A History of Numberwang

[andytenmenthefirst]

"yeees! that is a numberrr!" hahahahahahahaha genius

[mfgx6jb3]

LMAO at the American show version.

[chocostarf]

lol I have that exact All Black jersey

[doctortehe]

5.17 Rory Pond dies again.

[SIngli6]

And that's how 'The Event' happened. DON'T THINK ABOUT THE EVENT! THE EVENT WAS IN THE PAST!

[zofie123]

"In countries like Australia, such as New Zeeland." Such a brilliant line.

[ludochess777]

I just made a little java app that tells you if a number is numberwang. If you want to check it out PM me.

[superspy6]

@ludochess777 please show me!

[TakunaNuva]

4 8 15 162 3420? So the LOST numbers were numberwang! Sort of...

[DaibhidC]

Betram Russell in 1952, recalling how he invented Numberwang in 1936. Perfectly logical.

The Robert Robertson pastiche is priceless.

[Quate32]

4..

8..

15..

OMG IT'S LOST

[walksofar]

5:10



[cornishphilosopher]

@walksofar That's numberwang!

[AnaMarieWilliams]

Uhmm... I suppose the war they were talking about was the second world war, but Numberwang wasn't written until 1952... something doesn't make sense

[EdgarBoffin]

@AnaMarieWilliams It says in 1936, the caption "silent in 1952" is another joke. Just clearing things up :)

[RFC3514]

@AnaMarieWilliams - Yes, I think you've spotted the one thing about Numberwang that doesn't make sense.

[JoeWithers100]

99,180th Viewer! THATS NUMBERWANG

[gameshowmaster]

This video should have waayyyy more than six hundred and three (98,234) views.

[picky197]

das ist numberwang



[ConfusedProud]

7.

[melskunk]

9 Dislikes?

That's Numberwang!

[KaslarProductions]

"Ahhh, would that it were, would that. it. were."

[havoc697]

That's numberwang!

[dbg3006]

ROFL at the American version xD

[Dgoosh1000]

Best sketch of Mitchell and Webb ever!

[dajoekr]

4, 8, 15, 16 2,3 42 0...I wonder, are the Lost numbers Numberwang?

[i192837466]

aaah, would that it where numberwang. alas it is not... mr. simon?

[scaryninja1693]

"I say chaps, you don't suppose we could use this machine for anything else do you?"

"Like what?"

" I dunno erm, eh something to help with the war or something..."

"I'll just go check...NOOO! NUMBERWANG WAS DESIGNED TO HELP MANKIND NOT TO DESTROY!!"

[zionravescene]

They just played the brilliant Robert Robinson parody on Radio 4's Archive Hour.

[unchained1978]

David looks like Theodore Roosevelt in this sketch.

[henman09]

robert robinson died today RIP

[Medsas]

yes that is a number ahahahah

[cetras56]

today, numberwang is a vast global franchise like mcdonalds u2 and the catholic church all rolled into one.

[cetras56]

where he sat tragically trying to de-gay himself with a lazer. :P

[TheToonMonkey]

9 dislikes is numberwang

[BrixMation]

the 'thats numberwang' on the tape has no apostrophe :O

[LieutenantGibGib]

I love his grammatically correct use of like and as.

[arnold08]

If there's anything I've learned from Numberwang, it's that 1 is the prime numberwang, 2 is deadly to humans, 3 is not a numberwang, and 4 is definitely numberwang regardless of the number or sequence of numbers preceding it.

[Alathaea]

sihven.

[puredruid]

and even America: Yes, that is a number.

[apuppetstate]

9 people have failed in trying to de-gay themselves with a laser.

[sarahkirky]

I thought the point of the American one was that they omitted the word "wang", a nod to the very strict censorship they have over there.

[Warmijwilf]

@sarahkirky Nope :p It's just simply taking the piss of how simple the stereotypes of them are.

[rcarlson1993]

@sarahkirky I got the impression that it was just a play on how Americans often have their own weird, non-British ways of saying things, like "fries," "soccer," and "mile" (though those last two were actually the norm in England until relatively recently, but whatever).

