'Mr Preview' was an absolute star here, despite being a four-time Oscar winning composer when this was filmed, it was this sketch that made him a household name in every home in the UK. Previn loved working with Eric and Ernie and appeared another two times with them. Much later in life he recalled that every time he visited the UK people would shout 'oi Mr Preview' ... and quietly he loved the recognition.
Not only did he become an overnight star but can also remember him doing a commercial for Ferguson TV's with the logo.....It gives you the best picture of all time with the best sound all around
The ‘Playing the right noted but not necessarily in the right order” comment is still quoted by folks in the UK 50 years after the programme aired The sign of a classic...👍😎
Whilst it's a brilliant line that has indeed entered the language, the insiders' joke is Eric is actually playing all the right notes in the right order; it's the tempo and phrasing that's all wrong. I remember it as a kid and it still holds up and gets funnier each time as you anticipate each joyful nuance. Our greatest comedy double act at the top of their game, and Previn himself their equal in comic timing. My favourite moment is the look of horror on Previn's face when Eric finally starts to play.
Andre had no rehearsal they just told him to play it straight and serious.😎 it is hard to explain now how respected and reveered Andre Previn was at the time....this piece shows what a great bloke he was
@@alisonrandall3039 This is correct. Apparently Eric Morecambe was (quite rightly) nervous about taping the sketch after so little rehearsal time. At 5'35" in this video (the baton "it's in Chicago" joke with Previn's masterful timing) you can see Eric visibly relax... he knew at that point that Previn didn't just know the script, he could make it fly. Beautifully done, and as always an impeccable reaction video from Mr E B
@@alisonrandall3039 nah, total myth. They rehearsed for 2 days (out of a planned 5) before Previews Mum got ill and he had to fly back to New York before coming back for the recording
Long afterwards Andre Previn made a cameo appearance on a later show. He had one line "I worked with Morecambe & Wise, and look what happened to me!" Then the camera pulled back to reveal him dressed as a bus conductor on the back of a Routemaster....
It is difficult to appreciate at this distance in time how groundbreaking this was as Andre Previn was already a great star in his own right in classical music. It was also a revelation for the orchestra (who can be seen and heard laughing along) as conductors tend to be humourless bullies and also plays against the running joke that really famous stars (like Yehudi Menuhin) never turned up. Previn got countrywide recognition overnight and we have never forgotten him. His comic timing (and straight man persona) was impeccable and you can see Eric relaxing early on as Previn had previously only sight read the part. I miss them all.
@@highpath4776 In an interview about 2017, André Previn revealed he had no script. All he saw was a rough outline and was asked to react to whatever Eric & Even did. He did it brilliantly. So sad that he ended his career working on RouteMaster double-decker buses in London.
@@karenblackadder1183 I thought that Previn said that he was given the script and learned it on the plane flying over from America. They had no rehearsal as such, but it all came together on the night. Maybe I miss remembered, either way, it was a classic of its time.
@@karenblackadder1183 ah yes "🎶🎶 the big 6 wheeler scarlet painted London Transport diesel engined 97 h.p. omnibus. Hold very tight please - ding ding.😊
Andre was just brilliant, what a terrific guest he was.... Beautiful timing.. He was known as Mr Privet after that, and it was shouted to him in the street, and he loved it. A terrific man, and much missed.
At the time, André Previn was the conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite his numerous accomplishments and achievements, he often joked he was best remembered for his Morcambe and Wise skit. He said whenever he got into a London taxi they’d ask him ”where do you want to go Mr Preview?” He said it always made him smile!
What I most remember most about this is how the members of the orchestra are openly pissing themselves laughing as Previn gets more and more outraged. RIP all three guys. We love you.
I remember when this went out, Andre Previn was highly respected in the UK, people were quite shocked that he let Morcambe & Wise take the piss out of him. Nobody was safe from their clutches, what a great duo. And hats off to Andre Previn for taking it.
This routine is legendary in the UK, what made it so funny was that Andre Previn ( Andrew Preview to his friends ) was considered so high brow and serious that people were shocked to see him acting the fool. To this day that "all the right notes, not necessarily in the right order" line is adapted and used by Brits in everyday life.
Indeed, in my Martial Arts Dojo (Iaido) it is often said after making a balls of a kata: "Sensei, I'm making all the right cuts, not necessarily in the right order". :)
This is probably the most memorable Morcambe and Wise sketch ever. To get (at that time) one of the World's greatest musical conductors to agree to be part of such silliness and to play it with such deadpan humour, with the interplay of all three and the timing, plus of course the classic Eric comeback line about playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order, was just brilliantly funny. Glad you liked it. I want to add (and you may not be aware of it) that their Christmas Specials were and still are up there as some of the most-watched shows in UK Television History. Morecambe and Wise are legendary figures in British comedic history.
Watched this as a kid and could not believe they had got Andre Previn on board with this. Back then even I knew he was probably the worlds greatest conductor of the time. It's timeless..
These two were SUPERSTARS in the UK in the 1970s. People would judge how good their Christmas was based on the M&W Christmas Show. The Royal Family would watch. They had the most famous stars willing to make fools of themselves, they were queuing up. and were just generally hilarious.20 odd million viewers per show.
Ya gotta remember that in 1975 the UK population was only about 56 million people, so nearly a third of the population would watch these legends. absolutely brilliant and always a pleasure to watch
@@johnsjunkyard Although Morcambe and Wise were right up there at the top of the ratings lists, the incredibly high numbers were helped a bit that there were only 3 tv channels at the time.
There’s a documentary on YT about how this sketch was filmed, and Andre Previn talks about how he read the script for the first time in the taxi on the way from Heathrow to the television studio to record it, it made Eric really nervous until the Baton line, which is why he said “he’s in!” - really relieved. A hilarious sketch, and great to see you’ve covered it at last! You’ve reacted to all the right sketches, just not necessarily in the right order 😂
I've watched this so many times over the years and still it hurts my ribs. Andre Previn was such a sport ot do this show. I have to say though, one of the best bits for me, is the way the Orchesta are completely in stiches in the back ground because Andre is going along with it all the way. Great Days, Great People. Peace Boss
Mr Previn has stated several times, that he's played In front of Kings, Queens and Presidents but being on this show and this sketch was one of his real highlights, he loved It. It was a great honour to be asked to go on the show. There were great actors and actresses, Glenda Jackson and Peter Cushing come to mind and said the same.
As a musician, I can say that bands and orchestras have seen it all and know every gag. As a comic, you simply can't make the backing musicians laugh. Eric saw it as a challenge to do just that in this sketch and he succeeded in spades. The joke about "The Fixer" really hit home. A fixer is a musician that gets the right musicians together for a show at the request of the theatrical agent. They usually book themselves as a musician and gets both a musicians fee AND the fixers fee on top of that - hence: "he's the one in the gold lamé suit". It was insider joke just for the musicians, but the audience finds it funny too because of Eric's amazing delivery.
@@tonycasey3183 Thank you. I've wondered about the true meaning of that joke for DECADES! I suspected it was an inside joke from the reactions of the orchestra.
@@crawfb You're welcome. There are tons of "fixer" jokes. If a flash car is spotted in the car park of the venue, one muso will nod to the other and say, "I see the fixer's here!"
They had done an earlier version of this sketch in the 60s, but with Ernie playing the conductor's role. But the way they created a new role for Ernie and the performance of Andre Previn make this wonderful. There was very little time available with Previn, and I think there were some add libs in there. Previn is more famous in Britain for this than his very long and illustrious musical career, and do you know, he didn't seem to mind that at all.
