Likely Lineage

Greetings, history lovers! And welcome to a special chapter of Lord Likely: Stripped Nude, featuring as it does many video clips for your enjoyment.

Despite being some 150-odd years old, the journals of Lord Likely continue to influence all art and literature ever in existence ever, due to them being just so damned good. Countless writers and performers have followed in the journals' wake, trying to replicate the wit of his lordship, but not all have succeeded. Here today, I shall present to you some of the more successful candidates, all of whom owe a tip of the top hat to Lord Likely: Aristocratic Adventurer...

Bottom, BBC TV Comedy Series, 1991-1997.

If you have ever smirked at the wanton violence inherent in Lord Likely's journals, then here is some more wanton violence from this hilarious British sit-com, starring Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson. In the clip below, the despicable duo find a novel way to deal with the gasman...




Blackadder, BBC TV Comedy Series, 1983-1989.

In one of the most blatant steals from his lordship's diaries, comes this Rowan Atkinson-starring sit-com, spanning four different generations of the manipulative Blackadder family, and Baldrick, the long-suffering man-servant. A lord and his filthy, idiot servant? I ask you! Such damned gall! Anyway, in this clip, Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson) tries to teach Baldrick (Tony Robinson) how to count.




The Carry On Films, 1958-1992.

Lord Likely is not one to pass up any chance at innuendo or smut, a charming trait carried on with aplomb by the 'Carry On' series of movies. In the iconic scene below, from 1975's Carry On Camping, Dr. Soaper (Kenneth Williams) gets an eyeful...




Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975.

If historical hi-jinx are your 'bag' (as the kids say, so I am told), then feast your eyes upon this scene plucked from the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in which a witch is put on trial. Comedy almost as good as Likely's.




Fawlty Towers, BBC TV Comedy Series, 1975-1979.

More John Cleese-based homage to his lordship, in this hysterical UK sit-com, about the snooty, snobbish hotelier Basil Fawlty. In the classic clip here, Basil has to explain a mix-up over a fire drill to his guest, which he does so in spectacularly rude style.




A Bit of Fry and Laurie, BBC TV Comedy Series, 1989-1995.

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (no doubt familiar to our U.S readers as House, M.D), were an excellent comic double act, and in this brilliant sketch the pair play a stuffy, upper-class couple. Fry's character in particular was more than likely inspired by Likely.




A Shot in the Dark, 1964.

In this, the second of the classic Pink Panther movies starring the brilliant Peter Sellers, Inspector Clouseau tackles his crazy servant, Cato (Burt Kwouk). Observe in particular Clouseau's moustache, clearly styled on that of his lordship.




Hot Fuzz, 2007.

Taking their cue from the action and comedy mix innovated by Lord Likely, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost made the movie Hot Fuzz about two cops in a sleepy, English village. In this action-packed scene, they pursue a thief through the village.




Not Only, But Also, BBC TV Series, 1965-1970.

This long-missed comedy duo tore up the comedy rule book in the 1960s, and then hit the big time with their sketch show Not Only But Also. In this sketch, Peter Cook, in the guise of a rather stiff father, explains to his son (Dudley Moore) the facts of life, in a very English way. Note the Likely-influenced moustache on Cook's face.




The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, ITV Drama, 1984-1994.

Finally, in one of the most outright instances of plagarism, comes Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. The titular Victorian detective and his assistant, Watson, embark on all sorts of adventures, no doubt copied from the adventures of Lord Likely. In this scene from a UK television adaptation, Holmes (the late, great Jeremy Brett), indulges in some fisticuffs.




So there you have it. Clear proof that The Astonishing Adventures of Lord Likely shaped the future of TV, film and literature, and will no doubt continue to do so. Of course, some nay-sayers (other jealous historians), claim that the above actually influenced the journals, but they are history idiots. Anyone can see that 1856 (when Likely penned his diaries) was way before any of the above took place. It's simple chronology.

Until next time, stay historical!

- Prof. Julian Syngen-Smythe.