February 25, 2004

Slipping past the censors. And onto kiddie TV. I hated Rainbow asa child, mostly because it was so condescending compared to other kids TV. I must vave missed being traumatised by this one.
posted by rodgerd 20 years ago
  • The video is taking forever to load, looks like the guy moved it to a slower server. Script for the sketch.
  • A lot of times kids don't get innuendo because they just aren't tuned to pick it up. I remember when the movie version of "Grease" came out, all us fourth-grade girls would ride the school bus singing all the words to all the songs, and at that age most of it went right over my head. ("Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee...") But I have a hard time believing that this particular clip made it to broadcast. My personal favorite bit of TV innuendo is from the Simpsons, the "Classics for Children" episode, where Ned Flanders (as the King of Troy) says, "From now on, whenever anyone gets wood, they'll think of Trojans."
  • That cannot be genuine. ... Can it?
  • I waited for it to load, and although it's funny, there is no way that it ever aired during its normal kid-oriented timeslot. Actually, one poster in the thread mentioned that they made it for their own amusement and it was never broadcast except for occasional appearances on Tarrant on TV.
  • From the TV Offal site cited in a comment: Much of the source material used by TV Offal comes from a little-known (outside of the tv industry) phenomenon known as 'Christmas tapes'. These are unofficial compilations of tv material made by tv station staff in their spare time which often comprised of a collection of 'outtakes' (presenters fluffing their lines, etc.) but also may include clips specially recorded for the tape, originally intended for the staff's own amusement only and not for transmission; the clip showing the Rainbow (kids' tv show) team letting off steam with 'the bad language' being a prime example. The excerpt used in the pilot episode came from a Christmas 1978 tape produced by Thames Television staff.
  • If I remember correctly, I saw something similar to this for the American television show "Dusty's Treehouse" (which I loved as a wee tyke). Does this ring a bell for anyone, and if so, do you know of any links for the video?
  • According to one poster from the site (who know's if it's valid...) This is REAL, but was NOT shown on TV in the 80's, the reason I know is that when they (refound) it a few years ago it was in all of the papers, and they DID broadcast it on TV last year, as a late night broadcast for adults.
  • I admit I loved Rainbow as a little kid. I've read that script before, though -- presumably after the show was broadcast last year. I always wanted to be Jane when I grew up. And I even have maracas!
  • I've never even heard of Rainbow before (a bit before my time, I guess) but that clip was hilarious. It reminded me of the SNL sketch with the F, U, C, and K shirts.
  • Friggin' hilarious! British humour ROCKS! I, too, had never seen or heard of this but I'll add that episode to my other faves; Absolutely Fabulous, Benny Hill, The Young Ones, Blackadder, Mr. Bean.
  • But it used to be Rod, Jane and Freddy, not bloody Rod, Jane and Rodger. Therefore: FAKE.