"Top of the Form" was a genuine long-running TV show in which teams representing secondary schools from across the UK competed. It ended in 1975 because of a wave of feeling that swept through the UK Educational system around that time that saw any kind of competitiveness between school-aged children as devisive and undesireable (and which even led to some schools of the period ending the traditional annual school sports days!).
Pretty much when Grammar Schools ended and with it, most working-class kids chance of getting into University. Ours, near Brixton, became a Comprehensive then after 350 years of "academic excellence" and within 5 years was a Government "Sink School". It closed for good in 2023 as Parents no longer wanted to send their kids there. Tragic.
In August 1940, Wise met Eric Morecambe, then known as Eric Bartholomew, when they were both in the touring Jack Hylton show "Youth takes a Bow". Gradually, the duo formed a close friendship, and, in 1941, they began their comedy double act, which was to last until Morecambe's death in 1984.
The theme music of "Top of the Form" (called "Marching Strings" - composed by Ray Martin, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria in 1937, and played by his Concert Orchestra) is correctly depicted. The show is now largely forgotten, but was both a radio and TV show that ran for 38 years, from 1948 to 1986. Competitors were in the 13 to 18 year age range. The standard of questions was challenging for an adult audience even in its time - a modern audience, I fear, would be utterly perplexed.
Eddie Braben, their longtime writer and who prettty much shaped the duo and their style, once described their partnership by saying Ernie Wise was the comedian who wasn’t funny, while Eric Morecambe was the straight man who was funny. Basically, Ernie was the one trying to entertain everyone and getting nowhere, while Eric reacted to him and somehow made everyone laugh doing it.
Smoke gets in your eye with the great Shirley Bassey (James Bond Goldfinger theme tune, among others). Morcombe and Wise did a lot of sketches with famous singers and actors of their time.
LOL It's Simon Stuart a Clockwork Orange little droogie Pete, actor Michael Martin aka Michael Tarn. He used to live in Alicante, Spain. Close neighbour btw...
Ernie's hair (the quiz presenter) is not a wig, but Eric would often make jokes about Ernie's hair being a wig, and being able to see the join! Eric's supposed wig also sometimes appeared in the show credits 🤣
Great reaction! Now that you have done the University Challenge with M & W, please do *Mastermind* with M & W, arguably, the most advanced top intelligence quiz show for masterminds. Obviously, M & W take the mickey and it's hilarious, even for the average intelligent viewer.
Love Morecambe and Wise, Windmills of Your Mind with Hannah Gordon and The Banana Boat song are hilarious also the British Andrews Sisters. Check out Dick Emery The Driving Test and The Milkman sketches, also Tommy Cooper
I suppose this is the boys doing nostalgia , Top of the form was a dry as dust quiz show that didn't really work any more . It's a bit of a filler sketch . The best ones were always the end play " which Ernie wrote" with a guest star being humiliated , or a dance number .
You are spot on with healthcare however my doctor does phone calls in UK. However dentists are hard to get, saw a dentist and have to wait three weeks to get extraction. Envy USA white teeth, mine shocking. 🤐
Meh your either a Morecombe and Wise fan or The Two Ronnies fan the Two Ronnies are the cream of double acts no matter what anyone would have you believe 👍Ronnie Barker was a true comedy genius unlike these two slapstick clowns
'Singing in the Rain' routine and 'The Breakfast' sketch. Both classics.
"Top of the Form" was a genuine long-running TV show in which teams representing secondary schools from across the UK competed. It ended in 1975 because of a wave of feeling that swept through the UK Educational system around that time that saw any kind of competitiveness between school-aged children as devisive and undesireable (and which even led to some schools of the period ending the traditional annual school sports days!).
Pretty much when Grammar Schools ended and with it, most working-class kids chance of getting into University. Ours, near Brixton, became a Comprehensive then after 350 years of "academic excellence" and within 5 years was a Government "Sink School". It closed for good in 2023 as Parents no longer wanted to send their kids there. Tragic.
It started in 1948 as a radio show.
Kind of a schools equivalent of 'University Challenge' - which is still running!
Watch them doing Singing in the Rain
M&W had some great sketches, Singing In The Rain and the Breakfast one with the stripper music are classics!
Morecombe and wise dancing with Tom Jones is hilarious.
