When it comes to TV drama, I prefer stuff that does not involve murders, shootings, detectives, science fiction or supernatural bollix. In short, I am after tales of ordinary life. Realism. Believability. Yes that is my cup of tea.
Throughout my life the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) have regularly satisfied my appetite for real life drama. The number of excellent shows they have commissioned and produced is quite mind boggling. Like our wonderful National Health Service, the B.B.C. is a jewel in this nation's crown. That's what I think anyway and if you think otherwise please keep it to yourself .
Recently, Shirley and I very much enjoyed "Life" - a six part drama funded by the BBC. Written by Mike Bartlett, "Life" focuses upon the residents of a big house in the suburbs of Manchester. Divided into four separate flats, the drama explores the tenants' very different lives . It is as if there are four stories but they intersect and at times they meld together - especially in Episode 6.
The cast includes some very talented actors and actresses including the brilliant Victoria Hamilton, Adrian Lester, Peter Davison and the wonderful Alison Steadman who has become something of a national treasure in her own right - playing a wide range of roles with empathy and commitment. On its own, her face can speak a thousand words.
I guess this blogpost is aimed at people who live in Britain or are able to access recent BBC output from other lands. My apologies if that does not include you. All I want to say is that "Life" is a great example of BBC drama and I thoroughly recommend it. Ultimately, its message about life is hopeful. If you haven't seen it already, it provides a good way of passing six hours during this continuing pandemic with its associated restrictions upon our lives!
I hope we get to see it. The BBC has played very hard with our ABC with pricing over the past few years
ReplyDeleteI never knew that Andrew. Over here there's a lot of pressure on the BBC to cut staff, lower its spending and look to the future of broadcasting.
DeleteI love shows from the BBC. Very high quality entertainment. I don't have immediate access to it but will keep my eye out for "Life." Often, Netflix or HBO or Amazon will acquire shows from the BBC which makes them available to us.
ReplyDeleteI hope it does reach you one day. I think the show is quite life-affirming.
DeleteI looked it up on IMDB, looks interesting. Right now I'm watching a lot of Booba with my grandson. It's a strangely charming little cartoon.
ReplyDeleteIs Booba about a pair of boobas?
DeleteThanks for telling us about BBC's *Life*: I revoked my licence a few years ago and only use the TV for DVDs. Without DVDs I would not have seen *The Crown* or *The Trial of Christine Keeler*. (Since you didn't ask, I think Stephen Ward WAS a victim of the British establishment and was shafted by MI5, which also went after Harold Wilson.)
ReplyDeleteMy father favoured BBC over ITV but was bipartisan when it came to football coverage. Canadian Roy Thomson (Lord Thomson) described Scottish Television as a licence to print money. He used profits to build up his newspaper base, not to reinvest in television. He said Scottish people didn't want Scottish TV drama.
Most of my friends' parents watched ITV. After playing with my pals on summer evenings, I walked home hearing the music from Sunday Night at the London Palladium, playing in house after house. I got home once to see Mario Lanza before the final curtain, hamming it up on the Palladium roundabout, singing The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, a performance only equalled by Gracie Fields singing Sally and Vera Lynn singing We'll Meet Again.
I can still whistle the Palladium theme tune as I can from many American TV shows such as The Dick Powell Theatre (see the opening on YouTube), Wagon Train, Laramie, The Fugitive, Bonanza, Tombstone, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bewitched, I Love Lucy, The Man From Uncle, Kojack etc. etc. We watched Doctor Kildare, but I was fascinated by Ben Casey the other hospital drama, which came on after my bedtime.
I checked online for ITV British Comedy Archives of the Sixties and Seventies and was surprised that ITV companies were competing strongly with BBC.
My friends' parents were laughing at Charlie Drake, Syd James, Morecambe and Wise, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan, Benny Hill, Frankie Howard, Tommy Cooper, Bernard Cribbins, Les Dawson, Stanley Baxter, Marty Feldman, John Inman; and they were enjoying sitcoms like Bootsie and Snudge, Please Sir, Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width, Bless Me Father, Rising Damp, Love Thy Neighbour, The Fenn Street Gang, Not On Your Nelly, George and Mildred, Budgie, not to mention Candid Camera and Opportunity Knocks. Hughie Green said, *The hard part is faking sincerity, but once you've cracked that, it's easy !*
Leeds-born Keith Waterhouse (who wrote *Budgie* with Leeds-born Willis Hall) said television was the new variety theatre. Waterhouse said politicians did not watch television: Thatcher's deregulation (which Waterhouse decried) destroyed great companies like London Weekend.
