imad_jafar Reeves and Mortimer are an acquired taste - their zaniness is a love it or hate it style of comedy. One can see influences of early Steve Martin in their comedy, and nowhere is the Reeves and Mortimer format more engaging and exhilarating than in this raw and stagy sketch-show. "Vic Reeves Big Night Out" was a wild and weird stand-up extravaganza that had been developed since the mid eighties by Reeves and his comedy partner Bob Mortimer, which they performed at various clubs, stages and performance houses. Finally, in 1990, they recorded their well honed act for a video release. This recording is now available on DVD as "The Original Vic Reeves Big Night Out".But that's enough about the background and development; how is the actual show? Well, I will say this: you will either hate it or love it. There is no doubting that some of the humor in this show is simply not funny - even fans of parody and silly humor won't find it funny. Vic and Bob essentially try to throw all their early comedic skill at the wall to see what sticks. Most does. The viewers will overlook the few unfunny moments simply because there are many scenes which are filled with truly imaginative comedic ideas - the creation of Les is a masterwork on the team's part; his appearance assuring a laugh in every episode. Other highlights include Graham Lister, the hopeless and talentless talent try-out, Mr. Wobbly-Hand, and Vic and Bob's live singing of "Summer of '75", which Reeves recorded with more lyrics on his 1991 comedy album "I Will Cure You".Some of the most famous characters, however, such as The Man With The Stick, fall flat and their bits make you wonder why their scenes were not cut out of the whole act altogether. Nonetheless, "Vic Reeves Big Night Out" is a great show that reminds us you don't need obscenity to be funny. And, of course, each episode ends on a great musical note with Vic singing "Oh! Mr.Songwriter", using his undeniable singing ability to the maximum.

dalxray OK, here's the spoiler : All of the writing and acting.I am a great fan of English comedies (ie. Python, Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin, Alexei Sayle's Stuff, Alan Partridge, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Saxondale, Fawlty Towers, The Games)(okay, last one's Aussie) - sitcoms, sketch comedy, satire, whatever - and was extremely disappointed as this was supposedly an influential series, but is in fact a load of nonsensical dreck. Badly delivered, childish, corny and extremely dated jokes - although I hesitate to call them jokes. Yeah, I get that it's supposed to be a parody of earlier television variety shows, but parodies are also supposed to be funny. This isn't.Don't waste your time, it's about as funny as cancer.By the way, Simon Day appears briefly a few times and is billed as Tommy Cockles, but he is not doing the (very funny) Tommy Cockles character from the Fast Show.

Rhys Evans OK, before watching this show, it is important that you are aware that the next 30 minutes is going to be full or randomness, silliness, and general surrealism. For example, Vic's assistant Les, is scared of chives, but smiles in delight at spirit levels. A pair of talking carpets, who's catchphrases are "You lying get", that could get tiresome, but they manage to keep it fresh by adding surreal quotes in between. If I were compare this to anything, I would say it would be like the 'Trout Mask Replica' by Captain Beefheart of the Television. At first you'll be thinking "What the hell is this?", after a while, you'll love it. If you enjoy this, be sure to get 'The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer', it is funnier, and is more of a sketch show, but equally surreal.

ClearThinker I have seen a couple of repeats of this in 2005 and it reminded me just how awful this show was. There is real talent out there and those like Reeves and Mortimer who are untalented. VR-BNO was one of those programs that people watched just to say that they watched it, and therefore were fashionable. Ask people now and they will admit what a pile of cr*p it was.Nothing Reeves and Mortimer have done since has been of any great shakes. They now make money creating and selling game show ideas. Well, if it keeps them off the screen then it has to be a good thing! So there you have it.