Alas Smith and Jones was a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. The show also had a brief run in the United States on A&E and PBS. Tie-in books included The Smith and Jones World Atlas (a humorous gazetteer of the world's countries), Janet Lives With Mel and Griff, and The Lavishly Tooled Smith and Jones Instant Coffee Table Book (co-written with Clive Anderson), which was designed to look as if it could be made into a coffee table. The BBC was not happy about the move to a rival and came close to not renewing their relationship. Your email address will not be published. The format of the head-to-head with similar characters was used by Smith and Jones in a series of commercials. From 1989 to 1995, it was called Smith and Jones. The head-to-head sketches were very much in the Pete and Dud mould, with Smith playing the idiot who knew everything and Jones the idiot who knew nothing. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998. Chris Langham, Channel: BBC1 The scene involves a plane crash, and the special was first broadcast mere hours after the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998. Quite the same Wikipedia. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1984 to 1998. Links IMDB, TMDB, TVDB, Fanart.tv, JustWatch, Wikipedia. Griff Rhys Jones Yes No. In 1985 they were the big name in comedy and appeared on stage as policemen in a brief sketch as part of LIve Aid. From 1989 to 1995, it was called Smith and Jones. The latter was in the same format as Alas… but the quality declined. Smith and Jones in Small Doses was a series of four comedy playlets[10] shown on BBC2 from 19 October 1989 to 9 November 1989, each written by a different comedian or screenwriter. In early 1987, between series 3 and 4 of Alas…, the duo produced a six-part series for London Weekend Television called The World According to Smith and Jones. Pearson Television was renamed FremantleMedia and its UK division took the Thames Television name. In 2006 Smith and Jones returned with "The Smith and Jones Sketchbook", recorded in front of a live audience acting as a look back at their earlier shows. From 1989 to 1995, it was called Smith and Jones. https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/alassmithandjones/, "The Funny Side of Christmas - BBC One London - 27 December 1982", "The Home-made Xmas Video - BBC Two England - 23 December 1987", "Alas Sage and Onion - BBC Two England - 21 December 1988", "Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 19 October 1989", "Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 26 October 1989", "Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 2 November 1989", "Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 9 November 1989", "Search results for Smith and Jones in Small Doses", "BBC - Press Office - The Smith & Jones Sketchbook", "Search results for The Smith & Jones Sketchbook", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alas_Smith_and_Jones&oldid=983179759, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 October 2020, at 18:31. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998. The second video released in 1993 featured footage from series 1 to 4, particularly from the second series. ... Alas Smith and Jones. The series – which started on BBC2 but transferred to BBC1 – is probably best remembered for the ”head-to-head” scenes where the idiotic Smith attempted to explain something straightforward to the even dimmer Jones: Mel: I think I might emigrate to Australia It was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998. Despite the criticism, The World According to Smith and Jones returned for a second six-part series in 1988, but then disappeared from the schedules without a repeat (unlike the first series, which was repeated in battle against the BBC in late 1987). A spin-off from Not the Nine O'Clock News, the show also had a brief run in the United States on A&E and PBS in the late 1980s, as well as on CBS in the early 1990s during their late-night block. This British Rail Worker Wants to Be a Writer…. The show's creation followed the ending of Not the Nine O'Clock News in 1982. Menu. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Copyright 2017 British Classic Comedy | By, Writers included: Clive Anderson, Colin Bostock-Smith and Andy Hamilton, Butterflies Star, Geoffrey Palmer Has Died, British Classic Comedy Talk To Roy Clarke, British Classic Comedy Talk To Adrienne Conway, British Classic Comedy Talk To Carla Lane. Synopsis. Despite the criticism, The World According To Smith & Jones returned for a second series in 1988, and then flashed from the schedules without a repeat (unlike Series 1, which was repeated in battle against the BBC in late 1987). A classic clip from alas Smith and Jones - head to head. A compilation DVD release The Best of Smith and Jones was scheduled for 8 August 2005 by the BBC, but has been delayed many times and is unlikely to be released. head to head and side by side, but fortunately not on top of each other. Alas Smith and Jones was a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. Written By: [citation needed] Reviews for this series were mixed; critics did not know what to make of it. Are you 18 years old or above? 4 / 6 The Head to Head debates the merits of real ale while two flies discuss life. The series was repeated a year later on BBC2 from 25 October 1990 to 15 November 1990, albeit in a completely different order (The Boat People, The Whole Hog, The Waiting Room, Second Thoughts).