Dom Robinson reviews

Distributed by
PT Video

Cert:

Cat.no: PTDVD 8115

Running time: 96 minutes

Year: varies

Pressing: 2001

Region(s): 0, PAL

Chapters: 7

Sound: Mono

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-Enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 5

Price: £9.99

Extras: None

Cast:

Geoffrey, Zippy, Bungle, George, Rod, Jane, Freddy/Roger

And so the groovy drum solo that followed - and in fact the whole programme itself - made this probably the ultimate student television experience to cure a night out on the beer, or a perfect excuse to skip morning lectures, even if it didn't start until midday.

For anyone not up to speed, the programme is about an odd bunch who live in a house. The only human is Geoffrey, then there's a talking bear called Bungle who walks around naked by day but at bedtime has to put his pyjamas on. George is a pink male hippo who just may or may not be gay and finally comes Zippy, a weird orange creature with a zip for a mouth. Who can tell WHAT he really is?

Each episode lasts around 13 minutes and features a lot of play acting, songs and the occasional moral to be learned, with bizarre rainbow-inspired cartoon clips between scenes. If you're really lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of Rod, Jane and Freddy, the latter of which was replaced with Roger early on, who later went on to appear in that great soap Eldorado as Bunny.

There are seven episodes on this disc :

• Zipman and Bobbin: The caped crusader has nothing to fear as Zippy and George turn into a version of the daring duo and Geoffrey plays the Joker! He's no Jack Nicholson!
• Zippy's in Love: Zippy falls for a Children's ITV presenter called Debbie, even to the point of having wet dreams about her and getting mercilessly teased by the others. Just wait until his love poem gets read out on air... If he can get her to visit him, how can I persuade Kate Russell to do the same? :)
• Hot Day: It's a long hot summer (when did we last have one of those?) and some old dear with ginger hair pops round to tell a story. Bungle's shy about everyone seeing him in his swimming trunks, but the rest of the time he's naked(!)
• Zippy Sets Them Up!: Zippy makes promises of being helpful, but he's not normally like this and so it arouses suspicion. Naturally, his bluff is called.
• Bungle's High and Mighty Day: It's time for a cross-over as Bungle gets an invitation to Sooty's birthday party. As it's addressed only to him, his big head gets even bigger, forcing Geoffrey to share a bed with Zippy and George.
• Zippy Wants to be a Comedian: Morecambe and Wise fans take note as Little Ern pays a visit to the Rainbow household to teach him the tricks of the trade.
• George's Secret Wish: For all the speculation it could be a season pass to the Manchester Mardi Gras, or a pink feather scarf if the 2002 Rainbow Calendar is anything to go by.