The Erica Crooks Show - Behind The Scenes - Biden throws Trump out of White House ( Animatic )

A Behind the Scenes look at this sketch from The Erica Crooks Show ( Season 14 ) . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81NFtCGeXL4 And for more content from Erica Crooks Check out : https://linktr.ee/officialericcrooks AND MORE visit The Official Erica Crooks Websites : Personal Website : ericacrooks.weebly.com Official Website for The Erica Crooks Show : officialericcrooks.weebly.com #ericacrooks #theericacrooksshow #ericacrooksshow #ericcrooks #theericcrooksshow #ericcrooksshow #ericacrookspuppeteer #ericacrookspuppet #ericacrookspuppets #satire #puppet #puppets #puppetry #adultpuppetry #darkcomedy #darkhumor #darkhumour #blackcomedy #blackhumor #blackhumour #parody #parodies #cartoons #cartoon #politicalsatire #funny #comedy #humor #humour #slapstick

Erica Crooks talks about the 15th Anniversary of The Erica Crooks Show filmed version

Margaret Thatcher Sings My Way | Spitting Image (1988)

The Simpsons - Clancy Use the Remote

Spitting Image (1984) - Series 1, Episode 2 | Full Episode

Santa Claus And His Old Lady ( Cheech & Chong )

 ( Warning : Contains sizeism slurs , a product of it's time )  #cheechandchong #cheechandchong50

Gremlins 1984 BAR scene

The Young Ones H/Q....On University Challenge

Young Ones - Bambi

Santa Claus is on the Dole | Spitting Image (1986)

Jam Session

Riverbottom Nightmare Band

Riverbottom Nightmare Band - Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas - The Jim ...

Spitting Image (1984) - Series 1, Episode 1 | Full Episode

Seize The Means Of Production

Nine Below Zero - Eleven Plus Eleven

Nine Below Zero - Eleven Plus Eleven

Roy Clark - Rocky Top performed on The Muppet Show (1978)

Spitting Image Santa Claus Is On The Dole

The Lavender Fudge Experience - The Nudist and Mr. Pendleton

The Erica Crooks Show ( 2020 ) YouTube Ads ( political satire )

 The Erica Crooks Show ( 2020 ) YouTube Ads ( political satire ) Video Adverts Are Annoying

Remember when people would watch videos online just to ESCAPE TELEVISION ?

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The Erica Crooks Show ( 2020 ) YouTube Ads ( political satire )

The Erica Crooks Show ( 2020 ) YouTube Ads ( political satire ) Video Adverts Are Annoying

Remember when people would watch videos online just to ESCAPE TELEVISION ?

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BAH HUMBUG ! : Nothing beats some holiday classics

 BAH HUMBUG ! : Nothing beats some holiday classics 

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#ericacrooks #theericacrooksshow #ericacrooksshow #ericcrooks #theericcrooksshow #ericcrooksshow #ericacrookspuppeteer #ericacrookspuppet #ericacrookspuppets #satire #puppet #puppets #puppetry #adultpuppetry #darkcomedy #darkhumor #darkhumour #blackcomedy #blackhumor #blackhumour #parody #parodies #cartoons #cartoon #politicalsatire #funny #comedy #humor #humour #slapstick

Can Disabled People Be Revolutionary?

Fred Hampton: "You Can Jail A Revolutionary, But You Can't Jail A Revolution. "

iTunes is great for studying animation

 When it comes to buying digital movies, out of all main platforms, I usually stick with iTunes ( which is now Apple TV ) and the reason why is that the videos are downloadable which are quicktime files and through a quicktime player, especially animation, you can study the frames in detail. And if you don't have room on your computer, no problem, you can delete the video file and it's still in your library because it's on a cloud. Amazon doesn't do this. It's strictly on their video player only. Even though Streaming is very popular, I still recommend this as well as digital video ( and DVDs ) , especially when it comes to studying animation, film, etc.  #animation

Gershon Kingsley - Popcorn

The Erica Crooks Show ( 2020 ) - Joe Biden gets Trump thrown out of The White House ( political satire )

The following is a work of political satire fiction. And for more content from Erica Crooks Check out : https://linktr.ee/officialericcrooks AND MORE visit The Official Erica Crooks Websites : Personal Website : ericacrooks.weebly.com Official Website for The Erica Crooks Show : officialericcrooks.weebly.com #ericacrooks #theericacrooksshow #ericacrooksshow #ericcrooks #theericcrooksshow #ericcrooksshow #officialericcrooks #politicalcartoon #politicalcartoons #satire #puppet #puppets #puppetry #adultpuppetry #darkcomedy #darkhumor #antitrump #antiauthoritarian #trumpcartoon #trumpcartoons #parody #parodies #cartoons #cartoon #politicalsatire #funny #comedy #humor #humour #slapstick

Omaha-Moby Grape-1968

Liberals Are Conservatives And Conservatives Are Liberals

Oligarchs will let the world burn.

