Les Dennis Laughter Show - Thunderbirds
It's the legendary "The Les Dennis Laughter Show"! At the height of his career when impressionist sketch comedy was booming, Dennis was also presenting the popular gameshow "Family Fortunes", soon becoming the longest-running presenter on the show after such illiuminaries of the comedy game such as Bob Monkhouse and Max Bygraves. Les had been a budding stand-up in the 70s and 80s, and was always seen tied-to-the-hip with Russ Abbot series of comedy sketch shows such as "Russ Abbot's Madhouse" and later "The Russ Abbot Show", so this was the apprentice, as you might say, coming into his own. However, it just wasn't as funny, but "The Laughter Show" in it's first form, began in 1984, and ran until 1991. It was a good run to say the least, and it's fair to say that alot of this type of impressionist comedy was starting to fizzle out after 1991, with the likes of "Little and Large", Bobby Davro and "Cannon and Ball" steering away from the limelight.
In this edited clip, it's been 20 years since the life-size puppet children's Sci-fi "Thunderbirds" came on our screens, so how would they look and act like now? Featuring all the favourite characters of the show like Lady Penelope, Parker (in his boxers), Jeff Tracy and Brains. It's still a great upload here. I'm still waiting for his mavis impression to appear, in the full gear!
Showing posts with label 1989. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1989. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Monday, 15 March 2010
Welcome, to the Magical World of SAW Land, Still Stuck in the 80s as of This Post
The Hitman and Her at Sheffield, 1989 (intro)
This seems a good time to wheel out "Hitman and Her", a now obscure joy, after Pete Waterman's recent step back into the limelight as the "make-a-hit-song-in-15-mins" powerhouse steps to back to claim why he comandeered the biggest wealth of UK Single No.1's in the 80s! Yep with another 80s song for the Eurovision this year, 2010.
We'll talk about Waterman in a later edit, but let's focus on this long clip from this show in Sheffield. Waterman and children's presenter Michaela Strachan host the show, which tours around different nightclubs each Saturday night. As Waterman was behind a producing trio of record producers and song writers Stock, Aitken and Waterman (SAW). So no surprise, many of the hits played were played came from SAW, artists as famous as Kylie Minogue to one-hit wonders like "The Reynold Girls". They all appeared, questionably live. We hear a remix of Minogue's "Never Too Late" hit. The feautured dancers are on the stage, who play a role as cheerleaders for the clubbers to follow, and visual entertainment, for the half-stewed audience back home. Denim is everywhere, bleeding denim jackets (with thick perms) and all the women are wearing denim shorts, a la, Daisy Duke, and not forgetting that one vital 80s ingredient...lycra! They are lead by "Wiggy", a black dancer wearing a white wig, all the time, every time. Wonder if he goes to bed in that?
There's some unintentional humour in this clip. Surely the 2 male clubbers interviews are parodies? The first guy, as said in a Youtube comment on the video, talks like and has the sleaziness to be Keith Lemon, a 2000s comedy characters invented by comedian Leigh Francis. The second guy, swirling his hips throughout his on-screen appearance, the Chuckle Brother, really thinks he's a hit with the ladies, or will be. The first woman interviewed, Jeanie a part-time glamour model, who looks like American "The Fly" actress Geena Davis. Very classy looking for a glamour model compared to today, that's shocking that. Today it would be a bucketload of eye liner, and the Grand Canyon screaming at you're face!
"The Hitman and Her" ran continuously on Sunday early,early mornings for 4 years from 1988-1992, on the ITV's "Night Time" schedule.
This seems a good time to wheel out "Hitman and Her", a now obscure joy, after Pete Waterman's recent step back into the limelight as the "make-a-hit-song-in-15-mins" powerhouse steps to back to claim why he comandeered the biggest wealth of UK Single No.1's in the 80s! Yep with another 80s song for the Eurovision this year, 2010.
We'll talk about Waterman in a later edit, but let's focus on this long clip from this show in Sheffield. Waterman and children's presenter Michaela Strachan host the show, which tours around different nightclubs each Saturday night. As Waterman was behind a producing trio of record producers and song writers Stock, Aitken and Waterman (SAW). So no surprise, many of the hits played were played came from SAW, artists as famous as Kylie Minogue to one-hit wonders like "The Reynold Girls". They all appeared, questionably live. We hear a remix of Minogue's "Never Too Late" hit. The feautured dancers are on the stage, who play a role as cheerleaders for the clubbers to follow, and visual entertainment, for the half-stewed audience back home. Denim is everywhere, bleeding denim jackets (with thick perms) and all the women are wearing denim shorts, a la, Daisy Duke, and not forgetting that one vital 80s ingredient...lycra! They are lead by "Wiggy", a black dancer wearing a white wig, all the time, every time. Wonder if he goes to bed in that?
There's some unintentional humour in this clip. Surely the 2 male clubbers interviews are parodies? The first guy, as said in a Youtube comment on the video, talks like and has the sleaziness to be Keith Lemon, a 2000s comedy characters invented by comedian Leigh Francis. The second guy, swirling his hips throughout his on-screen appearance, the Chuckle Brother, really thinks he's a hit with the ladies, or will be. The first woman interviewed, Jeanie a part-time glamour model, who looks like American "The Fly" actress Geena Davis. Very classy looking for a glamour model compared to today, that's shocking that. Today it would be a bucketload of eye liner, and the Grand Canyon screaming at you're face!