The wonderful Andre Previn. By this time he was considered a great conductor. The London Symphony Orchestra chose him to be their principal conductor for much of the 1970s and he totally embraced living and working here. Prior to this he had won oscars for his film music and was a great friend of John Williams who was virtually unknown then having only just won his first Oscar for his work arranging the score for Fiddler on the Roof. Andre raised the profile of the LSO and his own by producing a long running popular TV series "Music Night" exploring classical music for the everyman. Playing on Friday nights it got large audiences against expectations and was highly praised. He was much loved and respected over here not least because of this legendary comic masterpiece.
Which of course is why Eric asking him to jump up and then clapping him around the chops was so hysterically funny and seemingly disrespectful at the time. We Brits do so love someone's apparent pomposity being so publically pricked and belittled. 🤣 Wonderful stuff and it was wonderful that Andre found a whole new audience and level of respect.
These guys used to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse and were perfectionists so for Previn to come in with no rehearsal and it to work as well as it did was almost a miracle.
@@highpath4776 watch the original. Pure joy in watching serious musicians absolutely pissing themselves at their boss entering into the sketch with comedic legends.
"I'm playing all the *right* notes - but not necessarily in the right order" entered the English lexicon immediately after this. They were such perfectionists, particularly Eric, they rehearsed their sketches for weeks before filming. Eric was still uncertain about whether this sketch would actually work, until Previn delivered his line about fetching his baton from Chicago. You can see the pure joy in Eric's face as he realised it was going to be a winner.
Very funny sketch...but as you rightly pointed out, it's Previn's timing that really makes it work. You have to have a good straight man, and for a non comedian, he was brilliant!
They did a version of this sketch approx ten years earlier and you can see the vast improvement in their own performances. Previn's timing is great and his ad-libbed line about the baton was when Eric knew he was going to be brilliant.
I watched this at the time... Eric and Ernie were THE superstars of British tv in my childhood, and this routine still lives on today, especially the "right notes" line. Their Christmas show was almost required viewing back in the day.
To explain the joke "I have fished off the end of Sir Henry Wood's promenade" - Sir Henry Wood founded the promenade concerts in London where part of the audience stands in the middle of the auditorium. These series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall every summer are a sell out and end in September with the Last night at the Proms which is a serious musical but raucous and very patriotic affair - suggest you watch one of them especially the last 45 minutes!! Andre Previn (who is american by the way would have conducted at several prom concerts in his time!! A promenade in the UK is where people walk either along sea front or what americans call the boardwalk on a pier!
Also, the "Who do you think introduced Glenda Jackson to Tchaikovsky?" line refers to the Ken Russell film "The Music Lovers", about Tchaikovsky with Glenda Jackson (who had also worked with M&W).
Ivy Benson was also mentioned though now few people will recall that , during the 40s and 50s, she was the leader of the UK's only all-girl dance-band.
Arthur Negus was a famous tv personality who was an antiques furniture expert among other things! This explains Eric's joke after talking about the planets suite by Gustav Holz "and the 3 piece suite by Arthur Negus"
Morecambe and Wise were my favourite comedians and a must watch at Christmas time. Every celebrity begged to be on their show to be the butt of their jokes. I cried laughing so many times. Eric was a genius and I admit to shedding a tear when he passed.
Fun fact: a few days later, Mr. Andrew Preview (sic) played Grieg’s Piano Concerto in concert and had to stop the show as the audience were laughing so loud. The sketch is so ingrained in British psych that he admitted years later: "Taxi drivers still call me Mr Preview,” and said he was happy that the sketch meant as much to everyone else as it did to him, and that several parts of it were (uncharacteristically for Morecambe and Wise) improvised: one example being “I’ll go fetch my baton.” “Please do.” “It’s in Chicago.” This ad-lib relived Eric: “I like him!”
And it seems this sketch was even more amazing, As the great Andre Previn was over in the USA doing a set of concerts then and when they asked him to be a guest star on the show He found some time to fly overnight back to the UK so he could do the rehearsal for this point in their show! So that is amazing enough, But it seems that normally a guest star will do up to 3 weeks of rehearsals ahead of the time of the airing of the show so they can do the timing right of their part. Since most were not actors, But just non comic celebs or stars etc. Mr Andre Previn was a Genius composer and expert musician as you could see he could play the piano without any sheet music like a pro could. He was so clever he in fact only had enough time to do the sketch with the minimum amount of time doing rehearsals! So instead of doing 3 weeks worth he did it in 1 day worth, the 1st shoot was it. Well, he was a Genius composer and Conductor and Classical Musician so timing was the thing he was good at. Then he was off the next day back to the USA to carry on the concerts there! That shows you how amazing he was tat he did all this perfectly in one go and in 1 day not 3 weeks. Amazing man and Morcombe and wise were up there with Andre as amazing stars too.
A couple of things Andre Previn said subsequently to this. Firstly, whenever he got in a Taxi anywhere in the world, the driver called him Mr Previn. Except in London, where he was invariably called Mr Preview! Secondly, in his first Concert post this sketch, the Greig Piano Concerto was one of the performances. About ten seconds in, Andre Previn had to stop the Orchestra because the audience was laughing at the thought of what they’d seen a few weeks beforehand. 😂😂😂
They had no time to rehearse as Andre Previn had commitments in the USA. Morecambe and Wise had, however, performed this sketch some years before (there is a video on TH-cam somewhere). The line ‘fishing off Sir Henry Wood promenade’ is a reference to the Conductor Sir Henry Wood who conducted the ‘Promenade concerts’ or ‘Proms’ here in England.
" I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order," I thought it was so funny back then and it still makes me laugh now. I love Eric and Ernie.
Morecombe and Wise were incredible and people in the UK would judge their Christmas on how good the Morecombe and Wise's Christmas show was which the boys always said was a massive undertaking. They were truely incredible together and still to this day are sadly missed. I remember driving do work on a Sunday morning and the radio was just talking about Eric and I had no idea that he had come off stage the night before and had a masive myocardial infarction and passed away. He had suffered heart attacks in the past. The whole of the UK were devastated by his death. I think they did this sketch in one take.
Morecambe and Wise made so many great stars corpse in their shows. If you can find double Oscar winner Glenda Jackson as Cleopatra in one of Ernie wise's plays (what he wrote) you will see comic genius at work yet again.
Eric was a genuinely funny guy. You know somebody good when even after all their rehearsals the 'Band' still laughs. I can't explain how big these two were in the UK back then, and how much people mourned at his passing in 1984. He was extremely witty and yet could be poetic too. "I can never think of the time I spend idling in railway stations as lost; it's a waiting liberated from the three temporal vices of regret, anticipation or boredom, the weak echo of that bliss spent between lifetimes." Their comedy was a part of my childhood and I still miss them even today.
One of the most classic TV moments ever in Britain. Even today, Morecambe and Wise are rated as two of the top comedians ever. Try checking out some of their musical numbers
I remember watching this with my family and it was the surprise factor of someone like Andre Previn not only agreeing to be on the programme but turning out to be so good as a straight man with such good timing.
As someone who has played in loads of orchestras this always makes me laugh. Previn was a powerhouse, and watching the 1st violins crack up as Andre is being trolled is hilarious
The stories behind this sketch are wonderful - Previn only had a few hours to learn it, and Eric Morecambe (despite his image on screen) is an utter perfectionist and was horrified by the lack of practice they were going to have. He was overwhelmed by the way that it went. And look at the faces of the BBC orchestra behind the three stars - they are revelling in it!
Editing my previous comment - no that's apocryphal, but he didn't have much time to rehearse, which somehow makes it better. They're so confident in what they're doing they're spontaneous as well.
It was really interesting watching someone see that sketch for the first time. It holds a place in British culture. Everyone over a certain age can quote it.
