That Mitchell and Webb Look - Standards

That Mitchell and Webb Look - Standards

[@Mac-em2by]

"we are saving it for Christmas" god the way he delivers that line is just fantastic.

[@NotoriusMaximus]

@420KinK August is the middle of antarctic winter, Christmas is in summer

[@turmuthoer]

It's funny that, almost 10 years after this sketch was made, they actually discovered a perfectly-preserved, uneaten fruitcake from Scott's expedition in a shack in Antarctica. It was probably left behind by accident, not because Scott refused to eat it, but this sketch was all I could think about while reading the article.

[@popsicleman8816]

Where was the shack? I thought they didn't have the time nor energy to build any permanent shelters on their journey back. And if it was built on the way towards the pole, it was probably one of the resupply depots that they built specifically to allow themselves to get back home.

[@Ultratacker]

There were no "shacks" built by the polar Party in Scotts Last Expedition.

[@briancrawford8751]

Did the people who found the fruitcake eat it? That stuff lasts forever, so it should be fine!

[@bobarcher5837]

@@Ultratacker Yes they built one... They also used the one's the Norwegians built that are still standing which is where they found the fruitcake. It's funny how people insist on being right about things that can be easily fact checked...

[@Ultratacker]

@@bobarcher5837 The Polar Party means the group that went to the Pole, not the whole expedition. The Terra-Nova-Expedition built a Hut at Cape Evans and also used the Hut at Hut Point, built by a previous british expedition (Discovery, also led by Scott). They did not use the Norwegian Hut, which was built in the Bay of Whales. The Polar Party did not carry lumber to build Huts, they carried tents. Amundsen and his Party also carried tents.

[@Verixx]

'That was to be the nose for my snowman' is such a well delivered line.

[@markfryer9880]

I got caught by that punchline. Yes, I giggled. Actually, it was more of a Mutley snigger!

[@hippyfriend]

I never quote in comments but these lines are just too perfect. "We're starving to DEATH!" "And we are doing so with due deference to the English celebrationary calendar!"

[@TheAmazingAdventuresOfMiles]

Quite right too.

[@oomflem]

The reality: ""The most miserable Christmas dinner of all time was held by Frank Hurley, who was Shackleton's photographer. In an earlier expedition, the Australasian Antarctic expedition of 1912, as they came back from the South Pole they decided to have a festive meal. They made Christmas pudding out of three biscuits which were grated with a saw, mixed with sugar, snow and seven raisins, and added meths for flavour. This was boiled up in his old sock on their Primus stove. They also made a drink called Tanglefoot, which was created by boiling five raisins in meths, and then drinking the meths. The hors d'oeuvre was Angels On Gliders, which was a raisin on top of a chocolate bar that had been previously fried." Can't help but wonder if that story is what inspired this sketch in the first place.

[@McSuperfly101]

Americans would never show such willpower... as demonstrated in The Martian when Matt Damon used the potatoes that were being saved especially for Thanksgiving.

[@rebelfriend1818]

What

[@McSuperfly101]

@@rebelfriend1818 Did you see that movie?

[@rebelfriend1818]

@@McSuperfly101 no, but its a fictional story, you can't base all americans off of it

[@Fawkes42]

@@rebelfriend1818 I think there's a chance McSuperfly might've been joking

[@rebelfriend1818]

@@Fawkes42 I thought so too but then I thought it can't have been a joke because it wasn't very funny

[@DrThunder88]

I love this sketch. I once did a whole presentation for a class on social psychology using Mitchell & Webb clips, and this was one I used for a section on normative behavior.

[@han090]

I'd love to see that presentation!

[@strateeg32]

my sincerest apologies that you have wasted your time on a pseudo science

[@spa2damax]

@@strateeg32 lol my sincerest apologies that you are on oxegen thief

[@strateeg32]

@@spa2damax i just state the facts, my friend.

[@derektrotter4287]

Yawn

[@IntheeyesofMorbo]

this is their most pythonesque skit.

[@mediocreman6323]

You are right. Imagine the Monty Python cast, leave the words and the costumes etc. exactly as they are, you couldn't tell it was _not_ a Python sketch. Good thing there appears to be an actual tradition of this kind of humour.

[@AicyDC]

Yeah, that's why its not funny unlike their other skits😊

[@0That_Guy0]

English/British humor is brilliant! Love from Norway.

