Episode 73: AYBS Australia “Undesirable Alien” (with guest Dean Arcuri- again!)
That Does Suit Madame, The "Are You Being Served?" PodcastShow Notes
“I’m a confirmed bachelor. More confirmed than you think!”.
We re-welcome special guest host Dean Arcuri from Aussie-land! (he's noice, he's diff'rent, he's unyewsuel)
Sherrie Hewson liked our tweet! (Who played Mrs. Slocombe in the 2016 BBC reboot/Benedorm).
Deep Cut Jeff and refrigerator trivia.
Aussie and Southern accents.
Kath & Kim love and footie franks.
UK accents on Australian TV.
We recommend GlobalGiving.org for support for Ukraine.
“Undesirable Alien” is the only Australian AYBS episode that’s an original script; all other episodes are frame-by-frame remakes of the original UK episodes.
Therefore, this is a “lost episode” (which is also very difficult to find online… good luck).
Storyline: Mr. Humphries moves to Australia and works at “Bone’s”, remarkably similar to Grace Bros.
Parody law: tweaking art so it’s your own and not a 100% copy.
Were the Australian AYBS episodes created so Channel 10 could have a piece of the AYBS pie that ABC had already secured?
The American Kath & Kim, Beane’s of Boston, a remake of Hyacinth Bucket in Ohio: can you capture lightening in the bottle a 2nd time?
The Americans learn the term “bogans”.
…and “occa”.
Mercuries and Subarus.
Mr. Jeff sings!
The Roseanne/Absolutely Fabulous connection.
June Bronhill, who played the Mrs. Slocombe character (named Mrs. Crawford). She was a famous opera singer whose first acting credit was this show!
Occa = Aussie term for someone with a heavy Australian accent.
Mr. Brandon is being formulaic about comedy?!
How much is that $10.50 Aus bowtie worth today? About $30 US.
The cultural phenomenon/soap opera called “Neighbours” which is ending after 37 years of filming 5 days a week.
American soaps air during daytime TV. Australia and the UK’s soaps are primetime = very different stuff.
Mr. Humphries had a work permit to work at Bone’s department store but it was lost! Immigration is looking for him on the sales floor.
So of course, Mr. Humphries goes into disguise as a bogan maintenance worker.
Why did he have corks on his hat in his bogan costume?
Bruce is the butchest name.
Mrs. Crawford agrees to marry Mr. Humphries so he can stay employed with the team.
Using random Australian words. Didgeridoo! Koala!
Tim Tam slams are illegal in Northern Mississippi…
We want to import fairy bread: white bread, butter, sprinkles.
Imaging life next to a big, hairy, beer-drinking man.
The “Fast Forward” skit about AYBS starring Kath & Kim stars Magda Szubanski and Gina Riley.
Actors copying original AYBS roles vs. a new interpretation of the character.
LGBT rights in Australia in the early 1980’s.
Dean speaks good.
Suing for breach of promise? (Calling off an engagement and how engagement rings figure into things).
Navigating COVID relationships.
“Nutbush City Limits”, the Tina Turner song, is a required Australian wedding song.
Disappointment in The Netherlands.
And then they find the work permit form!
Mrs. Crawford doesn’t get to marry Mr. Humphries after all.
Deus Ex Machinaaaaaa!
…and Mr. Humphries is, once again, free.
Up next: Are You Being Served Again? / Grace & Favour!!!
Treat yourself to some That Does Suit Madame merch at our Bargain Basement podcast shop at imfree.threadless.com for t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more! Leave the show a voicemail at the Peacock Hotline: (662)-PEACOCK (662-732-2625) and find us on Twitter @DoesSuitMadame and #AYBS #AreYouBeingServed #ImFree #Britcom #comedy #MrHumphries #ThatDoesSuitMadame #GraceBros #podcast #LGBT #BlackLivesMatter #BBC
More from That Does Suit Madame, The "Are You Being Served?" Podcast
Are you FREE for a BONUS episode?! We are!
Our FINAL podcast: After 86 podcast episodes, Mr. Jeff and Mr. Brandon say goodbye to the podcast they've crafted over the past two and a half years. What started out to be a COVID-hobby became a fantastic vehicle to bring "Are You Being Served?" fans together, share some laughs, and give the space to really take a look at why we all love this silly, wonderful comedy program.
