Review of The Smith & Jones Sketchbook

In the final 'Not The Nine O'Clock News', Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones spoofed 'The Two Ronnies' with 'The Two Ninnies'. It wasn't an affectionate parody, either, more of a savage attack. They cruelly berated Barker and Corbett for doing the same sort of jokes twenty years later ( which was inaccurate as 'The Two Ronnies' had only been on air for ten years at that point ). The show featured them doing exactly the same thing! 'Alas Smith & Jones' was one of the best sketch shows of the '80's, but this 'tribute' did it absolutely no favours. 'The Two Ronnies' compilations featured uncut material, here we got only excerpts interspersed with weak links. Are today's viewers so dim they need to have a joke explained before they see it? Even Mel and Griff looked embarrassed, as well they might. Fortunately, the original sketches stand up well even now. It was a shame no-one thought to put Mel and Griff in a better show.