In The Tobacconist’s Sketch, Eric Idle, as the Bailiff, is cross-examining Michael Palin, as the Publisher :
*Bailiff: You live at 46 Horton Terrace?
Publisher: I do live at 46 Horton terrace.
Bailiff: You are the director of a publishing company?
Publisher: I am the director of a publishing company.
Bailiff: Your company publishes phrase books?
Publisher: My company does publish phrase books.
Bailiff: You did say 46 Horton Terrace, did you?
Publisher: Yes.
Bailiff: (strikes a gong) Ah! Got him! (lawyer and cop applaud, laugh) *
I’ve never understood what the point was of getting Palin to admit he’d said his address and then the banging of the gong. There’s hysterical laughter laughter from the audience and I don’t know why.
Is this some reference to a British game show? Would somebody please explain?
There was a British game show called “Take Your Pick” that aired from the late 1950’s into the early 1970’s. In it, the opening round consisted of a contestant being questioned for one minute. If the contestant answered any questions by “yes” or “no”, they were eliminated, to the banging of a gong.
(BTW, the main round of “Take Your Pick”, where the contestant was asked if they would keep a box or take a prize was parodied at other times by the Pythons.)
Much thanks, Governor Quinn.
Another mystery solved!
This goes back a few years. There was part of a radio show, then part of a TV quiz show called the “Yes/No Interlude”
You had rapid-fire questions for 60 seconds, and couldn’t answer “Yes” or “No” or the guy struck a gong and you lost.
It’s not as easy as it sounds!
THank you, SadTomato.
If you can find the UK Game SHows page on the web, they explain the game a whole lot better than I can.
B****R, This is the second time tonight I’ve been beaten by seconds, but your explanation is better than mine, Governor Quinn!
And thanks to you, Merseybeat.
Say, isn’t it after 3 AM in Liverpool?
Yep, but day off tomorrow, and enjoying a beer, and this forum!