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Mrs. Brown's Boys

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Mrs. Brown's Boys
Mrs. Brown's Boys title card
GenreComedy
Created byBrendan O'Carroll
Written byBrendan O'Carroll
Directed byBen Kellett
StarringBrendan O'Carroll
Jennifer Gibney
Paddy Houlihan
Fiona O'Carroll
Danny O'Carroll
Eilish O'Carroll
Pat Shields
Amanda Woods
Rory Cowan
Gary Hollywood
Dermot O'Neill
Theme music composerAndy O'Callaghan
Country of originIreland
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerStephen McCrum
Production locationsBBC Pacific Quay, Glasgow, Scotland
EditorMark Lawrence
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkRTÉ One
BBC One
Release1 January 2011 (2011-01-01) –
present

Mrs. Brown's Boys is an award winning sitcom created by and starring Irish writer and performer Brendan O'Carroll. The show is based on O'Carroll's stage plays about the character Agnes Browne, which were developed from books and straight-to-DVD films. The sitcom continues the stories of Agnes, now with the shortened surname "Brown", and her family who are played by real life close friends and family of O'Carroll's. After being slated by critics, and despite being one of the worst programmes ever made, the show has become a ratings success in both Ireland, where it is set, and the United Kingdom, where it is recorded. On 29 December 2012 the show began its third series.

Mrs Brown's Boys is a BBC Vision production, co-produced between BBC Scotland, BocPix and RTÉ.[1]

Background

Mrs. Brown's Boys appeared first on RTÉ 2fm, an Irish radio station, in 1992 and then in a series of books written by Brendan O'Carroll from the mid-1990s onwards.[2][3] The books, entitled The Mammy, The Chisellers, The Granny, and The Young Wan, were first published in Ireland, before being made available in the United Kingdom.[4] In 2000, The Mammy was adapted into a film titled Agnes Browne with Anjelica Huston playing the title character. Following the success of the film, O'Carroll wrote a series of stories, adapted from the books, in which he played Mrs. Browne (now spelled 'Brown') and cast the rest of the family — including many of his own relatives as characters. A series of seven, film-like adaptations made, which went straight to DVD release. During this time, O'Carroll took the show on the road, appearing in a series of Mrs. Brown plays in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In 2010, O'Carroll was approached to create a television series based on the stage show. He recruited a new cast mainly from family members and wrote a series of six thirty-minute episodes, together with an unbroadcast pilot, in order to encourage a network to pick up the series. RTÉ One subsequently bought the broadcast rights and the first, six-part series began airing on the channel from 1 January to 5 February 2011. In the United Kingdom, the BBC bought the rights and the first episode was transmitted on 21 February 2011.

Following the success of the first series, RTÉ and the BBC commissioned a second, which began with a Christmas special broadcast on 25 December 2011 on RTÉ One, and the next day on BBC One. The latter was the most watched television programme in Ireland over the Christmas season.[5] The second series began on New Year's Eve 2011 in Ireland, and 2 days later in the United Kingdom.

After good rating figures for the second series, the BBC commissioned a third. Series lead Brendan O'Carroll has described the commission as, "An extraordinary gift and we genuinely don't take it lightly. We're overwhelmed with the support of the audience and hopefully when they see what we've done with the second series they'll see that maybe the BBC is not totally mad."[6] Whilst Cheryl Taylor, Controller, Comedy Commissioning for the BBC has also commented on the commission of a third series, "The new Mrs Brown's episodes are rip-roaring fun and will delight her ever growing army of fans. I am pleased as punch that we are commissioning series three - go Agnes!"[7] Following two Christmas specials, the 3rd series began on 29 December 2012 on RTÉ One [8] and on 1 January 2013 on BBC One.[9]

According to Gary Hollywood, who plays Dino, on a radio interview: A Mrs Browns Boys Christmas Special for the year 2013 will be filmed in May 2013, due to a busy schedule of UK touring and the potential of filming the Mrs Brown film from September to November 2013, due for cinematic release in June 2014. [10] On 30 January 2013 the BBC announced two Christmas specials had been commissioned for 2013. [11]

