American Reacts 9 o'Clock News | Funny Police Sketches

[@Chris-ty7fw]

The savage sketch ends with him getting a promotion to another unit (infamous for racism) and a bit about him stepping on a hedgehog that ties into another sketch

[@Robbie3004]

The slang sketch features actor Nicholas Ball who had recently starred in the private detective series Hazell. At the time he was married to NTNON's Pamela Stephenson.

[@SteffBrockley]

This video hits different when you’re aware of the Yorkshire Ripper case. A hoaxer sent a tape with a message and the song “Thank you for being a friend” at the end to George Oldfield, who was in charge of the Ripper Squad. George was so blindsided by it that the police ruled out suspects who didn’t have the hoaxer’s accent, including the actual Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe. They played the tape and the song in a press conference just like this one, sending the the Ripper investigation in completely the wrong direction. People watching this sketch at the time would’ve been very aware of the case and the “Ripper” tape.

[@Inconsistent-Dogwash]

That’s pretty sad that someone's distasteful joke if you can call it that, F’ed up the case.

[@SteffBrockley]

@@Inconsistent-Dogwash They found the hoaxer (John Humble) years later in 2006 and he was convicted.

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@Inconsistent-Dogwash No: it's sad because the police were morons, and they still are.

[@maximushaughton2404]

The end of the last sketch, Savage gets transferded to the SPG (Special Patrol Group), who had a really bad rep. After one incident, in which someone was killed (Blair Peach) the inquiries that followed, unauthorised weapons were found in lockers kept as "souvenirs" by SPG officers at one of their bases after the weapons were seized; these included knives, crowbars, and sledgehammers.

[@JohnTaylor-cc6tm]

It's mostly real, and what's amazing is most Brits could follow it reasonably well

[@micade2518]

"Not the 9 o'clock News" was so hilarious! I still remember some of the sktetches, many many years later! Excellentissimo comedy show! With young Rowan Atkinson ... !

[@tonybaker55]

On once a week and series of sketches. Great comedy from the late Mel Smith and the great Griff Rhys Jones. Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson also starred in it. They later went onto make another series called Alas Smith and Jones. That sketch was a complete piss take of cockney slang and you are not meant to understand it. Rowan did a series about the police called The Thin Blue Line. Great comedy too!

[@angelapuricelli-fenlon1190]

Not my biscuit, not my territory. Bracelets hand cuffs. Jam jar car.

[@stirlingmoss9637]

Great reaction to a great show from my younger years. Such nostalgia, thank you.

[@mral8145]

When the song plays the journalist shouts “that’s Wham” and police respond “ yes and I’ve pulled both men in for questioning, just in case” (the two male members of Wham.

[@arwelp]

The last sketch was cut off: “Do you get some kind of perverted gratification from stirring up trouble?” “Yes sir” “There’s no room for bigots like you in my force, Savage. I’m transferring you to the SPG.” (Metropolitan Police Special Patrol Group, which had a very bad reputation). (Pleased) “Thank you sir!”. (And there was a connection to a running gag about hedgehogs at the very end. It’s crazy how after over 40 years I can still quote this sketch almost verbatim!). In the first sketch, the song “the hedgehog” had sent in was by Wham!, which comprised two singers George Michael and Andrew Ridgley, who presumably are the two people who the police have pulled in just in case they’re involved in the murders; this is a bit of a sendup of the police investigation of the Yorkshire Ripper case, when someone sent in a tape claiming to be the murderer (he wasn’t, but he threw the police off the trail of the real murderer for quite a while).

[@gordon861]

So many of their sketches come to mind when out an about now and you have to try not to use the lines and just laugh to yourself inside, because so few people will have a clue what the hell you are talking about.

[@allycbythesea7937]

Wow impressed by your memory

[@tombradley4842]

When he referred him as a mason he means the funny hand shakers in other words a corrupt band of people known as freemasons. (I know we've had dealings with that sort)

[@HelgeKS]

"coughing without due care and detention" - pre covid joke....