My journey From Neo-Nazi To Anarcho-Communist

Missing Persons - Words

Les Guignols - Générique Septembre 2017 - juin 2018

The Romantics - What I Like About You (Video)

Ah! Leah! By Donnie Iris

Werewolves of London (2007 Remaster)

Layla

Greg Kihn Band ‎- The Breakup Song - FULL LENGTH VERSION

The Muppet Show - Trudge Trudge/Streaka Streaka

RICK DERRINGER / EDGAR WINTER / Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo / 1973

Hey democracy didn't happen, how come?

Peter Gabriel - Out Out (12" Version)

All the Wilkins and Wontkins Commercials (even the Rare ones )

The War Song (Remastered 2003)

Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown

This director would become a director on The Simpsons.

T. REX - Cosmic Dancer

James Cagney meets The Dead End Kids

Human Nature and Contracts

#anarchist #anarchism #libertariansocialist #libertariansocialism #anarchocommunist #anarchocommunism #anarchistsociety #breadtube 

Alexei Sayle Singing Dr Martens Boots on the Tube

As heard on The Young Ones. #theyoungones #youngones #alexeisayle #drmartensboots #docmartens #docmartensboots

Five Mantras for life by Rik Mayall, Honorary Doctorate of the University

Rick Mayall's Words of Wisdom. Equality - Opportunity - Wisdom - Freedom - Love . #rikmayall

Rik Mayall and the Bastard Squad performing My Generation, 1983

Remembering Rik Mayall & The Young Ones :) #rikmayall #youngones #theyoungones

Classic Sesame Street - (I Can't Get No) Cooperation

This is one of my all time favorite Classic Sesame Street moments. I remember discovering this on the 1990 VHS Rock & Roll and just rewinding the video over and over and over just studying this one song.

This was my introduction to The Rolling Stones. :) And of course, it's a parody of Mick Jagger & The Rolling Stones and their classic hit " I Can't Get No Satisfaction ". In this case, it's Mick Swagger & The Cobblestones in (I Can't Get No) Co-Operation. This was from Season 12 ( 1981 ) which was around the time when new Muppet Performers were joining in on Sesame Street. The vocals of Mick Swagger are performed by ( as well as composed ) the legendary Christopher Cerf. I'm a huge fan of his work on Sesame Street and he's definitely one of the best singers ever. :) He also made some great singles back in the early 1960s too ( Sweet Music, Fallout Filly, The Penguin, etc . )

I believe the puppeteer performing Mick Swagger is Karen Prell who would later be featured as one of the Fraggle 5, Red Fraggle on Fraggle Rock a few years later.

I also recognize Brian Muehl as the keyboard player. 

There's still many things from Classic Sesame Street which Muppet fans are discovering ( and listing on Muppet Wiki of course ;) ).

And it's really cool that many episodes and footage ( especially many which hasn't been seen in about 40 years ) has been restored and presented on HBO Max.

 https://youtu.be/n7h2n1h6kEM

#classicsesamestreet #classicsesame #chriscerf #christophercerf #jimhensonsmuppets #sesame50 #sesamestreet50 #parodies #puppetry #puppeteers

It's ironic how Sean Connery and Alex Trebek died only 9 days apart.

It's ironic how Sean Connery and Alex Trebek died only 9 days apart.

Stevie Nicks - Edge Of Seventeen [1981] Live

Trump Worries About Election ( The Erica Crooks Show )

 

Oh Dear, Trump is feeling vulnerable about the election ? Cry us all a river ? On second thought, don't bother. The Trump Administration has done enough to pollute the planet. Hopefully we can reverse climate change in time.

