After winning a BAFTA for the fantastic first series, The Sketch Show returned for a final season consisting of eight episodes. Kitty Flanagan joined the cast, replacing Ronni Ancona, with the other four cast members remaining. Though not as strong as series one, there are a number of stand-out sketches from the show's final series that deserve recognition, and here they are:
10. Military Wife
Military Officer Lee visits Kitty to inform her of her husband's death during the war. Lee continuously appears to have finished telling her how her husband died, only to reveal that he constantly survived the many accidents and attempts on his life. Both shocked and relived at the same time, Kitty eventually learns that her husband left her for another woman. Lee comforts her by explaining that her husband has now been shot for desertion. This sketch, like Film Noir in series one, perfectly creates the look of the period of which it is set, and Kitty's deliberately overplayed widow makes for a great satire.
9. Busker
A very short sketch, involving Tim busking near the sea. As he sings, people walk past and generously place money in his guitar case. With Tim stopping to say "thanks" every time someone pays, he becomes more and more frustrated with their generosity, leading him to hilariously shout at them: "will you just let me sing?!". Though a more simple sketch, Tim's delivery of the final line makes this a personal favourite of mine.
8. Partner Names
Kitty is unimpressed with Lee's various "romantic names" for her. Trying several in one go, Kitty grows more impatient with his efforts. Eventually, she simply demands Lee call her by her proper name, only for Lee to reveal he refuses to do so being that her proper name is "Minge". What I love is that Lee's suggested names are all perfectly innocent (if a bit ridiculous), making for an unexpected reveal of Kitty's real name.
7. Bill Paying
After a meal, Jim and Tim ask for the bill, with both more than happy to pay it themselves. A small argument soon takes an unexpected turn, as the two draw guns on one another, creating a stand-off. The sketch parodies classic tropes of film stand-offs, such as Jim telling Tim that he's captured his wife, and Tim trying to negotiate a deal. As well as this, the backdrop of having this take place over something as innocent as paying a bill offers up some great comedy, with Jim finally paying the bill and the waitress (Kitty) drawing a gun on him after he tips her.6. Ben Ign
5. Pickpocket
Kitty teaches Lee how to be a successful pickpocket, with her demonstrating on a passer-by. Inspired by this, Lee attempts the same. However, his distraction of starting a conversation with his target quickly backfires, as the target (Tim) engages enthusiastically with the conversation, asking: "how are those two kids of yours?" etc. Lee becomes startled and believes Tim is trying to pickpocket him, so he goes back to Kitty for advice and asks: "does this work better if this person isn't my brother?". Tim's overly enthusiastic portaryal of the brother is my favourite part of this sketch, as it is enough to not only confuse Lee, but briefly make him paranoid about being robbed. 4. Tim's Accident
Lee asks Tim about an accident he had, and how badly it effected him. Upon Tim telling him that he has lost a testicle as a result of the accident, Lee can't help but notice everything he says sounds like a double entendre. I love how many jokes are present during such a small space of time, with everything Lee does to not make references to the accident making things worse and worse. A brilliant sketch providing non-stop laughs.3. Kitty's Guitar
Arriving back at Kitty's house after a date, Lee notices she has a guitar. He soon wishes he didn't notice it, as Kitty begins playing songs that she wrote. These supposedly romantic songs are the same tune with sightly different lyrics, and are about everyone besides Lee. The interaction between Lee and Kitty is brilliant, with Lee's increasing disinterest working perfectly off Kitty's growing enthusiasm for playing and singing her own songs.2. Tennis
Karen and Kitty's tennis match is interrupted by Lee, who is making load grunting noises everytime he hits the ball on his court. Frustrated, Kitty sternly tells Lee to keep the noise down, only for Lee to continue at the time where its most inconvenient for her. The sketch is a great satire of not only those who take sport too seriously, but of the unnecessary and over-the-top shouting of tennis players. The final moments of the sketch are a fantastic resolution of the built up tension between the two characters, with Kitty silencing Lee by whacking the tennis ball at him as hard as she can.1. Police Visit
Not just my favourite sketch of series two, but better than some of series one's finest. Another great example of the show's use of dark humour, as Tim receives a visit from two police officers (Lee and Kitty). Despite their insistence of Tim coming with them to the police station, Tim explains that his wife will be home any moment to celebrate his birthday. The officers then break out into song, and Tim feels relieved that they aren't here on an urgent matter. He then gets a bit of a shock when the officers sing about how Tim's wife has crashed her car, and that they do in fact need him to come to the station. Tim Vine's performance is hilarious, as he manages to sell the innocence of his character so that the dark humour has maximum effect. As series two turned out to be the show's final series, at least it contained this incredible sketch as a reminder of how funny the show could be.
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