"The Hitman and Her" ran continuously on Sunday early,early mornings for 4 years from 1988-1992, on the ITV's "Night Time" schedule.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Take Your Earmuffs out, It's a Johnathan Ross-Free Zone, it's Film...with Barry Norman
Barry Normans Films of the 80s part 1
UK TV Nostalgia on Youtube's first foray into film via Barry Norman's Film (followed by whatever year it is, be it '89 or '90). This is an end of decade special, featuring Norman's critique on what he believes to be the Top Ten movies of the 1980s. So it's a 5 part feast of fine film quality and cinematography. I'm not going to give anything away, but you can bet actors like Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman will feature. Norman presents the show in comfy looking pink V-collar jumper, in his usual soothing vocal tones. This was broadcasted on the last week of the decade, now over 20 years ago. Makes you feel old.
The full title of the show is "The Film Programme", as to describe the show as a whole. It began in 1971 with a range of TV presenters including Barry Norman, hence "Film '71". "Thinking Man's Crumpet" Joan Bakewell, also presented in the early days of the show. However, Norman became the full-time host from 1974, onwards to his retirement from the show in 1998. Since then, the programme has been presented by Johnathan Ross, who, alright, is a more calmed down version of what he is on his chat show, and is fanatical about film himself. He is set to quit the BBC this year (2010) and, the most likely replacement I think is Mark Kermode, who already does similar material on BBC2's "The Culture Show".
Barry Norman transferred to Sky and had a brief film review show on one the Sky Movies channels. I recall it being a rather muted affair, as Sky wouldn't want to curse their own products to hell and back. Norman still appears on TV as a "talking head" for movie chart shows, like the 100 best *insert genre* movies ever, ever. Has appeared on recent daytime chat shows like ITV's "Loose Women" and BBC's "The ONE Show".
UK TV Nostalgia on Youtube's first foray into film via Barry Norman's Film (followed by whatever year it is, be it '89 or '90). This is an end of decade special, featuring Norman's critique on what he believes to be the Top Ten movies of the 1980s. So it's a 5 part feast of fine film quality and cinematography. I'm not going to give anything away, but you can bet actors like Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman will feature. Norman presents the show in comfy looking pink V-collar jumper, in his usual soothing vocal tones. This was broadcasted on the last week of the decade, now over 20 years ago. Makes you feel old.
The full title of the show is "The Film Programme", as to describe the show as a whole. It began in 1971 with a range of TV presenters including Barry Norman, hence "Film '71". "Thinking Man's Crumpet" Joan Bakewell, also presented in the early days of the show. However, Norman became the full-time host from 1974, onwards to his retirement from the show in 1998. Since then, the programme has been presented by Johnathan Ross, who, alright, is a more calmed down version of what he is on his chat show, and is fanatical about film himself. He is set to quit the BBC this year (2010) and, the most likely replacement I think is Mark Kermode, who already does similar material on BBC2's "The Culture Show".
Barry Norman transferred to Sky and had a brief film review show on one the Sky Movies channels. I recall it being a rather muted affair, as Sky wouldn't want to curse their own products to hell and back. Norman still appears on TV as a "talking head" for movie chart shows, like the 100 best *insert genre* movies ever, ever. Has appeared on recent daytime chat shows like ITV's "Loose Women" and BBC's "The ONE Show".
Thursday, 25 February 2010
What is this Mess?
Fiona Corke & Peter Vroom on Motormouth
A star-filled, Pantomime-themed quiz section of the -I think- second series of ITV's Saturday morning "Motormouth". Here we see Andy Crane, sneakily jumping ship from the BBC Broom Cupboard to CITV, dressed as a pirate, talking to Yvette Fielding, no it's not, it's Fiona Corke (you may know her as Gail Robinson, nee Lewis, main squeeze of Paul Robinson at the time, from Australian soap "Neighbours"). So Corke and "Home and Away" actor Peter Vroom (played Lance Smart) against Frank "That's a cracker!" Carson and yes it's a man in drag impersonating Margaret Thatcher, how distinctly accurate. That man was Steve Nallon, who voiced the Maggie Thatcher puppet in the adult political satire "Spitting Image" in it's 80s heyday. Gameshow "God" and "Krypton Factor" presenter Gordon Burns asking the questions. A quite anarchaic, good-humoured mallett-chugging quiz ensues between the main presenters of the show. The celebrities hit the presenter on the head with a mallett if they get the questions wrong, it seems. A little under-utilised on the celebrities behalf, and done much better by Timmy Mallett...Bleurgh.
The main presenters of the show we see participating are Gaby Roslin, who would go onto greater fame presenting with Chris Evans on Channel 4's "Big Breakfast", Steve Johnson and Neil Buchanan, who in the same year of 1989 piloted a little-known show called "Art Attack".
"Motormouth" was a successful ITV Saturday morning show which ran for 4 series, between 1988-1992. The show took it's name from the motorised large mouth, which featured on the set. Coming after the axed "No.73", it ran on a schedule from Autumn to Spring. It wasn't as set-in-the-stone as the BBC's "Going Live!" was in terms of format, as it evolved and improved in later series. It had however, a great set of American-made cartoons, the ones that bribe your parents to buy the toys, like "The Real Ghostbusters", "She-Ra: Princess of Power", 60s favourite "Scooby Doo" and the Japanese parody of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Samurai Pizza Cats".
