Alexei Sayle's Stuff

Comedy, most especially contemporary comedy, seems to stand more chance than anything else of dating.

I was disappointed to see highlights of this series and realise that, just twelve years on, "Stuff" has lost its bite. What was hilarious at the time now seems strangely blunted, as Alexei's self-described "alternative new-wave Marxist comedy" meets cosy BBC light entertainment with muted results.

Of course, this leftwing, "screaming at the camera" style was very amusing at time of transmission, and that's what really counts. There are still some funny moments to be had, such as Sayle rallying against Dire Straits, or talking about his half-serious suicide attempt ("I tried to slash my wrists with a tomato"). Asking such irreverent questions as would Hitler's invasion of Poland be acceptable if he did it for charity still raise a wry smile, but some of the juxtaposition – a chat show where Islamic fundamentalism is discussed by three motorway café waitresses – lacks punch.

Some of the surrealism is too reactionary in the more accepting 21st century, largely because Sayle's chief target – the Thatcher administration – is now long gone, and so holds no real relevance to today's society. Other sketches – such as the fireman who suffers from Pyrophobia – are sub-Python, while the use of such "safe" BBC luminaries as Angus Deayton feel comfortable and unthreatening. What was yesterday's cutting edge is today's relative mainstream. The familiar variety staple of a song per week also offsets the attempted activism, particularly as none of the songs contain the aggression that made "Ullo John, Got A New Motor?" a hit.

Perhaps it's the fault of the writers. Alexei took third billing after Andrew Marshall and David Renwick. Whereas Renwick was to later devise and write the left of centre and curiously dark One Foot In The Grave (as well as the exceptional Jonathan Creek), Marshall would become the writer of middle of the road sitcom "Dad".

Stuff finished in 1991, while a slightly watered down - yet still fundamentally the same - "All-New" show carried him through the mid nineties. Yet when Sayle returned to BBC2 after a lengthy four-year break with "Merry Go Round" it felt, apart from the superb Bobby Chariot, uninspired and lacking energy. However, seeing "Stuff" again on the re-run channels leads you to realise that Alexei's humour hadn't changed at all – just that we, as an audience, had.

If any single individual epitomised the alternative comedy movement of the '80's, it was Alexei Sayle. Looking like a newly released convict whose suit has gotten too small for him, he bludgeoned audiences into submission with a powerful blend of surreal humour and satire. Love him or hate him, you couldn't ignore him. 'Stuff' was a good vehicle for his talents, in which the man himself sped round London on a moped, ranting on topics as diverse as fox hunting, The Royal Family, and Margaret Thatcher, as well as sketches penned by David Renwick and Andrew Marshall, some of which wouldn't have looked out of place in their L.W.T. show 'End Of Part One'. I remember one funny ( and politically incorrect! ) item about a Japanese car factory in the Midlands run like a W.W.2 P.O.W. camp! Three different title sequences were used ( the best was the Walt Disney spoof with Alexei as Mickey Mouse! ), all ended with someone asking: "Who's that fat bastard?". Genius more like.

Alexei Sayle produced one of the finest programs ever seen on BBC2, recording three series of 'stuff'. The supporting cast were excellent. Alexei was able to combine his top class stand up material with amusing and downright bizarre sketches.

Favourites of mine include the Freddy Krueger Opera sketch, the post office song ( £50 stamp ), Candid Cardinal, Dick Van Dyke - 50 years of Alexei Sayle, Snow White and the Seven Samurai, Lesley Crowther dominated episode, 'I'm pissed' ( Here come the Lizards ), and many others. It seemed that every single sketch or monologue was written and performed to perfection.

Alexei Yuri Gagarin Moscow Dinamo Back 4 Glorious 5 year plan Stalin Tractor Sayle, I salute you.

Alexei Sayle and his writers somehow managed to make several series of surreal humour and not be compared to Monty Python, even with Cleese-a-like Angus Deyton in the days before he disappeared up his own smug a**e.

Largely unnoticed at the time and widely unrepeated, this was a series that deserved more credit than it was ever given. By the time the BBC had woken up to what they had, the series had turned into something resembling light entertainment instead of the confident and unapologetic oddness in "Stuff".

A few too many song and dance routines though. And more often than not they just weren't funny, as clearly demonstrated in his mid-80s LP "Panic".

Is it fat, bald and jewish in here or is it just me...?

This has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. My local PBS station aired it late on Friday nights over ten years ago and I was hooked. I can't remember much about it now, except for a few of the songs, such as the one in the title (to the tune of Mickey Mouse) but I know it was hilarious! I would love to see this again!