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Smack the Pony
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Smack the Pony was a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 until 2003 on Channel 4. Its title was intended to sound like a euphemism for female masturbation; the working title was Spot the Pony. The main performers and writers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips. There were also regular appearances from Sarah Alexander and Darren Boyd. The show's popular theme tune was Dusty Springfield's song In the Middle of Nowhere, sung by Jackie Clune. In Germany, the first broadcasting of the show aired in ProSieben, where the theme tune was changed to Texas' 2001 remix version of "I Don't Want a Lover".
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Encyclopedia
Smack the Pony was a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 until 2003 on Channel 4. Its title was intended to sound like a euphemism for female masturbation; the working title was Spot the Pony. The main performers and writers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips. There were also regular appearances from Sarah Alexander and Darren Boyd. The show's popular theme tune was Dusty Springfield's song In the Middle of Nowhere, sung by Jackie Clune. In Germany, the first broadcasting of the show aired in ProSieben, where the theme tune was changed to Texas' 2001 remix version of "I Don't Want a Lover". It also had a different introduction scene.
Among the show's regular themes were unsuccessful relationships, competition in the workplace and latent lesbianism, but sketches would also dip into the surreal; such as two women jumping from their car as they neared a parking space and brushing in front of the path of their car to allow it move forward further ą la curling. Two regular strands involved a series of different women making dating agency videos about their general likes and dislikes, and a musical parody that would close the show.
Selected characters
Most of the sketch characters in the programme are not recurring or permanent, just one-offs.
Dating Agency Videos - A part of almost every episode, where we see different women or often sisters/couples looking for a partner/partners.
Irritating Flatmate - An irritating nurse who shares a flat with two of her colleagues. She emphasizes everything, which often leads to her flatmates' doing something behind her back.
The Fake Diabetic - A woman who fakes having diabetes so she can have special offers and free items at shops snd supermarkets.
The Oblivious Women - Consists of three women (in different sketches) who are completely oblivious to things very obvious. Sketches included a woman walking her dog being asked to sign a petition so that owners can walk the dogs near the pond. She replies "Oh, I don't know, I'm not really a dog person, I'm actually slightly phobic." The petition woman pauses and that results in the women realising she is walking a dog and screaming for help. Others included a woman not realising she is pregnant.
Singing Match - This involves two women when one begins singing a song, the other joins in, but tries to outshine the other; eventually their singing concludes in being terrible and they both become angry at each other. This particular sketch was voted number 22 in the 2005 Channel 4 programme, 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches, chosen by members of the public. It was written by Marie Findley of the Medięval Bębes and was also based on their antics.
List of episodes
Series 1 (1999)
- Episode 1: 19 September 1999
- Episode 2: 23 September 1999
- Episode 3: 30 September 1999
- Episode 4: 7 October 1999
- Episode 5: 14 October 1999
- Episode 6: 22 October 1999
- Episode 7: 29 October 1999
Series 2 (2000)
- Episode 1: 13 April 2000
- Episode 2: 20 April 2000
- Episode 3: 27 April 2000
- Episode 4: 5 May 2000
- Episode 5: 12 May 2000
- Episode 6: 19 May 2000
- Episode 7: 26 May 2000
Series 3 (2002)
- Episode 1: 11 January 2002
- Episode 2: 18 January 2002
- Episode 3: 25 January 2002
- Episode 4: 1 February 2002
- Episode 5: 8 February 2002
- Episode 6: 15 February 2002
- Episode 7: 22 February 2002
- Episode 8: 1 March 2002
- Episode 9: 8 March 2002
Specials (2002-2003)
- Special 1: 26 December 2002
- Special 2: 3 January 2003
Awards
In 1999 and 2000, Smack the Pony won an Emmy Award for the 'Best Popular Arts Show'. Two sketches from the show made it onto Channel 4's 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches, the first being Saying Goodbye at number 39 and Singing Match at number 22.
Video and DVD
In Britain, a VHS and DVD of The Best of Smack the Pony was released in 2002 and 2003 respectively. The complete first and second series were released on DVD in Germany (dubbed in German but with alternative English soundtrack) in January and June 2006 respectively.
Russian version
Russian TNT-TV hosts a localized version of the show titled Women's League (Zhienskaya Liga). . The show features some recurring themes from the original, as well as the original content.
See also
External links
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