[InsanityTechie]

@rcarlson1993 I think it's more a joke that American imports of British shows very often miss the entire point of what makes the show good.

[rcarlson1993]

@InsanityTechie Actually yeah, that's probably it.

[CaptainElli]

Ever since this episode was first broadcast, my friends and I have kept a picture of a chicken as our phone screensavers. We are prepared.

[SaintPhoeniix]

"Yes, that is a number!"

[COYH10]

"Where he sat for many months after the war, tragically attempting to de-gay himself with a laser." Gets me every time!

[pysgodfach]

The relatively humble beginnings of not yet existing

[SleepyChocolateNinja]

Robert Robertson...isn't he a character in a Fry and Laurie sketch?

[gunterdak]

@SleepyChocolateNinja no he is a real person. Just like Rhodes Boyson.

[RomanKnight990]

@SleepyChocolateNinja Yeah I'm pretty sure they did The Smug Hour with the Robert Robinsons.

[Nertrender]

the host of American Numberwang would actually be the most evil englishman the network could find.  that persn would then go on to insult ever contestent

[000MidnightSun]

bertrand russell discovered numberwang in 1952, and numberwang proceeds to influence world war II.

that's numberwang!

[omgz0rtbh]

@000MidnightSun No, he discovered numberwang in 1936. 1952 was the year of the interview.

[Quizerno]

Numberwang is alright. But the Quiz Broadcast has its own charm.

[gomptwoky]

poor ninety :(

[SvenBoogie]

9 people are numberwangs.

[karlff7]

New Zealand - "That's Numberwing!"

Australia - "Haha mate that's Numberwang!"

USA - "Yeahss, that is a number."

Americans really are idiots!

[way2tehdawn]

@karlff7 Impressive opinion you have there... Bold.

[Conway79]

Yeeees, that is a number!

[Conway79]

Yeeees, that is a number!

[FadeToBlack181]

I love how the american version is dumbed down.

[blackcat355]

lmfao "Ah, would that it were numberwang. Alas, it is not!"

[Cloudlesssoul]

The Bertrand Russell bit is genius. xD

[gazereths1982]

@Cloudlesssoul Absolutely! That is by far the best bit.

"smashing the jug lest anyone copy  my work"

[Cloudlesssoul]

@gazereths1982 I love the bit when, after asking the question as to whether it really is or is not numberwang, he suddenly looks around at the chair in astonishment. xD

[titchman12]

"YES! That is a number."

[CuckooNow]

Whom is Numberwang?

[Frequency95]

@tregnier279 He's imitating Robert Robertson who was a tv presenter in the 70s. I'm not sure what program though. And it may have been because of fry and laurie that they did it here!

[Hasssurf6]

if numberwang was a real game show and the host was robert webb i would whatch every single episode without missing one by the way how do you play numberwang whats the rules

[VicTheMouth3612]

It's a good thing colloson isn't real... Oh shoot, of all the days to not have a picture of a chicken... 1 34 65 765 386 12 4 6 9 4 8 723

[Blackpanfa]

@VicTheMouth3612

That's Numberwang!

[VicTheMouth3612]

@Blackpanfa Alright. I'm glad to know I won't et beat up at the end of the show.

[01289PUDNAN]

THATS NOT NUMBERWANG :@

[goashem75]

4, 8, 15, 162, 3420. Hmm, is Numberwang almost infected/infested by the Numbers of Lost?

[zehnkatzen]

I laughed out loud at the American version, which was dead-on as far as the way American media culture is endlessly mining British comedy for ideas as presenting them as either bowlderized or with all the crass and none of the clever.

"That's a number!"

Perfect.

[WindySmileCallsMe]

Ahh the New Zealander impression! So wrong, yet so hilariously funny anyway :) Should be more like "Thoits's Noimberwoing" for future reference.

[pgunn01]

I had long wondered how this amazing discovery was made.

[MrWattu]

Numberwang basement? ok....

