"Prime Time Duck"
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| Hello, good evening and welcome - whatever you are. |
Original broadcast date: 17 October 1989
Writer: Peter Richard Reeves
Additional voices: 1sttechnician/Dmitri/TVTV
announcer: Brian Trueman
Additional voices: 1sttechnician/Dmitri/TVTV
announcer: Brian Trueman
2nd technician/Sviatoslav/
Mr. Quentin: Jimmy Hibbert
Mr. Quentin: Jimmy Hibbert
Bettina Bott: Ruby Wax
Joke credit: Miss Bott’s Wardrobe – In Miss Bott’s bedroom
Castle transport visual not used.
This has got to be one of the most cynical episodes of the series and that's saying something. Duckula, despite being the main character of his own show, very rarely gets happy endings and in this one he gets very little respect all round. His servants, however, get their happy ending, after getting carried away in their roles. This is unusual in that, while oftentimes Igor and Nanny end no worse than they start off, it's rare that they end on a high while their master gets shafted. 'Ducknapped' for instance, has a similar ending style, but not many others. Of course, because the Count is more passionate and excitable, his bad endings always seem that bit worse regardless of how bad they are.
The opening is funny. We see Igor opening the curtains of his master's room and apparently recoiling from the rays of the sun. But, as he explains to a sleepy Count, 'There are floodlights illuminating the castle' - anyone who's seen the title card may have an idea where this is going, but it's even funnier if you missed it. Igor's mistake here was telling Duckula at all, because now the Count knows there's a TV crew outside, that's just where he's headed to ham it up in front of the cameras. After Nanny bashes his beak in with the door of course. A rare instance of her opening the door correctly, if forcefully, which Duckula duly points out is unusual!
Outside, Duckula does a wee dance in front of the cameras which is politely lauded by the technicians who then explain that none of the cameras are even turned on so no-one really saw him. As we discover later, no-one would see him even if they were turned on, since it's implied that vampires do not show up on film, or at least in photographs and mirrors. The Count doesn't seem to be bothered, but is more interested in why the TV crew are there to begin with. I like how they just seemed to show up with a bunch of vans and equipment, without any prior warning or request for permission. This gives us a sly hint about how they will treat the Count later in the episode. Turns out they're all there to make a film about the castle for Transylvanian Television (TVTV!) so naturally Duckula is very pleased about this even if the technicians don't seem to know why he would be or for that matter, who he is.
The gushing presenter (Ruby Wax, naturally) and the campy director (Jimmy Hibbert of course) soon show up, sporting loud bonhomie and equally loud matching spectacles. Maybe they need these spectacles replaced, since they immediately mistake Igor for Count Duckula. Silly TV types, the clue's in his name! Or would that 'count' as a racial assumption? Whatever the case, they see more stately presence in Igor than in his master, something which Igor, despite his humility, clearly enjoys, if the the aside smiles he gives and tone of his voice upon correcting them are anything to go by. Duckula corrects them too, but they're not having it. They insist that their viewers will expect to see someone like Igor as the Count so that's what's going to happen. Clearly not a case of truth in television, so don't believe everything you see on TV! Or at least on TVTV. They even insist of having a Countess ('Our viewers would expect it.') so that's Nanny's role sorted and they want Duckula to play the servants. Understandably he's furious at this idea - until they tell him that he'll get paid for it. Whether he does or doesn't isn't clear as it's never mentioned again, but I would not be at all surprised if it was just a ploy.
What follows is Igor and Nanny being filmed as they give a guided tour of the castle and introduce their staff, all played by Duckula. They start off a bit hesitant to the idea (especially Igor) but soon warm up to it, all the more so when it seems that for once, they'll be getting to boss Duckula around for a change. I can certainly understand Igor delighting in this situation, but it's fun seeing Nanny getting into the spirit of things too. I also get a kick of Duckula mugging into the camera just before 'CUT!' each time.
Over several shoots, Duckula plays a maid, a footman, a cook, a gardener and a butler. He does a fun job varying them up and David Jason does that tricky task of making them all sound like Duckula attempting different voices, so it sounds like the character doing the voice and not the actor. Especially clever since David could do a tonne of on-point voices anyway. I particularly like how Duckula stumbles to choose a voice for his French chef take-off and how he acts like a deaf old gardener, mishearing everything that's said to him. 'Once every day and HOO HOO! Twice on Fridays!'
