Marty Feldman's health had always been precarious; his distinctive pop-eyes were the result of a thyroid condition. By early 1974, he had not appeared on tv in Britain for more than two years, and there were rumours that he was seriously unwell. To confront those rumours, Feldman (who didn't need the money) starred in a 4-episode sketch-comedy series, "Marty Back Together Again".
Among the performers on this series were James Villiers, who specialised in playing upper-class snobs, and hip young black actor Derek Griffiths. The sketches were written by several of Britain's leading comedy scripters: Feldman himself plus Johnny Speight, Barry Took, Barry Cryer and Feldman's old performing partner Graham Chapman (who found time for this assignment between the last two series of "Monty Python"). The American musical satirist Tom Lehrer contributed some songs, and the entire affair was masterminded by veteran producer Dennis Main Wilson.
Among the performers on this series were James Villiers, who specialised in playing upper-class snobs, and hip young black actor Derek Griffiths. The sketches were written by several of Britain's leading comedy scripters: Feldman himself plus Johnny Speight, Barry Took, Barry Cryer and Feldman's old performing partner Graham Chapman (who found time for this assignment between the last two series of "Monty Python"). The American musical satirist Tom Lehrer contributed some songs, and the entire affair was masterminded by veteran producer Dennis Main Wilson.
