And to think had it not been for this incident, How Many Hats would not have been cancelled and it's eventual successor Numberwang may never have seen the light of day.
The problem with programming of this era was that people weren't wearing enough hats. By addressing this, HMH opened the floodgates for a variety of shows, including a "gameshow segment" for broadcast in times of national emergency. Truly groundbreaking
Lovely send-up of the rather quaint panel quiz shows that those of us, of a certain age, remember watching as children on our parents' 14" black and white television sets.
I think it is sending up the show "What's My Line?" which originated in the US. Other countries including the UK had their own versions. The panel had to guess the occupation of the various guests, i.e. their line of employment. One of the British show hosts was Gilbert Harding, who may be sent up in this sketch as panellist "Sir Geoffrey Whiting". This sketch is also parodying the general dreariness of the BBC in the 1950s and 60s.
For those who want to know what this is parodying, it is the show "what's my line" where 4 recurring panellists try to guess someone's job (line of work).
I used to watch it in the sixties. John Daly was the moderator. Bennett Cerf was on the panel. He was the man who created the publisher Random House. Arlene Francis was on it. And Dorothy Kilgallen. It was a great show
It reminds me of a lot of panel shows these days - everyone knows the answer but they keep talking around the issue so that David Mitchell and Alan Davies etc have time to do their comedic bits.
Armstrong and Miller, Mitchell and Webb, Little Britain, seems there's really no limit to how many times you can re-watch these and they'll still be as funny.
First time I've seen this. Found it via a link in the comments section of an UnHerd article by Kat Rosenfeld regarding Steven King's views on covid protocols. A fitting comparison.
If you like this then search for "big train cakes". Its a shame they appear to deleted the original video of the cake sketch, but there is still a "reaction" video of it.
When she asks if it's a 2 digit number and it's wrong, he says that's a point to him. But doesn't score himself the point, so it ends up 0-1. It may be too late to investigate, but surely this should be looked into, lest the BBC lose it's reputation for integrity! (Ahh wait, it lost any trace of that about 10 years ago :)).
Yes! That hadn't occurred to me, but you're right. Would fit easily into a Python episode. Maybe Michael Palin as the quiz-master and John Cleese as the new-to-the-show rebel team-member who won't 'play the game'!
It's clearly not because Through the Keyhole was never in black and white and was nothing like this. Saying that, it WAS the most recent episode of Through the Keyhole, where it was obviously Fatima Whitbread's house and the panel had to string it out a bit before guessing, that reminded me of this sketch and made me find it on CZcams. Of course, that episode of Through the Keyhole was in 2019 so it was done in a much more knowing way with Mr Lemon even mentioning Fatima Whitbread several times while asking the panel to guess.
And to think had it not been for this incident, How Many Hats would not have been cancelled and it's eventual successor Numberwang may never have seen the light of day.
The problem with programming of this era was that people weren't wearing enough hats. By addressing this, HMH opened the floodgates for a variety of shows, including a "gameshow segment" for broadcast in times of national emergency. Truly groundbreaking
Interestingly, Channel 4’s “Man or Woman?” never made it past the pilot episode.
One of their best sketches. That english middle-class sense of embarassment at somebody who won't join with all the others.
[ of course ]
Lovely send-up of the rather quaint panel quiz shows that those of us, of a certain age, remember watching as children on our parents' 14" black and white television sets.
'i will not be silenced !'
"I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!!"
One of the best sketches on the show
SHE'S WEARING ONE HAT
This is one of their best sketches. It's beautifully done.
I cant take this, I just breakdown everytime I watch it, pure genius
It took me until past the one-minute mark, plus reading the comments, to realize this is a sketch 😂
It was cold on the golf course today and when I put on a second woolen hat, I reminded myself of this. This is brilliant.
I saw this years ago but have just found it on youtube. Absolute genius!
"The inimitable Sir Geoffrey Whiting:"
"Noo."
Is the number of hats that you are wearing by any chance Numberwang?
+littlegelland If it were anything between and inclusive of 3.2 and 3.8 it would be Numberwang. Except on Thursdays, of course.
+Throatwobbler Mangrove Naturally.
littlegelland Yes! That is a number!
@@sirpercivalsmallcock-jones9585 hang on a second! That’s not Numberwang!
As a fan of 'whats my line' I loved this even more :D
I think it is sending up the show "What's My Line?" which originated in the US. Other countries including the UK had their own versions. The panel had to guess the occupation of the various guests, i.e. their line of employment. One of the British show hosts was Gilbert Harding, who may be sent up in this sketch as panellist "Sir Geoffrey Whiting".
This sketch is also parodying the general dreariness of the BBC in the 1950s and 60s.
But what if you had a big hat, like a ten-gallon, and you were wearing a smaller hat underneath, like a fez, and under that you had a yarmulke?
He looks just like the original Master from Doctor Who
"Our regards to your husband." Classic.
Is that a reference to something?
@@tobybartels8426 Society.