By this stage Igor, by his own admission, is really enjoying the whole affair and we close on the final scene of the TV crew taking their leave and Igor summoning 'ALL' the staff to the hallway to sack them! A knackered Duckula, quick-changing like a whirling dervish, is kicked out and is now out of a job - 'No, worse, out of several jobs!' - until he remembers that HE is the Count not Igor and demands to be let back in. His pleas go unanswered as we round off this sardonic story of feudal usurpment.
Really funny episode. It's a refreshing break when the vampiric aspects take a back-seat to pure sitcom farce and 'Prime Time Duck' is one of the best at this, coupled with a lot of visual jokes during the make-up scenes and the Count's impossibly fast quick-changes - well, there's your supernatural element after all.
Music heard: 'Big Show Theme' (Robert Sharples) plays over the title card, 'Uneasy Feeling' (track 14 - Jack Trombey) - opens the show proper. 'Gala Performance' (Laurie Johnson) is heard a few times, as is apt given this is an episode of a TV show about ... a TV show. It's more well known as the theme to the UK version of 'This Is Your Life' and is also used for such a spoof in the Danger Mouse episode 'Demons Aren't Dull.' 'Spindlelegs' (King Palmer) plays when Duckula is in the kitchen and the tail end of it is heard as Duckula leaves the bedroom. 'Weeping Heart' (track 9, Dick Walter) plays when Duckula gets 'fired' and kicked out. Dmitri and Sviatoslav's elephant-astic joke is underscored with 'Vamp Til Ready' (Wally Asp) as per usual. It's number 88 on this album. The garden scnene uses a hapr version of 'In an English Country Garden' by Richard Allen Harvey and Brian Douglas Gulland - (track 19).
Here's some background art. Cue luvvie pan dollies - I mean, dolly pan, luvvies.That is what I said. Oops wrong show.
Trivia
* Another one of many episodes with the word duck in the title.
This has got to be one of the most cynical episodes of the series and that's saying something. Duckula, despite being the main character of his own show, very rarely gets happy endings and in this one he gets very little respect all round. His servants, however, get their happy ending, after getting carried away in their roles. This is unusual in that, while oftentimes Igor and Nanny end no worse than they start off, it's rare that they end on a high while their master gets shafted. 'Ducknapped' for instance, has a similar ending style, but not many others. Of course, because the Count is more passionate and excitable, his bad endings always seem that bit worse regardless of how bad they are.
Outside, Duckula does a wee dance in front of the cameras which is politely lauded by the technicians who then explain that none of the cameras are even turned on so no-one really saw him. As we discover later, no-one would see him even if they were turned on, since it's implied that vampires do not show up on film, or at least in photographs and mirrors. The Count doesn't seem to be bothered, but is more interested in why the TV crew are there to begin with. I like how they just seemed to show up with a bunch of vans and equipment, without any prior warning or request for permission. This gives us a sly hint about how they will treat the Count later in the episode. Turns out they're all there to make a film about the castle for Transylvanian Television (TVTV!) so naturally Duckula is very pleased about this even if the technicians don't seem to know why he would be or for that matter, who he is.
The gushing presenter (Ruby Wax, naturally) and the campy director (Jimmy Hibbert of course) soon show up, sporting loud bonhomie and equally loud matching spectacles. Maybe they need these spectacles replaced, since they immediately mistake Igor for Count Duckula. Silly TV types, the clue's in his name! Or would that 'count' as a racial assumption? Whatever the case, they see more stately presence in Igor than in his master, something which Igor, despite his humility, clearly enjoys, if the the aside smiles he gives and tone of his voice upon correcting them are anything to go by. Duckula corrects them too, but they're not having it. They insist that their viewers will expect to see someone like Igor as the Count so that's what's going to happen. Clearly not a case of truth in television, so don't believe everything you see on TV! Or at least on TVTV. They even insist of having a Countess ('Our viewers would expect it.') so that's Nanny's role sorted and they want Duckula to play the servants. Understandably he's furious at this idea - until they tell him that he'll get paid for it. Whether he does or doesn't isn't clear as it's never mentioned again, but I would not be at all surprised if it was just a ploy.