In August 1940, Wise met Eric Morecambe, then known as Eric Bartholomew, when they were both in the touring Jack Hylton show "Youth takes a Bow". Gradually, the duo formed a close friendship, and, in 1941, they began their comedy double act, which was to last until Morecambe's death in 1984.
The theme music of "Top of the Form" (called "Marching Strings" - composed by Ray Martin, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria in 1937, and played by his Concert Orchestra) is correctly depicted. The show is now largely forgotten, but was both a radio and TV show that ran for 38 years, from 1948 to 1986. Competitors were in the 13 to 18 year age range. The standard of questions was challenging for an adult audience even in its time - a modern audience, I fear, would be utterly perplexed.
lol reminds of the 'Young Ones' doing university challenge
The Breakfast sketch is amazing
Eddie Braben, their longtime writer and who prettty much shaped the duo and their style, once described their partnership by saying Ernie Wise was the comedian who wasn’t funny, while Eric Morecambe was the straight man who was funny. Basically, Ernie was the one trying to entertain everyone and getting nowhere, while Eric reacted to him and somehow made everyone laugh doing it.
As opposed to Mike and Bernie Winters, the only "comedy" act with 2 straight men:)
Smoke gets in your eye with the great Shirley Bassey (James Bond Goldfinger theme tune, among others). Morcombe and Wise did a lot of sketches with famous singers and actors of their time.
You need to look at the Cleopatra sketch 😂😂
It was one of the plays what Ernie wrote😂. You will get that reference when you have seen more of these 2.
Great, thanks guys!
Single sex schools? Blazers? Striped ties? Ancient history, but I still remember it.
LOL It's Simon Stuart a Clockwork Orange little droogie Pete, actor Michael Martin aka Michael Tarn. He used to live in Alicante, Spain. Close neighbour btw...
I would imagine for the Christmas show, more or less the whole of the UK were watching, well over 10 million people.
Brilliant,You should watch their attempt at The Jungle Book.
You both look really well in this one. Like a cool warm summer sunset.
Ernie's hair (the quiz presenter) is not a wig, but Eric would often make jokes about Ernie's hair being a wig, and being able to see the join! Eric's supposed wig also sometimes appeared in the show credits 🤣
Great reaction! Now that you have done the University Challenge with M & W, please do *Mastermind* with M & W, arguably, the most advanced top intelligence quiz show for masterminds. Obviously, M & W take the mickey and it's hilarious, even for the average intelligent viewer.
I don’t remember that one. Thanks for picking it.
Never gonna turn that cap around - like real gangstas, LOL..
Albert and Costello act.If you could find the short plays "what Ernie wrote" to react to that would be great.👍🇬🇧
Love Morecambe and Wise, Windmills of Your Mind with Hannah Gordon and The Banana Boat song are hilarious also the British Andrews Sisters. Check out Dick Emery The Driving Test and The Milkman sketches, also Tommy Cooper
MASTERMIND.. Please Watch Morecambe & Wise Mastermind
Have you ever seen any "University Challenge"? It started in 1962 and I think it's still going...
I suppose this is the boys doing nostalgia , Top of the form was a dry as dust quiz show that didn't really work any more . It's a bit of a filler sketch . The best ones were always the end play " which Ernie wrote" with a guest star being humiliated , or a dance number .
The end play *what* Ernie wrote. Even better if you hear it in Glenda Jackson's exasperated voice.
You are spot on with healthcare however my doctor does phone calls in UK. However dentists are hard to get, saw a dentist and have to wait three weeks to get extraction. Envy USA white teeth, mine shocking. 🤐
If you make a call to a GPs surgery in the uk at 8.00am and can get through, you can make a DRs appointment on the same day.
Subject to availability
Mehman coke studio season 15 last song
squeky squeky
Piya piya calling Coke studio season 15
Morcum
Pronounced "Morecome"
Americans have a weird take on British comedy sometimes. So literal. The doctor analogy was interestingly strange.
I think you'll struggle pronouncing "Morecambe" but you might get "Wise" right (with a bit of practice).
I never found Morecombe and wise funny my grandparents watched them
Have you seen The Andre Previn sketch?
Meh your either a Morecombe and Wise fan or The Two Ronnies fan the Two Ronnies are the cream of double acts no matter what anyone would have you believe 👍Ronnie Barker was a true comedy genius unlike these two slapstick clowns
nope, still never understood why people find them so funny.