The Chokes (The Mighty Boosh)

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“The Chokes”
The Mighty Boosh episode
Episode no. Season 3
Episode 6
Written by Julian Barratt
Noel Fielding
Directed by Paul King
Original airdate December 20, 2007
Episode chronology
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List of The Mighty Boosh episodes

"The Chokes" is an episode of the British comedy television series, The Mighty Boosh, that was first broadcast on December 20, 2007. It was made by Baby Cow Productions for BBC Three.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Howard tries to find a way to get passed his stage fear and tries acting classes. Vince sees his chance to join the Black Tubes.

[edit] Plot

Vince is MCing a night at the Velvet Onion, which is being headlined by The Black Tubes, who have a strict thin-legs policy. Although Vince is desperate to join as their singer, they will only allow him to if he can fit into a pair of drainpipe trousers that they give him. After learning that Jurgen Haabermaaster, a Danish art-house director, will be in the audience to see acclaimed actor Sammy the Crab, Howard tries to get onto the bill in a bid to win a part in one of Jurgen's films. However, Vince won't let him as he suffers from the Chokes, an intense form of stage fright. To cure him of this Howard is involved in an acting montage with aged actor Montgomery Flange, who has a heart attack after absorbing Howard's Chokes. The Black Tubes, unaware that Sammy the Crab is a raging alcoholic, pour beer in his tank upon his request, and he proceeds to run amok, killing several support acts. Vince phones Howard as a replacement, who stuns everyone - including Jurgen - with his impressive acting. Vince eventually gets his drainpipes on, but the excess weight is squeezed up to his head, causing him to overbalance onstage, ruining the gig. It later transpires that Sammy The Crab has replaced him as the frontman of The Black Tubes. Howard returns from working with Jurgen Haabermaaster, dissatisfied with the work he was offered. It turns out his only role was the Angry Crab Of Trapped Wind in a trapped wind commercial, much to the amusement of Naboo, Bollo and Vince.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Cultural References

  • When Bollo is trying to make Vince's legs thinner, he says that the machine shouldn't be taken to anything above level ten. He then says that he'll take Vince to level 42. In the next shot, Bollo is seen pretending to be Mark King, of jazz funk band Level 42.
  • When Montgomery Flange says it's time for a break from Howard's acting lesson in order to "bitch about the industry" he asks, "Who the fuck is John Simm?".
  • Montgomery Flange is a parody of older British and Irish actors such as Peter O'Toole, Richard Harris and John Gielgud. He mentions all three of those actors at various times in the episode.
  • When not initially sure who Montgomery Flange is, Howard assumes that he is Paul Weller
  • The popular idea that BBC Four shows nothing but boring documentaries and films is referenced in this episode.
  • When Howard is trying to convince Vince that muscular legs can be a good thing, he brings up Van Morrison, to which Vince asks Howard if he can not bring him up and states that he's like "a Nik nak in a ginger wig".
  • It is shown that Howard owns a mock-up of him dressed as Prince Hamlet from William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.
  • The play Aladdin is also referenced, when Vince states that Howard played the Genie.
  • The Moon states that he once did some acting, and that he played Carol in Home and Away.
  • Montgomery Flange says that he breifly played bass with The Style Council.
  • The Blue Man Group are parodied in this episode, when in the hallway of The Velvet Onion, a group of men painted blue (known as "The Blue McEnroes") are miming tennis.
  • The name of Jergen Haabemaaster is a reference to the German philosopher, Jürgen Habermas.
  • The Horrors play a parody of themselves, as NME and other music publications often joke about their skinny legs.

[edit] External Links

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