On their Christmas Show for 1977, Elton John is meant to be special guest (he thinks), but only manages to perform his song, "Shine On Through", at the end after the audience has left. They keep the gag running all the way through the show, but he still performs the song beautifully. Money couldn't buy that kind of publicity! The punchline is brilliant, too!
This is comedic genius. They often interacted with famous names Mr. Previn responded perfectly by keeping a straight face. It was a standard joke that they had been lured to the show by false promises, and would rather be elsewhere. In fact the celebrities of the day loved being on the M & W show.
Eric and Ernie always rehearsed every sketch for days even though it looks messy but apparently Andre turned up late with no time for rehearsing and this was done off the cuff He has brilliant comedy timing naturally and really makes the scene work That slap on the face was totally unexpected also to one of the best conductors at the time
we will never see the likes of Morcombe and Wise again ,classic timing you can see all the hard work that they did rising up thru the ranks of theatre's learning their art paid off big time for them , everyone wanted to be on their show and nearly everyone was ,
What's really interesting is that this is the one show that all the top stars from film, theatre and music, wanted to be invited to guest on. Not to perform by themselves, but to have the opportunity to appear in a sketch with Eric and Ernie. Which as we know always resulted in the most hilarious scenes.
Just look at the musicians laughing in the background : ) Andrew Preview : ) was one of the most highly respected pianists and conductors on the planet when this was filmed and to get someone of his calibre on the show, have him join in the fun and play his part so well showed the pulling power and writing chops of M&W They had so many stars on the show who were willing to be humiliated and sent up.
I've rarely seen a comedy bit with a non-comedian (Previn) play out this well. Timing, not cracking up, not be like a fish out of water, not feel embarassed by the whole scene. Previn's performance makes this work so well.
Hello Mr Beard, if you get time look up Sean Lock stand up or especially clips of him on 8 out of 10 cats or 8. out of 10 cats does countdown, he passed away yesterday and was just sheer genius imo of course, you won’t be disappointed 👍🏻
The last piece Andre played was 'Popular Song' from the Façade suite by Sir William Walton. At the time, used as the theme tune for the BBC 2 music quiz 'Face The Music'.
M&W were famous for the amount of rehearsal time they expected their guests to put in so that each and everyone knew their lines and could get back into the sketch regardless of the ad libs and without laughing - for this sketch however, Andre was fresh off he plane and into the studio - what a natural talent, perfect timing in all the interactions.
The timing came from the fact that they became a double act when they were only just out their teens and and performed together thousands of times. They are still a national treasure here in the UK
I'm 26 (b. 1998, f) and live in the UK. I grew up watching and listening to Morecambe and Wise. I quoted this sketch ("I am playing all the right notes. Just not necessarily in the right order.") at a school music teacher when I was 14 after them pointing out a mistake I'd played. They cracked up and happy that someone old enough to be his grandchild (he was late 60s at least) knew such fabulous comedians.
An interview with the guys described how Andre Pevin's comic timing and acting was spot on and perfect as he got "it" immediately. I suppose musical timing and comic timing are identical hitting the beats at the right time.
Andre Previn was one of the biggest conductors in the world but he definitely wanted to be on there show all the big stars ⭐️ were cuing up to be invited on there show ,but Andre Previn didn’t do any rehearsals at all he read the script on the plane on his way to London they probably had about an hour if that .He was absolutely amazing and how he kept a straight face I’ll never know it’s one of there best sketches ever and we all still say I’m playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order one of the best lines ever We miss them so much Great Reaction Love 💕 from Denise in Yorkshire England 🏴😂😂😂👏👏👏👏💕👍🥰👋
One of my former colleagues was a schoolboy friend of Eric Morecombe's son, and he was round Eric Morecombe's house one day when Eric and another bloke (not Ernie, I think he said it was the scriptwriter) were doing all kinds of strange things in the kitchen. He didn't understand what they were doing until he saw the sketch during the Christmas special and he realised that they'd been testing out all the moves and timings
I remember very much this sketch when I was a wee teenager. I have a feeling it’s from M&W Christmas show of 1972/3. There Christmas shows were huge and the whole family sat round the TV on Christmas night just to watch these pure perfection comics. The viewing figures broke all records until the mid 80s I believe. Brings back wonderful memories with my family. Apparently M&W were crazy on learning their lines, they rehearsed, rehearsed and rehearsed until all sketches were perfect but this sketch was different as Andre wasn’t available to rehearse with them and it’s said it was done in 1 take only.
One of my most favourite things to rewatch from time to time. Previn was amazing. With all that's going on take a moment to look at the orchestra behind cracking up, especially at the end.
Andre Previn read the sketch script on the way over to the studio, and went straight into the sketch. There was no rehearsal. He had such perfect timing as an orchestral conductor and composer that it was no problem for him at all. Notice how Eric opens up when Andre says he has to go get his baton from Chicago? That was add lib and not in the script, and Eric knew straight away that he was onto a comedic live wire with Andre, that he was on board with them, and that this was going to be an incredible sketch. After this sketch Andre Previn was elevated to a household name throughout the UK. He looks so straight laced, and indeed was a very famous composer and conductor, but Andre had an excellent sense of humor and a comedic timing that was in tune with the best in the business. You could watch this sketch time and time again. It is just timeless.
It was so funny watching the members of the orchestra losing it during the banter and bursting out laughing in the background. Andre Previn ad-libbed the whole routine. He was such a respected star, but loved the legends that were Eric & Ernie. In a time when you only had 3 tv channels, they owned the tv with their shows. This routine made Andre a national star.
Classic from Eric and Ernie there! When Eric says 'the three-piece suite by Arthur Negus', that's a reference to one of the presenters of a long running UK show called 'The Antiques Roadshow'.
The Antiques Roadshow did not start until 1979, quite a few years after this sketch was performed (1971 Christmas Show) but Arthur Negus was nevertheless a well-known TV personality from his regular appearances on Sunday afternoons on the BBC antiques programme "Going for a Song".
The reaction I have been waiting for. Glad you enjoyed it Ian, although you may not have got all the references. There is quite a backstory to the sketch, which has been covered here, already. Previn hadn't basically rehearsed, but learned his lines on the plane over from the States, yep, then it was moreorless straight into the studio. Eric was worried because of this, certainly. He did say to Andre to play it straight, and wow, did he just. His relief when Andre said he had left his baton in Chicago - boom! As you say - perfect timing, and understanding between all three of them. You'll notice Eric's round of applause at the end of the sketch - that was for Andre. Andre was an accomplished jazz pianist before going into classical, and so had the gift of timing, and the knack of improvisation. A classic sketch in this form, nope. It is better than this. It is a national treasure.
Eric and Ernie had emphasised to Andre in rehearsals that he must remain series at all times and never laugh for it to work and he played it brilliantly.
@@josephturner4047 No: they meant the Prime Minister (or ex-). That Edward (Ted) Heath was President of the LSO Trust. There is a commercial recording of him conducting the LSO in Elgar's Cockaigne Overture.
This is one of the guests that they had on the show without any rehearsal, when Eric says he likes that man after Andrea said he'd get his Baton he learned the script on the flight from America and in the taxi, guests normally had two weeks rehearsal with Eric and Ernie for each show,I've pinged you some information and the interview in later years with Andre
Morecambe and Wise were sticklers for their long rehearsals times. They would spend weeks with guest stars until everyone knew the sketch inside out and back to front. However, Previn was so busy he couldn't attend any rehearsals making Eric Morecambe, in particular, extremely nervous. In the sketch when Previn nails the line "I'll get my baton... it's in Chicago" Eric's reaction was very real and completely spontaneous because he was so relieved Previn had a sense of timing (a conductor with a great sense of timing go figure hahaha). On a side note, the sketch itself is one Erik and Ernie honed over many years and this is the very best version they ever performed.
