Bottom-Series 2 (1992)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Outtakes-Series Two Fluffs
Rating
Year Of Production	1992
Running Time	178:29 (Case: 207)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Jon Plowman Bob Spiers Ed Bye
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Adrian Edmondson Rik Mayall
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$24.95	Music	The Bum Notes

Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, the masters of anarchy and the perverse, return to the violent bliss of Bottom for a second season. All six episodes of this season appear uncut on this DVD release although not in the original broadcast order:

• Digger - Richard Richard (Mayall) and Edward Elizabeth Hitler (Edmondson) visit a love bureau in search of being set up for a blind date. During the interview Richie pretends to be the Duke of Kidderminster and astonishingly Richie is matched with a Moldavian countess (Helen Lederer). Since Richie isn’t a Duke and needs to appear wealthy and sophisticated he sells a few of his internal organs to finance the romantic dinner and persuades Eddie to be Jives the butler. Episode 1 - Original UK Air Date: 1 October 1992.

• Parade – After Richie, Eddie, Spudgun (Steve O'Donnel) and Dave Hedgehog (Christopher Ryan) scam a few quid from the police they venture to The Lamb and Flag for a pint to celebrate. Richie tries to flirt with the new barmaid Veronica Head (Julia Sawalha) but in between his lies of being a Falklands veteran and trying to appear charming and refined he finds himself inadvertently sharing war stories with a one-legged Falklands veteran played by Robert Llewellyn. Later that evening Richie and Eddie try to steal the war veteran’s priceless wooden leg in hope of financing a ‘dead cert’ bet. Episode 4 - Original UK Air Date: 22 October 1992.

• Burglary – An inebriated Eddie returns from a night at the chemist's to a worried Richie who tries to take Eddie up to his bed. During the commotion of trying to pull Eddie up the stairs with a rope he hears noises downstairs – could there be burglars in the flat? Episode 3 - Original UK Air Date: 15 October 1992.

• Culture - The television is confiscated because Eddie failed to pay for the television licence and instead bought some magic beans. Equally Richie is at fault as he let the rent get behind after paying for organ enhancement. While trying to pass the time a crossword proves to be tedious, while Tiddlywinks proves to be violent so the terrible twosome agree to play chess. Only thing is they don’t have a complete chess set and Richie doesn’t know how to play. Episode 2 - Original UK Air Date: 8 October 1992.

• Holy – The uncut Christmas episode begins with an animated Richie unwrapping his presents – individually wrapped Brussels sprouts. Violence ensues during the morning after Richie is disappointed with Eddie’s pathetic gift giving. Still, Richie tries to keep the momentum going by preparing a Christmas meal as he is expecting guests Spudgun and Hedgehog. After the meal proves to be repugnant, something miraculous (or so it seems) happens. Episode 5 - Original UK Air Date: 29 October 1992.

• ‘S Out – After losing a bet Richie and Eddie are forced to rough it on Wimbledon Common for a week. The camping experience proves to be a weird and wonderful one as Richie and Eddie forget to bring any food and the tent proves too small. The two have to become resourceful in order to survive as Eddie is convinced Wombles are lurking in the bushes. Episode 6- Original UK Air Date: 10th April 1995 - this episode was not shown until 1995 (after the 3rd series) due to a murder on Wimbledon Common in 1992.

Video

All the episodes are presented in Full Frame 1.33:1 on a dual layered single sided DVD. Overall the picture quality is commendable. While there are minor incidents of grain and one incident of blooming in the source material the transfer features no incidents of Film-To-Video Artefacts. The colour scheme itself is dull with muted browns and yellows but this is an artistic choice. Skin tones remain natural and black levels are average. There is a single English subtitle track which is presented in a clear white Arial font. There are 6 chapter selections for each episode.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The single English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) audio track is adequate for the dialogue driven situation comedy. There are no audio synchronisation problems and the audio remains clear and audible. Other than the dialogue the show features exaggerated sound effects and segments of the main theme during the episodes which is performed by ‘The Bum Notes.”

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu Audio

A still image with a practical menu featuring a play all feature, episode and chapter selection and a subtitle option.

Outtakes

Entitled “Bumfluff,” this is a montage of outtakes from the show. It runs to a length of 28:41. This is recommended viewing. This feature can be viewed with subtitles.

There are currently three box sets of Bottom available:

• R1: Bottom - Not Another Half-Arsed DVD Set (3 DVDS)
• R4/R2: Bottom – The Complete Series (3 DVDS)

R1 is missing nothing in comparison with the R2/R4

R2/R4 are missing the following extras in comparison with the R1 :

• "Boom Boom...Out Go the Lights" Rik Mayall 1980s variety program
• "The Dangerous Brothers" as seen on "Boom Boom" in 1981

Also in R2 there is a yet to be released The Big Bottom Box (7 DVDS). Unfortunately this DVD set does not include the television series:

• Bottom Live –The Stage Show (1993) (filmed in Southampton)
• Bottom – The Big Number Two Tour (1995) (filmed in Oxford)
• Bottom 3 – Hooligan’s Island (1997) (filmed in Bristol)
• Bottom Live 2001 –An A*** Oddity (2001) (filmed in Nottingham)
• Bottom Live 2003 – Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour (2003) (filmed in Southend)
• Best of Bottom Live
• Guest House Paradiso (1999)

All releases are complete and uncut. It is disappointing that the R4 is missing two interesting extras from the R1 box set which demonstrate the first phase of the characters of Richard Richard and Edward Elizabeth Hitler. Depending on whether the purchaser wants the complete series of R1 or individual releases of R2 and R4 or discounted box sets of R2 and R4 there are a number of options to suit the purchaser’s budget. A best-of DVD is also available in R2 and R4 which features five uncut episodes and a photo gallery.

An all round excellent release of a guilty pleasure.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall