the girl from tomorrow
This was an Australian part Sci-fi, part family drama for CBBC in the early nineties. On Youtube, all 2 series of the show were in it's entirety, but are no longer around. However, if it's any consolation, here's the under-rated instrumental theme tune and intro. I can feel the pain in that guitar.
Basically, it's about a teen girl from the year 3000 -where the world is at peace with one another, like heaven on Earth - called Alana (played by Katherine Cullen), who hails from a time where they use a telepathic power of healing through a hair band looking item they strap around their foreheads named a "transducer". It can also destroy too. A scientist named Bruno invents the Time Capsule, looking like the "Crystal Maze" dome but smaller. In a blunder, on one escapade to the year 2500, in an Earth gone bad and polluted, Alana's mentor Tulista, comes back with a deadly surprise. Silverthorn (John Howard) escapes from his time and is the main villain of the show, a rough and ready big guy who doesn't take no for an answer. He wants to take over the weaponry and technology of the future, but his weapons are inferior to the transducer. He kidnaps Alana and travel to Earth in 1990, to Sydney Australia. Alana escapes Silverthorn, but is shattered by the "belief" that the Time Capsule has been destroyed. She meets a similarly-aged friend, Jenny Kelly. Alana soon lives with the Kelly family, as they help her foil Silverthorn's plans, and get back to the year 3000!
There were 2 series of the show, this series is mostly set in 1990. The second series is subtitled as Tomorrow's End. This follows Silverthorn upsetting time and history, and Alana and Jenny having to travel to the still murky, polluted Earth in the year 2500, and put a stop to Silverthorn and his accomplices, a unitlateral law and order control known as "Globecorp".
Showing posts with label Children's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's. Show all posts
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Monday, 8 March 2010
"We Want Muffin!" The Mule with Strings and All That...
Muffin the Mule- Muffin's Aquarium Part 1
At last, our children's genre goes back to the 1950s, heralding one of the most iconic shows of the decade. A non-pc decade where smoking was given the thumbs up, TV was a very expensive luxery and we were beginning to let our ration books gather dust, as western prosperity rose to great proportions. "Muffin the Mule" was a simple delight for kids and adults alike on the BBC. Broadcast live from 1946 to 1952, the string puppetry show was screened in the late afternoon. In this 2 part, full episodes Muffin the Mule, the main puppet of the show, keeps stock of a small aquarium on top of a piano, while Annette Mills the presenter speaks to Muffin, and plays the piano with her angelic voice. The show may be dated, but still relatively amusing and lively, string puppetry from all the characters. The Mule first appeared in a 1930s puppet circus known as Hogarth Puppet Theatre. It first appeared on TV in 1946 in "For the Children". Annette Mills worked on the show, and named the puppet "Muffin" herself, in agreement with the puppet creators Jan Bussell and Ann Hogarth. The theme song is also well known, as "We Want Muffin" san by Mills via piano. Now that's probably street slang now...ahem. At the end of each episode, Mills sings "Goodbye Muffin".
Muffin of course became very popular with children in the 1950s, and the character is always mentioned when it comes to 50s children's TV. Like most 50s TV in it's day, the production value was crude and small-time, but it doesn't take much to entertain people. Other string puppet characters appeared on the show, though less remembered. The ones that appear in this "Aquarium" episode, are Mr. Peregrine Esquire the penguin, a snappy billed, menacing looking thing, and the much more elegant Oswald the Ostrich, along with dancing sea snakes and a smiling Octopus who plays the bells.
The show abruptly ended in 1955, after the sudden heart attack of Mills, at the age of 61. After the death, new episodes were made for rival channel ITV, presented by Sally McNally, daughter of puppet creator couple Hogarth & Bussell. They all though contributed to a final farewell to Muffin, back on the BBC in 1957. Muffin the Mule returned after a long hiatus, in a new animated series of the same name, on CBBC in 2005.
At last, our children's genre goes back to the 1950s, heralding one of the most iconic shows of the decade. A non-pc decade where smoking was given the thumbs up, TV was a very expensive luxery and we were beginning to let our ration books gather dust, as western prosperity rose to great proportions. "Muffin the Mule" was a simple delight for kids and adults alike on the BBC. Broadcast live from 1946 to 1952, the string puppetry show was screened in the late afternoon. In this 2 part, full episodes Muffin the Mule, the main puppet of the show, keeps stock of a small aquarium on top of a piano, while Annette Mills the presenter speaks to Muffin, and plays the piano with her angelic voice. The show may be dated, but still relatively amusing and lively, string puppetry from all the characters. The Mule first appeared in a 1930s puppet circus known as Hogarth Puppet Theatre. It first appeared on TV in 1946 in "For the Children". Annette Mills worked on the show, and named the puppet "Muffin" herself, in agreement with the puppet creators Jan Bussell and Ann Hogarth. The theme song is also well known, as "We Want Muffin" san by Mills via piano. Now that's probably street slang now...ahem. At the end of each episode, Mills sings "Goodbye Muffin".
Muffin of course became very popular with children in the 1950s, and the character is always mentioned when it comes to 50s children's TV. Like most 50s TV in it's day, the production value was crude and small-time, but it doesn't take much to entertain people. Other string puppet characters appeared on the show, though less remembered. The ones that appear in this "Aquarium" episode, are Mr. Peregrine Esquire the penguin, a snappy billed, menacing looking thing, and the much more elegant Oswald the Ostrich, along with dancing sea snakes and a smiling Octopus who plays the bells.
The show abruptly ended in 1955, after the sudden heart attack of Mills, at the age of 61. After the death, new episodes were made for rival channel ITV, presented by Sally McNally, daughter of puppet creator couple Hogarth & Bussell. They all though contributed to a final farewell to Muffin, back on the BBC in 1957. Muffin the Mule returned after a long hiatus, in a new animated series of the same name, on CBBC in 2005.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Billy Webb's Amazing Fib About His Broken leg?
Alfonso Bonzo (final episode - part 1 of 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aMo4M5xc5A
The last ever episode of this obscure but memorable and surreal CBBC show, adapted from the 1986 book, created by Andrew Davies. A chirpy, cheeky but likeable boy named Billy Webb. the episode seems a bit of an acid trip, but a good romp, as Billy gets transported into playing a game of snooker on the TV, playing miraculously well to squabbling with his older sister over meeting a creepy man, and then entering his living room, now turned into a Wild West Saloon, his dad leering up another woman, his dog starts talking. It all get weirder and weirder. This all links to "Alfonso Bonzo", the title character, a mysterious and magical Italian man posing as an Italian exchange student. Both Billy and Alfonso enjoyed swapping items, However, Alfonso Bonzo wants to do the ultimate swap, he wants to swap bodies as he likes having his family and being a brother to his older sister, and that's where things start getting a little creepy and sinister...
Each episode Billy Webb (Scott Riley), who in realtime, had already sustained a broken leg, tells his story to journalist Trevor Trotman (Mike Walling), and tells him through these flashbacks of how he broke his leg, with such an unbelieveable and long-winded story, you wonder if this is just all made up! He could be a pathological liar. You find out at the end of this episode in 3 parts! Well, maybe! The show had a fixed cliffhanger, of simply the storyteller keeping you wanting more, in the episodes running up to this last one.
A spin-off was made called "Billy Webb's Amazing Stories", not including "Alfonso Bonzo", however from memory, I'm actually not too sure and whether he appears at the end of the series. Both programmes only lasted for 1 series though. The boy was played by Scott Riley, and has appeared in a few other roles such as minor characters in "London's Burning" and "The Bill" in 1992 and 1991. Seems to have left the acting business now?
Alfonso Bonzo was played by Alex Jennings, who is now a rather esteemed actor, appearing as Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in the award winning 2006 BAFTA Film "The Queen". He has also appeared in the 1997 Oscar-nominated film "Wings of a Dove" alongside Helena Bonham Carter, but not in a starring role. Theatrically trained, he has appeared and has been nominated for awards, playing in such legendary theatres like London's "Old Vic" and the "Royal National Theatre". So the boy done good.
Other roles of the show to note is Billy's older sister, played by Fleur Taylor who starred as bully Imelda Davis in "Grange Hill" in 1985-87, before being expelled from the school for good. She has now left the acting business, and runs an Estate Agents.
Mike Walling appeared on quite a few children's Comedy/Drama on both CBBC and ITV around the time of the early-mid 90s. For some, he is most well known as Eric from BBC sitcom "Brush Strokes" (1986-1991). He has also appeared in Coronation Street recently in 2006, as short-lived character Clifford Ford, Before his TV "fame", he was a comedy double act with Mo Foster, who wrote parody songs including "The Papadum Song" in the early 1980s, which was meant to be released into the charts, however in a case of bad timing, the records never reached the shop due to industrial strikes. Mmm, I'm interest enough to youtube that!
Another worthy to note actor is Brian Hall, who play's Billy's father in both serials. He's best known as Terry the cook from renowned comedy sitcom "Fawlty Towers", starring John Cleese. He had a long career with many credits in British dramas and comedies until his death in 1997.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aMo4M5xc5A
The last ever episode of this obscure but memorable and surreal CBBC show, adapted from the 1986 book, created by Andrew Davies. A chirpy, cheeky but likeable boy named Billy Webb. the episode seems a bit of an acid trip, but a good romp, as Billy gets transported into playing a game of snooker on the TV, playing miraculously well to squabbling with his older sister over meeting a creepy man, and then entering his living room, now turned into a Wild West Saloon, his dad leering up another woman, his dog starts talking. It all get weirder and weirder. This all links to "Alfonso Bonzo", the title character, a mysterious and magical Italian man posing as an Italian exchange student. Both Billy and Alfonso enjoyed swapping items, However, Alfonso Bonzo wants to do the ultimate swap, he wants to swap bodies as he likes having his family and being a brother to his older sister, and that's where things start getting a little creepy and sinister...
Each episode Billy Webb (Scott Riley), who in realtime, had already sustained a broken leg, tells his story to journalist Trevor Trotman (Mike Walling), and tells him through these flashbacks of how he broke his leg, with such an unbelieveable and long-winded story, you wonder if this is just all made up! He could be a pathological liar. You find out at the end of this episode in 3 parts! Well, maybe! The show had a fixed cliffhanger, of simply the storyteller keeping you wanting more, in the episodes running up to this last one.
A spin-off was made called "Billy Webb's Amazing Stories", not including "Alfonso Bonzo", however from memory, I'm actually not too sure and whether he appears at the end of the series. Both programmes only lasted for 1 series though. The boy was played by Scott Riley, and has appeared in a few other roles such as minor characters in "London's Burning" and "The Bill" in 1992 and 1991. Seems to have left the acting business now?
