Jeeves and Wooster ~ Lost in Adaptation

How closely did the 90 TV shows Jeeves and Wooster starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie stick to the books it's based on by P. G. Wodehouse?
More Dom:
Patreon: / domsmith
Website: www.dominic-noble.com/
Second channel: / @domnobletoo8238
Twitter: / dominic__noble
Instagram: / dominic__noble
Merch: www.teespring.com/stores/domi...
Editor: sophiakricci.com
Original music by Il Neige: / djilneige

[@lindybeige]

Jeeves was not a butler. He was a valet.

[@cmm5542]

Though Bertie did once say 'Jeeves can buttle with the best of them . . ' he stood in for his uncle's butler a few times I think.

[@ianrestall1628]

Or "a gentleman's gentleman".

[@henryglennon3864]

"It really speaks to me, this song, Jeeves." "I'm sorry to hear that, sir."

[@rebeccazajdel6061]

“Tee Dee Hee Dee Hee, Sir.”

[@stevena488]

What ho, Henry!

[@henryglennon3864]

@@stevena488 I say, Steven Allen!

[@MarcusVowell]

Bertie Wooster: Do you think I should play this song for the Glossops tonight, Jeeves? Jeeves: I could not advise it, sir. I have not heard that Sir Roderick is musical. Bertie Wooster: Oh, but Lady Glossop is. Jeeves: There is also that to be considered, sir. I love these characters so much...

[@MartijnVos]

For their musical scenes, Fry mucking up "Puttin' on the Ritz" is absolutely genius.

[@harish1105]

I don't know if you know this, Dom, but there is a small but very intense fandom for PG Wodehouse in India. My dad introduced me to Plum when I was a kid and I've been a fan ever since. Interestingly, I didn't particularly like this adaptation but my old man loves it. Whenever he sees Stephen Fry or Hugh Laurie in any other role he always goes, "Oh, it's Jeeves/Bertie!"

[@nhmooytis7058]

I first saw Hugh in House I thought he was American. I saw him on a talk show and wondered why he was putting on the Brit accent 😮...only later did I see him with Fry. I became a YUGE fan of Jeeves & Wooster and Blackadder.

[@aliciabell6688]

Same in America.

[@alisonhill3941]

I did two summers as a tour guide on open top buses in London in my early twenties. One of my more memorable tours was when most of the bus was full with a huge extended Indian family who were over for a wedding. I had a habit of pointing out where fictional characters lived on my tours, especially when stuck in traffic in Mayfair, and I only had to say the word "Jeeves" when we were entering Berkeley Square to get the undivided attention of the entire family (which is pretty unusual on those tours, where normally at least a quarter of the bus are just happily thinking their own thoughts and looking for familiar London landmarks). That tour bus got all the Wodehouse references I could throw at them, even some pretty tenuous ones, and I made a fortune in tips. The driver had no idea what the hell I was doing, because it completely threw off our usual rhythm, but when he got his share of the tip money he went straight to a bookshop and used some of it to get some books on Wodehouse to try and find some other useful Wodehouse sites in case the same situation ever came up again.

[@Logitah]

For some reason, this doesn't surprise me that much.

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

I've never really been able to fully get into this adaption either, despite loving the books, and separately Fry and Laurie's comedy. Its ripe for some really good adaptions which are faithful to the books in my opinion. By the way if you like wodehouse I'd suggest Waugh's 30s novels.

[@iinvaderrand]

Fry and laurie is such an amazing comic duo.

[@literaturmurks]

The Hedge Sketch!

[@eshbena]

Hugh Laurie in Black Adder is still brilliant as well. :)

[@fasdaVT]

I hope they reunite and be funny old men together. Especially if its a jeeves and wooster even better

[@Matheus-ql7mn]

I was about to comment that They're amazing!

[@bbgun061]

In my opinion, they are what made the adaptation a success.

[@EvilDMMk3]

What makes it all the more confusing is that they took the black face out of the episodes based on “thank you, Jeeves” (sort of, they turned it into being mistaken for a minstrel, rather than an African-American), so they were clearly aware of how sensitive an issue. It was. It’s almost a pity, because in the original novel Bertie reflects on how damned differently and unfairly, he gets treated by people who think he’s black

[@inspectorspinda]

YES! its kind of brillaint though subtle

[@riverAmazonNZ]

The show is amazingly historically accurate with it’s clothes, sets, buildings, and other details. Fascinating glimpse into the time. The books are extremely witty and clever, with lots of literary references, but you don’t need to get the references to enjoy the plots which are zany and delightful.

[@acecat2798]

Ooh I want to add since you used the word zany- yes they are! In fact, they're "zanni" (a character type which gave us the English equivalent), as in they're strongly influenced by the Commedia dell'Arte's archetypes and plot lines but with some class inversions. Lots of clever servants, Sir Roderick Glossop is the doctor who doesn't know as much as he thinks he does, Spode and Tuppy are blustering Pulcinellas, Sir Watkin Basset is a greedy Pantalone, Gussy is a drippy Pierrot, Bingo and Madeleine Basset are inamorati in love with love... the real exceptions are Jeeves, who is too dignified to fit any category, and Bertie, who's an upper class Harlequin.

[@thomasm123]

Actually, one of the things I really appreciate about your channel is that you don't claim everything is THE BEST EVER or THE WORST EVER, and you're not afraid to just say "yeah, it was... fine."

[@beth12svist]

I also like how he strictly separates "is it faithful to the book" from "is it a good film/series", demonstrating in the process all the ways in which the two goals can interact.

[@avosmash2121]

I really appreciate all those things about his channel too. We need more nuanced media literavy.

