Letter To Charles Riley Re NewsRevue, 22 April 1994

Charles Riley 22 April 1994
News Revue
 
Dear Charles
 
A FEW POINTS

 
It was good to see you and the show last night. I enclose a few bits, pieces and thoughts.
 
TAPE
 
The enclosed tape relates to songs that Mark Keagan and Nick R Thomas intend to write this weekend. Their ideas sound good, so I hope they come up with the goods.
 
STREISAND
 
I don’t think the quickie can work. I do think the song can work, and I do think that Paula can do Streisand perfectly well; she really could do the song from the clipboard cos that is a joke in itself. Please try it.
 
SPAM
 
I think the D-Day spam fritter story will raise laughs. I have tried rewriting two lines of the John Major song to incorporate it (dropping the Bottomley/lobotomy line that really grates after hearing the same rhyme in Debbie’s opening number). This I think will work.
 
I also think that you could liven up any two-hander sketch by getting the others to burst in singing:
 
“Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam, D-day spam, jamboree spam”
SKETCH PERFORMER:Shut up! Bloody Tories:
 
or whatever. This might even work as a runner through several sketches.
 
YOUNG, HEALTHY AND FIT
 
I don’t know what happened to this song. It is on the same tape as the Streisand. Here’s another copy of the lyrics.
 
ROTTEN
 
I still think this one works well. However, I seem to have lost my half credit on the running order for some reason!
 
USA POLITICS
 
I can’t help noticing the lack of American politics in the show (one quickie?). I am trying to think of new angles for songs, but it’s probably more sketch friendly. An early morning quickie:
 
ANNOUNCER:The American people remember Richard Nixon, the only US president in history  who’s screwed more of the American people than Bill Clinton.
 
Sorry, but it is 7.00 a.m. and that’s the best I can manage. Nag DAB, NC or JR to write something.
 
BOND
 
Do have another look at this one – I think you should cover the story to some extent. If the cast don’t like the blood line, you could always drop/replace it.
 
THAT’S ALL I CAN THINK OF AT THIS HOUR
 
Well, that’s all I can think of at this hour. I am now off to the borders of Wales for a wee while, but I shall be back by Thursday and look forward to seeing you all then.
 
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ian Harris