In Granada it was said that Manchester enjoyed what London later wanted. From their World in Action to Coronation Street, Manchester led the world. It produced a TV dramatist of class in Jim Allen who worked with Ken Loach. His Liverpool counterpart was Alun Owen who wrote *No Trams to Lime Street*.
BBC and the ITV companies had a healthy symbiotic relationship and talents as great as Morecambe and Wise were poached by BBC. Auntie nurtured so many talents - Fred Zinnemann compared it to RKO in its heyday.
YouTube.
ReplyDelete*The Dick Powell Theatre - TV Series (1961-1963).*
Powell (1917-1963) was Chandler's Philip Marlowe in *Farewell My Lovely* 1944.
If Donald Trump had modelled his voice and manner after the gentlemanly Dick Powell who introduced his own innovative TV drama, the Donald might not now be imploding.
BBC should be praised for showing so many old movies. At the festive season you would get *Christmas with Bogart* or *Christmas with Fred Astaire and Ginger* and a different movie each night on BBC 2.
I saw all the Bette Davis movies on BBC and classics like The Birdman of Alcatraz, Double Indemnity, Bad Day At Black Rock, The Hustler, On the Waterfront.
Friday nights on BBC2 was the time for European movies, like The Bicycle Thieves, Jules et Jim, Breathless, Ashes and Diamonds, Ivan the Terrible, Monsieur Hulot, Lola, Hiroshima Mon Amour.
Thanks for the lecture John. You are a mine of information and memory sir. By the way Kojak was spelt without a "c". As Nathaniel Hawthorne said, "“Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy, of dishonesty.”
DeleteThere's no charge for my Dimbleby Lecture, Neil. Just stand Tasker a pint.
DeleteHawthorne wrote enigmatic stories: The Minister's Black Veil; Young Goodman Brown; and Wakefield, which was rewritten with a contemporary setting by E.L. Doctorow, and filmed (2016) with Brian Cranston. It is about a man who leaves his family and lives for months in the attic of his garage. His beautiful wife thinks he must be dead. A bizarre study in masochism, because Wakefield longs to make love to his wife and to be a father to his children.
Do you remember Telly Savalas (Kojak) as Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told? He arrives in Jerusalem, which he hates, and has his first meeting with Herod Antipas (Jose Ferrier). *Who is this Messiah the Jews keep talking about?* asks Pontius. Herod smiles dryly and says, *Someone who will never come.*
Many people during this pandemic need something like a good TV drama like life. ...including me!
ReplyDeleteI think your warden would enjoy this too.
DeleteIt sounds like a good program. We do get some BBC shows here so I'll keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeletePresident Biden will make sure it gets over there Bonnie!
DeleteEnjoyed it immensely, the final episode made everything right.
ReplyDeleteIt held my attention throughout.
DeleteIt was one of the best things I have seen on TV for ages. I could understand what was going on and hear what they were saying....superb acting from all.....and a decent ending! Definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it.
ReplyDeleteYou have excellent taste Frances!
DeleteI really don't understand the view that the BBC should be closed and that paying for it is unfair to those who never watch it. I won't repeat the arguments except to say much of its output is as excellent as you say. Next, they should make a drama about the suburban residents of Sheffield.
ReplyDeleteThat drama should include urban foxes screaming and an angry resident berating a fool who had parked on the verge in front of his house. Up The Tigers! Up the BBC!
