Vesku Show
Vesku Show is a Finnish television series that aired from 1988 to 1991. It was written by Vesa-Matti “Vesku” Loiri and directed by Inkeri Pilkama. The show was produced by Spede-Yhtiöt for MTV3. It aired monthly on Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Vesku Show was popular, with peak viewership exceeding 1.6 million. The series was rerun for the first time in 2009.
Development
Spede Pasanen created and produced the Spede Show from 1984 to 1987, featuring Vesa-Matti Loiri among the cast. After four years, Pasanen decided to end the show, citing fatigue with sketch comedy. He offered Loiri the opportunity to create his own one-hour monthly show, with full creative control. Loiri accepted, and the final Spede Show of 1987 humorously depicted a fictional disagreement between Pasanen and Loiri, serving as a handover.Loiri and Pilkama designed the show to feature seamless transitions between sketches, often shot in one take. Each episode began with Loiri performing a song before donning a costume and entering the first sketch. Vesku Show debuted in January 1988.
Cast
- Vesa-Matti Loiri
- Simo Salminen
- Hannele Lauri
- Juha Muje
- Eija Vilpas
- Olli Ahvenlahti, musical director
- Peter Lerche, musical director
Guest appearances
- Vesa Vierikko
- Jukka-Pekka Palo
- Eija Vilpas
- Jope Ruonansuu
- Ville Virtanen
- Spede Pasanen
Popular sketches and characters
Returning from Spede Show were fan favorites like:- Tyyne Lipasti – a newsreader and performer seeking more prominence.
- Jean-Pierre Kusela – a singer with comedic duets, including "Tahdon olla sulle hellä."
- Nasse-setä – a drunken children's TV host.
- Sportscaster Vode and Baron Münchausen.
- Sulo and Lennart – bilingual twin brothers telling jokes.
- Pultti Pizza Guy – a comedic fast-food worker.
- Kepa and Jorte – a couple from Karjala who are often bickering.
- The musical group The Visualitz, featuring Loiri as "Sepi."