Hale and Pace
Hale and Pace are an English Comedy duo who have starred in several TV sketch series. Gareth Hale and Norman Pace met at a teacher-training college in Eltham, south-east London, and roomed together. They discovered much in common, particularly humour, and began playing clubs in a comedy band. This developed into sketch writing, with the duo appearing in the BBC Radio sketch show Don't Stop Now, It's Fundation. Their early TV break came on The Entertainers (1984), Pushing Up Daisies (1984) and the Saturday Gang (1986).
After a single one-off special for London Weekend Television in Christmas 1986, they were given a full series in 1988. Their relationship with ITV lasted a decade, with most of their programmes going out around 10pm on a Sunday. Their most famous comic creations are the bouncers The Two Rons - also known as The Management; and children's TV presenters Billy (Hale) and Johnny (Pace). A number of their TV sketches caused controversy, especially a scene performed when they pretended to have microwaved a cat. This clip got them onto the top 50 on "50 most shocking comedy moments" and they believe that the sketch gave them the notoriety that have kept them in work for all successive series.
Hale & Pace's characters "The Two Ronnies" also had a spin-off series of their own called "The Management (iMDB link)" which included a number of their regular cast in permanent positions and ran for a total of 6 episodes. This series was released on video, and is usually easily available through specialist second-hand video shops. Although funny, The Management wasn't the same format as H&P's normal sketch style so didn't feel the same.
Hale & Pace also have appeared on The Young Ones three times, in the episodes Flood, Nasty and Time
Hale and Pace moved across to the BBC in 1997 and starred in the three-part series, Jobs for the Boys (BBC), a non-comedic show in which they took on a variety of employment challenges. A hybrid variety/comedy/quiz/people-show hotchpotch h&p@bbc (1999) was a flop. Similarly, their dramatisation of the Dalziel and Pascoe detectives for ITV in 1994 did not lead to success, and the BBC later attempted the serialisations with more success, with Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan in the title roles.
They've also made several specials, like the 1996 Showcase Hale And Pace Down Under from Australia and April Fools Day.
Season 1 (1988) - 7 episodes
Aired (UK): 02/10/1988 - 13/11/1988
Director: Vic Finch, Producer: Alan Nixon
Episode theme
Each episode starts with a sketch before proceeding to the introduction which is a colourful montage of Hale & Pace. Both comedians have individual stills of them shot from the waist up and then shown in a quick sequence. A colourful background is used during the introduction consisting mainly of a purple/pink colour also has splashes of yellow and green. At its end, the title of the show is shown with the names Hale (green colour) and Pace (yellow colour). Each episode finishes with a sketch after the rolling credits and then the letters "London_Weekend_Television" and Roman numerals (MCMLXXXVIII). There are quite a few live stage performances during this season including the two Ron's regularly appearing on a stage balcony.
Recurring sketches
Two Rons (with rubber chicken)
Billy & Johnny
Jed & Dave
"Readings from my latest anthology", by Groovy Wordbender (1) Don't be a square, be a rhombus (2) Ain't got no Daddio, bastardio (3) Nitrous oxide - What a gas!
Guy being greased, mimiking TV Series The Singing Detective
Deliberate blooper segments
Antique roadshow
Memorable sketches
Welcome to the CIA (takeoff of Godfather movie)
Jennings & O'Keefe prison gardening
Two "unfit" pool players
The brother who broke the rules and gets punished
"Save the cat" (music recording)
The Walkman brothers
Jack and Hank (the pianoplayer)
Sir Walter Riley & the banana
Sid of the Sunday league
Season 2 (1989) - 6 episodes
Aired (UK): 01/10/1989 - 05/11/1989
Director: David.G.Hillier, Producer: Alan Nixon
Episode theme
The introduction is identical to the 1st season (1988). At the end of the episode, the year in Roman numerals is shown (MCMCXXXIX).
Recurring sketches
The two Ron's
Billy & Johnny
Jed & Dave
Memorable sketches
Fatal irritation
Guide cat
Simon & Garfunkel impersonation
The English dead
Season 3 (1990) - 6 episodes
Aired (UK): 30/09/1990 - 04/11/1990 Director: David.G.Hillier, Producer: Alan Nixon
Episode theme
The introduction shows Hale & Pace in an early 20th century setting with Hale wearing an old hat and Pace wearing a monocle. Chickens, chicken feathers and a rubber chicken are being shaken around the room for some reason. The introduction finishes zooming in on their faces, at which point they both stick out their tongues, with Hale's tongue showing "Hale" written on it and Pace's showing "Pace". The "&" is written on Pace's hand which is positioned behind them but between their two heads, therefore clearing presenting the title "Hale & Pace". Each show finishes with a nude shot of Hale & Pace's backsides each with their name written on it (i.e. mimicking the introduction with the tongues). A still image of "London_Weekend_Television - An London_Weekend_Television production" and Roman numerals (MCMXC) are shown.
Recurring sketches
Old men sitting in chairs talking
The two Ron's
Memorable sketches
Jazz duet
"I'll have a go"
"The Humpada" (musical takeoff of the "Lambada")
- This sketch (the humpada) has since been considered by H&P as one of their worst ever ideas
Season 4 (1991) - 6 episodes
Aired (UK): 29/09/1991 - 03/11/1991
Director & Producer: David.G.Hillier
Episode theme
A water theme is used for this season for the credits and ad-breaks. Hale & Pace have the appearance of being submerged in water and focussing on fish swimming past them. A shark swims right to left across the screen and then opens its jaws to begin the show. When cutting to commercials, the same shark actually shows Hale & Pace in its mouth. The episodes conclude with a single sketch followed by the text "An London_Weekend_Television production for ITV" and the year in Roman numerals (MCMXCI).
