TV - Comments by biffbampow

TV - Comments by biffbampow

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV Walking The Nile (2015)	I enjoyed this. Quite dramatic when he gets stuck in the war zone in Southern Sudan! That guys sure got some guts!
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV Stingray (1964 - 1965)	The main title tune is superb but I always loathed that "Aqua Marina" ballad... always makes me cringe with it's gooey visuals as well. I loved this as a kid (surprising how good ITV used to be in the afternoons!) but when I revisited this show a few years ago, I couldn't take much of it giving up after just three episodes. Just a personal thing I suppose, but didn't do it for me any more.
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV Rentaghost (1976 - 1984)	I love the first four series of this with the original trio of ghosts - Claypole, Fred Mumford and Hubert Davenport. The ridiculous japes they'd get up to and Mr and Mrs Meaker usually falling victim to all manner of absurd spells was for me pretty funny and can still have me laughing today... and did anyone ever notice that this show did NOT have a laughter track? When Mumford and Davenport left, we were left with the most irritating ghost Claypole and in came that damn pantomime horse, Nadia Popov and the McWitch and the show suddenly became embarrassingly infantile - worse, Christopher Biggins was present for one whole series. The Meakers and the neighbours - The Perkins - would always have great moments but even as a kid I felt it had gotten too stupid. Of course the show was always stupid, but when you cross the line to being too stupid, it can be downright painful. The final series is a complete and utter travesty. It was strange watching them all again when UK Gold showed them in the 1990's... again, it was sad to be reminded of how it plunged downhill once series 5 comes along. And here's a horrible fact as well as a fortunate one. In the early 90's some idiot in charge at Childrens BBC had tons of vintage kids TV shows WIPED. All first four series of "Rentaghost" were wiped when it should had been series 5 onwards that should had been wiped. Thankfully, UK Gold had recently made copies for their channel hence they all survive but had UK Gold not been in existence, then the four best series would no longer exist.
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV The Protectors (1972 - 1974)	Unfortunately, the theme is all I remember of this show. I saw many of them many moons ago when ITV would slip it into their afternoon schedules but that's all memory wise. I totally forgot it was a Gerry Anderson production!
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV Ideal (2005 - 2011)	Great surreal lunacy! One of the only comedies of the 21st Century that's made me laugh. The characters were all pretty mad in their own ways and with Mr Vegas at the helm bringing it all together it was something quite unique. Gonna revisit this little lot and will do a better post on it in the future. I do feel it lost it's way a little in the final series with Jenny pretty much out of the picture and the American woman got on my nerves a bit but the final episode is still a cracker with that Ginger cult society thing and Rula Lenska getting the follower to "check downstairs" was a hoot.
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV Bionic Woman (2007)	I did actually watch all of this... it was quickly aborted due to bad ratings and... well... the first couple of episodes showed promise but then they had Jaime acquiring the obligatory boyfriend and it rapidly lost it's way as it got soapier. Casting Michelle Ryan and then expecting her to do the American accent was just stupid and Ryan took a lot of stick for that since the accent inevitably wavered. I like Michelle so was disappointed for her when the show was terminated and we've not seen or heard much of her since then.
biffbampow 23rd May 2015		TV Home And Away (1988 - Now)	It is rumoured that Kate Ritchie made a sex tape... :erk: That was going around in the 90's... I knew a couple of geezers who were... er... "interested" in it, but from what I've read it's all rather blurry and not really possible to tell if it is Kate or not! The only reason this started getting screened in the UK was simply ITV - as usual - having a lack of ideas. They saw "Neighbours" was doing well on the BBC so snapped up this to get a slice of the action figuring we'd all want two Aussie soaps. My gran used to watch it (and Neighbours... and Crossroads... and Corrie... I think she liked her soaps!) hence I saw it a few times on visits back in the days when Kate was pretty much still a kid and remember one storyline which had Pippa consoling her and telling her there was nothing shameful about starting to wear a bra... unfortunately that, and Marilyn constantly grinning, wibbling about and talking in that idiot voice is pretty much all I remember of it... oh and Alf grumping and grumbling about stuff... blimey, he must be kicking on a bit now.