Yup - he was hired by Hollywood whilst still at high school and, before becoming a jet-setting conductor, he had a major career as a composer and arranger of film music... winning 4 Oscars and umpteen Oscar nominations. As if that wasn't enough, he bagged 10 Grammy Awards as well. He was a seriously gifted musician.
This sketch is world-class I remember watching it when it was broadcast. The boys were at the top of their profession and Mr. Previn was a tour de force.
Eric & Ernie at the absolute top of their game. Christmas 1971 and a TV audience of 20million+, it was required viewing. As you say, the comedic timing is spot on. André Previn, a world-class international classical conductor working with these 2 masters & at no point being belittled, it was (& still is) a joy to watch. To appear on The Morecambe & Wise show, particularly the Christmas Night Special was a TV personality's crowning moment - they had *arrived!*
What's great about Eric and Ernie is every sketch has imperfections which makes them perfect. People forgetting lines, struggling to hold their shit together and not laugh. It's genius
Good reaction! Andre Previn was 'GOD', as a conductor, back in the day. And it's great to see his musicians' reactions when Eric grabs him and gives him a slap! Haaa!
Eric and Ernie met when they played in children’s vaudeville and sang and danced together. Hence their timing on everything is so good. (There’s a BBC play, “Eric and Ernie”, written by Victoria Wood that tells the tale really well.) “Andrew Preview” didn’t have time for any rehearsals and just jumped right into it, straight from the airport.
I had stomach ache from laughing when I saw this whole sketch when it was first shown on UK TV...Morecambe and Wise were true comedy legends, and their shows were watched by millions in the UK..their trade mark humour was to have really famous guests on their show, and somehow get them to do all sorts of comedy routines, like this one, for example, in which they sent the guests up, got them to buy into the daft situations they put them in, and in the end produce comedic treasures like this.....and every sketch had the running gag that the guest, whoever it was, wasnt going to get paid for their appearance. Elton John appeared on their shows several times, just for a few seconds each time, either asking for the money they owed him, or, on one occasion, he appeared as a bus conductor, saying "I appeared on the Morecambe and Wise show, and now look at me....." in fact it almost became a mark of honour to be invited on their show just to be "insulted" or "humiliated!"
Seen this so many times and it’s still funny. Timing is spot on. Have a look for some Les Dawson. He was a comic genius, incredibly intelligent story teller and great pianist. Getting the right notes, but in the wrong order
@ Jason, I agree, led's "bad piano playing sketches are great, it takes a talented pianist to play that badly. And his Enid?? Edna?? Knocks Mrs Brown into the bin
They couldn't practise. Andre was held up and he looked at the script on his way over. It's amazing to think they never rehearsed it. It's a classic by our country's most brilliant comedy duo. To the Americans, all of their guests were distinguished in their field and they queued up to be made fools of by Eric and Ernie. They are missed terribly now.
9:10 A big reason this is my favourite of all Morecambe & Wise bits is the back story. Eric & Ernie liked to do really intense rehearsals for about 2 weeks before filming date. But on this occasion (I think because he was touring around America) Andre wasn't available for rehearsals. So while Eric & Ernie did what they could without him Andre didn't learn the script until the flight over to do it. Then when it came to the filming it was literally as Ernie was introducing him Andre confided to one of the producers how nervous he was. The producer's response: "It'll be fine. Just, whatever you do, don't find what you're doing funny" and off he stepped onto stage. Eric & Ernie were nervous because of it too and at the start were clearly uncomfortable. It wasn't until Andre's "I'll get my baton, it's in Chicago" they relaxed. Eric's "He's in, I like him" was completely genuine
I know I’m showing my age, knowing who Andre Previn is, but, for the youngsters, he was a legendary conductor.. The most impressive thing is that, due to flight delays, he had NO opportunity to rehearse. Literally rushed to the studio, put on his tailcoat and they shouted ACTION!! Possibly the finest piece of improv I’ve ever seen.
All very much missed but never forgotten, Mr Preview was so loved in this country (UK) after this appearance, and with his other times on the show, I really think he had a great time with M&W
'Mr Preview' was an absolute star here, despite being a four-time Oscar winning composer when this was filmed, it was this sketch that made him a household name in every home in the UK. Previn loved working with Eric and Ernie and appeared another two times with them. Much later in life he recalled that every time he visited the UK people would shout 'oi Mr Preview' ... and quietly he loved the recognition.
People said it to him in New York, I certainly bellowed it at him in 2002. He laughed and seemed to enjoy it
@@DavidKArrrrgh wonderful
Absolute class
Not only did he become an overnight star but can also remember him doing a commercial for Ferguson TV's with the logo.....It gives you the best picture of all time with the best sound all around
And all done without a rehearsal, he read the script in the back of a taxi on the way to the studio
The ‘Playing the right noted but not necessarily in the right order” comment is still quoted by folks in the UK 50 years after the programme aired The sign of a classic...👍😎
Yep, one of Eric's classic lines. Along with "He'll never sell any ice-cream at that speed".
Indeed, I often use that comment
I use it all the time
Lol such a genius
Whilst it's a brilliant line that has indeed entered the language, the insiders' joke is Eric is actually playing all the right notes in the right order; it's the tempo and phrasing that's all wrong.
I remember it as a kid and it still holds up and gets funnier each time as you anticipate each joyful nuance. Our greatest comedy double act at the top of their game, and Previn himself their equal in comic timing. My favourite moment is the look of horror on Previn's face when Eric finally starts to play.
Andre had no rehearsal they just told him to play it straight and serious.😎 it is hard to explain now how respected and reveered Andre Previn was at the time....this piece shows what a great bloke he was
Apparently he read the script on the plane from the USA.
@@alisonrandall3039 This is correct. Apparently Eric Morecambe was (quite rightly) nervous about taping the sketch after so little rehearsal time. At 5'35" in this video (the baton "it's in Chicago" joke with Previn's masterful timing) you can see Eric visibly relax... he knew at that point that Previn didn't just know the script, he could make it fly. Beautifully done, and as always an impeccable reaction video from Mr E B
You have to watch the orchestra, they are laughing throughout the sketch.
@@alisonrandall3039 nah, total myth. They rehearsed for 2 days (out of a planned 5) before Previews Mum got ill and he had to fly back to New York before coming back for the recording
@Fat Jack - I'll bet many of them would have loved to have grabbed a conductor by the lapels at some point in their careers.
As a Brit, I want to say how much joy I get from watching you watch some our true greats at work. Thank you. :)
Long afterwards Andre Previn made a cameo appearance on a later show. He had one line "I worked with Morecambe & Wise, and look what happened to me!" Then the camera pulled back to reveal him dressed as a bus conductor on the back of a Routemaster....
It is difficult to appreciate at this distance in time how groundbreaking this was as Andre Previn was already a great star in his own right in classical music. It was also a revelation for the orchestra (who can be seen and heard laughing along) as conductors tend to be humourless bullies and also plays against the running joke that really famous stars (like Yehudi Menuhin) never turned up. Previn got countrywide recognition overnight and we have never forgotten him. His comic timing (and straight man persona) was impeccable and you can see Eric relaxing early on as Previn had previously only sight read the part. I miss them all.
The idea that a conductor could not do a script after sight reading - they do it all the time)
@@highpath4776 In an interview about 2017, André Previn revealed he had no script. All he saw was a rough outline and was asked to react to whatever Eric & Even did. He did it brilliantly.
So sad that he ended his career working on RouteMaster double-decker buses in London.
@@karenblackadder1183 I thought that Previn said that he was given the script and learned it on the plane flying over from America. They had no rehearsal as such, but it all came together on the night. Maybe I miss remembered, either way, it was a classic of its time.