DeleteI have submitted my script. It is about the entirely imaginary Ned and Sally Theakstone who live in the suburbs of Sheffield. Ned has been retired for 12 years, which annoys Sally because she still goes to work. In Episode 1 we saw Sally complaining that he could at least do a bit more around the house. Episode 2 begins with Ned showing a decorator the dining room. The decorator says he can start at 8 o’clock. “I’ll pay you from 8,” says Ned, “but I don’t want you here until after 9. And you don’t have to clear up. I’ll do that but you must be gone by 4.30.” We next see Ned splattering paint on some old clothes and rinsing a brush in a jam jar of turpentine as Sally returns from work. The oven is emitting an aroma of roasting food. “Oh, Ned,” she says, admiring the newly painted skirting board. “Haven’t you worked hard! And you’ve got tea ready as well.” The episode ends with Sally looking puzzled as she talks with a neighbour over the garden fence. “Could you give me the phone number of your decorator?” asks the neighbour. “We’re thinking of doing up our hall, stairs and landing.”
DeleteI see Christopher Eccleston (he played Jude the Obscure and was the ninth Doctor Who) as Ned Theakstone and (curious casting) Meg Ryan as Sally. American ladies love English roles, and there are those Northern vowels to chew over. It would be sweet to watch Meg stuffing her gob with Yorky Puds.
DeleteNeil, sorry I mean Ned, does the cooking as well as the painting.
It is nice to see Sir Michael Parkinson (YouTube) alive and merry, and talking about his old guests, Meg Ryan included. Difficult lady. P.R. for Bitch.
HAW! HAW! That's so funny Tasker! And thanks for your extra input too John. Meg Ryan is 58 now but I would be happy to do the bedroom scenes with her - saving Christopher Eccleston a lot of unnecessary trouble. The milkman would come from Dunhams Dairy and the Dynarod fellow would be a Glaswegian fellow complete with sub-titles.
DeleteThe token Glaswegian or Weegian is a must in any TV drama. I was walking down to my favourite secondhand bookshop in Cheltenham (Henrietta Street) when I passed a drunk man shouting in a loud voice: *I'm frae Glesca, ye's can aa f*** aff !*
DeleteYouTube. *Sir Michael Parkinson on his struggle with alcohol - My wife called me ugly.*
You have almost convinced me to start watching TV again.
ReplyDeleteI know your hearing is an obstacle to enjoying TV shows but turn the volume up high and relish "Life"!
DeleteWe can get terrestrial English television over here but can't use the I Players. I miss live football and cricket on terrestrial television. Even Antiques Roadshow episodes are repeats. The best thing about the Beeb is no adverts. Some of the satellite channels adverts last longer than five minutes.
ReplyDeleteI hate adverts apart from this one: "Visit Yorkshire Pudding and you will be travelling to a new world where all your blogging dreams come true! NEW! Read two blogposts for the price of one! HURRY!"
DeleteMy father hated TV adverts too, being one of those socialists who believe that products can sell without promotion.
DeleteTed in *Madmen* said, *People think monkeys can do this job.*
Novelist John Braine told me that in Surrey where he lived, people looked down on salesmen, but without them (he said) the economy would flatline, and we'd all starve.
Watch YouTube:
*Nescafe - Sunrise (1988) U.K. The Hall of Advertising.*
The tearful young woman, not coping with a broken heart, is going to drive her car over Beachy Head. Instead she makes herself a cup of coffee to the tune of *I Can See Clearly Now*.
Hamel(d), like your father and my parents, lots of people "hate" adverts. I don't. They are an education. Admittedly, they do interrupt storylines. One moment intrigue is rife, you struggle to understand what is going on and why, the next you marvel at someone's effort to sell you a breakfast cereal (or Nescafe at dawn). A type of parallel universe.
DeleteU
My late older brother was the first intake at the British National Film School, and lived for decades in L.A. which he described as *the great wrong place*.
DeleteLike my father he regarded TV commercials as Admass, beneath contempt. In his cups he ridiculed me in withering terms for remembering certain ads fondly.
He liked jazz, Elvis, Brando, Brigitte Bardot, European cinema, Jorge Luis Borges, and Dean Martin.
I just watched Dino's spontaneous wit on YouTube:
*Dean Martin Appears Very Drunk on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.* 12/12/1975.
Only a few months ago, I have subscribed to Netflix and am amazed at how much good stuff (in my opinion, anyway) I can watch through it. There is of course a lot of rubbish on there, too, but it is my choice what to watch.