[@davidlawrence5091]

My grandad used to stockpile Xmas puddings for his boat. Easy to cook and filling, plus they had my a really long shelf life

[@michelguevara151]

reminds me of the christmas pudding my stepfather found one year and served up for christmas. almost completely black and utterly treaclesque, it was delicious. he had stored it in the outside pantry since 1948 and forgotten it was there. it was nearly 30 years old!

[@thevidguy11]

Brilliant sketch. Starts off with a reference to Oats' sacrifice. “I am just going outside and may be some time”. An iconic brittish moment of grit. Then they play it off with their own hilarious plight!

[@SirMartinus]

My guess is that the joke about the Norwegians, is regarding that Scott was possibly a bit too noble.Aapparently he refused to do use sleddogs on his journey to the South Pole, because he knew he would have to kill some of the dogs on the journey, when they would get exhausted. Scott famously died on his way back from to South Pole, after having lost the race to Pole against Amundsen, a Norwegian. Amundsen had a slightly more utilitarian view: Feed the dogs as best he could underways, and kill the weakest ones, and use as food for the rest of the dogs and themselves. Scott:"One cannot calmly contemplate the murder of animals which possess such intelligence and individuality, which have frequently such endearing qualities, and which very possibly one has learnt to regard as friends and companions."

[@Thegungus]

So the Norwegian was a cold hearted animal killer and the Englishmen had a love for his companions, which cost him the race. So sad yet so English-like.

[@Raveityourway]

Scott took at least 30 horses, all of which, unsurprisingly, died.

[@giles852002]

Martin Strøm Nilsen They also lost the race as they were not racing, Norway decided to race them, the UK team were performing scientific research while making their journey hence why they were slower.

[@dumbtweetsguy2142]

Martin Strøm Nilsen also, didn't Scott take horses as transport to Antarctica? I might be wrong but if I'm right, poor guy! no wonder he didn't make it

[@ThePkmage]

the worst thing was that they had food when they died of starvation, thats what this clip is taking the piss out of

[@kourii]

David lost the most important game of carrot-in-a-box

[@deevee5348]

Dammit, now im crying... Miss you, sean lock...

[@gimpybrad]

John Richardson, "If there is no carrot in that box, you are a genius!" RIP Sean

[@SleepyChocolateNinja]

I love how upset David sounds at the idea of his snowman not having a nose.

[@andrewblackwell9684]

I am sure I remember reading about the Shackleton expedition when the Endurance was crushed by the ice and they filled the lifeboats with the most essential supplies and dragged them across the frozen sea. These essentials including things like a silver tea service because you can't stop for afternoon tea with just anything. There was also George Mallory who is quite possibly the first person to reach the summit of mount Everest (he died in a snowstorm on the way back so it was never confirmed), he did this wearing a Tweed suit. All very British.

[@hoilst265]

Burke & Wills set out across Australia with a writing desk and a Chinese gong. Yup. They later became known as Australia's most famous doomed explorers.

[@jacob8949]

Never has such pain been invoked by the word snowman

[@SlideRulePirate]

As I key this it is the last week of March. Two weeks from Sunday is my birthday. I have a Christmas pudding stashed and ready. It will be consumed with rich, thick, partially caramelised custard NOT Brandy butter. A rebel I may be, but there are limits.

[@calvinjonesyoutube]

This should be on the uk citizenship test. Is it preferable to be A: dead or B: improper? The answer of course is A: dead.

[@sEaNoYeAh]

calvinjones I felt such pride reading this, but naturally made sure not to show it.

[@bumhandler]

Proper dead and dead proper!

[@micheljavert5923]

Had Arnold J. Rimmer been in that tent, it would have been a completely different discussion😂

[@jackmehoffe9372]

Great throw back. With the last packet of instant smash

[@dalekbumps]

If Rimmer had been there, he could have saved them with a heroic "BURN THE SOLDIERS!"

[@darania1]

@@dalekbumps They'd burn Rimmers camphorwood chest instead...😛

[@lordprotector3367]

Yes, he would have whacked Oates over the head with a frozen husky...and then eaten him.

[@Maca68]

Nah that was Listers guitar they were burning.

[@peterdavies2960]

“THAT WAS TO BE THE NOSE FOR MY SNOWMAN ☃️!!!!” Poor David! If I was there I’d give him a hug 😢

[@MorningCarnival]

One of the best.

[@davidmcginness6718]

Mitchell sounds genuinely heartbroken when he says snowman

[@Stariod1994]

I watched this some years ago in England. The moment David said: ‘then we are no better than… Norwegians!’, the whole room turned towards me. I’m Norwegian

[@Nillerus]

Well you had it coming you Norwegian cad . Love, a Dane.

