Itisi - Latest Comments in Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 05:05:00 -0000

Well, it all depends who is doing the letching ;-)

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Chuck Williams — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 09:57:00 -0000

You say "letch" like its a bad thing.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 06:34:00 -0000

I can relate to that. During the mid-late 90s there was a band from my home town became very big over here. I knew the singer by reputation and everytime I saw him on tv the word 'letch' popped into my head.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:12:00 -0000

There was one business leader—I can’t name him because the person who told me this story made me swear—whom I really admired because of his public persona and even his business record, and then I found out he was a dirty old man! Around 10 years ago he tried to put his hands up my friend’s dress—totally changed my mind about him. I don’t care about his business record any more! I can’t respect this fellow again because every time I see his name, I think, ‘Pervert.’

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:46:00 -0000

A temporary lapse of taste - oh that is a really cutting put down LOL It says so much, but sounds so innocent.

I don't know any celebs, but I grew up in Stratford on Avon, so often came into contact with them. It is surprising how much some of them differ from their public persona.

Yes, I have heard of actors being mistaken for the characters they play. The cast of Casualty are often asked to diagnose illnesses at parties.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:00:00 -0000

I don't blame your Dad, if I dislike a certain actor it really puts me off wanting to watch anything with them in. it took me ages to get around to watching Goodnight Sweetheart because I once saw Nicholas Lyndhurst being a complete lovey in a pub.

I would imagine John Major's biography would be quite interesting, from what I have read, he has had a varied life.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Tue, 30 May 2006 06:10:00 -0000

I also dislike Shaw’s “serious actor” voice that he puts on when he narrates. Comes across like a complete tosser. Dad dislikes watching The Professionals these days because he plainly dislikes Shaw; I will keep watching it because the stories were entertaining.
I am a sucker for bios, I have to say. I’ve even read John Major’s autobiography, and a couple of biographies on Rupert Murdoch.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Tue, 30 May 2006 05:47:00 -0000

For some reason Martin Shaw thinks of himself as a serious ac-tor nowadays. I have no idea why, because everything I have seen him in has been tediously dull, mainly because he is the leading man, despite having the charisma of a piece of cod. He certainly wouldn't want the Professionals to be repeated because Gordon Jackson would seriously upstage him.

I've only ever read one biography - David Nivens - I gather lot of it exaggerated , but it was really entertaining.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Tue, 30 May 2006 05:24:00 -0000

I read a Benny Hill biography once, and have watched a documentary on the man. Both suggested that—he was not pervy, but a genuine nice guy with many eccentricities. When Jackie Wright (the bald Irishman) passed away, Hill decided to limit the amount of Wright footage used. That way, Wright’s widow could collect more in fees from the episodes.
I contrast this to Martin Shaw’s behaviour when he prevented The Professionals from being repeated for his own reasons, to the point where co-star Gordon Jackson’s widow was left with huge debts when her husband passed. It was only then that Shaw changed his mind.

Yet in modern Britain, Benny Hill is someone to be ashamed of, and Martin Shaw is admired.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Tue, 30 May 2006 05:13:00 -0000

Yes, it did sound surprisingly good. They certainly worked hard to get it right, rather then just trying to copy it on the cheap, which is often what happens with remakes.

I don't remember Benny Hill very well, my parents watched something on the other side (possibly Mash) but I did see Jane Leeves on the Johnathon Ross chat show,talking about her time on the programme. She said BH was not as pervy as he seemed, but was a bit eccentric.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Mon, 29 May 2006 19:43:00 -0000

The American Red Dwarf doesn’t sound as awful as I thought. I half expected a train wreck.
I remember Jane Leeves from some of the later Benny Hill Shows.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:36:00 -0000

Yes, good old Honor Blackman - you know a programme is bad when she can't liven it up LOL

There is an article about the American Red Dwarf here. Apparently, Jane Leeves from 'Frasier' played Holly.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:19:00 -0000

I remember Pussy Galore was in it, and George Cowley’s chauffeur from The Professionals.
You mentioned an American Red Dwarf, Kate. Positively scary as well.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Mon, 29 May 2006 10:13:00 -0000

"The Upper Hand (UK Who’s the Boss?) "

The Upper Hand was a truly terrible show. It had a good cast, but really, no one could have made it watchable. Bizarrely, it ran for several series, but I'm sure that was only because they got Joe McGann to take his shirt of at least per episode.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

iiq374 — Sun, 28 May 2006 19:11:00 -0000

Jack - its possible that I never made it to the surreal bit...

