Watch The Young Ones
- TV-14
- 1998
- 2 Seasons
-
8.2 (16,749)
The Young Ones is a classic British sitcom that aired on BBC America from 1982 to 1984. This show follows the lives of four offbeat students who share a house in London. The characters are all wildly different but share a love for punk rock, anarchism, and disdain for authority.
The main cast consists of Rik Mayall as Rick, Ade Edmondson as Vyvyan, Nigel Planer as Neil, and Christopher Ryan as Mike. Alexei Sayle also makes frequent appearances as various characters. Rick is a pompous, self-contained revolutionary; Vyvyan is his equally wild and violent roommate. Neil is a hopeless hippie and Mike is the seemingly mature one who often has to clean up after the others.
The show was full of dark, surreal humor and violence. It poked fun at British culture, politics, and authority. Each episode featured a different story and scheme by the characters, with a musical performance from a punk band in the middle of each one.
The show's style was unique for its time, with fast cuts, exaggerated facial expressions, and bizarre narrative breaks. It was one of the first sitcoms to break the fourth wall, with characters addressing the audience directly and breaking into musical numbers.
Despite its short run, The Young Ones was a massive hit in the UK and is considered a cult classic to this day. It was particularly popular with young people from the punk and anarchist scenes, who saw themselves reflected in the characters' rebellious attitudes.
The show's influence can be seen in countless other works of British comedy, particularly those featuring members of the cast. Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson went on to create their own sitcom Bottom, which featured similarly wild and anarchic characters. Nigel Planer and Alexei Sayle both became successful writers, actors, and comedians.
The Young Ones was also notable for its use of music. Each episode featured a punk or new wave band performing a song, often with the characters joining in or dancing along. The show's popularity led to the release of two hit singles, "The Young Ones" and "Living Doll," both of which reached #1 on the UK charts.
Overall, The Young Ones is a classic example of British anarchic humor. Its unique style, dark humor, and unforgettable characters have made it a favorite of fans for decades.
The Young Ones is a series that ran for 2 seasons (12 episodes) between March 30, 1998 and on BBC America