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Lovejoy thread.Have you watched any old TV program and rekindled old memories etc? I will start off with ‘The Goodlife’ I used to love watching that with my dear old mum.
I can't get enough of Porridge, use to watch it with the old man as a kid. Last Xmas I got my 90 year old Spanish father in law into it. Now he's also trapped to yesterday or some other obscure TV channel watching old repeats of it.
Ti's comedy genius
I wouldn't mind trying to watch the Darling Buds of May I think it was called. Remember watching it with the mother. Sure it would be absolutely awful now. But I'd still give it a lash
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One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:30 - Oct 31 with 654 views
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:27 - Oct 31 by leitrimblue
I can't get enough of Porridge, use to watch it with the old man as a kid. Last Xmas I got my 90 year old Spanish father in law into it. Now he's also trapped to yesterday or some other obscure TV channel watching old repeats of it.
Ti's comedy genius
I wouldn't mind trying to watch the Darling Buds of May I think it was called. Remember watching it with the mother. Sure it would be absolutely awful now. But I'd still give it a lash
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:02 - Oct 31 by ArnoldMoorhen
I saw a couple of episodes of The Young Ones recently.
A combination of utter amateurism, and some genuinely ground-breaking comic devices.
The "University Challenge" episode is remembered for the take off of the quiz with Toffs versus Scumbags and some very famous cameos AND Vivyan being decapitated after putting his head out of the train window (genuinely shocking for a sitcom at the time) and then wandering around trying to find his head "Over here you ba st ard!".
But it also contains a surreal subplot with Robbie Coltrane as a Victorian scientist looking down his microscope at the events of the episode. Then there was Neil talking to the audience at home because nobody else would listen to him. Genuinely ground breaking "meta" stuff years before Garry Shandling broke the fourth wall etc.
Although Bob Hope was breaking the fourth wall in the 'Road' films long before either, but in my opinion no one did it as smoothly as Shandling.
I watch anything with Victoria Wood in that comes up on the iPlayer, her genius was so quiet that I'm only now realising some of the performances she has delivered are done with a subtlety that undermines things we take for granted. An episode of Great Railway Journeys where she shows off the tourist tat bought in Edinburgh as the train goes past Berwick-upon-Tweed, with her back to the scenery.
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 07:40 - Oct 31 by Keno
Two old series Ive watched recently Secret Army, which I have a a feeling Glassers has watched as well. Enjoyed it but was somewhat distracted by thinking of 'all 'all
also Just Good Friends which although a bit hammy (no offence Phil) is still watchable, still makes me makes and is actually really well written
I was addicted to Secret Army. Also By the Sword Divided, an early 1980s drama following a family through the time of the English Civil War.
Saw that Last of the Summer Wine was on one of those random channels the other day, considered putting it on to see what they'd roll down a hill on that episode but the theme music is still heavily associated in my head with Sunday evenings and the dread of school in the morning.
I did disappear into a youtube rabbit hole not so long ago and ended up watching some Mary Whitehouse Experience episodes. Loved it at the time, bit hit and miss now with how it's aged but it did transport me back to being a 14 year old quoting the catchphrases with my mates at school.
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:31 - Oct 31 by WeWereZombies
Although Bob Hope was breaking the fourth wall in the 'Road' films long before either, but in my opinion no one did it as smoothly as Shandling.
I watch anything with Victoria Wood in that comes up on the iPlayer, her genius was so quiet that I'm only now realising some of the performances she has delivered are done with a subtlety that undermines things we take for granted. An episode of Great Railway Journeys where she shows off the tourist tat bought in Edinburgh as the train goes past Berwick-upon-Tweed, with her back to the scenery.
And Bob Hope links back into the Vaudeville tradition, which has grew out of the Victorian Music Hall and Melodrama schools (along with an input of central European clowning) both of which were heavy on audience interaction and knowing whispers to the crowd, and before you know it you have travelled back to Shakespeare's Porter in Macbeth...
Victoria Wood was absolutely superb. An acute observer with a very sensitive ear for authentic dialogue.
I would very tentatively suggest Lorna Rose Treen as her offspring's offspring's offspring. A joyful performer who hasn't had her big break yet, but sells out at the Fringe. She doesn't ground her characters as much as Wood, but there is that same simple delight (and almost amazement) that you can see in their eyes that people are connecting and laughing.
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:41 - Oct 31 by CBBlue
Saw that Last of the Summer Wine was on one of those random channels the other day, considered putting it on to see what they'd roll down a hill on that episode but the theme music is still heavily associated in my head with Sunday evenings and the dread of school in the morning.
