Bottom FAQ(1/3)

       "We wish to advise that tonights episode of Bottom
        is rated M for mature audiences, and contains ribald
        sexual humour, extreme comedic violence, and a
        religious parody which may offend some viewers"
                       _ Aus. TV warning before "Bottom"

"These men should be stopped." -- my sister, after seeing series 3

_______________________
1.1 General Description

"Bottom" is a half-hour British comedy program staring Adrian Edmondson (as
Eddie Hitler) and Rik Mayall (as Richard Richard). It's also written by
Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall. It's centered on the lives of two
down-and-out ne'er-do-wells who are on the dole. In other words, two people
who are at the bottom of the social scale, financially, socially, and
otherwise.

"Bottom" primarily depends on, but is not limited to, slap-stick humor. The
violence is of the "Tom-and-Jerry" variety, with little or no consequences
in terms of harm to the characters. Most of the violence doesn't have much
of an effect on the character's well-being, but if there are any
consequences, they are greatly exaggerated for comic effect. The sound
effects are also exaggerated, and add to the "cartoonish" style of the
show.

Surprisingly, one can relate to alot of the scenarios its one-diminsional
characters go through. For instance, Eddie and Richie are 1) poor, 2)
socially inept, 3) drifting along with no job prospects, 4) bachelors who
will probably never have a long-term (or short-term) intimate relationship.
Who has not experienced at least one of these at some point in their lives?
I myself qualify for three...but watching Bottom somehow always cheers me
up. :)

Most of the scenes take place in their filthy low-rent apartment in Hammersmith. The
kitchen is completely foul. Kitsch articles (like a framed picture of Elvis
Presley) adorn the apartment. Occasionally, the plot will take the
characters outside their flat, into the English "country," for instance, to
the local pub, or to a pawn-broker's.

________________________________
1.2 How many episodes were made?

There are 3 series of "Bottom," each series consisting of 6 episodes. The
names and order of the episodes are as follows:

For descriptions of each episode, consult Part 2 of this FAQ or the "Bottom
Episode Guide" (see 1.3 below).

Jon Morris informs me: "...At the time (it was about
November) there was a murder on Wimbledon Common. ["'S Out"]
was set on the same heath so the BBC thought it would be in bad taste to
show it."

On the back of a poster for the "Bottom Live!" stageshow, a full transcript
is written with the acknowledgement that the murder, which took place the
week before the scheduled transmission, was indeed why "'S Out" was not aired.

Paul Golder explains:

"It was seen on BBC2 last night (Monday 10 April 1995) for the first time.
I always wondered why it wasn't shown originally... An "ex-model", Rachel
Nickell, was murdered on Wimbledon Common that week. Her alleged murderer,
Colin Stagg, was let off after the case was thrown out due to "aggresive
police tactics." ... This was front page news all over the UK."

So why was "'S Out" not aired when the series was re-run? Michael Clarkson
: "...there had been difficulties with the
appeal [of the court case] while the repeat of the second season had been
on."
______________________________
1.3 Is there an episode guide?

Funny you should ask. There is, in fact, a new Bottom Episode Guide. It is
available at Tardis. The URLs:

ftp://ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/Bottom/Bottom
http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~dave/guides/Bottom/

______________________
1.4 Who's in the cast?

Although "Bottom" focuses primarily on two great mates in their apartment,
the plots bring Richie and Eddie into contact with other characters. The
list below is not comprehensive, but covers most of the cast:

      CHARACTER                                PERFORMER
      ---------                                ---------
      Richard Richard..........................Rik Mayall
      Edward Hitler............................Adrian Edmondson
      Sex Shop Assistant.......................Kevin McNaly
      Woman at bar.............................Harriet Thorpe
      Landlord (pub)...........................Lee Cornes
      Mr. Harrison.............................Roger Sloman
      Gasman...................................Mark Lambert
      Mr. Rottweiler...........................Brian Glover
      Spudgun..................................Steven O'Donnell
      Dave Hedgehog............................Christopher Ryan
      Shooting Gallery Stallholder.............Mark Arden
      Nurse; Lady Natasha Laticia*.............Helen Lederer
      Falklands veteran........................Robert Llewellyn
      Veronica Head (barmaid)..................Julia Sawalha

*Sara Jane Wellesley Obstromsky Ponsonsky Smythe Smythe Smythe Smythe
Oblomov Rablomov Dob, 3rd Viscomptress of Moldavia

The music to the show is performed by The Bum Notes.

