The Comic Strip, Part 17 - Look at them yo-yos, that's the way you do it

"Private Enterprise" - January 2nd, 1986

I should start by pointing out that this is the last of the Comic Strip episodes that made it to MTV. And that this is a very appropriate way to end the run.

Keith (Peter Richardson) is an ex-con who has a job delivering toilet paper. One day he wanders into a recording studio and steals the latest demo tape from a new wave band fronted by Ali Kitson (Rik Mayall). The next day the band has split up. Keith and his former accomplice, Brian (Ade Edmonson) pose as the management of a fictional band and use the stolen demo to try and con their way into getting a record contract so they can skip town with the advance. To keep the ruse up Keith and Brian have to disguise themselves as the band (leading to the sort of scene where people keep saying things like "Oh, you want to see Gerald? He's in the other room" and then jumping into a closet to change into Gerald while nobody notices.) Throw in a suspicious parole agent and the disgruntled Kitson and we have ourselves the kind of glorious runaround that The Supergrass should have been.

This episode and Consuela make up a two episode series that aired on consecutive days, and the two of them taken together make up the best that The Comic Strip has to offer. Both are well written and well made, with amazing attention to detail. Consuela is a surrealistic send-up and Private Enterprise is a straight ahead caper. I am going to miss the feeling of rediscovery that I've gotten seeing these episodes and remembering just how much I've enjoyed them, but considering the trajectory that we are on, I'm anticipating some excellent things to come.