I did disappear into a youtube rabbit hole not so long ago and ended up watching some Mary Whitehouse Experience episodes. Loved it at the time, bit hit and miss now with how it's aged but it did transport me back to being a 14 year old quoting the catchphrases with my mates at school.
"You see that teenager in the playground trying to remember what David Baddiel said?"
"I have observed the unfortunate creature..."
"That was you, that was!"
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One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:49 - Oct 31 with 595 views
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 11:41 - Oct 31 by CBBlue
Saw that Last of the Summer Wine was on one of those random channels the other day, considered putting it on to see what they'd roll down a hill on that episode but the theme music is still heavily associated in my head with Sunday evenings and the dread of school in the morning.
I did disappear into a youtube rabbit hole not so long ago and ended up watching some Mary Whitehouse Experience episodes. Loved it at the time, bit hit and miss now with how it's aged but it did transport me back to being a 14 year old quoting the catchphrases with my mates at school.
That’s a fav of my Mother in Law when I stayed with her after the Father in law had passed away a couple of years ago,she’d watch it and basically p’herself.😚
I'll chuck in The Fast Show, which still has about a 70% hit rate for me.
Caroline Aherne is such a sad loss...
So, obviously, let's add "The Royle Family", which I will always stop on when flicking through the channels.
In spite of being a massive comedy snob I have a very soft spot for both "Allo! Allo!" and "Hi De Hi!". Some wonderful comic talent in their casts (and some drops, to be honest!) The Officer Crabtree device of speaking bad English in a French accent to convey English people trying to speak French was very clever conceptually, although tired long before the.series ended, and Croft and Perry wrang every last drop from what was basically a classic English farce formula. Went on waaay too long, though.
"Hi De Hi!" was a deeply humane and sensitive series, with a deep pathos at it's heart as "faded ex-stars", like Barry and Yvonne, and "never made it's", like Mr Partridge and Ted Bovis, rubbed shoulders with the young optimists Spike and Peggy.
Watching it takes me back, and I really connect with that wistfulness at it's heart, now.
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One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 12:10 - Oct 31 with 526 views
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 12:05 - Oct 31 by ArnoldMoorhen
I'll chuck in The Fast Show, which still has about a 70% hit rate for me.
Caroline Aherne is such a sad loss...
So, obviously, let's add "The Royle Family", which I will always stop on when flicking through the channels.
In spite of being a massive comedy snob I have a very soft spot for both "Allo! Allo!" and "Hi De Hi!". Some wonderful comic talent in their casts (and some drops, to be honest!) The Officer Crabtree device of speaking bad English in a French accent to convey English people trying to speak French was very clever conceptually, although tired long before the.series ended, and Croft and Perry wrang every last drop from what was basically a classic English farce formula. Went on waaay too long, though.
"Hi De Hi!" was a deeply humane and sensitive series, with a deep pathos at it's heart as "faded ex-stars", like Barry and Yvonne, and "never made it's", like Mr Partridge and Ted Bovis, rubbed shoulders with the young optimists Spike and Peggy.
Watching it takes me back, and I really connect with that wistfulness at it's heart, now.
Concerning to think of the Fast Show as an “old show” but here we are. So many fantastic characters; Dave Angel Eco Warrior. The depressed painter. Fruit machine bloke in the pub. Ron Manager. Scorchio!
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 12:35 - Oct 31 by Illinoisblue
Concerning to think of the Fast Show as an “old show” but here we are. So many fantastic characters; Dave Angel Eco Warrior. The depressed painter. Fruit machine bloke in the pub. Ron Manager. Scorchio!
Top ten of Uk comedy shows for sure.
"What did I say, Roy?"
Jesse's Diet/Fashion
Rowley Birkin
And Ted and Ralph which was a study in awkwardness with sketches like this:
Which, while funny in themselves, were a very long build up to what I consider to be the greatest British comedy sketch of all time:
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One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 12:53 - Oct 31 with 478 views
When Mrs FBI goes to bed early (as an ex-teacher old habits die hard) I often switch over to one of the classic channels or go browsing Iplayer. As a result:
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: Really hasn't aged well. Great Acting from Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice is as delightful as I remembered. But Frank Spencer is just a tedious berk. and it soon becomes tiresome.
Reginald Perrin: Perfect. Absolutely flawless with the whole cast at the top of their game. Still valid today.
Sykes (the colour version): Patchy but generally excellent although Eric himself isn't particularly likeable. There's a terrific episode featuring Peter Sellers and him and his old mucker and Goon Show scriptwriting partner Eric are clearly having a whale of a time as they try not to corpse.