____________________
1.5 When did it run?

The original transmission dates are as follows:

Series 1 - 1991                        Series 2 - 1992
---------------                        ---------------
1. Smells..........Tues. Sept. 17       7. Digger..........Thurs. Oct. 1
2. Gas.............Tues. Sept. 24       8. Culture.........Thurs. Oct. 8
3. Contest.........Tues. Oct.   1       9. Burglary........Thurs. Oct. 15
4. Apocalypse......Tues. Oct.   8      10. Parade..........Thurs. Oct. 22
5. 'S Up...........Tues. Oct. 15      11. Holy............Thurs. Oct. 29
6. Accident........Tues. Oct. 29     *12. 'S Out.......Mon. April 10, 1995

Series 3 - 1995 * See section 1.2 for explanation.
---------------
1. Hole............Fri. Jan. 6
2. Terror..........Fri. Jan. 13
3. Break.......... Fri. Jan. 20
4. Dough...........Fri. Jan. 27
5. Finger..........Fri. Feb. 3
6. Carnival........Fri. Feb. 10

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1.6 Where can I see/buy it?

"Bottom" is available in the U.K. on videotape; the following video sources
may not have Bottom; but if you call and ask, they may be inclined to start
buying it for their customers. Join the "U.S. Bottom Campaign" (tee-hee) by
calling and demanding your right to see "Bottom"!

In the U.S.:

Laughinghouse Video
Email (for general inquiries): ; telephone: 714-956-9032;
Mail: P.O. Box 8572, Anaheim, CA 92812-0572. They can import PAL-format
videos and provide a "free" NTSC copy.

Signals
Telephone: 1-800-669-9696.
Mail: Signals, WGBH Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 64428, St. Paul, MN
55164-0428. They accept major credit cards over the phone and take checks
with mailed orders. They have a few different catalogues; request the
video catalogue.

The Video Catalog
Telephone: 1-800-733-2232
Mail: P.O. Box 64267 St. Paul, MN 55164-0267. They also offer a custom
order service, "Video Trackers". Call 1-800-71VIDEO (1-800-718-4336),
toll-free between 7am and midnight (Central Time); if the title you want
is currently available, they'll find it for you.

BFS
Telephone: 1-800-268-3891

BBC's Lionheart Productions
Telephone: 212-705-9300

In Australia:
All 4 volumes are now available from Polygram Video.

No matter where you live, you can always contact the BBC directly:
The BBC Shop Phone: 0191-222 0381 or +44 191-222 0381
P.O. Box 1QX
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE99 1QX

_______________________
2.0 A LITTLE HISTORY...

__________________________
2.1 Bottom, the Stage Show

Bottom, the Stage Show, was filmed at Southampton Mayflower Theatre in 1993.
Tickets cost between #8.50 and #13.50. The following is from a press
release.

"Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson star in a full stage play based on the award
winning BBC2 TV series. With their own inimitable wit, style and sense of
the ridiculous they transport you to the explosively insane world of two of
society's most catastrophic no-hopers...

Richie and Eddie are two of life's losers; two pimples on life's bottom.
Surviving on a diet of vitriol, mutually inflicted wounds and pornographic
magazines, they belch, curse and smash their way through the boredom of
life. The effects are disastrous!

EDDIE

He's the sort of person you cross the road to avoid. He likes life's simple
pleasures: a visit to the bookies, cheating Richie out of anything he can
(including the rent) and then breaking his legs on his birthday. If there's
any way he can score, whether it s money, girls or an advantage over
Richie, he'll do it.

RICHIE

He seems nice, well in a smarmy, oozing and oily-tongued way that you
realize isn't really nice at all. His problem is sex: he thinks the 'Kama
Sutra' is an Indian restaurant. Sex is something which happens to other
people and they won't even let him watch."

________________________
2.2 Rik Mayall Biography

NOTE: A more extensive biography is available via ftp:
ftp://ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk/public/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/Bottom/

Rik Mayall was born March 7, 1958. His father ran the dramam department in a
teacher training college. Rik went to King's School in Worcester, starting
at 9 years old instead of 11. He then attended Manchester University where
he read Drama and met Adrian Edmondson. While there he formed a theater
company, "20th Century Coyote," which played at the Edinburgh Festival to
great critical acclaim. On graduating from college, he played "Dromio of
Syracuse" in the Oxford and Cambridge Shakespeare Company production of
"Comedy of Errors". The production toured in America for 3 months.

