More forgotten comics

In January I posted a list of comedians who have been forgotten since their death. This new list is of those still alive but for a variety of reasons do not enjoy the fame they once had.


Phil Cool

Unlike many other impressionists who would be content to use their voice and on occasion make-up to change themselves into other people, Cool would controt his face into the likes of Prince Charles, Patrick Moore and William Shantner to name just 3. The height of his fame came with BBC TV show Cool It though a disastrous move to ITV saw him move away from TV. Cool would concentrate on touring which he would continue to do even after suffering a heart attack in 2000.  Phil Cool announced his retirement in 2013 saying that he had enough of all the travelling.


Rob Newman

Newman with David Baddiel, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis formed The Mary Whitehouse Experience a comedy that first went out on BBC Radio 1 before moving to TV on BBC2. The show was a hit with it's mix of characters and catchphrase. When the show ended in 1992 the foursome split into 2 pairs with Newman teaming up with Baddiel. The pair enjoyed such popularity they were able to play a show at Wembly Arena something unheard of for a comedy act however the pair would soon split up. Baddiel would then enjoy more mainstream success paired with Frank Skinner. Newman most recent work has been attacking the likes of Richard Dawkins for using Darwin's theory of evolution for they own ends.


Gareth Hale and Norman Pace

With their ITV show Hale & Pace the pair had a very high profile from the 1980's to 1990's. Outside of their sketch show they appeared the last classic Doctor  (1963-1989) Who serial , had a No 1 single for Comic Relief with The Stonk and even tried to show their dramatic side playing Reginald Hill's Yorkshire Police Detectives Dalziel and Pascoe before the much more popular BBC version with Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan. Things went wrong for the pair with a disastrous move to the BBC in which the show H&P@BBC was such a flop it was dropped from the schedules. Since the pair have done work separate from each other, Gareth Hale had a regular role on Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs while Norman Pace has concentrated on theatre work. The pair made a tongue in cheek appearance on Ricky Gervis's Extras where they seem to have acknowledged their fate

Advice for going on to a game show

In the latest case of a contestant embarrassing themselves on Pointless, one admitted to not reading books when presented with a round that asked to identify authors from the titles of 2 of their novels. The lesson do not go on to a general knowledge quiz without some all round knowledge.

Complaining about TV on TV

Going out on early Sunday evenings on BBC1 is Points of View, the programme that gives the TV Licence paying public the chance to either praise or damn BBC TV programmes. Running since 1961 (with the exception of a ten year gap between 1969 and 1979) Points of View has been hosted by the likes Robert Robinson, Barry Took, Anne Robinson, Terry Wogan and currently Jeremy Vine. Perhaps the major change the programme has seen is how the viewers deliver their views, with E-mails and Tweets replacing letters. Points of View is the only programme of it's kind on British TV at the moment. But that was not always the case.
Between 1986 and 1990 Open Air was BBC1's first attempt at a daytime magazine format. Hosted by a rotating team of presenters including in his first major UK slot Eamon Holmes. The programme was a mix of famous people plugging upcoming programmes that they were in, discussions about topics raised in a programme and viewers phoning in to share their opinions (good or bad) on programmes. Open Air fell victim to a ratings linked axe as This Morning (a programme that ironically would be hosted by Holmes) took a grip on daytime TV schedules.
Biteback shown on Sunday early evening on BBC1 between 1991 and 1997 on a monthly basis, hosted by at different times by Sue Lawley and Julian Pettifer.  It had a mix of discussion as programme makers faced questions by an audience made up of viewers making their opinions known, reports on different aspects of programme making and a slot where programme makers gave brief response to viewers opinions.
Channel 4's Right to Reply was a programme with some notable variations, one was that in addition to more tradtional means viewers could make their views known through a video taping booth that was situated at the headquarters of a ITV franchise owner, reports presented by viewers themselves and 1-1 discussions between programme makers and viewers. When in after 19 years Right to Reply was axed in 2001 to much fury. When after the 2007 Celebrity Big Brother race row, broadcasting regulations body Ofcom ordered Channel 4 to make a programme of the same type however the result The TV Programme was short lived.

Below are examples of the 4 programmes you can find on Youtube

Points of View

A whole edition from January 1992 where viewers praise a documentary about Breast Cancer and lambast a long forgotten BBC knock off of You've Been Framed.


Open Air

2 viewers share differing opinions about the use of swastikas in an item about stockings on the Clothes Show


Biteback

2 of the producers of the infamous Ghostwatch (read Remembering Ghostwatch for more on that) field questions from angry viewers. In an another clip Chris Morris gives a funny response who believed an 'news item' on The Day Today in which members of the Royal Family taking part in a cull of household staff.