[@leehallam9365]

Not the Nine O'Clock news was a weekly sketch show, that was on BBC 2 at the same time as the Nine O'Clock News was on BBC1. It was devised as a vehicle for Rowan Atkinson, and he was teamed up with Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson (later Mrs Billy Connolly) and from series 2, Griff Rhys Jones. It was ground breaking, and very funny. I wonder if the fake TV interview was from it though, as it was long finished by 1990, that might be from Alas Smith and Jones. The useless murder hunt was a satire of the disasterously useless hunt for The Yorkshire Ripper who was still at large. It was pretty raw comedy considering that.

[@BenjWarrant]

We all remember Constable Savage.

[@roboi2241]

Some of these sketches are from the spin-off show Alas Smith and Jones as in the first sketch the tune he played was a Wham song from 1984, NTNoN was on tv from 1979-82 and the spin-off with only Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys Jones started in 1984.

[@Mickymoore1969]

It’s real cockney slang that us Londoners use all the time, you grow up speaking it in London….I understood every word lol, I’m happy to translate should you need it.😊

[@seijika46]

The songs were the best in this series (to the point of having an album published), being mainly funny parodies of the various styles of emerging 1980s music. Also, 'mason' regards to being a freemason (a not-so-secret society to which many establishment figures belong and look out fo other members - allegedly), it was parodied in The Simpsons as 'the stone-cutters'.

[@davebrown6552]

I liked the look of utter confusion at the slang. definitely something you need to have grown up in Britain last century to understand, and yes it does make sense (ish)

[@davebrown6552]

claims the police were fitting up for drug dealing (snowman) got a phone call with a lead while in the pub and found drugs (tablecloth) He does not use guns but is a drug dealer (charlie) Sorry missed the Griff one ( he used a more local version and I am not from Dorset) They are mostly made up but then so was slang in general.

[@captvimes]

The end of the sketch of savage was cut off he was reassigned to the flying squad (sweeney) so a promotion . This sketch had a big big impact on exposing how badly the police were racially profiling at the time...feel like something you can relate to now all be it 40 years later for you

[@timdrayton4956]

Sketch 2 is a satire on Operation Countryman of the late 70's/early 80's when provincial police forces were brought in to investigate corruption in the Metropolitan (i.e. London) police. The premise is that the West Country "yokel" cannot understand the Londoners he is supposed to be investigating. Some of what they say is Cockney rhyming slang or other slang of that time, although I think some of it - e.g. partridge, tablecloth - is just invented. To me, as an Englishman, I can't make too much sense of it, but it does sound like Londoners speaking in heavy slang.

[@wonhung]

the fair haired guy with the red jacket is talking in Cockney Rhyming Slang of 40 years ago, but what he is saying basically is that the drug Squad police officer planted drugs on him and then arrested him, the plain clothes officer says he was going down the road in his car & gets a call. He over hears a conversation and a row. so he goes inside and talks to the barman. He finds who he is looking for with pockets full of drugs & high as a kite. The Policeman in uniform says he can verify what the plainclothes officer says as the fair haired guy is well known for carrying drugs, but he never carries a weapon and is not a tough guy A some of the slang is rubbish (made up) for the sketch. "Concrete Trampoline"? is not a slang term, but "Pounding the Porcelain" is. It means doing a poop. Pointing Percy at the Porcelain means having a pee. There is SOME genuine Vintage Cockney Slang here, but there is also a load of rubbish, but enough real stuff to understand it IF you spent enough time in the East End back in the 70s/80s like I did. Now Cop a Gander at a pair of Fish Hooks & feast your Minces.

[@mce_AU]

Even as an Aussie with all our slang, I only got 50% of that, but got the gist anyway.

[@pilkipilki4472]

I think at the end of the sketch savage gets promoted to the SPG special patrol group

[@leehallam9365]

They chopped the end off the last sketch, but you wouldnt have got the punchline, he was transferred to a police unit which had a reputation for being rather brutal. I should say the term coloured at the time was then the politcally correct way to say it. These things shift.

[@johnfarnborough6424]

In the third sketch you have to look at the clock/clocks in the background to see that the tape has been doctored. You obviously didn’t get the joke.

