Tv programmes that would not be shown today

[George 1978]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Mike Yarwood was an AWFUL impressionist!! I would compare John Culshaw with him today. He just sounds like himself, all the time.

But when you think about it, Tommy Cooper was an awful magician as well, but wasn't too bad as a comedian - would he have got as many laughs if his tricks succeeded rather than failed? People used to laugh when Yarwood was on because he was awful, so in many respects it didn't really matter - people laugh at entertainers on stage.

[agfagaevart]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

I think that one of the reasons that Yarwood's act went down hill by the start of the 1980s was mostly because he couldn't do Thatcher's voice, which was good news to Steve Nallon of course.

Mike Yarwood was an AWFUL impressionist!! I would compare John Culshaw with him today. He just sounds like himself, all the time.

[agfagaevart]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Another show i wonder would it be shown is kick start narrated by peter purves you know the show contestants on motorbikes doing an OBSTACLE course.

Would it be allowed now or would it be considered too dangerous by the p.c brigade .

I loved that show! And I couldn't even ride a pushbike back then.

[agfagaevart]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

I didn't experience the 1970s myself, but a lot of programmes from that decade were repeated in the 1980s, 1990s and later, and as a result, future generations had found what that decade was like - it's like Pick of the Pops doing a 1970s chart, or someone doing a 1970s themed disco - I studied History at school where we learnt about Victorians and the like, but again, I didn't experience that era myself either! We can make comparisons between new and old as a result of programmes being repeated. Rising Damp for example ended before I was born, but it was repeated on ITV in the 1980s, Channel 4 in the 1990s and satellite TV in the 2000s onwards - I am familiar with that series because of the repeats. TV Heaven in 1992 was a fine example of introducing new generations to programmes from previous generations.

I think that you have proved my point; Watching repeats is not the same as seeing something when it first aired. Because repeats, especially these days, have been edited. As I mentioned in my last post with regard to shows like The Professionals and The Sweeney, because some of their content may be considered inappropriate for a repeat broadcast. Some of the edits in Rising Damp are so badly done and so obvious. Also, the social context of a repeat would be different ie, after episodes of Love Thy Neighbour or In Sickness and in Health were shown during the 1970s, certain people would think it fine to hurl abuse at other people the next day. As you did not live through that era, or experience that abuse you will find it hard to understand this. Music shows and sitcoms in particular do not reflect past eras very well at all. Current affairs shows and documentaries would be more accurate, but not always. When I was a youngster and older people would tell me I didn't understand this or that, I would think "yeah yeah yeah." Until I got to a certain age, and saw programmes which porported to show a certain era as it was (The I Love 1970s and 1980s series, etc.) which made me think, "That is not the way I remember it". And thanks to the good ol' 'net I could double check and make sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me. Usually it isn't.

I do some DJing on the side, and when people do "seventies nights" they walk around wearing silver skirts and pants etc. Nobody wore that stuff back then. And beware of historians and the way that they present their versions of history. Because some of them have their bias - left or right wing. One in particular I am wary of is Mr Dominic Sandbrook who has made a few documentaries for the BBC. But often he leaves out very important chunks of history; In one of his programmes about the 1970s he looked at strikes. But he did not mention the one at Grunwick which involved asian workers. Of course you cannot show everything that happened in a decade, but that strike was a major news story back in 1977. Nor did he mention how immigration affected the perception of employment being "taken away" by supposedly cheap foreign labour. In fact in his programmes minorities didn't exist. The perception would be that they made no worthwile contribution to this country. Correct me if I am wrong, but I'm guessing that your education on the Victorians did not mention these ones:

I also believe that a lot more white middle class men were in charge of TV programme making and scheduling back then, whereas nowadays we have mixed genders, races, religions, and even disabilities making new programmes. That is a good thing as anyone can make a TV programme these days as long as one has the right support and equipment.

TV has improved but still has a long way to go. And there's nothing wrong with Middle Class White Men, IMO.

If you got to the end of my post you deserve a break! Have some tea and biscuits.

[Clare]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Another show i wonder would it be shown is kick start narrated by peter purves you know the show contestants on motorbikes doing an OBSTACLE course.

I always liked its theme tune!

