Line #11 Radio/TheInfiniteMonkeyCage


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/infinite_monkey_cage.jpg]]
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3	''The Infinite Monkey Cage'' is a [[Creator/TheBBC BBC Radio 4]] comedy and science series hosted by physicist Brian Cox and comedian [[DeadpanSnarker Robin Ince]], on air since November 2009.
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5	Each show discusses a specific science topic and normally has three guests; two scientists to offer an expert opinion, and third, normally a comedian, to add some levity. Occasionally, as in the case of [[Series/TheArmstrongAndMillerShow Ben Miller]] and [[Creator/DaraOBriain Dara Ó Briain]] (who both studied physics to Phd level), they may have a background in science too.
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7	----
8	!!This series includes examples of:
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10	* AmbiguousSyntax: The title of the show, occasionally discussed by the panel. If a cage is infinite, how is it a cage? Or is it a finite cage somehow containing an infinite number of monkeys? Or is it just one single, infinitely huge monkey, and if so, how could there even ''be'' a cage...?
11	* AuthorCatchphrase: "AND THIS IS OUR PANEL!"
12	* BerserkButton: Do NOT mention astrology, homeopathy, or any other fringe theories near Brian Cox. They inevitably elicit a tirade while Robin reels him back, or in some cases mumble into his mic about how he's at it again.
13	* BritishBrevity: Only six episodes per series, but in series one to three there were only four.
14	* TheCameo: Brian Cox and Robin Ince made a cameo in a BBC Christmas Special '''The Entire Universe''', as [[BlatantLies supposedly]] the straight men to the Series/RutlandWeekendTelevision crew.[[note]]It would be a ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' show, but they've had too much CriticalExistenceFailure.[[/note]]
15	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first series included some scripted comedy sketches. They weren't as funny as the unscripted banter between guests and were quickly dropped.
16	* ExpositoryThemeTune: Having gone for several series without one, there is now a song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tdN5uEjnKs specially written]] by [[Creator/MontyPython Eric Idle]], a snippet of which plays at the end of each show.
17	* FreudianSlip: Deliberate by Dr Richard Wiseman, who says Freudian theory is completely untesticle.
18	* MonkeysOnATypewriter: The inspiration for the title. One listener once wrote in to ask what the ACTUAL dimensions of the hypothetical cage were, since it'd still be an infinitely sized cage if two dimensions were fixed but smaller than a monkey and the final dimension infinitely big.
19	* RunningGag:
20	** When a strawberry is considered dead.
21	** Brian's perfect hair (which may or may not be a wig).
22	** Brian's youthfulness (believe it or not, Brian is older than Robin. Not by much but still).
23	** Brian's wealth and the fact that he always has people doing stuff for him.
24	** Brian's wistful soliloquies up mountains, volcanos, and other high places attracting women (and some men).
25	** D:Ream's 1994 song "and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgMl9qBTBq0 Things Can Only Get Better]]", which featured a young Brian Cox on keyboards. (Sort of; he wasn't on the record itself but since he was in the live band, he had to play it a lot.)

Context Radio / TheInfiniteMonkeyCage