Shelved After One Series

[IANS]

Two series that I was particularly disappointed to see end so soon were Planet Norwich and Virtual Murder.



Planet Norwich in the early days of Channel 5 was a vehicle for Aussie comedians H G Nelson and 'Rampaging' Roy Slaven. In my opinion the best the channel has produced - the sending up of Craig Bellamy was a classic - but probably did not last beyond six shows.



Virtual Murder was a tongue-in-cheek detective series which again only ran for about six episodes. Kim Thompson played the female lead and there were plenty of well known guest stars like Alfred Marks. I think Brian Clemens may also have had a hand in the production.

[samkydd]

Originally posted by IANS@Jul 29 2005, 05:55 PM

Two series that I was particularly disappointed to see end so soon were Planet Norwich and Virtual Murder.



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Call me Mr Picky but I can think of loads that should have ended after the pilot let alone the first series!

[Harbottle]

What about series that were never broadcast?? Brian "Mr Barrowclough/Foggy Dewhurst" Wilde did a football comedy series for the BBC that was never shown, I found a link to some info on the net but seem to have lost it (no mention on IMD. Can anyone remember anything about this series, it was filmed at Aldershot F.C if that helps.

[smudge]

Me 'n' Mrs Smudge liked EVERY SILVER LINING - a fairly sedate BBC comedy with Andrew Sachs, Frances De La Tour and Oscar Quitak. Disappeared after just one run, never repeated and we only found 1 episode we had kept...



SMUDGE



[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif[/img]

[Jim]

Originally posted by IANS@Jul 29 2005, 05:55 PM

Two series that I was particularly disappointed to see end so soon were Planet Norwich and Virtual Murder.



Planet Norwich in the early days of Channel 5 was a vehicle for Aussie comedians H G Nelson and 'Rampaging' Roy Slaven. In my opinion the best the channel has produced - the sending up of Craig Bellamy was a classic - but probably did not last beyond six shows.



Virtual Murder was a tongue-in-cheek detective series which again only ran for about six episodes. Kim Thompson played the female lead and there were plenty of well known guest stars like Alfred Marks. I think Brian Clemens may also have had a hand in the production.

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Yes, I have one! Eric Sykes in 'The 19th Hole' as the secretary - why oh why did that finish short? And Gregor Fisher in the remake of The Vital Spark??? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry.gif[/img]

[smudge]

Originally posted by JIM@Aug 3 2005, 01:27 PM

Yes, I have one! Eric Sykes in 'The 19th Hole' as the secretary - why oh why did that finish short? And Gregor Fisher in the remake of The Vital Spark??? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry.gif[/img]

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My goodness ! There's a memory stirred - THE NINETEENTH HOLE. Yes - Mr. Sykes...



Be interested to see a sample of that again.



Thanks for waking the grey matter Jim ! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]



SMUDGE



[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif[/img]

[Jennie_Kermode]

I would have liked to see the BBC finish its dramatisation of 'The Tripods' as originally proposed.



Jennie

[Marky B]

Originally posted by JIM@Aug 3 2005, 01:27 PM

Yes, I have one! Eric Sykes in 'The 19th Hole' as the secretary - why oh why did that finish short? And Gregor Fisher in the remake of The Vital Spark??? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry.gif[/img]

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I think the 19th Hole was cut short because of criticism of its alleged sexism.

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[smudge]

Originally posted by Marky B@Aug 4 2005, 10:55 AM

I think the 19th Hole was cut short because of criticism of its alleged sexism.

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

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Was it really Marky ?



What was that then. Benny Hill type stuff or just disparaging remarks and blocking out lady members ?



I can't really recall a deal of detail ; I just remember I was curious to see SYKES back on regular TV after a while away.



SMUDGE



[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif[/img]

[Marky B]

Originally posted by smudge@Aug 4 2005, 02:55 PM

Was it really Marky ?



What was that then. Benny Hill type stuff or just disparaging remarks and blocking out lady members ?



I can't really recall a deal of detail ; I just remember I was curious to see SYKES back on regular TV after a while away.



SMUDGE



[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif[/img]

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I wouldn't put hand on heart on that reason,Smudge,it is just somewhere in the back of my mind I remember it was criticised for its sexism - and I believe it was also criticised for not being funny. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pyth.gif[/img]

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Marky B]

I only wish The Office was shelved after one series,and saved us from seeing the smug Ricky Gervais and people forever claiming he is a "genius","the king of comedy","the greatest comic in Christiandom". I get more laughs watching The Elephant Man.

