"Rome Antics"
The Goodies episode
Episode no.Series 5
Episode 9
Original air date7 April 1975 (1975-04-07)
Guest appearances
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"Rome Antics" is a 1975 episode of the British comedy television series The Goodies.

It was written by The Goodies, with songs and music by Bill Oddie.

Plot

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In Queen Boadicea's Britain, the Ancient Goodies wear animal skins and Graeme's spectacle frames are made from wooden twigs. They live in a small, dark, one-room stone house. Graeme creates a hole with a club to allow more light.

The Romans are gradually taking over Britain. Tim says that the Romans' woad is better quality than the British woad is. Graeme and Bill are appalled.

The Goodies hide from a Roman “ambassador”, actually a messenger sent by the Emperor. The Emperor summons the Goodies to Rome. The Goodies come to a crossroad where their path diverges into three, each marked with a signpost labeled “Rome”. Unable to agree on one path, each Goodie takes a different path but all three arrive at the destination simultaneously.

The Emperor tells the Goodies that he wants them to provide entertainment for the masses. The Emperor’s concept of entertainment entirely consists of market gardening exhibitions, which have proved unpopular. The Goodies provide an evening of elaborate and silly entertainment at the arena, but the po-faced Romans are not amused. The Emperor speaks to the audience from a balcony, but the subjects throw fruit and vegetables at him.

The Emperor, disappointed with their efforts, complains about his life. Tim says that he would like to be Emperor, so the Emperor abdicates the role to Tim. Tim creates vacation areas all over Rome and invites people from all over the known world. Graeme arranges the entertainment.

The Vandals have received the Goodies' invitations and leave a wake of destruction on their way to Rome. They are led by Attila the Hun.

The Goodies planned entertainment at the Colosseum entails a ring tossing exhibition during which they accidentally create the Olympic Rings logo. When the Vandals arrive, the Goodies flee the area. Tim leads the escape with a lit torch that sets fire to laundry hanging from clotheslines, causing the Great Fire of Rome. Tim finds a violin in a glass case labeled "Break glass in case of fire". He removes the violin and plays it, while Rome burns in the background.

Cultural references

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References

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  • "The Complete Goodies" — Robert Ross, B T Batsford, London, 2000
  • "The Goodies Rule OK" — Robert Ross, Carlton Books Ltd, Sydney, 2006
  • "From Fringe to Flying Circus — 'Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960-1980'" — Roger Wilmut, Eyre Methuen Ltd, 1980
  • "The Goodies Episode Summaries" — Brett Allender
  • "The Goodies — Fact File" — Matthew K. Sharp
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