[George 1978]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

You've Been Framed! often has clips of people doing daft things on motorbikes so I think it would be allowed.

The Broadcasting Standards Commission received the odd complaint about showing dangerous things on there for the sake of having a camcorder ready - I used to wonder (especially in its earlier "Beadle" years of the early 1990s) what the probability that something unusual happened while a camcorder just happened to be switched on.

Arguably, one could add clip shows like It'll Be Alright on the Night and Clive James/Floyd/Tarrant on TV as well - the latter to a greater extent because sometimes one can see clips of people doing things that could be seen as dangerous. That late 1990s Saturday evening show Don't Try This At Home! probably explains itself with its own name as well as they had members of the public doing Evel Kinevel type stunts.

And the assault course round on The Krypton Factor looked rather dangerous as well - that pool of water that they go across, almost deep enough to drown in!

[Richard1978]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Another show i wonder would it be shown is kick start narrated by peter purves you know the show contestants on motorbikes doing an OBSTACLE course.

Would it be allowed now or would it be considered too dangerous by the p.c brigade .

You've Been Framed! often has clips of people doing daft things on motorbikes so I think it would be allowed.

[darren]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Another show i wonder would it be shown is kick start narrated by peter purves you know the show contestants on motorbikes doing an OBSTACLE course.

Would it be allowed now or would it be considered too dangerous by the p.c brigade .

[George 1978]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

I think that one of the reasons that Yarwood's act went down hill by the start of the 1980s was mostly because he couldn't do Thatcher's voice, which was good news to Steve Nallon of course.

[zabadak]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Another difference is that Rory Bremner's impressions actually sounded like the people he was impersonating!

[George 1978]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

You didn't experience the 1970s. That's an important thing to take into account. I remember quite a few things about the '70s - both good and bad. And we certainly don't need those bad things to be around us in the 21st century. Thank god for PC if it were responsible, but I just think that it is coincidence that there was a shift in attidutes to what is and is not acceptable anymore, and a new wave of artists getting their breakthrough. And I really can't understand why people can't just accept change. If it wasn't for change, there would still be shops closing around 6pm in the evening. TV stations signing off at midnight, etc. etc. Why do people hark back to days when it was acceptable to have offensive programmes on the television?? I cannot fathom their frustration with having to be polite and not offend someone - It isn't that difficult really. We don't need to have shows like Love Thy Neighbour on mainstream TV anymore. Those days are over never to return. It has been done! Those shows can be bought on various media and watched in private. It's not illegal or impossible to do this. UNLIKE seeing the original versions of Star Wars - but that's another issue for another thread / site.

I didn't experience the 1970s myself, but a lot of programmes from that decade were repeated in the 1980s, 1990s and later, and as a result, future generations had found what that decade was like - it's like Pick of the Pops doing a 1970s chart, or someone doing a 1970s themed disco - I studied History at school where we learnt about Victorians and the like, but again, I didn't experience that era myself either! We can make comparisons between new and old as a result of programmes being repeated. Rising Damp for example ended before I was born, but it was repeated on ITV in the 1980s, Channel 4 in the 1990s and satellite TV in the 2000s onwards - I am familiar with that series because of the repeats. TV Heaven in 1992 was a fine example of introducing new generations to programmes from previous generations.

I do think that change is a good thing for the benefit of modernisation, especially as we moved from one millennium to another in the past 20 years. I still think of shops that close on Sunday to be left behind in the 20th century for example. I also believe that a lot more white middle class men were in charge of TV programme making and scheduling back then, whereas nowadays we have mixed genders, races, religions, and even disabilities making new programmes. That is a good thing as anyone can make a TV programme these days as long as one has the right support and equipment.

I always think of Yarwood as a predecessor to Rory Bremner, although the difference was that Yarwood got mainstream slots on the BBC and later on ITV in the Wednesday 8.00 pm slot of thereabouts. Bremner was always seen as alternative rather than mainstream hence his shows being on BBC 2 and later Channel 4 on Friday nights. I am prepared to move on myself.

