I didn't get where I am today by filling out stupid polls!

[servermonkey]

Recently, Rachel told me that she thought the British "cock-up" expression used for when things get all fouled (you thought I was going to use the other F word, didn't you?) up was great. Hearing Helen Mirren say it all the time must have had some effect on her. A couple of my favorites originate from The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, a little seen show that I was fortunate enough to catch on WPBT a long time ago. C.J. (the boss) would always go around saying such classics as:

• I didn't get where I am today by having green frogs thrust down my crotch.


• I didn't get where I am today by thinking.


• I didn't get where I am today by biting people in the changing room.


• I didn't get where I am today by wearing underpants decorated with Beethoven.


• I didn't get where I am today by everything smelling of Bolivian unicyclist's jockstraps!


• I didn't get where I am today by sleeping with sweaty, Caledonian chefs!


• I didn't get where I am today by drinking a liquid that's only been tested on pencils!

He also butchered other expressions as only his character could. An example, "It's the early bird that catches the quick brown fox." A spoonerism variation, I guess? Another guy on the show went around saying "Super!" (sounded more like soo-pa!). I loved watching PBS in my youth, I tell ya! I mean, where else would I have seen Dave Allen at Large, Doctor in the House, Fawlty Towers, Dr. Who, Red Dwarf, Topper (don't ask, but yeah, I watched it from time to time), et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[Poll #313852]

Comments

Topper

[syreene.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that a Carey Grant movie about a ghost? :/

Re: Topper

[servermonkey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it was. I watched the series based on it, I believe. A lot.

Re: Topper

[syreene.livejournal.com]

Huh...never knew there was a series. :/

Re: Topper

[servermonkey.livejournal.com]

Oh, I found it to be very entertaining. I really thought Anne Jeffreys (http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/topper-2.jpg) was good looking when I was younger, too.

Re: Topper

[syreene.livejournal.com]

Not bad in that 50s elegance kind of way. ;)

[servermonkey.livejournal.com]

Howdy. Pretty cool about the origin of the phrase, I'll have to tell Rachel about that.