Line #230 Series/BoSelecta


1	[[quoteright:314:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boselecta_9.jpg]]
2
3	''Bo' Selecta!'' is a British comedy franchise created by Leigh Francis that aired on Channel 4 from 2002-2006. In the show, Leigh impersonates and parodies several famous celebrities with Music/MichaelJackson, [[Music/SpiceGirls Mel B]] and Craig David using latex masks often exaggerating their facial qualities. He presents the show under the guise of [[Main/AlterEgoActing Avid Merrion]], a Romanian stalker with a strange obsession with celebrites. Another popular character is the Bear, who interviews celebrities which often results in his [[Main/DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything "tail popping out"]].
4
5	In 2005, ''Bo' Selecta!'' was transformed into a sitcom involving the Bear and his adopted parents. However the fifth project went back to its original style called 'Bo! In The USA.'
6
7	Some of the celebrities parodied in the series include: Music/MichaelJackson, [[Music/SpiceGirls Mel B]], Music/CraigDavid, David Blaine, Series/TheOsbournes, Davina [=McCall=], Music/EltonJohn, Trisha Goddard, Music/JohnLennon, [[Series/TheOprahWinfreyShow Oprah Winfrey]], Music/BritneySpears, Richard and Judy, Lorraine Kelly, Creator/JonathanRoss, Music/MarilynManson, Music/ChristinaAguilera and Music/GeorgeMichael.
8
9	Was also the first appearance of [[Series/CelebrityJuice Keith Lemon]].
10
11	!!This comedy series includes examples of:
12
13	[[foldercontrol]]
14
15	[[folder: General]]
16	* AlterEgoActing: Leigh Francis never showed his true persona on screen, which led many fans to believe that Avid Merrion was his real name. Eventually, on series 3 onward, he appeared as himself on the DVD commentary instead of Avid.
17	* AuthorAppeal: It's hard to name a lampooned celebrity that's given a trait they don't actually have, the Yorkshire accent is a common one.
18	* CelebCrush: For Avid, this is every celeb.
19	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Almost all of Leigh Francis’ characters.
20	* CovertPervert: David Blaine's "magic tricks" to pick up women.
21	* DemotedToExtra: David Blaine had a weekly sketch throughout series 1 but had lesser appearances in series 2. He then disappeared completely.
22	** Mel B was a weekly sketch in series 1 but was demoted to extra in series 2 before becoming a main character in next 3 series.
23	** Enrique's Mole was a weekly character in series 1 with the “Week In Whole” sketch but was replaced by Jordan/Jodie Marsh's tits in the 'Week In Bits' in series 2. Then the whole sketch was abandoned in series 3 onwards.
24	** Stephen, The Bear's squirrel companion appeared in every episode in series 1 and 2. In series 3 and even ''A Bear’s Tail'', he had significantly smaller appearances and by ''Bo! In The USA!'', he had disappeared all together.
25	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The Bear’s tail.
26	* FanDisservice: Mel B.
27	* FunnyForeigner: Ozzey.
28	* GrossOutShow: The masks are quite grotesque.
29	* {{Jerkass}}: Stephen, The Bear’s friend.
30	** Also, The Bear himself. Especially in ''A Bear’s Tail'' where he verbally abuses Lillian and Richard. Also, he accidentally causes Richard to split up with Helena, but he doesn’t seem fazed by it and actually seems to find it quite funny.
31	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: With soooo many of the celebrities in the show, it is difficult to tell if they took Avid Merrion seriously.
32	** Averted with The Bear. In the first series, the celebrities didn’t know his ‘tail’ was going to pop out.
33	** An out-of-universe example. Craig David blamed the fall of his music career on the show’s portrayal of him. Eventually he insulted Leigh Francis to the extent that Leigh kept his character on the show.
34	** Many of the celebrities portrayed find their characters to be funny. Mel B, the Osbournes and Davina [=McCall=] made continuous appearances throughout the show in their true persona.