What follows is Igor and Nanny being filmed as they give a guided tour of the castle and introduce their staff, all played by Duckula. They start off a bit hesitant to the idea (especially Igor) but soon warm up to it, all the more so when it seems that for once, they'll be getting to boss Duckula around for a change. I can certainly understand Igor delighting in this situation, but it's fun seeing Nanny getting into the spirit of things too. I also get a kick of Duckula mugging into the camera just before 'CUT!' each time. |
| Now one of these chaps is Count DUCKula. I wonder who it could be? |
Over several shoots, Duckula plays a maid, a footman, a cook, a gardener and a butler. He does a fun job varying them up and David Jason does that tricky task of making them all sound like Duckula attempting different voices, so it sounds like the character doing the voice and not the actor. Especially clever since David could do a tonne of on-point voices anyway. I particularly like how Duckula stumbles to choose a voice for his French chef take-off and how he acts like a deaf old gardener, mishearing everything that's said to him. 'Once every day and HOO HOO! Twice on Fridays!'By this stage Igor, by his own admission, is really enjoying the whole affair and we close on the final scene of the TV crew taking their leave and Igor summoning 'ALL' the staff to the hallway to sack them! A knackered Duckula, quick-changing like a whirling dervish, is kicked out and is now out of a job - 'No, worse, out of several jobs!' - until he remembers that HE is the Count not Igor and demands to be let back in. His pleas go unanswered as we round off this sardonic story of feudal usurpment.
Really funny episode. It's a refreshing break when the vampiric aspects take a back-seat to pure sitcom farce and 'Prime Time Duck' is one of the best at this, coupled with a lot of visual jokes during the make-up scenes and the Count's impossibly fast quick-changes - well, there's your supernatural element after all.
Music heard: 'Big Show Theme' (Robert Sharples) plays over the title card, 'Uneasy Feeling' (track 14 - Jack Trombey) - opens the show proper. 'Gala Performance' (Laurie Johnson) is heard a few times, as is apt given this is an episode of a TV show about ... a TV show. It's more well known as the theme to the UK version of 'This Is Your Life' and is also used for such a spoof in the Danger Mouse episode 'Demons Aren't Dull.' 'Spindlelegs' (King Palmer) plays when Duckula is in the kitchen and the tail end of it is heard as Duckula leaves the bedroom. 'Weeping Heart' (track 9, Dick Walter) plays when Duckula gets 'fired' and kicked out. Dmitri and Sviatoslav's elephant-astic joke is underscored with 'Vamp Til Ready' (Wally Asp) as per usual. It's number 88 on this album. The garden scnene uses a hapr version of 'In an English Country Garden' by Richard Allen Harvey and Brian Douglas Gulland - (track 19).
Here's some background art. Cue luvvie pan dollies - I mean, dolly pan, luvvies.That is what I said. Oops wrong show.
 |
| A few pans are found in the kitchen. GEDDIT?! |
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| Good sense of depth you miss out on when you don't see the full pan in one go. Have fun spotting bonuses, like that pin-up and the axe/cleaver. |
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| The portrait of the bubble-headed professor shows up a few times in the series. |
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| This pans on two planes to what's here isn't exact. 'No the OTHER SIDE of the bush luvvie!' |
Trivia
* Another one of many episodes with the word duck in the title.
* Narrative alliteration: 'miserable, mawkish, malevolent morning.'
* Episode opens with Igor's almost-scream and ends in Duckula's full screams.
* The layout of Duckula's bedroom is different in this one - perhaps it's been remodelled after Nanny (or Goosewing) broke it too often or it's another room? A poster of Von Goosewing can bee seen on the wall. Clearly for darts practice.
*Duckula is wearing pajama bottoms. One of the few occasions where he - or indeed any cartoon duck! - wears lower half clothes.
* Duckula sings 'Happy Feet' reworded to be 'Happy Webs' - webbed feet, see?
* The TV show being filmed is called 'Great Castles of the World.'
* The clock bats' joke does not tie in with the episode's theme.
