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| Eric Idle's hosting stint on Saturday Night went so well that he was invited back to host a second show later that season, on April 23, 1977. One of the musical guests on that show was Neil Innes. |
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Great Britain had been going through enormous financial difficulties in the late seventies, and Eric Idle was determined to do something about it. This episode of Saturday Night is conducted as the "Save Great Britain Telethon." Idle makes an amusing apology as the show begins, and throughout the episode, viewers are asked to pledge money to help keep Great Britain afloat. This was sufficient cause to bring former Rutle Ron Nasty, now living in New York, out of seclusion. In support of the telethon, Nasty plays "Cheese and Onions."
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Click on the Real Audio icon to hear just the audio of Nasty's performance in better quality than the video provides. (Click here to find out how you can play the RealAudio files on this site.) |
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In addition to his portrayal of Nasty, Neil Innes performs the song "Shangri-La", from his then-current album, Taking Off. The audience seems somewhat confounded by Innes's theatrical presentation of the song, which is in the tradition of Innes's earlier work, both solo and with the Bonzo Dog Band. In a strange twist, "Shangri-La" would, of course, play an important part in the Rutles story almost two decades later. (See the Archaeology pages for further details). |
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Click on the Real Audio icon to hear just the audio of Neil's performance in better quality than the video provides. (Click here to find out how you can play the RealAudio files on this site.) |
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