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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Monkey returns to UK terrestrial TV - Friday nights on Channel 4!

  
 
Saiyuuki
10:45 / 02.08.03
Taken from http://www.monkeyheaven.com/ -

In the early 1980s, the BBC showed the cult Japanese TV show Monkey every Friday at 6pm on BBC2.
In January 2003, after an absence of over 17 years, Monkey returned to UK terrestrial TV.
The first 13 episodes of Monkey were shown on Channel 4 on Thursday nights between January and April 2003.

These episodes were hugely popular, with up to 500,000 people tuning in each week!
In response to public demand, Channel 4 have decided to screen the next 26 episodes of Monkey. It will be shown on Friday nights, after midnight (i.e. early hours of Saturday morning).

Monkey episode 14 will be shown on Channel 4 on Friday 8 August 2003 night, after midnight, at 01:40am - 02:30am (i.e. early hours of Saturday 9 August 2003)

Note: The screening slots at that time of night are very flexible, so it's very possible that the slot will change during the 26 weeks, so keep checking TV guides every week to make sure you don't miss any Monkey episodes because of any rescheduling!

Please spread the word and help make these episodes as popular as they can possibly be!

Here's a synopsis of Monkey episode 14 to whet your appetite...

Monkey episode 14: Catfish, Saint and the Shape-Changer
The pilgrims enter a volcanic land that is plagued by earthquakes caused by the frequent quarrelling of two local demons; a catfish demon and a faceless shape-changer demon, who can take on the shape of anyone. The holy priest San-Chung tells Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and Tripitaka that one of them is the shape-changer. Unable to cope with this revelation, they go their separate ways.

Other Monkey news:
- Awesome new dance remixes of the theme song from Monkey, "Monkey Magic", will be released in the UK later in 2003! Go to http://www.grebeau.co.uk/ to hear preview clips from these remixes.
- Following rave reviews in New York, a stage version of the Monkey story hits this year's Edinburgh Festival between Monday 4 - Saturday 9 August 2003
- Monkey has been nominated in this year's International Cult TV awards, to be presented at the UK's annual Cult TV festival (http://www.cult.tv/)
- All the episodes of Monkey ever made are now available on DVD in the UK!

Keep checking out http://www.monkeyheaven.com/ for the latest Monkey news & information, the OFFICIAL MONKEY SCREENSAVER for Windows, Monkey e-cards, and more.
 
 
A
03:08 / 04.08.03
THe nature of Monkey was irrepressible!
 
 
Saiyuuki
18:02 / 14.08.03
I've heard from Channel 4 that approx. 1/5 million viewers tuned in to watch the Monkey episode 14 at 1.40am last Friday night!!!!

If more and more people watch it, you never know, Channel 4 may move it to a better timeslot

So if you can, please spread the word...

This week's episode "Monkey Meets the Demon Digger" will be shown:
- Channel 4, Friday 15 August night, after midnight, at 01:50am - 02:45am.

It's an absolute classic, and a little-known fact is that this episode features 2 songs sung by Masaaki Sakai, Monkey himself! (one of them is his Japanese version of the classic Godiego ballad "Thank You, Baby")

Here's my synopsis of this episode, that I wrote for the Monkey videos and DVDs...

Episode 15 - Friday 15 August 2003 night: 01:50am - 02:45am
(i.e. after midnight on *Friday night*)
Monkey Meets the Demon Digger
While climbing a mountain, the pilgrims discover a man who's been digging a tunnel through the mountain for the past twenty-two years, to provide an easier route for travellers. Ever-helpful Tripitaka tells his reluctant disciples that they must all stay and help dig the tunnel until it's finished. When Monkey uses his magic to help speed things up, Tripitaka is furious and dismisses him. Without Monkey around, the pilgrims fall into grave danger.

Don't miss it!

To keep up with the latest Monkey news & info, including any updates to the Monkey screening schedule on Channel 4, keep checking http://www.monkeyheaven.com/
 
 
A
04:09 / 15.08.03
There's this one episode where Monkey calls the bad guys "poofters", I sear to God. He's like beating on their door, or something, and yelling "IDIOTS!!! POOFTERS!!!"
 
 
w1rebaby
12:41 / 15.08.03
Hmm. "Saiyuuki" wouldn't perhaps be the same guy/ess who's been spamming Urban75 with this as well, by any chance? You know, the one we've just banned.
 
 
Saiyuuki
15:43 / 15.08.03
Count Adam ->
yep, in Monkey episode 2 - "Monkey Turns Nursemaid", Monkey refers to a demon as a poofter... not very PC!
(there's lots of mad memories of Monkey sent in by fans on this page: http://www.monkeyheaven.com/memories.html)

fradgemagnet ->
yes, I'm the same saiyuuki that posted some announcements to urban75 about the Monkey rerun. I justed wanted to let people know about the Monkey rerun on Channel 4 - there's been no PR by Channel 4 about the rerun, and it's on at such an obscure time that I thought I'd try to get the message spread. I didn't think I was spamming - I posted to the "books/films/TV/radio/writing" forum on urban75, so my message was on-topic in that respect (I always think of spam being when someone posts something completely unrelated to a person / forum etc. - e.g. advertising viagra on a cookery forum, or mortgages on a tv/film forum). I've already announced the rerun on my web site http://www.monkeyheaven.com/ and thought it'd be good to let lots of others know - sorry you interpreted it as spam ;(
My original reason for posting to the urban75 forums was that back in January, when Channel 4 reran the first 13 Monkey episodes, there was a discussion on urban75 about the rerun, and someone posted a link to my site - so I found the forum via the referral. Knowing that there's an interest in Monkey on the urban75 tv/film etc. forum, I thought it'd be good to let those interested know about the rerun continuing

The nature of Monkey was irrepressible!
 
 
w1rebaby
16:54 / 15.08.03
Well, this is not the place to get into a discussion about U75 posting regs but a look at the FAQ might clear how we define spam, i.e. as pretty much anything that's not actually a discussion topic.
 
 
NotBlue
20:57 / 15.08.03
The only thing =you arre equal heavean or, need some peaches.

Or you are an arrogant man, who takes it on, like me...
 
  
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