Alfonso Bonzo was played by Alex Jennings, who is now a rather esteemed actor, appearing as Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in the award winning 2006 BAFTA Film "The Queen". He has also appeared in the 1997 Oscar-nominated film "Wings of a Dove" alongside Helena Bonham Carter, but not in a starring role. Theatrically trained, he has appeared and has been nominated for awards, playing in such legendary theatres like London's "Old Vic" and the "Royal National Theatre". So the boy done good.
Other roles of the show to note is Billy's older sister, played by Fleur Taylor who starred as bully Imelda Davis in "Grange Hill" in 1985-87, before being expelled from the school for good. She has now left the acting business, and runs an Estate Agents.
Mike Walling appeared on quite a few children's Comedy/Drama on both CBBC and ITV around the time of the early-mid 90s. For some, he is most well known as Eric from BBC sitcom "Brush Strokes" (1986-1991). He has also appeared in Coronation Street recently in 2006, as short-lived character Clifford Ford, Before his TV "fame", he was a comedy double act with Mo Foster, who wrote parody songs including "The Papadum Song" in the early 1980s, which was meant to be released into the charts, however in a case of bad timing, the records never reached the shop due to industrial strikes. Mmm, I'm interest enough to youtube that!
Another worthy to note actor is Brian Hall, who play's Billy's father in both serials. He's best known as Terry the cook from renowned comedy sitcom "Fawlty Towers", starring John Cleese. He had a long career with many credits in British dramas and comedies until his death in 1997.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Oh, Big Boy! Watch me Ride (hmmm) the Pony
THE PIPKINS - Hartley Hare visits the dentist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ayM2XqtFY
Oh, this is hilarious. Hartley Hare is a scruffy, wavy-armed looking puppet thing, with a camp but witty tone of manner, not to mention, he's got a bit of an ego, and a little off-the-wall. Watch, if only for him riding the rocking horse, in the Dentist waiting room! Here we see sweet tooth Pipkins go with his friend Johnny (played by Wayne Laryea) to the Dentist. Surely one of the best kid's shows from the 70s! This was suppoesed to be a pre-school programme. Seems quite advanced compared to what you have now. The Dentist gives a running commentary of what he's doing as the tiny puppet sits in the dentists chair, including cleaning and washing his teeth. It starts cut off from the beginning, but contains most of the episode. Nigel Plaskitt, who would later lend his voice in such programmes like "Spitting Image" and 2005's "Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet", is the voice of Hartley Hare.
The programme focused on a group of puppets who lived in a puppet workshop with their maker. Hartley Hare is the most remembered, along with Pig, Tortoise (as shown in this clip), Topov the Monkey and Octavia the Ostrich. The show began in 1973, originally called "Indigo Pipkins", in reference to the elderly puppet maker of the same name. However the actor for the role, George Woodbridge died during filming of the second series, so the title just became "Pipkins". It ran alongside "Rainbow at the lunchtime hour on weekdays.
What was influential about the programme, was it referred on-screen about the death in 1974 as he was central to the show, becoming the first children's programme to make reference to death, long before "Sesame Street" did in 1983. It was also the first children's TV programme to feature regional accents, like Black Country and Cockney. The show ended in 1981, when multi-regional producers ATV(Associated Television),was dismantled to make way for Central Television, and replaced with "Let's Pretend". "Pipkins" was popular though, right to the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ayM2XqtFY
Oh, this is hilarious. Hartley Hare is a scruffy, wavy-armed looking puppet thing, with a camp but witty tone of manner, not to mention, he's got a bit of an ego, and a little off-the-wall. Watch, if only for him riding the rocking horse, in the Dentist waiting room! Here we see sweet tooth Pipkins go with his friend Johnny (played by Wayne Laryea) to the Dentist. Surely one of the best kid's shows from the 70s! This was suppoesed to be a pre-school programme. Seems quite advanced compared to what you have now. The Dentist gives a running commentary of what he's doing as the tiny puppet sits in the dentists chair, including cleaning and washing his teeth. It starts cut off from the beginning, but contains most of the episode. Nigel Plaskitt, who would later lend his voice in such programmes like "Spitting Image" and 2005's "Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet", is the voice of Hartley Hare.
The programme focused on a group of puppets who lived in a puppet workshop with their maker. Hartley Hare is the most remembered, along with Pig, Tortoise (as shown in this clip), Topov the Monkey and Octavia the Ostrich. The show began in 1973, originally called "Indigo Pipkins", in reference to the elderly puppet maker of the same name. However the actor for the role, George Woodbridge died during filming of the second series, so the title just became "Pipkins". It ran alongside "Rainbow at the lunchtime hour on weekdays.
What was influential about the programme, was it referred on-screen about the death in 1974 as he was central to the show, becoming the first children's programme to make reference to death, long before "Sesame Street" did in 1983. It was also the first children's TV programme to feature regional accents, like Black Country and Cockney. The show ended in 1981, when multi-regional producers ATV(Associated Television),was dismantled to make way for Central Television, and replaced with "Let's Pretend". "Pipkins" was popular though, right to the end.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Donald Duck Sounding Tentacle-Fingered Octopus Art Lovers
Paperplay
From Thames Television, this was disturbing but quite weirdly funny. Alright the finger puppets are actually 2 spiders, blook more like tiny octopus. Set in studio fantasyland, "Paperplay" is much like "fingerbobs" but with has no musical element and the finger puppets can fully communicate with an on-screen presenter, who is former "Magpie" presenter Susan Stranks, who came up with the idea of this show also. The puppeter is not seen, who is Norman Beardsley, camoflaged in the black background, and it's a good effect. In this episode, under the influence of a rather inconcisely titled book called "The Dangerous Sort", and they create a hot-air ballon from paper and yes, a balloon.