[@laotasurfs1110]

I love this show. It's hard to adapt a "dying way of life" world that really can't exist without something being off, but they did a great job. A thing it doesn't get enough praise for is the fashion. Very true to the 1930s, which is rare for television shows set in the era even now.

[@jasminv8653]

I was just about to say it actually does an amazing work with the setting - it almost doesn't feel like a period piece, visually, rather actually a product from the period.

[@alanpennie8013]

@@jasminv8653 I'm not surprised that the show runner had worked on Poirot which also conveyed a strong sense of being set in The 30s.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@@jasminv8653it probably helps that, iirc, they deliberately didn’t try to set it in any specific year, instead going for a general height of the inter-war years when things had picked up from the aftermath of WWI, and before the Wall Street Crash and when the fascists were just silly shouty people goosestepping around rather than a serious threat. They essentially aimed to capture the spirit of the time rather than the letter.

[@alanpennie8013]

@@lordofuzkulak8308 Wooster's denunciation of his cousin Roderick Spode, leader of The Blackshorts, is an absolute joy.

[@planescaped]

@@alanpennie8013 A bicycle for every British man!

[@GriffinPilgrim]

In the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series there's a story where Jeeves and Wooster cross over with the Cthullhu Mythos. Enjoy that image.

[@kramermariav]

I must read this

[@andrewlyon4495]

@@kramermariav Its in the Black Dossier

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@GriffinPilgrim - I assume by the end of it Jeeves has Cthulhu dancing to his tune with the latter wondering how he got there? 😜

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

The mind boggles.

[@flamethrower194]

Ah yes, the Great Achoo of Riley.

[@carlrood4457]

Fry and Laurie also appeared on Blackadder in different roles over the years. Only in the final series, Blackadder Goes Forth, were they both series regulars. Laurie played his usual upper class twit, but well meaning character, while Fry kind of played an older version of said character who's wealth got him to the position of General responsible for the lives of thousands of men. In Blackadder 2, Fry was a regular, playing Lord Melchitt, the protagonist's main rival for the queen's favor. In Blackadder 3, Laurie played the future George IV during The Regency Era. Both names, Melchitt and George were used for their characters in Blackadder Goes Forth

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Both were great in Blackadder. Laurie was pretty much type cast as an 'upper class twit' for a long time until House reinvented him!

[@Shadowman4710]

I thought Fry was fantastic in S3 as the Duke of Wellington. "Tea!!!!!!!

[@ashleytuchin7693]

I'm a huge Blackadder fan and I agree that Fry and Laurie (along with the rest of the cast) were amazing. The final scene of Blackadder Goes Forth is one of the most heartbreaking moments you'll ever see in a comedy.

[@petrosinella]

I've thought of checking Blackadder out, but I'm worried the jokes will go over my head since I don't know British history too well.

[@BinturongGirl]

@@petrosinella I highly recommend the show, and don't think knowledge of history is necessary to get the jokes; it's all about the characters. In seasons 2-4 you don't really need to know anything about the time period except what they include in the script, and maybe a quick look at Wikipedia before starting. The general time period adds a flavour to each series (Elizabethan, Regency and WW1) and they will give you any necessary context as and when. Season 1 is a bit different; they hadn't found their feet (or future co-writer Ben Elton) and the characters don't really land as a result. It's much more Shakespeare-influenced, and knowledge of the War of the Roses definitely helps. The tone is a bit... unsettled. It has it's fans, but is not as loved (or as quoted) as later seasons. As the seasons are set centuries apart, you really can watch them in any order, so I recommend that you start with a later season (whichever period you feel more confident with) and go from there. Come back to season 1 if you have enjoyed the others.

[@johanna7254]

OMG I never expected you to cover Jeeves and Wooster! I grew up watching the adaptation on our local PBS station, and every summer I'd go to the local library and check out a PG Wodehouse books. It definitely holds a special place in my heart. Thanks for covering this one Dom!!!

[@kramermariav]

Same! I love the TV show

[@izziexxx]

My grandfather was a British civil servant in Singapore in the 1950s and apparently became acquainted with the Japanese ambassador by lending him PG Wodehouse books. I've grown up surrounded by them and really really love the Jeeves books, although last year read them back to back and actually forgot how cruel Jeeves was at times, so glad he got seemingly kinder later. The small but happy fandom seems to have wholesale adopted Bertie being head empty but a musical savant thing. It's a fun addition. Also then also there is, naturally Jooster... enough said

[@petrosinella]

Yeah, like the story written from Jeeves' perspective (the one where Bertie's thinking of adopting a daughter). Yikes--Jeeves' manipulation in that one is almost scary!

[@stargirl7646]

@@petrosinella I do remember the first time seeing one of the TV episodes when I was young (didn’t end up being able to watch them again until years later) and Jeeves struck me as fascinating but a little dangerous haha

[@cmm5542]

​​@@petrosinella Very true. Of course when my brother tells me about the way he and his colleagues treat each other and his boss, I have more tolerance for Jeeves. 😆 And of course the girls Bertie is considering marrying/adopting would treat him MUCH worse, so Jeeves was really doing him a favour. With that being said, considering that I have a massive crush on Bertie, I sometimes fantasize about pitting my wits against Jeeves to marry Bertie myself! Of course, I wouldn't fire Jeeves if I were mistress of the Wooster household, so he might have no objection to our union! 😂😂😂

[@ArrowOdenn]

Psmith is pronounced the same way as "Smith" -- the P is silent. It's a gag in the books that he can tell when someone pronounces his name without the silent P :D

[@cmm5542]

'The P is silent, like in shrimp.'

[@TimothyCollins]

Honestly... After having seeing "A bit of Fry and Laurie" I cannot think of any two people better suited to something like this show. I didn't even know this existed until this video.

[@robertmccarthy2254]

go watch now! it's REALLY GOOD!

[@planescaped]

It is a very wholesome show.

[@DrZaius3141]

I will still give ABOFAL a good re-watch every 2 years, but I could never quite get into J&W. While I do enjoy the dynamic at play, having it span an entire episode of TV grows tedious, whereas in ABOFAL the dynamic would get changed up every couple of minutes. And Fry as a boisterous fool ("MARJORIE!") is a good palate cleanser between whacking Hugh with a cricket bat.

[@inspectorspinda]

Although some stuff in the books can be considered racist today, Wodehouse was extremely not racist. If you read Thank you, Jeeves carefully it actually had an anti racist message!

[@alanpennie8013]

His heart was always in the right place.

[@cmm5542]

Very much so. And that scene actually reminded me of a similar one in the 70s show Hogan's Heroes; where Sgt Kinchloe impersonated an African prince to put one over on the Nazis, accompanied with pretty trenchant bashing of their racism. The difference, of course, is that Sgt Kinchloe was himself African American. But Bertie's African American friend whose name I cannot recall was in New York, so Bertie had to make an expectedly dismal attempt at pulling it off himself.

[@mittenista]

These books are what made me realize my love of slash fiction! I was only like, 10, then, I think? So I didn't really understand what it was. But I couldn't stop thinking about them hanging out together and somehow, for Reasons, they had to hug or cuddle.

[@lyndonwesthaven6623]

I mean, given that the plots of most of the novels are Jeeves prying unwanted fiancees away from Bertie so they can maintain their happy household, presumably for the rest of their natural lives....

[@annef0x]

Honestly same tho

[@gr8aussief--kup]

Fry and Laurie is the best double act in terms of writing and performance and the sum of the duo

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

They have the most wonderful real life friendship. There's a lovely doco on here about it. Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXfKYaSijbieea8

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

I'd contend that Key & Peele give them a decent run for their money? But both are great! 😊

[@allye9865]

Hugh and Stephen are a great comedy duo

[@Kimmaline]

I just SCREECHED when the notification came through. I *love* the Jeeves and Wooster TV show--I know you will trash it but it is one of those things I just love from years ago and so few Americans know of it. It's like winning a scavenger hunt anytime I find someone who knows the property--and I imagine there will be quite a few in the comments. Go on. Trash away. I still love you Dom. 😘 Edit: yes, I see...he did not trash it at all. Dom actually verbalized some of the issues I had with the show myself, some of which I couldn't have put to words before now.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

He really doesn't though... have you watched the video, now? What do you think?

[@MegCazalet]

You might be stoked to hear I’ve had Code of the Woosters assigned in a history course in college, and some short stories in a Continuing Studies writing workshop, if I’m remembering right. His books and adaptations may not be as popular as they were in the UK, but enough Americans love fresh, funny, lighthearted British lit for Wodehouse to have remained popular even over here, though admittedly not a household name, but then, households can vary within! I know British Literature, my husband knows sports, so sometimes we’re shocked to discover the things the other has never even heard of yet which, to us, is absolutely basic, intro-level stuff. There was a hilariously bad wedding announcement in a paper several years ago that got reported on news sites, it was so snooty and braggadocious, and I remember the couple mentioned “reading P.G. Wodehouse to each other over picnics of bread, cheese, and wine” or something like that. It was so funny, I really need to see if I can find it. Oh and I have a cat called Chappie.❤

[@JHaven-lg7lj]

It’s been years since I’ve read the books but it was lovely seeing your take on them :)

[@rynehall9990]

I wish there were more episodes. Watching on Chicago PBS in the 90s was a time I miss.

[@keepperspective]

The incomparable excellence of Fry and Laurie.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

Soupy twist!

[@SimonCallahan]

Knowing the history of this particular author now makes me wonder if the character of Wodehouse in Archer (he was Sterling Archer's butler) was named for said author.

[@ggrarl]

"That's Wodehouse, he's my valeT." "Don't you mean valét?" "Uh, no, he's not parking cars."

[@alanpennie8013]

I would say yes.

[@marocat4749]

Given how miuch archer references, yes.

[@frostfang1]

Made me laugh watching this and realizing that was probably the joke in chosing that name.

[@jneilson7568]

RIP. Glad he got an arc.

[@barbaros99]

I never read the books, but thanks to the show I learned that the Dutch, while an admirable people in most respects, particularly in the realm of personal hygiene, must sadly not be considered amongst the first rank when it comes to argentine craftsmanship.

[@alanpennie8013]

Was that the cow - creamer story?

[@barbaros99]

@@alanpennie8013 Yup. That scene is practically burned into my brain.

[@cmm5542]

​@@barbaros99 The one we always remember in my family is Bertie getting the treacle lid stuck on the ceiling 😆.

[@CrypticCharm]

thanks so much for covering this Dominic, i watched the show years ago, but when i read the books, I just imagined Fry and Laurie. they were cast as perfection. but Bertie Wooster, god he was such an idiot wasn't he? but he wasn't unlikable

[@EvilDMMk3]

I can forgive any idiot who is willing to accept that they are one. It’s not their fault.

[@alanpennie8013]

@@EvilDMMk3 As The Dom says Wooster was always generous and loyal. He didn't object to Jeeves making him look like a fool (more of a fool) if it would help someone else.

[@jhonsmith5093]

Amen. It makes it really hard sometimes to listen to an audio book for me. I keep hearing the actors from this show doing the lines. Not just Jeeves and Wooster, but Gussy, Tubby, and *shudders* Aunt Agatha. Fun fact, I remember reading somewhere that because of Wodehouse, Aunt Agatha became basically a trope for what to name the evil/terrifying/terrible aunt.

