Jewish faith are also occasional targets of humour (Baddiel describing Skinner's faith as being "insane" and Skinner often using a music-hall Jewish accent to hold mock dialogues among members of Baddiel's extended family, as well as both performers demonstrating how to "play the piano in a convincingly Jewish manner").
To avoid the show becoming too similar to the pair's other show, Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League is a British television programme hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The Programme began on BBC Radio 5 and was hosted by Dominik Diamond before transferring to BBC 2, with three series being broadcast from January 1994 to May 1996...
, an unofficial rule has been in effect to prevent discussion of football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
-related topics.
One of the most notable moments from the series, was when an audience member asked Skinner and Baddiel if the jokes are actually rehearsed before the show goes out live, only to rip his clothes off in one go exposing himself naked only to be escorted out by security.
The first series ran for four consecutive nights (Sunday - Wednesday) for three consecutive weeks. It was transmitted live at around 22:30, each edition being of thirty minutes' duration. It is often repeated on Paramount Comedy 2
Paramount Comedy 2
Comedy Central Extra is a television channel shown in United Kingdom and on some digital/cable services in the Republic of Ireland. The channel was previously a so-called 'timeshuffle' service, offering programmes from Paramount Comedy at different times. It has since started broadcasting some...
.
In 2004, a similar series, with Australian comedy duo Merrick & Rosso, aired in Australia - Merrick & Rosso Unplanned.
The intro to the show begins with a slow pan along an empty street before focussing on actor Lewis Rose
Lewis Rose
Lewis Rose is a Canadian businessman born in South Africa. He is the Partner at Farber Financial Group, responsible for the Turnaround and Crisis Management Practice...
who sings the intro before the crowds come in to join with a chant of 'It'll never work.'
Other 'Unplanned' content
Baddiel & Skinner produced a series of podcasts covering the 2006 FIFA World Cup2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
for Avalon Television and The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28749-2192317,00.html
A special edition for Comic Relief called Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned & Unpaid was done in front of a celebrity audience in 2001.
External links
- Off the Telly Extended review of season one