@@karenblackadder1183 ah yes "🎶🎶 the big 6 wheeler scarlet painted London Transport diesel engined 97 h.p. omnibus. Hold very tight please - ding ding.😊
Andre was just brilliant, what a terrific guest he was.... Beautiful timing.. He was known as Mr Privet after that, and it was shouted to him in the street, and he loved it. A terrific man, and much missed.
At the time, André Previn was the conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite his numerous accomplishments and achievements, he often joked he was best remembered for his Morcambe and Wise skit. He said whenever he got into a London taxi they’d ask him ”where do you want to go Mr Preview?” He said it always made him smile!
One of the best Morecambe and Wise sketches ever. Full praise must go to the fantastic performance of Andre Previn.
preview er privet
What I most remember most about this is how the members of the orchestra are openly pissing themselves laughing as Previn gets more and more outraged.
RIP all three guys. We love you.
Nothing better than getting your boss having his chops smacked by Eric 🤣😄 Wonderful sports all of them and sorely missed.
I remember when this went out, Andre Previn was highly respected in the UK, people were quite shocked that he let Morcambe & Wise take the piss out of him. Nobody was safe from their clutches, what a great duo. And hats off to Andre Previn for taking it.
Morecambe.
@@sandgrownun66 ?
@@stewartmackay Morecambe, NOT Morcambe.
@@sandgrownun66 Oh, I do apologise.
@@stewartmackay Always unforgiving one...
This routine is legendary in the UK, what made it so funny was that Andre Previn ( Andrew Preview to his friends ) was considered so high brow and serious that people were shocked to see him acting the fool.
To this day that "all the right notes, not necessarily in the right order" line is adapted and used by Brits in everyday life.
It didn’t do his career any harm either. He became a national treasure after that performance, and rightly so.
Indeed, in my Martial Arts Dojo (Iaido) it is often said after making a balls of a kata: "Sensei, I'm making all the right cuts, not necessarily in the right order". :)
This sketch, will always be one of my all times favs, the words, the timing, Mr Previn, Eric and Ernie, any one who doesnt find this funny, is DEAD
This is probably the most memorable Morcambe and Wise sketch ever. To get (at that time) one of the World's greatest musical conductors to agree to be part of such silliness and to play it with such deadpan humour, with the interplay of all three and the timing, plus of course the classic Eric comeback line about playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order, was just brilliantly funny. Glad you liked it. I want to add (and you may not be aware of it) that their Christmas Specials were and still are up there as some of the most-watched shows in UK Television History. Morecambe and Wise are legendary figures in British comedic history.
That generation of comedians served their time and perfected their art. Much loved and missed but not forgotten.
Watched this as a kid and could not believe they had got Andre Previn on board with this. Back then even I knew he was probably the worlds greatest conductor of the time. It's timeless..
These two were SUPERSTARS in the UK in the 1970s. People would judge how good their Christmas was based on the M&W Christmas Show. The Royal Family would watch. They had the most famous stars willing to make fools of themselves, they were queuing up. and were just generally hilarious.20 odd million viewers per show.
I recall the christmas special with Elton John breaking all viewing records at the time... Pure genius..
Ya gotta remember that in 1975 the UK population was only about 56 million people, so nearly a third of the population would watch these legends. absolutely brilliant and always a pleasure to watch
@@johnsjunkyard Although Morcambe and Wise were right up there at the top of the ratings lists, the incredibly high numbers were helped a bit that there were only 3 tv channels at the time.
I miss those Christmas’ a lot now , happy times
@@johnsjunkyard also there were only 3 TV channels at that time
There’s a documentary on YT about how this sketch was filmed, and Andre Previn talks about how he read the script for the first time in the taxi on the way from Heathrow to the television studio to record it, it made Eric really nervous until the Baton line, which is why he said “he’s in!” - really relieved. A hilarious sketch, and great to see you’ve covered it at last! You’ve reacted to all the right sketches, just not necessarily in the right order 😂
I've watched this so many times over the years and still it hurts my ribs. Andre Previn was such a sport ot do this show. I have to say though, one of the best bits for me, is the way the Orchesta are completely in stiches in the back ground because Andre is going along with it all the way. Great Days, Great People. Peace Boss
Mr Previn has stated several times, that he's played In front of Kings, Queens and Presidents but being on this show and this sketch was one of his real highlights, he loved It. It was a great honour to be asked to go on the show. There were great actors and actresses, Glenda Jackson and Peter Cushing come to mind and said the same.
And ALL of them were still owed their fees!
Putting the boots on Shirley Bassey!
He also said this is what he's most remembered for.
They were queuing up to get on the show.
@@SalarianUnlimited This was Auntie in 1970s. You got paid in peanuts and luncheon vouchers!! If you were lucky!!!!
Probably THE best sketch of any English entertainment show EVER. Andre Previn was wonderful and Eric and Ernie were the best double act of all time.
Folk handles the two Ronnies, 'the jungle book ' Morecambe and wise and the breakfast sketch.
One of the great things about this is watching the reactions of the orchestra.
Is this the band?
As a musician, I can say that bands and orchestras have seen it all and know every gag. As a comic, you simply can't make the backing musicians laugh. Eric saw it as a challenge to do just that in this sketch and he succeeded in spades.
The joke about "The Fixer" really hit home. A fixer is a musician that gets the right musicians together for a show at the request of the theatrical agent. They usually book themselves as a musician and gets both a musicians fee AND the fixers fee on top of that - hence: "he's the one in the gold lamé suit". It was insider joke just for the musicians, but the audience finds it funny too because of Eric's amazing delivery.
@@tonycasey3183 Thank you. I've wondered about the true meaning of that joke for DECADES! I suspected it was an inside joke from the reactions of the orchestra.
@@crawfb
You're welcome.
There are tons of "fixer" jokes.
If a flash car is spotted in the car park of the venue, one muso will nod to the other and say, "I see the fixer's here!"
@@tonycasey3183 Thank you so much for that explanation! Count me in as another person who's always laughed at that moment without knowing why!
They had done an earlier version of this sketch in the 60s, but with Ernie playing the conductor's role. But the way they created a new role for Ernie and the performance of Andre Previn make this wonderful. There was very little time available with Previn, and I think there were some add libs in there. Previn is more famous in Britain for this than his very long and illustrious musical career, and do you know, he didn't seem to mind that at all.
The wonderful Andre Previn. By this time he was considered a great conductor. The London Symphony Orchestra chose him to be their principal conductor for much of the 1970s and he totally embraced living and working here. Prior to this he had won oscars for his film music and was a great friend of John Williams who was virtually unknown then having only just won his first Oscar for his work arranging the score for Fiddler on the Roof. Andre raised the profile of the LSO and his own by producing a long running popular TV series "Music Night" exploring classical music for the everyman. Playing on Friday nights it got large audiences against expectations and was highly praised. He was much loved and respected over here not least because of this legendary comic masterpiece.
Which of course is why Eric asking him to jump up and then clapping him around the chops was so hysterically funny and seemingly disrespectful at the time. We Brits do so love someone's apparent pomposity being so publically pricked and belittled. 🤣 Wonderful stuff and it was wonderful that Andre found a whole new audience and level of respect.
These guys used to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse and were perfectionists so for Previn to come in with no rehearsal and it to work as well as it did was almost a miracle.
I dont think the orchestra were in on the joke ?
@@highpath4776 watch the original. Pure joy in watching serious musicians absolutely pissing themselves at their boss entering into the sketch with comedic legends.
They had 2 days rehearsal for this, it’s a myth that Preview learned his lines in the taxi
Son Anderson
Ok you win
@@DavidKArrrrgh Would you mind giving some references for that? I’d like to read them.
"I'm playing all the *right* notes - but not necessarily in the right order" entered the English lexicon immediately after this.
