Failing spectacularly in various bids for pop stardom, the Goodies become the super-group of all time by stealing ideas from the likes of 'Wizzard', 'The Osmonds' and 'The Rubettes'. So successful are they that the Queen gives them O.B.E.'s during a rainstorm at Buckingham Palace. A new dance called 'The Bounce' is all the rage, and the Goodies run for Parliament as 'The Bounce Party', but are soundly beaten by a party which outlaws enjoyment...
'Goodiemania' swept Britain in 1975. After four successful series, and a regular spot on 'Englebert & The Young Generation', 'The Goodies' suddenly crossed over from cult status to mainstream. With a new, post-watershed slot ( 9 p.m. ), its ratings went into the stratosphere. 'The Goodies' were voted ahead of 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Morecambe & Wise' in a newspaper poll to find the nation's funniest comedy team, while their books and records sold by the truckload.
How did it happen? Its been suggested that the cancellation of 'Monty Python' the previous year helped. All the Pythoniacs who'd previously dismissed 'The Goodies' as a kids' show tuned in, and saw it wasn't really that much different. I think this explanation tells only half the story. The fact is the fifth season was simply brilliant. 'The Movies', 'Kung Fu Kapers', 'Bunfight At The O.K. Tearooms', 'The End' and 'Scatty Safari' are outstanding examples of the show.
'Goodies Rule-O.K.?' was a fitting climax to a wonderful year for the team. It wasn't the first Christmas special they'd made; 'The Goodies' Travelling Five-Minute Christmas' holds that honour, but was the first not to be Christmas-themed. It has no unifying plot, it simply moves from one bizarre happening to another, any one of which would have made for a typical episode - the overall effect is akin to watching one of those compilations made from the 'Carry On' films. As a result, 'O.K.' never enjoyed the popularity as say, 'The Goodies & The Beanstalk'. In fact I remember it being repeated only the once.
A number of gags about Harold Wilson ( the then Prime Minister ) resulted in 'O.K.' looking dated only a short time after its original broadcast ( he resigned in 1976 ). Even so, there's a lot of fun to be had here and it provides a tantalizing glimpse of what a 'Goodies' feature film might have looked like.
Funniest moment - it has to be the Goodies' battle with Dougal from 'The Magic Roundabout'! Amazing, even after all these years!
'Goodiemania' swept Britain in 1975. After four successful series, and a regular spot on 'Englebert & The Young Generation', 'The Goodies' suddenly crossed over from cult status to mainstream. With a new, post-watershed slot ( 9 p.m. ), its ratings went into the stratosphere. 'The Goodies' were voted ahead of 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Morecambe & Wise' in a newspaper poll to find the nation's funniest comedy team, while their books and records sold by the truckload.
How did it happen? Its been suggested that the cancellation of 'Monty Python' the previous year helped. All the Pythoniacs who'd previously dismissed 'The Goodies' as a kids' show tuned in, and saw it wasn't really that much different. I think this explanation tells only half the story. The fact is the fifth season was simply brilliant. 'The Movies', 'Kung Fu Kapers', 'Bunfight At The O.K. Tearooms', 'The End' and 'Scatty Safari' are outstanding examples of the show.
'Goodies Rule-O.K.?' was a fitting climax to a wonderful year for the team. It wasn't the first Christmas special they'd made; 'The Goodies' Travelling Five-Minute Christmas' holds that honour, but was the first not to be Christmas-themed. It has no unifying plot, it simply moves from one bizarre happening to another, any one of which would have made for a typical episode - the overall effect is akin to watching one of those compilations made from the 'Carry On' films. As a result, 'O.K.' never enjoyed the popularity as say, 'The Goodies & The Beanstalk'. In fact I remember it being repeated only the once.
A number of gags about Harold Wilson ( the then Prime Minister ) resulted in 'O.K.' looking dated only a short time after its original broadcast ( he resigned in 1976 ). Even so, there's a lot of fun to be had here and it provides a tantalizing glimpse of what a 'Goodies' feature film might have looked like.
Funniest moment - it has to be the Goodies' battle with Dougal from 'The Magic Roundabout'! Amazing, even after all these years!