A star-filled, Pantomime-themed quiz section of the -I think- second series of ITV's Saturday morning "Motormouth". Here we see Andy Crane, sneakily jumping ship from the BBC Broom Cupboard to CITV, dressed as a pirate, talking to Yvette Fielding, no it's not, it's Fiona Corke (you may know her as Gail Robinson, nee Lewis, main squeeze of Paul Robinson at the time, from Australian soap "Neighbours"). So Corke and "Home and Away" actor Peter Vroom (played Lance Smart) against Frank "That's a cracker!" Carson and yes it's a man in drag impersonating Margaret Thatcher, how distinctly accurate. That man was Steve Nallon, who voiced the Maggie Thatcher puppet in the adult political satire "Spitting Image" in it's 80s heyday. Gameshow "God" and "Krypton Factor" presenter Gordon Burns asking the questions. A quite anarchaic, good-humoured mallett-chugging quiz ensues between the main presenters of the show. The celebrities hit the presenter on the head with a mallett if they get the questions wrong, it seems. A little under-utilised on the celebrities behalf, and done much better by Timmy Mallett...Bleurgh.
The main presenters of the show we see participating are Gaby Roslin, who would go onto greater fame presenting with Chris Evans on Channel 4's "Big Breakfast", Steve Johnson and Neil Buchanan, who in the same year of 1989 piloted a little-known show called "Art Attack".
"Motormouth" was a successful ITV Saturday morning show which ran for 4 series, between 1988-1992. The show took it's name from the motorised large mouth, which featured on the set. Coming after the axed "No.73", it ran on a schedule from Autumn to Spring. It wasn't as set-in-the-stone as the BBC's "Going Live!" was in terms of format, as it evolved and improved in later series. It had however, a great set of American-made cartoons, the ones that bribe your parents to buy the toys, like "The Real Ghostbusters", "She-Ra: Princess of Power", 60s favourite "Scooby Doo" and the Japanese parody of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Samurai Pizza Cats".
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Help!....Me, From this Dodgy Live Routine!
Bananarama - Help (Live 1989)
Yes, it's another post from the same 1989 Comic Relief Telethon, this time discussing the charity single of the campaign. This, terrible, terrible live routine, featuring the UK's biggest girl's pop band Bananarama, who were in hindsight on their last legs, with the charity single "Help" a cover from The Beatles song of the same title. In Comic Relief's early days, the charity singles were comedy sonfgs featuring some of the big names of that time. The 3 girls of "Bananarama", Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin, and Jacquie O'Sullivan(who replaced original member Siobhan Fahey in 1988), sang alongside comedienne's French and Saunders, along with a relatively unknown Kathy Burke, who interpret Bananarama in their own comedic terms, calling themselves "Lananeeneenoonoo".
The song itself, actually sounds good minus the French and Saunders shouting "DOWN DOOOWWWWNNN" in every chorus, while their talking part are bearable in the studio version of the song. The talking parts don't make sense, unless you have watched or remembered the music video, but still the "I'll a little bit bottom-y, I'm a little bit top-py". It just sounds like complete verbal diarrhea! There is a version somewhere without "Lananeeneenoonoo's" parts but only on mp3, have I found it. However, this live version of the song sounds godawful, and the dancing/choreography, if you can call it that, so cringeworthy, I mean, the dry humping. Please no!
Also one of the bandana men in denims and vests is Rowland Rivron, who has popped up on Television now and again, usually in bit-parts presenting, but mainly passing comment in interviews and countless nostalgia/showbiz documentaries/Countdown shows.
As I said, by 1989, Bananarama were past their peak by this point, the replacement of Siobhan Fahey seemed to be a turning point. Their best-known hits like "Venus" and "Love in the Third Degree" and "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." all came before this era. However, "Help!" was their last ever Top Ten hit in the UK, and reached an impressive 3rd spot on the UK Singles Chart. The song itself does have a catchy beat, and well, if it did send Del Boy and co. in rapture singing along to it in the "Jolly Boys Outing", it did something right!
Yes, it's another post from the same 1989 Comic Relief Telethon, this time discussing the charity single of the campaign. This, terrible, terrible live routine, featuring the UK's biggest girl's pop band Bananarama, who were in hindsight on their last legs, with the charity single "Help" a cover from The Beatles song of the same title. In Comic Relief's early days, the charity singles were comedy sonfgs featuring some of the big names of that time. The 3 girls of "Bananarama", Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin, and Jacquie O'Sullivan(who replaced original member Siobhan Fahey in 1988), sang alongside comedienne's French and Saunders, along with a relatively unknown Kathy Burke, who interpret Bananarama in their own comedic terms, calling themselves "Lananeeneenoonoo".
The song itself, actually sounds good minus the French and Saunders shouting "DOWN DOOOWWWWNNN" in every chorus, while their talking part are bearable in the studio version of the song. The talking parts don't make sense, unless you have watched or remembered the music video, but still the "I'll a little bit bottom-y, I'm a little bit top-py". It just sounds like complete verbal diarrhea! There is a version somewhere without "Lananeeneenoonoo's" parts but only on mp3, have I found it. However, this live version of the song sounds godawful, and the dancing/choreography, if you can call it that, so cringeworthy, I mean, the dry humping. Please no!
Also one of the bandana men in denims and vests is Rowland Rivron, who has popped up on Television now and again, usually in bit-parts presenting, but mainly passing comment in interviews and countless nostalgia/showbiz documentaries/Countdown shows.
As I said, by 1989, Bananarama were past their peak by this point, the replacement of Siobhan Fahey seemed to be a turning point. Their best-known hits like "Venus" and "Love in the Third Degree" and "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." all came before this era. However, "Help!" was their last ever Top Ten hit in the UK, and reached an impressive 3rd spot on the UK Singles Chart. The song itself does have a catchy beat, and well, if it did send Del Boy and co. in rapture singing along to it in the "Jolly Boys Outing", it did something right!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Belgians? And Comedy? Noooooo...oh I see, they're only the Punchline
Comic Relief Belgians quiz
The first Telethon related-post to reach my blog, and this is the usually bi-annual "Comic Relief", which is the best of the lot of, well, not much competition, there's only "Children In Need", the pigeon-holed "Sport Relief" and the annoyingly short-lived monster that was ITV's "Telethon" series in the 80's and 90's.
