Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Mar 19, 2018 11:05:31 GMT
Yes, I remember Cowboys and it was rubbish. There was something a bit similar with Bill Maynard at about the same time called The Gaffer which was also rubbish.
Dont remember Scully.
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Bojan Scores
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Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
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Post by Bojan Scores on Mar 19, 2018 13:54:41 GMT
One show that I liked is ‘Quincy ME’, it may well have remained forgotten if it wasn’t for the repeats on ITV4. Jack Klugman was an actor I liked in other things including ‘The Odd Couple’ and an episode of ‘The Outer Limits’ as the commander of a flying saucer, that has a brilliant twist. As Quincy, Klugman is a kind of Californian Arthur Scargill pursuing baddies as chief medical examiner. Apart from Klugman, I like ‘Quincy ME’ precisely because it’s highly formulaic TV to the point of parody. Every episode:
1) Regular autopsy occurs 2) Quincy finds something suspicious 3) His boss Dr Astin tells him he’s talking out of his Arse, and they argue 4) Quincy investigates and then Lt Monaghan the police detective tells him he’s talking out of his arse too. 5) Quincy has another row with Dr Astin, but is now given 24 hours to prove his theory. 6) Quincy confronts the baddies with his evidence, and they are nicked just in time by Lt Monaghan. 7) The cast reconvene in ‘Danny’s’ restaurant for a funny ending, much parodied by Leslie Nielsen in the‘Police Squad’ series. 8) Quincy does points 1-7 next week, but might have a vacation with a sexy bird disturbed.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 19, 2018 17:21:23 GMT
'Cowboys', despite the cast & some good writing, is mostly a bit crap, with one or two episodes being diabolical but others not so bad. What lets it down is the 'thick' character played by James Wardroper, his performance is terrible, I read that he is related to the writer of Cowboys, maybe this explains his inclusion in the otherwise great cast. There are some good lines in it- 'You know more criminals than Dennis Waterman' is one by Colin Welland's character, he is a bird fancier & has the line 'There's a lovely cock I've been wanting to get my hands on'. Bullseye's Tony Green makes an appearance in one episode as a darts caller. Saw an episode or two of The Gaffer recently, which I remember watching when it was first on, wasn't too impressed. I do like 'Oh No It's Selwyn Froggit' & the follow-up series 'Selwyn' where he plays a holiday camp entertainer, I've got these on dvd. Remember watching Scully, another show available on Network dvd, one line in particular stays with me, there's a character in it called 'Isiah' as 'one eye's higher than the other'. Quincy is another show I used to watch regularly at my mother's feet. 'Gentlemen, you are about to enter the most fascinating sphere of police work, the world of forensic medicine'. Klugman was in 4 Twilight Zone episodes, including two of the best- 'A Passage For Trumpet' & 'A Game Of Pool'. Never thought of Quince as a 'Californian Arthur Scargill' That is an accurate summary of every Quincy episode & probably why I wouldn't watch it again, better to leave it as a memory of simpler times when there were just 3 or 4 tv channels.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Mar 19, 2018 22:22:20 GMT
I'd never heard of Cowboys so I watched this one on YouTube It seems a bit thin to say the least. Its very strange seeing Colin Welland doing this type of role. As for The Gaffer (broadcast in 1981) , I remember the theme tune and opening credits but not a lot else from this series In the opening scene the receptionist is Pat Ashton AKA one of Stan's love interest Clippies from On The Buses.
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Bojan Scores
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Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
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Post by Bojan Scores on Mar 20, 2018 8:02:55 GMT
I first saw this Clement/La Frenais comedy as an extra on The Sweeney series one box set. The opening credits and theme tune by Mike Hugg seem suspiciously like another series we know. I’ve got the DVD now, the opening episode is strong but the quality becomes variable afterwards. That’s a shame because the Hoskins/Thaw partnership had real potential before the programme was pulled after one series. I believe Clement and La Frenais then took this idea to the BBC where it became ‘Porridge’.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Mar 20, 2018 9:55:10 GMT
Talking about Quincy ME, I’ve just watched one this morning, Hit and Run at Danny’s, and the summary by Bojan is spot on!
Having said that though, it was watchable and I liked the 70s California look and feel of it.
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Bojan Scores
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Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
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Post by Bojan Scores on Mar 20, 2018 10:11:57 GMT
Talking about Quincy ME, I’ve just watched one this morning, Hit and Run at Danny’s, and the summary by Bojan is spot on! Having said that though, it was watchable and I liked the 70s California look and feel of it. Quincy is eminently watchable despite my p*** taking Cartman :D You’re exactly right about how that sunshine California atmosphere grabs you, I notice it on The Rockford Files and films like On Any Sunday. One thing about Quincy is the storyline often makes a point about a contemporary issue. Very often they’re spot on about environmental concerns or devious drug companies. I learnt more about Tourette’s Syndrome on Quincy than any of those documentaries that seem to mock the afflicted. Although they did get it wrong with the notorious Slamdance episode :D
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Mar 20, 2018 18:13:07 GMT
Just watched The Wackers on YouTube, Lots of well known faces.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Mar 20, 2018 18:20:39 GMT
I didn’t know you cared. BBC, late 70s, written by Peter Tinniswood. Robin Bailey was in it, and Liz Smith, with John Comer. Wasn’t too bad, from memory, it was set in Yorkshire, slightly last of the summer wine, but it didn’t drag endlessly on.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 20, 2018 19:50:38 GMT
'The Crezz' is another Network release I took a punt on, a Thames comedy drama cum soap opera about the residents of a London crescent which ran for one series of 12 episodes. Despite online comments from people who remembered it as being a turkey, it's actually a very good show & well worth a look. The main resident is played by Joss Ackland, other neighbours include Nicholas Ball whose wife is Regan's ex wife Janet Key. First shown September 1976 at 8pm on a Thursday.
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