Modern Toss is a partly-animated British comedy series based on characters from Modern Toss, a profanity-ridden series of cartoon booklets written by Mick Bunnage and Jon Link.
It premiered as a television series in the UK on Channel 4 on 11 July, 2006. Season 2 premiered in the UK on 23 January, 2008.
Modern Toss premiered in South Africa on DStv's GO channel on Wednesday 13 August 2008, at 22h00. There are six half-hour episodes in the first season.
Repeats
Sundays: 22h30
Synopsis
Modern Toss is a cartoon sketch show that also features live action-animation hybrids. Based on the foul-mouthed cult comic and website of the same name, Modern Toss was spawned from 2005's Comedy Lab season.
It features a host of maladjusted characters including Mr Tourette, a fearless master sign writer whose challenging business re-branding solutions are often mistaken by clients for deliberately abusive drivel; the socially-inept Alan, who reacts to bland family gatherings with carefully-orchestrated destruction; two ASBO astronauts who delight in tormenting one another; a troupe of five-foot tall human letters that spell foul words on the side of hills and then get arrested; and a bionic mosquito capable of sucking a dinosaur dry.
The following recurring cartoons appear regularly in the series:
Alan
The figurehead of Modern Toss, Alan is a cartoon scrawl who repeatedly sabotages his middle-class friends' get-togethers, resulting in his fleeing, pursued by Roger, shouting, "Come back, Alan, you wanker!"
Accident & Emergency/Citizens Advice/Customer Services
Members of the public ask a patient woman at a help-desk bizarre and often ridiculous questions.
Barney
A man who periodically turns into a red Incredible Hulk-like monster at the mention of Alan Titchmarsh, and causes destruction in a mad rage, followed by embarrassment at what he has done.
Drive-By Abuser
A blunt moped-rider who "considers" various things before hurling profane abuse at them.
Fly Talk
A pair of flies discuss goings-on, often involving being trapped in a celebrity's car/house/hat and witnessing unexpected behaviour (such as David Attenborough urinating on his open fire).
Gnat Burglar
A giant gnat which sucks the entire contents out of things and injects it into other things.
I Live 'Ere
A farmer recounts his violent assaults on trespassing members of the public.
Illegal Alphabet
A large number of human-sized letters that congregate in a field to form rude words (including odd portmanteaus such as "pipecock"); they are then ambushed by truncheon-wielding police. These scenes end with a Radio 4-style voiceover announcement, for example: "That was Illegal Alphabet in 'illegal piss meeting' followed by 'unauthorised shitcasket'".
Mr Tourette - Master Signwriter
A gruff Frenchman who creates inappropriate signs for bewildered customers.
Peace & Quiet
A man who seeks peace and quiet in his garden, but is plagued by noise from neighbours and others nearby.
Planet Chat
A Jerry Springer-style talk show in which the Moon and several other celestial bodies argue, usually turning on the Earth in the end.
Prince Edward, Royal Entrepreneur
Rarely seen in the programme, Prince Edward tries to profit from (often tasteless) Royalty-related merchandise.
Seawalker
Another infrequent feature of series - a man with very long legs walks out of the sea onto the beach, whereupon his legs are severed by people playing frisbee.
Sneezeman
A little man with a huge nose who experiences uncontrollable sneezing fits, usually injuring himself and causing extensive damage to property.
Space Argument
Two inept astronauts who disagree while carrying out routine space-related tasks.
Underground Wolf Gobbler
A giant semi-human monster that pops up out of the ground and eats things.
Work
An unenthusiastic employee expresses his unwillingness to come in, or do any work.