[@robinm1331]

Coming from Black Adder an Jeeves and Wooster and THEN seeing the serious character of House much later is it's own kind of mental whiplash. Sign of a great actor, though.

[@BritInvLvr]

After seeing many episodes on PBS, I had to read every J&W books I could lay my hands on. Been a Fry and Laurie fan since.

[@taekwongurl]

As an American teen, I was told I had dry humor like the British, I had no idea what that meant. I then watched Monty Python and I agreed that indeed I preferred British-dry humor. I wish I had also run across Jeeves and Wooster!!! Edit: HOLY CRAP I JUST GOT TO THE HUGH LAURIE BROWN FACE, OH THE YIKES!!!!!!!

[@TheSuzberry]

Check out Blackadder.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

@@TheSuzberry The most remarkable aspect of it is how they manage to have, at times side-splitting humour, & yet an utterly heart-breaking sincerity at other times- that the jokes very wisely do not intrude on (anyone who's watched the Great War one, will agree). Plenty of modern movies & shows could learn from their ability to balance tones...

[@WlatPziupp]

@@TheSuzberry Adding to this a recommendation to start on season 2 unless you've already decided to watch everything or are just really curious. Such an obnoxious season compared to the others

[@aliciabell6688]

Don't worry about it, the British concept of blackface is worlds away from American. They weren't trying to hurt Africans or take their jobs.

[@jb888888888]

Not even the only time Wooster went in blackface. There was another time when for plot reasons he joined a minstrel show. Maybe I'm an old fogey but I don't see a problem with those in the context they were presented. I mean, Wooster is being an idiot by pretending to be an African chief, in order to retrieve a tribal artifact. When the real chief shows up he is a well spoken man.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

One thing that probably contributed to Fry’s performance is that he’s a lifelong Wodehouse fan, so like Christopher Lee in LotR and the Last Unicorn, likely felt personally invested in the character and in doing the character justice. Side note, one of the audiobook versions on regular channel sponsor Audible is read by Fry himself. Been a while since I’ve watched the TV series, but one thing I will say about the Hugh Laurie in black face scene is that Wooster isn’t really shown in a positive light for doing so, although he’s not condemned for it either (but given the time period it set in not surprising). Doesn’t make it okay, but at least it’s not worse, and at least the African Chieftain he’s trying to impersonate is shown as erudite and sophisticated unlike his cringy portrayal of an African man (which is where the scene really falls into racism). As we’re on the subject, probably also worth bringing up there’s one episode where Wooster and his Drones chums spend in Black and White Minstrel getup/blackface. 😬

[@thelaughingrat]

Of all the dozens of Jeeves stories without brown face in them, I always wondered why they had to choose the ones that did have it. It is, at least, always depicted as an extremely stupid thing to do even in the books, but it would have been so very easy to avoid given the breadth of Wodehouse's catalogue.

[@noylj1]

Don’t judge 1920s by woke 2022 “standards.” Attack Trudeau, but leave past masters alone.

[@jeremyerwin2779]

The UK had a "Black and White Minstrel Show" tv series that only ended in 1978. Little Britain incorporated blackface bits, though the whole series is consciously in bad taste.

[@paulharker7184]

The audiobook read by Fry is absolutely awful. He gets the voices entirely wrong, oddly enough. Jonathan Cecil is the go-to man for Jeeves audiobooks.

[@ThreadBomb]

@@thelaughingrat I think they were trying to adapt the entire Jeeves catalogue, so everything had to be dealt with. And as was said above, Bertie putting on blackface is presented as a stupid thing to do, so complaining about seeing it on screen makes no more sense than complaining about seeing people killed on screen. Are you going to boycott and cancel every movie where somebody dies?

[@LucyLioness100]

My mom is a massive fan of the Bertie-Jeeves novels. They are quite entertaining reads & yes Bertie isn’t exactly the most likable with his behavior but it’s his own fault 99% of the time he ends up in trouble. The series is quite fun & having Fry and Laurie as Bertie and Jeeves is magic. A local theatre by me used to put on some shows based on the books & I’m saddened the company is folding by the end of the year

[@LynnHermione]

wtf. Literally every problem Bertie gets into is NOT his fault. And he is a sweetheart and the only nice person in the entire series.

[@cmm5542]

​@@LynnHermione My family and I are watching the series right now. I was actually commenting that out of all the young squires in the show, Bertie is the only one I would even THINK of marrying myself. Most of the others, funny as they are, are selfish and entitled at least in that they expect Bertie or their rich relatives to solve all their problems, and they are irresponsible with money and not very intelligent young men! Of course it is all for the humour, but the biggest joke to me is how Bertie is always being seen as a fool in his own circle when he is far cleverer and more considerate than most of them are. Certainly not as clever as Jeeves, but he can actually understand and cooperate with Jeeves' plans. His own plans tend to fail because of authorial 'bad luck' so Jeeves can save the day, not because they are inherently stupid - sometimes I even say 'Really, Wodehouse really had to contrive that so Bertie's fairly simple plan failed and Jeeves more 'out there' idea proved to be the bee's knees'. And what I often wonder about is how Bertie manages his money. He's obviously inherited it and doesn't have to work, but if he didn't handle his property or investments with a certain amount of savvy he'd be in debt like all his friends. Jeeves doesn't do his accounts for him, so while only the fun stuff is shown, Bertie probably spent a goodish amount of time attending seriously to financial matters. It's no wonder the girls in the show see him as a catch even when their personalities are completely incompatible!