Right to Reply

Left wing fire brand politician Derek Hatton discusses with a Channel 4 executive over whether or not the character of Michael Murray in Alan Bleasdale political drama  G.B.H. is based on him

James O'Brien the thinking man's Piers Morgan

While Piers Morgan has been trading on a reputation for making somewhat provocative statements a man who came from the same background of writing for gossip columns has been making an name as an unapologetic left wing radio show host. James O'Brien who once wrote for the famed William Hickey column in The Daily Express now host a phone in show for the radio station LBC. O'Brien is frequently scornful of the current Conservative Government especially it's handling of Brexit. You highlights of O'Brien's show on Youtube.

The war that everyone has been waiting on.

The trailer for the 7th season of Game of Thornes was released yesterday. In just 24 hours it has been seen nearly 14 million times. It features some of the most intense action scenes including the Dothraki who quite frankly have been siting on the sidelines thereby somewhat underplaying their fearsome reputation. The new season begins in July.

Ignored subject

The prize for most passed over catorgey in the final jackpot round in Pointless must go to US crime Writers. This is somewhat baffingly when you consider the popularity of the genre. When you at the best seller charts you will often find titles by the likes of James Patterson, John Grisham etc. Is it just that when the subject comes there are no connoisseurs of the genre around?

UK General Election update 22/05/2017

The BBC showed the first in a series of interviews between Andrew Neil and the various party leaders. First up was Theresa May and Neil had something to bite into given a recent policy U-Turn. Some commenters have said given Neil's robust interview technique that this is a much better format than any debate.

Remembering Darkplace

The term 'cult TV show' is somewhat overused but in the case of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace it is more than apporiate. Garth Marenghi is the creation of Matthew Holness who plays him, a self proclaimed dream weaver Marenghi (a combination of many different authors, Stephen King, Clive Barker and James Herbert to name just 3) introduces each episode that also feature contributions from not only himself but co-stars Dean (also publisher) Learner and Todd Rivers on the making of the show. Learner and Rivers are played by Richard Ayoade and Matt Berry while Alice Lowe plays Madeleine Wool an actress Learner claims is dead and buried in Eastern Europe if she got a burial at all. The plots of Darkplace are absolutely mad featuring amongst others water that turns people into Apes, a Caulifour woman and a sentient giant eyeball made even more weird with (deliberate) dodgy production values, The show featured guest appearances by the likes of Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and Stephen Merchant. Holness has not had the big break his co-stars have had, Ayoade and Berry have both won the Best Comedy actor BAFTA for their roles in The IT Crowd and Toast of London respectively while Lowe won acclaim for the film Prevenge in which she not only starred in but directed while pregnant. If you talk to anyone who has seen the show they will rave about it.

All episodes are available to watch on the All 4 site

DVD commentary to listen to: part 2

For one of his first stories as star of Doctor Who (Black Orchid) Peter Davison played a game of Cricket as befitting his suit. Through sheer luck Davison managed to hit a six, you can hear his delight as his sporting poweress though co-star Janet Fielding is less impressed and just sighs.

UK General Election update 18/05/2017

ITV have gone ahead with a leaders debate without either Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn. ITV have not gone through with the threat of putting up podiums where the pair would have stood. Expect some very low ratings for this.

Right for the wrong reason

In tonight's edition of Pointless contestants were asked to name a UK political party leader born in the 20th century. One contestant offered the name of Neil Kinnock thinking he had lead the Liberal Democrats, Kinnock of course led the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992.

The Shape of things

In the latest development in a bitter war between confectionery giants Cadbury and Nestle, the High Court has stopped Nestle putting a trademark on the shape of Kit Kat. Cadbury will consider this payback for their rivals stopping them putting a trademark on the shade of Purple they use on their packaging. This will be a struggle that many will continue to watch

BAFTA TV awards 2017: Results overview

The night saw awards going to programmes and performers (Happy Valley, Ant & Dec and Michael McIntyre)  with mass followings. BBC3 after it's first full year as an on-line only broadcaster won an number of awards. The biggest surprise of the night was that the Netflix production The Crown which went into the night with the most number of nominations failed to win a single prize.

Timeless amendment

In a move that was both surprising and swift NBC have announced that Timeless will be coming back though as a limited series in the summer of 2018. At least unlike an number of other shows it will get the chance to tell it's story to the end.

Axed too soon

US networks have shown a ruthless streak in axing shows if they have plot lines hanging. Here some examples.


Timeless

This time travel show which focused a centuries spinning conspiracy was axed yesterday leaving viewers wondering where the main character loyalties lie.


Marvel's Agent Carter

Despite being part of the mega successful Marvel Cinematic Universe Agent Carter came to an end with questions about what dark past she held.


Twin Peaks

For over 20 years fans of David Lynch surreal tale of the dark going on in a small American Town have to wait for questions to be answered after it's abrupt end.

