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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 12, 2019 21:21:16 GMT
The Doctors series must've been popular with the public, Robin Nedwell was in 6 different Doctor incarnations, then there were the Dirk Bogarde films before him.
I've been watching 'Bless This House' on Forces TV, whilst I like the film spin off it has to be said that the series itself has not dated well, it looks really cheap & the laughs are very few.
I got 'Nearest And Dearest' on dvd earlier in the year after seeing a few episodes on youtube. After watching all 7 series it has become one of my favourite sitcoms, I'd rate Hylda Baker as the funniest female performer I've come across. She wasn't even 5 foot tall but she gives a performance of Leonard Rossiter like manic energy, despite tripping over most of her lines, you can even clearly hear her being prompted by her co stars on at least 5 episodes, something I've only heard in one other tv show & this was for a young child who'd forgotten his line.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2019 21:34:55 GMT
Does anybody remember ‘The Rag Trade’? I remember watching this as a kid and the catchphrase ‘Everybody Out’! My mom was a shop steward and I’m sure she used this phrase herself
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Dec 31, 2019 13:51:08 GMT
I have always personally felt that, during the 70s, the classics which are well regarded and well remembered were on the BBC, Fawlty Towers, Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads, Porridge etc, Dads Army too, although I appreciate it wasn't everyones cup of tea, but the acting in it I always thought was good.
In contrast I always thought that ITVs efforts were mediocre at best, with the solitary exception of the excellent Rising Damp.
Thoughts anyone? I remember reading an article in a Central TV staff newspaper (may still have it in the loft) written by the Controller of Entertainment at Central TV. He was reflecting on the ITV sitcoms of past, and what the plans were for the future. He commented that viewers were of the opinion that the ITV Sitcoms were more "Working Class" as compared to the BBC's "Middle Class" offerings- with exceptions with perhaps things like "Steptoe", "Porridge", "Likely Lads", "Bread" etc.
He hinted that if ITV wanted to keep up with the times, ideas and formats for Sitcoms would need to be shifted more towards their competitors (BBC). We ended up with stuff like The Upper Hand (Central) and Watching (Granada) and various other shows that would pop up - and vanish after one series Babes in the Wood - with Karl Howman / Denese Van Outen, and a few others that I have forgotten. Most of which - were more middle class than previous.
Out of them all - it was Upper Hand and Watching that only really lasted.
I always preferred the ITV sitcoms - OK, by todays standards - the PC brigade will jump in and nit pick - but as commented elsewhere - they were a reflection of the time, and show how attitudes have changed.
I agree with Cartman - in some cases with the BBC - the plot & script may not be wonderful - but the casting & acting was always first class. For me, with ITV, it seemed to be the opposite - some great plots - but some debateable casting.
Though - on both channels - when series have run too long - the stories often tend to get a bit far fetched. Unless you have a skilled writer like John Sullivan of course.... and he was a one in a million!
Anyone remember Thames TVs Kit Curran Radio Show?