[@RobPaintsPlastic]

Discovered this show when I was out of school for months after being diagnosed with Crohn's. It was ITV3 during weekdays, and I made sure to be awake for it. Now every time I'm ill I'll put on an episode

[@KainGerc]

you really need to checkout the soundtrack for the show where they released full versions of some of the songs Laurie sang on the show (like 'Minnie the Moocher' and 'Puttin on the Ritz' plus the banger theme of the show), it's really an understatement of how talented he is.

[@carlrood4457]

I'm one of the minority of Americans who actually knew Hugh Laurie is British due to this and Blackadder.

[@erraticonteuse]

Yeah, I started watching House because I saw this show first.

[@SamAronow]

Yes! The show was comfort food for me for a while in 2011-2012. Admittedly I don't remember that much of it and spent a lot of time falling asleep to it (but not in a bad way). Sounds like I need to finally check out the books.

[@TheMacJew]

As your channel has been for me this past year.

[@SamAronow]

@@TheMacJew I’d never think of my videos as chill/comforting, but thanks! Maybe I should lean into that more with some new travel videos.

[@evapreu3011]

I first stumbled across the series and instantly loved it. Then I picked up the books and loved them as well, despite the differences. I think the series did very well with adapting the books and making changes to fit the format. My only critique would be that they switched actors for the same characters so many times that it really became confusing (the same actress playing two different love interests, while the character she formerly played was in the same episode as the latter).

[@riverAmazonNZ]

Yes that’s an annoying aspect of the show. They did that a lot back then and I wish they hadn’t.

[@stargirl7646]

I liked the first actress for Madeleine (??) best!

[@cmm5542]

​@@stargirl7646 My family loves her both as Madeline AND Florence; amazing actress to pull both off so well. But it does get confusing when they kept switching roles around; it upset me most with Aunt Dahlia. She's one of my favourite characters and I didn't think most of the actresses who played her did her 'sporting' nature justice. The one I thought was closest to the book only got to be in one episode!

[@stargirl7646]

@@cmm5542 oh right I remember that!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

WE'RE GONNA GET THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN AS AN EPISODE!!! I have been waiting so, so, so long for this to become a reality and I am beyond happy at the moment. I really hope that @AT4W will be featured in some capacity. Also, a LiA episode of From Hell and a review of Alan Moore's recent short story collection Illuminations would be great.

[@LucyLioness100]

That is gonna be such a cornucopia of messes. From the hatred of Alan Moore of the whole product (common knowledge due to prior episodes and anyone who has read his interviews), the fights between Sir Sean & Stephen Norrington, the fact Connery turned down numerous projects to get the movie made, etc. Plus it ended up Norrington’s film career & Connery’s (outside of a scant few odd choices before his passing in 2020)

[@SamAronow]

@@LucyLioness100 Have you seen Movies With Mikey's revisitation? By ignoring the adaptational aspect (seeming to have been generally worn out by Alan Moore's schtick anyway) , the crew actually found it quite entertaining except for the truly unsalvageable ending.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@LucyLioness100 I believe that this was the film that Made Moore decide to not have his name credited with his adaptations.

[@Rabbitlord108]

I wonder if Film Brain will have a cameo since he DID review it in one his collabs. And Mr Noble was in his Bad Movie Beatdown on Stormbreaker (Or for Americans like me. Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker)

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Rabbitlord108 Kyle Kallgren did the review with Film Brain and even has a video on the entire series.

[@jasminv8653]

the tv show was SUCH a big weekend hit in finland when i was a kid, god, the theme tune alone just cheers me right up. wodehouse books are fun too but quite dry if you're not in the right mood, i think.

[@dorderre]

The funny thing is, even I, as a german who never heard of this show or even book series before, can't help but imagine someone with the name of Jeeves as a diligent and cunning butler/valet. Maybe because it's kinda the epitome of a british sounding name?

[@GrandArchPriestOfTheAlgorithm]

This video is officially certified by the Recommending Ones & Zeros.

[@LynnHermione]

Dominic: idk they seem more antagonistic in the tv show thousands of Jeevster fic writers for the past decade: ... 10:59 this is a mistake. Bertie IS a talented pianist and singer in the books. Its just that the songs he plays are popular ditties that Jeeves hates

[@riverAmazonNZ]

Yes he’s known for his comic songs. The show has them seem slightly antagonistic in series one, but over time they become completely trusting of each other. Development!

[@erraticonteuse]

I think you'll find that the ship name is "Jooster".

[@randalthor741]

I've read every Jeeves & Wooster story and watched every episode of the Fry & Laurie Jeeves & Wooster, and I love both the originals and the adaptation. Honestly, I think the way they put the episodes together from the elements of the original stories worked well. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, the important thing about an adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster is to get the tone and the humour right. If you do that (and IMO Fry & Laurie did), then any differences from the original stories don't matter so much.

[@cmm5542]

Completely agree. I found it masterfully clever the way they sometimes interwove elements from two stories to make a fully-fledged episode. Adore both the books and the show, and I am currently in love with Bertie 😅

[@MinimalistTheatre333]

The reason that I don't watch Jeeves and Wooster anymore, after having been a big fan of the show even though I am not in the primary demographic, is that on the last day that I spent with my brother I was more interested in watching this on TV than being with him, which is something I regret. I still like your video, Dom.

[@CL-go2ji]

I too really have to add that (esp. for a not-high-budget TV show) they really did a wonderful job staying in-period with the costumes, etc. And those who know Mr Laurie only as "House" should REALLY take a look .. the man´s range is incredible!

[@tsnap4]

It boggls my mind whenever I'm reminded that some people only know Laurie for his work on House, MD. His comedy chops are extremely strong, and his work on other British comedies is legendary. It clearly makes sense, but still...

