Kurt at 20:22, 23 December 2022

2022-12-23T20:22:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:22, 23 December 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Short description\|British television comedy series}}		{{Short description\|British television comedy series}}
	~~{{distinguish\|Alias Smith and Jones}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}~~
	{{Infobox television		{{Infobox television
	\| image = BBC Smith and Jones Title Card.png		\| image = BBC Smith and Jones Title Card.png

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-15T17:09:53Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:09, 15 August 2022
(No difference)

2A00:23C8:1780:9201:CD1:E76:4E59:FFF9 at 20:32, 10 July 2022

2022-07-10T20:32:30Z

New page

{{Short description|British television comedy series}}
{{distinguish|Alias Smith and Jones}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image = BBC Smith and Jones Title Card.png
| caption = Title card from 1995–1998, with Mel Smith on the left and Griff Rhys Jones on the right.
| alt_name = Smith and Jones
| genre = [[Sketch comedy]]
| creator =
| starring = [[Mel Smith]] [[Griff Rhys Jones]] [[Chris Langham]] [[Rowan Atkinson]] (Episode 1, Season 1 and Episode 4, Season 10) (Guest)
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 10
| num_episodes = 62
| runtime = 30 minutes per normal episode
| company = [[BBC]] [[Talkback (production company)|TalkBack]]
| distributor = [[Fremantle (company)|FremantleMedia]]
| network = [[BBC Two|BBC2]] (1984–88) [[BBC One|BBC1]] (1989–1998)
| first_aired = {{Start date|1984|1|31|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1998|10|14|df=yes}}
| preceded_by = ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'' (1979–1982)
| followed_by =
}}

'''''Alas Smith and Jones''''' is a British [[comedy]] [[sketch 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 [[BBC Two|BBC2]] from 1984 to 1988, and later as '''''Smith and Jones''''' for six series on [[BBC One|BBC1]] until 1998. A spin-off from ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'', the show also had a brief run in the United States on [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] and [[PBS]] in the late 1980s, as well as on [[CBS]] in the early 1990s during their late-night block.

==History==

===Background===
The show's creation followed the ending of ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'' in 1982. [[Rowan Atkinson]] and [[Pamela Stephenson]] followed individual career paths, whilst Smith and Jones opted to form a double act instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/alassmithandjones/|title = Alas Smith and Jones}}</ref>

The first post-''Not…'' appearance as a duo was in a short sketch in the BBC1 comedy special ''[[The Funny Side of Christmas]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=The Funny Side of Christmas - BBC One London - 27 December 1982|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b06a645eaf684106a6b4cd1a236a4a81|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref> 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.

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. The show's title was a pun on the American television series ''[[Alias Smith and Jones]]'', which was very popular in Britain.

===Format===
The show continued along lines similar to ''Not…'', using taboo-breaking material and sketches in questionable taste (as well as bad language). It also featured head-to-head 'duologues' between Smith and Jones. It shared several script writers with ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' including [[Clive Anderson]] and [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], and used [[Chris Langham]] as a cast regular, while also using [[Andy Hamilton]], which helped keep the show to a consistently high standard.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mel Smith obituary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10193618/Mel-Smith.html|website=The Telegraph|date=21 July 2013}}</ref>

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. The format of the head-to-head with similar characters was used by Smith and Jones in a series of commercials.

===TalkBack===
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. 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 (production company)|TalkBack]], of which Smith and Jones were founding directors. 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.

Smith and Jones would later sell TalkBack to [[Pearson Television]], by then owners of [[Thames Television]], in 2000 for £62 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pearson TV buys TalkBack|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/791303.stm|website=BBC News Online|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015|date=14 June 2000}}</ref> [[Pearson PLC]] sold Pearson Television to CLT-UFA in 2001 to form the [[RTL Group]]. Pearson Television was renamed [[Fremantle (company)|FremantleMedia]] and its UK division took the Thames Television name.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Waller|first1=Ed|title=Pearson TV becomes FremantleMedia|url=http://www.c21media.net/pearson-tv-becomes-fremantlemedia/|website=C21Media|access-date=1 March 2015|date=20 August 2001}}</ref> The operational departments of TalkBack and Thames were later merged to form [[Talkback Thames]] in 2003; initially each brand continued to be used on screen, but eventually all productions used the Talkback Thames name.<ref>{{cite web|title=Talkback and Thames in tie-up.|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/talkback-and-thames-in-tie-up/1110583.article|website=Broadcast|access-date=1 March 2015|date=17 February 2003}}</ref> However, in 2011 it was announced the individual brand names would return and 'Talkback' is now once again used solely for comedy productions.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/nov/23/talkback-thames-to-split-up | work=The Guardian| first=Tara | last=Conlan | title=Talkback Thames to be split up | date=23 November 2011 |access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref>

==Episode guide==
The show ran for ten series across 14 years, each comprising six 30-minute episodes.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088475/episodes]:

===''Alas Smith and Jones'' (BBC2)===
* '''Series 1:''' 31 January 1984 – 6 March 1984
* '''Series 2:''' 31 October 1985 – 5 December 1985
* '''Series 3:''' 18 September 1986 – 23 October 1986
* '''Series 4:''' 15 October 1987 – 26 November 1987
*'''The Homemade Xmas Video:''' Christmas Special 1987 (23 December) <ref>{{cite web|title=The Home-made Xmas Video - BBC Two England - 23 December 1987|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f6472ba5c48244eea985f5b735625438|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref>
*'''Alas Sage and Onion:''' Christmas Special 1988 (21 December) <ref>{{cite web|title=Alas Sage and Onion - BBC Two England - 21 December 1988|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1a6fb0e2bc314c6eb5d6274454d36836|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref>

===''Smith and Jones'' (BBC1)===
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.

