Bo Selecta - Series 1 - Complete [2002]

Another character is hauled up in a neckbrace (following an altercation with Lisa Tarbuck), but Merrion's innocent broken English can't conceal the fact that he's a psychotic sex maniac who explicitly lusts after celebs who "make me do a sex wee", keeps Craig from Big Brother locked in a cupboard and his dead mother in a wardrobe.

Merrion's pop spoofs are also masterly: rather than mimic the stars, he reinvents them--Mel B and Britney Spears--as farting, hairy-chested Northerners, slobbing out on fry-up breakfasts washed down with lager and, most improbably, Michael Jackson as a cussing, jive-talking black dude a la Huggy Bear. Bo' Selecta! doesn't so much satirise celebrities as debase them, exposing their humiliating none-dimensionality by drawing them into a vortex of vulgar absurdity, not unlike Vic Reeves' Shooting Stars. Of course, they play along--they're on television. Although initially off-putting to some, once you get into Bo' Selecta! there is, as for Big Brother's Craig, no escape.

On the DVD: Bo' Selecta! on disc features numerous extras, including a behind the scenes feature in which the production team discuss making the show ("like directing a squirrel on roller-skates"), deleted scenes including Gareth Gates as a Tourette's victim, which was deemed a little beyond the pale, some unfunny bloopers and a feature on the life story of "Craig David" with Kate Thornton, including an unmissable nativity scene in which the infant Craig plays Jesus. There's also a commentary, with Merrion as his stalker self watching himself with consternation (It's strange seeing yourself on TV"). It's a pity we don't get to hear from the "real" Merrion. --David Stubbs

This first series may be far too crude for some viewers but for others it will become a favourite.
Jokes are plenty and Craig David as a falkener who wets himself is billiantly concieved.

Well worth buying for fans of any "off the wall" comedy!
brilliant.


If you have a sense of humour, buy something funny instead.   October 6, 2003
4 out of 20 found this review helpful

I'm giving Bo Selecta! one star for two reasons: firstly, there wasn't an option of "No stars", and secondly, you can buy the brilliant Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights with this DVD for a reduced price.

Bo Selecta! is comedy for people who don't think. Comparisons have been made to Vic and Bob, but that's an injustice to Reeves and Mortimer, who have in their time done some inspired stuff. What's funny about someone running round wearing a Craig David mask? Don't get me wrong, celebrities like Craig David deserve all the ridicule they get, but they're such easy targets so why bother? It's like making fun of the small kid with glasses at school. And, anyway, Ali G used to do it far, far better.

I've tried watching it, and I've tried liking it, but Bo Selecta! is at best boring, and at worst, downright annoying. If you're looking for clever, inspired, well-written comedy buy Alan Partridge, The Office, Phoenix Nights, or even one of the classics like Faulty Towers or Open All Hours, but leave this one on the shelf.


Proper Bo I tell thee!   July 24, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Avid Merrion, the celebrity stalker, presents the first series of Bo' Selecta. Pure Genius.
All the characters are side-splittingly funny, ranging from the grim Northern Mel B, looking for a good fook to Michael Jackson, checkin' his bad self, chamon!
The brilliance of Craig David as a Northener, Davina McCall as the pregnant, frantic, swearing Big Brother presenter and the sheer filth churned out by the bear add up to some top quality entertainment.
All I can say is that 'It's proper bo, I tell thee!'


If you have a sense of humour buy this immediately   September 2, 2003
Ms. S. J. Smith (UK)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Bo Selecta! The brainchild of Yorkshire born funny man Leigh Francis is here to own and be loved forever with impersonations, comedy and Avid Merrion ‘Salabrity’ stalker extraordinaire. Bo Selecta is a brilliant take on the classic sketch show formula with rubber masked celebrities such as Craig David, a bird of prey lover and chronic bed wetter, Destiny’s child, an argumentative group of women who buy their jewellery from ‘hindex’ because they get ‘a seventeen and a half percent discount’ on it and Michael Jackson, a moon walking, naked chicken skating badass. The impersonations of celebrities are pure genius who would have though that Craig David could be from Morley in Leeds, Destiny’s child from Bradford and Britney spears a northern accented chain smoking alcoholic, all of this is served with a large helping of swearing, although puerile it doesn’t spoil the humour it simply adds to it.

Avid Merrion is what the show will be mostly known for with his celebrity stalking of ‘The Jade’ from big brother, obsession for davina McCall’s ‘big sexy nose’, and ‘The Craig from big brother one’ locked in his cupboard. However there are truly comic moments that will broaden its popularity such as ‘The Bear’ who lives in a tree on Hampstead Heath and has an embarrassing problem of his ‘tale popping out’ when in the presence of attractive ladies such as Tess Daly, Liberty X and not Christine Hamilton. This crazy show filled with celebrity appearances, rubber masks and impersonations is a worthy purchase for all comedy fans.

The DVD is filled with extras such as a blooper reel filled with more than ten minutes of hilarious outtakes. Deleted scenes involving Gareth Gates as a tourettes syndrome sufferer or in this case a SOD sufferer (Shouting Out Disease), in the style of BBC documentary ‘The boy can’t help it’. Craig David’s life story is a feature as well and there are plenty more extras for fans, Avid’s art, commentary on all episodes and a behind the scenes documentary. This truly is a fantastic package for all those Avid fans out there.


Completely new and original - an underrated masterpiece   October 23, 2003
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

After seeing the short but massively funny trailers for BB3 including Avid Merrion, I was introduced to Bo' Selecta by a friend. At first glance I thought that this series would be a series of random sketches with no substance whatsoever.

How wrong was I! This is NOT an impressions show believe me! Don't expect a charicature of the celebrities shown; expect a complete redesign or twist of their personalities. The targeted celebrities range from Craaaaig David, with his pet peregrine falcon 'Kez' and emergency p*ss bag (say 'Proper Bo I tell thee' to any Bo' Selecta fan and you'll have them in stitches!) to Enrique Iglesias' mole, to Mel B; scary spice in every possible way!

These sketches are then accompanied to some brilliantly conceived original characters: the Bear, a very naughty little cuddly bear who shocks real celebrities with his 'tail' popping out (watch the one with Liberty X, it's hilarious!) and of course Avid, the stalker (or 'superfan' as he puts it) of Celabrities (no that's not a typo there) who keeps 'the Craig from Big Brother' in his cupboard. Avid's trips out into the world of celabrities ends up with hilarious consequences, himself being pretty unheard of at the time, shocking all involved with his outbursts - 'she makes me do a sex-wee'.

Obviously a show this strange and off-the-wall will not be a massive hit with everyone. In many scenes it is just plain vulgar, which makes you almost feel guilty for laughing your head off (the Michael Jackson/Jackass scene - 'Omlette for your G' is particularly revolting). I would suggest having a peek at it on TV before buying the DVD as it is definitely a love-hate kind of show.

The extras on the DVD are great, there are absolutely loads of features: 'Bloop Selecta' there is only one bloop (Mel B towards the end) where Leigh Francis actually breaks character! 'Deleted Scenes' 'Craig David's Life Story' and more. There is also a very well hidden extra that I actually found by accident; if you wait for the Bear to speak while on the DVD main menu and then quickly move the cursor to him, there is a very special scene involving a brand new, non-masked Leigh Francis character named Keith Lemon, who goes on a set up blind date with Tess Daly - the results are absolutely side-splitting.

I cannot recommend this DVD more, it truly is a great step for British comedy, which is rapidly slipping into the realms of unfunny sitcoms. Watch with an open mind and let yourself be sucked in - it seems wrong at first but you know you want to!