ReplyDeleteAnd as someone else here commented before me, sometimes they buy from the BBC, such as The Crown - a series I have learned a LOT from. Hopefully, "Life" will follow.
We have also found that there is a lot of rubbish on Netflix but some wonderful drama too. Try "Unorthodox" if it is still around on Netflix. I suspect you will love that Meike.
DeleteI think Meike may be mistaken: my information is that BBC turned down *The Crown* project and Netflix picked it up.
DeleteOn paper *The Crown* must have seemed impossible to film: dialogue, nuance, tone, casting, sets, lighting are all impeccable.
I was appalled at the way Sir Tommy spoke to Princess Margaret's first love, a fighter pilot in WWII.
As Meike said, a way to get into history.
I have just started reading Roger Moorhouse's book *First To Fight - The Polish War 1939* just out in paperback.
Haven't seen Life yet but perhaps I should give it a go on your recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI have "known" you for a good long while through blogging and suspect you will enjoy it Sue.
DeleteLike Ms. Moon, I usually enjoy BBC shows and hope we get the chance to watch "Life".
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance too Jennifer.
DeleteOur PBS carries some BBC. I will keep a lookout for this.
ReplyDeleteIt will make a nice change from the presidential drama.
DeleteI too watched it. Very good the way the various strands pulled together at the end and excellent acting especially from the dishy Adrian Lester.
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree ADDY. I prefer Victoria Hamilton but only for her acting ability.
DeleteI caught the beginning of the final part of "Life", and realising it was the final episode, I switched over to another channel, but have made a note to look out for it again. It's bound to be repeated.
ReplyDeleteYou will let us know when Tasker's script goes into production, won't you!
Yes indeed CG for you observed its very conception.
DeleteNever mind about "Life" as good as it may be.
ReplyDeleteLife? Over the last week I watched some Dan Brown's (I'll watch anything with Tom Hanks since he appears to have a nose for good story lines). It helps, with the titles I am going to mention, if you are familiar and/or interested in the Vatican/intrigue/Dante/Hell/Venice/Florence/art and NIGHTMARES. And Istanbul.
Yes, courtesy of Netflix, first was the Da Vinci Code, second the slightly weaker Angels and Demons (you'll be cured of fire forever) and lastly the one that made me think of you, YP. Yes, Inferno. More fire, and in terms of the brain's machinations a neurologist's feast.
"Inferno" couldn't be more timely in Covid times. It's about the plight of Planet Earth and OVERpopulation (hence YP popping into my mind). Some genius thought of curing the problem by wiping out at least half the Earth's population via some contagion in a phial. Start afresh. As a concept you can't beat it. You know, pencil, eraser.
Yes, so that was roughly on par with the Brothers Grimm at bedtime.
One piece of advice to you and anyone else who may read this, PLEASE do NOT google and then read the Wikipedia story line. All three films thrive on suspense and SURPRISE as the story lines unfold. You will not be disappointed. One thing I will give away, my dear YP, in your quest to keep numbers down, Hanks' character (Robert Langdon) will have to live with the fact that he saved the to be wiped out half of the population. A bit like the Oppenheimer Conundrum. The End.
U
On the subject of Vatican conspiracies, there's a joke told by American theologian Stanley Hauerwas in his recent book.
ReplyDeletePope John XXIII commissioned an archaeologist to find the tomb of Jesus. After months of secret work the archaeologist phoned the pope. *There's good new and bad news, Holy Father,* he said. *We've found the tomb, it's definitely the right tomb, but the bad news is, the body is still there.*
So the pope wondered how he was going to break this to the faithful. He phoned the brilliant German theologian Rudolph Bultmann. *They've found the Lord's tomb, its definitely his, but I must tell you, Professor Bultmann, the body is still there.*
There was the longest pause on the other end of the line. Pope John thought the connection was broken. Then Bultmann said, *You mean he really did EXIST?*
Stanley Hauerwas has a sense of humour, Ursula, as you'll find out on YouTube.
YP, off topic but can't leave my comment where it belongs as will be deleted without consideration: I just saw your reply re Winnie. Apart from making me laugh you being so (cruelly) succinct, I share your sentiment. Have an upvote or several. I shall leave it there before I expand on some people playing god with their dog. Sometimes it's best I finish before I start.
