Belinda Carlisle on UK Kids TV show Going Live!
Big star back in the day, singer Belinda Carlisle speaks about her participation with Animal Rights, while her music blethers on in the background. Phillip Schofield presents Carlisle with a silver platinum record for 300,000 sales in the UK. Nice craftmanship from 2 kids in the audience. And what a first question it is from Schofield. This is the section of the show, near the end(?), where kids from home on the phone and in the audience quiz Carlisle over being nervous about singing live. Also, who is the guy that suddenly appears alongside Carlisle, when they're picking out winners from the mailbag?
Belinda Carlisle was a former member and lead singer of the 80s new wave girls band "The Go-Go's" before splitting with them, and enjoying a most successful solo career with her biggest hit in 1987, with "Heaven is a Place on Earth" or "Ooh Heaven is a Place on Earth" and was a No.1 in the UK and US Singles chart. Belinda is promoting her new thrid album at the time, "Runaway Horses" in which she collaborated with ex-Beatle George Harrison. It had limited success, compared to her 1987 "Heaven On Earth" album, with a peak at No.4 in the album charts. Her best performing song from the album was "Leave a Light on".
Showing posts with label Saturday Mornings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saturday Mornings. Show all posts
Monday, 8 March 2010
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Hey You! Nicholas Parsons' Dancing at 2:47
No. 73: Series 5: Programme 4: TXN 23.2.85
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVv2ZAX9smQ
Here is a small clip of an episode of ITV's "No.73" from 23rd February 1985. Although alot less hyper and anarchaic from it's predecessor "Tiswas", this was still a ground-breaking Saturday morning live kids show. Featuring Danish-born English comedienne, author and presenter Sandi Toksvig starring as Ethel Davis, who is jolly well excitied about going skiing, delivers much japes and puns in a show that was mostly improvised. We first come across the 2nd theme for the show with "Hey You" as the stand-out feature, featuring stock footage of wacky stunts such as jousting knights, cycling monkey's and black and white clips of ridiculous inventions.
After Toksvig's witticisms, we come to the end of the show (edited highlights?). Wondering who the reggae/ska band is? Well, it is Jamaican reggae and dancehall music artist Barrington Levy with the song "Under Mi Sensi". He achieved his best performing singles in Britain at this time in 1985. The rest of the No.73 cast join in coming down the stairs, to dance to the musing sounds. By this point, the other chracters were Andrea Arnold as roller-skating Dawn Lodge, Nick Wilton as Tony Deal, a local call man and Nick Staverson as the amazing mullet-haired Harry Stern. Look at Nicholas Parsons dancing with that wild look of open-mouthed joygasm on his face.
Also, there a brief of clip of Nick Wilton as the con-man sitting on top of Rani the Elephant. Anyway, the show by this point was increasing in it's popularity. The show was set in the home abode of No.73, an ordinary setting in a coastal town by the sea, however the main character Ethel Davis (Sandi Toksvig) had started off as an old woman in the first series but gets younger in each series. Harry Stern was the nephew. Dawn Lodge, believe it or not, was a lodger. We also had inventor Percy Simmonds (Patrick Doyle) playing as Ethel's love interest. Local con man Tony Deal was a new character from the 1984 series. I this 1985 series, there was also a mini series within entitled "Roman Around" set in Ancient Rome. This was also played for laughs, presented by Ethel's fictional theatre company "Front Door Productions". It also starred a young Neil Buchanan, who would later present in Saturday morning's "Motormouth" and more famously in CITV's "Art Attack" in the 90s.
The show lasted from 1982-1988. In the last series (1987-88), the name of the show was changed to "7T3". The show was now set in a mock western setting with the saloon doors conveying "7T3". Maybe the show had lost the plot by now. "Motormouth" replaced it in September '88.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVv2ZAX9smQ
Here is a small clip of an episode of ITV's "No.73" from 23rd February 1985. Although alot less hyper and anarchaic from it's predecessor "Tiswas", this was still a ground-breaking Saturday morning live kids show. Featuring Danish-born English comedienne, author and presenter Sandi Toksvig starring as Ethel Davis, who is jolly well excitied about going skiing, delivers much japes and puns in a show that was mostly improvised. We first come across the 2nd theme for the show with "Hey You" as the stand-out feature, featuring stock footage of wacky stunts such as jousting knights, cycling monkey's and black and white clips of ridiculous inventions.