This is a sketch from which was only the second live BBC 1 Telethon, although the franchise, that helps plead for donations to the poverty-striken and hungry in Africa as well as at home, had been running since Christmas Day 1985, with the main focus on refugees in Sudan. I think also, the terrible footage of the wide starvation crisis in Ethiopia, shown the year before and at the 1985 "World Aid Concert", was a factor in the creation of the franchise. It did seem rather distastely ironic, mixing comedy with hard-hitting images of real people suffering, near and far, however, the live telethon, and the charity singles that ran from 1986, helped yield millions of pounds. These live telethons could amass practically millions of pounds as the programme ran from the evening to late-night after midnight! The 1989 show raised £26.9 million pounds.
Ok, about 10 lines ago, I mentioned this sketch, but never got back to it? Ok, this is a clever sketch starring one of the show's mainstays being the works of Rowan Atkinson, and in this non-Mr Bean/Blackadder sketch, we have Rowan as a quizmaster playing it straight, but with cleverly-chosen footage of certain politicans, that pokes fun at the general concensus view, that these guys can never give a straight answers to question, as wonderfully perceived by David Steel's (archived footage now) long-winded answer to "2+2". Also featuring David Owen and Shirley William, funnily enough with their political career's at the time were in the doldrums, with the split up of the SDP-Liberal Alliance party, after disappointing results at the 1987 General Election. The sketch is most remembered for Conservative Lord Halisham, who just basically repeats "The Belgians" everytime he's asked a question by the amused Rowan. It...just...works. Basically because over here, in popular stereotypes, the Belgians are seen as boring and insignificant. The latter, understandably, it is a small country after all.
The first Telethon related-post to reach my blog, and this is the usually bi-annual "Comic Relief", which is the best of the lot of, well, not much competition, there's only "Children In Need", the pigeon-holed "Sport Relief" and the annoyingly short-lived monster that was ITV's "Telethon" series in the 80's and 90's.
This is a sketch from which was only the second live BBC 1 Telethon, although the franchise, that helps plead for donations to the poverty-striken and hungry in Africa as well as at home, had been running since Christmas Day 1985, with the main focus on refugees in Sudan. I think also, the terrible footage of the wide starvation crisis in Ethiopia, shown the year before and at the 1985 "World Aid Concert", was a factor in the creation of the franchise. It did seem rather distastely ironic, mixing comedy with hard-hitting images of real people suffering, near and far, however, the live telethon, and the charity singles that ran from 1986, helped yield millions of pounds. These live telethons could amass practically millions of pounds as the programme ran from the evening to late-night after midnight! The 1989 show raised £26.9 million pounds.
Ok, about 10 lines ago, I mentioned this sketch, but never got back to it? Ok, this is a clever sketch starring one of the show's mainstays being the works of Rowan Atkinson, and in this non-Mr Bean/Blackadder sketch, we have Rowan as a quizmaster playing it straight, but with cleverly-chosen footage of certain politicans, that pokes fun at the general concensus view, that these guys can never give a straight answers to question, as wonderfully perceived by David Steel's (archived footage now) long-winded answer to "2+2". Also featuring David Owen and Shirley William, funnily enough with their political career's at the time were in the doldrums, with the split up of the SDP-Liberal Alliance party, after disappointing results at the 1987 General Election. The sketch is most remembered for Conservative Lord Halisham, who just basically repeats "The Belgians" everytime he's asked a question by the amused Rowan. It...just...works. Basically because over here, in popular stereotypes, the Belgians are seen as boring and insignificant. The latter, understandably, it is a small country after all.
Monday, 1 February 2010
Person-being-pinned-against-a-glass-shower-screen-possibly-sending-a-coded-message-for-help. Don't you just Love that Continuity?
Channel 4 Interlude (Late 1980s)
Here we have the ending and credits to the award-winning and long-running, US Children's educational series "Sesame Street" created by Jim Henson. This was a main feature on Channel 4 back in the 80's and early 90's, introducing the UK to what all the fuss was all about. Running since 1969, here we see on the left, deaf Sesame Street presenter, Linda Bove, along with lesser-known puppet character, Buster the Horse, can't name the other woman, but I'm sure it's not who I think it is. This is followed by "Sesame Street was brought to you today by the number letter...etc". Then, prepare to fast forward or skip, if you don't like classical, relaxing music. This is simply an on-screen schedule after 9am in the morning, with an questionably artistic photograph behind, and that is all.
Back then, TV was more slower paced, but usually more prolonged around Schools TV on both BBC/ITV and Channel 4. You hardly see this kind of continuity nowadays, although Schools TV did keep up with it, but still-frame pauses like this became shorter and shorter into the 1990's and 2000's. The belief being that, people's attention spans were getting shorter -probably true with younger generations brought up on the internet- and now 100's of channels from satellite competing against the "Big Four" or the ahem, "Big Five". You only get this type of continuity on "Ceefax" on the early hours of BBC2 mornings, now and again. Isn't there times, you want the TV of today to take a chill pill? We don't want to be informed all the time, being shown your big flashy graphics, and editing camera angles every millionth of a second. It can sometimes get annoying or depressing. What's wrong with listening and watching to nice music, while you're mind wanders, giving you time to think, on perhaps, the previous TV viewings or, what's to come, or maybe it allows you into some deep philosophical though about your own life. Some will say, "Just turn the TV off then", however, a minority of people say " You just don't understand".