The 2 spider's names were Itsy and Bitsy, clear inspiration from the nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Itsy was the Donald Duck-sounding red male, and Bitsy was the squeaky, human trumpetting yellow female. Other puppets also featured like Boris the Ladybird, Cardew the Caterpillar and Katie the bird.
"Paperplay" ran from 1974-1981 on weekday lunchtimes, so it was by no means, an oscure show.
From Thames Television, this was disturbing but quite weirdly funny. Alright the finger puppets are actually 2 spiders, blook more like tiny octopus. Set in studio fantasyland, "Paperplay" is much like "fingerbobs" but with has no musical element and the finger puppets can fully communicate with an on-screen presenter, who is former "Magpie" presenter Susan Stranks, who came up with the idea of this show also. The puppeter is not seen, who is Norman Beardsley, camoflaged in the black background, and it's a good effect. In this episode, under the influence of a rather inconcisely titled book called "The Dangerous Sort", and they create a hot-air ballon from paper and yes, a balloon.
The 2 spider's names were Itsy and Bitsy, clear inspiration from the nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Itsy was the Donald Duck-sounding red male, and Bitsy was the squeaky, human trumpetting yellow female. Other puppets also featured like Boris the Ladybird, Cardew the Caterpillar and Katie the bird.
"Paperplay" ran from 1974-1981 on weekday lunchtimes, so it was by no means, an oscure show.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
I Want to be a Homo...a Homo Superior That is!
(1/3) The Tomorrow People - Series 1 Episode 1
The first of 3 full episodes appearing on Youtube. Sci-fi children's show "The Tomorrow People" received a great amount of cult status, and remains one of the most cherised shows of the 70s. It had some crossover appeal, compelling to both adults and children. Created by Roger Price, this was about older children who were harnessing strange capabilities that were denoting an evolution of humans were afoot, to become more advanced beings. This involved psionic powers like telepathy, - the ability to read other people's minds- telekinesis, -to power to levitate or produce light/electricity and transportation. Hence "The Tomorrow People". The show really became a benchmark for the the 70s lasting from 1973-1979.
What is a Homo Superior? It was another name used for the Tommorrow People. This was originally brought to Roger Price's attention in a coversation with David Bowie. Both like the word so much, Bowie would first use it for his 1971 song "Oh! You Pretty Things".
The Tomorrow People would not reveal their extra powers in public, and so had their headquarters in an underground lab. They would keep on the watch for new kids/teens "breaking out", as in evolving. They were intelligent enough, to realise that killing was wrong, so used less harmful weapons like stun-guns.
The first of 3 full episodes appearing on Youtube. Sci-fi children's show "The Tomorrow People" received a great amount of cult status, and remains one of the most cherised shows of the 70s. It had some crossover appeal, compelling to both adults and children. Created by Roger Price, this was about older children who were harnessing strange capabilities that were denoting an evolution of humans were afoot, to become more advanced beings. This involved psionic powers like telepathy, - the ability to read other people's minds- telekinesis, -to power to levitate or produce light/electricity and transportation. Hence "The Tomorrow People". The show really became a benchmark for the the 70s lasting from 1973-1979.
What is a Homo Superior? It was another name used for the Tommorrow People. This was originally brought to Roger Price's attention in a coversation with David Bowie. Both like the word so much, Bowie would first use it for his 1971 song "Oh! You Pretty Things".
The Tomorrow People would not reveal their extra powers in public, and so had their headquarters in an underground lab. They would keep on the watch for new kids/teens "breaking out", as in evolving. They were intelligent enough, to realise that killing was wrong, so used less harmful weapons like stun-guns.
This episode is entitled "The Slaves Of Jedikiah". The main characters at this time were Nicholas Young as John, Sammie Winmill as Carol, Stephen Salmon as Kenny, Peter Vaughan-Clarke as Stephen, Philip Gilbert as TIM and Michael Standing as Ginge Harding. This first episodes centres on Stephen Jameson who is kidnapped by a bearded, enigmatical man known as Jedikiah.
There is actually some truth to humans evolving from what they are now. If you've ever seen any of those science+technology news reports or in newspapers (chances of it being bull, probably doubled now), there is talk that some younger people are being born with "super brains" over people with "normal brains". What does it mean for the future? Not exactly telepathy, but maybe more intellectuals, less yobs? Well there's always someone who's going to say about younger generations; "They get worse and worse dont they?".Monday, 1 February 2010
First Episode of The Greatest Nostalgic Programme Ever?
Rainbow - the first ever episode part 1
This is the first ever episode from the classic Thames Television Children's TV series "Rainbow", from 1972. There's quite some difference you will see, from the iconic image and cast that stayed long in the memory of pre-school children and older, in the 70's, throughout the 80's, and into the 90's. First of all, no Geoffrey! This is brown-haired David Cook, who presented the first and second series of "Rainbow", but left to concentrate on his script and play writing. Geoffrey Hayes began presenting the show in 1973, and he came across as more fun, and had a great relationship with the camera, and the children at home. Not forgetting the rapport between the cast, just excellent.
