|
Post by ripper on Dec 22, 2021 14:52:56 GMT
I watched the Rising Damp Christmas episode 'For the Man who has Everything' last night. It's from 1975 and I think you would like it. It has a great cast and is set in a seedy boarding house with misery landlord Rigsby, and students Alan and Philip. The writing is sharp and Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby is just fantastic. Richard Beckinsale plays Alan. He tragically died of a heart attack in his early 30s, and also played Godber in Porridge.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Dec 22, 2021 20:12:59 GMT
Thanks for posting. C4 screened a block of Christmas-themed sitcoms decades ago and Christmas Duty was one of them. I'll be interested in hearing what you made of it. Being an old codger, I can recall how incredibly popular this series was in the 70s, and I do still enjoy it. I particularly like the drollness of Arthur in his conversations with wife Olive. Sadly, all gone now except for Anna Karen. It was much better than I expected, as I remember the film's being more cruder. The families interaction is quite well done. The lusting after dolly birds is a bit of a turn off, I feared the worst. I'd imagine episodes are built around this. Poor Blakey. I was surprised at how old Reg Varney was when he made this. I read it failed after he left, and Arthur too, and I can see why. You have lost the family unit that was the dynamo running it. Did they introduce new characters when these two left? Nice summary, and I agree with you. After the departure of Arthur and then Stan, it was really not the same. Blakey becomes a lodger in Stan's mum's house, but I don't recall any more characters, though I may be wrong on that. Yes, the chasing of dolly birds by older men is a common thread in this and many other 70s sitcoms, though in many instances said men are woefully unsuccessful. Yes, the films are indeed cruder than the TV series, and Varney and Grant were getting on a bit. Don't think Stan and Jack would last long in today's work environment! The final series, 7 holds some kind of morbid fascination (at least, it does for me). At the time Reg Varney's departure was put down to health reasons. He'd suffered a first heart attack in 1965 (he was already in his 'fifties when On the Buses began). Off the back of the series' success, he'd accepted film offers and the increased work load would put him at risk of a second. Allegedly, he was jealous of Stephen Lewis; the show had been "created specially for me," but it was Blakey captured the public imagination. Michael Robbins departure was the beginning of the end. Varney refused to commit to thirteen episodes, so they wrote him out on the seventh, and then Bob Grant and Jack Grant were writing episodes (on the fly?). As to new characters, there was a half-hearted attempt at giving Jack a partner (a younger, long-haired layabout driver), and a few minor characters were given the odd line, but it was desperate stuff. Bob Todd, clearly drunk, guests as manager for one painful episode.
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 22, 2021 22:23:51 GMT
Here is tonight's. I couldn't find the Dad's Army episode, so here is one with Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring.
It's called Bless Me Father, and is from 23 December 1979.
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 22, 2021 22:45:43 GMT
A bit of trouble there. But here we go!
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Dec 23, 2021 16:58:14 GMT
It was much better than I expected, as I remember the film's being more cruder. The families interaction is quite well done. The lusting after dolly birds is a bit of a turn off, I feared the worst. I'd imagine episodes are built around this. Poor Blakey. I was surprised at how old Reg Varney was when he made this. I read it failed after he left, and Arthur too, and I can see why. You have lost the family unit that was the dynamo running it. Did they introduce new characters when these two left? Nice summary, and I agree with you. After the departure of Arthur and then Stan, it was really not the same. Blakey becomes a lodger in Stan's mum's house, but I don't recall any more characters, though I may be wrong on that. Yes, the chasing of dolly birds by older men is a common thread in this and many other 70s sitcoms, though in many instances said men are woefully unsuccessful. Yes, the films are indeed cruder than the TV series, and Varney and Grant were getting on a bit. Don't think Stan and Jack would last long in today's work environment! The final series, 7 holds some kind of morbid fascination (at least, it does for me). At the time Reg Varney's departure was put down to health reasons. He'd suffered a first heart attack in 1965 (he was already in his 'fifties when On the Buses began). Off the back of the series' success, he'd accepted film offers and the increased work load would put him at risk of a second. Allegedly, he was jealous of Stephen Lewis; the show had been "created specially for me," but it was Blakey captured the public imagination. Michael Robbins departure was the beginning of the end. Varney refused to commit to thirteen episodes, so they wrote him out on the seventh, and then Bob Grant and Jack Grant were writing episodes (on the fly?). As to new characters, there was a half-hearted attempt at giving Jack a partner (a younger, long-haired layabout driver), and a few minor characters were given the odd line, but it was desperate stuff. Bob Todd, clearly drunk, guests as manager for one painful episode. I can't recall Jack's new driver at all, and that final series is so vague; I don't think I have seen it since it was first transmitted, not even sure if it was shown when ITV repeated On the Buses in the late 80s or so. Varney starred in Down the Gate after Buses, but I think it was a disappointment with audiences.