* First appearance of Bettina Bott, Mr. Quentin and TVTV. They all reappear in 'Prince Duckula' where Jack May does indeed play a Count for real!
* Duckula explains that there never has been a Countess. This is because the Count, being immortal, has never had to marry or start a family to continue his lineage. He just gets re-incarnated, as
explained in the intro'.
* 3rd time Duckula is seen with a top hat and cane, the prior two times being in 'Dr. Von Goosewing's Invisible Ray' and 'A Fright at the Opera.'
* In order to show up on film, the Count (the real one!) has to be plastered in make-up. This explains how he would also show up on film in 'Prince Duckula', though that would seem confusing if you had seen that episode before this one. It's a lot later in the run though, so it's unlikely.
* 3rd time Duckula wears a chef's outfit, the last time being 'The Incredible Shrinking Duck.' 3rd of 4 times David Jason's character does so. Pierre wears one in 'Transylvanian Take-Away.'
* Episode opens with Igor's almost-scream and ends in Duckula's full screams.
* The layout of Duckula's bedroom is different in this one - perhaps it's been remodelled after Nanny (or Goosewing) broke it too often or it's another room? A poster of Von Goosewing can bee seen on the wall. Clearly for darts practice.*Duckula is wearing pajama bottoms. One of the few occasions where he - or indeed any cartoon duck! - wears lower half clothes.
* Duckula sings 'Happy Feet' reworded to be 'Happy Webs' - webbed feet, see?
* The TV show being filmed is called 'Great Castles of the World.'
* The clock bats' joke does not tie in with the episode's theme.
* Duckula explains that there never has been a Countess. This is because the Count, being immortal, has never had to marry or start a family to continue his lineage. He just gets re-incarnated, as
* 3rd time Duckula is seen with a top hat and cane, the prior two times being in 'Dr. Von Goosewing's Invisible Ray' and 'A Fright at the Opera.'
* In order to show up on film, the Count (the real one!) has to be plastered in make-up. This explains how he would also show up on film in 'Prince Duckula', though that would seem confusing if you had seen that episode before this one. It's a lot later in the run though, so it's unlikely.
* 3rd time Duckula wears a chef's outfit, the last time being 'The Incredible Shrinking Duck.' 3rd of 4 times David Jason's character does so. Pierre wears one in 'Transylvanian Take-Away.'
* Two of Jimmy's characters have moustaches.
* Jimmy's crewman voice changes subtly from his first appearance and when he orders the lunches. More official?
* The list of lunches for the crew: 12 goulash (5 with sour cream and dumplings, 3 with dumplings and no cream, 4 with extra cream and no dumplings) 20 bowls of borscht, 14 black bread, 6 white, 4 rye. Hold the butter on two of the black breads and 7 diet spreads. Side salads for 23, 14 with extra tomato, 6 with mayonnaise, no onion, 10 coffees, 15 root beers, 4 colas and a yoghurt. Can you repeat that?
* This would not be the only time a David Jason character would have to disguise as a maid. Mr. Toad does so in 'A Tale of Two Toads' and Hugo does so in 'The Case of the Vose Vase' and 'But Me No Butlers.'
* The trophy room appears to have regular peoples' heads mounted in it! Well, regular 'Count Duckula' people anyway.There's also a mummy in a glass case. Wonder if that's the same one from 'The Return...'?
* Nanny's assumed name is Countess Amnesia. Whether or not this is her full name isn't made clear, however, Countess Amnesia is later used as the name of a character in the Victor & Hugo adventure, 'Stone Me.' Amnesia, of course, means forgetfulness, a topic for the episode 'Amnesiac Duck.'
* In the portrait gallery a full frontal female nude can be seen and in the garden, there is a large-breasted gargoyle - possibly with male genitalia? Amazing!
* 2nd appearance of the garden. The first was in 'Duck and the Broccoli Stalk.'
* Igor comes up with names for all of Duckula's roles. Trixie the maid, Joseph the footman, Old Klaus the gardener and Blethers the butler. He also refers to 'cook' as 'her' but Duckula just puts his chef outfit back on and attempts a French accent.