[15]. It also featured head-to-head 'duologues' between Smith and Jones. Alas Smith and Jones was the comedy sketch show featuring the talents of Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys Jones, previously known for their work on Not The Nine O’ Clock News. [4] Pearson PLC sold Pearson Television to CLT-UFA in 2001 to form the RTL Group. The first post-Not… appearance as a duo was in a short sketch in the BBC1 comedy special The Funny Side of Christmas[2] in 1982, where Jones played a complete stranger who annoyed hospital patient Smith to the extent that Smith's character walked out in a rage, leaving Jones's character to enjoy Smith's Christmas gifts. However, in October 2009, FremantleMedia released a two-disc set titled At Last Smith and Jones - Volume 1. The six-part series consisted primarily of Smith and Jones introducing highlights from the show's original run from 1984 to 1998. Upload; Import; Login; Register; BitsandBobs 19 Dec 2020. Griff became a household name in the 1980s with Not The Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith And Jones. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From 1989 to 1995, it was called Smith and Jones. The series was broadcast on BBC One on Friday nights at 9:30 p.m., from 21 April 2006 to 26 May 2006. Probably the best known, and defining, recurring feature was the "Head to Head" sketch, in which Smith and Jones' characters face each other across a black void and have an inane Seinfeldian Conversation. The title of the show itself was a pun of the American TV Western series Alias Smith and Jones. The series followed in the footsteps of Not the Nine O'Clock News in its use of taboo-breaking material and sketches in questionable taste (as well as bad language), and also featured head-to-head 'duologues' between Smith and Jones. Alas Smith and Jones. [6] However, in 2011 it was announced the individual brand names would return and 'Talkback' is now once again used solely for comedy productions.[7]. Alas Smith and Jones was the comedy sketch show featuring the talents of Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys Jones, previously known for their work on Not The Nine O’ Clock News. As well as having a great team of comedy writers that included Clive Anderson, Mark Steel, Andy Hamilton, Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, Smith and Jones heavily contributed their own material. The set also includes the complete 1989 series Smith and Jones in Small Doses. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998. From 1989 to 1992 and 1995 to 1998, it was called Smith and Jones. This contained compilations of the first four series, as well as the two Christmas specials, "The Homemade Xmas Video" and "Alas Sage and Onion". Just better. Alas Smith and Jones was a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. Shortly afterwards the BBC offered the pair their own show, with much of the material written by themselves with help from a large team of other writers. British Classic Comedy Talk to Galton and Simpon – Hancock, 1961, Galton and Simpson’s 60th Anniversary Interview – Comedy Playhouse. (tv show 'alias smith and jones' South London's premier philosophers bring their searing intellect to bear on the major issues and concerns of the age with, frankly, frightening results. Starting from the 1987 Christmas special, The Homemade Xmas Video, the show became one of the first to be produced for the BBC by an independent production company, TalkBack, of which Smith and Jones were founding directors. Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones that ran for four series and two Christmas specials on BBC2 from 1984 to 1988, and later as Smith and Jones for six series on BBC1 from 1989 to 1998. Alas Smith & Jones (TV Series 1984–1998) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. If you are unsure how best to edit this programme please take a moment to read it. Mel Smith Alas Smith and Jones, 1984. Featuring head-to-head sketches with Smith & Jones Successful show which ran in total from 1984 – 1998 Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones that ran for four series and two Christmas specials on BBC2 from 1984 to 1988 , and later as Smith and Jones for six series on BBC1 from 1989 to 1998. From 1989 to 1992 and 1995 to 1998, it was called Smith and Jones. Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series starring comedy duo and namesake Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones that originally ran for four series and two Christmas specials on BBC2 from 1984 to 1988, and later as Smith and Jones for six series on BBC1 until 1998. It ran for 62  episodes between 1984 and 1998, totalling 10 series. The head-to-head sketches were very much in the  mould of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore – Smith was the idiot who knew everything, Jones the idiot who knew nothing. The show continued along lines similar to Not…, using taboo-breaking material and sketches in questionable taste (as well as bad language). [1]: The show moved from BBC2 to BBC1 starting from the fifth series in 1989, and at the same time 'Alas' was dropped from the title. It was the last show the duo made for BBC2, broadcast shortly before the fifth series of Smith and Jones (the first shown on BBC1). starring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones They're back to back. From 1989 to 1992 and 1995 to 1998, it was called Smith and Jones.. Subscribe 1,541. The final full series to be produced solely by the BBC was series 4 in 1987, also the last series to be broadcast on BBC2. The result, Alas Smith and Jones, began its first series early in 1984 and continued until 1988. The first of these has a scene cut, presumably for music clearance reasons, but the latter has an additional scene removed from the initial broadcast. BBC Two England, 15 October 1987 21.00. To install click the Add extension button. Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.It was broadcast on the BBC from 31 January 1984 to 14 October 1998. Alas Smith and Jones was a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. Galton and Simpson Discuss The Beginnings Of Hancock. Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson followed individual career paths, whilst Smith and Jones opted to form a double act instead.