Tone is frequently difficult to read in blogging or emailing. Hence the danger of the medium.

Even emoticons do little to really convey implied tone. Besides its more fun just to let people guess and misinterpret ;-)

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

iiq374 — Sun, 28 May 2006 19:09:00 -0000

Sorry Chuck - I don't tend to spend my days memorising the names of those actresses I thought were hot when I was 8. Remembering my wifes name tends to be far more productive.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:36:00 -0000

You can’t sing ‘Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler?’ in an American accent (equally, ‘Love and Marriage’ sounds naff with an English one).
Oh my, an English Golden Girls? That sounds worse.

Chuck, I saw the American Ofﬁce on the plane, and I thought it was pretty good. Still slightly better as a Pommy show, but you don’t feel that it’s trying to be the original. I believe that is where these shows can be successful: Married for Life and The Upper Hand (UK Who’s the Boss?) never had much soul.

IIQ, the cynicism didn’t come through on the comment, so I apologize. I actually liked the original Married with Children, or more speciﬁcally the later seasons where things got more and more surreal. The ﬁrst seasons were a little too overt for me.

Try watching it in a hotel room in Switzerland in German!

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Chuck Williams — Sun, 28 May 2006 16:16:00 -0000

Its Applegate. Are you one of those kids that wears a hockey helmet, but doesn't play hockey?

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

iiq374 — Sun, 28 May 2006 16:00:00 -0000

Jack - perhaps you missed the cynical humour? I was meaning it wasn't particularly good in the first place :-p

Only redeeming feature was Christina Appleby :-)

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Sun, 28 May 2006 12:38:00 -0000

"Did I offend the coco? I didn't mean to. I'm not a Brit... I used the expression because I thought it was funny when the goofy guy in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels said it.pd"

Aha, maybe you have uncovered co-comments deep dark secret, it is in fact a southern softy, tee hee

That remindes me of my favourite tv commercial. It starts with a man sitting in front of the tv watching the football results, then you hear the announcers voice say 'Liverpool 1 Southern Softies 0' Liverpool are a northen team BTW.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Sun, 28 May 2006 12:34:00 -0000

"You had to have liked Married With Children, unless you are one of those "Masterpiece Theatre" types, or I believe you Brits call them "Southern Fairies" ;)"

Around here they're Southern Softies LOL but fairies would do just as well

My apologies to readers from the south, I love you really :-)

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Sun, 28 May 2006 12:26:00 -0000

"Kate, I’ve just found this American Dad’s Army at the IMDB, called The Rear Guard,..."

I just had a look, talk about tenacity . . . you'd have to really like a programme to spend two years looking for a lost episode. Big pat on the back to that chap.

No, the US wasn't under direct threat from the Nazis . . . although there were u-boats along the western coast. These weren't a problem for a home guard though, the coast guard bombed them using bi-planes. Seriously!

I think the lack of a direct threat is to the detriment of a US version, part of the appeal of the original is the sense of poignancy. The characters were a bit daft, but in reality those old men were prepared to defend the country. Take that away and it just seems silly.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Kate — Sun, 28 May 2006 12:13:00 -0000

"Transplants go both ways, but seldom work out … "

Very true! Another example is the UK version of the Golden Girls which was awful. Funny for all the wrong reasons.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Jack Yan — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:14:00 -0000

Actually, IIQ, Married with Children was American. I said it did not translate well into English—Married for Life (the UK version) was awful.

Re: Go Hug a Newbie and The Curse of the Third Column

Chuck Williams — Sat, 27 May 2006 16:21:00 -0000

weird... that last comment doesnt show on Coco...

Did I offend the coco? I didn't mean to. I'm not a Brit... I used the expression because I thought it was funny when the goofy guy in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels said it.pd