After Toksvig's witticisms, we come to the end of the show (edited highlights?). Wondering who the reggae/ska band is? Well, it is Jamaican reggae and dancehall music artist Barrington Levy with the song "Under Mi Sensi". He achieved his best performing singles in Britain at this time in 1985. The rest of the No.73 cast join in coming down the stairs, to dance to the musing sounds. By this point, the other chracters were Andrea Arnold as roller-skating Dawn Lodge, Nick Wilton as Tony Deal, a local call man and Nick Staverson as the amazing mullet-haired Harry Stern. Look at Nicholas Parsons dancing with that wild look of open-mouthed joygasm on his face.
Also, there a brief of clip of Nick Wilton as the con-man sitting on top of Rani the Elephant. Anyway, the show by this point was increasing in it's popularity. The show was set in the home abode of No.73, an ordinary setting in a coastal town by the sea, however the main character Ethel Davis (Sandi Toksvig) had started off as an old woman in the first series but gets younger in each series. Harry Stern was the nephew. Dawn Lodge, believe it or not, was a lodger. We also had inventor Percy Simmonds (Patrick Doyle) playing as Ethel's love interest. Local con man Tony Deal was a new character from the 1984 series. I this 1985 series, there was also a mini series within entitled "Roman Around" set in Ancient Rome. This was also played for laughs, presented by Ethel's fictional theatre company "Front Door Productions". It also starred a young Neil Buchanan, who would later present in Saturday morning's "Motormouth" and more famously in CITV's "Art Attack" in the 90s.
The show lasted from 1982-1988. In the last series (1987-88), the name of the show was changed to "7T3". The show was now set in a mock western setting with the saloon doors conveying "7T3". Maybe the show had lost the plot by now. "Motormouth" replaced it in September '88.
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".
Saturday, 13 February 2010
"Well mate, It's either Watching this or Reaching for the Top Shelf at the Local..."
Tiswas - Phantom Flan Flinger - Legs & Co, Dennis Waterman
"Tiswas" (which stands for "Today is Saturday, Watch and Smile) was the first ever Saturday morning kids show to be shown in Britain in 1974. This pioneer was one of the best of these programme that could pull in not only kids, but with a knowing "wink,wink" to adults, and from this clip, especially for men. Unlike future Swap Shop's and Motormouth's, it was never clean-cut in presenation but a fairly unpredictable, custard-pie-laden glorified food fight, you might see at a school dinner hall.
This clip features a (fixed!) quiz section, quizzed by the face of the show, Chris Tarrant, between actor/singer Dennis Waterman and the present dance troupe of the definitive British music chart show "Top of the Pops", which was "Legs & Co.". They were a normally six-girl group who replaced "Pan's People" in 1976. Legs & Co. practically get caked in water and cream pies or "flans", from an absurdly crossdressed Phantom Flan Flinger. Waterman then finds it hard to contain himself, getting quite hyperactive, with a front seat view to the action. It was simple maths really for the show. Only 3 TV channels, the viewing audience would be kids but then some. Perhaps alot bored hot-blooded men before they go to the footie or pub to watch the footie, but at all the same time, the production staff and crew were all really having a laugh, entertaining themselves too. "Watch and Smile" you say? More like Watch and W...
Legs & Co. consisted of Lulu Cartwright, Gillian Clarke, Patti Hammond, Rosemary Hetherington, Susan Menhenick & Pauline Peters. The dance troupe lasted on TOTP from 1976-1981. One dancer replacement later, the dance troupe in it last year, recieved less attention as they were swept into the background, along with the "partying" audience in new changes for the show. They were rpelaced by another dance troupe by the name of "Zoo", but the show having a dance troupe was on it's "last legs", no pun intended.
Dennis Waterman at the time, was in his heyday, after the success of "Sweeney", he had already appeared in 2 series of Minder as, along with a his theme-tune writing prowess being showcased on again mentioned, TOTP, achieving a No.3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
"Tiswas" (which stands for "Today is Saturday, Watch and Smile) was the first ever Saturday morning kids show to be shown in Britain in 1974. This pioneer was one of the best of these programme that could pull in not only kids, but with a knowing "wink,wink" to adults, and from this clip, especially for men. Unlike future Swap Shop's and Motormouth's, it was never clean-cut in presenation but a fairly unpredictable, custard-pie-laden glorified food fight, you might see at a school dinner hall.
