This week's Saturday Night Special is from Season 04, Episode 21 of the wonderful 1966 British TV series known as "The Avengers."
Unfortunately probably 99% of young people today only know about the Marvel Comics characters of the same title, but at least when they grow older, they can still go back and watch this show, and be amazed as the rest of us!
"The Avengers" were to television what The Beatles were to music in American culture of the 1960's. There were other British shows like "The Prisoner," but none were nearly as popular as "The Avengers," at least in my world.
There are two good reasons why "The Avengers" was such a popular show!
Patrick Macnee as John Steed, and...........
.................Diana Rigg as Mrs. Emma Peel. Two of the greatest characters in TV history!
This episode starts with a bunch of big shot muckity-mucks from other countries being ridiculed in public by practical jokes that include exploding cigars, and whoopee cushions! They in turn high-tail it back to their home countries which creates an embarrassing situation for the British government!
The marvelous Peter (Jason King) Wyngarde has the role of John Cartney, who really seems to be enjoying the whole affair!
Enter our stalwart heroes John Steed and Mrs. Peel, who will get to the bottom of this whole sordid matter in no time at all.
They know who the perpetrator is, so Mrs. Peel goes to see if she can use some of her charm on him.
Things get serious real quick when one of the gags actually kills someone!
John Cartney is the leader of a bunch guys known as "The Hellfire Club." Their specialty is debauchery, gluttony, drunk and disorderly conduct, and chasing women around!
For entertainment, they have a little fast guy fight a big oafish blindfolded guy with brass knuckles. The results are predictable!
After their initial meeting Mrs. Peel is asked by John Cartney to come back and enjoy the festivities!
John Steed also tries to infiltrate the club, but since he's a guy, he has to pass a stiff initiation test! First me has to chug this giant vessel of beer, which he does easily, and then asks for more.
Then he has to pass the pea test!
On a signal, he has to move this pea off the cutting board before a guy standing there with a big ax, chops the pea in half, but instead of reaching for the pea, he foils them by blowing it off.
John Cartney makes Mrs. Peel change into this dominatrix outfit...............
....................for the benefit of the revelers, and the folks watching at home.
John Steed has to then have a duel with a guy who lost two fingers once in the pea contest, so you know he's a loser!
Mrs. Peel has a big battle with the shrimp who was in the other fighting contest, and wins easily!
John Cartney then comes after Mrs. Peel with a whip, and eventually falls through a trap door usually reserved for his lackeys, just in time to end another awesome episode!
Love the show and its fans! One of my wife's coworkers had the license plate "MRS PEEL." It was a well-written show, skillfully crafted, and excellently acted. Pity the younger generation probably will never know the show existed since most of it was in black and white.
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