Recurring sketches
The two Ron's
Jed & Dave
Billy & Johnny
Memorable sketches
Fight when paying for a bill
Studying for an Open University degree at prison
The Managing Director (musical)
Higgen's VS Armitage's gangs (acting like children)
Why Are You So Fat
Backward's Beer
House
What Are You Looking At
Utterly Rotten To Be Ginger
Season 5 (1993) - 7 episodes
Aired (UK): 24/01/1993 - 07/03/1993
Season 6 (1993) - 7 episodes
Aired (UK): 19/09/1993 - 31/10/1993
Season 7 (1994) - 7 episodes
Aired (UK): 18/09/1994 - 30/10/1994
Season 8 (1995) - 7 episodes
Aired (UK): 08/10/1995 - 19/11/1995
Director: Peter Orton, Producer: Mark Robson
Episode theme
Episode introduction includes Hale & Pace dancing and jiratting in front of a black & white digital background. In most cases, the black & white is unevenly represented on the screen (i.e. sometimes more black than white and vice-versa). No formal title (Hale & Pace) is displayed but the duo perform a voiceover introducing the show as "Hale & Pace". Hale walks through a door which acts as a transition from the introduction to the opening sketch. There are also many sketches performed on a live stage during this season where the stage contains an enormous background prop with the letters "HALE" placed on top of "PACE". Each episode concludes with rolling credits and two consecutive stills: (1) LWTP (London_Weekend_Television Productions) graphic (2) "An London_Weekend_Television programme for ITV" and the year in Roman numerals (MCMXCV).
Recurring sketches
Billy & Johnny
Curly & Nige: (1) Hospital porters (2) Go camping
Jed & Dave on the road
London cabbies
John & Yokel
Sven & Benny (in a sauna)
Nun commenting on famous artwork
Uncle who says "What's that then?"
Memorable sketches
Sunburst Butter commercial with Sir Norman & Sir Gareth
Christmas Day 1916 soccer match (in no man's land)
"In Person" interview
The Proclaimers impersonation
Sir Richard
REM impersonation
Season 9 (1997) - 7 episodes
Aired (UK): 05/01/1997 - 16/02/1997
Episode theme
The introduction shows 4 separate pieces of the faces of Hale & Pace being jumbled and put together correctly. Their faces are changing expressions whilst being put together and once completed their name (i.e Gareth Hale) appears in a small board area. At the end of the introduction, the camera zooms in to the small board showing the show's title "Hale & Pace". It then transitions to the first sketch of the show.
Recurring sketches
London cabbies
Waiter/s with "black pepper"
Are you nervous...nervous now?
Curly & Nige: (1) In the garage (2) At the D.I.Y shop
American sherrif & his deputy
Rappers with baggy clothes
Yorkshiremen
Crime boss & his muscle
Two redheads who copy the end of what people say
Transpotters
Elderly gentleman who can't swear
Meditating man who wishes for things to happen
Memorable sketches
Scary butler
Killing machine
Mr.Eddie 'Razor Shallow-Grave Chainsaw' Slater
DFI furniture outlet sale
Somebody up there wears big trousers
Monseur Collins at the casino
Count Cleansing
Oaday Mock Of Oasis
Season 10 (1998) - 6 episodes
Aired (UK): 23/07/1998 - 27/08/1998
Quotes
Their classic Estate Agents song is still sung by frustrated housebuyers to this day:
"R.Sole & Sons are we,
We are sole agents for your property;
We'll sell your house or a piece of your land,
and all it'll cost is a couple of grand;
We'll take a few pictures and stick them on the wall,
Then we'll sit around and do bugger all."
In the ninth series, Norman Pace played a meditating man who wished for things:
"Ah ummmmmmmmmmmmm I wish I could have sex with a model ah ummmmmmmm"...
(fades out then back in, with Pace not sitting very comfortably)
..."Ah ummmmmmmmm I wish I could have sex with a FEMALE model ah ummmmmmmm"
- (Paraphrased - Words aren't exactly as used)
The Stonk
In 1991 they released a charity single in aid of Comic Relief. The Stonk, based on a ficticious dance craze was written by Joe Griffiths and Hale and Pace and was produced by Queen guitarist Brian May who also featured on the track. A UK number one single for one week in March 1991, to date it is their sole chart single and raised £100,000 for Comic Relief.
A second and unlikely attempt at the charts was made in April 2007 after their comedy version of Amy Winehouse's single Rehab attracted minor coverage in the press. This followed an incident at the comedy awards when Amy's mother, who the duo was unaware was in the crowd for their performance, took exception to the lyrics of their version (which are less than flattering to her daughter) and hurled a bottle at the stage, hitting Hale above the eye leaving him needing stitches. The story was run in several tabloids and a hasty release of their version was arranged, however by the time it hit the shops, the publicity had faded and the song failed to make the top 100.
DVD box sets
Their first four seasons are to be released on DVD on 2nd July 2007.