biffbampow 22nd May 2015		TV Emmerdale Farm (1972 - Now)	Amos Brearly and Mr Wilks were the only good things about this show. As for what it's since become... no comment!
biffbampow 21st May 2015		TV The Roxy (1987 - 1988)	No, this was not at all well received - looked and felt very contrived even then in spite of Jensen trying his hardest to inject as much enthusiasm into it as possible. Didn't this go out live? I seem to think it did and there being hype about it which would also help explain the only memorable moment from it which has popped up in some "awkward moments" shows over the years - Cliff Richard tumbling over mid song!
biffbampow 20th May 2015		TV Heartbeat (1992 - 2010)	That's partly why I could never get into this show or take it seriously - the way they mangled music chronology was farcical and lazy. If they couldn't take the extra bit of attention to getting the details right to recreate an era, then why should I pay attention to the show? As it was, it was rather... I dunno... "wet" to use a derogatory descriptive phrase. I don't know how many compilation soundtrack albums they squeezed out of this either... seemed to be a few.
biffbampow 19th May 2015		TV Mrs. Brown's Boys (2011 - Now)	Mrs Brown is to comedy what John Cena is to wrestling. In other words, loved or hated in equal measures with very few taking a central position. Well put - I know some who are fanatical about this whereas - like with The Office - I just sit there blank wondering when I'm supposed to laugh. It may not be any surprise then that most people genuinely think I'm "weird"!
biffbampow 18th May 2015		TV Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? (1973 - 1974)	Thanks Monolith. :)
biffbampow 18th May 2015		TV The Crystal Maze (1990 - 2020)	A fascinating lengthy webpage feature about the show from a few days ago... well worth a read! http://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/to-the-crystal-dome
biffbampow 18th May 2015		TV Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? (1973 - 1974)	Gawd, I still love this show. I never talk about it... (cue feeble rub of the leg...)
biffbampow 18th May 2015		TV Filthy, Rich & Catflap (1987)	I remember this was not at all well received back in 1987 and I remember Ben Elton on a chat show - probably Wogan - defending it. My schoolpals weren't too enthusiastic about it either. Personally, I enjoyed it then and when I revisited it a few months ago I was surprised to find I still enjoyed it and think it's actually aged better than The Young Ones. It was shown just the once I seem to recall then swiftly forgotten about as a few years later I'd mention the show and most had more or less forgotten all about it. Ralph makes a comment in the last episode that strongly implied there could be a second series but it was not to be. I think that was why the reaction to it in 1987 was rather muted... everybody was expecting and wanted The Young Ones part 2 or some such beast given it had 3 quarters of the main cast. Similar styled humour - inevitably - but much more refined and toned down, less anarchic, but silly all the same! Hard to believe it's now almost a year since we lost Rik Mayall - definitely the most unexpected and saddest death of 2014 for me.
biffbampow 17th May 2015		TV Celebrity Juice (2008 - 2022)	I have this peculiar little rule - any TV show that features the word "Celebrity" in it is instantly ignored.
biffbampow 17th May 2015		TV Have I Got News For You (1990 - Now)	The moment Angus Deayton was fired and they started doing the different host per week thing, I lost all interest and respect for the show.
biffbampow 17th May 2015		TV The Two Ronnies (1971 - 1987)	My Grandad always said about these two "Love Ronnie Barker, he's marvellous but I can't stand that little one... he's a load of old rubbish!"
biffbampow 17th May 2015		TV The Benny Hill Show (1955 - 1989)	A show unlikely to ever be screened again on British TV in spite of the fact they're now all on DVD and he remains popular around the world. I enjoy the first 4 or 5 series for Thames... after that, it gets too much of a muchness and the older and fatter he got, the less funny it is for me. The PC brigade and the likes of Ben Elton and co not only helped destroy Benny's TV career but caused irreparable damage to the man's name and legacy that even today the mere mention of Benny's name can provoke rather hostile reactions.
biffbampow 17th May 2015		TV Eldorado (1992 - 1993)	Yes, this sure was awful... costa fortune to make but it still came across as cheap, tacky and contrived. The hype building up to it was absurd. It had no redeeming qualities at all. An embarrassing chapter in BBC history.
