I had to watch a couple of episodes this morning. I just don't laugh at it and never did. It's not sexism or anything. It's just the predictable jokes and the shouting and over acting I can't stand.
On The Buses - Happy 40th Anniversary Page 3
Quote: Chappers @ May 25 2009, 4:52 PM BSTI had to watch a couple of episodes this morning. I just don't laugh at it and never did. It's not sexism or anything. It's just the predictable jokes and the shouting and over acting I can't stand.
Whatever rocks your boat is what I say. Some people will hate it but likewise lots of people still love it.
I saw a few episodes at the weekend and it was almost hypnotically simple minded so much so I have written a haiku in it's honour.
Chips are to hot ouch
Olive ugly but sex she demands much
Butler I hate you too.
Quote: sootyj @ May 26 2009, 9:30 AM BSTChips are to hot ouch
Olive ugly but sex she demands much
Butler I hate you too.
Very good. 
But am I the only person who thinks Olive isn't ugly and actually has quite a good figure?
Craig - as an On The Buses expert do you know anything about the novelty record they released, as mentioned in my earlier post, or did I dream the whole thing?
I think Olive is quite fit and the actress used to be a model.
But in the same way the traditional haiku is a way of thanking nature for the changing seasons, I am thanking ITV for the simple pleasures of On The Buses (including the view that Olive is unattractive).
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ May 26 2009, 10:59 AM BSTBut am I the only person who thinks Olive isn't ugly and actually has quite a good figure?
You could argue she has that whole Geek Chic thing going on. And everybody when young has a "window of attractiveness". Even you, Dolly!
Anna Karen has been guesting in EastEnders for a while now.
I don't think she was ever conventionally 'fit' - she's in the back ground of Babs' notorious bra-pinging scene in Carry On Camping. She's wearing a leotard... there's a reason she's at the back.
But lank hair, a couple of crap hair clips and some rubbish glasses is TV slang for ugly. Still is- see Ugly Betty.
For anybody missing On the Buses, there's always The Inbetweeners! The lad who plays Jay would make a fantastic Jack in any remake.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ May 26 2009, 10:59 AM BSTVery good.
But am I the only person who thinks Olive isn't ugly and actually has quite a good figure?
It was just accepted at the time that women who wear glasses can't be attractive. They did accentuate the dowdiness though.
I've still got a soft spot for On The Buses. It's really quite pointless to even consider the sexist attitudes or the wafer thin characterisation of the female characters (unless you're being paid to by Beyond A Joke). The men don't exactly come out of it that well, do they?!
Quote: john lucas 101 @ May 26 2009, 1:31 PM BSTI've still got a soft spot for On The Buses. It's really quite pointless to even consider the sexist attitudes or the wafer thin characterisation of the female characters (unless you're being paid to by Beyond A Joke). The men don't exactly come out it that well, do they?!
Spot on John. I mean did we see Jo Brand getting her knickers in a knot about how males were portrayed by the character Arthur. Not exactly a reason to make a man proud how he treated Olive but she never voiced her concerns there?
As for that novelty record - not too sure about that but I'll hunt around and see what I can find out. I know that Reg Varney was a superb piano player and writer Ronald Chesney was one of the best harmonica players in the world.
Also Olive was very attractive and started out in show business as an exotic dancer at The Panama Club in London. For her part in On The Buses she was dressed-down for the part to make her look as dowdy as possible. I do have photos of her taken in the early 1960s and all I can say is.....wow.
Have a look at this:
I'm just a bit older than On The Buses and it was standard comedy fare for me and all my friends. One of our school dinner ladies wore glasses and was always known as Olive and the bus inspector near my school must have gone to sleep at night with the sound of several hundred gobby schoolkids shouting "I 'ate you Butler" ringing in his ears, although in our defence, he did look EXACTLY like Blakey! It is very much of its time and compared to some of the terrible sitcoms of the day, (Yes, we all watched Love Thy Neighbour) I think it stands up rather well. Anyone remember Billy Liar from around the same time? [p[]Jeff Rawle], later seen in Drop The Dead Donkey, played the hapless anti-hero. I was completely in love with him as an impressionable 7 year-old!
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ May 26 2009, 10:59 AM BSTVery good.
But am I the only person who thinks Olive isn't ugly and actually has quite a good figure?
Babs Windsor, in her autobiography, raves about what a lovely woman and loyal pal Anna Karen is.
Olive is certainly not hideous, merely dressed and acting dowdy.
Quote: Craig @ May 26 2009, 9:25 PM BSThttp://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7218/32482a.jpg
Got one of a size that's actually worth looking at?!