This clip features a (fixed!) quiz section, quizzed by the face of the show, Chris Tarrant, between actor/singer Dennis Waterman and the present dance troupe of the definitive British music chart show "Top of the Pops", which was "Legs & Co.". They were a normally six-girl group who replaced "Pan's People" in 1976. Legs & Co. practically get caked in water and cream pies or "flans", from an absurdly crossdressed Phantom Flan Flinger. Waterman then finds it hard to contain himself, getting quite hyperactive, with a front seat view to the action. It was simple maths really for the show. Only 3 TV channels, the viewing audience would be kids but then some. Perhaps alot bored hot-blooded men before they go to the footie or pub to watch the footie, but at all the same time, the production staff and crew were all really having a laugh, entertaining themselves too. "Watch and Smile" you say? More like Watch and W...
Legs & Co. consisted of Lulu Cartwright, Gillian Clarke, Patti Hammond, Rosemary Hetherington, Susan Menhenick & Pauline Peters. The dance troupe lasted on TOTP from 1976-1981. One dancer replacement later, the dance troupe in it last year, recieved less attention as they were swept into the background, along with the "partying" audience in new changes for the show. They were rpelaced by another dance troupe by the name of "Zoo", but the show having a dance troupe was on it's "last legs", no pun intended.
Dennis Waterman at the time, was in his heyday, after the success of "Sweeney", he had already appeared in 2 series of Minder as, along with a his theme-tune writing prowess being showcased on again mentioned, TOTP, achieving a No.3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Toon-tastic Saturday Morning Show from the 90's Starring, Take That, Andy Crane, Pat Sharp, Yvette Fielding, Bro & Bro and erm....Gary Glitter
What's Up Doc? 1993
A long clip, including the titles to the show that was like a long-running advertisement about how wonderful Warner Bros. cartoons were. Lasting for a quite short 1992-1995 run, it wasn't just a "safe" product placement show. The titles of the show featured, a quite exciting all-new animation of the famous "Looney Tunes" characters, with Bugs Bunny being the lead star, pretty much the "Mickey Mouse" of the rival cartoon firm, but with more biting wit. Bugs Bunny rides on a witch's broom as he rushes about the famous Warner Bros. studios.
The show opens up with gruff-voiced puppets "Bro and Bro" 2 wolf brothers voiced by Don Austen and John Eccleston. In a surprise showing, it's not the regular presenters who appear, but pop boyband "Take That", who were practically everywhere in 1993. The soon-to-be rebel of the group Robbie Williams dominates proceedings, but he was clearly the most colourful and charismatic of the group. He interviews the regular presenters almost, taking a dig at Pat Sharp's mid-atlantic twang, radio DJ accent. Then a preview of what was to come, including the popular cartoons of "Tazmania" and "Batman: The Animated Series". The we see Bro and Bro in a studio, static Taxi with Gary Glitter. It's hard to take in now, he appeared on alot of entertainment programmes in his 90's "oh-look-how-pantomine-his-acts-is-mirth", before his 1997 arrest, being convicted of storing child pornography on his computer. In pretend style, the Taxi ends up through the newly built Channel Tunnel and end of in France, and 2 Frenchmen appear, and for no apparent reason, a Frenchie with a Hitler hair and moustache.
We then see the now vanished anarak-spoof character "Norm" or Simon Perry, played by Stephen Taylor Woodrow, looking grotesque with shaving cuts and balaclava. The presenters read off mail from child viewers, in the old days before emails and such came along.
A long clip, including the titles to the show that was like a long-running advertisement about how wonderful Warner Bros. cartoons were. Lasting for a quite short 1992-1995 run, it wasn't just a "safe" product placement show. The titles of the show featured, a quite exciting all-new animation of the famous "Looney Tunes" characters, with Bugs Bunny being the lead star, pretty much the "Mickey Mouse" of the rival cartoon firm, but with more biting wit. Bugs Bunny rides on a witch's broom as he rushes about the famous Warner Bros. studios.