ReplyDeleteU
If this comment is not deleted , my comment will be the very last one I shall leave here YP I am tired of the semi disguised insults left by Ursula here. Insults not only of me but of other bloggers .all left unchecked .
DeleteThis comment has, I’m afraid,shown your true, rather odious colours Ursula
I wish that the two of you would simply ignore each other. I suggest that you don't say anything to or about each other. Ignore words the other might have written. It's all pretty tiresome. Please put it all to bed. This was a blogpost about a great TV show and perhaps strangely that's what I hoped comments would reflect upon.
DeleteYP I hoped that you as author here would delete comments that were directly referencing me.
DeleteThat has not happened and I am sorry it hasn’t.
I won’t be commenting here again, and I’m sorry for that
Sweetheart John, let's get a few facts straight. YOU may find my comments "semi disguised insults". Do bear in mind that the sender is not always responsible how a message is received. That your skin is thin isn't exactly a secret in blogging circles (nothing wrong with being thin skinned, we can't all be ducks water gliding off backs like that of my good self).
DeleteAs to other bloggers and your assertion that I insult them I haven't had any complaints on YP's blog (other than yours, obviously). It appears that what I have to say is taken in the spirit it's meant.
I'll try and condense the status quo as best I can. Come to think of it I have tried many a time. Why bother again? Fact is, you don't like me and it blinds you.
"Odious COLOURS"? That's actually rather poetic, John. You, on the other hand, show yourself not odious, to me coarse, uncouth, distinctly lacking communication skills. Neither are you given to making and holding the peace.
To now go round the houses of other bloggers telling them that if THEY let me stand you won't comment again makes me smile (I won't elaborate since Trump has had enough bad press without wondering if you are related to him). Since you, when commenting, say little if anything on any blog, I think a blogger's loss of your input will be negligible. That is, of course, in this case for YP to decide. If he takes down this exchange it may leave you satisfied. A hollow victory for you.
As an aside: Maybe we could keep your battle with me on your own blog instead of outsourcing because I am "banned" (feel the power, John) from your blog. Having said that, I have just remembered a piece of advice my mother gave me. I was nine years old. We had just moved to a big city (up to then I had lived in a sheltered village). I took a new school ground, laws of the jungle, in my stride. Streetwise. However, and god knows where that came from, she said to me: "Ursula, don't bother with those who aren't your equal". This is loosely translated as, in the mother lingo and the expression she used, it sounds much harsher. Did I take her advice? No. Maybe I should. And stop trying with you. You know her punchline, her reasoning? ". . . because it's not fair on them".
U
Playing god with their dog? What an awful thing to say. Anyone who has owned dogs has dealt with the death of a dog. Sometimes you make a very hard decision. It is never done to feel god-like. It is done because you know that your beloved friend is suffering. I am late to this party, so I don't know what all the bad history is between the two of you, but reading this comment, I'm going to hazard a guess to say that it was warranted.
ReplyDeleteBest to leave it Debby.
DeleteDebby, you misunderstand.
DeleteWhat I meant was that, rather than listening to the vet, someone thinks they know what's "best" and "when". Best for whom? The pet or the owner? I have had several pets put to sleep, holding them. It's shite. In once case (on diagnosis of skin cancer of the soppiest largest tom cat ever) I was told there and then what would be best. Fifteen minutes later and £80.00 lighter for the Euthanasia I walked out of the Vet's empty handed. I didn't even keep the cat basket. Left it there. Life is tough. Let's not make it tougher for others than need be.
What I was trying to say that I do not approve of prolonging needless suffering, be it that of animal or human. Indeed there is a codicil I have added to my will that - should the unfortunate happen - and I find myself in the "Samaritan's" end of life care could the Angel please rescue me and take me to the next vet. If that sounds crude it isn't. We need to know when it's time to say good bye.
U
"Best to leave it", indeed.
DeleteMy apologies, YP. I meant to pay you a compliment, albeit a mischievous one. That it was addressed here by the person who won't let me comment on their blog is unfortunate. It won't happen again. Otherwise we, or rather YOU, may have to edit the rules of blog etiquette.
U
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ReplyDeleteWe all Fight to stay health.