They Don’t Make Them Like This Anymore

By Steven O’Connor

These days the world seems to take itself a little too seriously, especially when it comes to film & TV. Parents are scared to let their kids watch certain TV shows or play certain video games in fear of a little violence and a few naughty words. When I was growing up it was a completely different story. One of my earliest memories of watching a movie was staring in amazement as Alex Murphy was brutally murdered in Robocop (1987). When I say brutally, I mean brutally. My parents didn’t care if there was violence in anything that I watched and I think parents should lighten up a little today. One of my absolute favourite shows when I was a kid was a British sitcom called Bottom.

Bottom first aired in Britain in 1991 and was written by comedy duo Rik Mayall and Adrian ‘Ade’ Edmonson who also starred in the main roles. They played two crude, perverted lunatics with no jobs, very little money and only a filthy flat in Hammersmith, London. With nothing on their minds except plotting schemes to attract women, something which they failed miserably at, the duo spent most of their time violently attacking each other, and there was no-one better at physical humour than these two, and that is what this show was all about, just chaotic, filthy humour and violent comedy slapstick. It was fun.

Bottom features the exploits of Richard Richard, played by Rik Mayall, a virgin who is living his life in hope that he will one day find a woman who will ‘do it with him’ and is bemused as to why women don’t fall for his ‘charm’. Feeling that he is constantly held back by his drunken room-mate Edward Elizabeth Hitler (Eddie), he makes sure to take out his frustrations on him, very violently. Eddie is played by Adrian Edmonson and he is a crazy drunk who uses any opportunity and any cash he can get his hands on to have a good time and does not like having to put up with his annoying room-mate and also like to take out his frustrations, violently. This includes uses Richie’s fish supper money to get drunk on bottles of Old Spice.

Bottom was hugely popular and aired three series from 1991 to 1995. Rik and Ade also took Richie and Eddie on tour in five live stage show tours, which unfortunately I was never old enough to go and see in person.

So if it’s a punch in the face, a poke in the eye, a kick in the knackers or a pencil shoved up someones nose that you’re after then I encourage you to watch this video which gives a taste of the comedy genius that was Bottom.