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Villain
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Post by Villain on Dec 31, 2019 16:07:10 GMT
I think the point raised about BBC and ITV sitcoms being pitched differently is very valid, although there were exceptions with some ITV shows being more middle class oriented, two which spring to mind for me are 'Shelley' with Hywell Bennett and 'Agony' with Maureen Lipman. I was a big fan of 'Shelley', it was often hit and miss but the main character was well thought out and perfectly cast. As classic series go, it's all but forgotten now. Looking back we really were spoiled in the '60s, '70s and early '80s with traditional sitcoms, stand outs for me were (and still are) 'Porridge', 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads', 'Shelley', 'The Good Life', 'Steptoe & Son', 'Butterflies', 'To The Manor Born', 'Dad's Army' and early 'Only Fools & Horses'. There are many others I liked but often found I had to be in the right mood for, 'Rising Damp' is one example, not sure why really as I really enjoyed Leonard Rossiter' in 'Reggie Perrin'. What about the more forgotten sitcoms though.... for example does anyone remember 'Rosie' and 'Potter' from the BBC...? Both were quite good in there own, gentle way. And what about 'Thick As Thieves', a John Thaw and Bob Hoskins 'buddy' style comedy made before 'Regan'...? Villain
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Dec 31, 2019 16:14:57 GMT
I think the point raised about BBC and ITV sitcoms being pitched differently is very valid, although there were exceptions with some ITV shows being more middle class oriented, two which spring to mind for me are 'Shelley' with Hywell Bennett and 'Agony' with Maureen Lipman. I was a big fan of 'Shelley', it was often hit and miss but the main character was well thought out and perfectly cast. As classic series go, it's all but forgotten now. Looking back we really were spoiled in the '60s, '70s and early '80s with traditional sitcoms, stand outs for me were (and still are) 'Porridge', 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads', 'Shelley', 'The Good Life', 'Steptoe & Son', 'Butterflies', 'To The Manor Born', 'Dad's Army' and early 'Only Fools & Horses'. There are many others I liked but often found I had to be in the right mood for, 'Rising Damp' is one example, not sure why really as I really enjoyed Leonard Rossiter' in 'Reggie Perrin'. What about the more forgotten sitcoms though.... for example does anyone remember 'Rosie' and 'Potter' from the BBC...? Both were quite good in there own, gentle way. And what about 'Thick As Thieves', a John Thaw and Bob Hoskins 'buddy' style comedy made before 'Regan'...? Villain I agree with the divide between BBC and ITV. I remember thinking Potter was quite good with the excellent Arthur Lowe. Pretty sure Captain Mainwaring was a BBC guy, ITV would be too vulgar for him!
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 31, 2019 18:53:30 GMT
I think I've only seen ep1 of 'Thick As Thieves', not up to La Frenais/Clement's usual standard. 'Potter' is one of my favourite sitcoms, Lowe is brilliant in it, managing to be slightly sinister & funny at the same time, the Potter character is very much like the character Lowe plays in the Galton/Simpson tv play 'Car Along The Pass'. 'Pardon The Expression', with Lowe's Coronation Street character Leonard Swindley is very good as well. Neither are well known but I think they're two of the best sitcoms made.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Dec 31, 2019 19:10:32 GMT
Yes Potter wasn't bad, I haven't actually seen it since it was originally on, either 79 or 80 from memory. The character played by Arthur Lowe was basically Mainwaring in civilian guise. The guy who was CJ in Reggie Perrin was also in it, again, playing a similar part.
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Post by Where's The Money on Apr 11, 2020 12:10:15 GMT
I would say that the BBC win this all hands down. The list of wonderful sitcoms on The BBC in The Seventies is endless. However, I honestly believe ITV had one sitcom that stands up against even the best the BBC had to offer.....Rising Damp. Great scripts, the perfect cast and 30 minutes that was as close to the essence of a stage play you would find on prime time TV. I am struggling to find other ITV comedies that stand up well. I thought George and Mildred had its moments. I am fond of On The Buses but when I take off my rose tinted glasses for me it generally dissapoints.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Apr 11, 2020 13:22:41 GMT
Totally agree, Rising Damp was the only ITV one which was in the same class as the BBC classics. George and Mildred and On the Buses I watched at the time, but if they were on now, I probably wouldn’t.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Nov 4, 2020 17:40:47 GMT
I noticed that 'Bless This House' is currently showing on 3 different channels! ITV3, Forces TV & CCXTV. Saw an episode yesterday about Sid's father in law coming to stay which featured a bizarre acting performance from an actor called Jack Newmark who plays the father in law. At points in the episode he remains motionless without uttering a word, I thought the joke was that he'd had a stroke or died but no, it was just abominable acting. Worth watching the scenes with him in, it's very strange.
A very odd coincidence was that later in the day I watched an episode of 'The Twilight Zone', the story, which was about a town where time was standing still, involved most of the cast remaining motionless like shop mannequins.
Watch from 10 mins 50 to see the odd Jack Newmark performance-
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