Pirkka-Pekka Petelius
Encyclopedia
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius is a Finnish
actor
and screenwriter
. He has also written manuscripts for Finnish TV series and made six records as a singer.
Petelius's breakthrough was in Yleisradio
's sketch series Velipuolikuu
, which he wrote and also acted in. The popularity gained by the series started Petelius's career as one of the most popular comedians in Finland. He gained immense popularity due to his work in the sketch series Pulttibois
(and its follower Manitbois) with Aake Kalliala
. He has starred in Akkaa päälle
since 1994.
Despite being known as a comedian Petelius has also acted in several more serious roles in films and television. He played Hietanen in Rauni Mollberg
's The Unknown Soldier
(1985). Other significant films have been e.g. Aki Kaurismäki
's Hamlet liikemaailmassa
(1986), Åke Lindman
's Lapin kullan kimallus
(1999) and Peter Lindholm's Drakarna över Helsingfors (2001).
He also provided the Finnish voice for Timon
in The Lion King
.
. The character would become the show's breakout character
, appearing consistently in the latter two seasons of the show.
The basic premise of the sketches involving the character was laid down during the character's early appearances in the first season. The Apuva!-guy would appear to get into some sort of situation he could not find a conceivable escape from. For the comedic effect these would be situations of little consequence (hinting that the character is a incredibly clueless), such as getting "trapped" in a stopped escalator or the rotating entrance gate to a grocery store. Whenever Potkukelkka would find himself in trouble he would start yelling "Apuva!" (dialectisized form of the Finnish "apua" meaning help) which would summon the burly, rugged and cool-headed character played by Aake Kalliala
who would save the Apuva!-guy from his peril and help him on his way.
As the show went on Potkukelkka would develop into a more manic character. Originally his cry for help was more mechanic and evenly repetitive. From the second season onward he would begin yelling "Apuva!" more loudly and sometimes in a musical form often prompting Kalliala's character to ask "Mitä sää huudat?" ("Why are you yelling?") and frequently either asking him to be quiet or sometimes having to raise his voice. His nickname Apuva-tyyppi also originated from Kalliala calling the character such in the early appearances. James Potkukelkka also adopted his distinct style of walking, moving the hand and foot of the same side in a synchronized, comical and over-stated fashion.
In the second season the character's name was revealed to be James Potkukelkka, a play on James Bond
and the Finnish word for kicksled
. However, Kalliala's character would display disbelief at this being the Apuva!-guy's real name and even threatened to take him to a DNA test if he didn't reveal his real name. Kalliala's character's name was revealed and only ever mentioned in one sketch as being Niilo Olli Hääppönen or N. O. Hääppönen, which when pronounced sounds like "en oo hääppönen", meaning "I'm not much".
Starting from the third season Apuva!-guy was forced to change his trade-mark yell to Swedish
- hjelpivä. This was due to public concern at the time that imitations of the character would lead to a genuine cry for help to be not taken seriously. Petelius revealed this to be the case in an interview.
He also tends to speak to inanimate objects, going so far as to tell them jokes and addressing them cordially, although his lack of understanding over their function (such as condom dispenser, a slot-machine or a cash machine) is regularly a source of panic for him. He also has a bizarre way of also referring to these inanimate objects, Kalliala's character and on occasion himself as "rouva" (Mrs.).
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. He has also written manuscripts for Finnish TV series and made six records as a singer.
Petelius's breakthrough was in Yleisradio
Yleisradio
The Finnish Broadcasting Company , abbreviated to YLE , is Finland's national broadcasting company, founded in 1926. YLE is a public-broadcasting organization which shares many of its characteristics with its British counterpart, the BBC, on which it was largely modelled...
's sketch series Velipuolikuu
Velipuolikuu
Velipuolikuu was a Finnish sketch comedy show that aired in 1983 on YLE...
, which he wrote and also acted in. The popularity gained by the series started Petelius's career as one of the most popular comedians in Finland. He gained immense popularity due to his work in the sketch series Pulttibois
Pulttibois
Pulttibois was a popular Finnish sketch comedy television show that premiered on MTV3 in 1989 and which starred a two-man cast of comedic actors - Pirkka-Pekka Petelius and Aake Kalliala...
(and its follower Manitbois) with Aake Kalliala
Aake Kalliala
Aarne "Aake" Kalliala is a Finnish actor. He is most famous for appearing on comedy-sketch shows such as Velipuolikuu and Pulttibois ....
. He has starred in Akkaa päälle
Akkaa päälle
Akkaa paalle is a Finnish television series broadcast in Finland since 1994. The series is directed by Anitta Pankkonen and written by Taneli Mäkelä and Pirkka-Pekka Petelius.The programme won the Finnish View's Choice Award in 1997....
since 1994.
