Keith Allen on the Late Show Posted Mon May 8 16:54:41 BST 2000 by Jon

I remember a Late Show compilation, that had clips from some sort of pretend-dinner party/debate featuring Keith Allen, Tariq Ali, Vic Reeves, and some other people in comedy. Allen got drunk and started abusing Ali (Reeves looking startled) until eventually the producer came on to the set to tell him to pack it in or clear off (triggering a further tirade).
Anyone see the original, and remember the full details. The thing is, it beats that dreary Stone Roses/Sarah Dunant fiasco that people still go on about.

Subject: Re: Keith Allen on the Late Show [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Justin on Mon May 8 17:48:46 BST 2000:

>I remember a Late Show compilation, that had clips from some sort of pretend-dinner party/debate featuring Keith Allen, Tariq Ali, Vic Reeves, and some other people in comedy.

I don't think this got transmitted in its original form actually - according to Bruce Dessau's Reeves & Mortimer biog, it was a pilot for a series in 1989 about comedy called The Comedy Cafe, and apparently Allen wasn't the only one who was toweringly drunk. Absolutely's Morwenna Banks says in the biog that she kept having to go off to be sick throughout the discussion. She also comments that it was "a prime example of how not to make a TV show".

Allen got drunk and started abusing Ali (Reeves looking startled) until eventually the producer came on to the set to tell him to pack it in or clear off (triggering a further tirade).

Allen: "And I'm sorry for havin'a go at you, but that producer bastard upstairs"!!!! Class. Finally shown (well, moments, anyway) on TV Hell, August 1992 during Danny Baker's actually rather good dissection of TV chat shows.

>Anyone see the original, and remember the full details. The thing is, it beats that dreary Stone Roses/Sarah Dunant fiasco that people still go on about.
>
Yes indeed. Except it was Tracey MacLeod, in case it mattered.

Subject: Re: Keith Allen on the Late Show [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Gee on Mon May 8 21:44:20 BST 2000:

Didn't Allen keep saying: " You're all dead. You're all so fucking dead." Now he's doing ITV with Barrymore!

Subject: Re: Keith Allen on the Late Show [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Jon on Tue May 9 07:10:54 BST 2000:

No, it was definitely Sarah Dunant, the one with glasses.
Richard Herring has worked with Tracey Macleod, so he could settle this issue.

Subject: Re: Keith Allen on the Late Show [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Billy Bibbit on Wed May 10 17:52:12 BST 2000:

It was Tracey"Stab in the Dark" McLeod on the Stone Roses live debacle.
Keith Allen told me that the Tshirt he wore on that pilot bore the legand I AM A TORY AND I DO COKE was misconstrued at the time because it also said I AM A SOCIALIST AND I SELL IT or something along those lines(no pun intended) on his back,which the viewers never saw.Great telly though.

Subject: Re: Keith Allen on the Late Show [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Bent Halo on Sat May 13 18:09:38 BST 2000:

Charlie Higson was in the debate aswell. I'd have to check, but he (or someone very much like him) was alos very startled. Either that or he was about to be sick.

Greatest Allen line - "You ain't got a chip on your shoulder, you've got a vindaloo". He turns to the rest of the panel, miming the vindaloo. "Do you get it?" No one laughs.

I would love to see the full show. Baker's TV Hell show edited it in parallel with a Sixties discussion between Marty Feldman and Johnny Speight. That's also worth remarking on.

[ Add Your Comment On This Subject ]
[ Add Your Comment Quoting Message ]