Another major, major change is no George, the pink, camp-voiced pink hippo puppets only puppet Zippy(just what is he?) and Bungle(man dressed in bear costume), who look rather quite different, and their voices are different too. Both bungle and Zippy look rather distorted and skinnier to their later counterparts. Zippy, so named, as his mouth is really one big zip, a mouthy so-and-so, so Bungle or the presenter will shut him up by closing the zip. We see a more relaxed or the still-a-work-in-progress, as regards to Zippy's personality voiced and operated here, by Peter Hawkins. The famous voice that enscapulated the later ruder and cheekier version, was Roy Skelton, who is most famous elsewhere for voicing the Daleks in "Doctor Who". Skelton also voiced George, who would enter (skip and prance?) into the show by the second series in 1973.
Bungle looks completely sozzled in this early version. His eyes as wide as saucers, with a skinner body and face, he was still the more mature of the "children" to David Cook's father figure in the Rainbow house. His appearance was changed as it scared children in the first series. I mean, obviously, just look at him! Bungle was mainly voiced and played by Stanley Bates, but it is not him in this first episode. No Rod, Jane and Freddy, but a band by the name of "Telltale". In the first episode, we also have 2 much smaller puppets a purple and yellow duo by the name of Sunshine and Moody, but were dropped by 1973. The show ran from 1972-1992.
The reason I say, it's one of the best nostalgia programme ever, or best show of the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s, is because, in UK nostalgia circle online, since the early days, "Rainbow" has been one of the more talked about and best remembered. Not only the fact, that it harboured a traditional family-element, but the much mirth that was brought by the characters themselves, and the bizarreness and triviality of, Bungle walking about naked all the time, but coming out the shower, he is wearing a towel around his unsuggestables! Not forgetting the adults-only "Twangers" episode. "Rainbow" has been a beacon for many adults who grew up in the 70's/80's and early 90's.
This is the first ever episode from the classic Thames Television Children's TV series "Rainbow", from 1972. There's quite some difference you will see, from the iconic image and cast that stayed long in the memory of pre-school children and older, in the 70's, throughout the 80's, and into the 90's. First of all, no Geoffrey! This is brown-haired David Cook, who presented the first and second series of "Rainbow", but left to concentrate on his script and play writing. Geoffrey Hayes began presenting the show in 1973, and he came across as more fun, and had a great relationship with the camera, and the children at home. Not forgetting the rapport between the cast, just excellent.
Another major, major change is no George, the pink, camp-voiced pink hippo puppets only puppet Zippy(just what is he?) and Bungle(man dressed in bear costume), who look rather quite different, and their voices are different too. Both bungle and Zippy look rather distorted and skinnier to their later counterparts. Zippy, so named, as his mouth is really one big zip, a mouthy so-and-so, so Bungle or the presenter will shut him up by closing the zip. We see a more relaxed or the still-a-work-in-progress, as regards to Zippy's personality voiced and operated here, by Peter Hawkins. The famous voice that enscapulated the later ruder and cheekier version, was Roy Skelton, who is most famous elsewhere for voicing the Daleks in "Doctor Who". Skelton also voiced George, who would enter (skip and prance?) into the show by the second series in 1973.
Bungle looks completely sozzled in this early version. His eyes as wide as saucers, with a skinner body and face, he was still the more mature of the "children" to David Cook's father figure in the Rainbow house. His appearance was changed as it scared children in the first series. I mean, obviously, just look at him! Bungle was mainly voiced and played by Stanley Bates, but it is not him in this first episode. No Rod, Jane and Freddy, but a band by the name of "Telltale". In the first episode, we also have 2 much smaller puppets a purple and yellow duo by the name of Sunshine and Moody, but were dropped by 1973. The show ran from 1972-1992.
The reason I say, it's one of the best nostalgia programme ever, or best show of the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s, is because, in UK nostalgia circle online, since the early days, "Rainbow" has been one of the more talked about and best remembered. Not only the fact, that it harboured a traditional family-element, but the much mirth that was brought by the characters themselves, and the bizarreness and triviality of, Bungle walking about naked all the time, but coming out the shower, he is wearing a towel around his unsuggestables! Not forgetting the adults-only "Twangers" episode. "Rainbow" has been a beacon for many adults who grew up in the 70's/80's and early 90's.
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.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Gooopheeeeeeerrrrrsss!
Gophers - Episode 1. Moving day (part 1 of 3)
Very, very cult Children's show from 1990, shown and produced by Channel 4 on weekend Sunday mornings, created by Mark Mason. Think "Dinosaurs", people dressed in animatronic human/gopher cross-breeds, wearing sensible clothes. The first 3 episodes are on Youtube, but episodes 4 and 5 are in Dutch. There were 13 episodes altogether and only 1 series, sadly.
This focused on an American family of Gophers moving a new neck of the woods, Sycamore Heights, where funnily enough, they all speak in a British accent, apart from the Merv Wombat character. The gophers, comprising of father Chuck Gopher family(played by American Lou Marsh, who appeared as "Arnie" in the UK sitcom "My Hero), mother Lillian Gopher, son Junior Gopher and baby son Chiplet Gopher. They live next door to family of rabbits called the Burrows. The father, Arthur Burrows, is an obsessive compulsive when it comes to gardening. Wife Beatrix Burrows and daughter Flora Burrows complete the family. The villain of the set piece have their HQ somewhere underground, a fox by the name of Dr. Wince and his daft sidekick Sly, a tiny Crocodile/Alligator. Wince wants to build a road through the 2 families plot of land and home!
There's also some off-beat comedy from other characters including the 2 crows up by the nest, Frankie and Ollie, a pack of well-groomed talking vegetables from Arthur Burrows shed. They are Charlotte Cabbage, Percy Cabbage, Knowitall Carrot, Weepy Cauliflower and Barry Pumpkin. Then you have the Shakespearean Tree, and The Cockroaches, who appear in those bloody dutch-speaking episodes called Nacho, Mimi - A waitress and Lupe - The Bartender. They live in one of the Gophers walls in the Kitchen.