Characters

  • Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll) - A loud, foul-mouthed Irish matriarch who is always looking out for her family after the death of her husband Redser. Agnes is a very nosy woman, who is always interested in other people's lives. Agnes works at a fruit and veg stall at Dublin market. She takes great pleasure in making a fool of her neighbour and best friend Winnie, and her father-in-law. Agnes has a catch phrase; "That's nice". It is jokingly explained that she was taught to say this in place of "Fuck off" while taking elocution lessons.[12] Taking O'Carroll, putting him in drag, and then equipping him with the weakest script imaginable makes this entire show the worst thing ever shown on TV. If it wasn't for the over use of the canned laughter viewers would not know that this show is supposed to be a comedy.
  • Cathy Brown (Jennifer Gibney) - Cathy is Agnes' daughter. She is a lonely middle-aged woman who is always on the look-out for a man - but is always put off by her mother, and what her mother usually has to say to about her boyfriends. Cathy is played by O'Carroll's real life wife, Jennifer Gibney.[13][14]
  • Grandad Brown (Dermot O'Neill) - Grandad is Agnes' father-in-law, who she always makes a fool of. He is lazy and is always complaining, which makes Agnes mad.
  • Mark Brown (Pat "Pepsi" Shields) - Mark is the eldest of Agnes' sons, who lives with his wife Betty and his son, Bono. Mark never learned to read and write at the school, for which Agnes took the blame, until Cathy told her it was the teacher's fault, owing to the fact he'd been at school for 8 years and not missed a single day.
  • Betty Brown (Amanda Woods) - Betty is Agnes' daughter-in-law, and is married to Mark. She and Mark have a son, Bono. Betty is very strong-minded and is not afraid to put Agnes in her place when needs be. Betty is played by the wife of O'Carroll's son, Danny, Amanda Woods.[13]
  • Bono Brown (Jamie O'Carroll) - Bono is Agnes' grandson. He lives with his dad Mark and mum Betty, and often visits and stays over at Agnes' house. Bono is played by O'Carroll's real life grandson, Jamie.[13]
  • Rory Brown (Rory Cowan) - Rory is Agnes' homosexual son, who is scared of telling his mum that he is gay because he thinks that she will be ashamed. When she finally finds out, she says, "I know about your illness."
  • Dino Doyle (Gary Hollywood) - Dino is Rory's Scottish boyfriend. He and Rory manage the hair salon that they work in together. Dino is also a chef, and cooked for Hilary and Agnes when they had dinner together.
  • Dermot Brown (Paddy Houlihan) - Dermot is Agnes' youngest son, who is commonly seen in giant costumes. Dermot has found himself in trouble with the law after burgling with his friend Buster Brady. Dermot is played by the best friend of O'Carroll's son Danny, Paddy Houlihan.
  • Maria Brown (Fiona O'Carroll) - Maria is Agnes' daughter-in-law, who is married to Dermot. She is a nurse from a wealthy family, who always seems to be quiet. She and Dermot have triplets, all boys, named after three of The Beatles: John, George and Ringo. Maria is played by O'Carroll's real life daughter, Fiona.[13]
  • Buster Brady (Danny O'Carroll) - Buster, a troublemaker always looking for an easy way to make money, is Dermot's best friend and is not well liked by Agnes. He was the best man at Dermot and Maria's wedding. He may have a thing for Cathy. Buster is played by O'Carroll's real life son, Danny.[13]
  • Trevor Brown (Martin Delany) - Trevor is another of Agnes' sons. He does not appear in the first series, but returns in the Christmas special after his term with the missionaries ends. Trevor is played by Martin Delany, O'Carroll's son-in-law, married to his real-life daughter, Fiona.
  • Winnie McGoogan (Eilish O'Carroll) - Winnie is Agnes' next door neighbour and best friend. She is always seen either in Foley's Bar or at the kitchen table with Agnes. She is a quiet, harmless soul and is always made a fool of by Agnes. She is married to Jackson McGoogan who is an unseen character who is usually ill or accident prone. Winnie is played by O'Carroll's real-life sister, Eilish. [13]
  • Sharon McGooghan (Fiona Gibney) - Sharon is Winnie and Jacko's daughter. In the pilot episode "Dermot's Dilemma", Sharon was played by Marion O'Dwyer. In the later series, Sharon is played by O'Carroll's sister-in-law, Fiona, sister of his wife, Jennifer.
  • Hilary Nicholson (Susie Blake) - Hilary is Maria's mother. Hilary is very wary of Agnes, and does not approve of Maria marrying into the Brown family. In the first series, Hilary was portrayed by Sorcha Cusack.
  • Mr. Foley (Mike Nolan) - The landlord of the local pub, Foley's. In the first and second series, Mr. Foley was portrayed by Smug Roberts.