* '''Series 5:''' 16 November 1989 – 28 December 1989
* '''Series 6:''' 22 November 1990 – 3 January 1991
* '''Series 7:''' 22 October 1992 – 3 December 1992
* '''Series 8:''' 6 September 1995 – 18 October 1995
* '''Series 9:''' 19 June 1997 – 24 July 1997
* '''Series 10:''' 9 September 1998 – 14 October 1998

==''The World According to Smith and Jones'' (1987–1988)==
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''. Smith and Jones soon appeared back with the BBC for a fourth series later that year.

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).

* '''Series 1:''' 11 January 1987 – 15 February 1987
* '''Series 2:''' 16 January 1988 – 20 February 1988

==''Smith and Jones in Small Doses'' (1989)==
''Smith and Jones in Small Doses'' was a series of four comedy playlets<ref>{{cite web|title=Rhys Jones, Griff (1953-) Biography|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/526218/|website=BFI Screenonline|publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref> shown on [[BBC Two|BBC2]] from 19 October 1989 to 9 November 1989, each written by a different [[comedian]] or [[screenwriter]]. It was the last show the duo made for BBC2, broadcast shortly before the fifth series of ''Smith and Jones'' (the first shown on [[BBC One|BBC1]]).

# '''The Whole Hog''' by [[Graeme Garden]]: 19 October 1989<ref>{{cite web|title=Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 19 October 1989|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/03a06a2d88324704adea84ad4cbd4d8b|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>
# '''The Boat People''' by [[Griff Rhys Jones]]: 26 October 1989<ref>{{cite web|title=Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 26 October 1989|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4488edb82f0b4b8fa422621061f1263f|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>
# '''Second Thoughts''' by [[Anthony Minghella]]: 2 November 1989<ref>{{cite web|title=Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 2 November 1989|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/37d4e8c0334c4b3ebea3de1caf454c7f|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>
# '''The Waiting Room''' by [[John Mortimer]]: 9 November 1989<ref>{{cite web|title=Smith and Jones in Small Doses - BBC Two England - 9 November 1989|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4ab9fe97b4b54094b0649360d0d1a5e3|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>

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'').<ref>{{cite web|title=Search results for Smith and Jones in Small Doses|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22smith+and+jones+in+small+doses%22#search|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>

==''The Smith and Jones Sketchbook'' (2006)==
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''.

The six-part series consisted primarily of Smith and Jones introducing highlights from the show's original run from 1984 to 1998. Some of the classic head-to-head sketches were updated with new material written especially for the programme.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/04_april/03/smithjones.shtml | publisher=BBC |title=BBC - Press Office - The Smith & Jones Sketchbook |date=3 April 2006 |access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>

The series was broadcast on [[BBC One]] on Friday nights at 9:30 p.m., from 21 April 2006 to 26 May 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Search results for The Smith & Jones Sketchbook|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22the+smith+%26+jones+sketchbook%22#search|website=BBC Genome|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref> It has not been repeated since its original broadcast or released commercially.

==Commercial releases==
In 1991, a compilation of footage from series 5 and 6 was compiled for a [[VHS]] release—simply titled ''Smith and Jones''. The second video released in 1993 featured footage from series 1 to 4, particularly from the second series. 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.

However, in October 2009, [[Fremantle (company)|FremantleMedia]] released a two-disc set titled ''At Last Smith and Jones - Volume 1''. This contained compilations of the first four series, as well as the two Christmas specials, "The Homemade Xmas Video" and "Alas Sage and Onion". 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. The scene involves a plane crash, and the special was first broadcast mere hours after the [[Pan Am Flight 103|1988 Lockerbie bombing]].

The set also includes the complete 1989 series ''Smith and Jones in Small Doses''. Volume 2 was prepared at the same time as the first release, featuring newly-edited highlights episodes from the later ''Smith and Jones'' era plus the unbroadcast sitcom pilot ''Three Flights Up'', but has yet to see release.

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|Coffee Table Book]]'' (co-written with [[Clive Anderson]]), which was designed to look as if it could be made into a [[coffee table]].

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{BBC Online|id=comedy/alassmithandjones/index.shtml|title=''Alas Smith and Jones''}} Comedy Guide
*{{BBC Online|id=programmes/p008575c|title=''BBC Two - Alas Smith and Jones''}} Programmes
*{{BBC Online|id=programmes/p007knqs|title=''BBC One - Smith and Jones''}} Programmes
*{{BBC Online|id=programmes/b038s05b|title=''BBC One - Smith and Jones Sketchbook''}} Programmes
*{{IMDb title|0088475|Alas Smith and Jones/Smith and Jones}}
*{{IMDb title|0092487|The World According to Smith and Jones}}
*{{IMDb title|0096699|Smith and Jones in Small Doses}}
*{{IMDb title|0824182|The Smith and Jones Sketchbook}}

[[Category:1984 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1998 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s British television sketch shows]]
[[Category:1990s British television sketch shows]]
[[Category:BBC television sketch shows]]
[[Category:British comedy duos]]
[[Category:Television series by Fremantle (company)]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]

Alas Smith and Jones - Revision history

Kurt at 20:22, 23 December 2022

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2A00:23C8:1780:9201:CD1:E76:4E59:FFF9 at 20:32, 10 July 2022