It was a great little obscure show, and hopefully somebody will upload the last episode, which I vaguely remember. Other noteworthy voice actors from the show was Arthur Burrows' Francis Wright, who voiced The Psammead in the CBBC series "Five Children and It".
Very, very cult Children's show from 1990, shown and produced by Channel 4 on weekend Sunday mornings, created by Mark Mason. Think "Dinosaurs", people dressed in animatronic human/gopher cross-breeds, wearing sensible clothes. The first 3 episodes are on Youtube, but episodes 4 and 5 are in Dutch. There were 13 episodes altogether and only 1 series, sadly.
This focused on an American family of Gophers moving a new neck of the woods, Sycamore Heights, where funnily enough, they all speak in a British accent, apart from the Merv Wombat character. The gophers, comprising of father Chuck Gopher family(played by American Lou Marsh, who appeared as "Arnie" in the UK sitcom "My Hero), mother Lillian Gopher, son Junior Gopher and baby son Chiplet Gopher. They live next door to family of rabbits called the Burrows. The father, Arthur Burrows, is an obsessive compulsive when it comes to gardening. Wife Beatrix Burrows and daughter Flora Burrows complete the family. The villain of the set piece have their HQ somewhere underground, a fox by the name of Dr. Wince and his daft sidekick Sly, a tiny Crocodile/Alligator. Wince wants to build a road through the 2 families plot of land and home!
There's also some off-beat comedy from other characters including the 2 crows up by the nest, Frankie and Ollie, a pack of well-groomed talking vegetables from Arthur Burrows shed. They are Charlotte Cabbage, Percy Cabbage, Knowitall Carrot, Weepy Cauliflower and Barry Pumpkin. Then you have the Shakespearean Tree, and The Cockroaches, who appear in those bloody dutch-speaking episodes called Nacho, Mimi - A waitress and Lupe - The Bartender. They live in one of the Gophers walls in the Kitchen.
It was a great little obscure show, and hopefully somebody will upload the last episode, which I vaguely remember. Other noteworthy voice actors from the show was Arthur Burrows' Francis Wright, who voiced The Psammead in the CBBC series "Five Children and It".
Sunday, 24 January 2010
First Episode of a Children's Cult Classic
Rentaghost 1 of 3
One of the most fondly remembered Children's programming from the 1970's, was "Rentaghost". Here is the first ever episode of the shoow from 1976. Running from 1976 -1984, the show was about a recently deceased man by the name of Fred Mumford (Anthony Jackson) who runs a ghost agency and finds never-do-wells, like Timothy Claypole (Michael Staniforth), a medieval looking jester who claims he is a poltergeist (ghost that can move/throw objects), and fears modern technology. The only other ghost to appear in this episode is Victorian gentleman Hubert Davenport (Michael Darbyshire), who is outraged by modern society in general. Harold Meaker (Edward Brayshaw), is the living human renting them the office space to perform their ghostly deeds.
A comedy that was sometimes over-the-top in it's acting, it has a special place in people's hearts, for thise who grew up in the 70's. In this episode, there is much play on Mumford humourously trying to play it straight in a train carriage, being theonly one looking normally dressed, talking and telling off 2 invisible ghosts, in front of bewildered passengers. Living people though, can actually see the ghosts, whenever they are visible on-screen. In later series, the cast of ghost expands, however, only Claypole stars in ever series, as Mumford (Jackson) opts out after the third series, and actor Michael Darbyshire dies in 1979.
The series had a short revival, after it was repeated in the mid-90's at the weekends.
One of the most fondly remembered Children's programming from the 1970's, was "Rentaghost". Here is the first ever episode of the shoow from 1976. Running from 1976 -1984, the show was about a recently deceased man by the name of Fred Mumford (Anthony Jackson) who runs a ghost agency and finds never-do-wells, like Timothy Claypole (Michael Staniforth), a medieval looking jester who claims he is a poltergeist (ghost that can move/throw objects), and fears modern technology. The only other ghost to appear in this episode is Victorian gentleman Hubert Davenport (Michael Darbyshire), who is outraged by modern society in general. Harold Meaker (Edward Brayshaw), is the living human renting them the office space to perform their ghostly deeds.
A comedy that was sometimes over-the-top in it's acting, it has a special place in people's hearts, for thise who grew up in the 70's. In this episode, there is much play on Mumford humourously trying to play it straight in a train carriage, being theonly one looking normally dressed, talking and telling off 2 invisible ghosts, in front of bewildered passengers. Living people though, can actually see the ghosts, whenever they are visible on-screen. In later series, the cast of ghost expands, however, only Claypole stars in ever series, as Mumford (Jackson) opts out after the third series, and actor Michael Darbyshire dies in 1979.
The series had a short revival, after it was repeated in the mid-90's at the weekends.
Friday, 15 January 2010
2 Goliaths of the Cartoon World Meet, the Very Thought of it Will Send Trembles Down Your Spine: Bananaman vs. Appleman
Banana Man
A full episode, and I can provide more information on this, by saying (in smug mode) it's from 1984's Season 2, episode 3, entitled "Trouble At the Mill".
There quite alot of Bananaman episodes on Youtube. The more I watch, the more I appreciate that instrumental theme song. As regards to the best British cartoon theme songs, this has got to be up there with "Dangermouse". The theme is composed by Dave Cooke.