35	* OopNorth: Craig David is now from Leeds and has a pet [[{{Film/Kes}} bird]].
36	* RefugeInAudacity: '''WHERE TO BEGIN???'''
37	** Avid’s stalking is nothing compared to his kidnapping of Craig and chaining him up in his closet and storing his dead mother in his wardrobe.
38	** Also, David Blaine is always let off when groping a woman mainly because the magic tricks do work.
39	* RepeatingSoTheAudienceCanHear: The Bear does this with Stephen because he only squeaks.
40	* SelfDeprecation: The show often makes fun of gingers despite the fact that Leigh Francis is ginger himself.
41	* StalkerWithACrush: For Avid Merrion, this is an understatement.
42	* ShoutOut: The title takes its name from an Artful Dodger song that features Craig David on vocals.
43	* TakeThat: An out-of-universe example. When Craig David began to complain that ''Bo' Selecta!'' ruined his career and insulted Leigh Francis, Francis reacted by keeping his character on the show and even mention that Craig David (his character) was in America to launch a new career after his one in the UK was ruined by some ‘Bo Giddy!’ show or something. BOOM!
44	* TitleDrop: Craig David’s catchphrase is ‘Bo Selecta!’
45	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Avid and The Bear.
46	* VillainProtagonist: Avid Merrion is a very disturbing stalker who often sexually harasses those he meets and keeps [[Series/BigBrother Craig from Big Brother]] chained up in his closet.
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder: Series 1]]
50	* AxCrazy: Music/EltonJohn’s first appearance involves him killing the postman with an axe for no good reason.
51	* CensoredForComedy: The Osbourne family are constantly bleeped while filming their show. Michael Jackson, living next door, is sometimes caught out by it too and [[Main/NoFourthWall realizes he’s just been bleeped]].
52	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Most of the female celebrities Avid meets make it very clear that they want him to leave them alone and actually run away from him. Avid then comments that he thinks that they want to have sex with him.
53	* DistractedByTheSexy
54	* DIYDisaster: The shelf Mel B made herself.
55	* GroinAttack: Parodied. One of Michael Jackass’ stunts involves letting Bubbles smack him repeatedly with a baseball bat between the legs.
56	* GrossOutShow: In one episode, Michael Jackson vomits into a frying pan which his girlfriend, Bubbles, then eats up.
57	* InsultFriendlyFire: The Bear tells one of his guests that Stephen is a bit obtuse because he was in a one parent family and grew up without manners. Then he turns to the camera and says ‘No offence.’
58	* RealMenWearPink: Elton John. And he’s one of the most masculine characters on the show.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder: Series 2]]
62	* AllJustADream: In the start of episode 4, Craig finally escapes from Avid’s apartment only for it to be Avid’s dream. He wakes up and runs to the closet where he finds Federico from ''Series/BigBrother 4'' chained up instead of Craig. He wakes up again and this time truly finds Craig still locked up in his closet.
63	* AscendedExtra: Brian, an extra seen in a Trisha Goddard sketch, is one of the staff in Avid’s show in series 3 and a Michael Jackson fan boy in the programme ''Who's Sad'' in ''A Bear’s Tail''.
64	* BerserkButton: Kelly Osbourne gets angry incredibly quickly then straight back to calm.
65	** Also, the Bear in the final episode of series 2 with Steven.
66	-->'''Bear''': Fuck off, you tit-for-brains! I hate you! I hate him! The little shit! I hate him!
67	* BestialityIsDepraved: The Bear apparently does it with Myleene Klass but is not allowed to show the scene due to legal issues. “Something to do with bestiality laws or something.”
68	* BilingualBackfire: Mel B tries to pick up a man in a club in Spain by asking if he has a condom in Spanish. The man then replies he doesn’t understand her because he’s English.