Yes, "Sesame Street" was an American show but it was a large part of some British children's childhood and should not be detracted from UK TV nostalgia! So anything goes here, if the programme is mainstream and well-known. The series was one of the first to entertain as well as educate, not basic stuffy professors in stuffy studio's telling us how the world works. Learning can be fun, as proved by Sesame Street. We'll be seeing more of this show in later posts.
Here we have the ending and credits to the award-winning and long-running, US Children's educational series "Sesame Street" created by Jim Henson. This was a main feature on Channel 4 back in the 80's and early 90's, introducing the UK to what all the fuss was all about. Running since 1969, here we see on the left, deaf Sesame Street presenter, Linda Bove, along with lesser-known puppet character, Buster the Horse, can't name the other woman, but I'm sure it's not who I think it is. This is followed by "Sesame Street was brought to you today by the number letter...etc". Then, prepare to fast forward or skip, if you don't like classical, relaxing music. This is simply an on-screen schedule after 9am in the morning, with an questionably artistic photograph behind, and that is all.
Back then, TV was more slower paced, but usually more prolonged around Schools TV on both BBC/ITV and Channel 4. You hardly see this kind of continuity nowadays, although Schools TV did keep up with it, but still-frame pauses like this became shorter and shorter into the 1990's and 2000's. The belief being that, people's attention spans were getting shorter -probably true with younger generations brought up on the internet- and now 100's of channels from satellite competing against the "Big Four" or the ahem, "Big Five". You only get this type of continuity on "Ceefax" on the early hours of BBC2 mornings, now and again. Isn't there times, you want the TV of today to take a chill pill? We don't want to be informed all the time, being shown your big flashy graphics, and editing camera angles every millionth of a second. It can sometimes get annoying or depressing. What's wrong with listening and watching to nice music, while you're mind wanders, giving you time to think, on perhaps, the previous TV viewings or, what's to come, or maybe it allows you into some deep philosophical though about your own life. Some will say, "Just turn the TV off then", however, a minority of people say " You just don't understand".
Yes, "Sesame Street" was an American show but it was a large part of some British children's childhood and should not be detracted from UK TV nostalgia! So anything goes here, if the programme is mainstream and well-known. The series was one of the first to entertain as well as educate, not basic stuffy professors in stuffy studio's telling us how the world works. Learning can be fun, as proved by Sesame Street. We'll be seeing more of this show in later posts.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Learn to Chuck an Arra' with Cheeky Chappie Eric Bristow
Darts - The Crafty Cockney Way Part 1
Another youtube video from the world of darts, but this time a more meaty offer. "Darts - The Crafty Cockney Way" is presented by blonde-dyed Darts legend Eric Bristow (nicknamed the Crafty Cockney, yes). This is the first part of 5, of a full VHS introduction into playing Darts efficiently. It outlines the whole basics of the sport, with a male/female couple of unknown Darters demonstrating how to throw and balance your body. If you're not interested in that, there are some archive footage near the start, of Bristow winning his 5 World Embassy Tournament wins in 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 and 1986, as well as some 1988 and 1989 coverage later on. Some soundbites from other darters like Jocky Wilson, Cliff Lazarenko and Paul Lim.
The programme itself, seems to be quite Americanised, I can just tell from that typical 80's background music and the graphics. Not forgetting the American voiceover, and there is a section about American Cricket. What is that? A mixture of Touchdowns and wickets? No, it's a completely unrelated Darts game popular in the States where you only use about half the board numbers (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20), and roughly it's about trying to eliminate your opponent, by closing/shutting out the numbers and their trebles and singles. OK, let's not bore you about that, but it's a bare-back introduction to Darts with a few titbits of talking heads, and it's still a gem of a find in youtube terms.
Another youtube video from the world of darts, but this time a more meaty offer. "Darts - The Crafty Cockney Way" is presented by blonde-dyed Darts legend Eric Bristow (nicknamed the Crafty Cockney, yes). This is the first part of 5, of a full VHS introduction into playing Darts efficiently. It outlines the whole basics of the sport, with a male/female couple of unknown Darters demonstrating how to throw and balance your body. If you're not interested in that, there are some archive footage near the start, of Bristow winning his 5 World Embassy Tournament wins in 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 and 1986, as well as some 1988 and 1989 coverage later on. Some soundbites from other darters like Jocky Wilson, Cliff Lazarenko and Paul Lim.
The programme itself, seems to be quite Americanised, I can just tell from that typical 80's background music and the graphics. Not forgetting the American voiceover, and there is a section about American Cricket. What is that? A mixture of Touchdowns and wickets? No, it's a completely unrelated Darts game popular in the States where you only use about half the board numbers (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20), and roughly it's about trying to eliminate your opponent, by closing/shutting out the numbers and their trebles and singles. OK, let's not bore you about that, but it's a bare-back introduction to Darts with a few titbits of talking heads, and it's still a gem of a find in youtube terms.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
ITV Broadcasts It's First Nationwide Corporate Branding in 1989
ITV 1989 Generic Idents
Before 1989 on ITV, the various TV regions around the UK, broadcasted their own ident, such as you're Central, Yorkshire, Thames, London Weekend Television, Scottish & Grampian, broadcasted under their own names and idents. This is probably my favourite ITV look because I find it more boombastic, than it's more subtle and blander re-tunes in the late-90's and 2000's. Either that or I'm just old. It's the music I like the best and the graphic morphing at the beginning works well too. Some regions refused the corporate image such as The Channels, Ulster, Anglia and TVS, however, other regions outwith "The South" which already had strong branding like Grampian and Yorkshire, opted out of this generic approach gradually.
