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Post by Ministrone on Feb 21, 2016 18:29:51 GMT
Rumours are sweeping the internet that the BBC are to start shooting a new series of Are You Being Served next month at media city in Salford. I can't see this working well as I think the style of humour of the original series was very much of its time. What are your thoughts  |
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Villain
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Post by Villain on Feb 21, 2016 18:38:30 GMT
Like most (if not all) remakes it'll be forced and won't have a fraction of the warmth or humour of the original. These things never work out the way they're intended to and usually have the distinct odour of 'cash in' about them. The originals are always best and as Gene said over in the 'Dad's Army' remake thread, the TV commissioners and producers have pretty much run out of new ideas. The genuine originals are looked on with affection because all of the right ingredients were there in the first place : writing, casting, directing etc, in a word... talent. Just look at Steptoe & Son, Porridge, Dad's Army, The Good Life, Fawlty Towers, Minder, The Sweeney, The Professionals etc, you cannot replicate the chemistry between the cast members (and often as not the regular crews involved who all knew each other extremely well). Villain  |
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Post by Ministrone on Feb 21, 2016 18:59:19 GMT
Like most (if not all) remakes it'll be forced and won't have a fraction of the warmth or humour of the original. These things never work out the way they're intended to and usually have the distinct odour of 'cash in' about them. The originals are always best and as Gene said over in the 'Dad's Army' remake thread, the TV commissioners and producers have pretty much run out of new ideas. The genuine originals are looked on with affection because all of the right ingredients were there in the first place : writing, casting, directing etc, in a word... talent. Just look at Steptoe & Son, Porridge, Dad's Army, The Good Life, Fawlty Towers, Minder, The Sweeney, The Professionals etc, you cannot replicate the chemistry between the cast members (and often as not the regular crews involved who all knew each other extremely well). Villain I have to agree with you Villain. The only remake that has any of the spark of the original is Still Open All Hours, but that is purely down to the talent of David Jason. It would be 100 times better with Ronnie Barker though. |
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Post by Gene Hunt on Feb 21, 2016 19:44:23 GMT
This explains why The Saint has not been online much of late. Rehearsals for the part of Mr Humphries.
It is a ridiculous idea, just like all the rest of these cash in remakes. Every single character in the original was a one off and no one could step into those shoes. Even the less prominent characters, such as Mr Harman, played superbly by Arthur English.
Another one I won't be going to see.
Gene.
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Post by John Steed on Feb 21, 2016 20:59:26 GMT
This explains why The Saint has not been online much of late. Rehearsals for the part of Mr Humphries. It is a ridiculous idea, just like all the rest of these cash in remakes. Every single character in the original was a one off and no one could step into those shoes. Even the less prominent characters, such as Mr Harman, played superbly by Arthur English. Another one I won't be going to see. Gene. I don't think will bother either 
Steed
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Feb 21, 2016 22:00:08 GMT
Melvyn Hayes on the remakes- www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/sitcom-legend-says-dads-army-7413658I expect in the case of AYBS that it will have a fairly loose connection to the original since department stores are more or less a thing of the past. Much of the humour was based on the hierarchy of the staff, something that no longer exists. Attitudes have also changed too much to milk laughs from words like 'pussy', Mr.Humphrey's antics, Mr.Lucas's womanising, Young Mr.Grace's dolly bird secretaries bending over, etc. No doubt they'll adopt an 'ironic' approach & it'll be a parody of the original. According to AYBS wikipedia the new version features John 'Boycey' Challis as Peacock, Sherrie Hewson as Mrs Slocombe & Roy Barraclough, who I thought had retired. There's no fun in watching things like this for the 'so bad it's good' value as they're usually just plain mediocre like the Dad's Army film. The original show ran out of steam in the last couple of series ( as did Dad's Army ) & that was with most of the original cast & good writers. There was an Australian version that included John Inman in the cast but I can't say I've ever been interested in watching it other than out of curiosity. I say let them get on with these 'reboots' if they can't come up with new ideas & allow the rest of us watch the originals. I was hostile towards the Sweeney film but predictably it's sank without trace & I expect all these imposters to do the same. |
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Post by Windy Miller on Feb 21, 2016 22:02:42 GMT
Melvyn Hayes on the remakes- www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/sitcom-legend-says-dads-army-7413658I expect in the case of AYBS that it will have a fairly loose connection to the original since department stores are more or less a thing of the past. Much of the humour was based on the hierarchy of the staff, something that no longer exists. Attitudes have also changed too much to milk laughs from words like 'pussy', Mr.Humphrey's antics, Mr.Lucas's womanising, Young Mr.Grace's dolly bird secretaries bending over, etc. According to AYBS wikipedia the new version features John 'Boycey' Challis as Peacock, Sherrie Hewson as Mrs Slocombe & Roy Barraclough, who I thought had retired. There's no fun in watching things like this for the 'so bad it's good' value as they're usually just plain mediocre like the Dad's Army film. I think we are unanimous on that Mr Pringle. |
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Feb 21, 2016 23:09:43 GMT
AYBS is so 70s , I don't see how they will make it work these days.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Feb 22, 2016 7:10:32 GMT
I found this today on the Mail online section. To read the full article on Mail Online click the link Are You Being Served Mail OnlineExcerpt from the mail.
The one-off special was commissioned as part of the BBC's 'landmark comedy season', designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the television sitcom
et in 1988 and picks up where the comedy last left off, following the misadventures of the retail staff in fictional London department store Grace Brothers.
The special follows young Mr Grace (Mathew Horne) as he tries to modernise Grace Brothers but faces problems with Mr Humphries (Jason Watkins), Captain Peacock (John Challis) and Mrs Slocombe (Sherrie Hewson).
As well as the old favourites, there are some new additions to the cast, including Jorgie Porter as Miss Croft, and Kayode Ewumi as Mr Conway.
Well it at least they had the sense to set it in 1988 rather than do a fresh reboot like they did with Minder in 2009, because that didn't work. If the set looks like Grace Brothers of old that will help aid its cause. Seeing as its a one off most likely to appear in the Autumn I will give this a go but i'm not expecting a great deal from it. Jason Watkiss will plays Mr Humphries  |
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The Saint
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Post by The Saint on Feb 22, 2016 9:00:46 GMT
The original cast of AYBS reunited in 1993 to make Grace & Favour which had them running a hotel. If I recall correctly it wasn't very good and that was with the original cast. The show was of it's time and a remake will be dire.
What is that sound? Oh it is the BBC scraping the bottom of the barrel, yet again.
The Saint
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