69	* BrickJoke: In ep 1 of series 2, Avid’s new friend is a mannequin of Federico from Big Brother 4 who Avid mimics saying “I would like to see you take a shit. What are you wearing down below?” In series 2, Avid has a nightmare about him where he says the same words. Then he returns again when Avid bumps into him while running from David Sneddon’s security. Guess what he says.
70	* DemotedToExtra: Mel B.
71	* ElmuhFuddSyndwome: Jonathan Ross, a true parody as Jonathan Ross can’t pronounce ‘r’ sounds. But here, its taken up to eleven.
72	-->'''Jonathan:''' Wibble wobble wib wib wobble wobble, no minge.
73	* HeelFaceTurn: Parodied. Avid is jailed for harassing Vanessa Feltz at the beginning of series 2’s third episode. While behind bars, he considers stopping stalking celebrities and live his own life. A policeman then tells him he is entitled to one phone call. Who does he call? Vanessa Feltz, of course.
74	* HypocriticalHumour: Richard constantly tells Judy not to speak because ‘she’ll spoil it.’ In one sketch, Richard tries to guess what celebrities a phone-in viewer is describing and gets every answer wrong, despite how Judy tries to call Richard’s attention by waving and raising her hand timidly because she knows the answer. Of course, Richard loses and blames it on Judy for talking throughout the game.
75	** Davina [=McCall=] too. “You’re live on Channel 4, please don’t say ‘fuck’ or bugger’.
76	* InnocentInnuendo: Avid’s pronunciation of ‘focus’.
77	-->'''Avid Merrion:''' Can you teach me how to fuck-us?”
78	** Christina Aguilera has different pants for each day of the week with a different word for them. ‘Come’ is the first one. She then comments that ''Series/TopOfThePops'' wouldn’t let her perform with ‘Come’ on her arse.
79	*** Not so innocent. The pants make up the sentence: Come Over And Rub My Dirty Genie.
80	* {{Irony}}: When Avid Merrion interviews the real Craig David, the first question he asks is “Is there any one here you wish was dead?” Later, Craig David would reveal he absolutely hated the show and Leigh Francis once stated that Craig David wants him dead.
81	** Made even more ironic as Craig answered “Not right now.”
82	* OneSteveLimit: Parodied with Mel B and Melanie Blatt.
83	* MoodSwinger: Kelly Osbourne. She goes from reasonably calm to UnstoppableRage instantly.
84	-->'''Kelly:''' We thought your performance was fantastic, except for the fact that '''I FUCKING HATE YOU! YOU WANT TO GET YOURSELF FUCKING CUT?''' You have an amazing voice though.
85	* {{Pun}}: The Bear makes so many.
86	-->'''The Bear:''' (to Kerry [=McFadden=]) You used to be a Katona, didn’t you? Tell me, how many cats did you own?
87	* RhymingList: Averted at the end of Avid’s poem about Davina [=McCall=].
88	-->‘Lovely Davina,
89	-->Have you seen her,
90	-->Drinking Ribena,
91	-->In the catena.
92	-->I’ve never been keener,
93	-->To show her my wiener,
94	-->Its never been cleaner.
95	-->Oh lovely Davina,
96	-->She looks just like Xena,
97	-->Warrior Princess with the sword.
98	-->Thank you please.
99	** Again when he calls Vanessa Feltz
100	-->‘Lovely Vanessa,
101	-->I want to undress ya,
102	-->I yearn to caress ya,
103	-->Touch your big fat breast-a!’
104	* SomeOfMyBestFriendsAreX
105	* TalksLikeASimile: Marilyn Manson
106	-->'''Marilyn:''' You see, behind that dark, satanic exterior, I’m really as soft as…(camera cuts to Marilyn eating a plate of mashed potatoes) Mashed potato.
107	* TheDitz: David Beckham. He is like a giant child.
108	* TakeOffYourClothes: David Blaine’s magic tricks revolve around removing a part of the woman’s attire and then appearing on him.