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Dec 23, 2021 17:00:10 GMT
A bit of trouble there. But here we go! Arthur Lowe was a marvellous actor, though I can't remember watching too many of the Bless Me, Father series--maybe it conflicted with work or study. I did enjoy this episode, a departure from Lowe's usual bank manager-type screen persona. Lowe and John Le Mesurier reprised their Dad's Army roles in a radio sitcom It Sticks Out Half A Mile about Captain Mainwaring and Pike renovating a pier. Sadly, Lowe was very ill and managed only the pilot before his death. ARP Warden Hodges replaced him for the full series. The pilot and series still exist and it is sad to hear Lowe sounding so poorly.
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 23, 2021 22:21:16 GMT
I haven't forgotten tonight's sitcom. It's from 23 December 1977. Just think back then you could have been watching this, and you are now all these years later. You will have to supply information on this show, I have a rough idea from looking it up, but you can fill in the details. It's Happy Ever After And we are OFF!
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Dec 24, 2021 8:15:45 GMT
I can't recall Jack's new driver at all, and that final series is so vague; I don't think I have seen it since it was first transmitted, not even sure if it was shown when ITV repeated On the Buses in the late 80s or so. Varney starred in Down the Gate after Buses, but I think it was a disappointment with audiences. It's been shown during the morning on ITV3 quite a bit. Bob Grant's new driver didn't get much of a look in - a few words here and there and that was about it. I doubt there was any appetite to replace Reg Varney. Just found out that Craig 'Mr. On the Buses' Walker, author of the indispensable (trans: I haven't read it yet, but its about On The Buses so it's bound to be ace) On The Buses: The Complete Story, has also written an A - Z of On the Buses and the equally must-have On the Buses: The Filming Locations. Two I'm aware of are the 'Cemetery Gates' (entrance to Lavender Hill Cemetery, Cedar Road, Enfield), and the setting for The Football Match - Champions Hill Stadium, then home of Dulwich Hamlet FC, now the East Dulwich Sainsbury Superstore Car park. DHFC moved just next door, so if you go watch them at home (recommended: midweek evening matches are especially atmospheric) you get to stand on sacred ground while waiting for the bus home.
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Dec 24, 2021 10:11:31 GMT
I can't recall Jack's new driver at all, and that final series is so vague; I don't think I have seen it since it was first transmitted, not even sure if it was shown when ITV repeated On the Buses in the late 80s or so. Varney starred in Down the Gate after Buses, but I think it was a disappointment with audiences. It's been shown during the morning on ITV3 quite a bit. Bob Grant's new driver didn't get much of a look in - a few words here and there and that was about it. I doubt there was any appetite to replace Reg Varney. Just found out that Craig 'Mr. On the Buses' Walker, author of the indispensable (trans: I haven't read it yet, but its about On The Buses so it's bound to be ace) On The Buses: The Complete Story, has also written an A - Z of On the Buses and the equally must-have On the Buses: The Filming Locations. Two I'm aware of are the 'Cemetery Gates' (entrance to Lavender Hill Cemetery, Cedar Road, Enfield), and the setting for The Football Match - Champions Hill Stadium, then home of Dulwich Hamlet FC, now the East Dulwich Sainsbury Superstore Car park. DHFC moved just next door, so if you go watch them at home (recommended: midweek evening matches are especially atmospheric) you get to stand on sacred ground while waiting for the bus home. I keep forgetting that ITV3 and ITV4 repeat old sitcoms. Actually, I don't really have any excuse not to have seen that final series as I have the complete set on DVD and films, just that post Arthur and especially Stan it went downhill faster than Eddie the Eagle--now there's a name from the past! The only locations I know are those used for Holiday on the Buses as we used to go to that area nearly every year for our family holiday. I shall keep an eye out for those books, thanks for the heads-up, Dem.
