The Young Ones

[Miss Zippy]

Does anyone recall seeing strange little 'clips' appear in some episodes of the Young Ones. They literally lasted one second. The only one I can remember offhand is a clip of a frog leaping. A friend of mine once said this was a form of subliminal advertising, though think he was probably having me on. Anyone know what these strange little clips meant?

[andy hughes]

Your friend is right - the clips used to be used as subliminal (the eye doesn't always register the image, but the brain does) messages, often for advertising purposes - I believe the idea is American in origin. A few of the more 'subversive' comedies, notably 'Brass Eye' have used the technique, but it is banned from use now.

[andy hughes]

Sorry - as regards the use of them - originally they were to imbed advertising images in the eyes of the viewers, but in domestic comedy, they were just there to make things a little more off-kilter, and add to the amusement of the audience - hence the inocence of the image you remember.

[jenstar]

It was just a kind of "hey, we're very subversive so this is the sort of wacky thing we do" sort of thing. Spitting Image did a few subliminal images too, but they stopped after Magnus Magnusson threatened to sue them over doing one of his head stuck on a woman's body.

[xyzzyplugh]

I specifically remember one was a dove flapping, I seem to remember the frog too. Closer inspection of their vids reveals much more than 'flash subliminals'; i.e. dozens of deliberate mistakes and jokes which you only noticed after repeat playings. e.g. the chewing gum on Rick's boots. :-) BTW the logo on Lemmy's guitar in the 'ace of spades' clip said 'Out to Lunch'

[gazzawazza]

I seem to remember they were called "Blip-verts."

[brawburd]

that would explain my strange purchases - 420 frogs and 187 dives free to a good home, never could work out why I wanted them! :]

[trough]

I believe 'blipverts' were actually used (or proposed for use) in cinemas sometime in the late 60s/early 70s, but were banned. In The Young Ones, as well as the frog and the dove, there was also the final 'The End' shot from Carry On Cowboy!