Bananaman was originally a comic strip for one of the lesser-known British comics called "Nutty". Created in 1980 by John Geering, "Bananaman was an anti-thesis to the USA's Marvel's serious God-like superheros like Batman, Superman, Spiderman etc, this was a jovial poking at the fun, as although Bananaman was extremely strong, he was also extremely thick and awkward in British eccentric kind of way, but somehow saving the day, but almost always giving Chief 'O Reilly grief. Unlike other superhero's, Bananaman, is just really as kid called "Eric Twinge" and whenever he eats a banana, well, you know the rest...
In this episode, Bananaman meets his arch-nemesis and suppoesed weight-lifting buddy Appleman. He doesn't feature much in the cartoon, and his south-west country accent, does bring him down a few notches as a worthwhile opponent. The main villains that feature the most are Dr. Gloom and General Blight. Blight is supposed to be a parody of Hitler, but it's Dr. Gloom who looks more Nazi-ish in my view. Plus they always seem to look like midgets.
The cartoon ran from 1983-1986, in a 5 minute format. The voice work is done by the comedy trio "The Goodies", at probably the tail-end of their career as a comedic force. This included Bill Oddie voicing Eric's/Bananaman pet "Crow", Chief 'O Reilly and Dr. Gloom. Bill also voices the worm in this episode. Fellow Goonies Graeme Garden voiced Bananaman and General Blight and Tim Brooke-Taylor voices Appleman here, as well as Eric.
Although the cartoon ended in 1986, it was re-runned well into the 1990's on CBBC, and it has featured in the Dandy comic since 1985. It still runs today, with new material and a new illustrationist.
A full episode, and I can provide more information on this, by saying (in smug mode) it's from 1984's Season 2, episode 3, entitled "Trouble At the Mill".
There quite alot of Bananaman episodes on Youtube. The more I watch, the more I appreciate that instrumental theme song. As regards to the best British cartoon theme songs, this has got to be up there with "Dangermouse". The theme is composed by Dave Cooke.
Bananaman was originally a comic strip for one of the lesser-known British comics called "Nutty". Created in 1980 by John Geering, "Bananaman was an anti-thesis to the USA's Marvel's serious God-like superheros like Batman, Superman, Spiderman etc, this was a jovial poking at the fun, as although Bananaman was extremely strong, he was also extremely thick and awkward in British eccentric kind of way, but somehow saving the day, but almost always giving Chief 'O Reilly grief. Unlike other superhero's, Bananaman, is just really as kid called "Eric Twinge" and whenever he eats a banana, well, you know the rest...
In this episode, Bananaman meets his arch-nemesis and suppoesed weight-lifting buddy Appleman. He doesn't feature much in the cartoon, and his south-west country accent, does bring him down a few notches as a worthwhile opponent. The main villains that feature the most are Dr. Gloom and General Blight. Blight is supposed to be a parody of Hitler, but it's Dr. Gloom who looks more Nazi-ish in my view. Plus they always seem to look like midgets.
The cartoon ran from 1983-1986, in a 5 minute format. The voice work is done by the comedy trio "The Goodies", at probably the tail-end of their career as a comedic force. This included Bill Oddie voicing Eric's/Bananaman pet "Crow", Chief 'O Reilly and Dr. Gloom. Bill also voices the worm in this episode. Fellow Goonies Graeme Garden voiced Bananaman and General Blight and Tim Brooke-Taylor voices Appleman here, as well as Eric.
Although the cartoon ended in 1986, it was re-runned well into the 1990's on CBBC, and it has featured in the Dandy comic since 1985. It still runs today, with new material and a new illustrationist.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
"Temporal disruption imminent!", Full Episode of CITV's "Knightmare
Knightmare: Season 1 - Episode 1 (Part 1/3)
The very first episode of, shall we say, the ground breaking "Knightmare", a fantasy children's Gameshow, taking inspiration from role-playing games like "Dungeons and Dragons". The Youtube user has uploaded every episode of EVERY season, 1-8. A mouth-watering prospect for all fans of the show. I am still struggling on Season 2! I say ground breaking, as it it was one of the first TV programmes to administer 3D computer graphics. It's hard to believe the show attracted 4-5 million viewers at it's peak in 1991 and 1992.
So we had 1 team of 4 kids at a time, set in the Dungeon Master Treguard's (Hugo Myatt) domain. 3 of the them would stay to give the other one orders, spell-casting and directions, who would become the dugeoneer, and travel a fantasy dungeon world, completely in a 3D world. The boy/girl on foot wouldn't see anything, where he wears an over-sized Viking's helmet and can only see objects directly below him, to pick them up. Even if he too his hat off, all he would see is the fantasy character actors and giant blue screens. It's fun to watch the slightly thicker teams as they try to solve riddles or which item to pick up, while an aggrevated Treguard's gives out hints. Season to season, there are changes in the 3D-world make-up, but in the same season, it's not always the same rooms the many teams confront. As they make their way to level 3, they come across many different characters like the Riddling Gravitas the mere Level 1 Wall Monster, Merlin, Cedric the Mad Monk (who looks like "Wolf" from "The Gladiators"), Folly the jovial jester you wanted to punch, a depressed Goblin, and not forgetting Mogdred, Lord Fear and later Treguard assistants Pickle the Elf and Arabian Princess Majida.
