Hair by Mr. Bean of LondonAll Movie Guide
Rowan Atkinson stars as the incredibly clueless, accident-prone title character in this first of 13 half-hour Mr. Bean specials. The action is divided into three segments: In "The Exam," Mr. Bean hasn't got the answers; in "The Beach," he tries to change his trunks without removing his trousers; and in "The Church," he just can't seem to stay awake. Mr. Bean was the winner of the 1990 Golden Rose of Montreaux award (one hopes that Bean didn't collect the prize!). The special first aired in Britain on January 1, 1990, and in the United States on April 2, 1992; it can be found on several video compilations, notably The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 1. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Once again, the magnificently maladroit and fabulously foolish Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) bumbles his way through a collection of brief comic sketches. In "Television," Bean purchases his first TV, only to experience a spot of reception trouble. In "The Park," our hero tries out his new Polaroid camera, which is promptly stolen. This leads to "Identity Parade," wherein Bean does his best to identity the camera thief. In "Club Phut," Bean's night on the town spells disaster for a stage magician. And in "The Disco," Mr. Bean shows off his dancing skills -- we think. Originally telecast in Britain on October 15, 1991, the 30-minute comedy special Mr. Bean Goes to Town later aired in America on April 23, 1992, then was included in such video compilations as The Exciting Escapades of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
First telecast in Britain on January 1, 1992, the 30-minute comedy special The Trouble With Bean once again stars Rowan Atkinson as the brainless, incredibly accident-prone title character. This time, Bean cuts a disastrous swath through three short, interrelated sketches. In the first, our hero, late for his dental appointment, tries to get dressed while driving his car. In the second, Bean ends up administering anesthetic to the hapless dentist (Richard Wilson). And in the final sketch, Bean returns to the park, where he tangles with a pesky fly and a remote-control toy boat. "The Trouble with Mr. Bean" made its American TV bow on April 30, 1992, and has since been released in such video compilations as The Terrible Tales of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 1. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Rowan Atkinson repeats his familiar role as the terminally stupid, disastrously clumsy Mr. Bean in this 30-minute BBC comedy special. This time around, the action is divided into three brief segments. In "Bus Stop," Bean tries his best to revive a heart attack victim before using an ambulance to jump-start his own mini-car; in "Letter," our hero loses his only stamp, but that doesn't stop him from posting an important missive; and in "Holiday,," Bean demonstrates a novel (if not entirely efficient) method of packing, disposes of a bothersome train passenger, and tries to entertain an airsick boy during a plane flight. "Mr. Bean Rides Again" first aired in Britain on February 17, 1992, and in America on May 6, 1992. The special has since been included in such video compilations as The Terrible Tales of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
The spectacularly accident-prone Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson embraces the holiday spirit -- and nearly crushes it to death -- in this 30-minute comedy special, comprising three interrelated sketches. In "Christmas Shopping," Bean purchases a balky string of tree lights before making a shambles of a department store toy section; in "Christmas Eve," he manages to acquire a free turkey and a free tree, then attempts to conduct a Salvation Army band; and in "Christmas Dinner," Bean has quite a surprise in store for his long-suffering girlfriend. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean" originally aired in Britain on December 29, 1992. This special has since been released as a separate entity on video, as well as in such compilations as The Merry Mishaps of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 1. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Rowan Atkinson is both the star and co-writer of this 30-minute comedy special. As the magnificently clumsy and thick-eared Mr. Bean, Atkinson trips his way through four brief sketches, all unified by a central "hotel" theme. In "The Bath," Bean tries to wash himself, much to the consternation of his neighbor in the next room; in "The Stairs," he encounters difficulty descending; in "The Buffet," he learns the perils of "All You Can Eat"; and in "Locked Out," an embarrassing situation becomes impossible with Bean on the scene. Originally telecast in Britain on February 17, 1993, and in America in January of 1994, "Mr. Bean in Room 426" has since been included in such video compilations as The Merry Mishaps of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
That least handy of handymen, the redoubtable Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson), wreaks his usual havoc in this 30-minute BBC comedy special. The action is subdivided into four brief segments: In "New Year's Eve Party," Mr. Bean improvises some (yechh!) tasty snacks for his guests; in "Department Store," our hero goes to great lengths to purchase a marked-down recliner; and in "Home Improvement" and "The Ride Home," the titles tell all (Crash! Bang! Ouch! Sorry!). Do It Yourself Mr. Bean was originally telecast in Britain on January 10, 1994, and seen in America not long afterward. This special was later included in such video compilations as The Perilous Pursuits of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Rowan Atkinson once more assumes the guise of the awesomely accident-prone Mr. Bean in this 30-minute comedy special. Bean's adventures in the world of academia are divided into four segments: In "Chemistry Class," our hero concocts a formula that has a colorful effect on his classmates; in "Art Class," Bean tries not to ogle a nude model; in "Karate Class," Bean demonstrates his newfound martial arts skills on his hapless teacher, not to mention a desperate trouser thief; and in the concluding sketch, "Car Trouble," Bean parks his inimitable mini-van in someone else's space. Originally telecast in Britain on October 26, 1994, Back to School, Mr. Bean was later made available in such video compilations as Unseen Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 1. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson takes to the golf links in this destructively hilarious 30-minute comedy special. In the opening segment, Bean has a bit of trouble playing mini-golf, ultimately ending up way off the course. Later on, he manages to sink a shot slightly over par (3,427 strokes, to be exact). After hanging up his golf togs, Bean does his laundry, tangles with a martial arts expert, loses his trousers for the millionth time, and "borrows" a woman's dress. "Tee Off, Mr. Bean" was first seen in Britain on March 17, 1995. The special was later incorporated into such video collections as The Final Frolics of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Rowan Atkinson once more stars as the eminently clumsy and clueless Mr. Bean in this 30-minute comedy special. The fun begins with the first of three brief sketches, "The Hospital," in which Bean gets his hand stuck in a teapot, then tries to get instant service at the local outpatient ward. In "Camera," our hero prepares a dour security guard for a very special photograph. And in "Bedtime," Bean sees nothing illogical in using a calculator to cure his insomnia. Originally telecast in Britain on September 20, 1995, "Goodnight Mr. Bean" has since been issued to video in such compilations as The Final Frolics of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 1. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
In his second half-hour BBC special, the spectacularly clumsy and clueless Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) stumbles and bumbles his way through three brief, interrelated sketches. In "The Department Store," Bean manages to lose his credit card in another fellow's pocket. In "The Restaurant," the food is terrible -- and such small portions. And in "Royal Film," Bean prepares to meet the Royal Family while standing in a long, long line (frequent Mr. Bean supporting actress Tina Maskell makes a significant appearance at the end of this bit). Written by star Atkinson in collaboration with Richard Curtis and Robin Driscoll, "The Return of Mr. Bean" first aired in Britain on November 5, 1990, and in America on April 9, 1992. It has since been included in such video compilations as The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Rowan Atkinson stars as the witless, accident-prone Mr. Bean in this direct-to-video British comedy special. As is customary, the inimitable Bean appears in three brief, tenuously connected sketches. In "Hair Salon," our hero proves to be quite a cut-up; in "County Fair," he wins a prize (if it can indeed be called a prize); and in "Railway Station," Bean gets stuck inside a mailbag bound for Moscow (talk about nonstop trips!). "Hair by Mr. Bean of London" has been released as a separate video and in such compilations as Unseen Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Digressing from his usual 30-minute "special" format, Rowan Atkinson essayed his Mr. Bean characterization in a handful of quickie comedy sketches on a variety of 1990s British TV series. One such sketch was the ten-minute gem titled "The Library." In this one, the dimwitted Bean is entrusted with a priceless manuscript, which he proceeds to rend asunder. On video, "The Library" has been included in such compilations as The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 2. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
In addition to his own sporadic 30-minute comedy specials, Rowan Atkinson assumed his familiar guise as Mr. Bean in several British TV variety series of the 1990s. Among these scattered sketches was a ten-minute exercise in frustration titled "The Bus Stop." The plot: Having already missed one bus, Mr. Bean is bound and determined to catch the next one, no matter who suffers in the process. On video, "The Bus Stop" has been included in such compilations as The Exciting Escapades of Mr. Bean and The Complete Mr. Bean, Vol. 1. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Since the late '80s, the BBC's annual Comic Relief telethons have raised millions for a variety of charities. Nicknamed "Red Nose Day," this yearly special has drawn upon the comic talents of Britain's best farceurs, all donating their talents for the cause. The March 15, 1991, edition of Comic Relief featured, among many others, Rowan Atkinson, repeating his familiar characterization of the clueless, disastrously clumsy Mr. Bean. Atkinson's contribution, the six-minute skit "Mr. Bean's Red Nose Day, has unfortunately not yet been reissued to home video. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
Telecast March 12, 1993, Total Relief was actually the BBC's annual Comedy Relief telethon, in which Britain's top comic talents performed original sketches in order to raise money for a variety of worthy causes. On this occasion, the talent roster included the casts of such weekly series as One Foot in the Grave and Friday Night Live. Also on hand was Rowan Atkinson, again appearing as the monumentally clumsy and idiotic Mr. Bean. Atkinson's contribution was an 18-minute spoof of the popular series Blind Date, the British equivalent of The Love Connection. Posing as an eligible bachelor, Mr. Bean answered the questions posed by potential dates with utter -- and ridiculous -- honesty, then made a shambles of a romantic night on the town. Alas, Atkinson's version of Blind Date has not yet been released to video. Hal Erickson
All Movie Guide
The Night of Comic Relief was the 1995 edition of the annual BBC fundraising telethon Comic Relief. On this occasion, many of Britain's top comic talents appeared gratis on behalf of a variety of charities. Amidst contributions from the casts of such sitcoms as Oliver 2 and Harry Enfield and Chums, Rowan Atkinson stole the show with his familiar characterization as the disaster-prone Mr. Bean. In the comedy sketch "Torvill and Bean" -- a play on Torvill and Dean, a famous figure-skating team -- the luckless Mr. Bean wreaks his usual havoc when he attends a performance of "Show on Ice." Originally telecast March 17, 1995, "Torvill and Bean" has not yet been released to video. Hal Erickson