The show opens up with gruff-voiced puppets "Bro and Bro" 2 wolf brothers voiced by Don Austen and John Eccleston. In a surprise showing, it's not the regular presenters who appear, but pop boyband "Take That", who were practically everywhere in 1993. The soon-to-be rebel of the group Robbie Williams dominates proceedings, but he was clearly the most colourful and charismatic of the group. He interviews the regular presenters almost, taking a dig at Pat Sharp's mid-atlantic twang, radio DJ accent. Then a preview of what was to come, including the popular cartoons of "Tazmania" and "Batman: The Animated Series". The we see Bro and Bro in a studio, static Taxi with Gary Glitter. It's hard to take in now, he appeared on alot of entertainment programmes in his 90's "oh-look-how-pantomine-his-acts-is-mirth", before his 1997 arrest, being convicted of storing child pornography on his computer. In pretend style, the Taxi ends up through the newly built Channel Tunnel and end of in France, and 2 Frenchmen appear, and for no apparent reason, a Frenchie with a Hitler hair and moustache.
We then see the now vanished anarak-spoof character "Norm" or Simon Perry, played by Stephen Taylor Woodrow, looking grotesque with shaving cuts and balaclava. The presenters read off mail from child viewers, in the old days before emails and such came along.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Pretty Sophisticated for a Saturday Morning Show!
Parallel 9: end of series 1
The alien prisoner presenters of the show, say farewell to capsule computer Tope, as they attempt to escape the prison and go back to their alien planet. An unfunny Shakespeare gag later, Mercator commands time to reverse and viewers are on tenderhooks. Can they get back to their planet Zab, or whatever it's called, safely, or being blasted to atoms?
What am I on about?
Parallel 9 was an ever-changing not-so-missed BBC Saturday morning show that struggled to make an impression on kids back in 1992. Running for 3 series, firstly running alternatively to "Going Live" and "Live and Kicking" in the summer months. This was Sci-fi tinged shows where the presenters also evaded into a fictional storyline, with one female presenter playing it straight, while the other actors/presenters played it as aliens from another planet. This is in conjunction with the very last part of this season. The first season was something different alright, for Saturday mornings, but it's very warped nature made it feel distant to the viewer, when compared to the likes of "Going Live!" beforehand. Not only that, it was set in a largely dark and dreep, but impressively massive studio set, based on a prison theme, complete with a floating capsule. The show featured cartoons like "Toxic Crusaders" and had a computer gaming challenge as well as live (mime) acts. However it was disappointing, but memorable for Mercator, the main character, who always played in character, still learning the culture of Earth. This could be quite an annoying factor though, hence the more wised-up Calendular, the Earth girl. Mercator was a robed alien prince with the best set of eyebrows ever. To show appreciation, he wouldn't clap his hands together as Earthlings do, but slap his hand across his forehead continuously. Unfortunately, this doesn't appear in the clip above. 52 year old, Roddy Maude-Roxby played the role of Mercator, but was never asked to come back in the later series, opting for someone much younger. None of the original cast came back for a second series, as it was not well received.
The other alien prisoners exiled from their alien home, did seem to be more wised-up, but didn't really come across well as presenters. We'd never heard of them in the world of Children's TV, they didn't do anything in the CBBC Broom Cupboard. Their fictional names were Steyl, Skyn and Thynkso. The only one that was any good, was the sole female member, Steyl. The other 2 seemed to play it a little bit dim.
Looking back, the set does seem more impressive than you remember, as you get to see the full scale of it, at the end of this clip. The theme song's great too, "time for yooou to paaaaaaaaay!". That was the best of the show really, but there are a few more interesting clips from "Parallel 9" on Youtube. The show, with a new cast in the second series, was more appealing to children and colourful, but it was so dramatically changed. By the 3rd series, it was by then very linear, and the Sci-fi element, was no longer an interesting quirk, which felt wasted.
The alien prisoner presenters of the show, say farewell to capsule computer Tope, as they attempt to escape the prison and go back to their alien planet. An unfunny Shakespeare gag later, Mercator commands time to reverse and viewers are on tenderhooks. Can they get back to their planet Zab, or whatever it's called, safely, or being blasted to atoms?