[@RustieFawn]

So somalian?

[@ColmPadraig]

​@@RustieFawnLol

[@AndrewLale]

One of the most touching things I've ever seen in a comedy skit.

[@Amanda-cd6dm]

I have to agree that a Christmas pudding is a Christmas pudding and if it's not Christmas we're not eating it

[@sodalitia]

Ahahahah, I am watching this eating mince pie filling straight from the jar 358 days before the next christmas!

[@rosstee]

Well, there are 12 days of Christmas so you were eating mince pie filling at Christmas; entirely appropriate behaviour.

[@jamesbrowne6351]

Indeed these are troubling times.

[@DiamandaHagan]

I like how they did enough research to include Scott's hatred for Shackleton and to get Bowers' rank right but didn't bother to give him a Scottish accent.

[@TheTarget1980]

but they did the month wrong. They died in March and not in August.

[@pizzander9279]

he sounds like Gordan Ramsey to me

[@timcohen5392]

Sylvester McCoy didn't give him an accent either when he played Bowers in The Last Place on Earth. Bowers also had an enormous beaky nose, hence his nickname, "Birdy."

[@PerovNigma]

"We said we're not doing the accent."

[@pollyfoofoo8703]

“Control yourself, man!” 😂

[@FluffyFooFookins]

When he got the carrot leftovers out I thought he was going to say that was for Rudolph when Santa comes at christmas. We used to leave a carrot, a mince pie and a can of beer.

[@mormril]

man, I wish mitchell and webb would come back.

[@Pagliacci_Rex]

Need another series of this.

[@GoblinXXX]

Some British sailors in the 17th century would have rather starved than ate fish when their beef ran out at sea. I don't know if anyone else had those kinds of standards.

[@TheAmazingAdventuresOfMiles]

I certainly do. I can't stand fish and I would probably starve before even considering eating one.

[@digbick1663]

I like how this comment sat here for 9 years and all of a sudden 3 replies in the last 24 hrs. The algorithm at work indeed!

[@siukong]

To be fair youtube didn't used to nest comment replies in threads like this so it's quite possible there are some older replies to this one kicking around somewhere below, lost in the shuffle.

[@AdamantLightLP]

@TheAmazingAdventuresOfMiles Considering the things people eat when they are starving to death, I doubt that very much.

[@DH-rj2kv]

3:17 Aaah, the old "Carrot in a box"...

[@enlightenednomad8807]

My absolute comedy heroes 🤣 👏 😂 🙌 x

[@BettySwollocks55]

I like how this was posted in august

[@evilblades]

The norwedian refferance cracked me up :D especially considering that it is august, i am norwegian and i ate a gingerbread-man a few days ago! XD

[@skullketon]

Proof positive that Norwegians are still no better than marauding Vikings.

[@TheAmazingAdventuresOfMiles]

yoooooou monster!

[@frostyrobot7689]

lol, the hidden gems of the YT comments sections...

[@AndrewLale]

We love you chaps really.

[@RustieFawn]

@@AndrewLale no, we don't

[@signalnine2601]

Thought maybe they were saving the carrot to play a Christmas game of "Carrot in a box"

[@garethmorgan3665]

Nice reference :-)

[@pitsinokaki]

@RFC3514: Same here. We learnt about Amundsen at school, I remember that Scott was briefly mentioned, but along the lines of "btw, there was also another guy who tried, but didn't make it back alive".

[@alex5682]

the best line is : rob: what about the harvest festival hamper? that's only a few weeks away! david: CONTROL YOURSELF MAN!

[@angrytedtalks]

Fine acting. Good to see the canned foods were time appropriate. Of course the expedition wasn't in August... that would have been winter; completely dark.

[@codyheiner3636]

Blizzarding like that, it probably is Christmas and they did lose track of time ;)

[@RFC3514]

@TacticusPrime - Maybe in England Scott is the one everyone remembers, but Amundsen is the name children across the world learn as the first to reach the south pole. I had no idea who Scott was until I saw some documentary about Antarctica, well into my teens.

[@jwurnig]

You're telling me there's a carrot in that box?

[@Squiglypig]

"The fact they paid with their lives kinda wipes that slate clean in my eyes" That only makes it worse ._. The entire expedition paid for his mistakes with their lives... That's not noble, that's stupid. If I set up an expedition to Mt. Everest and I pack too few provisions and not enough cold weather gear, does it make it noble that we froze to death on our way up to the peak? Fuck no! It makes me an idiot for not packing properly.

