I didn't listen to the Burt Reynolds one, but I did like the Paul Merton version of it. But the best one is the original one starring Leonard Rossiter. It is part of the 'Galton and Simpson Playhouse' DVD and it is a classic of comedy. Buy it, it is worth it for the Burt Reynolds episode alone, let alone other great performances from Arthur Lowe and Richard Briers et all.
Blood Donor was the only one of these I heard in full and would agree with the preceding comments.
It didn't really work for me and I thought that the modern references just seemed to have been stuck in as an exercise in modernisation.
I think that the original script and Hancock's performance can't really be bettered here. I would have preferred to hear that instead.
No offence to PM, I really like him and as somebody has said - he probably does this kind of thing as he's a big G&S fan but to me its...why listen to Bjorn Again when you have Abba's recordings?
On a slightly different tack:
It would be more interesting to hear a G&S new work. I don't know what the most recent thing they have ever had broadcast is.
The fact that they are no longer producing stuff (it would seem) could be because they don't care to do it any more, or else is it that because of their age etc, the new bright young things who hold sway in the modern media think that they have nothing relevant to say?
I'd love to see a new work if they were up for it.
Paul Merton has many talents. Unfortunately, acting isn't one of them. Sheer vanity for him to attempt the Blood Donor. If you really want to honour the work of the greatest comedy writing team, then hire a proper bloody actor and stop showing off! It sounded like somebody ready from a script. Which is, of course, what it is, but it really shouldn't sound like it is.
To be fair to Paul Merkin, they probably only made those at the time because he was relatively hot after been in HIGNFY. I suspect if they'd tried to make them with a less well known, but more talented actor, they wouldn't have got funding. Ditto for that Likely Lads episode they made a few years back with Dec and Ant.
Yeah, but the episode I'm talking about was on last Saturday.
Quote: john lucas 101 @ March 30 2009, 10:27 AM BSTYeah, but the episode I'm talking about was on last Saturday.
Was it? F**k me, I'm losing track of what's happening out there in the real world.
Quote: chipolata @ March 30 2009, 10:28 AM BSTWas it? F**k me, I'm losing track of what's happening out there in the real world.
Did you ever have track of it?
Quote: john lucas 101 @ March 30 2009, 10:29 AM BSTDid you ever have track of it?
No. 
Quote: Blenkinsop @ March 29 2009, 4:32 PM BSTBlood Donor was the only one of these I heard in full and would agree with the preceding comments.
It didn't really work for me and I thought that the modern references just seemed to have been stuck in as an exercise in modernisation.
I think that the original script and Hancock's performance can't really be bettered here. I would have preferred to hear that instead.
No offence to PM, I really like him and as somebody has said - he probably does this kind of thing as he's a big G&S fan but to me its...why listen to Bjorn Again when you have Abba's recordings?
On a slightly different tack:
It would be more interesting to hear a G&S new work. I don't know what the most recent thing they have ever had broadcast is.
The fact that they are no longer producing stuff (it would seem) could be because they don't care to do it any more, or else is it that because of their age etc, the new bright young things who hold sway in the modern media think that they have nothing relevant to say?
I'd love to see a new work if they were up for it.
Alan Simpson hasn't done anything in ages but Ray did something with another writer about 10 years ago I think. The thing is is that they have proved themselves and writing anything new would risk tarnishing their achievemnets. Times have changed as has comedy so best leave well alone.
Apart from anything else they are both approaching 80.
Quote: Tuumble @ March 30 2009, 10:48 AM BSTAlan Simpson hasn't done anything in ages but Ray did something with another writer about 10 years ago I think. The thing is is that they have proved themselves and writing anything new would risk tarnishing their achievemnets. Times have changed as has comedy so best leave well alone.
Apart from anything else they are both approaching 80.
Yeah that's what I meant about being up for it. I think you're correct too; don't be that figher who got into the ring one more time.
Ray works with John Antrobus. They wrote the Steptoe stage play, Murder at Oil Drum Lane, which was on two or three years ago.
Agree with everything above - Paul Merton is a gifted comic, but not an actor. The two episodes I enjoyed the most (Burt Reynolds, Impasse) were voiced by comedy actors, the weaker two were voiced by stand-ups.
The modernisation of the scripts was jarring too. Still, as was said on the previous page, it makes me want to go back and watch Hancock's Half-Hour again... so it wasn't all bad.
