The Weekenders (TV pilot)
| The Weekenders | |
|---|---|
Granada Television | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 17 June 1992 |
| Related | |
| The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer Catterick | |
The Weekenders is a one-off comic
Plot
In the sole episode The Meat Festival, Bob visits his friend Jim, who has been going through some hard times. For example, his father has been practising with his ouija board, and brought back his uncle and aunt as a pair of geese. They go down to the local pub (The Farting Dashboard) and discover in the newspaper that there is a meat festival taking place (at St. Prontaprint-in-Arndale). They decide to visit the festival, which consists of two tables in an open field. Jim buys a "speciality meat product" from Phil Oakey. However, some other people try to buy the meat off him. Jim and Bob refuse, but the men keep trying to take the meat away from him.
When Jim goes to the pub toilets, he and Bob discover that the men are in fact alien beings with Geordie accents, who claim they need the meat to feed their queen and keep their race alive. Jim and Bob decide to give them the meat, but the police come and attempt to arrest the aliens for stealing other speciality meat products. Jim, Bob and the aliens fight off the police, run away and are led to a garden shed which is in fact the aliens' space ship. Jim and Bob realise that they have forgotten the meat. The police then arrive, but instead of arresting the aliens, give the meat that they left behind. The aliens take the meat and give Jim and Bob a special wish. Jim asks for his uncle and aunt to return to their former selves. The aliens take the meat and leave Earth. When Jim and Bob arrive home, Jim discovers the aliens made his wish come true; his uncle and aunt have returned to their former selves - as foxes.[2]
Production
The Weekenders was the first television programme created by Reeves and Mortimer following the end of the hugely popular series
The show co-starred several comedians and actors who were unknown at the time, but had worked with Reeves and Mortimer previously and would go on to become famous. These included
Reception
Channel 4 have claimed to have liked The Weekenders and said they would have been willing to let Reeves and Mortimer do a full series, in exchange for a third series of Vic Reeves Big Night Out. However, Reeves and Mortimer were not willing to do another series, having performed the show on stage and on television for five years. As neither side was willing to compromise, a series was never commissioned. This rejection is considered to be one of the main factors for Reeves and Mortimer moving to the BBC, where they went on to create
The pilot is seen by fans as an experimental move for Reeves and Mortimer, as it allowed them to perform in a new format - though the duo would not write and perform in another sitcom until Catterick in 2004.[4][5]
As part of Channel 4's Funny Fortnight season, The Weekenders was repeated on Thursday 16 August 2012, preceded by a specially recorded introduction by Reeves and Mortimer.
Locations
Several scenes were filmed around Greater Manchester, namely in areas such as the Northern Quarter, Trafford, Urmston, and Wythenshawe, whilst The Pack Horse in Bolton is used as the hotel called The Glove.
References
- ISBN 0-563-48755-0.
- ^ "The Meat Festival". The Weekenders. Season 1. Episode 1. 17 June 1992.
- ISBN 0-563-48755-0.
- ^ a b "Any Other Business". Reeves & Mortimer - The Ultimate Site. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
- ^ a b "The Weekenders". It's Reeves and Mortimer. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
External links
- The Weekenders at IMDb
- Filming Location: Jim's House ~01:15
- Filming Location: The Farting Dashboard, Hitler Avenue ~03:17
- Filming Location: Street where Jim and Bob get on the bus ~06:04
- Filming Location: Site of the "Boiled Onions!" seller and The Glove Hotel ~10:35
- Filming Location: Junction where Jim, Bob and the Aliens give way to the green Austin 1300 ~19:04