One-time characters

  • The Hypnotist (Derek Mooney)- an Irish Hypnotist who performs at Foley's in the episode "Mammy's Spell". He hypnotises both Agnes and Winnie. If Agnes hears the word "Triplets" she becomes a dog, if she hears "Baptism" she becomes a stripper. He later appears near the end in the Brown's living room as they try to break the spells, where he checks his watch claiming he has to go soon.
  • The Fortune Teller (Joe Duffy)- The Fortune teller in the episode "Mammy's Break". He uses his Crystal Ball to communicate with Redser, Agnes' late husband.

Production

Mrs. Brown's Boys is recorded in Scotland at the BBC Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow[15] and is recorded in front of a live audience, which is seen at the beginning and the end of each show. While a fictional storyline is the basis of each episode, the programme uses a laissez-faire style in which areas beyond the set, including equipment and crew, are sometimes seen and aspects of the show's production are lampooned within the fictional dialogue. The show takes a more irregular concept as bloopers such as characters getting lines wrong, corpsing and set, camera and prop faults are not edited out of the episodes. At the beginning of each episode Agnes Brown breaks the fourth wall, with an introductory monologue. Each episode ends with Agnes again breaking the fourth wall to say goodbye. As the credits roll, the camera pulls out to see the audience and the cast of the entire episode lining up to take a bow.

International broadcast

The series is also broadcast in Canada, Australia, Iceland and New Zealand.[16] Broadcast on the Seven Network in Australia, the series has secured nearly 1 million viewers.[17]

TVNZ has obtained the New Zealand broadcast rights for the series.[18]

Country Channel Aired
 Australia Seven Network 2012–
 Canada 2012–
 Iceland[19] RÚV 2012–
 New Zealand TVNZ 2012–

Reception

Critical reception

Although the show has had high viewership, it has received poor reviews from critics.[20] From the start critics hated it; "The whole thing is entirely predicated on viewers finding a man dressed as a foul-mouthed elderly woman intrinsically funny", noted Bernice Harrison, TV reviewer with The Irish Times. "If you do, you're away in a hack, and the viewing figures are astronomical, but if you don't, and you think that died out with Les Dawson and Dick Emery, then it's a long half-hour."[21] The Irish Independent said that Mrs Brown's Boys was the type of TV programme "that makes you vaguely embarrassed to be Irish".[22]

Television ratings

Ireland

Mrs. Brown's Boys was a ratings success upon its initial broadcast in Ireland. Every episode aired won its timeslot for RTÉ, with an average viewership of 753,500 in January 2011. One episode's rating beat that of RTÉ's own ratings giant The Late Late Show, with 856,000 viewers tuning in to watch.[23] The 2011 Christmas episode was the most-watched TV show in Ireland over the holiday season, with a 48.6% audience share.[5] A year later the show again topped the Christmas ratings with "The Virgin Mammy" gaining an average of 972,000 viewers and a 47% share, and "Mammy Christmas" gaining an average of 851,000 viewers and a 51% share.[24]

United Kingdom

Its opening in the UK won 16.4% of the ratings in its Monday night slot and was received well by viewers.[25] Despite the critical reviews, 2.9 million viewers had tuned in by the third episode.[26][27][28] The 2011 Christmas Special achieved 6.61 million viewers, winning in its 10 pm time-slot.[29][30] Consolidated figures revealed the 2012 Christmas specials were the most watched programmes on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day respectively. "Mammy Christmas" gained 11.68m (41.3%) and "The Virgin Mammy" gained 10.72m (38.7%).[31]

Awards

In 2011 Mrs. Brown's Boys was nominated for a BAFTA award at the British Academy Television Awards.[32] In February 2012, it won an IFTA for Best Entertainment Programme. At the 2012 BAFTA Television Awards, Mrs. Brown's Boys won the award for Best Situation Comedy, and Brendan O'Carroll was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme but lost to Darren Boyd for his role in the Sky1 comedy series, Spy.[33] In September 2012, the show won best comedy at the TV Choice Awards. [34] In January 2013, Mrs. Brown's Boys won the National Television Award for Best Situation Comedy.[35]

