C.A.T.S Eyes First Series titles
C.A.T.S. Eyes was a mid-80's detective drama, and a spin-off, of LWT's police drama "The Gentle Touch" that starred a non-trout, future "Men Behaving Badly" star Leslie Ash with extra permage. Produced by TVS (old ITV region Television South for Oxford and to the south) for ITV, the show ran from 1985-1987. The initials C.A.T.S. stands for Covert Activities Thames Section.
Good choice for theme music instruments here. Sounds like a cat getting his tail stepped on at times. Perfect.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
The LAST TIME All the Greatest Darters Were Under One Roof...
The Lakeside - 1993
As we currently have the BDO Darts tournament at Lakeside on the box right now, here's a blast from the past highlight reel of the 1993 tournament. Been watching the Lakeside Darts over the recent years? Noticed it's just not somehow got that same magic feeling? No Phil Taylor, no Eric Bristow and no Raymond Van Barneveld? Well, the 1993 Embassy tournament at Lakeside was probably the last undisputed World Darts championship, before, an unprecented split occured, as an army of some of the most well-known players including an impressive embargo of all previous active Embassy champions, who left to join the PDC. This was in reflection that the BDO (British Darts Organisation), was not doing enough to modernise the pub sport into an international professional sport, and we're not talking about forcing darter's to downsize their beer bellies. Also ratings were down, and the image of the beer drinking/smoking Darts "athlete", was thought to be perhaps the cause.
By the time of this 1993 tournament, the 16 unsettled professional Dart players were refused to wear the logo of their newly formed inner-faction the "World Darts Council" on their shirts. The BDO, rather bullish and old-fashioned, banned the players from BDO competition, as they complained of their Council not being recognised. The 16 players were Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Rod Harrington, Alan Warriner, Peter Evison, Richie Gardner, Jocky Wilson, Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, John Lowe, Bob Anderson, Cliff Lazarenko, Kevin Spiolek, Jamie Harvey, Mike Gregory and Chris Johns.
So they set up their own Darts organisation called the PDC, and their first World Championship would be televised on Sky Sports in 1994. Since then, the PDC have risen from peak to peak, now over-taking the BDO in talent. However, the BDO are still regarded by all, that it is the Government body of UK Darts.
The song in this compliation is the appropiately title of Queen's "The Show Must Go On". I know for fact, this is not a fan-made compiliation, but it featured in the BBC's 1996 Embassy coverage, as a historical montage, rather random though.
As we currently have the BDO Darts tournament at Lakeside on the box right now, here's a blast from the past highlight reel of the 1993 tournament. Been watching the Lakeside Darts over the recent years? Noticed it's just not somehow got that same magic feeling? No Phil Taylor, no Eric Bristow and no Raymond Van Barneveld? Well, the 1993 Embassy tournament at Lakeside was probably the last undisputed World Darts championship, before, an unprecented split occured, as an army of some of the most well-known players including an impressive embargo of all previous active Embassy champions, who left to join the PDC. This was in reflection that the BDO (British Darts Organisation), was not doing enough to modernise the pub sport into an international professional sport, and we're not talking about forcing darter's to downsize their beer bellies. Also ratings were down, and the image of the beer drinking/smoking Darts "athlete", was thought to be perhaps the cause.
By the time of this 1993 tournament, the 16 unsettled professional Dart players were refused to wear the logo of their newly formed inner-faction the "World Darts Council" on their shirts. The BDO, rather bullish and old-fashioned, banned the players from BDO competition, as they complained of their Council not being recognised. The 16 players were Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Rod Harrington, Alan Warriner, Peter Evison, Richie Gardner, Jocky Wilson, Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, John Lowe, Bob Anderson, Cliff Lazarenko, Kevin Spiolek, Jamie Harvey, Mike Gregory and Chris Johns.
So they set up their own Darts organisation called the PDC, and their first World Championship would be televised on Sky Sports in 1994. Since then, the PDC have risen from peak to peak, now over-taking the BDO in talent. However, the BDO are still regarded by all, that it is the Government body of UK Darts.