[@CheshirePhrog]

Oh I say sir! I did not see this one coming but I'm so pleased! Fry and Laurie are pure gold in these parts. I'll also say Laurie was so good as Wooster it made letting him be House very odd...

[@petrosinella]

It was the opposite for me--I started watching Jeeves and Wooster (thanks, Mom! 🙂) after watching House. This, too, was very odd.

[@MegCazalet]

But he was great in both so yay! I read the casting people for House didn’t even know who he was (blasphemy in the industry!) and after watching his audition, one turned to the other and said something like “yes we need an AMERICAN like THIS GUY for this role!”

[@Dresthatguy-t1n]

Jeeves does sound like a typical butler name but I guess alfred was already taken 😂

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@dres3293 - fun fact, the titular Jeeves isn’t even a butler; he’s a valet which is a similar, but separate occupation. Jeeves would probably be closer to a PA in modern parlance (although even that would be inaccurate).

[@puppyash9656]

-What starsicg are you? -Thesaurus. -And how do you spell that? -Perfectly.

[@literaturmurks]

Oh my god yes!!! Love both the books And the show, especially Fry and Laurie and the soundtrack!

[@kramermariav]

Such a great soundtrack

[@bunnery2326]

I would have been disappointed not to see a reference to Blackadder The Third. Thank you for the analysis.

[@bhikku23]

My grandfather was a HUGE Wodehouse fan, particularly of the Wooster and Jeeves series. My parents gave him this series for Christmas and he immediately shared it with all of us. Unfortunately none of us could really appreciate it because all the jokes were drowned out by his laughing, since he knew what was coming before tue lines were delivered. Nonetheless, I eventually got to watch the series properly, and later inherited my grandfather's Wodehouse collection. Thanks for sparking some warm memories, and I look forward to the next episode!

[@GrandiaKnight]

I have the Jeeves and Wooster theme as my ringtone!

[@CL-go2ji]

You are cool! 😄

[@cmm5542]

Good show!

[@joshuasims5421]

Just the author bio is a fascinating story!

[@alanpennie8013]

I can recommend The Psmith stories which are more based on the author's own life. Wodehouse's daughter wrote a story called "Inquest", one of the best and most entertaining crime stories I've ever read.

[@violetlongitude5963]

1:03 Oh, my beautiful Dom. “I am Psmith," said the old Etonian reverently. "There is a preliminary P before the name. This, however, is silent. Like the tomb. Compare such words as ptarmigan, psalm, and phthisis.”

[@legolasdbk]

Also, he was not knighted posthumously, several months after his death (which is, in any case, impossible, as knighthoods "cease" [expire] on death anyway); he was, in fact, knighted about a month before he died.

[@aditid26]

This was a fun surprise! I grew up with the books in India and am a big fan of the show as well, poorly aged parts apart. Laurie and Fry really are perfect. I'd be curious to get your take on the 2010s Blandings show as well.

[@mollymcdade4031]

I love the Blandings series. It’s not a perfect adaptation but the cast are brilliant

[@VinnyBloo]

It hasn't aged poorly though has it, given the time the show is set in?

[@frankm.2850]

My immediate thought on hearing the explanation of the Jeeves character: I'm not the only one imagining an alternate reality where Jeeves is Bruce Wayne's butler, am I? Because it seems like that'd be fracking awesome!

[@DerekRoss1958]

Well, probably better than the alternate reality where Bertie Wooster is Batman...

[@marykateharmon]

We kinda already have that though. Why do you think that Alfred is the other most iconic butler in fiction?

[@Jenifer_R_]

Fry and Laurie had incredible chemistry since Footlights. I wish they would work together again.

[@kittycatmeowmeow963]

My mom raised me watching British sitcoms when I was a kid and this show was the one that made Hugh Laurie my first crush when I was 5. He also got me attracted to tall, slim, British brunettes. That and 1920's style suits.

[@Dinuial]

Something that was in the books which Hugh Laurie brought out in his performance, Bertie is MUCH smarter than he was trained to be. Bertie Wooster is a member of a group that showed up a lot in Wodehouse, men who were raised to be heirs and nothing more.

[@alanpennie8013]

Orwell made the point that Wooster would have served in WW1 and presumably would have been some kind of psychological casualty.

[@Dinuial]

@@alanpennie8013 a lot of the excesses and indulgences of life between the wars was likely a reaction to WW1. Even if Bertie and crew didn't serve their parents and guardians would likely have looked at the death and destruction from the war and the tremendous loss of life from the pandemic and been a little too indulgent about letting their progeny be carefree.

[@cmm5542]

Right. And as I mentioned in another thread just now, Bertie actually takes care of his fortune. The others live on 'allowances' from rich relatives; Bertie is responsible for his own income which is probably in property and investments. If he wasn't shrewd enough to handle his own finances, he'd lose it all. Jeeves is not in charge of that part of his life.

[@charischannah]

I have fond memories of watching this show on VHS from the library when I was in my early teens, but I either did not see or did not remember the Hugh Laurie in blackface episode. YIKES.

[@julesk3816]

i only saw bits and fragments of the show, but i was very amused by the dynamic and antics of Jeeves and Wooster. and when i picked up one of the books by chance and started reading it, i loved the quick and witty narration! wodehouse definitely had a talent at writing, and this video has reminded me i should try more of the books sometime, though it's hard to know where to start 😂

[@riverAmazonNZ]

You can get a list online ‘jeeves books in order’

[@julesk3816]

@@riverAmazonNZ thanks! i've got so many other things on my to-read list though, that i'm probably better off sticking to the "best hits" of the jeeves series so i just get the highlights.

[@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023]

Thank you, thank you! A Lost In Adaptation epidode will cheer me up immensely, I just need to pause every time my body attempts to cough up a lobe of a lung (it's not covid, I have tested, it's some other damn virus).

