Filthy Rich and Catflap

Clockwise, from top left: Filthy, Rich, and Eddie Catflap

I'M STRETCHED ON THE RACK OF MY OWN GENIUS!

Filthy Rich & Catflap is a Britcom that some members of The Young Ones cast made between The Young Ones and Bottom.

Rik Mayall plays Richie Rich, a talentless, unheard-of ham actor on a crusade for fame and glory. Adrian Edmondson plays his violent alcoholic minder, and Nigel Planer plays Richie's useless sponging agent.

The show has absolutely No Fourth Wall.

The show was ended when Mayall complained to Ben Elton about his writing privilages. Elton didn't listen and Mayall left.

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This show provides examples of:

• Accidental Murder: At least 4 dead milkmen in episode 1. 5 ifyou include the one in the hospital.
• Attention Whore: Richie.
• Berserk Button: Richie's incredible success at the end of the series drives Eddie to smashing up the set.
• Better Than a Bare Bulb: The show delights in hanging lampshades.
• British Brevity: Only six episodes were made. Thanks to an argument between Rik Mayall and writer Ben Elton.
• Careful with That Axe: subverted when Eddie hits Richie in the balls with one.
• Catch Phrase: Filthy
  • "Hello is that...? Yes I can hold.
• Daddy DNA Test: Except the DNA test is part of an elaborate plan to share Richie's money between Eddie, Eddie's cousin, and Filthy. And the blood sample is pure lager.
• Disposing of a Body: The dead milkmen in episode one.
• Double Entendre
  • "Oo-er!"
  • Richie appears in game show called "Oo-er sounds a bit rude!"
• Failure Is the Only Option: Played straight for most of the series. And then subverted! The series ends on a cheery "Made it!" from Richie.
• Fan Boy: Richie seems to have Tarby on the brain.
• Gay Bar Reveal:

Richie: ...Bloody fairies! That's what you are, isn't it? Men at bar: Yes.

• • Him and Eddie are thrown out
• Hanging Judge: A literal example passes judgement over the three at the beginning of the sixth episode.
• Hey, It's That Guy!: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Mel Smith, Chris Barrie, The Nolan Sisters, David Baddiel, Midge Ure, Anne Diamond...
• Ho Yay: Starting with the Bedmate Reveal in the very first scene and continuing throughout the whole series.
• It's All About Me: Richie
• Jerkass: The three title characters.
• Large Ham: Richie
  • "I'M STRETCHED ON THE RACK OF MY OWN GENIUS!"
  • Eddie: If you don't shut up I'LL RAM YOUR HEAD INTO THE MICROWAVE!
• The Man They Couldn't Hang: Ralph Filthy
• Massive Multiplayer Scam: The entire paternity plot was a scam by Eddie, his relatives, and Filthy.
• My Name Is Not Durwood:

Filthy: My name's Ralph Filthy not Filthy Ralph.

• No Fourth Wall
• Oh My Gods: "What in the name of Satan's portion?!"
• Repetitive Name: Richie Rich
• Running Gag: The doorbell sounds like a fart. Of course the cast take advantage of this.
• Sadist Show: Completes the Mayall-Edmondson trinity of Sadist Shows alongside Bottom and The Young Ones.
• The Starscream: Eddie fits this trope at times. Particularly in the first episode.
• Small Name, Big Ego: Richie fits this to a T.
• Strawman Political: Dingo Wucker in episode 6. His conservative agenda is based mainly on his cruelty and paranoia.
• Those Two Actors: Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson are an established comedy duo and have frequently starred alongside each other.
  • Two of the characters from the game show episode are from Are You Being Served (Mr Humphries and Molly Sugden)
• Also Steven Fry and Huge Laurrie in the same episode.
• Take That

Filthy: And then give that comic the world's best gag -- Eddie: Which would have to be Thatcher's '79 election promise to cut unemployment!

• • There are a number of digs at conservatism (par for the course; see also The Young Ones). This is lampshaded at the end of the very first episode.
    • "Look, I've had just about enough left-wing soapbox rhetoric for one week!"
  • ...and the last episode has more than a few digs at Rupert Murdoch and tabloid journalists.
  • In show example occours when they systematicly smear everyone in british showbiz count?
• Take That Me: In a meta-sense; after Eddie and Richie indulge in an extended satirical dig at the police force, Richie undercuts the proceedings by pointing out "Next time you're in trouble, you try calling an alternative comedian!"
• Ted Baxter: Richie
• Trouser Space: Eddie can fit 3 whole chickens in his trousers.
• Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist
• Unusual Euphemism: "I've sustained some quite considerable Belisha beacons in my time, thank you!"
  • "Adolf Hitler's lover rumoured to be a man!
• With Friends Like These...
• X Meets Y: Post Modernism meets Comedic Sociopathy.