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Dec 24, 2021 10:26:04 GMT
I haven't forgotten tonight's sitcom. It's from 23 December 1977. Just think back then you could have been watching this, and you are now all these years later. You will have to supply information on this show, I have a rough idea from looking it up, but you can fill in the details. It's Happy Ever After And we are OFF! Happy Ever After and the later Terry and June starred Terry Scott and June Whitfield as a middle-class married couple. The two sitcoms were supposed to have different main characters--Scott/Whitfield played different characters in each, but for all intents and purposes they were identical in character and general tone. Both, but especially Terry and June, were seen as the height of middle-class sitcoms and were mocked and derided by the alternative comics of the early 80s. They were 'safe' in the sense that no-one was likely to find anything offensive in them--safe for viewing with your gran. They were popular and many series were made. I haven't seen an episode for a very long time and enjoyed this special Christmas episode, so many thanks for posting it.
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 15, 2023 15:30:46 GMT
I'm going to resurrect this thread, I hope Dem Bones doesn't mind as it is a bit off topic. i'm sure there are a lot of sitcoms I missed last time around. Frankly given how miserable the world is at the moment we could do with cheering up. As usual suggest sitcoms below. While I'm here I'll ask about Chance in a Million, a sitcom with Simon Callow, as He Who Shall Not Be Named mentioned it sentimentally, though he sees it through rose-tinted glasses, not having watched it since it was broadcast. I couldn't however find a Christmas episode.
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 15, 2023 15:57:45 GMT
Reading back on this thread I noticed we (me) spent a lot of time:
1: Combing our (my) hair. 2: Complaining about our (my) tablet. 3: Reading Saki.
I'm sure we will do better this time. What mysteries from the time stream/vortex (Doctor who nonsense here) will we encounter on our travels? Personally I'd travel with Jon Pertwee's Doctor, as he is a bit like James Bond, only better, but each to their own.
|
|
|
Post by samdawson on Dec 15, 2023 23:52:41 GMT
The Good Life Christmas special is delightful, the Porridge ones are good too, Morecambe and Wise were, in their time, incomporable. Some of the Upstairs Downstairs (the real one, from the 1970s) Xmas episodes are well worth your time, but if you haven't seen all the series yet I really think it would be worth you investing in the box set. I'm sure you'd like it. PS. You're teasing, you know as well as we do that no one can read too much Saki.
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 16, 2023 21:54:57 GMT
I went for this. I know nothing about it. Looking the actors up I noticed the female lead retired from acting in 1999. It must have been popular it ran for seven series. I'll try again. For some reason the link gives Battle Beyond the Sun. Which is not a Christmas sitcom. youtu.be/hGGUIKsr1fk?si=0NYeKG6yCZPMEP-l
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Dec 19, 2023 10:26:12 GMT
Apart from the title song, I don't remember Watching that well. I'm surprised it lasted so long, so must have been popular, but for me it was a bit meh. As for the Christmas special, it was okay and I quite enjoyed it.
I will put in a word for the Rising Damp episode 'For the Man who has Everything'--it's a classic imo. Also the Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Christmas special from 1974.
|
|