Cartman
Producer
Posts: 4,026
Online Status:
|
Post by Cartman on Mar 26, 2022 14:33:19 GMT
I don't remember Trouble in Mind at all. I suspect I categorised it as one of those bland, crap, domestic sit coms which seemed to proliferate in the 80s/early 90s and ignored it.
Sounds like I didn't miss anything.
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 26, 2022 20:34:50 GMT
There certainly were a lot of poor sitcoms in the 80's & into the 90's. Why were so many of them set in comfortable, often very middle class homes where the characters have 'professional' jobs? Like drama, comedy usually arises from conflicts of some kind which is largely absent in the cosy set ups of domestic sitcoms, the conflict is usually trivial, 'first world problems'. Half of the episodes of 'Trouble In Mind' revolve around Richard O'Sullivan's character having a vasectomy.
'Now Look Here' from 1971-73 is another forgotten sitcom with Richard O'Sullivan though Ronnie Corbett plays the lead character. Written by Barry Cryer & Graham Chapman it looks to be a prototype 'Sorry', I've not watched it properly yet to comment. 'Sorry' is on Forces TV at the moment, one of the better 80's sitcoms I think.
|
|
Cartman
Producer
Posts: 4,026
Online Status:
|
Post by Cartman on Mar 26, 2022 22:56:53 GMT
Good point Arthur. The best sitcoms were those featuring working class characters, imo, the exception being Basil Fawlty, who was once described as a posh Alf Garnett!
I have to disagree about Sorry, I'm afraid, I thought it was atrocious.
|
|
Three Litre
Producer
Oscar 24
Posts: 3,419
Online Status:
|
Post by Three Litre on Mar 27, 2022 8:11:54 GMT
Always felt that they never found a really good vehicle for Corbett, unlike Barker. He could have held down a really good role, maybe he wasn't bothered though.
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 27, 2022 11:23:02 GMT
Good point Arthur. The best sitcoms were those featuring working class characters, imo, the exception being Basil Fawlty, who was once described as a posh Alf Garnett! I have to disagree about Sorry, I'm afraid, I thought it was atrocious.LOL! Carty that really was tosh mate.
|
|
Cartman
Producer
Posts: 4,026
Online Status:
|
Post by Cartman on Mar 27, 2022 12:39:39 GMT
It was unwatchable imo. I think the thing with rubbish sitcoms which proliferated in the 80s was that it was reflective of social change. Much of post war British culture was rooted in socialism and the consensus and often featured working class characters putting one over on authority figures or otherwise annoying them, like Jack and Stan annoying Blakey, Fletcher doing the same with Mackay, Jack Regans dislike of the fifth floor etc.
As this faded out, middle class aspirations became the subject, which was much less interesting and funny.
|
|
Nightfly
Screenwriter
Posts: 908
Online Status:
|
Post by Nightfly on Mar 27, 2022 13:22:51 GMT
Much of post war British culture was rooted in socialism and the consensus and often featured working class characters putting one over on authority figures or otherwise annoying them, like Jack and Stan annoying Blakey, Fletcher doing the same with Mackay, Jack Regans dislike of the fifth floor etc. As this faded out, middle class aspirations became the subject, which was much less interesting and funny. I agree. Any kind of story, whether drama or comedy, relies on conflict and the viewer choosing sides and empathising with characters. There just wasn't enough for most people to relate to in the cosy safe comedies of the 80s. I'm a bit that way with the likes of Midsomer Murders. Although it's well produced and performed, I always think "do I really care?" when it comes to the story. I wonder why there was a change in the 80s. A change in TV management who commissioned comedy ? New writers not being up to the standard of the old guard ? Maybe the old guard running out of ideas ?
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 27, 2022 16:58:19 GMT
I'm not unlike Timothy Lumsden unfortunately so I suppose I identify with the character I love Barbara Lott as his mother. Some of those 80's sitcoms reflected the so-called 'aspirational' values of the time I suppose.
|
|
Palmer
Cameraman
Posts: 396
Online Status:
|
Post by Palmer on Mar 28, 2022 10:50:17 GMT
The 'Robin's Nest' theme is a little joy...!!!
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 28, 2022 18:50:13 GMT
Yes, it's hard not to play air bass & make a noise with your mouth mimicking the keyboards upon hearing the 'Robin's Nest' theme.
Watched another 'Trouble In Mind' episode this evening, the worst one yet, it managed to being entirely devoid of humourous lines. Hard to believe they thought it was good enough for a comedy, it's as if they were deliberately avoiding writing anything funny.
|
|