This is a rather long clip, but you really have to watch only the first 30 seconds, because it's really the same one over and over again, but with the "V" in ITV, in different colours, representing the various regions colours.
Before 1989 on ITV, the various TV regions around the UK, broadcasted their own ident, such as you're Central, Yorkshire, Thames, London Weekend Television, Scottish & Grampian, broadcasted under their own names and idents. This is probably my favourite ITV look because I find it more boombastic, than it's more subtle and blander re-tunes in the late-90's and 2000's. Either that or I'm just old. It's the music I like the best and the graphic morphing at the beginning works well too. Some regions refused the corporate image such as The Channels, Ulster, Anglia and TVS, however, other regions outwith "The South" which already had strong branding like Grampian and Yorkshire, opted out of this generic approach gradually.
This is a rather long clip, but you really have to watch only the first 30 seconds, because it's really the same one over and over again, but with the "V" in ITV, in different colours, representing the various regions colours.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Look and Read: School TV's Answer to "The Chronicles of Narnia"
Through the Dragon's Eye: Episode 1, part 1
One of Look and Read's most well-known and fantastical of the programme's 10 part extravagant plays was "Through the Dragon's Eye". And here is the full play. However, all "Wordy" sections of the show do not feature here. Those would feature a human presenter and "Wordy", a levitating live-action, alphabet letter decorated orange man with arms, voiced by Charles Collingwood. They would practise the use of sentances, as well as classic "Remember where this letter goes here insertion" songs like the unfairly joked about "Magic E" song, or how about "Build Your Brick Upon A Wall" by a Geordie builder!
This was the most blockbuster School's TV ever got close too. First aired on 19th September 1989, "Through the Dragon's Eye" was perhaps inspired by the BBC's live action dramatised version of "The Chronicles of Narnia", the year earlier. This show has that very rich nostalgic factor, especially if you grew up in the 80's.
3 children by the name of Jenny, Amanda and Scott are transported to the land of Pelamar, encouraged sort of, by a man in a dragon costume named Gorwen. This turns into a classic good vs. evil battle and the quest the pieces of the "Veetacore" which are stolen by the baddie of the name Charn, who looks kind of creepy, a mask covers the face, making it look like a massive conk or beak. What is also vivid about the show, is the 3 Veetacore Keepers, Doris (purple), Boris (orange) and Morris (green). The actors are painted the bracketed colour all over their skin, along with some very fetching and matching clothes. Boris is the star here, being of most help, accompanying the children and Gorwen.
The show can be a little disturbing at times, as well as hallucinagenetic for drunken adults. Morris gets zapped into a green puddle, but everything is OK in the end of course.
There are still songs featured during the play, which are all sang by the legendary Derek Griffiths and Julie Stevens. Obscure thought here, but I used to think the actor who plays Boris, Timothy Lyn, was the same guy that played "Watt" from an obscure CBBC show "Watt on Earth", as it sounded and looked like him, but I was wrong.
One of Look and Read's most well-known and fantastical of the programme's 10 part extravagant plays was "Through the Dragon's Eye". And here is the full play. However, all "Wordy" sections of the show do not feature here. Those would feature a human presenter and "Wordy", a levitating live-action, alphabet letter decorated orange man with arms, voiced by Charles Collingwood. They would practise the use of sentances, as well as classic "Remember where this letter goes here insertion" songs like the unfairly joked about "Magic E" song, or how about "Build Your Brick Upon A Wall" by a Geordie builder!
This was the most blockbuster School's TV ever got close too. First aired on 19th September 1989, "Through the Dragon's Eye" was perhaps inspired by the BBC's live action dramatised version of "The Chronicles of Narnia", the year earlier. This show has that very rich nostalgic factor, especially if you grew up in the 80's.
3 children by the name of Jenny, Amanda and Scott are transported to the land of Pelamar, encouraged sort of, by a man in a dragon costume named Gorwen. This turns into a classic good vs. evil battle and the quest the pieces of the "Veetacore" which are stolen by the baddie of the name Charn, who looks kind of creepy, a mask covers the face, making it look like a massive conk or beak. What is also vivid about the show, is the 3 Veetacore Keepers, Doris (purple), Boris (orange) and Morris (green). The actors are painted the bracketed colour all over their skin, along with some very fetching and matching clothes. Boris is the star here, being of most help, accompanying the children and Gorwen.
The show can be a little disturbing at times, as well as hallucinagenetic for drunken adults. Morris gets zapped into a green puddle, but everything is OK in the end of course.
There are still songs featured during the play, which are all sang by the legendary Derek Griffiths and Julie Stevens. Obscure thought here, but I used to think the actor who plays Boris, Timothy Lyn, was the same guy that played "Watt" from an obscure CBBC show "Watt on Earth", as it sounded and looked like him, but I was wrong.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Club X on Channel 4 - Drag Queen Discusses Victorian Items, Dogs and Bobbing Head to Keyboard Maestro
Regina Fong on Club X Part 1
The title strikes you as weird? Yes, and telling from the number of views of this clip, the largely forgotten 90-minute, late-night "Club X" an infamous arts/music live TV for the "yoof" of the late-80's. Regina Fong is the Drag Queen in question, in this section of the show, in which she is allied with a chubby ally named Fou Fou L. Hunter I believe, who we see at the end of this part. It all feels rather random.
