Heil Honey I'm Home!
Encyclopedia
Heil Honey I'm Home! is a controversial British
television
sitcom, produced in 1990, which was cancelled after one episode aired.
and Eva Braun
, who live next door to a Jewish couple, Arny and Rosa Goldenstein. The show's plot is centred on Hitler's inability to get along with his neighbours. A caption at the beginning of the episode presented the series as a 'lost' sitcom from the 50s, recently re-discovered. The show spoofed elements of 1950s and 1960s American
sitcoms such as Leave It to Beaver
and I Love Lucy
, including the corny title, light (even vacuous) plots and dialogue, and unwarranted applause
whenever a character appeared on screen.
The plot of episode 1 involved Adolf telling Eva of the impending arrival of Neville Chamberlain
, and begging her not to tell the Goldensteins. Of course, Eva lets it slip to Rosa that Chamberlain ("the most important man in Europe!") is coming round and Rosa tells Arny. They then crash the dinner party the Hitlers have prepared for Chamberlain.
and commissioned by satellite television
channel Galaxy, part of British Satellite Broadcasting
(which later became part of BSkyB
).
It was shown at 9.30pm on a Monday night, after an episode of Dad's Army
. During the credits of Dad's Army, Galaxy's announcer said "And unless Arthur Lowe
defeats him, it's the man himself in a few moments in Heil Honey, I'm Home!, as the Galaxy Comedy Weekend continues."
tasteless situation comedy". It was accused of crassly trivialising Nazism
, although others have defended it as being in the same tradition of Third Reich parodies such as 'Allo 'Allo!
and Hogan's Heroes
, or along similar lines to the portrayal of Hitler as a domestic fool in The Producers
. They also point out the crassness was intentional, and part of the parody anyway.
One comedy historian cites Heil Honey I'm Home! as a "heavy-handed concept", and argues
the show was a failure as a comedy because it "disastrously exceeded" the limits of irony
.
Only the pilot was ever screened, although eight episodes were planned and a number were recorded. The filming of the series was cancelled immediately by Sky (BSkyB
) on its acquisition of British Satellite Broadcasting
. This was probably due in part to the ire that accompanied the first episode. Neither the pilot nor other episodes have ever been aired since, however many copies of the pilot exist and have been shown on YouTube and other video sharing sites. The show has since become renowned as one of the most controversial programmes ever to have been screened in the UK; it listed at #61 on Channel 4
's 100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell.
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...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom, produced in 1990, which was cancelled after one episode aired.
Synopsis
The show centres on fictionalised versions of Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Eva Braun
Eva Braun
Eva Anna Paula Hitler was the longtime companion of Adolf Hitler and, for less than 40 hours, his wife. Braun met Hitler in Munich, when she was 17 years old, while working as an assistant and model for his personal photographer and began seeing him often about two years later...
, who live next door to a Jewish couple, Arny and Rosa Goldenstein. The show's plot is centred on Hitler's inability to get along with his neighbours. A caption at the beginning of the episode presented the series as a 'lost' sitcom from the 50s, recently re-discovered. The show spoofed elements of 1950s and 1960s American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sitcoms such as Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
and I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, including the corny title, light (even vacuous) plots and dialogue, and unwarranted applause
Applause
Applause is primarily the expression of approval by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise. Audiences are usually expected to applaud after a performance, such as a musical concert, speech, or play...
whenever a character appeared on screen.
The plot of episode 1 involved Adolf telling Eva of the impending arrival of Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
, and begging her not to tell the Goldensteins. Of course, Eva lets it slip to Rosa that Chamberlain ("the most important man in Europe!") is coming round and Rosa tells Arny. They then crash the dinner party the Hitlers have prepared for Chamberlain.
Cast
- Neil McCaul as Adolf Hitler
- Denica Fairman as Eva Braun (replaced by Maria FriedmanMaria FriedmanMaria Friedman is an English actress working in television, musical theatre, and concerts. She has won three Olivier Awards for her stage work.-Early years:...
in unaired episodes) - Gareth Marks as Arny Goldenstein
- Caroline Gruber as Rosa Goldenstein
- Laura Brattan as Ruth
- Patrick CargillPatrick CargillPatrick Cargill was a British actor known for his role on the British television sitcom Father, Dear Father.-Career:...
as Neville Chamberlain
Production notes and broadcast history
The programme was written by Geoff AtkinsonGeoff Atkinson
Geoff Atkinson is a British comedy writer and producer.He has written and produced various shows featuring Rory Bremner. He is managing director of Vera Productions, an Independent production company he set up with Bremner....
and commissioned by satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
channel Galaxy, part of British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting was a British television company which provided direct broadcast satellite television services to the United Kingdom...
(which later became part of BSkyB
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
).
It was shown at 9.30pm on a Monday night, after an episode of Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
. During the credits of Dad's Army, Galaxy's announcer said "And unless Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
defeats him, it's the man himself in a few moments in Heil Honey, I'm Home!, as the Galaxy Comedy Weekend continues."
Controversy and cancellation
The programme proved controversial when first aired, as it was seen by many as being in very poor taste. Television historian Marian Calabro described Heil Honey, I'm Home! as "perhaps the world's mosttasteless situation comedy". It was accused of crassly trivialising Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, although others have defended it as being in the same tradition of Third Reich parodies such as 'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from 1982 to 1992 comprising eighty-five episodes. It is a parody of another BBC programme, the wartime drama Secret Army, and was created by David Croft, who also wrote the theme music, and Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd and Croft wrote the first 6...
and Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes is an American television sitcom that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to March 28, 1971, on the CBS network. The show was set in a German prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Bob Crane had the starring role as Colonel Robert E...
, or along similar lines to the portrayal of Hitler as a domestic fool in The Producers
The Producers (1968 film)
The Producers is a 1968 American satirical dark comedy cult classic film written and directed by Mel Brooks. The film is set in the late 1960s and it tells the story of a theatrical producer and an accountant who want to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop...
. They also point out the crassness was intentional, and part of the parody anyway.
One comedy historian cites Heil Honey I'm Home! as a "heavy-handed concept", and argues
the show was a failure as a comedy because it "disastrously exceeded" the limits of irony
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
.
Only the pilot was ever screened, although eight episodes were planned and a number were recorded. The filming of the series was cancelled immediately by Sky (BSkyB
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
) on its acquisition of British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting was a British television company which provided direct broadcast satellite television services to the United Kingdom...
. This was probably due in part to the ire that accompanied the first episode. Neither the pilot nor other episodes have ever been aired since, however many copies of the pilot exist and have been shown on YouTube and other video sharing sites. The show has since become renowned as one of the most controversial programmes ever to have been screened in the UK; it listed at #61 on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's 100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell.
External links
- Heil Honey I'm Home! at BBC Comedy Guide
- Review of Heil Honey I'm Home! at JustPressPlay.net
- Brad Jones' DVD-R Hell review of Heil Honey I'm Home! at TheCinemaSnob.com