#ericacrooks #theericacrooksshow #ericacrooksshow #officialericcrooks #removetrump #removetrumpnow #impeachtrump #impeachtrumpnow #trumppuppet #puppettrump #antitrump #puppet #puppets #politicalsatire #satire #puppetry #cartoon #cartoons #politicalcartoon #politicalcartoons #antiauthoritarian #antiauthoritarianism #anarchist #anarchism #leftist #leftism #artistsagainsttrump #makeartnotwar #politicalpuppetry #politicalpuppetshow

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Genesis - Land of Confusion (Official Music Video)

Spitting Image ( 1986 ) #SpittingImage

Jumpin' Jack Flash (Original Single Mono Version)

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

John Lennon Interview (I Met The Walrus)

Nine Inch Snails

Muppets Tonight ( I never / rarely missed an episode. )

Anarchist Communism and Mental Health

The Case for Liberty (2018)

The Case Against Hierarchy (2018)

Les Guignols de l'info "Archives" - Spéciale WTF

#LesGuignols #LesGuignolsDeLinfo #SpittingImage

Les électeurs - Les Guignols - CANAL+

Mysterious Mose

How capitalism KILLS art and science! | How Anarchism Works - Part 4

Les Guignols de l'info "Archives" - Marc-Olivier FOGIEL

Générique "L'Année Des Guignols" 2002-2003

Snoopy in a Bad Mood

Brats of the Lost Nebula upfront presentation for Kids' WB!

Brain Drain - B.R.A.T.S. of the Lost Nebula - The Jim Henson Company

Muppet Songs: Sweetums - Polly Woggy Froggy

Sean Connery Impression Darrell Hammond Funniest Moments

Nasty

Hungry Like the Wolf (2009 Remaster)

Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London (Official Music Video)

Bobby Pickett "Monster Swim"

Main Title Song (From "Shoobie Doobie Moon")

Fronting - Les Guignols - CANAL+

Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed (Totally Go-Go's Live '81)

Jay and Silent Bob - MTV - Home of Wierd-Ass Puppets And Screwed-Up Cartoons

Jay and Silent Bob - MTV - Home of Wierd-Ass Puppets And Screwed-Up Cartoons

Scooby-Doo's Snack Tracks: The Ultimate Collection - 03 Seven Days a Week

The Damned - Nasty

Matrix Table Tennis - Human Puppetry

Human Puppetry #puppetry

Guignols - Droite Park

When Les Guignols De L'info ( French Spitting Image ) parodied South Park with French politicians. #LesGuignols #LesGuignolsDeLinfo #SpittingImage #SouthPark

Dr. Fredric Wertham vs William Gaines

William Gaines ( Mad Magazines / Tales From The Crypt )

A Clockwork Orange (1975) Official Trailer - Stanley Kubrick Movie

Nine Lives of Fritz The Cat - Jump Back & TCB in E (1974)

THE GREEN SLIME - Richard Delvy - "Theme Song" (1968)

Joe Cool (Vocal)

Official Statement of the Youth International Party

VOTE PIG for '68 ! #abbiehoffman #jerryrubin #theyouthinternationalparty #youthinternationalparty #votepig #votepig2020 #votepig68 #yippie #yippies #60s #1960s #history #anarchist #anarchism #leftist #leftism #chicagoseven #thechicagoseventrial #chicago7 #trailofthechicago7 #festivaloflife #thefestivaloflife #givepeaceachance #stoppolicebrutality

The Simpsons: Gravey and Jobriath

Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown

Abbie Hoffman vs. Pete Townshend

Michael Jackson - Les Guignols - CANAL+

Witch Hazel ( Looney Tunes )

Remembering June Foray

SPITTING IMAGE - Rare archive TV reports on the satirical TV series

NEWSNIGHT: Maggie reads out the Newsnight credits

Steve Nallon performed one of the surviving Margaret Thatcher Spitting Image puppets ( seems to be stuffed a bit ) making a special 30th Anniversary cameo. Unfortunately the BritBox version isn't like this. 

Why I HATE Liberals ( Re-Education )

The BritBox Spitting Image Problem

 The BritBox Spitting Image Problem

 American Networks decided no to Spitting Image out of

 “ Nervousness “ ( aka probably out of fear of being sued ) . 

What’s interesting is how 3 Spitting Image specials for NBC 

were shown in the 1980s made by the original crew for the most part, 

especially the original writers. Eventually NBC replaced any future deals 

with Spitting Image with D.C. Follies 

because the humor was more American and not as harsh as Spitting Image.

BritBox Spitting Image according to what I can see

 from the first episode seems Pro-Liberal.

So if this says something, it says America would want 

Spitting Image to be more like D.C. Follies.