[@CL-go2ji]

"Not covid" can still be serious ... see a doctor if you need one! And get well soon!

[@theshunnedBandersnatch]

I got the chance to watch the Fry/Laurie adaptation of Jeeves & Wooster when I was house + dogsitting for a friend a few years ago. I binged all of the episodes and fell in love with the series. I haven't read Wodehouse's works yet, but they're now on my alarmingly long TBR 😄

[@krispykreme2103]

What a pleasant surprise! I absolutely adore this show and the books, I really wish it had a bigger fandom because they’re both so charming ❤ it was such a joy to hear someone talking about them!

[@LenHazell]

There was in my opinion a far better 20 episode adaptation made in 1965 starring Ian Carmichael as Bertie Wooster and the wonderful Dennis Price as Jeeves. The series was entitled "The World of Wooster" Price portrays Jeeves as a far more manipulative and exploitative rogue, while Carmichael did his usual excellent job of being a dim but likable upper class twit. A majority of of the episodes were adapted by sit com stalwart Richard Warring, but at least one episode was penned by legendary English film scriptwriter Michael Pertwee

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

Would you have any idea how to track episodes down?

[@gslinger19]

Fair guess that Archer's (from the show Archer) butler being named Wodehouse is after the author.

[@Binkabrit]

I was thinking of that too

[@vancitypaige]

So pleasantly surprised you are covering this! As a Canadian kid who got PBS on cable from south of the border, my whole family enjoyed watching Jeeves and Wooster. Been a big fan of Fry and Laurie ever since. Its the reason I started watching House right from the pilot - which in itself is nearly 20 years old now. O_O Its the reason why I count myself lucky to have met Stephen Fry while on my academic year in the UK. At least Roderick Spode is mocked for being an amateur dictator and the leader of the Saviours of Britain, so there's that I guess?

[@riverAmazonNZ]

“The British knee is on the march!”

[@ackbarfan5556]

Well, this is a welcome surprise. 😅

[@zuverslayer1326]

Thanks KZbin, for not notifying me about weeks worth of content on this channel, but being so gracious to finally return it to my homepage.

[@brianthesnape]

I always felt Fry & Laurie were perfect casting. For me, they're the quintessential Jeeves & Wooster.

[@zinamavromati348]

The timing is impeccable (then again, such things happen when Jeeves is involved) as I have just finished the show/started reading series! What a treat! 🤩

[@godzillasaurbuttersworth3176]

Having Fry and Laurie play these two kind of makes it seem like Jeeves and Wooster are lovers

[@SpamEggSausage]

there's a lot of Jeeves and Bertie slash fic

[@ThePsycholinguistic]

Honestly, the books do a fine job themselves! Just staying true to the 😏

[@sconesandjam]

Oh now *this* is nostalgic and a half. Round the grandparents house during afternoons with a cup of tea nostalgic.

[@ivonav3751]

I've been on a bit of a Lost in Adaptation binge over the past week or so, and pounced on this one at once, especially since so many of the ones I've been watching are from years ago. The last few I saw were actually about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which was probably the series of British export books that I got addicted to after reading my way through pretty much the entire Wodehouse universe. I, myself, am also a British export, having moved to the USA when I was 10, but my love of British humor persists. I first happened upon the Jeeves & Bertie books when I was in high school back in the 1970's, and devoured all of them I could find. I think that by the time I encountered any of the Fry/Laurie versions, I had cooled on the series a bit, if only because there were just SO MANY books, and the writing had become a bit labored by the time Wodehouse was still writing them as the period in which they were set became a more and more distant memory. I enjoyed what I saw of their adaptations, but it all lacked a bit of freshness, and while I do think Fry & Laurie totally understood and did justice to the characters, they were not what I had ever really pictured in the parts. I had always thought of Jeeves as being older than Bertie. Not an old man, but someone, say, approaching middle age to Bertie's mid-20's, or thereabouts. My absolute vision of Bertie, if I only knew who it was, would be the photo at the end of the theme music/slideshow in the "Cheers" intro....the slightly tipsy looking fellow raising a glass of champagne.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

I found the books about four years before the series came out, and had also pictured Jeeves as older. However, I was such a fan of Fry and Laurie that they won me over quite easily - I think I'd struggle to picture Jeeves as anyone else, now!

[@megan88]

I so Laurie as an adorable father in Stuart Little and a smooth comedic criminal in 101 Dalmatians The guy has an range.

[@ambds1975]

♪♫♪ Where I first fell in love with both actors. Thank you, Dom!

[@heatherharvey2558]

Wodehouse and Saki are honestly two of my favourite rainy day authors, so this episode already had me giddy, but then you tell us you've got Moore coming up?? Aaaargh! Cue the helpless, gleeful flailing!!!

[@alanpennie8013]

Sredni Vashta went forth... I doubt many people remember Saki now.

[@heatherharvey2558]

@@alanpennie8013 ah yes! And the disastrously chatty Tobermory. I really need to dip into his animal tales again. You're quite right (though I hope he would appreciate the irony of his having fallen out of fashion). Even amongst those who've shared that niche of my reading habits, recognition was rare.

[@Oonagh72]

All time best show. One of my favourite line was when Jeeves said he promised to serve but not do time. 😂😂. It let me know Jeeves had a line. Period.

[@Kahtini]

Once again Il Neige knocks it out of the park.

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

The good Mr Noble tackling Jeeves and Wooster? * Britishness intensifies *

[@fundur2816]

so far my only take away is that Dom doesn't consider Hugh Laurie a national treasure and this simply wont do

[@TeresaBaileypolymath]

I first knew Fry and Laurie from Jeeves and Wooster. I loved them and I loved the books, too! When I saw Hugh Laurie as House, I couldn't believe what a fabulous American accent he could do. He was always so quintessentially British to me.