[@speleokeir]

In the 80s there was a ground breaking wave of alternative comedy that came into being and Not the Nine O'clock News was the first show to feature it. It also launched Rowan Atkinson's career. It was on once a week on BBC2 at the same time as the Nine O'Clock news on BBC1. Pamela Stephenson was the fourth member of the team and met her husband Billy Connolly on the show when he made a guest appearance. You might recognise Mel Smith as the albino in 'The Princess Bride'. Other classic sketches include: Gerald the Gorilla (For some reason it's been removed from YT but you can find it on Daily motion), Rowan Atkinson walking down the street, Darts, I like Trucking, US presidential candidate and loads more. Most episodes are on YT. N.B.The last part of the 'Constable Savage' sketch was sadly cut off.

[@travelbugse2829]

I'll let you off the hook - most of that slang went over my head, and I'm a Londoner!

[@Rodgerslicker]

I don't adam & eve it..

[@spacelab777]

Constable Savage is a classic sketch. As you are an American you might want to check on another funny NNON sketch titled 'Regan' It was aired around during the early days of the Ronald Regan Presidency.

[@BenjWarrant]

My favourite sketch was where Pamela Stephenson returned to the family home in ordinary street clothes, but with most of one of breasts on display. Her husband just looks at it. She looks down, and screams 'Oh my god I've lost the baby!!'

[@paulwright9749]

Capital of France - vast majority of Americans wouldn’t know the answer either 😂

[@brigidsingleton1596]

I always thought the Capital of France was 'F' ...you live and learn ..!!

[@thesemyths3597]

Most of this is from 'Alas Smith and Jones'. NTNON had long finished before Wham were in the charts. The last couple may be from NTNON.

[@RobertTaylor-gz2fu]

Some of the slang is real. Bracelets is slang for handcuffs. In Spanish, the word for handcuffs is the same as the word for wives - esposas.

[@arwelp]

Oedipus = Oedipus Rex = Kecks = trousers Jam jar = car

[@brigidsingleton1596]

Connor... 'Wham' - '80's pop duo - George Michael (R.I.P.) ...and Andrew Ridgely.

[@Rodgerslicker]

Wow he didn't get the wham reference, I think he thinks it's a serious news programme, hence that's why he asked if it's on every night,clues in the title bro NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS.

[@loungejay8555]

5:31 in this sketch they are speaking in "cockney slang" at least in part, some of it was actual real slang but much of it was made up for comedy effect - however, any native English person understands exactly what they are saying.

[@Susan-j4v6u]

To the best of my knowledge a Mason (Freemason) belongs to a secret club that you have to be elected to join and are banned from talking about any activities/discussions that occur. I believe it only allows men to join and meetings take place in Masonic Lodges across the country. It used to have many professionals as members such as solicitors, accountants, policemen etc. It was well known that if the police caught a fellow mason carrying out an offence such as speeding etc, some sought of secret signal was past between them (or maybe some indication/sign on the car) so that the police (mason) would not fine/ticket them.

[@seanmc1351]

You are correct, i have done some more in a lodge, my ex boss and a family friend was a mason The women thing is also right, i was told during the iniation, your blindfolded, your shirt is open to prove your not a women and a trouser leg raised to show you have no hidden knife. The lodge im talking about, my mother, was the only lady to have done a presentation in the lodge,

[@Shoomer88]

Some of that is true. As I don't like to spoil a good conspiracy theory I wont say what is and what isn't.

[@antiqueinsider]

Freemasonry is an interesting subject for you to learn about, Connor! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH-wgZ6YgrJlbpo (Wham was a duo led by George Michael)

[@b34rdy]

dont forget the secret handshake lol. my grandad was a mason before he passed away.

[@AlBarzUK]

@@Shoomer88lol

[@charlesfrancis6894]

There is a police series called "The Thin Blue Line " with Rowan Atkinson as the police officer it is a very funny series well worth a look.

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

It was a hilarious weekly sketch show, much of it making fun of topical events of the time (so sadly some of it has dated), though enough of it was of sketches general enough to still be hilarious - like "Gerald the Gorilla", "The Swedish chemist's shop joke", and "Buying a gram-o-phone". Most of the Cockney terms were genuine, but some of them were made up - and "Bracelets" is a common nickname for handcuffs.