[agfagaevart]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Lots of these programmes have become dated over time, and I believe that issues such as political correctness has reinforced that further, even though PC wouldn't have made them dated on their own. My earliest memories was in the early 1980s so therefore I don't remember anything about the 1970s - that decade has always been dated to myself. There is the "flares and tank tops" dated factor, and there is the "you wouldn't get away with saying that now" factor - the first one is more concrete and therefore more apparent in order for something to do dated.

You didn't experience the 1970s. That's an important thing to take into account. I remember quite a few things about the '70s - both good and bad. And we certainly don't need those bad things to be around us in the 21st century. Thank god for PC if it were responsible, but I just think that it is coincidence that there was a shift in attidutes to what is and is not acceptable anymore, and a new wave of artists getting their breakthrough. And I really can't understand why people can't just accept change. If it wasn't for change, there would still be shops closing around 6pm in the evening. TV stations signing off at midnight, etc. etc. Why do people hark back to days when it was acceptable to have offensive programmes on the television?? I cannot fathom their frustration with having to be polite and not offend someone - It isn't that difficult really. We don't need to have shows like Love Thy Neighbour on mainstream TV anymore. Those days are over never to return. It has been done! Those shows can be bought on various media and watched in private. It's not illegal or impossible to do this. UNLIKE seeing the original versions of Star Wars - but that's another issue for another thread / site.

I liked the Professionals and Mind Your Language. And the Sweeney which I saw first time around. I've had a few of those series on DVD for years, just as well because ITV's current showings of the Pros and Sween are heavily cut as they're shown at the wrong time - before the watershed - if that still exists...

The rise of alternative comedians in the mid to late 1980s was the nail in the coffin for acts just like Benny Hill, I don't deny that. Mark Lewisohn said in his Radio Times comedy book that as early as 1984 Hill started to look as if he was about to do into decline, and also commented on the fact of his health as well - he put on weight quite a lot at the time, and probably was a candidate for a future heart attack because of his then lifestyle. Larry Grayson was someone else who had a higher profile in the 1970s but by the mid 1980s he wasn't seen as often on TV. Alternative comedians were like the modernisation of comedy, and so in addition, made Hill and Grayson look dated in comparison - political correctness also seems as if things have been pulled back into the past as well.

PC was not always to blame; A good example of what I mean is Mike Yarwood. His comedy was quite twee and not really offensive. But he became unfashionable by the early 1980s. And alas he had some personal issues which took him off TV for a while. So momentum was lost. Times change. We need to move on...

[George 1978]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

If only PC was the main reason to blame. Then I would be EVEN MORE ALL FOR IT!! But in reality, the reason why these programmes are no longer shown is because they have dated very badly; I've been watching The Gentle Touch on a certain satelite channel, and it really is quite laughable to see the old fashions and cars again. And to see the police always getting their man...or woman, when in reality very few "villains" get charged even if they are caught. The mad knifeman at the airport in today's news is a good example.

Lots of these programmes have become dated over time, and I believe that issues such as political correctness has reinforced that further, even though PC wouldn't have made them dated on their own. My earliest memories was in the early 1980s so therefore I don't remember anything about the 1970s - that decade has always been dated to myself. There is the "flares and tank tops" dated factor, and there is the "you wouldn't get away with saying that now" factor - the first one is more concrete and therefore more apparent in order for something to do dated.

Purely your opinion. Because I saw a documentary where someone from Thames TV explained to him that, things had moved on so they decided not to commision another series. As I recall, comedians such as Ben Elton, French & Saunders, etc. were all the rage around the late '80s and Hill's type of comedy with half naked girlies running around just was not funny anymore. Benny Hill was a very manipulative man; Some of the Hill's Angels explained on the show, how he promised each of them individually that he would leave them money in his will, which he did not.

The rise of alternative comedians in the mid to late 1980s was the nail in the coffin for acts just like Benny Hill, I don't deny that. Mark Lewisohn said in his Radio Times comedy book that as early as 1984 Hill started to look as if he was about to do into decline, and also commented on the fact of his health as well - he put on weight quite a lot at the time, and probably was a candidate for a future heart attack because of his then lifestyle. Larry Grayson was someone else who had a higher profile in the 1970s but by the mid 1980s he wasn't seen as often on TV. Alternative comedians were like the modernisation of comedy, and so in addition, made Hill and Grayson look dated in comparison - political correctness also seems as if things have been pulled back into the past as well.