I have reviewed the promo videos for BritBox Spitting Image 

and after seeing the trailer and the first episode, 

my opinion hasn’t change all that much.

BritBox Spitting Image is a disappointment, it’s commodified and Americanized.

Instead of being Leftist leaning like Spitting Image and even Les Guignols De L’info, the show is strongly pro-liberalism.

BritBox Spitting Image is like 1990s Spitting Image except commodified and Americanized for whatever is 

acceptable on mainstream media now a days. So it doesn’t matter that it’s exclusively for a streaming platform.

Familiar caricatures from the past seem different from how they appeared in the original series.

All the characterizations seem to be more silly and cautious observations rather than harsh and truthful.

Even the Prince Andrew situation is being treated rather cautiously.

In fact, the opening sketch with Andy in the first episode closely resembles the running gag sketches of

Piers Morgan on Headcases where Piers would be talking towards the camera and then something painful happens to him.

Like 1990s Spitting Image, it focuses more on being a parody comedy show rather than a political satire. Even to the point of shock 

and gross out gags for the sake of it and even punching down ( as far as Liberalism would allow ).

The politicians are just seen as ignorant people who are bad at their job rather than being rich bastards who’s only job

 is lying and making sure they don’t get caught.

The sketches are more extended in length and the humor isn’t fast pace, filled with puns and word play, and

 not much confrontation in a Punch and Judy fashion like the original.

In fact the slapstick in BritBox Spitting Image seems to be coming more from a certain character doing something 

ignorant usually toward themselves for the most part.

It does seem like a lot of the comedy is very cautious and very pro-liberalism instead of Leftist leaning which 

Spitting Image used to be known for as well as Les Guignols De L’info.

Stock puppets are slightly modeled after previous puppets from the series but slightly redesigned probably out 

of fear of being sued for not going credit to the original artists for certain designs.

 Another way to describe BritBox Spitting Image is that the humor is very mild and cautious,

especially with it’s slapstick comedy.

I’ll admit that seeing the silly moments do have potential of being funny,

but they seem very mild.

So again, it does feel commodified because 1980s Spitting Image

had several kinds of humor happening harmoniously and it was more fast pace.

The only way I can really describe the blandness is that it’s commodified and Americanized.

And it’s different compared to the 1980s original.

1990s Spitting Image also seems closer to the 1980s in comparison to

BritBox Spitting Image which is like 1990s Spitting Image but MORE distant from the original.

And like the 1990s, BritBox Spitting Image seems to be making the same mistakes.

It’s not just Spitting Image, this kind of commodified rebooting / reviving

happens ALL THE TIME in the entertainment industry.

But there’s always something wonderful about the originals that’s never present in the

remakes which are more often then not made by new teams of people with

different motives.

BritBox Spitting Image is not the rebellious pro-Leftist political satire 

that worked within the system like it used to be but instead this liberal commodified 

clone that closely resembles 1990s Spitting Image but humor is similar to current 

popular adult animation that isn’t very clever like Family Guy.

If there’s anything good to say about it, it would be the puppets but I can already 

see by the quality of the show itself that the budget is very low.

If there’s any similarity to the original 1980s Spitting Image, it would just be the caricatured puppets, 

caricature design style, familiar looking stock puppets, and the name of the show.

THAT’S ALL !

Spitting Image was much more than that.

Check out the video version right here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jD5VbW68p8&t=6s

( Fair Use / Fandom expressed opinion / educational historic purposes )

BritBox Spitting Image Promo Video Essay :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Babs1NXmTo

What made the original 1980s Spitting Image special video essay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Briy6FApKWs

What caused Spitting Image to decline and get cancelled in the 1990s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks7rahFTWkQ

Leftist Politics & Spitting Image blog video

https://youtu.be/xG0Z1Jvt00M

Original review of BritBox Spitting Image Series 1, Episode 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xL2ekfdyg0

Review version 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azkmEcWylkE

#SpittingImage #RogerLaw #BritBox #SpittingImagePuppets 

#popculturereviews #puppetry #satire #britishcomedy #popculture

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The BritBox Spitting Image Problem

What a Disappointment ! It's Commodified & Americanized.