Despite being known as a comedian Petelius has also acted in several more serious roles in films and television. He played Hietanen in Rauni Mollberg
Rauni Mollberg
Rauni Mollberg was a Finnish film director who directed movies and TV movies.In 1963 Mollberg directed movies for YLE. He directed a version of The Unknown Soldier in 1985, 30 years after Edvin Laine directed the original version of it. Mollberg's movie's plot was same as Laine's movie...
's The Unknown Soldier
The Unknown Soldier (1985 film)
The Unknown Soldier is a Finnish 1985 film directed by Rauni Mollberg. It is a remake of the 1955 film of the same title, directed by Edvin Laine and based on the best selling Finnish novel by the same name written by Väinö Linna. Mollberg used young and unknown actors, many of them now famous,...
(1985). Other significant films have been e.g. Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Kaurismäki
-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
's Hamlet liikemaailmassa
Hamlet Goes Business
Hamlet Goes Business is a 1987 comedy film directed by Aki Kaurismäki and starring Pirkka-Pekka Petelius.-Cast:* Pirkka-Pekka Petelius - Hamlet* Esko Salminen - Klaus* Kati Outinen - Ofelia* Elina Salo - Gertrud* Esko Nikkari - Polonius...
(1986), Åke Lindman
Åke Lindman
Åke Leonard Lindman , born Åke Leonard Järvinen, was a Finnish director and actor.In his youth Lindman was a football player, playing defence for the Finnish national team during the Olympics in Helsinki 1952. He represented the football club HIFK in the Finnish league. In the 1960s, the British...
's Lapin kullan kimallus
Lapin kullan kimallus
Lapin kullan kimallus is a 1999 Finnish movie, directed by Åke Lindman.The movie is about the Finnish gold rush to Lapland in the end of the 19th century...
(1999) and Peter Lindholm's Drakarna över Helsingfors (2001).
He also provided the Finnish voice for Timon
Timon
Timon is a genus of wall lizards of the family Lacertidae.-Species:*Timon lepidus*Timon pater*Timon princeps*Timon tangitanus...
in The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
.
James Potkukelkka
James Potkukelkka was a character created by Petelius for the comedy sketch-series PulttiboisPulttibois
Pulttibois was a popular Finnish sketch comedy television show that premiered on MTV3 in 1989 and which starred a two-man cast of comedic actors - Pirkka-Pekka Petelius and Aake Kalliala...
. The character would become the show's breakout character
Breakout character
A breakout character is a fictional character in different episodes, books or other media that becomes the most popular, talked about, and imitated. Most often a breakout character in a television series captures the audience's imagination and helps to popularize the show, sometimes inadvertently...
, appearing consistently in the latter two seasons of the show.
The basic premise of the sketches involving the character was laid down during the character's early appearances in the first season. The Apuva!-guy would appear to get into some sort of situation he could not find a conceivable escape from. For the comedic effect these would be situations of little consequence (hinting that the character is a incredibly clueless), such as getting "trapped" in a stopped escalator or the rotating entrance gate to a grocery store. Whenever Potkukelkka would find himself in trouble he would start yelling "Apuva!" (dialectisized form of the Finnish "apua" meaning help) which would summon the burly, rugged and cool-headed character played by Aake Kalliala
Aake Kalliala
Aarne "Aake" Kalliala is a Finnish actor. He is most famous for appearing on comedy-sketch shows such as Velipuolikuu and Pulttibois ....
who would save the Apuva!-guy from his peril and help him on his way.
As the show went on Potkukelkka would develop into a more manic character. Originally his cry for help was more mechanic and evenly repetitive. From the second season onward he would begin yelling "Apuva!" more loudly and sometimes in a musical form often prompting Kalliala's character to ask "Mitä sää huudat?" ("Why are you yelling?") and frequently either asking him to be quiet or sometimes having to raise his voice. His nickname Apuva-tyyppi also originated from Kalliala calling the character such in the early appearances. James Potkukelkka also adopted his distinct style of walking, moving the hand and foot of the same side in a synchronized, comical and over-stated fashion.
In the second season the character's name was revealed to be James Potkukelkka, a play on James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
and the Finnish word for kicksled
Kicksled
The kicksled or spark is a small sled consisting of a chair mounted on a pair of flexible metal runners which extend backward to about twice the chair's length. The sled is propelled by kicking the ground by foot. There is a handlebar attached to the top of the chair back...