[agfagaevart]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

Political correctness has got a lot to do with this especially when it comes to stereotypes in sitcoms such as Love They Neighbour, Curry and Chips and of course Mind Your Language - I am surprised that Rising Damp is still shown on ITV 3 considering Rigsby's way of getting on with Don Warrington and Richard Beckinsale's characters. I am certain that even Sid James had the odd "off-moment" in Bless This House as well. The Black and White Minstrel Show, anyone?

If only PC was the main reason to blame. Then I would be EVEN MORE ALL FOR IT!! But in reality, the reason why these programmes are no longer shown is because they have dated very badly; I've been watching The Gentle Touch on a certain satelite channel, and it really is quite laughable to see the old fashions and cars again. And to see the police always getting their man...or woman, when in reality very few "villains" get charged even if they are caught. The mad knifeman at the airport in today's news is a good example.

Benny Hill was sacked by Thames in 1989 because of they felt that his shows had ran his course, but I think that it was political correctness that was to blame - three years later, he was dead in his flat probably because of what had happened.

Purely your opinion. Because I saw a documentary where someone from Thames TV explained to him that, things had moved on so they decided not to commision another series. As I recall, comedians such as Ben Elton, French & Saunders, etc. were all the rage around the late '80s and Hill's type of comedy with half naked girlies running around just was not funny anymore. Benny Hill was a very manipulative man; Some of the Hill's Angels explained on the show, how he promised each of them individually that he would leave them money in his will, which he did not. The DVDs are out there for anyone who wants to watch that stuff. Even available free on You Tube in some cases. Television has ALWAYS moved forward. It has too, or we would still have ITV starting in the afternoon, then shutting down after a few hours like it did in the 1950s!! Other reasons you have pointed out - The scandalous lives of personalities have emerged since their time on TV; Stuart Hall / Saville / Glitter / Jonathon King et al. You should be more outraged by the fact that, the Beeb showed a tribute programme to Mr Saville while in full knowledge of his exploits in the past, and even ditched an investigation programme into them instead. That's disgraceful!!

And one aspect of TV programmes are basically not shown anymore as they are left behind in the 20th century i.e. they are regarded as being out of date - remember when ITV used to have Rainbow at 12.10 pm, and Children's ITV was on at 4.00 pm? And instead of sickening talk shows at 9.30 am, they had schools programmes? It's a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire where ironically, a lot of Reality TV programmes would have been frowned by the IBA in its time but seems to be the norm these days. I would like to see game shows on ITV at 7.00 pm, but as Emmerdale is on there in that slot for the next few decades, I doubt that we will ever get to see them on there again.

Precisely! Youngsters don't rush home from school to watch TV the way I would've done years ago to see some Grange Hill or Runaround They have internet / mobiles / anti-social media to take up their short attention spans. Emmerdale is just a complete joke now and alas, there are viewers for these "reality" shows so they will still be made.

I actually think that Rising Damp SHOULD be made today considering the climate with rouge landlords etc. It would be a hilarious satire if well written and acted.

[80sChav]

Re: Tv programmes that would not be shown today

YES THIS FAMOUS SCENE COULD BE SAID TO BE CLOSE TO THE BONE WITH BASIL.

https://youtu.be/yfl6Lu3xQW0

BIRDS OF A FEATHER I DIDNT THINK WAS THAT BAD CERTAINLY IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS TILL DEATH DO US PART WHICH IVE BEEN WATCHING WAS SURPRISED TO SEE UNA STUBBS IN IT.

A FEW THINGS ALF SAYS NO WAY WOULD U HEAR THAT ON TV TODAY.

Aka Alf's visit
true ia gree here with you Darren about but even though it was not liked (or certainly wou;d'nt be now), it was in jest re about other Country's in In Sickness and In Health and in Fawlty Towers. Like the Australain Episodes in In Sickness And In Health - which I am pretty certain was filmed in Australia too, so that shows no hard feelings in a way either

Though Basil riled Mr and Mrs Hamilton up the wrong way in FT - that shows how the UK can create homuor in comedy - even though it was over the top as I could not see many other Country's giving it out in the same way as obviously Basil and the Hamiltons was clash of culture etc

80sChav