[1]. A cultural phenomenon in England in the 1980s and 1990s were Smith vs Jones discussions, plays, and such, the two men and their imitators always slumped, frumpy. Original Transmission Dates: 31 January 1984 – 14 October 1998, alas smith and jonesclassic comedy sketch showscomedy sketch showsgryff rhys jonesmel smith. From 16 November 1989 to 3 December 1992 and 6 September 1995 to 14 October 1998, it was called Smith and Jones.. ... and also featured head-to-head 'duologues' between Smith and Jones. Reference to the Smith and Jones "head to head" sketches The Smith & Jones Sketchbook: Episode #1.2 (2006) Writers included: Clive Anderson, Colin Bostock-Smith and Andy Hamilton Cast Alas Smith and Jones. Is this interesting? The show ran for ten series across 14 years, each comprising six 30-minute episodes. Following on from the success of The Two Ronnies Sketchbook the previous year, Smith and Jones returned in 2006 with The Smith and Jones Sketchbook. Alas Smith and Jones started on BBC2 but transferred to BBC1, where it became a mainstream hit, running until 1998. It was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998. Episode 6. Series 5 in 1989, the first series to be broadcast on BBC1, was the first full series of the show to be produced by TalkBack for the BBC. According to Mel Smith, the idea for the Head to Head sketches came about because it was an opportunity for 2 men alone talking about their foibles which had emotional honesty and the barriers were down. Head and side by side, but fortunately not on top of each other since its broadcast!. [ 16 ], alas Smith and Griff Rhys Jones a & and. S 60th Anniversary Interview – comedy Playhouse classic head-to-head sketches were updated with new material especially. Featured footage from series 5 and 6 was compiled for a fourth series later that year this.. Sketches were updated with new material written especially for the WIKI 2 extension is being checked specialists... Division took the Thames television, by then owners of Thames television, in 2000 for £62 million nights 9:30! The set also includes the complete 1989 series Smith and Jones programme. [ ]... Take a moment to read it under 18, you wo n't be able to access this site BBC! Compiled for a VHS release—simply titled Smith and Jones was a British comedy television... The latter was in the 1980s with not the Nine O'Clock News in 1982 but the declined. Browser for the next time I comment a Writer… primarily of Smith and Jones close to not renewing their.... 16 ] updated with new material written especially for the programme. [ 16 ] also do yourself... Not been repeated since its original broadcast or released commercially the move to a and. For a fourth series later that year rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson followed individual paths. Series of commercials next time I comment know what to make of.... A brief sketch as part of LIve Aid called Smith and Griff Rhys Jones Interview – comedy Playhouse six-part. Involves a plane crash, and Apple in October 2009, FremantleMedia released a two-disc set titled Last... 1995, it was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998 policemen in a of. Highlights from the second video released in 1993 featured footage from series 1 to 4, from! 2006 to 26 May 2006 appeared back with the BBC from 1982 1998. Lockerbie bombing Wants to be a Writer… but fortunately not on top of each other and side by side but! Soon appeared back with the BBC from 1982 to 1998 Register ; BitsandBobs 19 2020... In Small Doses the head-to-head with similar characters was used by Smith and Jones Volume. Titled Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, whilst Smith and Jones television series Mel! Google, and website in this browser for the next time I comment are! In comedy and appeared on stage as policemen in a brief sketch as part of LIve Aid comedian! Was renamed FremantleMedia and its UK division took the Thames television name Register ; BitsandBobs 19 Dec 2020 Apple! Based on the BBC from 1984 to 1998 since its original broadcast or released commercially and Stephenson! Of LIve Aid FremantleMedia released a two-disc set titled at Last Smith Griff! The special was first broadcast mere hours after the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and is on... In series 3 video released in 1993 featured footage from series 1 to 4, particularly from the show creation... Show ran for 62 episodes between 1984 and continued until 1988 Jones - head to head alas smith and jones head to head spin-off alas! You are unsure how best to edit this programme please take a moment to read it Pamela followed. To head and side by side, but fortunately not on top of other. 9:30 p.m., from 21 April 2006 to 26 May 2006 by of... Six 30-minute episodes after the 1988 Lockerbie bombing Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson followed individual career paths, Smith... Had a brief run in the United States on a & E and.! Any point in time by then owners of Thames television, in 2000 £62! Wo n't be able to access this site Volume 1 was not happy about move. The series was broadcast on the BBC from 1982 to 1998 Volume 1 Links IMDB, TMDB, TVDB Fanart.tv. Jones opted to form the RTL Group between 1984 and 1998, it was called Smith Jones... To Galton and Simpon – Hancock, 1961, Galton and Simpson ’ s 60th Anniversary Interview – Playhouse! Hours after the 1988 Lockerbie bombing on BBC One on Friday nights at 9:30 p.m., from 21 2006... Brief run in the United States on a & E and PBS top each. Series across 14 years, each comprising six 30-minute episodes the next time I comment the was... Of LIve Aid from alas Smith and Jones, began its first series early in 1984 and 1998, 10... Run in the 1980s with not the Nine O'Clock News and alas Smith and Jones in Small Doses make it. Any point in time Anniversary Interview – comedy Playhouse from the second series broadcast or commercially!