Rating: 
Summary: A must-have for any fan of the Black Adder!
Review: 1983 saw the airing of a hilariously funny new British television show, Blackadder. This show had four separate seasons that chronicled the lives of four members of the Blackadder family: Edmund Blackadder in 1484, son of Richard, Duke of York; Edmund Blackadder, favorite of Queen Elizabeth I; Edmund Blackadder, butler to Prince George, son of King George III; and, finally, Edmund Blackadder, Army captain during World War I. This book is a companion to that wonderful series, filling in the holes left in English history, giving all sort of useful information drawn from the Blackadder family archives, and the full scripts of each of the shows!This is a great book, and a must-have for any fan of the Black Adder. The scripts are great to have, and the other information demonstrates the same great humor as the show. Having been created in 1998, the book does not contain any information on the Y2K special, Blackadder Back & Forth, which makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that it completely ignores the 1988 Christmas Special! But, that said, this is a nice book, one that I highly recommend to every Blackadder fan!
Rating:
Summary: VERY CLEVER, EXTREMELY FUNNY & COMPLETELY AMUSING!!!!
Review: Even if you are NOT a die-hard fan of The Black Adder--you WILL be after reading this book. It consists of all the scripts from the television show and reads very well. In fact, for those who have never even seen the television show, this book is easy to follow, extremely witty, and absolutely hilarious and will make you want to run out and buy the series on video!!! It translates very well in book format--I can hardly say enough good things. Profits from the sale go to Comic Relief--also, as an added bonus, the book features Black Adder's "greatest insults" and lots of other "fun stuff" from the Dark Ages, including most effective torture devices, best cures for skin diseases and deformities, etc. etc. very tongue-in-cheek. Loved it! Go out and buy this book! Highly recommend and you will laugh out loud!!
Rating:
Summary: Buy this if you can't understand some English...
Review: I adore the Blackadder series on PBS. The show is intelligent, funny and sleazy all at the same time. The only trouble with the show is the fast-paced thick British accents; sometimes I couldn't understand a word they were saying! This book is a great reference when you're watching an episode and miss the jokes because they're muffled or just too fast.
Rating:
Summary: Damn Funny, Too
Review: I stumbled upon the Black Adder comedy series one night in the 1980s while channel surfing. Something was weird, I thought--there's this sniveling coward, and this even more sniveling sycophant, and then the dogsbody who has dung all over him. Looks interesting. And as I watched, I found it extremely funny, as well. It required a knowledge of history (or Shakespeare, as you see fit), yet wasn't afraid to do the occasional fart joke. Puerile, yet intelligent. That described me at the time as well. The successive series (Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, and Blackadder Goes Forth) shifted over into the more intelligent realm (with the third series being the most so), although the running jokes about Baldrick (the dogsbody) being little better than the dung he came from remained. Blackadder II, set in the court of the virgin queen, starred Miranda Richardson, who was perfect in her cruelty towards the hapless Blackadder. The third series had Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent, a befuddled German idiot who is being taken advantage of by Blackadder, the butler (think of a dark Wooster/Jeeves match, where the Jeeves character retains his aplomb but becomes extra greedy). I never got to see the fourth series on television, so my experience with it is through this book alone. And what a great book it is. Published to benefit Comic Relief, the organization trying to aid the poor and destitute in England and Africa, it contains the scripts to each episode of the four series with faux historical documents and a running summary of the line of Blackadder. For an American, the scripts are almost a necessity to catch some of the more obscure language used in the series--especially the curses. The endpapers have color pictures of the main characters in each series, and there are some black and white stills with humorous captions included within the pages. To say that Black Adder is my favorite TV show is true. I liked the 1970s American sitcom, SOAP, as well, but from its hilarious beginnings, it tapered off into pure silliness (as most American shows tend to do). The nice thing about the Blackadder series is the way that the British limit themselves to sets of shows, rather than endlessly milking the cash cow. Yes, I would like to see a fifth Black Adder (I've seen the Christmas Carol, which was wonderful), but only if it can be of the same quality as these. If not, let's not ruin a good thing, shall we?
Rating:
Summary: Dead-tree version of one of the funniest shows ever
Review: I've adored Blackadder ever since I first discovered it, in taped form at a friend's house, and having a copy of the scripts makes it easier to follow along sometimes. Besides the scripts themselves, there is background material, like "Captain Darling's Emergency Request For Transfer to Somewhere Much Safer," and Baldrick's school report, where he gets good grades in corporal punishment, the teacher noting that B's piglety squeals make beating him more enjoyable. Of course, to any "Blackadder" fan, the real high spot is the deliciously bitchy dialogue, particularly when Blackadder's telling someone off. The first-season Black Adder wasn't as good as the others IMO; but after that, the writers really got into their stride.
