The Bullshitters: Roll Out The Gunbarrel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bullshitters: Roll Out The Gunbarrel was a spoof of The Professionals, first broadcast in 1984 on Channel 4. Although it was made by many people behind The Comic Strip, it did not feature the Comic Strip logo and is not considered by some to be part of the series. However, it was included in the Comic Strip DVD box set (2005), and its lead characters Bonehead and Foyle reappeared in a later Comic Strip episode, Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
When Commander Jackson (Robbie Coltrane), head of DI5, hears that his daughter Janie has been kidnapped and held for ransom, he has to call in ex-agents Bonehead (Keith Allen) and Foyle (Peter Richardson) to save her. Since being kicked out of DI5, Bonehead works at a TV Tough Guys School, teaching others the "rules" of being a TV tough guy (such as not locking your car because you need to get straight back into it!), and Foyle is now an actor on stage. Jackson blackmails the two into working together. It's time for Bonehead and Foyle - the flashiest, fastest and most under dressed detectives to be kicked out of DI5 - with a Magnum in one hand and a bus pass in the other, the Bullshitters set out to track down the criminals and get some good close-ups. However as every good TV cop knows not all is as it seems, especially Bonehead and Foyle's relationship with each other - is there a reason they wear so little clothing around each other?
[edit] Cast and crew
- Keith Allen (as Bonehead)
- Peter Richardson (as Martin Foyle)
- Robbie Coltrane (as Commander George Jackson)
- Alana Pellay (as Herself)
- Jimmy Fagg (as Himself)
- Fiona Hendley (as Janie Jackson)
- Al Matthews (as Admiral)
- George Khan (as Thompson)
- Kevin Allen (as KNOBS Trainee Chuck)
- Gary Martin (as KNOBS Trainee Stig)
- John Sarbutt (as KNOBS Trainee Dean)
- David Farrington (as KNOBS Trainee Troy)
- Anthony Sharp (as Father)
- Patience Tomlinson (as Daughter)
- Esther Freud (as Girl Backstage)
- Michael White (as Himself)
- Julian Firth (as RADA Student)
- Malcolm Hardee (as Builder)
- Suzanne Jerome (as KNOBS Receptionist)
- Elvis Costello (as Stone Deaf A&R Man)
---
- Written by Keith Allen and Peter Richardson
- Directed by Stephen Frears
- First broadcast on November 3rd 1984
[edit] Gay themes
Bonehead and Foyle spend the latter half of the episode bare chested or with their shirts undone revealing their chests - in fact, as soon as they start working together again. During a chase scene, both of them are wearing undone jackets, thongs, and shoes - and nothing else. They put on jeans later on and then discard the jackets as they try to save Jackson's daughter.
Near the end of the episode, they hear a gunshot and hug each other in fright, before they declare their love for each other and kiss passionately. It turns out they have loved each other secretly for years.
As such, this episode has a huge gay following.
[edit] Trivia
- Robbie Coltrane's character is named Commander George Jackson. Gordon Jackson played Major Cowley in The Professionals, whom Coltrane's character is based on.
- Foyle's first name is Martin, as in Martin Shaw who played Doyle in The Professionals, whom the character is based on.
- Al Matthews - the Admiral, was a US Marine in real life, and had previously appeared as Faroud in an episode of The Professionals titled The Ojuka Situation. He went on to play Sergeant Apone in the blockbuster movie Aliens.