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV The World's Strongest Man (1977 - Now)	lol! You just refreshed an almost forgotten memory there - until you mentioned him I'd almost completely forgotten about Brian Jacks and yeah... we all hated him, and like you and your Dad, we had a bloody good laugh when he bungled on that bike! I'm not sure whether I want to thank or throttle you for reminding me of Mr Jacks! ;)
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV Big Break (1991 - 2002)	lol... I remember reading a review of this a day or two after which began something like "A new game show called Big Break combines two things that can only appeal to men - snooker, and Jim Davidson" I saw most of them over the first five years, after which I finally left home so never had to sit through it again. It was OK I suppose but always wondered what drugs Captain Sensible was on for coming up with that theme tune.
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV Blankety Blank (1979 - 2002)	He he he... this was probably the crappest game show of all with the crappiest prizes. I think I saw about half the Wogan editions and then somebody at the BBC in a stroke of genius replaced him with Les Dawson who truly ripped the p*** out of it in his own inimitable manner with the expected comical results. Dawson certainly went to town when it came to the prizes, putting on his pithy voice and almost sobbing "lets have a look... at... the prizes" I do remember the Boy George make up set with a wig being one of the prizes in one show which legend has it was actually won by some granny, but I can't remember that being the case. Good fun. Never bothered with the Lily Savage version... some things are best left in the past! Especially the obligatory Blankety Blank cheque book and pen or as Dawson sometimes mangled it to a "Blankety Blank cheque pen and book!"
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV The Price Is Right (1984 - 2007)	COME ON DOWWWWNNNNN! It's easy to forget now but when this first burst on to the screens it really did make a huge impact - an instant ratings hit, it was absolutely hated by the critics. Despite initially being unsure about doing the show, Leslie Crowther was truly in his element and it was good fun to watch. My Mum often played along, shouting out her guesses! I think Crowther did 100 shows in all since I recall the last edition I saw with him boasting "100 not out!" which was an obvious "up yours" to the critics and that was suddenly it... no more editions with Crowther. As for beyond Crowther, I've never heard of Bob Warman... definitely never saw that but I did catch bits of when Brucie did it and hated it. Never saw the Pasquale version either.
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV The World's Strongest Man (1977 - Now)	Ah... used to enjoy this as a kid when Geoff Capes was around. I tried to watch an episode of this last year but the presentation just did my head in so gave up on it. Jon Pall Sigmasson... yeah he was another one I remember - how he used to grab his trophy then thrust it East, North and West grunting loudly each time!
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV The World At War (1973)	A series everybody should watch at least once in their life. I picked this up for a fiver about 3 years ago - the original DVD boxset before they cropped it to widescreen and "remastered" it. One of the best fivers I ever spent. A genuine piece of TV history.
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV Emu's World (1982 - 1984)	Ouch! lol! The more I think back, the more I think Rod Hull and Emu were a bloody strange act since basically, Hull had an open licence to go on TV shows groping people... and get away with it. Some celebrities were more amused than others. It was such a predictable act too since you just knew that Emu would go beserk and attack the celeb, and always seemed to have the same lead up as Hull would get them to stroke the Emu and he'd say "Aah... he likes you..." then all hell would break loose! And we all laughed. Hmm...