Dad's Army: I love it and rewatch probably annually but only about half the episodes really hold up. When it gets to the gorilla suits, Morris dancing and general slapstick it doesn't hold up. But the extended Christmas show with Arthur Lowe also playing his drunkard twin brother is wonderful, as is the one vaguely based on Brief Encounter and featuring an unexpectedly glamorous Carmen "Edizthz" Silvera. The finale, Jonesy's wedding, is lovely and the bit at the end where they turn to the camera to toast "...Britain's Home Guard..." always reduces me to a tearful lump because my Grandad was in the S. Staffs HG.
Speaking of last episodes, It Ain't 'Alf Hot, Mum: Difficult in a modern light but, viewed with a degree of understanding, it's actually pretty good and well thought out. Wouldn't be made today and, as a proud member of the Wokerrati, some of the lines are uncomfortable and rightly so. Having said that, there's some really good writing and acting. And the last episode, where they all go off back to civvy street and it becomes clear the Sergeant Major has nothing in his life now he's demobbed is quite touching and beautifully done.
Get Some In: S1 is likeable with some good writing but quickly runs out of ideas.
Porridge: Genius. End of.
Honourable later-decade mentions for The Mighty Boosh, Two Pints of Lager (except the last series but I can forgive Sheridan Smith ANYTHING) and Bottom. The Young Ones is pretty tired and dated now but still has some good bits. Coupling is just silly and dated now.
And finally: The Two Ronnies generally holds up pretty well. Mrs FBi once came downstairs, unable to sleep, saw me watching it, sighed and said, "Can't you watch p@rn like other blokes?"
PS: The Elton John episode of the Muppets... I was there when they filmed it as my mum's friend made the guests' outfits. I sat in the red seats, toured the workshop, had a go at working Kermit's arm-wires and met Elton, who was lovely. Got his autograph and left it on my windowsill where it faded away :-/
One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 18:58 - Oct 31 by FBI
When Mrs FBI goes to bed early (as an ex-teacher old habits die hard) I often switch over to one of the classic channels or go browsing Iplayer. As a result:
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: Really hasn't aged well. Great Acting from Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice is as delightful as I remembered. But Frank Spencer is just a tedious berk. and it soon becomes tiresome.
Reginald Perrin: Perfect. Absolutely flawless with the whole cast at the top of their game. Still valid today.
Sykes (the colour version): Patchy but generally excellent although Eric himself isn't particularly likeable. There's a terrific episode featuring Peter Sellers and him and his old mucker and Goon Show scriptwriting partner Eric are clearly having a whale of a time as they try not to corpse.
Dad's Army: I love it and rewatch probably annually but only about half the episodes really hold up. When it gets to the gorilla suits, Morris dancing and general slapstick it doesn't hold up. But the extended Christmas show with Arthur Lowe also playing his drunkard twin brother is wonderful, as is the one vaguely based on Brief Encounter and featuring an unexpectedly glamorous Carmen "Edizthz" Silvera. The finale, Jonesy's wedding, is lovely and the bit at the end where they turn to the camera to toast "...Britain's Home Guard..." always reduces me to a tearful lump because my Grandad was in the S. Staffs HG.
Speaking of last episodes, It Ain't 'Alf Hot, Mum: Difficult in a modern light but, viewed with a degree of understanding, it's actually pretty good and well thought out. Wouldn't be made today and, as a proud member of the Wokerrati, some of the lines are uncomfortable and rightly so. Having said that, there's some really good writing and acting. And the last episode, where they all go off back to civvy street and it becomes clear the Sergeant Major has nothing in his life now he's demobbed is quite touching and beautifully done.
Get Some In: S1 is likeable with some good writing but quickly runs out of ideas.
Porridge: Genius. End of.
Honourable later-decade mentions for The Mighty Boosh, Two Pints of Lager (except the last series but I can forgive Sheridan Smith ANYTHING) and Bottom. The Young Ones is pretty tired and dated now but still has some good bits. Coupling is just silly and dated now.
And finally: The Two Ronnies generally holds up pretty well. Mrs FBi once came downstairs, unable to sleep, saw me watching it, sighed and said, "Can't you watch p@rn like other blokes?"
PS: The Elton John episode of the Muppets... I was there when they filmed it as my mum's friend made the guests' outfits. I sat in the red seats, toured the workshop, had a go at working Kermit's arm-wires and met Elton, who was lovely. Got his autograph and left it on my windowsill where it faded away :-/
[Post edited 31 Oct 19:03]
Good list, that.
Bottom was my late mum’s favourite tv programme along with Blackadder - as they were mine. Brilliant. I’ll add one:
The New Statesman. Rick Mayall at his finest. I’m told the stage version was just as good as they often integrated the news of the day in the script.
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One for the oldies and inspired by Kenos. on 19:17 - Oct 31 with 301 views
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she sure was beautiful in that ! 