They were such perfectionists, particularly Eric, they rehearsed their sketches for weeks before filming. Eric was still uncertain about whether this sketch would actually work, until Previn delivered his line about fetching his baton from Chicago. You can see the pure joy in Eric's face as he realised it was going to be a winner.
That’s a colossal line isn’t it?
Andre Previn learnt his part word perfect overnight! He was very professional!
From the place or the musical ?
Wasn't the Chicaho line an ad lib?
I really like watching the guys in the orchestra rolling with laughter behind Eric and Ernie
Very funny sketch...but as you rightly pointed out, it's Previn's timing that really makes it work. You have to have a good straight man, and for a non comedian, he was brilliant!
They did a version of this sketch approx ten years earlier and you can see the vast improvement in their own performances. Previn's timing is great and his ad-libbed line about the baton was when Eric knew he was going to be brilliant.
What makes it more amazing is that Previn didn’t have time to attend rehearsals and only had a quick run through prior to filming
@@pseudoism story is that he was given and read the script in the taxi from the airport to the studio
He's (was?) a world class conductor... if he doesn't have good timing, no one does.
Did you mean Andrew Preview?
I watched this at the time... Eric and Ernie were THE superstars of British tv in my childhood, and this routine still lives on today, especially the "right notes" line. Their Christmas show was almost required viewing back in the day.
To explain the joke "I have fished off the end of Sir Henry Wood's promenade" - Sir Henry Wood founded the promenade concerts in London where part of the audience stands in the middle of the auditorium. These series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall every summer are a sell out and end in September with the Last night at the Proms which is a serious musical but raucous and very patriotic affair - suggest you watch one of them especially the last 45 minutes!! Andre Previn (who is american by the way would have conducted at several prom concerts in his time!! A promenade in the UK is where people walk either along sea front or what americans call the boardwalk on a pier!
Every day is a school day, thank you sir 👍🏻
To promenade, as any country dancing / western dancing knows is to walk (or stand !)
Also, the "Who do you think introduced Glenda Jackson to Tchaikovsky?" line refers to the Ken Russell film "The Music Lovers", about Tchaikovsky with Glenda Jackson (who had also worked with M&W).
Ivy Benson was also mentioned though now few people will recall that , during the 40s and 50s, she was the leader of the UK's only all-girl dance-band.
@@somyod2u And, to complete the set, Edward Heath was British Prime Minister and a talented amateur musician and conductor. :-)
Arthur Negus was a famous tv personality who was an antiques furniture expert among other things! This explains Eric's joke after talking about the planets suite by Gustav Holz "and the 3 piece suite by Arthur Negus"
Yes, he was on Going for a Song, an early predecessor of the Antiques Roadshow.
@@arwelphosted by Max Robertson who also covered Wimbledon with Dan Maskell, if I recall correctly.
Probably the most loved routine M&W ever did.
Morecambe and Wise were my favourite comedians and a must watch at Christmas time. Every celebrity begged to be on their show to be the butt of their jokes. I cried laughing so many times. Eric was a genius and I admit to shedding a tear when he passed.
Fun fact: a few days later, Mr. Andrew Preview (sic) played Grieg’s Piano Concerto in concert and had to stop the show as the audience were laughing so loud.
The sketch is so ingrained in British psych that he admitted years later: "Taxi drivers still call me Mr Preview,” and said he was happy that the sketch meant as much to everyone else as it did to him, and that several parts of it were (uncharacteristically for Morecambe and Wise) improvised: one example being “I’ll go fetch my baton.” “Please do.” “It’s in Chicago.” This ad-lib relived Eric: “I like him!”
Eric was worried sick that Andre read the script on the plane, and had no rehearsal. At "It's in Chicago" Eric realised how well it was going.
It wasn’t an adlib, it was Andre’s absolutely perfect timing which thrilled dad! He knew then that the sketch was going to fly❤
And it seems this sketch was even more amazing,
As the great Andre Previn was over in the USA doing a set of concerts then and when they asked him to be a guest star on the show
He found some time to fly overnight back to the UK so he could do the rehearsal for this point in their show!
So that is amazing enough,
But it seems that normally a guest star will do up to 3 weeks of rehearsals ahead of the time of the airing of the show so they can do the timing right of their part.
Since most were not actors, But just non comic celebs or stars etc.
Mr Andre Previn was a Genius composer and expert musician as you could see he could play the piano without any sheet music like a pro could.
He was so clever he in fact only had enough time to do the sketch with the minimum amount of time doing rehearsals!
So instead of doing 3 weeks worth he did it in 1 day worth, the 1st shoot was it.
Well, he was a Genius composer and Conductor and Classical Musician so timing was the thing he was good at.
Then he was off the next day back to the USA to carry on the concerts there!
That shows you how amazing he was tat he did all this perfectly in one go and in 1 day not 3 weeks.
Amazing man and Morcombe and wise were up there with Andre as amazing stars too.
The entire sketch was so clever & so charming to watch. RIP to those three wonderful entertainers.
A couple of things Andre Previn said subsequently to this. Firstly, whenever he got in a Taxi anywhere in the world, the driver called him Mr Previn. Except in London, where he was invariably called Mr Preview! Secondly, in his first Concert post this sketch, the Greig Piano Concerto was one of the performances. About ten seconds in, Andre Previn had to stop the Orchestra because the audience was laughing at the thought of what they’d seen a few weeks beforehand. 😂😂😂
They had no time to rehearse as Andre Previn had commitments in the USA. Morecambe and Wise had, however, performed this sketch some years before (there is a video on TH-cam somewhere). The line ‘fishing off Sir Henry Wood promenade’ is a reference to the Conductor Sir Henry Wood who conducted the ‘Promenade concerts’ or ‘Proms’ here in England.
" I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order," I thought it was so funny back then and it still makes me laugh now. I love Eric and Ernie.
For every other star they refused to let them come on the show unless they allowed time to rehearse. Previn was the exception.
Morecombe and Wise were incredible and people in the UK would judge their Christmas on how good the Morecombe and Wise's Christmas show was which the boys always said was a massive undertaking. They were truely incredible together and still to this day are sadly missed. I remember driving do work on a Sunday morning and the radio was just talking about Eric and I had no idea that he had come off stage the night before and had a masive myocardial infarction and passed away. He had suffered heart attacks in the past. The whole of the UK were devastated by his death. I think they did this sketch in one take.
Morecambe and Wise made so many great stars corpse in their shows. If you can find double Oscar winner Glenda Jackson as Cleopatra in one of Ernie wise's plays (what he wrote) you will see comic genius at work yet again.
And Shirley Bassey coming down an a Hollywood style staircase with one high heel shoe hanging off !
Absolute classic, I also love watching the orchestra in the background cracking up
Eric was a genuinely funny guy. You know somebody good when even after all their rehearsals the 'Band' still laughs. I can't explain how big these two were in the UK back then, and how much people mourned at his passing in 1984. He was extremely witty and yet could be poetic too. "I can never think of the time I spend idling in railway stations as lost; it's a waiting liberated from the three temporal vices of regret, anticipation or boredom, the weak echo of that bliss spent between lifetimes."
Their comedy was a part of my childhood and I still miss them even today.
As do I and reminiscent of more innocent times...
One of the most classic TV moments ever in Britain. Even today, Morecambe and Wise are rated as two of the top comedians ever. Try checking out some of their musical numbers
I would recommend Shirley bassey
I recommend their version of Singing In The Rain
@@SkeanDhu100 ...which is in the same Christmas special as our beloved Mr. Andrew Preview. It's a densely-packed show, this one!
There’s also sending Elton John on a wild goose chase.
I remember watching this with my family and it was the surprise factor of someone like Andre Previn not only agreeing to be on the programme but turning out to be so good as a straight man with such good timing.
