On September 9th 2008, an amazing thing happened. I. T. V. Actually broadcast a funny comedy show. Unfortunately, it happened to be thirty-eight years old. 'On The Buses' was the first in a new series devoted to archive sitcoms. A short time ago, I wrote a review of the first episode in which I stated that 'Buses' would be unlikely to ever be the subject of a 'Dad's Army'-style retrospective. How nice it feels to be proved wrong.
The first half was a documentary, not dissimilar in style to the B. B. C.'s 'Comedy Connections' series, tracing the history of the show, beginning with creators Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney. After having a huge hit with 'The Rag Trade' ( co-starring Reg Varney ), they proposed a sitcom built around bus men. But the B. B. C. Thought it had limited scope for comedy, and passed on it. Frank Muir, head of comedy at the fledgling 'London Weekend Television', snapped it up.
The show was a slow burner, but by the third series in 1970 had established itself as one of I. T. V.'s biggest audience pullers, its popularity extending to the cinema, comics and board games. Seven seasons were made in a five year period.
Interviewed were Wolfe & Chesney, Ursula Mohan ( who played clippie 'Joyce' ), George Layton ( who co-penned some of the later shows with Jonathan Lynn ), and Anna Karen. Reg Varney appeared in fan club footage from 2004. Their comments were interesting. There was a nice tribute paid to Bob Grant.
Unfortunately, also around were June Sarpong M. B. E., Ian Wright and Antony Cotton. Why? Sarpong, who was born in 1977 ( four years after the show ended ), acted as though she was an expert on old school comedy. Wright wondered aloud why 'Chalkie' was not called by a different name, such as Derek. I yelled back: "Because 'Chalkie' was a common nick-name for black workers in those days, just as 'Lofty' was for a lot of white men!". The 'political correctness' issue was brought up. Did anyone seriously expect Wolfe and Chesney in 1969 to be able to guess the shape of comedy in 2008? I got the impression none of this trio had ever sat through an episode in their lives, and were shown clips only minutes before commenting on the show.
The tired old anecdote about how the 'On The Buses' movie outgrossed 'Diamonds Are Forever' was trotted out yet again. Hardly surprising, it opened in December 1971, while 'Buses' came out in July. Sitcom adaptations were timed to come out in the summer, so that in seaside towns they could act as a stand-by for holidaymakers if the British weather was poor.
Anyway, apart from a few naff bits, the documentary was mostly interesting.
We then moved onto a complete episode - 'Brew It Yourself' from the third season. Stan's latest hobby is home-brewing - making his own beer in his Mum's kitchen. When first unveiled, it looks revolting, but he tries some and likes it so much he has glass after glass. When he goes back to the depot, he is incapable of driving. Thinking he has a perfect excuse for sacking Stan, Blakey prepares to administer a breathalyser test...
A good episode ( though there are better ones ). Funniest moment - Stan trying to hold his breath so the crystals in the breathalyser fail to turn green. The breathalyser actually breaks ( twice ), and I am sure this was not meant to happen. Credit to Reg for not spoiling the scene by laughing.
I. T. V. Should now consider repeating the whole series ( though I doubt that they will ). Further shows in the 'Comedy Classics' will include 'Duty Free', 'Brass' ,'The New Statesman', and ( and I am really looking forward to this one ) 'Doctor In The House'. Let us hope that Sarpong and co. Are mercifully absent from these.
Note to EdinaJambo, I was referring to I. T. V.-1, not I. T. V.-3. I. T. V.-1 has not repeated the 'On The Buses' series, and probably never will. Do try and concentrate when reading reviews please!
The first half was a documentary, not dissimilar in style to the B. B. C.'s 'Comedy Connections' series, tracing the history of the show, beginning with creators Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney. After having a huge hit with 'The Rag Trade' ( co-starring Reg Varney ), they proposed a sitcom built around bus men. But the B. B. C. Thought it had limited scope for comedy, and passed on it. Frank Muir, head of comedy at the fledgling 'London Weekend Television', snapped it up.
The show was a slow burner, but by the third series in 1970 had established itself as one of I. T. V.'s biggest audience pullers, its popularity extending to the cinema, comics and board games. Seven seasons were made in a five year period.
Interviewed were Wolfe & Chesney, Ursula Mohan ( who played clippie 'Joyce' ), George Layton ( who co-penned some of the later shows with Jonathan Lynn ), and Anna Karen. Reg Varney appeared in fan club footage from 2004. Their comments were interesting. There was a nice tribute paid to Bob Grant.
Unfortunately, also around were June Sarpong M. B. E., Ian Wright and Antony Cotton. Why? Sarpong, who was born in 1977 ( four years after the show ended ), acted as though she was an expert on old school comedy. Wright wondered aloud why 'Chalkie' was not called by a different name, such as Derek. I yelled back: "Because 'Chalkie' was a common nick-name for black workers in those days, just as 'Lofty' was for a lot of white men!". The 'political correctness' issue was brought up. Did anyone seriously expect Wolfe and Chesney in 1969 to be able to guess the shape of comedy in 2008? I got the impression none of this trio had ever sat through an episode in their lives, and were shown clips only minutes before commenting on the show.
The tired old anecdote about how the 'On The Buses' movie outgrossed 'Diamonds Are Forever' was trotted out yet again. Hardly surprising, it opened in December 1971, while 'Buses' came out in July. Sitcom adaptations were timed to come out in the summer, so that in seaside towns they could act as a stand-by for holidaymakers if the British weather was poor.
Anyway, apart from a few naff bits, the documentary was mostly interesting.
We then moved onto a complete episode - 'Brew It Yourself' from the third season. Stan's latest hobby is home-brewing - making his own beer in his Mum's kitchen. When first unveiled, it looks revolting, but he tries some and likes it so much he has glass after glass. When he goes back to the depot, he is incapable of driving. Thinking he has a perfect excuse for sacking Stan, Blakey prepares to administer a breathalyser test...
A good episode ( though there are better ones ). Funniest moment - Stan trying to hold his breath so the crystals in the breathalyser fail to turn green. The breathalyser actually breaks ( twice ), and I am sure this was not meant to happen. Credit to Reg for not spoiling the scene by laughing.
I. T. V. Should now consider repeating the whole series ( though I doubt that they will ). Further shows in the 'Comedy Classics' will include 'Duty Free', 'Brass' ,'The New Statesman', and ( and I am really looking forward to this one ) 'Doctor In The House'. Let us hope that Sarpong and co. Are mercifully absent from these.
Note to EdinaJambo, I was referring to I. T. V.-1, not I. T. V.-3. I. T. V.-1 has not repeated the 'On The Buses' series, and probably never will. Do try and concentrate when reading reviews please!