The show lasted from 1987-1994. The show wasn't even axed for poor ratings, it was because CITV wanted to target a younger child audience, the 6-10's, and believed older children and teens were turning to videogames and satellite TV in their droves. This was probably the beginning of the mainstream channel's rather bullish and somewhat ignorant attitude to children's programme, even the BBC, and we all know the downhill slump CITV went through, living in this day and age. No fresh money and ideas, and now all on a shoe-string budget of repeats from their "heyday"!
The very first episode of, shall we say, the ground breaking "Knightmare", a fantasy children's Gameshow, taking inspiration from role-playing games like "Dungeons and Dragons". The Youtube user has uploaded every episode of EVERY season, 1-8. A mouth-watering prospect for all fans of the show. I am still struggling on Season 2! I say ground breaking, as it it was one of the first TV programmes to administer 3D computer graphics. It's hard to believe the show attracted 4-5 million viewers at it's peak in 1991 and 1992.
So we had 1 team of 4 kids at a time, set in the Dungeon Master Treguard's (Hugo Myatt) domain. 3 of the them would stay to give the other one orders, spell-casting and directions, who would become the dugeoneer, and travel a fantasy dungeon world, completely in a 3D world. The boy/girl on foot wouldn't see anything, where he wears an over-sized Viking's helmet and can only see objects directly below him, to pick them up. Even if he too his hat off, all he would see is the fantasy character actors and giant blue screens. It's fun to watch the slightly thicker teams as they try to solve riddles or which item to pick up, while an aggrevated Treguard's gives out hints. Season to season, there are changes in the 3D-world make-up, but in the same season, it's not always the same rooms the many teams confront. As they make their way to level 3, they come across many different characters like the Riddling Gravitas the mere Level 1 Wall Monster, Merlin, Cedric the Mad Monk (who looks like "Wolf" from "The Gladiators"), Folly the jovial jester you wanted to punch, a depressed Goblin, and not forgetting Mogdred, Lord Fear and later Treguard assistants Pickle the Elf and Arabian Princess Majida.
The show lasted from 1987-1994. The show wasn't even axed for poor ratings, it was because CITV wanted to target a younger child audience, the 6-10's, and believed older children and teens were turning to videogames and satellite TV in their droves. This was probably the beginning of the mainstream channel's rather bullish and somewhat ignorant attitude to children's programme, even the BBC, and we all know the downhill slump CITV went through, living in this day and age. No fresh money and ideas, and now all on a shoe-string budget of repeats from their "heyday"!
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Around ze World in ze 80 Days, with an oh-so gentleman-like Lion!
Around The World With Willy Fog Ep 2 Part 1
Several episodes have been uploaded for this legendary cartoon. Episode 1 is missing sadly, but episodes 2-8 of 26 episodes are there. It was produced in 1983, but it wasn't until the late-80's, it reached the peak of it's popularity in the UK. It follows the classic Willy Fogg tale, but with a twist, set in a world where animals play the human parts, from the elegant Lion as "Willy Fogg", to a feline playing "Rigodon" and "Princess Romy" and a wolf/coyote, playing "Transfer" the main villain trying to thawrt Fogg's quest.
The cartoon is created by the Spanish animation company BRB International, who were also behind "Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds" and "The World of David the Gnome". The show was co-produced and actually animated by Japanese studio Nippon Animation. The first dub of the cartoon was in Spanish, the English dub came later and may be one of the reasons for the delayed interest in the cartoon in UK, championed by CBBC broom cupboard presenters like Andy Crane.
It's a somewhat intelligent and wholesome cartoon, and what was clever, was the cliffhangers and pomped-up previews of the next episodes, carried by an urgent sounding out-of-vision narrator. The wealth of places they go to, as it is a trip around around the world, from London to Paris, to Bombay to Calcutta, it was a great show. And that theme song, damn catchy. The title character sings solo first as he swings about the street like Fred Astaire, and the rest of the gang, bad and good, join in. A more softer song is played in the ending credits, with some great random, imaginative animations surrounding the credits, like one of the goons falling through a sand hourglass. However, just as memorable with its little whistling tune in the background.
Several episodes have been uploaded for this legendary cartoon. Episode 1 is missing sadly, but episodes 2-8 of 26 episodes are there. It was produced in 1983, but it wasn't until the late-80's, it reached the peak of it's popularity in the UK. It follows the classic Willy Fogg tale, but with a twist, set in a world where animals play the human parts, from the elegant Lion as "Willy Fogg", to a feline playing "Rigodon" and "Princess Romy" and a wolf/coyote, playing "Transfer" the main villain trying to thawrt Fogg's quest.
The cartoon is created by the Spanish animation company BRB International, who were also behind "Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds" and "The World of David the Gnome". The show was co-produced and actually animated by Japanese studio Nippon Animation. The first dub of the cartoon was in Spanish, the English dub came later and may be one of the reasons for the delayed interest in the cartoon in UK, championed by CBBC broom cupboard presenters like Andy Crane.
It's a somewhat intelligent and wholesome cartoon, and what was clever, was the cliffhangers and pomped-up previews of the next episodes, carried by an urgent sounding out-of-vision narrator. The wealth of places they go to, as it is a trip around around the world, from London to Paris, to Bombay to Calcutta, it was a great show. And that theme song, damn catchy. The title character sings solo first as he swings about the street like Fred Astaire, and the rest of the gang, bad and good, join in. A more softer song is played in the ending credits, with some great random, imaginative animations surrounding the credits, like one of the goons falling through a sand hourglass. However, just as memorable with its little whistling tune in the background.
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.
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