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
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Monday, 29 May 2017
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.
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.
Sunday, 28 May 2017
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
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
Friday, 26 May 2017
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.
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.
Thursday, 25 May 2017
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.
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.
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
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?
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?
Monday, 22 May 2017
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.
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.
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