( Fair Use / Fandom expressed opinion / educational historic purposes )



BritBox Spitting Image Promo Video Essay :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Babs1NXmTo



What made the original 1980s Spitting Image special video essay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Briy6FApKWs



What caused Spitting Image to decline and get cancelled in the 1990s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks7rahFTWkQ



Leftist Politics & Spitting Image blog video

https://youtu.be/xG0Z1Jvt00M



Original review of BritBox Spitting Image Series 1, Episode 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xL2ekfdyg0



Review version 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azkmEcWylkE



#SpittingImage #RogerLaw #BritBox #SpittingImagePuppets

#popculturereviews #puppetry #satire #britishcomedy #popculture





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Rude Britannia – Spitting Image | TateShots

#SpittingImage #RogerLaw #SpittingImagePuppets

John Lennon & Yoko Ono: WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It)

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) - Plastic Ono Band (official m...

Something ( hopefully ) we can all agree. ( Notice how he gave a little shout out to his Anarchist friends " The Yippies " in the lyrics ;) John Lennon was a Leftist after all. ) #allwearesayingisgivepeaceachance #givepeaceachance #johnlennon #johnlennon80 #yippies #theyippies #abbiehoffman #jerryribin #anarchist #anarchism #leftist #leftism #socialist #socialism #peace #unconditionallove #spiritual #spirituality #infp #infps #lightworker #lightworking #spiritualawakening #warisoverifyouwantit

WORKING CLASS HERO. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band ...

John Lennon was a Leftist ( Far-Left ). Perhaps a Socialist or even an Anarchist. He was a great friends with Bobby Seale ( The Black Panther Party ) and Anarchists Abbie Hoffman & Jerry Rubin of The Yippies ( Chicago Seven Trail ) . John like them was awakened to " Class Consciousness " . In a world where people complain about the " Extreme Left " , just remember that the problems in Leftism is often difference in direct action and praxis. Leftism is NOT Liberalism by the way. And in my opinion, it's very interesting and something mainstream media, politicians and mainstream media NEVER wants the masses to know about because it can unite us instead of divide us. ;)

John Lennon considered himself a peaceful revolutionary artist and yet he was on Richard Nixon's enemy's list and being stalked by The Government. Was the lone wolf murder just coincidental ? Despite the fact that John Lennon was trying to make sure people knew that he gave up on Leftism and he's more of a centrist in which is friend Abbie Hoffman called "Doing goodie goodie things" just to get people off his back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEBlSsg0Wy0 . People will remember John most for The Beatles and his music, but how about as a leftist revolutionary artist ?  #JohnLennon80 #leftism #JohnLennon #anarchist #anarchism #leftist #socialist

#socialism #FarLeft #abbiehoffman #jerryrubbin #yippies #theyippies #youthinternationalparty #theyouthinternationalparty #bobbyseale #blackpanthers #TheBlackPantherParty #BlackPantherParty #chicagoseven #Chicago7

Online Harassment

What is Anarcho-Communism?

PewDiePipeline 2: How to Shut it Down

Vivre ensemble - Les Guignols - CANAL+

Vivre ensemble - Les Guignols - CANAL+

Anarchist Communism and Mental Health

Remember, Another World Is Possible ( that is if you want it )

Remember, Another World Is Possible ( that is if you want it )

#anarchism #spirituality #infp #infps #breadtube #lightworker #lightworkers #healer #translivesmatter #ericacrooks #officialericcrooks #empath #empaths #philosophy #peace #unconditionallove #anarchist #libertariansocialist #libertariansocialism #anarchocommunist #anarchocommunism #antifa #antifascist #antifascism #anarchy #antiauthoritarian #antiauthoritarianism #anticapitalist #anticapitalism #anotherworldispossible

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Boris Reacts to his Spitting Image Puppet

Boris Reacts to his Spitting Image Puppet

Genesis - Land of Confusion (Official Music Video)

Spitting Image



#SpittingImage #SpittingImagePuppets #Leftist #Leftism #Anarchist #Anarchism #RogerLaw #puppetry

Spitting Image at 30 - Newsnight

Have I Got News For You - Piers Morgan destroyed by Ian Hislop & Clive A...

Al Bowlly - When That Man Is Dead and Gone

Erica Crooks Comics 2020 - Trump with Nuke Button

 

Trump as usual.

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Anarchism and Human Nature

The Puppet and The Power (Pilot)

How the Far-Right Weaponizes Nostalgia

PewDiePipeline 2: How to Shut it Down

Spitting Image Official Trailer | There's Something Funny About These Pe...

Spitting Image Official Trailer | There's Something Funny About These Pe...