[@arwelp]

The thing to remember is that KZbin’s automatic subtitling is terrible, especially when it comes to stronger British accents.

[@damianleah6744]

Your expression on your face was priceless 😂😂 Cockney ryming slang .

[@SuperTonywilliams]

Lot of older British humour and inuendo in this buddy. Made me laugh at the memories anyways. Not the 9 oclock news was a comedy alternative on another channel to the 9 o'clock news....proper piss take....happy memories. Thanks 👍....i love it when you get the clock sketch...... brilliant

[@tardeliesmagic]

I only understood half of it & i'm a proppa London geeza. One line that never gets old & used a fair bit today is "Getting GBH in the ear 'ole" GBH = Grievous bodily harm,means the assault has caused serious physical harm & ear 'ole is ear hole = your ears....The wife given me GBH in the ear 'oles means the wife has nagged so much your ears hurt 😂😂😂

[@TheYoungDoctor]

Only the last sketch is from Not the 9 o'clock News, the first two are from Alas Smith and Jones and the third is from their follow on series to ASaJ Smith and Jones.

[@BenjWarrant]

The guy in the second sketch is a mick take of a UK police series called _The Sweeney._ (Deep breath.) Sweeney is rhyming slang for the Flying Squad, which was created to respond to armed robberies across London - they were a 'quick response' team. The rhyme comes from Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. The cops and the bad guys all spoke cockney and rhyming slang, which meant that the series went down fine in the south of the country but could well have been a bit impenetrable for the northerners! Most of the slang in the sketch is invented, and isn't real slang.

[@alexstewart5758]

There's enough legit in there that it makes sense though. Minces - mince pies - eyes Sky - Sky Rocket - Pocket Jam Jar - Car Charlie - no idea what that might be iS Benghazi - Khasi - toilet? That's just off the top of my head. The modern equivalent of this sketch would be Line of Duty and all the acronyms...

[@philjones45]

I never knew that. Sweeny Todd = Flying Squad. Interesting.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

​@@philjones45 Are you that young that you never knew about 'The Sweeney'* on ITV (& in real life)?! Starring both the late John Thaw* and Dennis Waterman*. Rest In Peace.

[@philjones45]

@@brigidsingleton1596 Did I say that?? No. I said I didn't realise it was Cockney rhyming slang.

[@grimreaper-qh2zn]

They missed out the punch line from the last sketch "the bigoted Officer".

[@amnril]

WHAM was a pop band with two leading Men, hence the reference to bringing them both in.

[@colingregory7464]

If you Like these two have a look at their Movie "Wilt"

[@roseoconnor5938]

Most of the subtitles were typo....more hilarious than the spoken word 😂😂😂

[@AndrewHalliwell]

The savage sketch didn't end there. New got transferred to a different department where ;presumably) they're all racists

[@suejohns7757]

It’s Cockney rhyming slang for example a jam jar is a car

[@angelapuricelli-fenlon1190]

Bracelets are hand cuffs.

[@nataliereeves3594]

Masons are a society/ club that are very secrative and have a reputation for cover-ups that may or may not be true.

[@Dave-r4u]

Humour of yesteryear now being played out for real with our Police....particularly the London Met'.

[@johnp8131]

Look up "Free Masons" Connor. And the translation in the second sketch, like most British people, part of the joke is you're not supposed to get it! Even some Londoners won't catch it all as "Cockney Rhyming slang" changes with time and what or whom is currently popular and some is just deliberately silly? Therefore some of these seventies/eighties references would be unrecognisable to many younger Londoners today?

[@hempsellastro]

There is more than just Cockney rhyming slang (e.g. germans = german bands = hands, mincers = mince pies = eyes), there is definitely some polari (e.g. vada= look), and some general slang (e.g. bracelets = handcuffs, manor = local area, Boozer = Pub). I cannot answer for every word but I understood most of it and I think they are all or almost all real slang terms.

[@ilovefacebookandebay]

This programme was on the BBC once a week for about an hour. Great stuff.

[@philjones45]

half an hour.

