By 1990, two years after their first TV series "Seitsemän kuolemansyntiä" (Seven Deadly Sins, 1988), Lapinlahden linnut had certainly developed. Their long TV career peaked early with their second sketch series, "Maailman kahdeksan ihmettä" (Eight Wonders of the World, 1990).
Compared to their first attempt, "Maailman kahdeksan ihmettä" is much more even, with numerous hits and only occasional misses. It teaches you how to save your liquor money by showing how you can simulate getting drunk for pennies (required equipment: vodka bottle filled with water, grandmother's glasses, high heel shoes, kitty litter box, nasty neighbour Reiska); it shows how to make your neighbour envy you (equipment needed: satellite antenna, credit cards, black suit, limousine, invitation by The President, all made out of cardboard), and it teaches you how to handle social situations in its very own socio-drama series. And there is "Vittuilupuhelin". If you've seen it, you understand, and if you haven't there is no point in explaining. That joke alone justifies the whole series (and as an aside, such a service number was actually founded by the name of "Pottuilupuhelin" a few years after the series).
This series has lasted well, although there are some references to politicians and celebrities of the day. Nevertheless, problems with money, relationships and drinking have hardly changed in the 20 years since this series. Thus, I can't recommend these eight episodes enough - unless you like your humour soft and nice.