. However, Kalliala's character would display disbelief at this being the Apuva!-guy's real name and even threatened to take him to a DNA test if he didn't reveal his real name. Kalliala's character's name was revealed and only ever mentioned in one sketch as being Niilo Olli Hääppönen or N. O. Hääppönen, which when pronounced sounds like "en oo hääppönen", meaning "I'm not much".
Starting from the third season Apuva!-guy was forced to change his trade-mark yell to Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
- hjelpivä. This was due to public concern at the time that imitations of the character would lead to a genuine cry for help to be not taken seriously. Petelius revealed this to be the case in an interview.
Language
The character also has a very distinct way of speaking, often referring to himself in the third person simply as "hän" (he). In addition the character's grammar structure is oddly twisted at times, starting with the description of the action and ending on the pronoun after a brief pause, in later appearances Apuva-guy would often erupt into his distinct laughter ("E-he-he...") after doing so.He also tends to speak to inanimate objects, going so far as to tell them jokes and addressing them cordially, although his lack of understanding over their function (such as condom dispenser, a slot-machine or a cash machine) is regularly a source of panic for him. He also has a bizarre way of also referring to these inanimate objects, Kalliala's character and on occasion himself as "rouva" (Mrs.).
TV series
- VelipuolikuuVelipuolikuuVelipuolikuu was a Finnish sketch comedy show that aired in 1983 on YLE...
(1983–1984) - Mutapainin ystävät (1984–1985)
- Tabu (1986–1987)
- Oudot Jutut
- Hymyhuulet (1987–1988)
- Neurovisio (1988–1989)
- Hui Helinää, Hei Hulinaa (1988–1989)
- PulttiboisPulttiboisPulttibois was a popular Finnish sketch comedy television show that premiered on MTV3 in 1989 and which starred a two-man cast of comedic actors - Pirkka-Pekka Petelius and Aake Kalliala...
(1989–1991) - Manitbois (1992)
- Viihdeohjelma Tukholma (1993)
- Salli mun nauraa (1993)
- Hra 47 esittää (1994)
- Huijarinainen (1994)
- Akkaa päälle (1994–1996 and 2006)
- Hömppäveikot (1996)
- Ruonansuu & Petelius Co (1997)
- Nortia (1996)
- Team Ahma (1998)
- Kaverille ei jätetä (1999–2003)
- Korkeajännitystä (2001)
- Ou Nou! (2001)
- Handu pumpulla (2005)
Films
- Manillaköysi (1975)
- Hääyö myytävänä (1979)
- Pölhölä (1981)
- Kuningas, jolla ei ollut sydäntä (1982)
- Jon (1983)
- Calamari Union (1985)
- The Unknown SoldierThe Unknown Soldier (1985 film)The Unknown Soldier is a Finnish 1985 film directed by Rauni Mollberg. It is a remake of the 1955 film of the same title, directed by Edvin Laine and based on the best selling Finnish novel by the same name written by Väinö Linna. Mollberg used young and unknown actors, many of them now famous,...
(1985) - Huomenna (1986)
- Linna (1986)
- V.Y. Vihdoinkin yhdessä (1986)
- Hamlet liikemaailmassaHamlet Goes BusinessHamlet Goes Business is a 1987 comedy film directed by Aki Kaurismäki and starring Pirkka-Pekka Petelius.-Cast:* Pirkka-Pekka Petelius - Hamlet* Esko Salminen - Klaus* Kati Outinen - Ofelia* Elina Salo - Gertrud* Esko Nikkari - Polonius...
(1987) - Onks' Viljoo näkyny?Onks' Viljoo näkyny?"Onks' Viljoo näkyny?" is a 1988 Finnish comedy film directed by Hannu Seikkula.-Cast:*Heikki Kinnunen as Uffa Hintman / Group manager Vähänen / Constable Unto Kutvonen / The man asking about Viljo / Urho...
(1988) - Rampe & Naukkis (1990)
- Uunon huikeat poikamiesvuodet maaseudulla (1990)
- Uuno Turhapuro – herra Helsingin herra (1991)
- Pilkkuja ja pikkuhousuja (1992)
- Anita (1994)
- LeijonakuningasThe Lion KingThe Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
(The Lion King, Finnish voice of Timon) (1994) - Isältä pojalle (1996)
- Lahja (1997)
- Sokkotanssi (1999)
- Lapin kullan kimallusLapin kullan kimallusLapin kullan kimallus is a 1999 Finnish movie, directed by Åke Lindman.The movie is about the Finnish gold rush to Lapland in the end of the 19th century...
(1999) - Klassikko (2001)
- Drakarna över Helsingfors (2001)
- Ranuan kummit (2003)
- Levottomat 3 (2004)
- Sellaista elämä on (2005)