In this podcast episode, we review the very final original content from the AYBS Universe. :( Your two podcast hosts had a lovely chat with Brian Slade, author “Simon Cadell: The Authorised Biography”, the beloved Hi-De-Hi actor. We received a delightful voicemail from the “Keeping Up Appearances: The Luxury Podcast” with chums of the pod William Hanson (from the “I Sexted My Boss” podcast) and Jonathan Vernon-Smith from the BBC “The JVS Show” programme. The staff has finally turned on Mr. Rumbold’s managerial role. “Fanny Adams” is a phrase that translates to “fuck all” but points to a very tragic news event which was popularized by the English Navy regarding an 8 year old girl in 1867. What if there -was- a 3rd season of Grace & Favour/AYBS? We learn about the fate of Mrs. Rumbold. Mr. Molturd randomly announces that the lads from the pub have challenged the staff with a darts match! We try to explain how darts is played (visualize a pizza). Find old episodes of “Bullseye” on YouTube, the Darts Game Show from 1980s’ UK! Sheep are being sold to the estate next-door. Mr. Humphries is proud of his Australian hat (sent from his penpal). Capt. Peacock’s mysterious bite marks that Miss. Lovelock somehow is privy to. Enter the 1928 Daimler sedan. What is a “tax disc”? Percy the local police officer and Molturd's bribe. And the super cute freeze-frame of Billy Burden in this scene with a great big smile. The Vine Tree Pub was where the exterior shots of the episode were filmed in Norton, England. It’s still open today and is a 14 minute drive away from Chavenage House (“Millstone Manor”). Apple orchards in the West Country of England generates excess apples which are then crafted into “scrumpy”- a high-octane alcohol. A quick history of why we call the graphite in pencils “lead”. Mavis can handle her scrumpy and “is just getting started”! Paul Humpoletz player Henry Heathcliff, Malcom’s father. Mr. Brandon finally stumps Mr. Jeff: Paul Humpoletz also played one of the thieves in the “The Hold Up” from the original series 10: episode 3! And her past catches up with her again from Tiverton.
We’re supporting Gladys in the Bell Ringers Association Union local #DING and their strike. Beryl, our switchboard operator, let a very confused voicemail get through to the podcast. Americans: don’t forget to vote in the Mid-term elections! A fabulous scene of Miss. Lovelock driving the carriage with Humphries in his red riding gear. “Walkies” jogs our memory to a classic AYBS episode. Peacock tries to encourage Lovelock’s fascination with his history… without luck. “It’s not quite the same thing, is it?” We learn “punka wallas”. Slocombe and Brahams can still pull the guys! We meet Malcom-Heathcliff again in the path and threatens Humphries again. Who won 3rd place in the Miss. Lovely Legs contest in Tiverton? One guess… “Of you’ll find some rough lads waiting for you”. Humphries looks right into the camera to contemplate. Mongolians booked a tour at the Manor but the currency has fallen drastically! Cheap, weird jokes made about Mongolians. The staff have to create a “cultural event” for their guests (Just like in the “Mr. Slocombe” episode!). Slocombe once served Vanessa Redgrave! Ferrets in trousers? Humphries shows off some childhood photos. We get a great “jug ears” thanks to Wendy Richard. A weird hierarchy joke against Molturd from Brahams. Molturd will arrange for local villagers to audition for the talent show. Kiri Te Kanawa is the famous New Zealand opera singer that Slocombe wouldn’t remember. Mavis is encouraging Humphries to have a scrap with Malcom-Healthcliff. Mrs Cleghampton (again) tries out for employment and fails (with her adapted cello). Her g-string broke! Tiddles cries; glass breaks. But she played at the Proms! Mr. Jeff explains the cultural mistakes during the Mongolians’ concert. The Mongolian language is not a tonal language yet the actors mostly speak Mandarin Chinese. The gong is played. Mongolians stand and bow, over and over. The “sooo…” joke from “The Hand of Fate” episode is recycled but the asian character gets a zing in the end. Molturd battles a donkey and loses. Sir Gay Humphries! Joanne Heywood knows how to dance ballet on point! A suspicious red codpiece. And a patriotic “Britannia” makes an appearance. We think this episode missed several points b/c of sloppy jokes about Mongolians but this shows its age (yet we still love it!). Treat yourself to some That Does Suit Madame merch at our Bargain Basement podcast shop at imfree.threadless.com for t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more! Leave the show a voicemail at the Peacock Hotline: (662)-PEACOCK (662-732-2625) and find us on Twitter @DoesSuitMadame and #AYBS #AreYouBeingServed #ImFree #Britcom #comedy #ThatDoesSuitMadame #GraceBros #podcast #LGBT #BlackLivesMatter #BBC #AreYouBeingServedAgain #GraceAndFavour #GraceAndFavor
It’s Halloween season!