For those who want to know what this is parodying, it is the show "what's my line" where 4 recurring panellists try to guess someone's job (line of work).
I used to watch it in the sixties. John Daly was the moderator. Bennett Cerf was on the panel. He was the man who created the publisher Random House. Arlene Francis was on it. And Dorothy Kilgallen. It was a great show
A saggar makers bottom-knocker
This beats Numberwang. "I will not be silenced!"
One of their best
are you related to Gary?
TF2: the game show.
She's wearing 3 hats!!
I've finally seen a few episodes of What's My Line, so I understand the parody better now 😂
It reminds me of a lot of panel shows these days - everyone knows the answer but they keep talking around the issue so that David Mitchell and Alan Davies etc have time to do their comedic bits.
@batmanofni No I think it's a comic actress called Lucy Montgomery, probably best known now as April 'Used to be a Man' Shepard from The IT Crowd.
Yes it is!
"...and making his _How Many Hats?_ debut, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi." 0:24
I usually giggle like a little girl at "i will not be silenced".
It's such a tremendous line.
@@gabbleratchet1890 Indeed. He nails it imho :)
It's back to you Ricky
Armstrong and Miller, Mitchell and Webb, Little Britain, seems there's really no limit to how many times you can re-watch these and they'll still be as funny.
Big Train?
@@krashd Hmm, had to look that one up. That was one I had never heard of. Would give it a go, if I could find it somewhere.
Fry and Laurie
This is brilliantly observed.
Love this sketch cheers for ulpoading it !
First time I've seen this. Found it via a link in the comments section of an UnHerd article by Kat Rosenfeld regarding Steven King's views on covid protocols. A fitting comparison.
That's numberwang!
If you like this then search for "big train cakes". Its a shame they appear to deleted the original video of the cake sketch, but there is still a "reaction" video of it.
When she asks if it's a 2 digit number and it's wrong, he says that's a point to him. But doesn't score himself the point, so it ends up 0-1. It may be too late to investigate, but surely this should be looked into, lest the BBC lose it's reputation for integrity! (Ahh wait, it lost any trace of that about 10 years ago :)).
It’s not just the comedy content, it’s the mise-en-scène, the costumes, the black and white effect and the really awful focus.
The irony is that the British make the best radio quiz shows. Their TV quiz shows, by way of contrast, aren't as good as this.
Sir Geoffrey Whiting
Noooo!
That is exactly what will happen if they invite Derren Brown to "Would I Like To You?".
Ch3ckm4t3 do you mean "Would I Lie to You?"
Pure Python!
Yes! That hadn't occurred to me, but you're right. Would fit easily into a Python episode. Maybe Michael Palin as the quiz-master and John Cleese as the new-to-the-show rebel team-member who won't 'play the game'!
She was actually expecting him to wear more than 10 hats???
I want to see more of this show...
Like that one guy in West Bank on ZX Spectrum.
Is the number of hats you're wearing a Heegner number?
I will not be silenced. That's 1 hat. I know it's one hat!
Better game than Pointless
This is a direct dig at Through the Keyhole, where the audience claps after each observation.
Not really. It's more of a pastiche of 'What's My Line?'.
It's clearly not because Through the Keyhole was never in black and white and was nothing like this.
Saying that, it WAS the most recent episode of Through the Keyhole, where it was obviously Fatima Whitbread's house and the panel had to string it out a bit before guessing, that reminded me of this sketch and made me find it on CZcams. Of course, that episode of Through the Keyhole was in 2019 so it was done in a much more knowing way with Mr Lemon even mentioning Fatima Whitbread several times while asking the panel to guess.
'Nooooo!'
Pretty sure she was from Barking not St Albans.
Hahaha Jeffrey Whiting saying "nooooo!"
Wait, I wanted to watch more of Princess Margaret.
xD I love this.
Is the dentist at the end playing 'How Many Teeth'?
How many caps.
I know, i know i know!!!
The answer is 3 quarters!
@tiarnan76 To be fair, fewer and fewer televisions use cathode tubes.
Is the woman with the hats on Tasmin Greig (from Green Wing/Black Books).
Never mind the hats! How many otters?!?
The Internet as seen by Goolag
valve would be proud
Was the last guy wearing 1 hat or not?
Jeremiah Johnson ONE HAT!
We don't know. he might have been wearing a small hat under the trilby, that could not easily be seen.
I think the jury's out on that one!
I feel like there's a flaw here
Is the number of teeth you've recently broken... 9001?
OMG I nearly wet myself watching this!!!
"It's back with you Ricky" :L
ha ha funny. Are u watching Gayan!?!?!
0:18 was that David Baddiel?
No it's Jim Howick, it does look a bit like Baddiel though in this sketch.
None the wiser :-)
Nooooo!
It's still better than pointless 😲
A great parody of those awful 60s US celebrity shows like What's My Line.
A what-now number?...Methinks Wiki calls...:-)
CovidImages need to be invested more than half19
*She's also wearing one and two hats*
*PS: How many hats is Princess Magaret wearing*