[@malcolmbarclay9313]

100%. This attitude lead to 10,000s of deaths in WWI :(

[@DuderinoDeux]

Reminds me of the episode in Peep Show where they bag Jerry up in a sleeping bag. Stiff upper schadenfreude

[@Henry-kz4gn]

There are two kinds of people, the ones who refuse to cannibalize their dead friends when trapped in these kinds of situations, and the ones who get themselves in these kind of situations to cannibalize their friends.

[@HellecticMojo]

Who packs Christmas pudding when it wasn't even August?

[@donttalktome2316]

HellecticMojo the expedition could last over a year. They were going to have at least one Christmas there probably

[@AngletarnPikes]

The overall expedition lasted several years, while the polar expedition itself took a number of months, during summer in the southern hemisphere. So they did celebrate Christmas in the tent on the way to the pole. They definitely took some food appropriate for a Christmas dinner. Don't recall exactly what from the books I've read about it, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if it included a Christmas pudding - it must have a pretty good fat / carb to weight ratio. (They were actually still inside the hut during the winter in August, however.)

[@araucaniad]

"You've always wanted to do rationing on me"

[@quotenpunk279]

Maybe close the door.

[@KitagumaIgen]

@KZbin: make this a recommendation to all that visits from Norway on 17th of May.

[@jim191185]

I never intend on eating a Christmas pudding. But IF I ever do, it certainly won't be on any day besides Christmas day itself.

[@lizardlenny]

They're delicious.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

A "Not The Nine O' Clock" skit, I think published in a book rather than broadcast, had survivors of a plane crash admitting that they turned to cannibalism before resorting to eating the airline meals still available on the crashed plane. "Oh God... the puddings...." I wonder if it influenced this.

[@davidwuhrer6704]

I doubt it. This is absolut the Shackleton Expedition. The other is about the Donner pass.

[@whatunavailable123]

That's almost exactly how I heard of Scott; "he was that guy that tried to go to the South Pole but died"

[@mixererunio1757]

He did get to South Pole, but died on the way back

[@lravenl]

Aww poor David at the end!

[@jamesbaker7112]

This was still very funny even though I don't savvy "Christmas pudding".

[@muchopomposo.6394]

Just love these boys... So funny! 👍🏻

[@Vinterloft]

I knew there would be a Norwegian joke in here, not disappointed

[@400KrispyKremes]

I was lampooning him. As told him I thought it was funny that they were arguing about a war that ended over 200 years ago, so I was taking the piss by agreeing with him and making a counter point at the same time. If he was talking about a different war between two other countries I would have said something in reference to those wars instead. It wasn't ironic. It was deliberate.

[@Novous]

It's like I'm watching a 3 minute version of Bridge on the River Kwai

[@TheElDoctoro24]

On David Mitchell’s grave should be “That was to be the nose for my Snowman”

[@tunnfisk]

"We are englishmen, not animals!" 😁

[@zhiguli8]

Had to rewatch this after seeing Scott of the Antarctic (1948)

[@pineapplepenumbra]

Corned beef and butter beans? Sod that, the captain of the expedition is going in the pot over that muck!!!

[@freepadz6241]

Real blackadder vibe to this

[@400KrispyKremes]

I only saw this video for the first time yesterday. You had the first comment I read, so I figured talk to you for awhile. If you noticed I agreed with you and him as well. I thought it was funny that you guys were arguing about a war that happened over two hundred years ago. So I chimed in.

[@mauricemoss89]

They have truly become animals.

[@thewerewolff7248]

that punchline got me.

[@perfectionbox]

these guys are truly on another level 🤣🤣😂😂

[@DeathnoteBB]

Meanwhile, Americans: Welp, guess it’s Christmas in August!

[@Baronofevil]

No! No No! That was to be the nose for my snowman...

[@spencerthew3874]

Maybe they'd be better off if they closed the tent flap

[@jonajon91]

There is ... no carrot in your box.

[@sands7779]

Now we know why Captain Oates said he would be some time.

[@charlie2640]

“It was horrible! They had Oats for breakfast.”

[@hangonsnoop]

What did they do with Hall?

[@squamish4244]

Technically Scott and his men died in March 1912...August is winter in Antarctica and travel is impossible...not that it matters, I love how these guys incorporate history into their sketches.