1984 (9/11) Movie CLIP - Vision of the Future (1984) HD

Toxic Masculinity Is Poison - Erica Crooks Comics 2020

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Spitting Image : Decline & Cancellation

 

Spitting Image : Decline & Cancellation

Spitting Image was known for being not only one of the most expensive television shows ever produced but also one of the most controversial, influential and even radical.

But by the 1990s, Spitting Image changed.

Like always, it’s related to the business of the Television industry.

And such commodification ( for the real sake of keeping up the ratings )

 no matter how Liberal it’s said ( aka making it more popular ) , it’s usually a clear sign of disaster for the most part.

Bill Dare appeared in documentaries such as the Comedy Connections episode relating to Spitting Image as well as Best Ever Spitting Image.

Bill Dare said the following.

“ We wanted to reduce the amount of politics and wanted Spitting Image to be a popular show and to be funny above all else. “.

Roger Law mentioned in the documentary “ Whatever Happened To Spitting Image “ as well as his book “ A Nasty Piece of Work “ that new writers came in and they weren’t particularly interested in politics. “

I’ve noticed a HUGE change in the writing of Spitting Image starting in series 11.

Series 12 did have the great political satire caricature of Peter Lilley

( John Major's Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security ) as a Nazi and Paul Simon cashing in on World Music then getting smacked down at the end during a parody of his song “Crazy Love”,

still for the most part, 1990s Spitting Image felt different.

1990s Spitting Image felt like it was just trying to be more like a parody comedy show rather than the razor sharp political satire show it was known for.

1990s Spitting Image

Occasionally 1990s Spitting Image would have something silly and funny, but for the most part, these are my general thoughts on 1990s Spitting Image.

The Slapstick Comedy Puppetry is still good

The voices don’t sound as funny and entertaining as the ones from the 1980s. 

Besides people who were involved in 1980s Spitting Image started to leave starting around the late 1980s.

The jokes don’t seem as clever.

The joke delivery is still fast pace.

It’s still in a Mad Magazine written format.

Something about it just seems boring to me.

The satire doesn’t seem razor sharp.

Most of what they are lampooning is Unimportant subject matter , targets and celebrity culture.

The themes are boring.

The tone is very Saturday Night Live.

And Steve Brown’s hilarious anti-establishment satires on pop music seems like the only good thing left in the show.

Like the “Smell’s Like Teen Spirit Parody”, it does seem like the song parodies are the “GOOD BIT” we are all waiting for, but we have to get through the boring bits to get to the good bit.

1980s Spitting Image

Had faster pace dialog and humor then 1990s

More slapstick, better timing comedy

Unexpected insults, puns, wordplay and punchlines where 1990s Spitting Image relied more on running gags

1980s Spitting Image was more like and closer to Private Eye Magazine & Mad Magazine

in humor style.

strong satirical sarcasm.

It WASN’T COMMODIFIED !

It didn’t think of a target audience.

It doesn’t even talk down to an audience for the sake of ratings.

THEIR TARGET AUDIENCE WAS JUST LIKE THEM.

Just Working Class, left leaning.

And sympathy for the homeless and unemployed.

It didn’t try so hard to be popular.

It didn’t do shock value, sex, gross out humor for the sake of it.

It was QUALITY SATIRE !

The puppets didn’t look plasticy.

And the acting from the voice artists felt more believable as well as better comedic delivery , sounded human but also sounded funny and CARICATURED !

According to Steve Nallon’s blog post “Satire or Just Spit” from his website,

Steve Nallon talked about his opinions regarding the changes of Spitting Image during the 1990s.

“ SPITTING IMAGE had Thatcher sketches based on the controlling idea that she personally could do pretty much anything she wanted. And that was the prevailing political truth of the 1980s. What though of the 1990s, and what if a sketch didn’t have a controlling idea based on a political truth? Well, that’s when the show, in my opinion, got a bit rubbish. “

“ SPITTING IMAGE started to go downhill when sketches started to appear about John Major having a crush on Virginia Bottomley. Even before the Edwina Currie revelation of an actual affair there were rumours.”

“It really wasn’t true. And that was the problem also with the Virginia Bottomley sketches. It wasn’t factually true and worse there wasn’t a really bigger political truth behind it. Yes, I could see that he was the sort of accountant minded man who might have a crush on a pretty secretary or someone he worked with, but if that was the controlling idea of the sketch it was a very weak one. And these sketches ran for weeks. My view too was that they undermined the other sketches in the show. I remember seeing the writers running around very pleased with themselves that they had come up with such brilliance. I was told when I challenged them that the sketches were “just fun and what’s wrong with being a bit silly?” Er, a lot. If the political truth behind a satirical sketch is weak, or worse none existent, then it stops being a satire. For me with those sketches SPITTING IMAGE had stopped being satire. A short post-script though to the grey suburban Major.”

