Horrible Histories (2009 TV series): Difference between revisions

* [[Attention Deficit Ooh Shiny]]: Bob Hale goes off-topic very quickly.

** The Victorian-era Historical Paramedics tend to get distracted from their patient whenever their "fabulous!" top hats are mentioned.

{{quote| '''Reporter:''' Well, the bad news is your prize is just a celery hat.<br />

'''Athlete:''' Then what's the good news?<br />

** Also, compare the simple song-and-dance routines with cardboard props of Series One to the green-screen and dry-ice filled music videos that came later.

* [[Educational Song]]: Yes, they are technically supposed to be this. At least one an episode.

* [[Eviler Than Thou]]: The theme of the 'Evil Emperors Song' (a pastiche of [[Michael Jackson]]'s "Bad") featuring Caligula, Elagabalus, Commodus and Nero. Nero handily proves himself the most evil of them all.

* [[Expository Theme Tune]]: Presumably to ensure viewers know exactly what they're getting into.

** Also from the Prom special, the inset sketch involving a royal lineup to use the public loo features this little experiment in just how much you can get away with by claiming historical accuracy:

{{quote| '''Charles II:''' Henry VIII's in there with his personal bottom-wiper. Calls him the Groom of the Stool. Very popular job in his day, apparently... ''[aside, to George III]'' Not my kind of party, but to each his own...}}

** The visual for this moment in the 'Burke & Hare' song is kept tastefully vague, but:

{{quote| '''Dr. Knox:''' Well it's always a palaver<br />

* [[The Grim Reaper]]: He loves his job. He really does. Except during that one humongous backlog in afterlife applications caused by the 'Measly Middle Ages' (plague, Hundred Years' War, etc. etc...).

* [[Hard Head]]: Turns up with surprising abandon in a supposed children's educational programme. Most notably in the 'Caveman Art Show' sketches, wherein Grunt takes multiple club bashings from his co-host without apparent injury -- of course, when he finally turns the tables, his co-host isn't so lucky.

* [[The Highwayman]]: The dashing legend, and specifically the romanticisation of Dick Turpin, is [[Deconstruction|deconstructed]] in song... how well is debateable, given it's being performed by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KbXyALq7uA an eyeliner-wearing Baynton], but still.

* [[Historical Villain Upgrade]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] and played straight in one sketch about Richard III, in which his ghost gripes about how his Shakespearean portrayal is pure fiction. There's a continuation in a third series song, in which Richard III lists all the ways in which he's remembered and complains that he's a nice guy, really, and that Shakespeare made up the phrase "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse" out of whole cloth.

* [[Royally Screwed Up]]: Lots of fun had with this one.

* [[Sadist Teacher]]: A carryover from the books, and even less subtle. One sketch on Stone Age burial rituals fades out to Rattus and a single tiny pea on a plate: "Here's a brain I've prepared myself. As you can see, from a PE teacher! Hah!"

* [[Shirtless Scene]]: Quite a few for a [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|supposed kids' show]], to the point where it may overall be second only to [[Twilight (Literature)|Twilight]] for shirtless [[Fan Service]]. One sketch about the Greek Olympics, where most games were played naked, had a sports presenter cover up the Greek athlete with his clipboard, followed by a report on the Greek wrestling, featuring a Greek athlete in a loincloth.

** Often [[Lampshaded]] by said shirtless men covering up their chests rather obviously. Most obviously of all in the aforementioned 'preparation for Thermopylae' sketch, in which the warrior complains outright that the shield he's been given "won't even cover my nipples!"

* [[Shout Out]]: ''So many.'' The songs in particular, featuring references to artists such as [[The Bee Gees]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[The Monkees]], [[Lady Gaga]] and Adam and the Ants. Recognisable personalities include [[Hells Kitchen (TV)|Gordon Ramsay]] ("Hello, I'm an angry shouty Roman chef!") and UK game show presenter Peter Snow (as sent up by Bob Hale). Entire segments are based off various types of reality shows, eg. Masterchef, Wife Swap, Come Dine With Me, etc.

** The song "I'm a Knight" is a deliberate [[Monty Python]] pastiche (complete with uncanny Eric Idle lookalike ''aka'' show writer Steve Punt). See also the Historical Paramedics' retreating cry as the modern-day EMS approach: [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|"Run away! Run away!"]]

** The 'Prisoner of War' sketch is another fairly obvious parody, of the American show ''[[Hogan's Heroes]]''. The musical ''motif'', the characters of incompetent Commandant Klinzman (for Colonel Klink) and cheeky Squadron Leader Higgins (for Colonel Hogan), and the latter's constant escape attempts are all very familiar.

* [[Signature Laugh]]: Rattus punctuates his stories with a distinctive "Hahahah!" and excited little paws.

** Elagabalus' delightfully obnoxious laugh.

* [[Talking Animal]]: Rattus Rattus (named for his species) -- a puppet [[Expy]] of a similar rat character from the books -- hosts the original series, explaining and clarifying the historical information presented in each sketch... in his own inimitable fashion (describing the cause of [[The Black Death]]: "So that's Rats 1, Humans 0.") Despite the occasional tiny sword or top hat, he appears to be quite content merely to snigger at the horrible humans from beneath their floorboards... at least until the behind-the-scenes vid that reveals he's moved to Hollywood to become a Star, or barring that become a historical consultant to [[Steven Spielberg]].

* [[Take That]] (possibly more [[Take That Critics]]): Simon Cowell... for some reason, the only person this show has it in for more than teachers. They're not too fond of [[Master Chef (TV)|Greg Wallace]], either.

* [[Vomit Discretion Shot]]: Standard... and odd, considering they then have no problem showing the actual vomit afterwards.

* [[Warrior Poet]]: [[Discussed Trope|Invoked by,]] [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|of all people,]] [[Dr. Seuss|Erik the Viking.]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrBnIoONit0 Who speaks only in rhyme].

{{quote| '''Tudor Executioner''' ''(walking down a row of gibbets)'': Now, [[Incredibly Lame Pun|this is your seven o'clock noose... this is the nine o'clock noose... this is the noose at ten...]]<br />

''(stops at a body sprawled out on a nearbly chopping block)''<br />

...and this is the man who wrote that joke. }}

** Also in the Victorian names sketch.

{{quote| '''Mrs. Farting Clack''': Toilet and Baboon? Your parents must be evil.<br />