[gammyfootify]

From the humble beginings of not yet existing

[MusicalArmageddon]

That's numberwang!

[WasLilChrisnowbigish]

"Yess that is a number"

[888dale888]

6:03 #LOL

[titchman12]

YES! That is a number!

[omgiheartpie]

COLOSSON LOL

[FlakMeister]

A nice detail is how the boffins stand up when Webb hums "My Country 'Tis of Thee".

[foxmcloud555]

@FlakMeister

that's god save the queen in the UK.

my country tis of thee is american.

[JamieeTheGreat]

EEl-even

:)

[AussieStormbuddy]

Pretty hilarious!

[mulletboater]

in countries like the u.s "yes that is a number"

[czs5056]

YES!!! That is a number

[zfinet3]

Love the A Bit of Fry and Laurie tribute at 4:01

[Idnarmadur]

"Ahhh, would that it were Numberwang, alas it is not!"

[Fatmanralphy]

Where David Frost repeatedly had sex with the number 11 on a matress. He swears to this day that it was 16.

[66richardson]

"YES! THAT IS A NUMBER!"

[PrivateBuckwheat]

"4 8 15 162 3420..."

Sounds quite similar to "4 8 15 16 23 42," the numbers in Lost...

[JamiePS3Howitt]

@PrivateBuckwheat

That's the big secret behind everything on the Island! It's all Numberwang!

[NavinJohnson90]

YEAH DUDE!!! I flipped out when I heard that!

[JetJockey87]

Those numbers are actually real numbers from a real unsolved crime that occured in South Australia known as the Tamam Shud case. Google it, maybe you can solve the mystery that no one's been able to decipher in over 60 years.

[Meganarb]

@JetJockey87 ....

Go away pl0x.

[kaosblaze]

"Yeeeess, that is a number!"

[gwilberto]

brilliant show, its really my kind of humor

[Stylus1997]

I said to him, quite simply, "that's numberwang."

...and as I remember, he cried.

[dwanyverk]

how do you know if your birthday is or is not numberwang

[Ralphiriusgr8]

Too bad my birthdate isn't Numberwang, otherwise I'd have gotten 100 pound from the network.

[anaalinaama]

I am Colosson!

Indeed you are. ;D

[TheSeventhChild]

Holy crap this is funny.

"Thet's nambaweng"

[Pkyewbeam]

I opened the door, and said to him, quite simply...

That's Numberwang.

As I remember he cried.

[McKrispy94]

"By showing him a picture of a chicken!"

loves it

[EvilLeprechaun12]

296?

[stuey2ey]

that's numberwang!

[tvnutboy]

I'm an American, and I SO get "Yes, that is a Number".

It sorta reminds me of Terry Gilliam speaking "Exaggerated" American near the end of "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" (Ironic because Gilliam himself is American born).

[happyin2008]

Numberwang is my most favourite telly show!

[PhaseVI]

Fucking annoying laugh track though...

[Isanion]

34?

[66richardson]

I am Colosson! I am Numberwang! The world is Numberwang!

Therefore I am the world! You must all die!!!!!!!

[ogimyto]

i've seen this shinty six times and it still makes me laugh

[melskunk]

I lost it at "tragically trying to de-gay himself with a laser" and it simply got better.

[logom0]

YES! THAT IS A NUMBER!

[0ct0parr0t]

I love how they stand up when the national anthem comes

[tregnier279]

4:02

Being that I'm American, I don't quite understand the reference here. Fry & Laurie did a similar sketch where they parodied this person. What's the original man's name?

[goodbyeberet]

It's his real name- I just googled it (I'm Australian so I didn't get the reference either).

[CarylCake]

I think this might be the best thing I've ever seen. I just sat there, aghast, on the sofa first time I saw it, amazed at the hilarity... and the artistry.

I love Mitchell and Webb.

[ghostspad]

therefore i am the world!

[con10000000000]

YES! that is a number!

[Pkyewbeam]

Ah, would that it were Numberwang, alas it is not!

[654jimbob654]

1:37, is that Ben Miller?