109	* TheVoiceless: Judy, mainly because Richard doesn’t let her speak.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder: Series 3]]
113	* AffectionateParody: All episodes of Series 3 start with one including “[[Series/KnightRider Shite Rider]]” and “[[Series/HappyDays Crappy Days]].”
114	* AnalProbing: Parodied. A man driving down the road encounters two aliens. He gets out of the car and two aliens rape him. The fact that this sketch is voiced-over by Marilyn Manson’s character makes it worse.
115	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Which of these famous abbeys charge £2.50 for a look inside? A) Westminster Abbey. B) Bolton Abbey or C) Abi Titmus
116	* CampGay: Ozzey.
117	* CensoredForComedy: Parodied
118	-->'''Brian:''' Oh no! The car said BLEEP.
119	-->'''Charlotte:''' Brian, you can’t see BLEEP.
120	-->'''Brian:''' I didn’t say BLEEP, the car said BLEEP.
121	-->'''Charlotte:''' Alright, I’ll have a word with the BLEEP. [[Main/NoFourthWall Don’t bleep that, I said ‘car’ not BLEEP.]]
122	* ClusterFBomb: Brian, the director on Avid’s show.
123	** The Bear when he visits Jamie Oliver because he is impersonating Gordon Ramsey.
124	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Avid asks Kelly Osbourne on a date but she replies “fuck off, I’d rather die.” Of course, Avid takes this as a “yes” and goes to meet her at her house.
125	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Craig David in his ghost hunting special.
126	-->'''Craig:''' {{Film/Casper}}, Film/{{Beetlejuice}}, Slimer from ''{{Franchise/Ghostbusters}}'', Poltergeist from... ''{{Film/Poltergeist\|1982}}''.
127	** Also, Avid to Jodie Marsh. “I noticed you noticed me noticing you.”
128	* DisgustingPublicToilet: The one George Michael visits. What makes it disgusting isn’t the vile and tacky walls and floors but what George did there…and what he wants to do there with the cameraman.
129	* DontExplainTheJoke: Avid Merrion actually explains why ‘Cocknose’ is called ‘Cocknose.’
130	* EvenTheSubtitlerIsStumped: The lyrics of Craig David’s “Soda Pop” come up as a sing-a-long style with a Kes graphic moving across the words accordingly, however when it comes to Craig’s free styling, the Kes graphic begins to get confused and starts to move back along the lyrics before moving in all different directions. Then the subtitler gets confused when he adds ‘…?’ to the end of a verse.
131	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Cocknose.
132	* {{Fanservice}}: Craig’s co-presenter on I Love Wood.
133	** Nadine.
134	* {{FanDisservice}}: Michael Jackson looks at Bubbles’ boobs using massive binoculars. The audience gets a close-up shot of a man’s hairy chest.
135	* {{Flanderization}}: Ozzey suddenly became gay and extremely camp in this series.
136	* GagNose: Cocknose
137	* InnocentInnuendo: “Welcome to I Love Wood with me, Craig from ''Big Brother''. Today I’ll be screwing, banging and shelving.”
138	* OddCouple: Mel B and Patsy Kensit’s sketch.
139	-->'''Mel B:''' She’s posh as fook and I’m common as mook and together we make a right odd couple. '''[[Main/{{Catchphrase}} Yer complete set a bastards ya!]]'''
140	* PrecisionFStrike: When Jodie Marsh rejects Avid because she was only booked for one sequence.
141	-->'''Avid:''' I wish our guests were booked longer. Fuck.”
142	* PorkyPigPronunciation: Ronnay Barkay.
143	* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Avid, when he’s excited, screams like a girl.
144	* ThinkOfTheChildren: The term “twos on a bastard” is used throughout the series which basically means an unprotected one night stand. Apparently though “threes on a bastard” just isn’t fair on the kiddy.
145	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: [=Michelle McManus=] loves cake.
146	** Also, Jack Osbourne uses the catchphrase ‘Brown Bread’ which means something awesome.
147	* VisualPun: Cocknose. Even Avid points it out.
