|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 9, 2019 23:50:09 GMT
A Sweeney 'remix' or better still 'mash up' is how I'd describe Target. When I first saw the crappy VHS copies of series 1 some years ago it was an eye opening experience, I couldn't believe the extent to which they'd gone in terms of appropriating Sweeney plots, the amazing number of Sweeney actors ( some, like Joe Gladwin, in identical roles or copying roles played by others ) & the way they'd mixed & matched plots/dialogue/characters, etc. In fact I've never seen a tv show that so blatantly lifts so many elements from another show ( and one that was still showing ) in such a way.
The other day I watched 'Lady Luck' ( the Target episode, not The Sweeney one ) & it's crazy, it's a reworking of 'Feet Of Clay' with direct lifts from 'Abduction' & 'Golden Fleece'. The crew & cast lists for most episodes are a 'who's who' of The Sweeney, I wouldn't call it a 'rip off' so much as the whole Sweeney entourage jumping ship & reinventing the show for BBC1. There is no other explanation than they collectively made a decision to cannibalise The Sweeney.
|
|
|
Post by Kenny Dalglish 1979 on Mar 16, 2019 17:25:15 GMT
I noticed that too. A lot of the stories seemed like carbon copies of the series 1 Sweeney episodes. For example, I remember an episode involving a lorry drag just like The Placer and Hunting Parties could have easily been a Professionals story with lots of shooters (including machine guns), terrorists and a notorious gangster played by Lee Montague.
At the time despite some good moments, I thought series 2 was a bit lighter paced but it still had some good action scenes of Hackett nicking villains like the one played by Lewis Fiander and The Trouble With Charlie was a pretty brutal episode featuring the death of an innocent bystander and an explosive climax which had a soundtrack by Brian Bennett which was used in the lorry drag for The Sweeney episode Nightmare.
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Mar 14, 2020 17:54:04 GMT
Some Target related material including some Sweeney items.
Compare the image of Mower punching stuntman Terry Plummer in the second picture with the Minder book cover at the bottom.
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 14, 2020 19:02:37 GMT
Excellent stuff Arthur! It seems Target/the BBC were certainly trying to get in to the children's annual and merchandise side of things as a big push for the show against The Sweeney and Pro's back then. Sort of a shame it all got disowned and bannished shortly afterwards! Thanks again for sharing this.
|
|
Cartman
Producer
Posts: 3,948
Online Status:
|
Post by Cartman on Mar 14, 2020 19:07:20 GMT
The fact that it was nowhere near as good as The Sweeney didn’t help!
|
|
|
Post by Dirty Epic on Mar 14, 2020 19:21:18 GMT
My problem with Target is I've not really seen it and the snippets of it on YouTube don't really give you any way of getting into it or following the stories in the episodes. I know it was more violent and lacked the balance of humour The Sweeney and Pro's etc. had and Hackett (Mower) IIRC was a bit OTT/unbelievable in the role too. Don't think it will see the light of day unless someone has and bootlegs the two series.
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Apr 26, 2020 18:19:38 GMT
Here's episode 2 of series 1 of Target, 'Blow Out', much Sweeney involvement in this as you'll see.
Btw, David Agnew is a pseudonym of Roger Marshall.
|
|