What am I on about?
Parallel 9 was an ever-changing not-so-missed BBC Saturday morning show that struggled to make an impression on kids back in 1992. Running for 3 series, firstly running alternatively to "Going Live" and "Live and Kicking" in the summer months. This was Sci-fi tinged shows where the presenters also evaded into a fictional storyline, with one female presenter playing it straight, while the other actors/presenters played it as aliens from another planet. This is in conjunction with the very last part of this season. The first season was something different alright, for Saturday mornings, but it's very warped nature made it feel distant to the viewer, when compared to the likes of "Going Live!" beforehand. Not only that, it was set in a largely dark and dreep, but impressively massive studio set, based on a prison theme, complete with a floating capsule. The show featured cartoons like "Toxic Crusaders" and had a computer gaming challenge as well as live (mime) acts. However it was disappointing, but memorable for Mercator, the main character, who always played in character, still learning the culture of Earth. This could be quite an annoying factor though, hence the more wised-up Calendular, the Earth girl. Mercator was a robed alien prince with the best set of eyebrows ever. To show appreciation, he wouldn't clap his hands together as Earthlings do, but slap his hand across his forehead continuously. Unfortunately, this doesn't appear in the clip above. 52 year old, Roddy Maude-Roxby played the role of Mercator, but was never asked to come back in the later series, opting for someone much younger. None of the original cast came back for a second series, as it was not well received.
The other alien prisoners exiled from their alien home, did seem to be more wised-up, but didn't really come across well as presenters. We'd never heard of them in the world of Children's TV, they didn't do anything in the CBBC Broom Cupboard. Their fictional names were Steyl, Skyn and Thynkso. The only one that was any good, was the sole female member, Steyl. The other 2 seemed to play it a little bit dim.
Looking back, the set does seem more impressive than you remember, as you get to see the full scale of it, at the end of this clip. The theme song's great too, "time for yooou to paaaaaaaaay!". That was the best of the show really, but there are a few more interesting clips from "Parallel 9" on Youtube. The show, with a new cast in the second series, was more appealing to children and colourful, but it was so dramatically changed. By the 3rd series, it was by then very linear, and the Sci-fi element, was no longer an interesting quirk, which felt wasted.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Rare Kate Bush Interview on "Swap Shop"...
Multi Coloured Swap Shop Kate Bush interview Part 1
Curly-wurly haired Noel Edmonds interviews softly-spoken musician Kate Bush on the show that started and revolutionised Saturday morning's TV for kids and adults alike "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop".There is a second part to the interview. Taking a look at the comments and the quality of the video, it seems this is the only way now, we will ever view this clip, because it doesn't exist in the BBC archives anymore, which was a regualar occurence in the 70's and before. Only this video recording helps it to survive to this day. This is one of the great things about youtube and the internet today.
This was following 20-year old Kate Bush's climb to music fame in the previous year, 1978, led by her big No.1 hit song, "Wuthering Heights", which is talked about in the interview. Also, there is also that in-famed, unpredictable section where celebrities take part in the phone-in from children, a great TV innovation at the time. Arghh! Kate comes across very well here.
Curly-wurly haired Noel Edmonds interviews softly-spoken musician Kate Bush on the show that started and revolutionised Saturday morning's TV for kids and adults alike "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop".There is a second part to the interview. Taking a look at the comments and the quality of the video, it seems this is the only way now, we will ever view this clip, because it doesn't exist in the BBC archives anymore, which was a regualar occurence in the 70's and before. Only this video recording helps it to survive to this day. This is one of the great things about youtube and the internet today.
This was following 20-year old Kate Bush's climb to music fame in the previous year, 1978, led by her big No.1 hit song, "Wuthering Heights", which is talked about in the interview. Also, there is also that in-famed, unpredictable section where celebrities take part in the phone-in from children, a great TV innovation at the time. Arghh! Kate comes across very well here.