The song in this compliation is the appropiately title of Queen's "The Show Must Go On". I know for fact, this is not a fan-made compiliation, but it featured in the BBC's 1996 Embassy coverage, as a historical montage, rather random though.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Foil-top Milk Bottles are No Good for Harsh Winters!
UK Public Information Film - Frost Warning (1969)
With the harsh winter we're having, almost to Russian standards, this seems a good time, to compare how the 1960's braced themselves for a winter chill, with this animated small clip of a PIF. The milkman was a cultural icon back then, so milk bottles are focused on, to send home the message, as they are vulnerable to the cold, with the foil-top milk bottles.
With the harsh winter we're having, almost to Russian standards, this seems a good time, to compare how the 1960's braced themselves for a winter chill, with this animated small clip of a PIF. The milkman was a cultural icon back then, so milk bottles are focused on, to send home the message, as they are vulnerable to the cold, with the foil-top milk bottles.
Still One of the more Bizarre Eastenders Storylines...
Eastendes: Joe goes mental when he hears about Pat's accident
Joe Wicks (Paul Nicholls) become one of the central characters of Eastenders in 1996, and this clip is a small branch of what he got up to. He only lasted for a year in the soap. Maybe that was just enough, as the character was pretty much exhausted by then. He's a schizophrenic runaway, who's arrived in Albert Square to find his father, David Wicks (Michael French). Living with suffering mum Lorraine Wicks (Jacqueline Leonard). His behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre, as his room has been graffitied with writing by himself, and is covered in newspaper articles, talking about aliens and UFO's, an issue he was obsessed by.
Joe Wicks (Paul Nicholls) become one of the central characters of Eastenders in 1996, and this clip is a small branch of what he got up to. He only lasted for a year in the soap. Maybe that was just enough, as the character was pretty much exhausted by then. He's a schizophrenic runaway, who's arrived in Albert Square to find his father, David Wicks (Michael French). Living with suffering mum Lorraine Wicks (Jacqueline Leonard). His behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre, as his room has been graffitied with writing by himself, and is covered in newspaper articles, talking about aliens and UFO's, an issue he was obsessed by.
Monday, 4 January 2010
Get Razzled at Your Local...NOW!
Bobby Moore Pub Advert 1960s
Can't find the exact year date, but please comment if you know, but I'm guessing it's 1966 or later. From the 1960's, England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore, stars with his wife Tina, to encourage viewers at home to "Look In At The Local", a nice friendly, unbranded commercial, which to tell you the truth, as in this age of the economic recession and the smoking ban, hence spiralling closures of traditional pubs, is a message now needed more than ever, whether you dispute the significance and influence of TV advertising, and viral, for that matter.
Can't find the exact year date, but please comment if you know, but I'm guessing it's 1966 or later. From the 1960's, England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore, stars with his wife Tina, to encourage viewers at home to "Look In At The Local", a nice friendly, unbranded commercial, which to tell you the truth, as in this age of the economic recession and the smoking ban, hence spiralling closures of traditional pubs, is a message now needed more than ever, whether you dispute the significance and influence of TV advertising, and viral, for that matter.
Laurence Olivier - narrated Epic Documentary with the Definitive History of the Second World War
The World At War - Episode 1 - A New Germany 1933--1939
"The World At War" was a true heavyweight of archive footage and documentary execution. Produced by Jeremy Isaacs and running for one series of 26 episodes in 1973 for ITV, the programme profiled a superb in-depth chronological history of the rise of Hitler's Germany and the eventual Second War War, from beginning to end. Narrated by 2-time Oscar winning Laurence Olivier.
I watched some of the episodes at High School, and although bearing the age of the documentary at even that time, it was a great one.
The youtube user account also includes a few other World At War episodes, as well as a "making of" documentary. It took 4 years of research to produce it.
"The World At War" was a true heavyweight of archive footage and documentary execution. Produced by Jeremy Isaacs and running for one series of 26 episodes in 1973 for ITV, the programme profiled a superb in-depth chronological history of the rise of Hitler's Germany and the eventual Second War War, from beginning to end. Narrated by 2-time Oscar winning Laurence Olivier.
I watched some of the episodes at High School, and although bearing the age of the documentary at even that time, it was a great one.