“Two things I think undermine satire. First, being too vicious about people who don’t deserve it and second, wasting your time attacking people who simply aren’t worth the time. One of the producers towards the end of the run rejected a sketch about Lady Diana because “it wasn’t malicious enough.” If your artistic criteria for satire becomes malice alone you might as well pack up your kit bag and go back to civvy street. Equally why waste your time on celebrity culture? This is never really an issue for SPITTING IMAGE as reality shows were only just beginning during the show’s run but there were times when I questioned why certain characters were on the show. Worse, we had a whole load of sketches about ‘Sad Man’, a mean caricature concerning a man who lived alone and who had no friends. Satire’s job is to attack up the social scale, not down. “

As Steve Nallon mentioned, 

Sad Man was a weak “Controlling Idea” of the satire. 

The Sad Man sketches ( besides being a parody of 1960s Batman ) was that Sad Man can’t get laid and he kept getting rejected for being sexually harassing and perverted. But still, it doesn’t even come off as the “Controlling Idea” in which in my opinion

Beavis & Butt-head & Johnny Bravo did a better job at doing which is satirizing Toxic Masculinity ignorance.

Crappy “Filler” sketches such as this was something I have noticed in the 1990s Spitting Image.

So this is what “reducing political satire and making Spitting Image a popular funny show” means ?

In series 12, there was this “album” commercial called “Real Life Love Making Moments”. Which was just a bunch of gross out sex jokes about smelly condoms and tampons.

In 1993, Spitting Image released a hour long VHS tape called “Having It Off”. Eventually I would need to get a Pal VHS player or some kind of converter in order to watch it in full.

But from what I’ve seen of it, all it is, is SEX humor featuring Spitting Image.

God watching Adam & Eve “do it”, Scottish farmers having sexual and romantic relationships with Sheep, something featuring a game show where I think Jeffery Archer is humping ( which is more satirical than the other two . )

There was sexual humor and nudity on Spitting Image, but it was still satirical.

 Though the two meanest sketches that seem like

 there were on the “Bullying” lines which Steve Nallon 

has mentioned aka punching down that I could think of right now is

_ The “John Loves Ginny” sketches which

 Steve Nallon has mentioned. But some of them went further than just that. One long sketch featured John Major

 wanting to abandon his wife “ Norma” with a note that 

says that he and Virginia Bottomley were in love and they were going to

run away together.

Even though John Major didn’t tell her that he loves her.

But then Norma comes home early and

 finds the love letter which was really meant for Virgina. John Major panics

as he tries to find the run away note which he does and eats it.

Another was Virginia Bottomley rejecting 

John Major, and the sketch ends with a close up of John Major having

tears running down his face and whimpering.

But perhaps the most irritating of all was 

“ The Wildebeest “ sketches.

A series of sketches featured a 

Wildebeest character who was angry , 

sad and upset at the fact that Wildebeests 

such as himself are marginalized, oppressed and he just wants 

the same human rights as everyone else.

One sketch involved him hoping that a woman 

wouldn’t point out the fact that he wasn’t a 

human but in fact, he’s a Wildebeest.

The sketches would end with the Wildebeest 

saying something on the lines of 

“How would you feel if everyone always stereotyped 

you as this big dumb stupid animal who’s always

 getting killed and eaten by lions.”

And a lion would attack him from behind

 and tear him to shreds.

Another pointless series of sketches 

( from the final series or so )

 featured two Penguins. 

They would be laughing about something or

 one would make the other one look ridiculous.

And of course Spitting Image began to focus more and more on “ Celebrity Culture “.

Shows that were similar to Spitting Image featuring people who worked on Spitting Image like 2DTV, Headcases, & Newzoids did this as well. Probably due to the fact that those who worked on them , worked on 1990s Spitting Image.

Headcases was awful !

2DTV had a lot of funny moments, especially the ones featuring George W Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And Newzoids had it’s moments.

If there was any show that had a similar political satire edge that was

 inspired by Spitting Image, that would be Les Guignols De L’info.

But it wasn’t until 2015 when the show was under threat of cancelation from

 billionaire and new owner of Canal+ “ Vincent Bolloré“.