* Igor appears to remove his cape and sash when we see him in the mirror. Or does he? The mirror is so blurred and stained and Igor is only half in shot so it's impossible to tell.
* This episode was released on the Thames Count Duckula Bumper Special VHS in 1989 along with 4 other episodes, including 'The Incredible Shrinking Duck', 'Ducknapped', and 'Blood Sucking Fruit Bats of the Lower Amazon.'
* Miss Bott also cameos in 'The Count Duckula Joke Book' by Jonathan Clements.
Goofs and Nitpicks
* The doorknob changes sides on Duckula's bedroom door during a mid shot of the bed.
* Sliver of a couple of cel numbers seen for a mini split second as Duckula dances in front of Igor. Really, it just looks like a bit of dust, I'm being mega-pedantic.
* During a shot where Bettina is talking, we cut to a close-up of Quentin. Bettina's mouth is still visible at the extreme edge of the shot but it doesn't move during her dialogue.
* Igor's tie disappears briefly in one shot in the trophy room.
* Bettina's necklace is occasionally miscoloured.
* What little we see of Duckula's legs are white for a brief shot in the garden
* Jimmy's crewman voice changes subtly from his first appearance and when he orders the lunches. More official?
* This would not be the only time a David Jason character would have to disguise as a maid. Mr. Toad does so in 'A Tale of Two Toads' and Hugo does so in 'The Case of the Vose Vase' and 'But Me No Butlers.'
* The trophy room appears to have regular peoples' heads mounted in it! Well, regular 'Count Duckula' people anyway.There's also a mummy in a glass case. Wonder if that's the same one from 'The Return...'?
* Nanny's assumed name is Countess Amnesia. Whether or not this is her full name isn't made clear, however, Countess Amnesia is later used as the name of a character in the Victor & Hugo adventure, 'Stone Me.' Amnesia, of course, means forgetfulness, a topic for the episode 'Amnesiac Duck.'
* In the portrait gallery a full frontal female nude can be seen and in the garden, there is a large-breasted gargoyle - possibly with male genitalia? Amazing!
* 2nd appearance of the garden. The first was in 'Duck and the Broccoli Stalk.'
* Igor comes up with names for all of Duckula's roles. Trixie the maid, Joseph the footman, Old Klaus the gardener and Blethers the butler. He also refers to 'cook' as 'her' but Duckula just puts his chef outfit back on and attempts a French accent.
* Igor appears to remove his cape and sash when we see him in the mirror. Or does he? The mirror is so blurred and stained and Igor is only half in shot so it's impossible to tell.
* This episode was released on the Thames Count Duckula Bumper Special VHS in 1989 along with 4 other episodes, including 'The Incredible Shrinking Duck', 'Ducknapped', and 'Blood Sucking Fruit Bats of the Lower Amazon.'
* Miss Bott also cameos in 'The Count Duckula Joke Book' by Jonathan Clements.
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| Get your glasses tested luvvie! |
Goofs and Nitpicks
* The doorknob changes sides on Duckula's bedroom door during a mid shot of the bed.
* Sliver of a couple of cel numbers seen for a mini split second as Duckula dances in front of Igor. Really, it just looks like a bit of dust, I'm being mega-pedantic.
* During a shot where Bettina is talking, we cut to a close-up of Quentin. Bettina's mouth is still visible at the extreme edge of the shot but it doesn't move during her dialogue.
* Igor's tie disappears briefly in one shot in the trophy room.
* Bettina's necklace is occasionally miscoloured.
* What little we see of Duckula's legs are white for a brief shot in the garden
Absolutely one of my favorite episodes from second season. Make-up is a useful invention. XD
ReplyDeleteI marathoned Quacula episodes and... I won't say it was bad. It was crazy. It was supposed funny and it was. Frank Welker did a great job as Quacula. ^^ Well, I still love Duckula. ;D Scott sold his charakter? O.o I'm corious.
Scott Shaw's character has nothing to do with the Cosgrove-Hall character, it's just coincidence. In his own words, the only thing they had in common is the name, whereas he felt Quacula was a direct rip-off.
DeleteI was really surprised- Duckula before Duckula?
ReplyDeleteI didn't find too much information on this topic. It was intriguing.
Well, I also think that was so. ^^