Just one recording today, it’s an episode from a comedy series called Absolute Power – The Nation’s Favourite although I don’t think the Media Centre details are right, since the programme description doesn’t match what’s in the episode. I think this episode is actually Identity Crisis.
Stephen Fry and John Bird are the heads of PR company Prentiss McCabe.
They arrive at Television Centre, as they’re representing the Home Secretary, who’s on Breakfast TV putting the case for identity cards.
Zoe Telford plays Alison Jackman, who works at the firm. They’re having telephone problems.
Also in the office is James Lance as Jamie Front.
As is a pre-Nathan Barley Nicholas Burns as Nick Mayer.
There’s a cameo from Dermot Murnaghan, interviewing the Home Secretary.
She’s played by Nicola Redmond.
Steve Furst plasy Per Hofstad, an advisor on identity cards.
They have to brainstorm a way of getting people to like identity cards, since they’re very unpopular. “We’ve been trying to think of arguments in favour of ID cards we should have been trying to think of arguments against them.” “Exactly. Think what sort of character wouldn’t want them.” “Mustafa Alawalla suicide bomber.” “Fingers Ratner, housebreaker.” “Seamus Owainus Irish terrorist.” “Uncle Fumble the pedophile.” “Johnny Junkbum drug smuggler.” “Uh Mr. Asylum Seeker the asylum seeker.” “Yes we might want to brainstorm that name a bit.”
BT come in to fix their phones, but everyone becomes convinced that they’ve been bugged by MI5, who are very keen for identity cards to be introduced.
The adverts they’re making are egregiously racist.
The Home Secretary is worried the campaign isn’t enough, and says she’s asked Freuds to tender – the real PR firm run by Matthew Freud. Charles is incensed on the drive back. “Freud’s? How dare she call us in just so she can wave them in our face. His great grandfather may well have invented psychoanalysis but his uncle sold dog food on television that’s all we need to know about Matthew Freud.” “Not especially good dog food either.”
Charles is called to an anonymous meeting at Liverpool Street Station with someone from MI-5, who looks far too old now I’ve been watching Spooks Code 9. He doesn’t like the campaign that Freud’s are doing, so he wants Charles to create a campaign that will work. He tries some leverage. “We have done a bit of background research on you, Charles, obviously. Done a bit of homework.” “What are you driving at?” “Basically, Charles. We know.” “I see. Yes, that old trick.” “Yeah, I suppose your problem here, though, looking at it from your point of view, is that you can’t rule out the possibility that we do know your darkest secret and might find a way to make it public. From memory, the deadline for tenders is next Friday gives you a week.”
There’s a book launch.
Alison sees a car waiting outside her flat and is convinced it’s someone tailing her. She calls Jamie who comes over, and one thing leads to another.
I like some of the background gags. “Nigella – New Book, Scoff. TASK – Grow her audience.
Charles presents their new pitch. Add £1 to the cost of ID cards, and put that into a lottery pot so anyone who’s got an ID card might win £60m.
They get Alan Hansen to be the face of the campaign.
After the rumours of a possible office romance, they have a truth session. “Everybody writes their biggest secret on a piece of paper, and then stands up and admits to it when it’s read out. Then we’re free.” They write, the box is handed around. Jamie pulls out a piece of paper. “Oh, Christ. Terrific.” “Go on. Can’t back out now. Read it.” “I’ve slept with Jamie.” And all the rest of them stand up.
Media Centre Description: Sitcom following the exploits of PR men Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe. When a Saudi businessman offers them vast amounts of money to help him buy British Airways it seems an irresistible proposition – until they discover his name.
Recorded from Dave on Friday 29th August 2008 01:38
After this, the recording ends with the start of SAS: Are You Tough Enough? It’s signed, and signed by the same man who was signing Spooks yesterday. I suppose there’s probably a limited number of signers, and they’re probably used by all the stations, but I was quite surprised.
Here’s the ad breaks.
Adverts:
- Full Tilt Poker
- Persil Small & Mighty
- trail: UKTV Gold Films
- trail: Dave’s Got Talent: Stephen Fry
- Heinz Nurture Follow-On Milk
- Indesit Moon
- Step Brothers in cinemas
- Bertolli Spread
- Scholl Nail Brightening
- Garnier UltraLift Pro-X – Davina McCall
- Sure
- MFI
- Discovery Mexican Food
- The Mash Up Mix Old Skool
- Halifax
- trail: Edge of Existence
- trail: World Rally: New Zealand