[@kickedinthecalfbyacow7549]

The expedition took place over Christmas

[@lewisirwin5363]

1:06 It was March, you nits!

[@jamesandscience]

I'm not sure you know what stiff upper lip means. It's the whole 'Keep calm and carry on' thing. It's reservedly hiding your emotions and trudging on stoically. From context I'm guessing you thought it was an accent.

[@whatchannel3679]

Reminds me of harry enfield and the captain in the car

[@gabrielkind2970]

It'd be funny if they confessed to eating the guy who was 'lost in the snow' in the end, and the reaction was, "well, desperate times call for desperate measures"

[@sahanavica.5574]

That's.. not funny at all, in my opinion. It completely robs the skit of its gradual build-up in absurdity by going for complete emotional whiplash. It escalates too quickly and then just as quickly de-escalates back to normality.

[@Jaxcab73]

Yes now that you mention it, it would be wierd. I was probably told about Amundsen as well, but people keep talking about Scott, so that's what I remembered untill I learnt history better. There is just something about Scott that makes him so memorable. Failing, having to eat your dogs, and then freezing to death, just make them so noble in popular culture. I don't think it's so much Antarctica that makes him so memorable, but the way the died.

[@katelights]

Amundsen was furious when he found out that Scott had died. Because even then he knew that even though he had reached the pole first, that Scott would be better remembered because he died.

[@nataschavisser573]

Scot famously did not want to use dogs because then he would have to eat them. His party used ponies, which could not stand the gonditions at all, and they therefore traveled rather slowly. Amundsen ate the dogs and survived.

[@zielonsnajper4605]

"Slaves of their own rules" suits here nicely

[@BingleFlimp]

For some reason the idea of putting myself at risk for no other reason than the act of avoiding risk is seen as "un-english" is very appealing to me. As if the nation is at a constant competition amongst themselves over who is the most english.

[@CalridRobnor123srs]

I ate Christmas pudding not on Christmas day once, I died a day later, which is kinda scarey because a ghost is now posting advice from the next world. :)

[@sneaselboy]

i like how they risk their lives to keep up with tradition

[@VilhelmHammershoi1666]

You may find this humungously funny but this is the way Englishmen behave, they would never open advent calender before the 1st December its just not cricket

[@Bagrah10]

Makes you proud to be British...

[@RFC3514]

So in which context, exactly, did you "hear of Scott long before you had heard of Amundsen" ? If it was in the context of his death, then surely you must have heard about Amundsen at the same time, since Scott's death is directly connected to the competing expeditions. Or did someone just tell you "he died while trying to be the first to reach the south pole, but he failed - and we won't mention the guy who actually got there first" ? That would be weird.

[@eileenhenryselby-smith9762]

That would be British!

[@changer_of_ways_999]

Meanwhile, at the American camp, "Want any pineapple and pepperoni pizza and ice cream?" "It's six in the morning... Screw it. Give me a slice."

[@rexmundi1570]

Too soon?

[@peterdavies2960]

2:25 You WANKED at an old laaaaadyyyyyy! 😬 (oops wrong actor)

[@finlaybond]

They mention Shackleton, but I’m fairly certain his voyage was a fair but after Scott’s. Nevertheless hilarious.

[@LlamasOnAcid]

LOL this is the best sketch!

[@cameronspalding9792]

He could have made a noseless snowman like Olaf from Frozen

[@Opusjustitiaepax]

@evilblades I'm a Nowegian as well and found the reference to us quite funny

[@civroger]

No better than Norwegians? Hey! I am Norwegian! Don't make me come over in my longboat and raid you lot again.

[@The1337Duke]

The central joke here is that english people are still salty for losing the explorers race to the south pole to us Norwegians, (lmao, gottem) and so, they TO THIS DAY villify and disparage Amundsen's decision to let his men eat their sled dogs to survive, somehow equating this with a moral victory for britain. Mitchell and webb here is poking fun at their own culture's heigthened sense of propriety, and how it led to their losing the south pole race

[@saulspeaks2557]

How on earth have I never seen this sketch??? I watched all the seasons. What is this from??

[@j0njn]

*Laughs in Norwegian*

[@genericname121]

I don't think you can call a man that thinks to himself "I want to travel across fucking Antarctica." a coward. Incompetent, moronic, yes. Cowardly. No. A coward wouldn't go for fear of frostbite.

[@Hrafnhistorical]

@demonliberal Abso-tooting-lootley, old bean! Pip pip!

[@GeradAkkdesu]

I think it all comes down to who your publicist is/was.