[@barbarahayden5602]

Even your CC can't understand what they're saying. ha hah

[@DerrickWhittle-mm7jz]

Did not end there.

[@antiqueinsider]

7:30 Poor Connor! LOL! It's Cockney Rhyming and east end slang. Nobody understands very much of it!!

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

It's actually a mix of 'Cockney', 'Polari' and 'Slang' terms and phrases - so all are real and you need to know the meanings to understand. Also some phrases have more than one possible meaning, so you need to follow the conversation and context to know 'which' one is meant... LOL 😎

[@antiqueinsider]

@@stewedfishproductions7959 And the subtitles don't hellp much! LOL@

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@antiqueinsider Definitely NOT ! 😄

[@johnp8131]

The first two Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones were in "Not the nine o'clock news" with Rowan Atkinson and Pamela Stephenson, around 1980. They also had their own comedy sketch series which had some brilliant stuff. You have already seen some of it over the last couple of years since you started. Try "Alas, Smith and Jones", the Grave sketch. Which I don't think you've seen. BTW. that's "Alas" not "Alias"! Otherwise you'll see an American TV Western series?

[@cleopatra5682]

Cockney rhyming slang.

[@bencollins4168]

Not the 9 o'clock news was a total pisstake of everything going on at the time. True British humour, but ran its course once its targets either disappeared or were out of power, or the main comedians moved on

[@bigbird2100]

Great video 👍So glad you are watching Not the nine o'clock news , this basically takes the piss out of English establishment and the police 😂 😂 That last sketch is remembered by generations of UK.

[@Dave-r4u]

British!

[@RalphWigg1]

You don't need to undersand the jargon, it's not the point, which is the inspector's reactions.

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

I actually have this series on my USB in the TV at the moment!

[@tighabhinn]

. "I passed the odd 'gregory' = Gregory Peck = is cheque [or in the US 'check]' - "up the apples= 'Apples & pears = stairs or .... 'I didn't open my north' = north & south = mouth etc

[@777petew]

Yes you are experiencing the same difficulties as the Police Inspector, and so are most of the non-London British population.

[@jamesalexander5623]

"The Ayatolla Song" On Not the 9 O'Clock News made me Pee my pants!

[@davidgarside2620]

One of their great sketches was the song "I like TRUCKIN" N. T. N. O. N. was a weekly satirical sketch show about currant events broadcast on B. B. C. 2 at 9pm the same time as the actual news on B. B. C. 1. It could never be made today as woke has killed comedy.

[@pacogomez1707]

What I remember is that the marriage was one of convenience so that Stephenson, who was Australian, could stay legally in the UK.

[@capablancauk]

English is fun.

[@PortilloMoment]

Mel Smith was an absolute diamond. As for the Cockney slang, some of it is genuine so far as I know and some of it is not.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

It's actually a mix of 'Cockney', 'Polari' and 'Slang' terms and phrases - so all are real and you need to know the meanings to understand.

[@PortilloMoment]

@@stewedfishproductions7959 Now you've done it stewedfish - Polari is perhaps a step too far for our host, though I'm sure he'd be interested in its origins and reasons. Really, we should be happy that such a coded language among minorities is no longer so necessary, though it's always sad to see the use of these slangs fade.

[@philjones45]

The last but one sketch (which was hilarious and I've not seen) must have been from Smith and Jones which was an off shoot of Not the 9 oclock news, because of the dates. Not the nine o clock news had finished by 1982, and Alas Smith and Jones finished in 1988. There's some great hidden gems in the later.

[@arwelp]

Ah yes, “Nazi Generals” featuring every stereotypical German general from every WW2 movie you’ve ever seen, and “Turkish Harem” (“I don’t intend to remain a eunuch forever!”).

[@JackNap1er14]

As I have mentioned in a few videos that my dad did not know his mum (my gran) was a cockney till he spoke to her on the telephone

[@bigdaddigaming]

I haven't seen not the nine O'clock news in years so I thought this would be a funny blast from the past but the funniest thing was the hostes lack of british knowledge and not knowing what is and isn't rhyming slang and the confusion on his face during most of that. I am going to comment just in case he reads his comment not the nine O'clock news isn't usually like that, that was pices put together about police and Cockney slang, poor fucker was so confused at the end🤣🤣🤣

[@matshjalmarsson3008]

Loved that show. We had a Swedish version of it called "inte aktuellt", which was ok, but not nearly as good.