Ah childhood flashback, these guys always made my Christmas better.
Can't believe I am still laughing at this after all these years! Timeless!
As someone who has played in loads of orchestras this always makes me laugh. Previn was a powerhouse, and watching the 1st violins crack up as Andre is being trolled is hilarious
The stories behind this sketch are wonderful - Previn only had a few hours to learn it, and Eric Morecambe (despite his image on screen) is an utter perfectionist and was horrified by the lack of practice they were going to have. He was overwhelmed by the way that it went.
And look at the faces of the BBC orchestra behind the three stars - they are revelling in it!
Editing my previous comment - no that's apocryphal, but he didn't have much time to rehearse, which somehow makes it better. They're so confident in what they're doing they're spontaneous as well.
And the band were cracked up laughing - it takes a lot to get hardened session musicians to laugh!
It was really interesting watching someone see that sketch for the first time. It holds a place in British culture. Everyone over a certain age can quote it.
On their Christmas Show for 1977, Elton John is meant to be special guest (he thinks), but only manages to perform his song, "Shine On Through", at the end after the audience has left. They keep the gag running all the way through the show, but he still performs the song beautifully. Money couldn't buy that kind of publicity! The punchline is brilliant, too!
This is comedic genius. They often interacted with famous names Mr. Previn responded perfectly by keeping a straight face. It was a standard joke that they had been lured to the show by false promises, and would rather be elsewhere. In fact the celebrities of the day loved being on the M & W show.
Eric and Ernie always rehearsed every sketch for days even though it looks messy but apparently Andre turned up late with no time for rehearsing and this was done off the cuff
He has brilliant comedy timing naturally and really makes the scene work
That slap on the face was totally unexpected also to one of the best conductors at the time
Watch the one with Shirley Bassey. Has me in fits of laughter even now.
we will never see the likes of Morcombe and Wise again ,classic timing you can see all the hard work that they did rising up thru the ranks of theatre's learning their art paid off big time for them , everyone wanted to be on their show and nearly everyone was ,
What's really interesting is that this is the one show that all the top stars from film, theatre and music, wanted to be invited to guest on. Not to perform by themselves, but to have the opportunity to appear in a sketch with Eric and Ernie. Which as we know always resulted in the most hilarious scenes.
The mention of 'Edward Heath'. He was an old British Prime Minister who also played the piano.
There was also a band leader called Ted Heath (this must refer to the PM though as the other Ted Heath died a couple of years prior).
Organ
Just look at the musicians laughing in the background : ) Andrew Preview : ) was one of the most highly respected pianists and conductors on the planet when this was filmed and to get someone of his calibre on the show, have him join in the fun and play his part so well showed the pulling power and writing chops of M&W They had so many stars on the show who were willing to be humiliated and sent up.
I've rarely seen a comedy bit with a non-comedian (Previn) play out this well.
Timing, not cracking up, not be like a fish out of water, not feel embarassed by the whole scene.
Previn's performance makes this work so well.
Next time you watch this look at the orchestra's reaction they're laughing just as much as the audience. Glad you enjoyed the sketch
Hello Mr Beard, if you get time look up Sean Lock stand up or especially clips of him on 8 out of 10 cats or 8. out of 10 cats does countdown, he passed away yesterday and was just sheer genius imo of course, you won’t be disappointed 👍🏻
Carrot in a box is a legend.
^ This. A thousand times this.
@@beeble2003 Both times.... RIP Carrot in a Box undefeated World Champ
@@beeble2003 I peed a little 😂
@@beeble2003 was in touch with his feelings twice, once with his wife, the other he braked for a horse 🐴 Lmaoooooo
The last piece Andre played was 'Popular Song' from the Façade suite by Sir William Walton. At the time, used as the theme tune for the BBC 2 music quiz 'Face The Music'.
M&W were famous for the amount of rehearsal time they expected their guests to put in so that each and everyone knew their lines and could get back into the sketch regardless of the ad libs and without laughing - for this sketch however, Andre was fresh off he plane and into the studio - what a natural talent, perfect timing in all the interactions.
The timing came from the fact that they became a double act when they were only just out their teens and and performed together thousands of times. They are still a national treasure here in the UK
I'm 26 (b. 1998, f) and live in the UK. I grew up watching and listening to Morecambe and Wise. I quoted this sketch ("I am playing all the right notes. Just not necessarily in the right order.") at a school music teacher when I was 14 after them pointing out a mistake I'd played. They cracked up and happy that someone old enough to be his grandchild (he was late 60s at least) knew such fabulous comedians.
An interview with the guys described how Andre Pevin's comic timing and acting was spot on and perfect as he got "it" immediately. I suppose musical timing and comic timing are identical hitting the beats at the right time.
Andre Previn was one of the biggest conductors in the world but he definitely wanted to be on there show all the big stars ⭐️ were cuing up to be invited on there show ,but Andre Previn didn’t do any rehearsals at all he read the script on the plane on his way to London they probably had about an hour if that .He was absolutely amazing and how he kept a straight face I’ll never know it’s one of there best sketches ever and we all still say I’m playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order one of the best lines ever We miss them so much Great Reaction Love 💕 from Denise in Yorkshire England 🏴😂😂😂👏👏👏👏💕👍🥰👋
EB, don’t know if you’ve seen it already, but the Eric and Ernie breakfast sketch is a must to watch.
You’ll love it
Oh my gosh, YES! One of the best sketches ever!
Yes yes yes!
Oh yes! The breakfast skit
One of my former colleagues was a schoolboy friend of Eric Morecombe's son, and he was round Eric Morecombe's house one day when Eric and another bloke (not Ernie, I think he said it was the scriptwriter) were doing all kinds of strange things in the kitchen. He didn't understand what they were doing until he saw the sketch during the Christmas special and he realised that they'd been testing out all the moves and timings
I remember very much this sketch when I was a wee teenager. I have a feeling it’s from M&W Christmas show of 1972/3. There Christmas shows were huge and the whole family sat round the TV on Christmas night just to watch these pure perfection comics. The viewing figures broke all records until the mid 80s I believe. Brings back wonderful memories with my family.
Apparently M&W were crazy on learning their lines, they rehearsed, rehearsed and rehearsed until all sketches were perfect but this sketch was different as Andre wasn’t available to rehearse with them and it’s said it was done in 1 take only.
One of my most favourite things to rewatch from time to time. Previn was amazing. With all that's going on take a moment to look at the orchestra behind cracking up, especially at the end.
Andre Previn read the sketch script on the way over to the studio, and went straight into the sketch. There was no rehearsal. He had such perfect timing as an orchestral conductor and composer that it was no problem for him at all. Notice how Eric opens up when Andre says he has to go get his baton from Chicago? That was add lib and not in the script, and Eric knew straight away that he was onto a comedic live wire with Andre, that he was on board with them, and that this was going to be an incredible sketch. After this sketch Andre Previn was elevated to a household name throughout the UK. He looks so straight laced, and indeed was a very famous composer and conductor, but Andre had an excellent sense of humor and a comedic timing that was in tune with the best in the business. You could watch this sketch time and time again. It is just timeless.
It was so funny watching the members of the orchestra losing it during the banter and bursting out laughing in the background. Andre Previn ad-libbed the whole routine. He was such a respected star, but loved the legends that were Eric & Ernie. In a time when you only had 3 tv channels, they owned the tv with their shows. This routine made Andre a national star.
Classic from Eric and Ernie there! When Eric says 'the three-piece suite by Arthur Negus', that's a reference to one of the presenters of a long running UK show called 'The Antiques Roadshow'.
The Antiques Roadshow did not start until 1979, quite a few years after this sketch was performed (1971 Christmas Show) but Arthur Negus was nevertheless a well-known TV personality from his regular appearances on Sunday afternoons on the BBC antiques programme "Going for a Song".