Before 1976 and the arrival of "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop", Saturday mornings were boring for children. Open University programming was not "spiffing good fun" on a Saturday! So, "Swap Shop" took much of it's inspiration from "Tiswas", which was a growing popular Sat. morning, wacky kids/family shows, currently being shown in the ATV Midlands region. Swap Shop became the first nationwide Saturday morning live show on British TV. Swap Shop, typical of the BBC, definitely didn't have the sort of mayhem and flinging flan-flingers, like "Tiswas", it was a more organised and sensible and well, trying to keep the balance appeal to adults and kids. They're were only 3 channels back then, there were no kids channel to dump it on, and be as childish as they want! So, Noel Edmonds, previously known as a Radio One DJ and "Top of the Pops" presenter, and future sidekick of the immortal "Mr Blobby", steered the show along with Maggie Philbin, John "Newsround" Craven, and Keith "Get up all you Beggars, it's Cheggars!" Chegwin, who did the swap element of the show. The show really tried to make kids feel inconclusive, and it was a great idea, where kids could either dial up the show, or attend Chegwin shrines around the country to swap their goods -no, not drugs or money- but innocent of the essence stuff like toys and stereos. The success of the show attracted people of high importance to the show, such as your celebrities and politicians. This all started with Swap Shop, as well as you're phone-in's. This continued into it's future evolutions like "Going Live!", however, today, the importance of Saturday mornings has fizzled out. You won't see Gordon Brown appearing anytime soon on "TMI", the scattered remains of a once unifying element of TV genre, now getting ready for the graveyard shift.
Aha, and just as I was saying about material being lost or missing from the archives, Wikipedia says, the BBC got rid of many of the episodes of the show back in the early 90's, as they felt they were of no use anymore. So that under-dealing trade did not stop in the 70's.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
One of CITV's Better but Short-lived Saturday Morning Shows
Intro to Saturday Ghost Train
"Ghost Train" was a Saturday morning show situated on CITV, from 1989-1991, and it was a pretty good alternative to BBC1's "Going Live!". Taking in from this old youtube clip, First of all, please Michaela Strachan, keep those legs away. Ah, and we see one of the crazied commercialised nonsense, that was the dancing flowers, great! Then we see the old CITV logo (one of the best, mind) and then we see Sabra Williams and Frances Dodge (?), I think. Then we have Nobby the Sheep speaking to animated English children's poet Michael Rosen.
The show was mostly known for the ghostly theme, attributed nicely, by "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon showings, and Nobby the Sheep, voiced and puppeted by Simon Buckley. An almost life-size puppet, talking lamb, usually wearing the much-loved shellsuits at the time. Now, Wikipedia, in it's "Ghost Train" article, says Nobby is camp-talking? A little sheep-ish in character, but camp-talking? It's not exactly "George from Rainbow" camp, is it?
The show evolved into "Gimme Five", still carrying on with Nobby, which had a bit more of a mish-mash of a overall underlying theme, and graced by Jenny Powell. I always preferred the earlier "Ghost Train", it was a more exciting show, oh and you also had Gilbert the Alien, probably one of the most whimsical and freakiest of puppets to watch in action. Don't worry, we'll have some his clips on here, UK TV Nostalgia on Youtube!
"Ghost Train" was a Saturday morning show situated on CITV, from 1989-1991, and it was a pretty good alternative to BBC1's "Going Live!". Taking in from this old youtube clip, First of all, please Michaela Strachan, keep those legs away. Ah, and we see one of the crazied commercialised nonsense, that was the dancing flowers, great! Then we see the old CITV logo (one of the best, mind) and then we see Sabra Williams and Frances Dodge (?), I think. Then we have Nobby the Sheep speaking to animated English children's poet Michael Rosen.
The show was mostly known for the ghostly theme, attributed nicely, by "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon showings, and Nobby the Sheep, voiced and puppeted by Simon Buckley. An almost life-size puppet, talking lamb, usually wearing the much-loved shellsuits at the time. Now, Wikipedia, in it's "Ghost Train" article, says Nobby is camp-talking? A little sheep-ish in character, but camp-talking? It's not exactly "George from Rainbow" camp, is it?
The show evolved into "Gimme Five", still carrying on with Nobby, which had a bit more of a mish-mash of a overall underlying theme, and graced by Jenny Powell. I always preferred the earlier "Ghost Train", it was a more exciting show, oh and you also had Gilbert the Alien, probably one of the most whimsical and freakiest of puppets to watch in action. Don't worry, we'll have some his clips on here, UK TV Nostalgia on Youtube!
