Not Only... But Also is a Sketch Show written by and starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore which ran throughout the 1960s.
It had its origins in a solo vehicle for Dudley Moore to be called 'Not Only Dudley Moore But Also his guests'. Among the guests for the pilot was Peter Cook, Dudley Moore's old colleague from Beyond the Fringe whose contribution was a duologue with two characters called Pete & Dud discussing imaginary romantic encounters with film stars. The sketch was judged so funny that a full series was proposed with Peter Cook to be in every one (in the event, three full series were made). The most fondly remembered parts of the shows were the 'Dagenham Dialogues' - which featured two characters called 'Pete and Dud' dressed in cloth caps and discussing in minute (and largely inaccurate) detail such subjects as art, sex and animals. Other fondly remembered sketches include The Leaping Nuns
, Bo Dudley and the Gerry Anderson parody Superthunderstingcar; most of the sketches would make it onto any British Viewers' personal list of funniest television moments.
Sadly, much of the series was lost when the BBC wiped the tapes, though Cook and Moore went through a lot of effort to attempt to keep them from being so, even offering to buy the BBC new tapes to replace the old ones. The offer was inexplicably refused, something Cook and Moore were understandably bitter about for decades.
This show contains examples of:
- Couch Gag - Each episode started with an elaborately filmed sketch, following which the cameras would pull back to reveal the show title written in an unlikely place (the side of a hill, an aircraft carrier etc.).
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune - The end song 'Goodbyee' composed by Dudley Moore with largely improvised lyrics from Cook and Moore.
- Dream-Crushing Handicap - The sketch with a one-legged man wanting to play Tarzan is probably the single most famous and cited example of this trope in British popular culture, to the point where this one sketch is known to many people who have never heard of Not Only But Also itself.
- The Garfunkel - Interestingly, both Cook and Moore were considered The Garfunkel at various points; as the show was originally a vehicle for Dudley Moore, many of the earlier reviews concentrated on him. As Peter's greater creative role became apparent; some people considered that Dudley Moore was the irrelevant one. In fact, this trope was totally averted; while Peter Cook did the lions share of the writing, Dudley's greater acting skills and rapport with the audience was totally necessary for the partnership to work.
- Intercourse with You - Played for laughs with the 'Bo Dudley' Sketch. Dudley Moore is singing a raunchy R&B number called 'Mama's Got A Brand New Bag' but is seemingly aware that most of the lyrics ("We're going to groove all night long", "you Turn Me On") are sexual euphemisms and instead tells Peter that it's a song about a woman making indentations in a plastic bag.
- In the Style of - The 'Ludwig Van Beethoven Show' featured Dudley, as Beethoven, playing Tom Jones songs in a suitably classical style.
- Overly Long Gag - The Alan A'Dale Sketch
- The Talk - Played for laughs as neither the son nor the father appear to know about the facts of life. Leads to an unusual euphemism 'Your mother is upstairs at the moment coping with Uncle Bertie.'