Television credits include:

A Kick Up the Eighties - 'Kevin Turvey' skits (BBC)
The Comic Strip Presents - (Channel 4)
The Young Ones - as Rick (BBC); co-wrote.
Filthy, Rich and Catflap - w/Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer (BBC)
George's Marvellous Medicine - for Jackanory, children's show (BBC)
Saturday Night Live - 'The Dangerous Brothers' skits (LWT/CH4)
Grimm Tales - Series 1 & 2, Grimms Fairy Tales (Initial/Central TV)
Blackadder I - cameo in last episode (BBC)
Blackadder II; IV - 'Flasheart' character (BBC)
The New Statesman - as 'Alan B'stard' (Yorkshire TV)
Rik Mayall Presents - (3 1-hour plays) "Micky Love," "Briefest Encounter,"
"Dancing Queen." (Granada/ITV 1993)

Film includes: The Eye of the Needle (supporting role); Shock Treatment
(minor character); An American Werewolf in London (bit part); Couples and
Robbers (short film); Little Noises; Drop Dead Fred (title character);
Horse Opera; Carry On Columbus.

Theatre includes: Man Equals Man; The Government Inspector; The Common
Pursuite; Waiting for Godot (with Adrian Edmondson).

Live: Comic Strip (UK, 1982); Kevin Turvey and the Bastard Squad (UK, 1983);
Rik Mayall and Ben Elton (UK, 1984-85); Rik Mayall and Andy De La Tour (UK.
1989, 90)

______________________________
2.3 Adrian Edmondson Biography

NOTE: A more extensive biography is available via ftp:
ftp://ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk/public/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/Bottom/

Adrian Edmondson was born January 24, 1957. His father taught abroad for the
Forces. He lived abroad until age 12, then went to a British boarding
school. He trained in studio drama at Manchester Univeristy, the same year
as Rik Mayall. They formed the partnership called "20th Century Coyote."
In 1977 he took a one-man show to the National Student Drama Festival.

Adrian wrote "Consuela" and "Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door" (the latter with Rik
Mayall and Rowland Rivron), both of which were directed by Stephen Frears.

He has also directed several successful pop videos including "Hourglass" and
"Trust Me to Open My Mouth" for Squeeze; The Pogue's "Fiesta"; and 10,000
Maniac's "Like the Weather."

Television credits include:

The Young Ones (BBC)
Saturday Night Live - 'The Dangerous Brothers' skits (LWT/CH4)
The Comic Strip Presents (Channel 4)
The Lenny Henry Show
Blackadder Goes Forth -- as Baron Von Richtoven (1989)
Happy Families -- leading role (BBC)
Filthy, Rich and Catflap -- w/Rik Mayall and Nigel Planer (BBC)
Hardwicke House (1985)
Snakes and Ladders (6-part series) 1989 (Yorkshire TV)
News Hounds (1990)
Absolutely Fabulous -- apppeared in
If You See God, Tell Him (4-part series)

Edmondson wrote and directed the following films: Bad News; More Bad News;
Private Enterprise. Additionally, he wrote and starred in Dirty Movie, and
wrote Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door along with Rik Mayall and Rowland Rivron

His theatre work includes: Honest, Decent and True (1985); West End
Production of Waiting for Godot (1991).

______________________________
2.4 "The Comic Strip Presents"

The Comic Strip gets its name from a revue of the same name. It ran from
October 1980 to July 1981 and starred the regulars that appear in the TV
Comic Strip films: Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Miranda Richardson,
Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, and Alexei Sayle.

There is an excellent Comic Strip episode guide compiled by Michael
Shephard . It can be obtained via ftp:

ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk
dir:/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/

______________________________
2.5 "Filthy, Rich and Catflap"

In 1987, Adrian Edmondson, Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, and Nigel Planer came
together for a collaboration that some view as a precursor to "Bottom".
"Filthy, Rich and Catflap" was written by Ben Elton with additional
material by Rik Mayall, and the characterizations are similar to Rik and
Ade.

_________________
2.6 Private Life?

I have it on good authority that that's strictly private. However, it seems
this FAQ wouldn't be complete if it wasn't mentioned that Adrian Edmondson
is married to comedian/writer Jennifer Saunders, who was also in the Comic
Strip ensemble, is 1/2 of the 'French and Saunders' comedy team, co-stars
and writes the t.v. show 'Absolutely Fabulous,' and probably deserves an
FAQ herself!

Rik Mayall was romantically involved with Lise Meyer around the time of "The
Young Ones." Meyer wrote the show with Rik and Ben Elton, and is a force on
the comedy scene in England in her own right.