[@sesfilmsllc]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told my parents when they picked me up from school “Home, Jeeves”.

[@hansmahr8627]

I think it's as good an adaptation as is possible with Wodehouse material. The issue is of course that the greatest and funniest thing about Wodehouse is his immaculate style, especially in the Jeeves and Wooster books. The rhythm of his prose, the hilarious similes and expressions, the references, the flow of the language, all of that gets lost on screen. Thankfully, the plots themselves are also quite funny and Wodehouse took great care constructing them. One of the issues that arises because of this loss of Wooster's narrative voice is that he seems like a much bigger idiot in the adaptation. I mean, he's not the smartest tool in the shed anyway but in the books, we are following his thoughts and his perspective on things. He's the one narrating everything and he's pretty damn eloquent and utterly charming. It gives his character a bit more depth and endows him with at least a certain kind of intelligence. In the series however, he's just a clown and a fool. The series also gets much worse after season 2, it gets even more slapsticky and the adaptations aren't as faithful. I was especially disappointed by the two episodes covering The Mating Season which is a great book. It has the typical Wodehouse plot, utterly farcical but intricate and well-planned. In the series, they cut out most of it and the resulting story is nothing to write home about. The fact that they changed Gussie's actor doesn't help at all. Why even adapt Wodehouse if you're getting rid of his plots? Oh and Wooster singing and playing the piano isn't actually an addition by the writers, he does it in the books too, though maybe to a lesser extent and using different songs. Jeeves even comments that Wooster has a pleasant baritone voice in one of the stories.

[@Barnowl65]

Thank you so much for exposing Stephen Fry and Jeeves and Wooster to American audience! That show is amazing and Fry and Laurie are amazing and Laurie deserves to remembered for more than just House. And let me take this opportunity to brag that I (and my friends) actually got to meet Stephen Fry! And he was so amazing and nice and awesome!

[@tanyakopel]

Great episode as always. Il Neige killed it as well!

[@TheOnlyCathyCat]

...Kind of devastated that you didn't have "Forty-Seven Ginger Headed Saloirs" to play out on....

[@michaelcherry8952]

A couple of useless trivia facts: 1. Jeeves in the books is actually quite a bit older than Stephen Fry in the series. The idea being that Jeeves has been propping up upper class twits for many a year, I guess. 2. Germany was sending spies into Britain during World War II and decided the best way to train them to be inconspicuous was to have them imitate the vocal mannerisms of the upper crust in Wodehouse's books. Needless to say, going around Britain in 1940 saying things like "Toodle-Pip!" and "Tinkerty-Tonk!" kind of acted as the OPPOSITE of "inconspicuous". 🤣

[@cmm5542]

I don't think the second piece of trivia was 'useless' to the Allies! And I found both very interesting 🙂

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

13:44 One of the many things I greatly like about Dom & his channel is that he credits & appreciates his editors and composer so publicly! Way too many channels out there just using freelance editors' work (often in ways that are the best part about the channel tbh) and not even naming them in the description? Thankfully most educational/edutainment channels are a bit better.

[@bryancorrell3689]

Aww, look at baby Hugh Laurie. Stephen Fry just looks like a somewhat smaller version of his current self.

[@hawkticus_history_corner]

I loved this show as a kid, watched it on PBS alongside Dr Who, Monty Python and Red Green. Great line up

[@vilena5308]

Lots of this I didn't know. Thank you for sharing! For the record, the way Hugh Laurie can empty his eyes in 'Black Adder'.... Scary and masterful.

[@erraticonteuse]

I squealed when I saw the thumbnail. I love the books and the show so much.

[@kseni_vely]

Hugh was sooooooo freaking cute with his pink cheeks and bright blue eyes 😍

[@dildev5478]

saw this pop up on my youtube homepage and yelled "oh shit!" out loud. my family watched this show endlessly in my teenage years, and it kinda felt like a weird fever dream that none of my current friends knew about. so excited to watch this! edit: holy shit i had forgotten about the blackface, jesus christ

[@dethspud]

Big fan of the books. Really glad you did this. And yeah, Fry and Laurie really did Wodehouse justice.

[@cmm5542]

They did. Absolutely spot on perfection 😍

[@hazelleblanc8969]

Thanks for this - I agree, Fry and Laurie were made to play Jeeves and Bertie. I have been fond of Wodehouse's writing for many years, and one of the most enjoyable parts was his tendency to make minor characters or events briefly mentioned in one story be the central characters or events in another story. So the more you have read, the more you understand, and if you reread a book you read early in your experience, you will pick up things you didn't understand then. With about a hundred books, there is plenty to explore. If you want to watch a show about some of these other characters, there is one from the 70s called Wodehouse Playhouse.

[@jessrl8025]

I had heard of the series cause I developed a minor obsession with Hugh Laurie during his House years after finding out he was actually British. I didn't watch this series as much, but I did watch lots of Blackadder

[@InThisEssayIWill...]

Lol I was introduced to hugh Laurie stateside through the live action 101 dalmatians remake and his role in house still makes me giggle I can't unsee the bumbling henchmen

[@bradwolf07]

I knew about Ask Jeeves, but had no idea where Jeeves came from. Thank you Dominic

[@Kyouheikutie]

OH SHIT IT'S JEEVES. I found Jeeves via the musical version By Jeeves when my school performed it. It was such a fun show and I've adored the story ever since

[@ariellakahan-harth8831]

The premise of the Jeeves and Wooster stories sounds like THE SERVANT (1963), except consensual.