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV Grange Hill (1978 - 2008)	So... to series 10-12. Series 9 was pretty much impossible to follow for sheer dramatics but series 10 did have it's moments mostly centering around the odd lad Danny Kendall and the creation of a school radio station. This ended up being the final series with Zammo's lot, all now in the 6th form and sadly, they seem like intruders as they're rather boring and lifeless and Zammo now post-smack was a really irritating character to the degree one wishes he'd overdosed. Imelda's reign of terror continues and eventually ends and Trevor Cleaver steps up as a bully with his strange hate campaign against new teacher Mr Scott. Unfortunately this was also the series with the stupid storyline about the donkey which was a total unbelievable waste of time and characters, especially since Ziggy and Robbie were a major part of that saga. Then there was the introduction of Freddie Mainwaring, a smug git who believed himself to be a ladies man who really irritated me and sadly we'd be stuck with him mugging the show for series 11. Despite these grumbles series 10 is enjoyable as Ziggy, Robbie, Trevor, Vince, Rinnie, Calley and co get better storylines and there is much humour throughout. Series 11 again has much humour but overall comes across as being a bit of a bland year. It was time to introduce some newer younger students and too much focus was placed on one called Matthew. Sure, the poor sod was a victim of child abuse, but the guy couldn't act to save his life. Then you had the curious saga with tearaway Tegs and Justine... again, a bit too much focus on that but they do end up being rather likeable. With Imelda gone the new bully was Mauler McCaul... Mauler was pathetic - a cartoon caricature who liked to dress in American football clobber. Hollo was suddenly gone without any explanation so Gonch's schemes began involving Ziggy and Robbie. Ronnie gets caught shoplifting and there's a comical saga as attempts to get Robbie and Calley on a date are sabotaged by Trevor who instead gets Vince to go on the date with her! Plenty to enjoy but a rather muted series as Mr Bronson barely featured in any noteworthy storylines and Michael Sheard feeling the character was being wasted decided to leave after the next series... Series 12 was the final series I watched, and I was in my final year at school. Aware of Sheard's unhappiness with how Bronson had degenerated, the writers really ramped things up for him as the spat between he and Danny Kendall reaches it's climax. Kendall vanishes then is found dead in the back of Bronson's car... he actually died naturally due to a long term health condition but Bronson is viewed by the entire school as more or less being akin to a murderer and his character unravels and mellows leading to him suddenly discarding the toupee which he tells Cleaver "is at the cleaners!" The scene when Bronson hands in his resignation to McCluskey is Grange Hill drama at it's very best hence this series ends up being a sensational send off for Bronson. The newer characters introduced in series 11 improve but get rather a minor amount of screentime compared to the older ones who I'd grown to love and adore, so the focus is on them for the entire series and they just have a rollicking time with all sorts of madcap adventures and schemes with one or two episodes - notably one involving a radio reporter - actually being more like full on comedy episodes as Gonch and Bronson both keep getting foiled in their attempts to be interviewed. Cleaver ends up with a drink problem which wreaks havoc on a trip to the Isle of Wight where he's almost drowned... which also puts an end to him stalking Georgina. This is where some go on work experience schemes, Gonch attempts a computer dating agency with comical and disastrous results and where Ziggy and Georgina fall for each other though Ziggy is to leave to return to Liverpool... the final episode is an ominous warning for the future as they stage a full on prom. McCluskey frowns upon the idea and when told they have them in America, she rolls her eyes and mutters in frustration and unfortunately since then proms have become part of the British school life. The prom episode of course being Grange Hill is an amusing affair where Vince Savage finally gets a wonderful revenge on Trevor Cleaver. Series 12 is for me the most enjoyable because it's not just good fun but there's no episodes where it sags - it hits the ground running and sure, it may be more light hearted in tone but just wonderful fun. I left school shortly after the series ended and with it, my days of watching Grange Hill came to an end. It had been an 11 year rollercoaster journey with plenty of drama and humour and they remain enjoyable to watch even now as a middle aged git.
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV Emu's World (1982 - 1984)	Strange... I've just watched the titles sequence and can't remember this at all but definitely remember the show that they followed it with, "The Pink Windmill" show or whatever it was called which was ghastly... I actually once saw an insert being shot for that with the bratty dancers in one of the shopping centres on a day trip to Nottingham. This was obviously very similar to the later show and who could ever forget Grotbags? All very pantomime but I found it all excruciatingly embarrassing. The only bit I liked, and what I guess I watched it for was the game show sequence hosted by Grotbags where the contestants could win useless booby prizes and I remember one of them being a fish finger covered in chocolate sauce and she was cackling away waving one about as some hapless kid won that!
biffbampow 16th May 2015		TV Eurotrash (1993 - 2007)	Antoine De Caune - to my mind, a grade one prat. As if the show that preceded it Rapido wasn't bad enough.

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