The show was a pre-cursor to Channel 4's, modern, tacky but edgy "The Word" in 1990, and a successor to show's like "Network 7", in which the absolutely "charming" Janet Street-Porter, came to the public eye. Martina Attille, Murray Boland & Joel Colman presented the show, along with TV critic Victor Lewis-Smith as the light relief.
"Club X" was trashed, because of the direction and amateurish feel of the show. The magazine-format focused on certain low-brow art projects like body painting. It was accused of dumbing down the Arts, and it only lasted for 5 months in 1989.
With hindsight, with practically little Arts or Culture shows on mainstream TV, you can say at least they made an effort, however bad it was. Give me this over T4 anyday! However, seriously, on mainstream TV there's only really the BBC's "The Culture Show" for the youth, and ITV's soon-to-be-ending "South Bank Show". That isn't alot, but there is "Sky Arts", and BBC Four, I guess.
Regina Fong, real name Reg Bundy, was a theatrical actor and dancer, well known for his drag routine, beginning the character in 1985, and was a regular host for the London Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival. Reg died of cancer in 2003.
The title strikes you as weird? Yes, and telling from the number of views of this clip, the largely forgotten 90-minute, late-night "Club X" an infamous arts/music live TV for the "yoof" of the late-80's. Regina Fong is the Drag Queen in question, in this section of the show, in which she is allied with a chubby ally named Fou Fou L. Hunter I believe, who we see at the end of this part. It all feels rather random.
The show was a pre-cursor to Channel 4's, modern, tacky but edgy "The Word" in 1990, and a successor to show's like "Network 7", in which the absolutely "charming" Janet Street-Porter, came to the public eye. Martina Attille, Murray Boland & Joel Colman presented the show, along with TV critic Victor Lewis-Smith as the light relief.
"Club X" was trashed, because of the direction and amateurish feel of the show. The magazine-format focused on certain low-brow art projects like body painting. It was accused of dumbing down the Arts, and it only lasted for 5 months in 1989.
With hindsight, with practically little Arts or Culture shows on mainstream TV, you can say at least they made an effort, however bad it was. Give me this over T4 anyday! However, seriously, on mainstream TV there's only really the BBC's "The Culture Show" for the youth, and ITV's soon-to-be-ending "South Bank Show". That isn't alot, but there is "Sky Arts", and BBC Four, I guess.
Regina Fong, real name Reg Bundy, was a theatrical actor and dancer, well known for his drag routine, beginning the character in 1985, and was a regular host for the London Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival. Reg died of cancer in 2003.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Boxing, Literally...on Boxing Day
Classic Tyson.Bruno vs Tyson part 1 of 2
Or really just an excuse to extend my wafer-thin, stick-thin sports clips on this blog so far. Still a beloved favourite of the British public, a 28 year-old Frank Bruno faces one of Boxing's most feared slugger, American "Iron" Mike Tyson. By this point, Tyson was at his peak of prowess, being an undisputed champion and undefeated, a tremendous feat for a 22 year-old. Tyson beforehand, became the only man to ever knock out other Boxing legend Larry Holmes, and finished off Michael Spinks in his last ever Boxing match.
Frank Bruno's jovial personality hit the right notes with the British public, although at the time, having never won a professional Boxing Championship belt. By the time of this match, Bruno had suffered a couple of losses, not to mention a 21 match undefeated winning streak in the early 80's.
This is the full match in 2 parts with American commentary. Our poor Bruno, although with a great early flare in the 1st Round, Tyson is just too powerful and aggressive. Bruno lacked endurance, due to his bodymass, which caught up with him here.
Bruno and Tyson met again in 1995, although a much more dissappointing affair for Bruno, this time having carried the WBC title.
Or really just an excuse to extend my wafer-thin, stick-thin sports clips on this blog so far. Still a beloved favourite of the British public, a 28 year-old Frank Bruno faces one of Boxing's most feared slugger, American "Iron" Mike Tyson. By this point, Tyson was at his peak of prowess, being an undisputed champion and undefeated, a tremendous feat for a 22 year-old. Tyson beforehand, became the only man to ever knock out other Boxing legend Larry Holmes, and finished off Michael Spinks in his last ever Boxing match.
Frank Bruno's jovial personality hit the right notes with the British public, although at the time, having never won a professional Boxing Championship belt. By the time of this match, Bruno had suffered a couple of losses, not to mention a 21 match undefeated winning streak in the early 80's.
This is the full match in 2 parts with American commentary. Our poor Bruno, although with a great early flare in the 1st Round, Tyson is just too powerful and aggressive. Bruno lacked endurance, due to his bodymass, which caught up with him here.
Bruno and Tyson met again in 1995, although a much more dissappointing affair for Bruno, this time having carried the WBC title.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Youtube Children's Sweepstake
The Fourth post in a series of "sweepstakes" to give a mini-taste of each genre of UK nostalgia TV!
Grange Hill (1989) Series 12 - Episode 1 part 1 of 3
As of now, all episodes of Grange Hill series 5-12 (1982-1989) are uploaded onto Youtube, along with a part of the 1993 series. This is great news, because only Grange Hill series 1-4 were released on DVD. There seems to be no intention of any following Grange Hill DVD releases. Now you can get to see the Gripper/Zammo/Roland era, including all the series that wig-wearing Mr. "the teacher we loved to hate" Bronson appeared in, including his farewell. Get to see other classic character like Gonch, Ziggy, Tucker (his last year), Trevor, Calley, Holloway & many more! There's the classic racism storyline involving hardman bully Gripper in 1983, and Zammo's demise into hard drugs in 1986. This season i have highlighted, is one of my favourites, a great cast and variety of characters despite no Zammo or Roland by this point, and a great ending which was really an end of an era. Most of main cast didn't appear again.
