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Drop The Dead Donkey - Complete Season 1 [DVD]
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RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £3.12 (subject to change)
Editorial
Description
Drop the Dead Donkey was a situation, satirical comedy, set in the offices of "Globelink News", a fictional TV news company in the style of CNN, ITN, Sky News, etc. Globelink has been acquired by a multi-millionaire tycoon who prefers a more sensationalist stance to the news. The characters were created to exaggerate the perceived ideas of office/media stereotypes and each programme was recorded close to transmission, allowing script changes to incorporate maximum topicality in particularly of a political nature. The last scene, or voiceover for the ending credits was filmed either the day before or even on the day of broadcast to coincide with relative news stories. First aired in 1990, Drop the Dead Donkey was an innovative comedy that launched the careers of several successful comic actors.
fun to rewatch, but now lacking the same punch
Review date: 2010-07-01 Rating: 6 out of 10
I bought this to rewatch what was one of my favourite comedy series from the early 90s, and while it's great to see it again, the emphasis has changed for me. At the time the political jokes, criticisms of current events, and jabs at popular figures were acutely observed and cheekily hilarious, and few other media sources were this comically critical of current events as they occurred.
However, although the show provides a brief recap of the news events of each week to provide context for each episode, it has inevitably lost its topical punchiness, nearly 20 years later. For example, I used to think the endless jokes about Peter Lilly being slimy git of the week were hilarious, but now I don't remember who he was. That's my fault- if you have a detailed memory for public figures, current events and politicians from the early 90s, the show may seem as acutely funny as ever.
Instead I now enjoy the character comedy more- the plot lines and exploits concerning Damien, Dave and Gus now seem to be the core comedy content of the show, and are enduringly funny because you don't need to know historical details of the era.
So it's still worth rewatching if you don't remember the early 90s much anymore, for the characters.
Similar Products
- Drop The Dead Donkey - Series 2 [DVD]
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- Drop The Dead Donkey - Series 5 [DVD] [1996]
Reviews
Still Funny
Review date: 2010-03-31 Rating: 10 out of 10
Although first transmitted 20 years ago my wife and I find it as hugely entertaining as before. The wit is as sharp and relevant to much of today's news as it was then. We wondered if after 20 years it would not entertain as much but have now purchased the entire series and look forward to many hours of laughter.Drop The Dead Donkey - Complete Season 1 [DVD]
Drop The Dead Donkey - Season 1 DVD set
Review date: 2010-03-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
I always used to look forward to this series on TV and have really missed it so I was really pleased to be able to get the set on Amazon. All the actors are just right for the parts they play and, even though the news is now old, the humour is so slick and well put over and still makes me laugh. I feel that I could still watch the same episodes more than once and still enjoy them.
Twenty years on, the laughs are as fresh as ever!
Review date: 2010-02-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
I missed the first season of this excellent sitcom, and wanted to see what I'd missed. I certainly wasn't disappointed. The humour and quick-fire repartee is still fresh after twenty years. I thoroughly recommend it to all who appreciate satire. It's a pity that this type of programme is now all too rare.
great wit
Review date: 2009-11-19 Rating: 10 out of 10
I loved these when they were first broadcast, and they aree still funny now. In the special features they talk about how embarrassing it was to do the first episode without enough rehearsal, but frankly it continues throughout the entire series, but it doesn't detract from the characters or the stories, even if the 'current events' are dated. Can't go wrong with this.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Jeff Rawle
Robert Duncan
David Swift
Victoria Wicks
Neil Pearson
Creators:
Robert Duncan (Primary Contributor)
Neil Pearson (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Cinema Club
Manufacturer: Cinema Club
EAN: 5014138301477
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-06-27
Aspect ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 240 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1990
Language: English (Original Language)