[@jerry2357]

4:05 Wham were a popular duo in the 1980s (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley).

[@RevStickleback]

In a kind of similar vein to the sketch where they couldn't understand the slag, this in a sketch involving Meat Loaf and Stephen Fry, where Stephen Fry is being mugged by Meat Loaf, but doesn't understand any of his slang. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5fJfnqQZr6Wprc

[@OspreyChick]

It’s a mixture between cockney slang and complete nonsense that sounds like cockney slang Filth = police Shelllike = ear Collar feeling = get arrested Bracelets = handcuffs Manor = neighbourhood

[@ajivins1]

I caught 'down the boozer with the bubbles'-bubble and squeak, Greek. "My minces"-Mince Pies/eyes.

[@terryhunt2659]

Although there are many well-established Cockney Rhyming Slang terms, it can also include an element of improvisation: one is supposed to be quick-witted enough to understand them on first hearing (and thus fool any 'stupid' policemen who might be listening). This sketch included a mix of general British slang, established CRS terms, invented rhyming slang (some of which I understood) and incomprehensible nonsense - the inherent humour was in the mix. The senior officer from Devon (in England's 'West Country') responded with a similar mix involving real West Country dialect and (I presume) invented gibberish. (OspreyChick likely knows all this - it's for McJibbin's benefit.)

[@travelbugse2829]

@@ajivins1 What about partridge?

[@davepb5798]

Have a conflab means have a conversation.

[@dave74700]

Yeah, its all cockney vindaloo me ol cake out the East bend like eh? 😂

[@Thursdaym2]

Translation? Even we don't understand but we get the idea😂

[@robthebuilder553]

Not the Nine O'Clock news launched the careers of a number of prominent British comedians, most notably Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, and Gryff Rhys-Jones. If you like it, check out the Rowan Atkinson stage show where he does a number of short sketches. And I don't think they're real Cockney sayings, I think they're deliberately making it very obscure and silly.

[@Griexxt]

The subtitles aren't really helping here.

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Some of it is called "cant" which was slang used by criminals. (pronounced as in "canter").

[@Pitmirk_]

They missed out the bicycle chain gag...

[@davidcooks5265]

Jam jar=police car

[@williambilly3269]

Yes not the 9 o'clock news was a weekly sketch show in the eighties 👍. Try and check out another one called big train 👍

[@claudiavictoria3929]

Wham! was the group who played that song (George Michael was the lead singer).

[@angelavara-u6l]

i loved this show. i think its cockney slang on the 1 spot

[@Rasperdan]

"Not" You dont know what a "Mason" is..... look it up, it is interesting.

[@QueeferSutherland1]

Sky rocket = pocket 😀

[@wobaguk]

There was an american version of NT9ON, I know Rich Hall was a cast member.

[@julianbarber4708]

Please note that some of the 'translations' are not what is being said. This is a joke, at the expense of Cockney Rhyming Slang. Most of it is gibberish.

[@Walesbornandbred]

Not the Nine o' clock News was a sketch shiw on BBC 2 while the news on on BBC1. It was a pisstake out of Britain.

[@Rodgerslicker]

Thicko ,the third sketch is a fit up, has penny dropped yet,by the way the world isn't flat.braclets is a slang nick name.handcuffs should suffice. Muppet..

[@Susan-j4v6u]

I think it was just slang as oppose to cockney rhyming slang; maybe a mixture of both. Some of the scene was definitely using real slang but maybe some was made up. I got the gist of what was being conveyed, but I certainly couldn't have translated it accurately........and I'm English!

[@speleokeir]

It was a mix of real rhyming slang and some made up stuff.

[@johnkyle2877]

Welcome to cockney rhyming slang!

[@errolmills2192]

Slang is right but soo much condensed in one sentence that I don't understand it myself.

[@captvimes]

yes it is all real slang and cockney rhyme but so much of both it is supposed to be slightly understandable but also not