It has been said that as a favor to his friend Nicolas Sarkozy ( a regular target on Les Guignols De L’info for decades ) , 

Vincent wanted to cancel this overly expensive and offensive show that only got a few million viewers.

The fans protested against it.

So Vincent Bolloré decided to force Les Guignols De L’info to drop 

the rest of their ratings and popularity instead.

First he fired the 3 writers, then the show runner, a slight change in the set and format, 

a few non-satirical sketches including several featuring ridiculous dating apps. 

And of course , celebrity puppets such as Justin Bieber, Kayne West and Kim, but let’s not forget… Trump.

The show’s name would be shortened to Les Guignols and English dubs of clips for 

English speaking viewers could be seen on it’s own Dailymotion channel ( The video platform which Vincent Bollore also owns ).

The razor sharp satirical humor was still there , however it did seem a little pointless for the show to do celebrity culture.

Les Guignols would be canceled in 2018 due to low ratings. The show was on TV for 30 years

 and outlived Spitting Image which originally lasted for 12 years and 3 years in development.

According to Roger Law’s Autobiography “Still Spitting At Sixty”

Roger Law became chairman of Spitting Image Productions in March 1991.

“We had almost £2 million in debt to clear, and the near certainty that the TV show, already losing some of its spark, would soon be pulled. “

Spitting Image Series 10 was broadcasted from the 14th of April - the 19th of May.

Roger Law mentioned that in order to pay off the debt, he developed the “Trash For Cash” method. Meaning how to use the Spitting Image brand irreverent satirical caricature puppetry comedy to sell out in advertising or even other television shows.

Before Bill Dare’s decision regarding the change in Spitting Image, there was another problem which was John Major.

Bill Dare mentioned in the Comedy Connections episode of Spitting Image as well as the Best Ever Spitting Image documentary special, that even though he was cheering when Thatcher resigned, he did worry about something.

“If John Major got in, what the hell were we going to do ? Because  if he gets in, then we are stuffed because HE IS SUCH A BORING BLOKE ! “

John O’Farrell came up with the idea of making John Major grey and having a boring, dead marriage with his wife Norma as they are just eating peas.

Spitting Image writer Steve Punt mentioned in the Comedy Connections episode on Spitting Image that the show was doomed by the time “ Have I Got News For You “ went on the air.

The ironic thing about it, is that the most popular panelist is “ Ian Hislop “ who was one of the head satirists of the original 1980s Spitting Image until he left after series 5, the NBC specials and the other original specials.

Steve Punt mentioned that it could possibly be due to executives comparing the ratings of Have I Got News For You to Spitting Image to come to the conclusion, “Why are we paying all these people to make us a comedy show ? “ .

That could be true too. It has often been said that Spitting Image was one of the most expensive shows in television history.

Though I believe that Spitting Image & Les Guignols was doomed when the decisions were made to make the shows popular for the sake of raising the ratings as well as to be more attractive to younger generations.

And the only similar Spitting Image show that was able to stay on the air the longest was 2DTV, followed by Newzoids for having 2 series.

But what about BritBox Spitting Image ?

 It started with NBC asking Roger Law to make an American Spitting Image. 

Roger Law agreed to it. This developed into BritBox Spitting Image. 

It’s being made by a production company and production services which I find very strange.

According to an article from BBC News from March 2020

Roger Law said the following.

"I've refused to resuscitate Spitting Image for years but when my pension ran out 

and my palm was crossed with silver what could an old man do?”

In 2021, Roger Law turns 80. And for now, 

he owns Spitting Image Productions. 

Roger Law donated many of the original Spitting Image material to

 Cambridge University ( where he went to college ).

There isn’t many pop culture icons that aren’t own by a media conglomerate. 

In the situation with Spitting Image, ITV owns the other half.

BritBox Spitting Image is expected to premiere 3rd October 2020,

And based on the first couple of promo videos I’ve seen and reviewed,

 It seems like a Disappointment. Commodified & Americanized.

If BritBox is just a testing ground and Roger Law sells 

the rest of Spitting Image to these entertainment capitalists, 

In a way, we can’t blame him. 

Roger Law was ALWAYS hard working.

He mentioned in a news article once…

“ We were paid on contract by Central Television, and my initial salary 

was about £400 a week. The most I was ever paid was £600 a week.”

Whenever something great in pop culture is remade and commodified, 

I always hope that new generations of fans will eventually discover the originals,

because most often, the originals are the best.

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