The youtube user account also includes a few other World At War episodes, as well as a "making of" documentary. It took 4 years of research to produce it.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Tragedy Ensues at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix...
Murray Walker announces Roland Ratzenberger's Death
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT1ysM7NgyY
1994 was a year of real tragedy for Formula One, as the BBC's Murray Walker, announces the death of the Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger, when crashed in the qualifying on Saturday 30th April. The motor was offset by the high wind pressure during a backstraight, and crashed into a wall, dying of basal skull fracture. This was not the first death of an F1 driver since 1986, and more shock was to come, as 3-time world F1 champion Ayrton Senna crashed and died at the same course, the following day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT1ysM7NgyY
1994 was a year of real tragedy for Formula One, as the BBC's Murray Walker, announces the death of the Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger, when crashed in the qualifying on Saturday 30th April. The motor was offset by the high wind pressure during a backstraight, and crashed into a wall, dying of basal skull fracture. This was not the first death of an F1 driver since 1986, and more shock was to come, as 3-time world F1 champion Ayrton Senna crashed and died at the same course, the following day.
When is a Hotspot not a Hotspot Not? (Huh?)
Strike it Lucky with Fred from Leicester 1992
Michael Barrymore, whatever you thinkof him, was at his comedic and career peak here, in the gameshow "Strike It Lucky", and this highlights a memorable episode with as always, the banter between Barrymore and the contestant being the starring role. Barrymore, what did he do to be so popular back in the 90's? Just a mere flaffing about with his abotomy, always seemed to do the trick. You couldn't call him a comedian, but rather just an entertainer, not also just a presenter. However, if you like that kind of thing, "Strike It Lucky" has just about the right elements to make what was a really fun gameshow. The right presenter, the magic of the banter between the contestants, the fact, and not only did it have the idea of a guessing game and entering into the unknown, like future shows of the same vein of "Deal or No Deal", it also had the element of skill, answering multiple choice questions.
Michael Barrymore, whatever you thinkof him, was at his comedic and career peak here, in the gameshow "Strike It Lucky", and this highlights a memorable episode with as always, the banter between Barrymore and the contestant being the starring role. Barrymore, what did he do to be so popular back in the 90's? Just a mere flaffing about with his abotomy, always seemed to do the trick. You couldn't call him a comedian, but rather just an entertainer, not also just a presenter. However, if you like that kind of thing, "Strike It Lucky" has just about the right elements to make what was a really fun gameshow. The right presenter, the magic of the banter between the contestants, the fact, and not only did it have the idea of a guessing game and entering into the unknown, like future shows of the same vein of "Deal or No Deal", it also had the element of skill, answering multiple choice questions.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Belated New Year Programming...
BBC2 Continuity into New Year 1997 & Start of Hootenanny
The first edition of the Ident and Continuity section, welcome! It's the turn of the New Year of 1997, when a thinner-looking, almost live Jools Holland presents his annual Hootenanny, the same format as "Later...with Jools Holland", but an extra treat with a bumper assemble of musicians to please us, as well as a variously boozed-up celebrity ridden-audience in some jovial banter segements. A frankly cooler alternative to the BBC 1's tartan-sozzled - and still is, to this day - Carol "Changing Rooms" Smiley, and Gordon "stooooneeybridge" Kennedy, presenting superteam. Other programmes featured in the continuity, were "The O Zone", "Brothers and Sisters" "The Simpsons" and "Singled Out". I remember "Singled Out", it was god awful.
The first edition of the Ident and Continuity section, welcome! It's the turn of the New Year of 1997, when a thinner-looking, almost live Jools Holland presents his annual Hootenanny, the same format as "Later...with Jools Holland", but an extra treat with a bumper assemble of musicians to please us, as well as a variously boozed-up celebrity ridden-audience in some jovial banter segements. A frankly cooler alternative to the BBC 1's tartan-sozzled - and still is, to this day - Carol "Changing Rooms" Smiley, and Gordon "stooooneeybridge" Kennedy, presenting superteam. Other programmes featured in the continuity, were "The O Zone", "Brothers and Sisters" "The Simpsons" and "Singled Out". I remember "Singled Out", it was god awful.
"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"!
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