Bitsa 1992 Part 1
"Bitsa" was the BBC's secondary arts & craft programme at this time. Second only to the late-Tony Hart's "Hartbeat". Watching this again, it's actually better than what I remember! This was a great alternative to the more stuffy "Hartbeat", this was chaotic, fast-moving and the 2 presenters fit in really well with the programme. It lasted from 1991-1996, presented by Simon Pascoe and Caitlin Easterby. Heaven knows where they are now. I can imagine them bustling amongst the rubble looking for "pipe cleaners" or whatever you call those copper-cloted wiry things in some charitable community centre event. They also look like they've came from some Rock/indie band. Don't get many children presenters like this!
It was crazy, making stuff from bits and bobs of rubbish! In one part of the show, in this Willy Wonka factory setting studio, they would be given orders by schoolchildren on rubbish items to choose, and the 2 would have to think quick on their feet, to think up of something to make.
There was a freakish aspect to the show, a artificial being who lives in a box called "Hands", which was a puppeteered, artifical top half of a man, dressed ina suit. His hands were painted/spray-painted blue. You'd get close-ups of what he's creating, making some pretty surreal laughing noises in the process. Anyway, a great name for the show, as explained in the theme song. There's some freaky items being shown at the start of this specific episode.
NOTE: Simon Pascoe and Caitlin Easterby are actually a married couple now.
T Bag - Wonders in Letterland
This is the first ever episode of T-Bag in 1985, however, the first part is missing.
On the other side, CITV, was a fantasy/comedy serial called T-Bag, which was one of their flagship shows from the mid-80's to early 90's. T-Bag was something like a tea-obsessed witch, usually up to no good with her sidekick T-Shirt(John Hasler), a boy/teenage usually wearing a whipped round baseball cap. Each series was a different story, but each one was like a mission for various small girls to save the day or for T-Bag to find these hidden items to achieve great power to conquer the world. The girl would also search for the items, to be able to defeat T-Bag
The first T-Bag (Tallulah Bag) was played by Elizabeth Estensen, who left the show in 1990. This is the one that is most remembered. You can now see Elizabeth in "Emmerdale" as Diane Sugden. She was replaced by blondie Georgina Hale (Tabatha Bag), who also appeared in "Emmerdale", but no longer. For most of the time, the T-bag role was played for laugh, but she was a baddie, but a likeable one.
Grange Hill (1989) Series 12 - Episode 1 part 1 of 3
As of now, all episodes of Grange Hill series 5-12 (1982-1989) are uploaded onto Youtube, along with a part of the 1993 series. This is great news, because only Grange Hill series 1-4 were released on DVD. There seems to be no intention of any following Grange Hill DVD releases. Now you can get to see the Gripper/Zammo/Roland era, including all the series that wig-wearing Mr. "the teacher we loved to hate" Bronson appeared in, including his farewell. Get to see other classic character like Gonch, Ziggy, Tucker (his last year), Trevor, Calley, Holloway & many more! There's the classic racism storyline involving hardman bully Gripper in 1983, and Zammo's demise into hard drugs in 1986. This season i have highlighted, is one of my favourites, a great cast and variety of characters despite no Zammo or Roland by this point, and a great ending which was really an end of an era. Most of main cast didn't appear again.
Bitsa 1992 Part 1
"Bitsa" was the BBC's secondary arts & craft programme at this time. Second only to the late-Tony Hart's "Hartbeat". Watching this again, it's actually better than what I remember! This was a great alternative to the more stuffy "Hartbeat", this was chaotic, fast-moving and the 2 presenters fit in really well with the programme. It lasted from 1991-1996, presented by Simon Pascoe and Caitlin Easterby. Heaven knows where they are now. I can imagine them bustling amongst the rubble looking for "pipe cleaners" or whatever you call those copper-cloted wiry things in some charitable community centre event. They also look like they've came from some Rock/indie band. Don't get many children presenters like this!
It was crazy, making stuff from bits and bobs of rubbish! In one part of the show, in this Willy Wonka factory setting studio, they would be given orders by schoolchildren on rubbish items to choose, and the 2 would have to think quick on their feet, to think up of something to make.
There was a freakish aspect to the show, a artificial being who lives in a box called "Hands", which was a puppeteered, artifical top half of a man, dressed ina suit. His hands were painted/spray-painted blue. You'd get close-ups of what he's creating, making some pretty surreal laughing noises in the process. Anyway, a great name for the show, as explained in the theme song. There's some freaky items being shown at the start of this specific episode.
NOTE: Simon Pascoe and Caitlin Easterby are actually a married couple now.
T Bag - Wonders in Letterland
This is the first ever episode of T-Bag in 1985, however, the first part is missing.
On the other side, CITV, was a fantasy/comedy serial called T-Bag, which was one of their flagship shows from the mid-80's to early 90's. T-Bag was something like a tea-obsessed witch, usually up to no good with her sidekick T-Shirt(John Hasler), a boy/teenage usually wearing a whipped round baseball cap. Each series was a different story, but each one was like a mission for various small girls to save the day or for T-Bag to find these hidden items to achieve great power to conquer the world. The girl would also search for the items, to be able to defeat T-Bag
The first T-Bag (Tallulah Bag) was played by Elizabeth Estensen, who left the show in 1990. This is the one that is most remembered. You can now see Elizabeth in "Emmerdale" as Diane Sugden. She was replaced by blondie Georgina Hale (Tabatha Bag), who also appeared in "Emmerdale", but no longer. For most of the time, the T-bag role was played for laugh, but she was a baddie, but a likeable one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)