Rating:
Summary: Dead-tree version of one of the funniest shows ever
Review: I've adored Blackadder ever since I first discovered it, in taped form at a friend's house, and having a copy of the scripts makes it easier to follow along sometimes. Besides the scripts themselves, there is background material, like "Captain Darling's Emergency Request For Transfer to Somewhere Much Safer," and Baldrick's school report, where he gets good grades in corporal punishment, the teacher noting that B's piglety squeals make beating him more enjoyable. Of course, to any "Blackadder" fan, the real high spot is the deliciously bitchy dialogue, particularly when Blackadder's telling someone off. The first-season Black Adder wasn't as good as the others IMO; but after that, the writers really got into their stride.
Rating:
Summary: As Cunning as a fox that is Professor of Cunning at Oxford.
Review: Keywords: English, Bloody Funny!!! 'Blackadder' was a BBC English television series staring Rowan Atkinson. It ran for four series (and at least one special). The four series ran through 450 years of English History, with the same characters reincarnating /reappearing over that time. It is bloody funny. Series One has Blackadder as Prince Edmund, the Black Adder under his father (who hated him) Richard IV set in the late 1400's. Series Two has Lord Edmund Blackadder, a favorite of Elizabeth I. Series Three has Edmund Blackadder, Butler to the Prince Regent, Prince George (the son of Mad George III). Series Four has Captain Edmund Blackadder in the trenches of World War One France in 1917. Always with his dogsbody Baldrick and always descending the social ladder, Blackadder is a revisit on history that is well worth a visit. The scripts, the primary content of this book, are extremely well written. The authors are Atkinson himself, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis. Other fillers in the book are original and funny. If you've seen the programs, you will buy the book anyway. If you don't know Blackadder, get the videos from Amazon.com and then buy the book. It is excellent. To the Creators of Blackadder, thank you and isn't it time for another series?
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical dynasty...
Review: The Blackadder series, begun in the 1980s, was a comedic masterpiece set forth by Rowan Atkinson and his comrades. From start to finish, the first series was a masterstroke of wit, irony and comedic styling that fits both the contemporary and medieval situations perfectly. The combination of slapstick and intellectual humour blended well, and the literary types will not miss the occasional credit of William Shakespeare as a collaborating writer on some episodes -- this might well be the kind of comedy Shakespeare would have produced today. The first series was set in the pre-Tudor royal family, projecting that Richard III won at Bosworth Field, and Richard IV succeeded him, until after many adventures, the entire royal family was done in, and Henry Tudor reworte history thereafter. The first series starred Brian Blessed and Elspet Gray as the King and Queen, and Robert East as their eldest son, the Prince of Wales. Rowan Atkinson played the second son, who with companions Percy and Baldrick (Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson) create most of the comic scenes. BlackAdder variously becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury, the betrothed of the Spanish Infanta, a witch on trial, and finally, however briefly, King of England. The second series sees Percy and Baldrick following a descendent of Blackadder in Elizabethan times; as befits the period, the characters are more vibrant and saucy, particularly Blackadder, who still seeks his fortune as one of the Queen's suitors. Here he variously becomes the royal executioner, a sea-faring discoverer, a bankrupt noble, and finally a traitor to the crown, albeit not without a sense of humour. Miranda Richardson puts in a spectacular performance as Queen Elizabeth, with Stephen Fry and Patsy Byrne in attendance. Stephen Fry will recur throughout the series. In the third series, Blackadder is still close to the crown, as the butler of the Prince Regent, a despised position to a despised person. Baldrick is still around, and the Prince is played by Hugh Laurie, who will recur in the final series. Done almost as a period comedy, the very titles and situations pay hommage to the day of the Scarlet Pimpernel, Dr. Johnson's dictionary, and the conflict with France. Through an interesting set of circumstances, butler and prince trade places, and the Blackadder finally becomes his intended goal, albeit in the name of someone else. In the fourth and final series, Blackadder has fallen from a great height, and is an officer in the trenches of World War I. Baldrick is still there, and Percy and the Prince have transformed into fellow field officers, with Stephen Fry playing a bellicose general here as he did Wellington in the third series. The main device of this series is the effort by Blackadder to escape the trenches, by variously becoming an artist, a theatre producer, a chef, but to no avail finally, producing a sombre end to the dynasty. The book is a fabulous companion piece to the series, as the BBC is known to do with television series of success. The six episodes of each of the four seasons is laid out in script-narrative form, with a generous collection of side offerings, such as the Blackadder family tree, the menu of Mrs. Miggins' pie shoppe, and other pieces of interest related to but not found in the actual series. The cast is included at the beginning of each series section. The book concludes with a partial collection of some of Blackadder's best insults. This book was printed in aid of Comic Relief, who give a brief outline of their history of funding good causes in the last few pages. This is a must-have for any Blackadder fan. Regretably, it does not contain the addition special features (such as the Victorian Christmas of Blackadder), but for any devotee of the series, this is a requirement.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical dynasty...