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[JamesM]

"L for Lester" starring Brian Roper, no I'm making that up.

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by Marky B@Aug 5 2005, 01:41 PM

I only wish The Office was shelved after one series,and saved us from seeing the smug Ricky Gervais and people forever claiming he is a "genius","the king of comedy","the greatest comic in Christiandom". I get more laughs watching The Elephant Man.

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

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I'm with you there Marky. I rarely comment on Gervais or The Office because I find it hard to restrain myself saying how terrible I think they both are. Gervais himself is so smug it hurts. I heard him on a radio interview where he was asked why it had taken him so long to hit the big time. He replied "Well I hadn't really been trying before I did The Office"

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/death.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rifle.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wallbash.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/2guns.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bash.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bangin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gun_bandana.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/censored.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/raygun.gif[/img]

[JamesM]

I did enjoy the US tv series of Logan's Run, which did not run into a second season.

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Steve Crook@Aug 5 2005, 02:15 PM

I'm with you there Marky. I rarely comment on Gervais or The Office because I find it hard to restrain myself saying how terrible I think they both are. Gervais himself is so smug it hurts. I heard him on a radio interview where he was asked why it had taken him so long to hit the big time. He replied "Well I hadn't really been trying before I did The Office"

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/death.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rifle.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wallbash.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/2guns.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bash.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bangin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gun_bandana.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/censored.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/raygun.gif[/img]

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His g/f was big in TV long before he did The Office, and Steven Merchant was a trainee producer for the BBC when I knew him. SM was also struggling in try-out spots at various comedy clubs around London and the last time I saw him he ran off the stage after about a minute of his five minute spot and left the building because the audience gave him a hard time because he wasn't funny. So whatever bullshit they tell you it is strictly who you know not what you do!



But I still think The Office was very good indeed, but it's not something that could stand the test of time like say, Fawlty Towers, so I don't think it should be repeated in the future.

[smudge]

Originally posted by JamesM@Aug 5 2005, 02:12 PM

"L for Lester" starring Brian Roper, no I'm making that up.

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If nothing else this thread is doing wonders for the old grey matter, resurrecting stuff I had long since put to the back of that dusty old wardrobe called my mind... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]



Yes, I vaguely remeber this one too. Driving Instructor, wasn't he ?



It's funny how things go - they gave THE LAST SALUTE more than 1 series IIRC, yet it was obvious that it was struggling from the start ; trying to be the comedy version of HEARTBEAT I thought. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif[/img]



SMUDGE



[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/devil.gif[/img]

[Marky B]

Originally posted by Steve Crook@Aug 5 2005, 02:15 PM

I'm with you there Marky. I rarely comment on Gervais or The Office because I find it hard to restrain myself saying how terrible I think they both are. Gervais himself is so smug it hurts. I heard him on a radio interview where he was asked why it had taken him so long to hit the big time. He replied "Well I hadn't really been trying before I did The Office"

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/death.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rifle.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wallbash.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/2guns.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bash.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bangin.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gun_bandana.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/censored.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/raygun.gif[/img]

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Thanks,Steve

I feel a bit better I am not alone in my opinion that Ricky Gervais is about as funny as a weekend in Auschwitz.

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Jim]

Originally posted by Jennie_Kermode@Aug 3 2005, 04:26 PM

I would have liked to see the BBC finish its dramatisation of 'The Tripods' as originally proposed.



Jennie

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Here here! Jen, I thought 'The Tripods' was well produced. The costumes were original although the tripod theme has been done by someone recently, can't recall who. I think it available to buy on Amazon, Sendit, etc., but you have to draw a line at the amount of videos; DVDs etc, that you have; so a re-run would be nice! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

[JamesM]

On the subject of series that did get a second series, Tripper's Day stands out. Even Leonard Rossiter's death did not stall that show! Bruce Forsyth being brought in to replace him.



A good UK series that never saw a second season, that Vampire series on Channel 4 about five years ago. I have forgotten its exact title.

[Wetherby Pond]

The current reruns of Trevor's World of Sport are reminding me (1) of what an underrated gem it was - certainly one of the funnier new sitcoms of recent years - and (2) how disgracefully the BBC treated it by unceremoniously yanking it out of its Friday peaktime slot after the first three episodes and dumping it in a Monday graveyard slot to finish its run.



I suppose I should be grateful that they deigned to show the rest of it at all - but I somehow don't see them commissioning another series. And even if they did, there's precious little chance of writer Andy Hamilton agreeing, after he expressed his views on the saga somewhat pithily.