I missed the original broadcast of this show and, it was years later before I finally caught up with it.
I can't honestly remember which channel I watched it on, or how many of the episodes I have actually watched. My viewing experience of the show over the years is somewhat erratic, with a episode here and there and seldom more than a couple in succession.
I really like the show its a great original idea, excellent characters and cast, and good quirky storylines.
Before I get on with my review I'll get this gripe out of the way, it annoys the heck out of me the way that Annette Andre is described as the shows glamour aspect. in a typically male chauvinistic manner that ignores her acting abilities.
I feel that it's strange for the program to be called My Partner the Ghost in the States, this is not the strangest part, I simply don't believe that yanks can't understand the concept of Deceased. The notion of Focus Groups to help determine viewers ideas on comedies, highlights a key difference between American and British ideas. This sounds more like corporate interference or busybodies. With local businessmen and their parochial view of the world, deciding on what programmes people should be able to watch.
The show revolves around a team of three characters, Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk who run a private detective agency, with Jean Hopkirk acting as their Secretary. They are played to perfection by Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope, and Annette Andre. They work together more of an extended family than workmates, with the couple and their friend.
In the first episode Jeff and Marty are involved in a case where Marty is murdered, but everyone including Jean and Jeff believes it is an accident. Marty is forced to return as a ghost to try and convince a startled and confused Jeff that he was murdered, and their partnership from then on takes on a new dimension.
Through the entire run of the show we mainly see Marty as a ghost, apart from that part of the opening episode My Late Lamented Friend and Partner and that of the Ghost Speaks. When we see Marty in retrospect, Jeff is in hospital and Marty endeavours to describe an important case that he had to solve on his own. Jeff had been away on another case in Scotland, with Jean becoming embroiled in Marty's case, she ended up explaining the case to Jeff.
A lot of the shows humour comes from the interaction between Jeff and Marty, of how they relate and respond to each other. Marty is understandably still very protective of Jean, and worries if he feels anything untoward may happen to her. Because Marty died unexpectantly he still feels emotionally linked to Jean, and he can't let go and allow her to make new relationships. He's frankly jealous of Jeff, and feels impelled to intervene between them. Jeff and Jean only have to meet on the most innocuous of occasions, for Marty to go out of his to find out about it, always assuming the worst.
Yes this show is quirky, made on the cheap, with equivalent production considerations, but personally that's part of the interest and appeal. It's easy for these matters to put people off the program, especially anyone more used to yank shows. American programmes seem to have more disposable income, to aid them to be flasher, and yes quirky but in an altogether more irritating manner. Its of course a matter of opinion as to whether they pull it off, sometimes they manage to, but for me it's as much to do with the manner its told.
American shows appear formulaic, I get the impression that at least some of them are created to a formula. With possibly a Focus Group looking through forms ticking boxes, to meet perceived criteria of who to include, or more likely to represent. These days there seems to be an overwhelming desire, to include or not exclude, just about everyone conceivable. With carefully worked out quotient's of just how quirky to make it.
Whereas brit shows especially those of yesteryear, seemed more inclined to simply play it straight. By not trying to be quirky, they managed to achieve it inadvertently, just like Randall and Hopkirk Deceased.
I really like the show its a great original idea, excellent characters and cast, and good quirky storylines.
Before I get on with my review I'll get this gripe out of the way, it annoys the heck out of me the way that Annette Andre is described as the shows glamour aspect. in a typically male chauvinistic manner that ignores her acting abilities.
I feel that it's strange for the program to be called My Partner the Ghost in the States, this is not the strangest part, I simply don't believe that yanks can't understand the concept of Deceased. The notion of Focus Groups to help determine viewers ideas on comedies, highlights a key difference between American and British ideas. This sounds more like corporate interference or busybodies. With local businessmen and their parochial view of the world, deciding on what programmes people should be able to watch.
The show revolves around a team of three characters, Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk who run a private detective agency, with Jean Hopkirk acting as their Secretary. They are played to perfection by Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope, and Annette Andre. They work together more of an extended family than workmates, with the couple and their friend.
In the first episode Jeff and Marty are involved in a case where Marty is murdered, but everyone including Jean and Jeff believes it is an accident. Marty is forced to return as a ghost to try and convince a startled and confused Jeff that he was murdered, and their partnership from then on takes on a new dimension.
Through the entire run of the show we mainly see Marty as a ghost, apart from that part of the opening episode My Late Lamented Friend and Partner and that of the Ghost Speaks. When we see Marty in retrospect, Jeff is in hospital and Marty endeavours to describe an important case that he had to solve on his own. Jeff had been away on another case in Scotland, with Jean becoming embroiled in Marty's case, she ended up explaining the case to Jeff.
A lot of the shows humour comes from the interaction between Jeff and Marty, of how they relate and respond to each other. Marty is understandably still very protective of Jean, and worries if he feels anything untoward may happen to her. Because Marty died unexpectantly he still feels emotionally linked to Jean, and he can't let go and allow her to make new relationships. He's frankly jealous of Jeff, and feels impelled to intervene between them. Jeff and Jean only have to meet on the most innocuous of occasions, for Marty to go out of his to find out about it, always assuming the worst.
Yes this show is quirky, made on the cheap, with equivalent production considerations, but personally that's part of the interest and appeal. It's easy for these matters to put people off the program, especially anyone more used to yank shows. American programmes seem to have more disposable income, to aid them to be flasher, and yes quirky but in an altogether more irritating manner. Its of course a matter of opinion as to whether they pull it off, sometimes they manage to, but for me it's as much to do with the manner its told.
American shows appear formulaic, I get the impression that at least some of them are created to a formula. With possibly a Focus Group looking through forms ticking boxes, to meet perceived criteria of who to include, or more likely to represent. These days there seems to be an overwhelming desire, to include or not exclude, just about everyone conceivable. With carefully worked out quotient's of just how quirky to make it.
Whereas brit shows especially those of yesteryear, seemed more inclined to simply play it straight. By not trying to be quirky, they managed to achieve it inadvertently, just like Randall and Hopkirk Deceased.