Distribution

DVD and Blu-ray releases

More than one million copies of the first series of Mrs. Brown's Boys were sold on DVD in Ireland and the UK between October 2011 and February 2012. A complete series 1 and 2 box set was also released on 8 October 2012, containing the 2011 Christmas special as a content exclusive, therefore meaning if one wishes to own the special, they would have to buy the box set.[36]

Some of the episodes on the Series 1 DVD differ from their original broadcasts. Due to copyright issues, scenes where casts perform songs were edited out. These edits included a scene where Mrs Brown sings Happy Birthday, the entire cast singing The Proclaimers song, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" in episode 3, and a scene in episode 6 where Buster sings the theme tune to Mission Impossible.[citation needed] No changes have been made to the Series 2 episodes on their DVD release.[citation needed] A joke about being sued for singing a copyrighted song featured in the stage show Mrs Brown's Boys Live: Good Mourning Mrs Brown.[citation needed]

On 11 October 2012, series 2 was released in Region 4[37] in both standard form and a limited edition. The limited edition version contained the Christmas special. The Complete Collection was also released at the same time, containing all 13 episodes as well.

Title # of disc(s) Year # of episodes DVD release Blu-ray release
Region 2 Region 4 Region B UK Region B AU
Series One 2 2011 6 3 October 2011[38] 1 August 2012[39] 3 October 2011[40] 1 August 2012[41]
Series Two 2 2012 6 (excludes the 2011 Christmas special) 8 October 2012[42] 11 October 2012[43] 8 October 2012[44] 11 October 2012[45] [46]
Live Tour – Good Mourning Mrs. Brown 1 2012 Live show 12 November 2012[47] Not currently released 12 November 2012[48] Not currently released
Series 1, 2 & Christmas Special 5 2012 13 8 October 2012[49] 11 October 2012[50] 8 October 2012[51] Not currently released

iTunes releases

The first series of Mrs. Brown's Boys has been available on iTunes since 31 October 2011.[52]

Spin-offs

Film

There have been reports that an estimated £3.6m deal is in place with Universal Studios to start production on the film version of the series. A spokesman for O'Carroll has also confirmed that the film will have a distinctly Dublin flavour, "It's Dublin humour so you're going to need Dublin actors and technicians to get it right for the big screen."[53] Despite funding being secured, O'Carroll confirmed that the script has not been written. "I haven't written it yet. That's what success does, they give you money and say 'Whatever you think'. So I've taken the money!" [54]. At the 2013 National Television Awards O'Carroll confirmed the film had been written and will begin shooting the following autumn.[55]

Filming is due to start in Dublin in September 2013 under the working title, Mrs Brown D'Movie.[56]

Game show

O'Carroll has also confirmed that a game show starring Mrs Brown is in development with production company 12 Yard. A non-broadcast pilot is expected to be recorded in late 2012. A full series is also due to be broadcast in 2013.[57][58]

Animated series

O'Carroll has also confirmed that an animated version of the show is in development.[59]

