Horrible Histories (2009 TV series): Difference between revisions

Lifting its premise, content and general [[Black Comedy]] sensibilities directly from the books, ''HH'' the series is hosted by a puppet sewer rat and romps irreverently (but always with conscious accuracy) through all the strangest, silliest and most bodily-fluid-intensive moments on the road to Western Civilization. Live-action sketches -- which frequently parody current UK TV programs and personalities -- are intercut with quizzes, short animations, and at least one [[Educational Song|music video]] per episode, likewise usually a parody of a classic pop/rock genre or song.

 

 

According to [[Word of God]] it has in fact been deliberately designed from the outset as a 'family show'. In 2010, this became more obvious when the second series won three children's [[BAFTA|BAFTAs]] for writing, performing and Best Comedy, ''plus'' a surprise British Comedy Award for Best Sketch Comedy. Followed in 2011 by a successful BBC Prom concert, another Best Comedy [[BAFTA]] and a (less surprising) Best Sketch Comedy BCA.

** In one early Bob Hale Report, he uses "except NOT helicopters" in his [[Mad Libs Catchphrase]] (see entry below). It became one of the character's most-quoted lines, leading to this in a fourth-series Report involving Leonardo da Vinci: "Except, of course, NOT... oh, yes, he did invent a helicopter. Huh. ''(beat)'' ...Always knew that one'd come back to bite me someday."

* [[Camp Gay]]: The host of the 'Fashion Fix' skits, a broad parody of popular UK fashion guru Gok Wan.

** Used again in the William Wallace song.

* [[Catch Phrase]]: "HELLO, I'M A SHOUTY MAN!"

* [[Creator Cameo]]: Terry Deary, author of the Horrible Histories books, quite often turns up in sketches, such as playing the Bishop in [http://youtu.be/1__I_looDNA The Monks' Song].

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Apparently, history was full of 'em. The talking rat has his moments too: "It's true! William the Conqueror really did explode at his own funeral... try finding ''that'' on the Bayeux Tapestry."

* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: Mostly (and impressively) averted -- there's apparently a production assistant on-set at all times whose sole charge is to ensure historical accuracy. They do slip up sometimes, though, usually by over-simplifying or falling for generally-accepted but erroneous legends. Sometimes they catch themselves and correct things in later programs, but... Look, rule of thumb when you're searching for historical facts: every historian has a different take on them.

** Rattus claims that the Hundred Years' War lasted a hundred years; it did not, it lasted 116 years. There are other slips as well. But you generally do have to be a historian to notice them.

** 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.

* [[Fake Nationality]]: All the very English cast are also fairly adept at sounding Scottish, French, etc. Baynton even gamely tackles a Californian accent -- as a Steve Jobs [[Expy]] -- for the 'aBook' sketch. (That said, their ideas re: American 'cowboy' drawls are [[Fake American|a bit less impressive]].)

** One World War One skit calls for French Canadian, Australian and South African accents. It doesn't really work, but major points for effort.

* [[Fiery Redhead]]: Boudicca, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

* [[Follow the Bouncing Ball]]: Both played straight and parodied, as per the bouncing skulls in the Pachacuti song referenced above.

{{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...}}

** Apparently, the Cash My Sin number (a riff on the medieval Church requirement that you pay to keep out of purgatory) is [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|0800-I've Been Naughty.]] Dang.

** 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 />

** In another, a Georgian sports presenter claims football is just a fad, and that long after people have gotten over football they'll still be into greased goose grabbing competitions.

** On scientific exploration into the causes of illness: "A microscope? What do you expect to find, tiny little creatures making people sick?"

** At the end of the Celtic Boast Battle Rap the Celt who was stabbed runs out of the tent yelling "MUM!"

** The general cry of "Mummy!" is used again in a Historical Hospital episode. Only this one makes total sense, considering that the speaker is from Ancient Egypt, is being chased out the door, and has just nearly run into a patient covered head to toe in bandages.

* [[Imagine Spot]]: What if gladiator school was run like a modern junior high? Or if Henry VIII had access to the internet? Usually courtesy Rattus -- complete with 'imagine if...' and wavy dissolve cut ([[Medium Awareness|"Ooh, I'm imaginin' it, I'm imaginin' it...!"]]).

* [[Just a Stupid Accent]]: Most sketches set somewhere other than England use this. The usual exceptions to this rule are [[The Queen's Latin|Ancient Rome]], Ancient Greece, the Aztecs and Incas.

* [[Kent Brockman News]]: What inevitably happens when a sleek modern news crew (on the 'News at When' broadcast) tries to report on messy historical events. And that's not even ''mentioning'' poor Bob Hale. "Our forecast is for lots of Vikings heading down from the north -- but look! The Saxons are fighting back! Wait, here come the Vikings again..."

* [[Poirot Speak]]: Sometimes. For example, the sketch at a German supply store during the Battle of Stalingrad - the whole thing is in English, except for the words ''Herr'' and ''Auf Wiedersehn''.

* [[Politically-Correct History]]: Averting this is pretty much the entire point.

* [[Punctuated for Emphasis]]: In one of the Fashion Fix segments, a Celtic warrior reacts badly to his makeover and starts to work himself into a berserker frenzy. The Gok Wan [[Expy]] presenter cuts him off with [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|"Not. On. My. Show.]] ''Sister''."

* [[Real Men Wear Pink]]: Vercingetorix - "a man so deadly, he can wear pigtails and still look hard."

* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Connections]]: Cesare Borgia gleefully invokes this in "The Borgia Family Song": it's no problem being a violent, power-hungry sociopath when your dad's the Pope!

* [[Screw the Rules, I Make Them]]: As per history, King Charles I tries this tactic on Parliament in the "English Civil War Song". Also as per history, it doesn't go over at all well.

** 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!"

** Bonus points in actually getting Dave Lamb to narrate the Come Dine With Me sketches, and to host the [[Spin-Off|game show]].

** 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!"]]

* [[Summers Family Tree]]: The poor "This is Your Reign" presenter gets very confused (and [[Squick|squicked]]) by Cleopatra's family tree (including her marrying [[Brother-Sister Incest|two of her brothers]] [[Parental Incest|and her father]]) when she appears on his show.

* [[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]].

* [[Toilet Humour]]: Up to and including a couple sketches actually set in the Roman communal toilets.

* [[Totally Radical]]: In-universe, as used by the title character in the ''"You've Been Artois'd!''" sketch. "I know these words, you see? I am 'street', yes?"

** Dick Turpin, Blackbeard, and Pachacuti also have their own villain songs, albeit much less traditional versions.

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

* [[Who Writes This Crap?]]: Combined with [[Medium Awareness]]:

{{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 />