Review: The Blackadder series, begun in the 1980s, was a comedic masterpiece set forth by Rowan Atkinson and his comrades. From start to finish, the first series was a masterstroke of wit, irony and comedic styling that fits both the contemporary and medieval situations perfectly. The combination of slapstick and intellectual humour blended well, and the literary types will not miss the occasional credit of William Shakespeare as a collaborating writer on some episodes -- this might well be the kind of comedy Shakespeare would have produced today. The first series was set in the pre-Tudor royal family, projecting that Richard III won at Bosworth Field, and Richard IV succeeded him, until after many adventures, the entire royal family was done in, and Henry Tudor reworte history thereafter. The first series starred Brian Blessed and Elspet Gray as the King and Queen, and Robert East as their eldest son, the Prince of Wales. Rowan Atkinson played the second son, who with companions Percy and Baldrick (Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson) create most of the comic scenes. BlackAdder variously becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury, the betrothed of the Spanish Infanta, a witch on trial, and finally, however briefly, King of England. The second series sees Percy and Baldrick following a descendent of Blackadder in Elizabethan times; as befits the period, the characters are more vibrant and saucy, particularly Blackadder, who still seeks his fortune as one of the Queen's suitors. Here he variously becomes the royal executioner, a sea-faring discoverer, a bankrupt noble, and finally a traitor to the crown, albeit not without a sense of humour. Miranda Richardson puts in a spectacular performance as Queen Elizabeth, with Stephen Fry and Patsy Byrne in attendance. Stephen Fry will recur throughout the series. In the third series, Blackadder is still close to the crown, as the butler of the Prince Regent, a despised position to a despised person. Baldrick is still around, and the Prince is played by Hugh Laurie, who will recur in the final series. Done almost as a period comedy, the very titles and situations pay hommage to the day of the Scarlet Pimpernel, Dr. Johnson's dictionary, and the conflict with France. Through an interesting set of circumstances, butler and prince trade places, and the Blackadder finally becomes his intended goal, albeit in the name of someone else. In the fourth and final series, Blackadder has fallen from a great height, and is an officer in the trenches of World War I. Baldrick is still there, and Percy and the Prince have transformed into fellow field officers, with Stephen Fry playing a bellicose general here as he did Wellington in the third series. The main device of this series is the effort by Blackadder to escape the trenches, by variously becoming an artist, a theatre producer, a chef, but to no avail finally, producing a sombre end to the dynasty. The book is a fabulous companion piece to the series, as the BBC is known to do with television series of success. The six episodes of each of the four seasons is laid out in script-narrative form, with a generous collection of side offerings, such as the Blackadder family tree, the menu of Mrs. Miggins' pie shoppe, and other pieces of interest related to but not found in the actual series. The cast is included at the beginning of each series section. The book concludes with a partial collection of some of Blackadder's best insults. This book was printed in aid of Comic Relief, who give a brief outline of their history of funding good causes in the last few pages. This is a must-have for any Blackadder fan. Regretably, it does not contain the addition special features (such as the Victorian Christmas of Blackadder), but for any devotee of the series, this is a requirement.
Rating:
Summary: A Damn Fine Book of Scripts
Review: This 455-page 6" x 9" softcover (printed on standard "paperback" paper) contains the full scripts to every episode in each of the four series. It does not, however, include the scripts to either the Dickens' Christmas Carol special or the Millenium special. Also interspersed throughout are nineteen full-page b/w photos of the characters. I must confess personally to a preference for behind-the-scenes and tribute books. Nevertheless, I really did enjoy reading this delightful book of scripts. For one thing, there are a number of brief comical additions ("the other bits") included for the reader's "edification." Most notable (and most hilarious) are the brief two-page "lessons" in history (both of England in general and of the Blackadder or Baldrick dynasties in particular) that fill in the gaps prior to the first series and in between subsequent series. Other highlights include very brief overviews of Mediaeval Medicine and of Instruments of Torture (a particularly ghastly example of which is the device used for (and I quote) "ruining the victim's hairdo or cutting it off entirely"). Of course, one mustn't forget Baldrick's Report Card from 1880 or the erudite extract from Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary. This definitely was an enjoyable read. If you are a fan of this excellent, unique British comedy series and are looking for the full scripts (plus a number of cute extras), you'll enjoy this book.
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