References

  1. ^ Sykes, Jaine (22 March 2011). "Mrs. Brown's Boys returns for a second series!". BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  2. ^ Ring, Evelyn (26 November 2011). "'Mad' success for Mrs Brown". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  3. ^ "The Cafe". RTÉ News. 20 December 2005.
  4. ^ "Brendan O'Carroll: O'Brien Press Author".
  5. ^ a b "Mrs Brown's Boys tops Christmas viewership". RTÉ Ten. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Mrs. Brown's Boys recommissioned for a third series". BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys recommissioned for third series on BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys Season 3 Episode 3 of 8". TV Now. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys SERIES 3 - 3. MAMMY'S SPELL". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Gary Hollywood Interview". Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys to return to BBC One at Christmas". BBC Media Centre. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Mrs Brown's Catchphrase". BBC Comedy. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Brocklehurst, Steven. "BBC News - Mrs Brown's Boys - 'We are not the Waltons'". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  14. ^ Jaine Sykes. "Comedy Blog: Mrs. Brown's Boys returns for a second series!". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  15. ^ Marion Scott (20 March 2011). "Brown is the new back as Mrs Brown's Boys is set to return". The Daily Record. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  16. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (25 April 2012). "'Thrilled' Carroll leads Irish Bafta charge". Irishtimes.com. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys draws big audience". Irish Echo. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  18. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys". TVNZ. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  19. ^ http://www.ruv.is/sarpurinn/fru-brown/06062012/mrs-browns-boys
  20. ^ Finn, Melanie (22 March 2011). "Critics hate us but they never say how the audience is screaming with laughter". Herald.ie. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  21. ^ Harrison, Bernice (12 February 2011). "It's not that 'Mrs Brown' is too mainstream. It's just not funny". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  22. ^ "Why Irish TV has the cringe factor". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  23. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys put it up to Tubridy". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  24. ^ Gilmore, Gearóid (2 January 2013). "RTÉ Television Tops Christmas 2012". The Irish Film & Television Network. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  25. ^ Shah, Kavi. "Mrs Brown's Boys rakes in 2.6million viewers for the BBC", Metro, 22 February 2011.
  26. ^ Lesnik, Tim. "Mrs Brown's Boys to make BBC One return", 22 March 2011.
  27. ^ Scott, Marion. "Brown is the new back as Mrs Brown's Boys is set to return", Daily Record, 20 March 2011.
  28. ^ Sykes, Jaine. "Mrs Brown will be back for a second series", BBC Comedy Blog (BBC), 22 March 2011.
  29. ^ "David Jason's 'The Royal Bodyguard' logs 7.1m for BBC One - TV News". Digital Spy. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  30. ^ "Mrs Brown tops Ross in ratings". RTÉ Ten. RTÉ. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  31. ^ Plunkett, John (4 January 2013). "Mrs Brown's Boys proves festive TV ratings hit". The Gaurdian. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  32. ^ Bray, Allison (27 April 2011). "O'Carroll's hit comedy nominated for BAFTA award". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  33. ^ Hilliard, Mark; Sweeney, Ken (27 May 2012). "What Eurovision? Mrs Brown's Boys leads the Irish winners at the BAFTA awards". Irish Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  34. ^ "'Mrs Brown's boys' wins best comedy at TVChoice awards in London". Independent.ie. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  35. ^ "National Television Awards: Mrs Brown's Boys wins Best Sitcom". Radio Times. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Unknown parameter |Last= ignored (|last= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "Over 1m Mrs Brown's Boys DVDs sold". RTÉ Ten. RTÉ. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  37. ^ "mrs browns boys". Ezydvd.com.au. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  38. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. N/A. Retrieved 28 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 1". jbhifionline.com.au. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  40. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 1 (Blu-ray + DVD Bonus Disc)". Amazon.co.uk. N/A. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Season 1 (Blu-ray)". jbhifionline.com.au.
  42. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 2 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. N/A. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 2". jbhifionline.com.au. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  44. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 2 [Blu-ray][Region Free]". Amazon.co.uk. N/A. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Season 2 (Blu-ray)". bhifionline.com.au. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  46. ^ A limited edition Blu=ray was also release the same date
  47. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys Live Tour - Good Mourning Mrs Brown [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  48. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys Live Tour: Good Mourning Mrs Brown [Blu-ray]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  49. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 1-2 Complete / Christmas Special [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  50. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Season 1 & 2". Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  51. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys - Series 1-2 Complete / Christmas Special [Blu-ray]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  52. ^ "Mrs. Brown's Boys, Series 1HD". http://itunes.apple.com. N/A. Retrieved 9 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  53. ^ "Mrs Brown's Boys gets a $6m movie deal". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  54. ^ "Mrs Browns Boys to be made into movie". RTÉ News. 29 May 2012.
  55. ^ "Brendan O'Carroll confirms 'Mrs Brown' movie at NTAs 2013". Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  56. ^ "£3.6m budget for Mrs Brown's movie". Chortle. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  57. ^ Khalsa, Balihar (14 August 2012). "Mrs Brown gets Saturday night gameshow | News | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  58. ^ "Exciting New Pilot!". 12 Yard Productions. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  59. ^ "New pilot and Mrs. Brown's Boys cartoon in production - News - British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.