148	* VomitIndiscretionShot: [=Martine McCutcheon=] vomits all the time. Sometimes it is a Vomit Discretion Shot but there are always sick stains on her shirt.
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder: A Bear’s Tail]]
152	* ActorRoleConfusion: Keith Lemon confuses Helena Hennerson with Sadie King from ''Series/{{Emmerdale}}''.
153	* AmbiguouslyGay: Richard comes across as this and The Bear doesn’t help at all.
154	* AwkwardFatherSonBondingActivity: Richard takes the Bear to a counselling meeting. It doesn’t go well.
155	* BanisterSlide: The Bear pulls one off in an episode.
156	* BerserkButton: After Lillian calls him a ‘fanny-wart’, The Bear throws a tantrum because he wanted to say it and temporarily quits the show. He comes back later and calls someone a fanny-wart much to his amusement.
157	** Sue, when Bear calls her and Dave “sex-monsters.”
158	* BitingTheHandHumor: The Bear notes that they “show some rubbish on Channel 4”.
159	-->'''The Bear:''' Thank god for my show.
160	* BumblingDad: Richard.
161	* CensoredForComedy: Common in this series.
162	-->'''The Bear: I can’t use these chopstick things! I want a [=BLEEPing=] knife! What you bleeping that for? I said "fork and knife!"'''
163	** Also the Chaos Theory, which means the characters can’t swear inside the house without being bleeped but they can do it outside the house. However this doesn’t always stick depending on RuleOfFunny.
164	* ChekhovsSkill: Averted. Keith Lemon spends most of the series practicing martial arts and when it looks like he is just about to use them to free Bear from the circus, he simply slaps the strongman and fails to bend the cage bars.
165	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Helena Hennerson does this a lot.
166	-->(after Richard has just broken up with her.)
167	-->'''The Bear:''' Why don’t we watch a movie - I’m thinking ''Film/SingleWhiteFemale''.
168	-->'''Helena:''' How could you be so thoughtless!?! (beat) You know I’ve already seen that movie.
169	** Keith has a few of these moments too.
170	-->'''Helena:''' Keith, Richard’s left me.
171	-->'''Keith:''' Music/KeithRichards' left you?]]
172	* CringeComedy: Richard’s speech at his wedding reception is just, so, cringy.
173	* CrotchGrabSexCheck
174	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: “An artful dodger named…the Artful Dodger.”
175	* {{Dissimile}}: “That’s the thing about Keith Lemon, I’m like a little child at heart...A fully developed one though, y‘know, I‘ve get a full set of pubes and such.”
176	* TheDitz: Sacha. She never gets anything right in her show.
177	-->(during a live linkup)
178	-->'''Avid:''' Sacha, where are you?
179	-->'''Sacha:''' I am here.
180	-->'''Avid:''' Where are you?
181	-->'''Sacha:''' Where is it?
182	-->'''Avid:''' Where are you?
183	-->'''Sacha:''' It is here.
184	** Also Helena, the Bear’s adoptive mother.
185	* EvilIsHammy: Creator/RussellBrand as the ringmaster who kidnaps the bear.
186	-->'''Russell:''' Why not say ‘colouring book’ or ‘Helix shatterproof ruler!’
187	* FanService: Jodie Marsh washing her car in a small bikini in the “Desperate Housewife” segment.
188	* FloweryInsults: The Bear has a notorious one that Lillian even calls him out on.
189	-->'''Bear:''' Well, I wish someone would cut open your stomach, and stick a teapot inside it, so when you sing “I’m a little teapot”, you are actually a teapot.
190	-->'''Lillian:''' Well that’s a very creative insult isn’t it!
191	* GiveGeeksAChance: Mick Hucknall in his tries to seduce women. But they aren’t interested because he’s ginger.
192	* TheHeckler: When Richard begins to describe his difficulties with the Bear. The Bear seizes a perfect opportunity.