____________________________
3. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

_____________________________
3.1 What is "Emmerdale Farm"?

"MAD Mosher" described this Brit TV show to me:
"Emmerdale Farm is a weekday soap opera about life in the Yorkshire
Moors. Its based around the aforementioned farm, some village, and a pub
called the Woolpack. Typical UK cr*p, to be honest...I think that's why
it's parodied in 'Bottom'!"

Jerry Kohl writes, "Known since 1990 simply as
'Emmerdale.' It's a twice-a-week evening soap, generally ranking third
among soaps in the UK, after 'Coronation Street' and 'East Enders.' Whether
it's 'typical UK cr*p' or not is a matter of opinion..."

_________________________
3.2 Who is Sue Carpenter?

James Kew comments "She's a rather second-rate newsreader; the joke is that
R & E are infatuated by these kind of 'fantasy' characters
because...they're too sad to meet women in real life."

___________________________
3.3 Who is Felicity Kendal?

Jerry Kohl writes "She's well known for her stage work, but has done a fair
amount of television as well...('The Good Life') is generally regarded as
one of the three or four all-time best comedies ever made for British TV.
Kendal and Briers played Barbara and Tom Good (hence the title), who decide
to drop out of the rat-race and try self-sufficiency farming in the London
suburb of Surbiton."

James Kew adds: "Felicity had (and still has) a sort of 'thinking-man's
crumpet' appeal."

Adrian Myers notes: "To help understand Ms.
Kendal's significance to "Bottom", it's worth noting that [she] was once
well-renowned for her sexy posterior. So much so, that she is a former
winner of the Jeans Industry's Rear Of the Year award."

There is in fact an FAQ on "The Good Life," maintained by Tony Velasquez,
posted regularly on rec.arts.tv.uk.

NOTE: "The Good Life" is known in the U.S. as "Good Neighbors."

___________________________________________________
3.4 Is Eddie Hitler really related to Adolf Hitler?

No. Eddie is asked on two separate occasions if he's "any relation." The
episodes are "'S Up" and "Digger." Eddie takes this to mean, "Do you have
any relations?", but what the characters are asking is "Are you related to
Adolf Hitler?" They're trying to joke with him, and it goes right over his
head.
_______________________________________
3.5 How can I make an "Esther Rantzen"?

You too can live "Bottom," you sad human being you... The ingredients to
this drink, as Richie so gleefully points out, are: Pernod, Ouzo (a wee
drop), marmalade (one glob to taste), salt (around the rim of the
*glass*).

Tony Hardy emailed me: "[I] once tried an 'Esther
Rantzen' (although I had to substitute Cointreau for marmalade) and it
really was 'bloody awful' (Eddie's first suggestion for its name)." Well,
I guess so...

_________________________
3.6 Who is Desmond Lynam?

Richard Massara tells me:

"Desmond Lynam... was a major BBC (now ITV) sports programme presenter, he is now also
doing other programmes (mainly factual). He is middle aged to old... with
grey/white hair... Irish really, but now he has a smooth sofe English
accent. He always speaks with a strange inflection, as if he's about to
make a bit point... but never does!"

_________________________________
3.7 RE: "A nation of shopkeepers"

In "'S UP" (series 1, ep. 5), Eddie and Richie "skillfully" keep shop.
Richie says, "We're a nation of shop keepers, you know. Oh, yuh, yuh, yuh,
yuh. That's what makes us so great, you know. They don't call it 'Great
Luxemburg' do they? No! Or 'Great France'..."

Rob J. Bennett tells me:

"[This joke] was based on a speech by Thatcher, when the UK was described
as a "nation of shopkeepers." By this she meant we have a tiny
manufacturing base... we all buy services from the next man, add a few
percent and pass them on. On the whole she's right... It goes without
saying that Richie and Eddie missed the point entirely -- the joke is that
they consider being a _shopkeeper_ a real trade to be _proud of_!!!"

__________________
4. TRIVIA AND NEWS

____________________________________
4.1 General Trivia

Eddie Monsoon seems to be a name Adrian Edmondson and wife like: Jennifer
Saunders named her character in Absolutely Fabulous "Edwina Monsoon," but
she is constantly called "Eddie" in the series. Additionally, Adrian
used this name in the movie: "Eddie Monsoon - A Life".

Jan Staff makes the observation about "Holy": "When Eddie goes back to sleep
after the visit from 'Santa Claus' (Richie), he imitates the Edward Munch
painting 'The Scream'." There have been alot of strong reactions to this
assertion by Bottom fans: some agree, others disagree vehemently. You make
the call.

