Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10698 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-11-10
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 365 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Created by and starring Bolton-born comic Peter Kay, Phoenix Nights is one of those rare gems that few saw on first showing but that everyone was soon talking about. The first series introduces wheelchair-bound Brian Potter (Kay), who runs the titular Phoenix, a shabby social club populated by an assortment of wonderfully observed characters. It's grim up North and despite the best efforts of the staff to inject life into the proceedings--be it an alternative comedy night, a version of Robot Wars in Potter's beloved Pennine Suite or a Wild West extravaganza--each evening's entertainment always ends badly. Undaunted, the Phoenix denizens continue to strive for their dream: a world in which "clubland never dies".

The beginning of the second series sees Brian Potter's beloved Phoenix Club lying in ashes and the staff scattered to the four winds. Even club compere Jerry St Clair is reduced to singing "Come get your black bin bags" to the tune of Men in Black in the local supermarket. But not even being barred from having a licence for the rest of his natural life can deter the northern Svengali from reopening the club and making it bigger and better than before--even if that means making Jerry the licensee and offering up-market Chinese nosh. --Kristen Bowditch

Special Features
Series 1:

• One Man And His Horse (documentary)
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Out-takes
  
• Uncut Armchair Super Store
  
• Trailers
  
• Peter Kay commentary

Series 2:

• It'll Be Alright On The Phoenix Nights 2 featuring out-takes from the series
  
• Brian Potter on Comic Relief
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Trailers
  
• Director and cast commentary and a few special treats

DVD Technical Information:

• Total Running Time: 290 minutes
  
• Region Code: 2
  
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
  
• Wide Screen
  
• Subtitles: English for the Hearing Impaired

Synopsis
Lancastrian comedy genius Peter Kay is the star of the irrepressible PHOENIX NIGHTS.
Series One:
The complete first series of this now-cult comedy series written by and starring the multi-faceted Peter Kay. He stars as a multitude of crazy characters, particularly wheelchair bound club owner Brian Potter. Potter and his employees have been rebuilding Bolton's Phoenix Club following a fairy-lights fire last Christmas. The series charts the comic attempts Potter makes at luring punters back from rival club The Banana Grove. He must combat racist folk groups, unseeing psychics and a drunken horse, cue "Talent Trek" Night--a sure-fire success!

Customer Reviews

Super, Smashing, Great! This is a Brilliant Box Set!
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights has to be with out doubt one of the best comedy sitcoms of recent times combining side splitting laugh out loud moments with subtle one liners and offbeat quips that will offend some, and leave the majority in fits of laughter.
Most people won't get all the jokes first time around, and you'll probably find that the more you watch it, the more you get out of it, weather its one of Kenny's many colourful lies, or an off the cuff remark by Brian that once again sails very close to the wind.

The series itself contains a real mixture of weird and wonderful characters that make the show the watch again and again experience it is! There is of course Brian Potter, founder of the 'world famous' Phoenix Club and wannabe king of clubland. The show more or less revolves around him and his colleagues at the club and their various ups and downs in their effort to make the Phoenix Club a success. His arch nemesis Den Perry, owner of the Banana Grove Club also aspires to the title, king of clubland, and both men live to out do the other in relation to club business. There's also the hapless pawn and au pair of the Phoenix, Jerry 'the saint' Sinclair, Ray Von the DJ (amongst other things) Max and Paddy the doormen, the aforementioned Kenny Dalglish (senior) and many others.

The series one DVD contains six episodes, with the first acting as an introduction to the main characters. For extras there are also some deleted scenes, trailers and out takes.
The series two DVD also contains six episodes, the first dealing with the aftermath of a fire which guts the Phoenix Club. Here again in addition to the episodes there are out takes, deleted scenes, trailers, a director and cast commentary and a few other things to keep you busy.

If you're a fan of the series, then you'll know what I've been banging on about, and if you don't already own this box set I'd definitely recommend it. If you're new to Phoenix Nights but, you like comedies that are original, packed with laughs and very durable then this must be worth a look. It does have some regional humour, but that doesn't mean you wont 'get it' instead I would suggest it only adds to the whole experience.

Peter Kay is a great stand up comedian, and without doubt a classy comic writer and actor. Many of his talents are on display here, don't miss this show!!

Brilliant
Phoenix Nights is one of those shows you don't necessarily "get" the first time you see an episode. From the start, you can see how well written it is, and how well observed, but my recollection of first seeing it is that I didn't think "This is really funny". Still, I was intrigued, and I watched another episode, and then a third, and I was hooked. Now, having watched both series right through five times I find it overwhelmingly funny. But that's the point: even if you love it immediately, it still grows on you to the extent that you wonder how you didn't ever think it was 100% genius. Some of the humour is pretty up-front: a bouncy castle with a snake attachment that's actually a ... well, you can guess; the running gags about Paddy's bald spot; the appalling acts that are "auditioned" at the end of each episode - like the escapologist who forgets to pack his keys. But there's much more subtle stuff, too, about friendships, or about the lies we tell ourselves. The idea of Peter Kay playing a disabled nightclub owner is one of those things you either find instantly hilarious or not very funny, but what makes Phoenix Nights is the amazing cast of minor characters - Ray Von the silver-tongued DJ with his inappropriate taste in music, Jerry St Clair and his terrible songs, Max and Paddy's doorman routine (they deserve their own series), Den Perry, who's like something out of a North-West Goodfellas, and the Chinese chefs with their amazingly improbable culinary skills. Having seen all this several times, I love every detail. The scripts are the kind of thing you want to quote endlessly, but there's also an indefinable quality - the way there is with all great comedy. Phoenix Nights is right up there with the likes of Blackadder and Fawlty Towers. The best British sit com (although those words don't do it justice) in over ten years.

Simply the best TV Comedy for years
Peter Kay, along with the comic genius of Dave Spikey, has created one of the best TV comedys for some time.

Phoenix Nights follows the highs and lows of the world famous Phoenix Club as Brian Potter and his mismatch of staff provide laugh after laugh. The everyday, simple humour is brilliant and will make you laugh each and every time you watch it. From 'TVs very own Roy Walker' in episode one (episode 1 of series 1)to 'Oi, Mandy Dingle' in episode 12 (episode 6 of series 2) the laughs keep coming.

In the words of that great.....well good......well ok....ish singer Tina Turner, simply the best !!