193	-->'''Richard:''' My name’s Richard --
194	-->'''Bear:''' --and I’m gay.
195	-->'''Richard:''' I recently --
196	-->'''Bear:''' --found out I’m gay.
197	-->'''Richard:''' Anything I say or do, he thinks I’m a --
198	-->'''Bear:''' -- That he’s a bender.
199	* HilariousOuttakes
200	* JumpIllCatchYou! : Part of Keith’s [[NotSoGreatEscape Not So Great Rescue]] to save the Bear from the circus.
201	* KnockKnockJoke: The Creator/JimmyCarr parody has one.
202	-->'''Jimmy Carr:''' Knock knock. Who’s there? I think you’ll find I am.
203	* LampshadeHanging: “That fire looks so perfect, it almost doesn’t look real.”
204	* NoFourthWall: This programme could win an award for the most demolishing of the fourth wall ever. It is a sitcom where only the Bear, the scriptwriters under the stairs and sometimes Keith Lemon speak into the camera. Also, the scriptwriter writes the script during the programme and characters acknowledge when they have been bleeped.
205	** Also, this little gem.
206	-->'''Bear:''' How do you know all this?
207	-->'''Helena:''' It's in the [=BLEEPing=] script!
208	* NotSoGreatEscape: Keith Lemon freeing the Bear from the circus.
209	* PrecisionFStrike: The Bear is fond of these.
210	-->'''The Bear:''' Lillian, Lillian, Lillian, Lillian.
211	-->'''Lillian:''' WHAT!?!
212	-->'''The Bear:''' YOU FUCKING WANKER!!!
213	** Also:
214	-->'''Richard:''' Language, Bear!
215	-->'''Bear:''' Oh, fuck off.
216	* RealityHasNoSubtitles: The German porn film has English subtitles but The Bear utters a German phrase while watching it which has no subtitles.
217	* RunningGag: In series 2 of ''Bo' Selecta!'' Craig David said his best friend was a gay, and black, and in a wheelchair and every other minority you could think of. The Bear says the exact same about his crazy ‘bear-stard’ friend in A Bear’s Tail although adds he was albino and a lesbian.
218	* SuddenlyBilingual: While watching a German porn film, The Bear begins to talk in German.
219	* TheTalk: Twice. First time, Helena tells The Bear that a baby is cooked in her tummy, The Bear then tells her ‘Oh stop patronizing me, I know it doesn’t come from your tummy, it comes from your arsehole.’ The next time is when a character asks how Helena got pregnant and tells her when Richard put “his roger in her rubies.”
220	* ThatCameOutWrong: Richard says this after he suggests they “go into the woods and take a great, big steaming poo.”
221	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: The Bear.
222	* VolleyingInsults: Bear and Lillian do this all the time.
223	* VomitIndiscretionShot: The Bear pukes up repeatedly in episode 4. Made even worse when Richard takes an undigested Haribo dummy sweet and uses it to propose to Helena. Still with sick on it.
224	[[/folder]]
225
226	[[folder: Bo! In The USA!]]
227	* AscendedExtra: Sacha.
228	** Also Creator/KeithLemon in and out-of-universe. Keith would later become Leigh’s most popular character and is now a famous television personality.
229	* BestialityIsDepraved: Averted. Sacha’s ex-husband was a dog. “She always loved dogs.”
230	-->'''Sacha:''' Would you like to stick your lipstick up my bum-bum?
231	* BlackComedyRape: Sacha gives us this.
232	-->'''Verne Troyer:''' Why the long face?
233	-->'''Sacha:''' It’s from my mother’s side. She was raped by a horse.
234	* NoFourthWall: Craig David’s peregrine falcon, Kes, who has been around for 5 series, is finally noted by Sacha to be plastic, everyone else had been going it was real.
235	* ThisMeansWar: KeithLemon tries to chat up Music/HollyValance when Creator/CraigDavid has his eyes on her.
236	[[/folder]]

Context Series / BoSelecta