Pauline's Quirkes is a 1976 show starring Pauline Quirke which was produced by Thames Television.
This is a vehicle for Pauline, although she is accompanied by Linda Robson, who would become her eventual co-star on Birds of a Feather. Also part of the show is the 1970s band Flintlock, who would usually suffer abuse by Pauline - one recurring plotline had them promise to release a photo of themselves wearing only their socks and Pauline trying to get them to act on their promise. Otherwise, it is your typical Variety Show, albeit with a slant on topics of interest to teenagers, such as whether it is a good idea for boys to wear dresses as part of their uniforms.
Tropes in this series:
- Ash Face: In Episode 2, Pauline gives one of the boys a lighter. The minute he uses it, it blows up and gives him an ash-covered face.
- British Brevity: Only one six-episode series was ever made.
- Butt-Monkey: None of the members of Flintlock have it easy, ranging from getting their heads cut off to being threatened with an actual gun to actually being shot, to being threatened to release nude photos of themselves.
- Crossdresser:
- One sketch in Episode 1 discusses the trope, including the fact that boys and girls wore different uniforms to school, with Pauline pointing out how it is seen as funny for a man to dress as a woman, but unremarkable for a girl to dress as a boy. A prompt survey using Look-In Magazine reveals that boys actually would like to wear dresses - not so much the girls concerning the boys.
- Played straight in the final episode which features a brief shot of one of the boys in a dress, much to the annoyance of Pauline.
- Couch Gag: A gag at the start of the episode features the Thames announcer introducing the show title. Each introduction is different and usually involves the announcer having it in for Pauline, not helped by the fact that Pauline legitimately has done something to annoy him.
- Deadpan Door Shut: One sketch has Pauline open up the changing room only to come across various things, such as a lion, a train coming at her, and a tank. She doesn't react particularly deeply at these and even keeps opening the door.
- Distaff Counterpart: The FlinTarts, which are composed of Paulie, Linda, and Nula, is a female boy band version of The Flintlocks, even having their main theme be a gender-flipped version of the Flintlock-created theme song of the show.
- Eating Pet Food: One sketch deals with a brand of pet food called Scabby Cat, so good that humans prefer it (with Pauline taking a spoonful of it). Cue one of the boys eating from a pie made out of the stuff and criticizing it, with Pauline giving a knowing smirk before slapping it on his face.
- Epunymous Title: Pauline's Quirkes, which is a play on the main actress of the show in Pauline Quirke.
- Food Slap: A frequent source of humour in the show, which is taken to its extreme in one point when Pauline, playing a nurse who is Obfuscating Stupidity, drenches the boys in various food products.
- Groupie: On top of the enthusiastic studio audience who seems to really like the idea of seeing their favorite boy band naked, Episode 4 focuses on Tony Prince, the President of boyband Flintlock's fan club, coming to visit, with a discussion at why girls want to be their fans (it's because they're cheap and good-looking).
- Interrupted by the End: A variant - Pauline wants Flintlock to take off their clothes in spite of their protests. They are eventually forced to do so, but are saved by the "End of Part One" scene fading in, much to Pauline's anger.
- Inventing the Wheel: One sketch deals with the cast as caveman, with Mike inventing the wheel. Pauline is pleased, until Mike reveals that he's actually invented a Flintlock record.
- I Was Just Joking: A recurring plot in the first three episodes is Pauline trying to get the cast of Flintlock to show off a nude photo of themselves. They eventually relent and start stripping at the end of Episode 3, much to the horror of Pauline who admits that she was only playing it as a gag for the purpose of the show.
- Logo Joke: This show plays on the iconic Thames Television logo by having Pauline, dressed as King Kong, rise up from the water and begin eating the logo.
- Naked People Are Funny: A Running Gag is Flintlock promising to show a full image of them wearing nothing but their socks on. They eventually do strip, much to the horror of Pauline who was apparently just joking, although only down to their pants.
- No Fourth Wall: There isn't much of a fourth wall in this show - the opening moments of each episode have Pauline get into a fight with the announcer over the fact that he didn't mention her, whilst another had the cast go out of frame as there is a sketch upcoming.
- Off with His Head!: An early sketch has Pauline as a stage magician, who performs a guillotine act on Michael in spite of his protests. It doesn't end well for him as his head is cut off, although he is at least capable of still speaking in that state. Luckily, he is back to normal after the sketch, although Pauline tells him to stop shaking his head...
- Pie in the Face: Frequently used in the show, starting with Pauline getting a pieful in the face after fighting with the announcer in the first episode.