Monday, 28 December 2009
Going Live! Goes on Air for the First Time...
First Going Live!
The starting theme and introduction of the show that gave us presenters Phillip Schofield, Sarah Greene, comedians Trev and Simon, cookery specialist Emma Forbes, and of course, Gordon the Gopher. The show lasted from 1987-1993.
Sarah Greene and Schofield come out excitedly to introduce themselves - Greene wearing very 80's earrings and one of those puff-pom-pom skirts, or whatever you call them - You knows what's odd? That first series set. Is it just me, or does it look like some theatrical Chinese dojo? I liked this set, but they improved it in the next series with a larger studio, which looked like the set was invaded by stationary Triangular rulers and circle things. In the 80's it was like, yeah, look at our snazzy shapes on the stage and neon lighting, yeah.
"Going Live!" were an evolution of the BBC's earlier kid's/family Saturday morning shows, such as "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop" and "Saturday Superstore" in which Sarah Greene previously appeared with radio One DJ Mike Read. "Going Live" was similar to Superstore, such as "Hot Seat" interviews with the famous, but got rid of the swapping element in any way. "Going Live!" had the format down to a tee, with a bit of everything for all ages, and importantly, good chemistry between the presenters themselves and the audience. Or maybe I'm just biased, as that's the show I grew up with! Not the last of "Going Live!" you will see here!
The starting theme and introduction of the show that gave us presenters Phillip Schofield, Sarah Greene, comedians Trev and Simon, cookery specialist Emma Forbes, and of course, Gordon the Gopher. The show lasted from 1987-1993.
Sarah Greene and Schofield come out excitedly to introduce themselves - Greene wearing very 80's earrings and one of those puff-pom-pom skirts, or whatever you call them - You knows what's odd? That first series set. Is it just me, or does it look like some theatrical Chinese dojo? I liked this set, but they improved it in the next series with a larger studio, which looked like the set was invaded by stationary Triangular rulers and circle things. In the 80's it was like, yeah, look at our snazzy shapes on the stage and neon lighting, yeah.
"Going Live!" were an evolution of the BBC's earlier kid's/family Saturday morning shows, such as "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop" and "Saturday Superstore" in which Sarah Greene previously appeared with radio One DJ Mike Read. "Going Live" was similar to Superstore, such as "Hot Seat" interviews with the famous, but got rid of the swapping element in any way. "Going Live!" had the format down to a tee, with a bit of everything for all ages, and importantly, good chemistry between the presenters themselves and the audience. Or maybe I'm just biased, as that's the show I grew up with! Not the last of "Going Live!" you will see here!
Friday, 18 December 2009
Youtube Saturday Mornings Sweepstake
Continuation of the Sweepstake series, where i will breathe the first signs of life into this blog, touching every genre of British TV from the 50's-90's.
Saturday mornings refer to the live breakfast, kid-orientated TV that evolved around the presenters and cast that didn't just link up cartoon, but provide us their own entertainment, plus interviews with big names, when Saturdays mornings were a must-see event and people would kill to be on the show. It appealed to adults too, but as ratings and interest dropped, the shows became much more kids-orientated and childish. Either that, or we live in a more fragmented society/viewership these days.
Karen Carpenter on `Swap Shop`
A gem, but not-so-gem. That's because it's a rare interview with the late Karen Carpenter, but only 38 seconds long this clip. This was 2 years before her death, the cause of which, she suffered anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder of believing that you look fat, causing extreme thiness. this resulted in a heart attack at the age of 32. Of course, the highly influential singer of the musical duo of "The Carpenters", and with such hits like "Close To You". "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop" was the first foray of live kids show on Saturday mornings, in which each episode 3 hours in length. Saturday mornings were very boring before 1976. Or should i be saying 1974?
Aha, because if you lived in the Midlands region in 1974, you would be able to enjoy ATV's(ITV regional channel) "Tiswas"!
TODD CARTY INTERVIEW on "Saturday Superstore" MARCH 1983 part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0doWDHH_1nA
At this point, future Eastenders regular Todd Carty. was best known for playing the likeable rogue Tucker, originating from the beginning of kids drama "Grange Hill". His fan base and success of the character, led him to Tucker's own spin-off show "Tucker's Luck" in 1983. The first of three series, was actually suprisingly good, mainly focusing on Tucker and friends exploits after school, and dealing with the harsh reality of making ends meet, and being on the dole. Quite good social commentary on the early 80's. A period of economic gloom.
