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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 288761" data-attributes="member: 23">After a Columbo-sized gap, I've been diving back in with Series Two of The Two Ronnies.With it being a variety show, it does feel like a lucky dip. And it's quite hard work sometimes. There are gems in each episode, but there's also a lot of stuff that I'd be inclined to skip if I wasn't a completist. Many of the skits and sketches are great. Some of the music acts are really good. But I often struggle with the chopping and changing between the two.The familiar structure of is helping a little, because at least I know what's coming when. You get your newsreaders followed by a short sketch of randomness featuring the two. The pop act (Series Two has included Thelma Houston, Chelsea Brown and Lynsey de Paul among others). A Ronnie B solo featuring his brilliant wordsmithery as he delivers a party political broadcast or somesuch. Then the serial, which as the longest section feels like the core of the show. Then you have a more traditional folk singing act or cabaret act (for Series Two we've had Georgie Fame and Alan Price, billed as Fame & Price). Then Ronnie C's story. Followed by the song and dance number. And then the goodnights.Done To Death is probably a more enjoyable serial than Hampton Wick, though they're essentially the same thing, with the two playing a variety of characters of various genders and ages. This one is helped by having the main characters played by the Ronnies themselves. It's always fun to poke fun at the murder mystery, and this does it well. I'm so impressed by how game Ronnie B is. One episode had his character frolicking in the sea and being buried up to his neck in sand as the tide came in and washed over him. All of which is game enough, but it also looked like it was filmed on the East Coast on the the coldest, greyest day of the year.Ronnie B just impresses me more and more with each sketch I watch. He's just hilarious in drag (who'd have thought he'd make such a good Elizabeth Taylor to Ronnie C's Richard Burton). And his accents are awe-inspiring, The St Petersburg State Choir being a great example (poor Ronnie C seemed to struggle with the accent and ended up somewhere in Wales. Ironic considering his terrible Welsh accent as Burton).On that note, the closing musical numbers continue to be a highlight of each episode. I can't say I'd taken much notice of them until starting to watch the show on DVD this year, but they're wonderful and no doubt the result of many, many hours' hard work. I'm impressed at how effortlessly both seem to handle the songs and dancing and often complicated lyrics. For those who listen carefully they're extremely rewarding as they frequently end up being the funniest and most risque lines of the episode. They seem to have perfected the formula this year, with plenty of visual interest added replacing the bearded old guys. They poke fun at any number of cultures and musical styles by mashing them together, and it works wonderfully. The Welsh Male Voice Choir and the aforementioned St Petersburg State Choir did this really well. And Tooting Carmen (an East End pie 'n' mash reimagining of the opera) was just inspired. [MEDIA=youtube]oYpxp4Y-fAA[/MEDIA] "May I look at your rock cakes, please?" "Cakes is off. Try the bread and cheese. " "May I glance at your plat du jour." "Watch your language. She's spoken for."</blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?