Also in "Holy", Eddie decorates the flat by spraying "QPR" (see dictionary)
in white snow-flocky stuff on the wall; he also sprays "edIe Is grate".

In "Smells", Eddie borrows a line from the number 1 top grossing film of
1965, "The Sound of Music": "Adieu, adieu, to yeu and yeu and yeu."

______________________________
4.2 The "Red Dwarf" Connection

Robert Llewellyn, who plays "Kryten" on the cult sci-fi comedy show "Red
Dwarf", had a cameo in "Parade" as a one-legged Falklands war veteran.

Peter Wragg handled the special effects on both "Bottom" and "Red Dwarf".

Does the landlord in the pub look familiar to you? He's Lee Cornes,
probably better known as Dave Lister's Paranoia in "Red Dwarf".

The actor at the end of "Accident" who gets his arm pinched at the "birthday
party" by Richie is Mark Williams. He was also in "Red Dwarf" as "Olaf
Peterson" (series 1, episodes 1 and 3, and series 2, episode 4). He's also
been in "Alexei Sayle's STUFF".

In "Red Dwarf" series 1 the character "Chen" was played by Paul Bradley. He
also played the part of the burglar in the episode "Burglary". And he now
plays the part of "Nigel" in the BBC soap "Eastenders".

Interestingly, Ed Bye directed the first two series of "Bottom". "Red
Dwarf" fans know him for his direction of the first three seasons of that
show.

______________________________
4.3 The cast--did you know...?

Harriet Thorpe ("Smells", woman at the bar), is a talented actress who has
also appeared in "Absolutely Fabulous" (as "Fleur"), as well as "The
Brittas Empire" (as "Carol").

Helen Lederer ("Natasha" in "Digger") has also appeared in "Absolutely
Fabulous," "The Young Ones," "Filthy Rich and Catflap," and "One Foot In
The Grave."

Christopher Ryan (who plays "Dave Hedgehog") also was cast in "The Young
Ones" as Mike some ten years earlier. He was recently in "Absolutely
Fabulous."

Steven O'Donnell ("Spudgun") has been in the BBC drama "Casualty". I swear
I saw him in a pizza commercial...He also fronted Sega's commercials in the UK
for a year or two.

Brian Glover ("Mr. Rottweiler") is an accomplished actor who got his start
in the film "Kes". Recently, he was in "Kafka" with Jeremy Irons and Joel
Grey. He does the [UK] TV voiceover for commercials for Tetley Tea and
Allinsons Bread ("Bread with nowt taken out.") .

Lee Cornes, the barkeeper in "Bottom", played a member of the execution
squad in "Blackadder Goes Forth" ("Corporal Punishment"); he also appeared
in "Filthy Rich and Catflap" (as a garbage collector) and in "The Young
Ones."

Julia Sawalha (the bar-maid in "Parade") is in the cast of the Britcom
"Absolutely Fabulous". She plays Saffron Monsoon, Edina's (Jennifer
Saunders) daughter. She is currently filming "Pride and Prejudice" in
England.

Mark Arden ("Apocalpyse") was one half of the Oblivion Boys who
regularly turned up in "The Young Ones."

______________________________
4.4 A Dictionary for Americans

Terms and public figures/things that the American viewer may not be
familiar with. For the full, unabridged UK/US dictionary, try:

http://www.cathouse.org/BritishComedy/Info/UKUSDictionary/

BBC = the British Broadcasting Corporation
Beeb = affectionate name for the BBC
bird = woman
Birmingham Six, The = were wrongly convicted of an IRA bombing, sentenced
to umpteen years in jail, but were recently released after an
investigation ("Burglary")
biro = ball-point pen ("Smells", "Culture")
bloke = man
bloody = damned ("A bloody shame.") or used as mere intensive ("Not a
bloody one.")
bog = toilet
bog-roll = toilet roll
bollocks = 1) testicles; 2) nonsense ("You're talking bollocks.")
bugger = to sodomize; or used as a general insult ("You Bugger!"); also
used as an exclamation ("Bugger it!")
bugger all = nothing ("There's bugger all inside.")
bugger off = go away
Carpenter, Sue = British newscaster (see sect. 3.2)
chat-up lines = pick-up lines ("Digger")
cracking = great ("What a cracking bird!")
DIY = these initials stand for "Do It Yourself" ("Smells")
dole = welfare ("I'm on the dole.")
dosh = money
football = soccer (very big in England, like baseball in the U.S.)
Floyd, Keith = has a cooking show on BBC2. Noticeable characteristics are
his exhuberance, and the fact that he always has a glass of wine in his
hand. ("Holy")
gaff = place; can be home. ("Culture")
git = idiot, fool; also can mean bastard son of a prostitute in some areas
have it off = (having it off) intercourse ("Digger")
Home Brew = DIY beer, i.e., beer that's been brewed at home
jumper = sweater ("Smells")
Kendal, Felicity = an actress famous for starring in "The Good Life", a
very popular 70's BBC sitcom. Her bottom is held in very high regard by
some British males. (see sect. 3.3)
kip = sleep ("I could do with a kip" or "He's kipping on the sofa.")
knackered = tired or broken
knob = penis (see also nob) ("Accident", "Holy")
Late Show, The = high-brow arts show on BBC2. (not what Eddie and Richie
would be watching!)
loo = toilet (what Americans would just refer to as the "bathroom")
Marmite = brand name for a black yeast spread used on toast or in sandwiches
in the U.K. ("Smells")
nicked = stolen ("Smells")
nob = short for "nobility" (see also knob) ("Holy")
on the pull = looking for sex; seeking a "one-night-stand"
pants = underwear ("Smells")
Polo (s) = round white minty candies with a hole in the middle ("Digger")
pong = (noun or verb) to reek, esp. of body odor
Postman Pat = children's t.v. programm (puppet animation) ("Carnival")
QPR = Queen's Park Rangers, a London soccer team (sprayed on wall in
"Holy")
quid = pound (monetary unit in Britain) 500 quid = 500 pounds ("Accident")
Rantzen, Esther = presented a show called "That's Life" on BBC1 that's
been on the air for 20 years [recently canceled]; her teeth are very
prominent ("Culture")
Ross, Jonathan = TV presenter who does/did a similar show to David
Letterman's.Has a famous speech impediment: he pronounces his R's as W's.
rubbish = trash; something that is worthless or nonsensical.
sad = usually means pathetic; recently it has come to mean the same as
"crap" ("That was well sad.")
Scott, Selina = newscaster/presenter/celebrity ("Burglary")
shag = sexual intercourse
Sketchley's = a chain of high-street dry cleaners ("S'Out")
slap-up = four-star, excellent -- refers to food
snog = kissing
solicitor = lawyer. (in the US, a salesperson)
swizz = rip-off ("'S Up")
ta = informal thank you ("Gas")
telly = television
Tizer = a bright orange fruity-flavoured fizzy drink, aimed at kids
("Digger")
torch = flashlight ("'S Up")
Venables, Terry = coach for the England Soccer (Won in "Spot the ball"
competition).
wank, wanker = masturbation, one who masturbates; also used as a more
general insult
whinging = whining, to complain in an annoying manner

_______________________
4.5 Setting of the show

The setting is Hammersmith, which, according to James Kew is "...not one of
the more upmarket areas of London; quite alright though. The scene in the
opening titles is Hammersmith Broadway, which was a construction site at
the time of filming; it's since been redeveloped."

______________________
5. I WANT MORE BOTTOM!

_________________________________________
5.1 The cathouse.org British Comedy Pages

Scripts, video and book information, and a transcript of "Bottom Live!" can
be found at the cathouse.org British Comedy Pages:

http://www.cathouse.org/BritishComedy/Bottom/

_____________
5.2 FTP Sites

This FAQ, scripts from the first two series, and "Bottom Live" are available
via FTP. Log on as anonymous, giving your email account as your password.

ftp://ftp.doc.ic.ac.uk/media/tv/collections/tardis/uk/comedy/Bottom/scripts
ftp://cathouse.org/pub/cathouse/television/bottom/

You can also obtain these via email! Simply send the following message to
mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu:

send usenet/news.answers/tv/british-comedy/bottom-faq/*

_____________
5.3 The Books

There are two books out in Britain of the scripts.

_Bottom: The Scripts_ (by Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall)
(BBC Books, #8.99 0-536-36484-X hardback; #4.99 0-14-023497-7 paperback)

_More Bottom: The Scripts_ (by Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall)
(BBC Books, #8.99 0-563-37032-7 hardback [No paperback available yet])

--------
Compilation Copyright (c) 1994,95 Melinda Casino.This FAQ is FREE, and
should not be used by anyone for monetary gain. Include credits in all
reproductions of this FAQ.

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