Truncated year of TOTP

As I have written before due an number of episodes that can not be shown for a variety of reasons the year that the Top of the Pops repeats go by very quickly. 1983 started in January of this year, now in May we are at November 1983.

Kelvin has left the building

Kelvin McKenzie has left his post at The Sun. The one time editor came under fire for calling Everton player Ross Berkly which some took to a reference to his ethnic background. Will Kelvin be able to find an another job in the media?

How I became disenchanted with Eurovison

Tonight sees the first semi final  for this year's Eurovison song contest held tonight, I will not see a single second of this year's event as I have done for the last 2 years. I started to watch the contest in the late 1980's when it was deemed uncool, this view seem to change in the period in the 1990's when Ireland won 4 out of 5 contest with Norway with an entry that was an extended violin solo that just happened to be played an Irish musician. Ireland won the contest for the last time to date in 1996 and the following year the UK won at a canter when Katrina and The Waves performed 'Love Shine a Light'. There are many reasons as to why I do not watch the Eurovison nowadays, first there is the blatant bloc voting of neighbours towards (Scandinavia, The ex Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavia) each other which provides (with the exception of Finland's Lordi who won in 2006 with 'Hard Rock Halluejah') the contest with winners of dubious quality, the voting process that now allows non qualifiers to vote thus making the bloc voting even worse plus needlessly over long and finally the bizarre decision to invite Australia to take part in the event. Below are some thing I would do if I was in charge of the contest

1. Regional qualifying - this would be done to get rid of the obvious bloc voting that has hindered the contest for the last decade.

2. Single non qualifiers panel - non qualifiers get a vote but they combined into one block again to diminishing the impact and shorten the voting process.

3. Goodbye Australia - to put this pure and simple the contest is supposed to be an European event.

2017 UK General Election latest 08/05/2017

The BBC have announced that they will be broadcasting a 7 way debate between reprensetives of the 7 main parties that contesting this year's election. This will be the closest that we will have to a leaders debate since Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have both expressed their unease over such a format.

TV review: Britain Today Tonight

Starring Kayvan Novak

10pm Friday Channel 4

Britain Today Tonight is a piercing take on US cable news shows where the standard of journalism leaves much to be desired. Novak takes on many guises in particular host Digger Daley who shouts at cameramen even when on air. The show is made of reports by reporters (all played by Novak) who interact with unsuspecting members of the public one example being one that features a MI5 agent (again Novak) making enquires about text massages at a youth club that ends up with John (yes the comedian from Liverpool) Bishop being flagged up as a possible terrorist. Daley also holds interviews on certain subjects, one such on the gender pay gap has the female interviewee having to deal with a male porn (again Novak) star complain that his female co-stars get paid more than him! Britain Today Tonight goes to  the top of British TV comedy this year.

War is coming

Amongst an number of new drama productions that the BBC have announced is a new version of War of the Worlds, whereas previous screen versions have had contemporary settings this will have a Victorian era setting. The writer of the new production is Peter Harness whose credits includes an number of Doctor Who episodes and the 2015 screen version of the Susanna Clarke novel Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

The Duke stands down

Prince Philip will no longer be attending any public Royal functions. The Duke was known for his somewhat less than tactful remarks of which there too many to list. For one take of his reputation watch the Toast of London episode Vanity Project in which a fictional Arab tycoon makes the film Prince Philip: Scroundel Dog, no guesses on what the character's views are.

Royal discourse

Next Wednesday BBC2 will show King Charles III an adaptation of Mike Bartlett's stage play of the same name. It has already caused a bit of fuss in it's depiction of a time when Prince Charles finally ascends to the throne, one reason why it has Kate (Duchess of Cambridge) Middleton acting in a manner not too dissimilar to Lady MacBeth as she tries to get her husband onto the throne. This is not the first time the BBC has made a drama about a crisis enveloping a future monarch, To Play the King the sequel to the original House of Cards had the fictional Prime Minister Francis Urqhart clash with a King who had many similarities with Prince Charles. Apparently many actors turned down roles in the original stage fearing their chances of  a Knighthood or Damehood though Tim Piggott Smith who would take on the role of the King would go to receive an OBE. Sadly this will be the last screen performance of Tim Piggott Smith who died earlier this year.

Forgotten UK TV cop shows of the 1990's


Between the Lines

Like The Line of Duty this has the Police probing themselves. Featuring guest appearances by the likes of Pete Postlethwaite, Jerome Flynn and a pre Bond Daniel Craig


Yellowthread Street

A Police squad in Hong Kong face down the Triads. Starring Mark McGann, Bruce (the bad guy in Passenger 57) Payne, Robert (Agent Jones in The Matrix) Taylor and Tzi (recurring 24 antagonist Cheng) Ma.


Resnick

Before becoming one of Britain's most acclaimed character actors Tom Wilkinson played the title Police Defective in this short  lived series.