The reaction I have been waiting for.
Glad you enjoyed it Ian, although you may not have got all the references.
There is quite a backstory to the sketch, which has been covered here, already.
Previn hadn't basically rehearsed, but learned his lines on the plane over from the States, yep, then it was moreorless straight into the studio.
Eric was worried because of this, certainly. He did say to Andre to play it straight, and wow, did he just.
His relief when Andre said he had left his baton in Chicago - boom! As you say - perfect timing, and understanding between all three of them.
You'll notice Eric's round of applause at the end of the sketch - that was for Andre.
Andre was an accomplished jazz pianist before going into classical, and so had the gift of timing, and the knack of improvisation.
A classic sketch in this form, nope.
It is better than this. It is a national treasure.
Eric and Ernie had emphasised to Andre in rehearsals that he must remain series at all times and never laugh for it to work and he played it brilliantly.
Arthur Negus: antiques expert.
Edward Heath: Prime Minister 1970-1974, also a pianist.
Different Edward Heath. This one had his own orchestra.
@@josephturner4047 Luckily, the joke works both ways. Ted Heath, the politician, was an amateur conductor as well as a pianist.
@@ftumschk indeed, imagine a PM who had a clavichord in the No.10 flat. That's class. Not like the Etonian oaf we're saddled with now.
@@vilebrequin6923 LOL!
@@josephturner4047 No: they meant the Prime Minister (or ex-). That Edward (Ted) Heath was President of the LSO Trust. There is a commercial recording of him conducting the LSO in Elgar's Cockaigne Overture.
12:05 - Ernie Wise dancing along is just a brilliant addition.
I've seen this so many times and it still amazes me. All three are just incredible.
I know, each time you notice little bits you didn't see the last time.
This is one of the guests that they had on the show without any rehearsal, when Eric says he likes that man after Andrea said he'd get his Baton he learned the script on the flight from America and in the taxi, guests normally had two weeks rehearsal with Eric and Ernie for each show,I've pinged you some information and the interview in later years with Andre
Apparently because of other commitments, Previn was unable to fully rehearse this, which makes it so much better.
Yes. This one was genius. Was hoping you would get to see this one 😂
Morecambe and Wise were sticklers for their long rehearsals times. They would spend weeks with guest stars until everyone knew the sketch inside out and back to front. However, Previn was so busy he couldn't attend any rehearsals making Eric Morecambe, in particular, extremely nervous. In the sketch when Previn nails the line "I'll get my baton... it's in Chicago" Eric's reaction was very real and completely spontaneous because he was so relieved Previn had a sense of timing (a conductor with a great sense of timing go figure hahaha). On a side note, the sketch itself is one Erik and Ernie honed over many years and this is the very best version they ever performed.
Andre Previn was such a superstar in those days too, he crossed the line between the classical world and the popular world, everyone knew who he was.
Yup - he was hired by Hollywood whilst still at high school and, before becoming a jet-setting conductor, he had a major career as a composer and arranger of film music... winning 4 Oscars and umpteen Oscar nominations. As if that wasn't enough, he bagged 10 Grammy Awards as well. He was a seriously gifted musician.
This sketch is world-class I remember watching it when it was broadcast. The boys were at the top of their profession and Mr. Previn was a tour de force.
Eric & Ernie at the absolute top of their game. Christmas 1971 and a TV audience of 20million+, it was required viewing. As you say, the comedic timing is spot on. André Previn, a world-class international classical conductor working with these 2 masters & at no point being belittled, it was (& still is) a joy to watch. To appear on The Morecambe & Wise show, particularly the Christmas Night Special was a TV personality's crowning moment - they had *arrived!*
They got 28 Million sometimes, half of the whole population and that includes all those without a TV !
that fact that Andre Previn didnt rehearse this made it what it is the genuine look of horror on his when Eric starts playing gets me everytime
One of the greatest sketches ever
What's great about Eric and Ernie is every sketch has imperfections which makes them perfect. People forgetting lines, struggling to hold their shit together and not laugh. It's genius
Good reaction! Andre Previn was 'GOD', as a conductor, back in the day. And it's great to see his musicians' reactions when Eric grabs him and gives him a slap! Haaa!
Eric and Ernie met when they played in children’s vaudeville and sang and danced together. Hence their timing on everything is so good. (There’s a BBC play, “Eric and Ernie”, written by Victoria Wood that tells the tale really well.)
“Andrew Preview” didn’t have time for any rehearsals and just jumped right into it, straight from the airport.
I had stomach ache from laughing when I saw this whole sketch when it was first shown on UK TV...Morecambe and Wise were true comedy legends, and their shows were watched by millions in the UK..their trade mark humour was to have really famous guests on their show, and somehow get them to do all sorts of comedy routines, like this one, for example, in which they sent the guests up, got them to buy into the daft situations they put them in, and in the end produce comedic treasures like this.....and every sketch had the running gag that the guest, whoever it was, wasnt going to get paid for their appearance. Elton John appeared on their shows several times, just for a few seconds each time, either asking for the money they owed him, or, on one occasion, he appeared as a bus conductor, saying "I appeared on the Morecambe and Wise show, and now look at me....." in fact it almost became a mark of honour to be invited on their show just to be "insulted" or "humiliated!"
It's great to see those top notch orchestral players having an absolute blast
Xmas 1971 and perhaps the finest sketch ever
Hell '71 never, I shouldn't Remember that far back, bugger in gettin' old 😱
Seen this so many times and it’s still funny. Timing is spot on.
Have a look for some Les Dawson. He was a comic genius, incredibly intelligent story teller and great pianist. Getting the right notes, but in the wrong order
@ Jason, I agree, led's "bad piano playing sketches are great, it takes a talented pianist to play that badly. And his Enid?? Edna?? Knocks Mrs Brown into the bin
Damn auto correct 😠 les's not led's🤦♂️
They couldn't practise. Andre was held up and he looked at the script on his way over. It's amazing to think they never rehearsed it. It's a classic by our country's most brilliant comedy duo. To the Americans, all of their guests were distinguished in their field and they queued up to be made fools of by Eric and Ernie. They are missed terribly now.
Glenda Jackson, Peter Cushing, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones,, Andrew Preview twice, a whole host of British celebs.
This is a classic. And still funny after almost 50 years.
9:10
A big reason this is my favourite of all Morecambe & Wise bits is the back story. Eric & Ernie liked to do really intense rehearsals for about 2 weeks before filming date. But on this occasion (I think because he was touring around America) Andre wasn't available for rehearsals. So while Eric & Ernie did what they could without him Andre didn't learn the script until the flight over to do it.
Then when it came to the filming it was literally as Ernie was introducing him Andre confided to one of the producers how nervous he was. The producer's response: "It'll be fine. Just, whatever you do, don't find what you're doing funny" and off he stepped onto stage.
Eric & Ernie were nervous because of it too and at the start were clearly uncomfortable. It wasn't until Andre's "I'll get my baton, it's in Chicago" they relaxed. Eric's "He's in, I like him" was completely genuine
I know I’m showing my age, knowing who Andre Previn is, but, for the youngsters, he was a legendary conductor.. The most impressive thing is that, due to flight delays, he had NO opportunity to rehearse. Literally rushed to the studio, put on his tailcoat and they shouted ACTION!! Possibly the finest piece of improv I’ve ever seen.
All very much missed but never forgotten, Mr Preview was so loved in this country (UK) after this appearance, and with his other times on the show, I really think he had a great time with M&W
The beauty of this sketch was the fact that the orchestra was in stitches in the background
Actually Andre Previn hadn’t time to rehearse which worried Morecambe. They usually rehearsed for days