In the clip, you have to feel sorry for co-actors Paul McCarthy (played Tommy Watson) and George Armstrong (played Alan Humphries). Although viewers are also aware of their characters from the Grange Hill days, all the incoming kids phonecalls are question for Tucker throughout.
8.15 from Manchester - "Tough at the Top" Gameshow section
More obscure fare here, from the short-lived Saturday Morning show, shown in the summer breaks of 1990 and 1991 when sat. morn. goliath "Going Live!" was off-air. Presented by smoothy Glaswegian Ross King and mousey-looking Charlotte Hindle, who was a Saturday morning favourite, fresh from presenting ITV's "Ghost Train" and previously "Get Fresh". In this clip, we have Ross King presenting this gameshow section "Tough at the Top" where 2 teams of 2 kids, 1 answers questions, while the other tries to climb the steps to the top, depending on how many steps they can climb according to the randomisation of some Blankety-Blank-looking number meter.
I remember liking this gameshow section, but that's only after seeing this clip, after forgetting about it for countless years, resting dormant in my mind. Some horribly dated musical soundbites, and just what is the themed setting. It looks sort of Aztec-jungle-country ranch thing going on.
Saturday mornings refer to the live breakfast, kid-orientated TV that evolved around the presenters and cast that didn't just link up cartoon, but provide us their own entertainment, plus interviews with big names, when Saturdays mornings were a must-see event and people would kill to be on the show. It appealed to adults too, but as ratings and interest dropped, the shows became much more kids-orientated and childish. Either that, or we live in a more fragmented society/viewership these days.
Karen Carpenter on `Swap Shop`
A gem, but not-so-gem. That's because it's a rare interview with the late Karen Carpenter, but only 38 seconds long this clip. This was 2 years before her death, the cause of which, she suffered anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder of believing that you look fat, causing extreme thiness. this resulted in a heart attack at the age of 32. Of course, the highly influential singer of the musical duo of "The Carpenters", and with such hits like "Close To You". "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop" was the first foray of live kids show on Saturday mornings, in which each episode 3 hours in length. Saturday mornings were very boring before 1976. Or should i be saying 1974?
Aha, because if you lived in the Midlands region in 1974, you would be able to enjoy ATV's(ITV regional channel) "Tiswas"!
TODD CARTY INTERVIEW on "Saturday Superstore" MARCH 1983 part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0doWDHH_1nA
At this point, future Eastenders regular Todd Carty. was best known for playing the likeable rogue Tucker, originating from the beginning of kids drama "Grange Hill". His fan base and success of the character, led him to Tucker's own spin-off show "Tucker's Luck" in 1983. The first of three series, was actually suprisingly good, mainly focusing on Tucker and friends exploits after school, and dealing with the harsh reality of making ends meet, and being on the dole. Quite good social commentary on the early 80's. A period of economic gloom.
In the clip, you have to feel sorry for co-actors Paul McCarthy (played Tommy Watson) and George Armstrong (played Alan Humphries). Although viewers are also aware of their characters from the Grange Hill days, all the incoming kids phonecalls are question for Tucker throughout.
8.15 from Manchester - "Tough at the Top" Gameshow section
More obscure fare here, from the short-lived Saturday Morning show, shown in the summer breaks of 1990 and 1991 when sat. morn. goliath "Going Live!" was off-air. Presented by smoothy Glaswegian Ross King and mousey-looking Charlotte Hindle, who was a Saturday morning favourite, fresh from presenting ITV's "Ghost Train" and previously "Get Fresh". In this clip, we have Ross King presenting this gameshow section "Tough at the Top" where 2 teams of 2 kids, 1 answers questions, while the other tries to climb the steps to the top, depending on how many steps they can climb according to the randomisation of some Blankety-Blank-looking number meter.
I remember liking this gameshow section, but that's only after seeing this clip, after forgetting about it for countless years, resting dormant in my mind. Some horribly dated musical soundbites, and just what is the themed setting. It looks sort of Aztec-jungle-country ranch thing going on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)