[Mp5Drummer]

Good point, looks like it is!

[spartanses]

4, 8, 15 ....

LIKE LOST

[cummins235]

4 8 15 162 3420

[captaincrimson91]

"... In countries like Australia, such as New Zealand."

"Thet's numberweng!"

Genius

[genesiselijahtv]

Thats numberwang!

[reft75]

101st rater. this is a fantastic video

[F21productions]

100th commenter, THATS NUMBERWANG!

[5656766]

I love the American one. "Yes, that is a number."

[BigMacAndFries09]

lol pause it at 3 minutes and it looks cool

[PurpleFunnyChocolate]

Thumbs up on this comment if you think Mitchell & Webb are better than Little Britain! And maybe comment & give reasons...

[masterrubixs]

Because of the difference in format That Mitchell and Webb look can target a wider range of topics to take the mick of. Little Britain is stuck with the same hcaracters through and through.

[owenhunt]

Mtchell and Webb are a ton better than Little Britain.

David Walliams is just a poor man's Robert Webb, fed on sugar cube's and pheromone's.

[Blackpanfa]

@PurpleFunnyChocolate

How can you even compare the two shows? One show is tasteful topical satire, and the other is two men dressed by as women saying the same catchphrase in every episode.

[superspy6]

@PurpleFunnyChocolate 174 people think M&W are better than life, and that is numberwang!

[Ali3nat0r]

@PurpleFunnyChocolate Because Little Britain is based solely on catchphrases. There's a certain amount of times I can hear "Yeh I know, I want that one" before I stop laughing (ie one)

[WardancerHB]

@PurpleFunnyChocolate Little Britain is not funny at all, but all over TV here in Germany. But I never heard of these two before!

Way better!

[musoforlyf]

oh mate that's numberwang

*about to go surfing*

[gazereths1982]

"That's numberwang, as i remember he cried"

[superIrish1995]

i got the dvd of the series-great stuff lol

[TherealMrChristophel]

Today Numberwang is a vast, global franchise like MacDonald's, U2 and the Catholic Churc all rolled into one.

The relativly humble beginings of not yet existing...classic stuff

[03cammd79]

wait, this is the last of the series? then this is probably 'the event'....

i know i'm not the first the think about this but anyway, i dont have anythign else to do...

[03cammd79]

lol that its always julie & simon :D

[LewyTheMeerkat]

i thought to myself does the chair exist therefore i maynot sitdown

[gazereths1982]

"Ahh would that it were numberwang alas it is not."

That line cracks me up for some reason.

[foliage4]

in america, yessss that is a number

[twiki2099]

thats numberwang mayte.. yesss that is a number

[ghostsmask]

While I love Mitchell and Webb, I really don't get Numberwang.... Is it spoofing something specific, or just gameshows in general?

[naioka1992]

i think its a mix between spoofing gameshows in general and complete stupidity and randomness XD

[Sigil23]

I'm totally there with you. I find it absolutely hilarious, but I can't articulate the reasons for this. I think it's just a parody of overeager game show participants.

And Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and logical positivism in general.

[logom0]

YESSS THAT IS A NUMBER....

[coelloello]

Lol, the numbers at 3.13 are the numbers from lost.

[FruitRainbowStarfish]

I AM COLOSSON XD

[blocparty4eva1]

'...a vast franchise like mcdonalds, u2 and the catholic church all rolled into one

[ooshodile]

THE NUMBERS :D

[ShelledyJ]

lmao

[CKnucklesUK]

Lost numbers...

[denmengnash]

Yep :)

Made me LOL.

[tito492]

Yes that is a number

haha

[Maddyisnotshort13]

Ha ha the Australian inpersantion!Where's my picture of a chicken!

[TaliesinMyrddin]

Hehe. The Lost numbers.

4 8 15 16 23 42 0

4 8 15 162  3420

0 for no reason, really.

[Zac4815162342]

I know, I noticed that too - look at my name!

LOST Rules btw

[Affesinge]

6:03 LOL

[AliDoolaly]

haha americans

[zantiertasa]

one?