I think that if you listen to the lines in The Green Green Grass you will find that it is actually very funny - true Sullivan magic. However, the cast (in general) are not brilliant and therefore many of the lines are lost.
John Sullivan Page 2
I liked all of John Sullivan's output when I was younger. I still think he's a clever plotter, but he seems to be quite cruel to the 'good' characters in his shows. I think OFAH has not stood the test of time and seems very dated now. Perhaps it's just me.
In a way OFAH was a bit dated from the 1990s onwards.
Quote: Aaron @ July 7 2009, 2:14 PM BSTWhat about John Cleese?
And Ricky Gervais & Steve Merchant. Not to mention Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, oh and Eric Chappell, just thought of another - Larry David, and another, David Renwick.
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 8 2009, 2:23 PM BSTAnd Ricky Gervais & Steve Merchant. Not to mention Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, oh and Eric Chappell, just thought of another - Larry David, and another, David Renwick.
And Johnathon Ross.
Whoops! Sorry.
I think you do have a point, though.
Sullivan is great - I'd love him to do something totally fresh.
Trouble is, he knows he'll get a green light if he produces anything OFAH related - so why bust a gut trying anything new?
He could get a green light with new material. He's a great writer.
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 8 2009, 4:31 PM BSTHe could get a green light with new material. He's a great writer.
But you'd have to admit there would be pressure to dredge up the old characters by risk averse commissioning people.
There is risk whenever a successful writer does something new, but he has the talet, I just feel it was wasted on The GGG. It was a poor show.
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 8 2009, 4:35 PM BSTThere is risk whenever a successful writer does something new, but he has the talet, I just feel it was wasted on the GGG. It was a poor show.
I agree 100%.
A complete waste.
Not a total waste.
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 8 2009, 4:31 PM BSTHe could get a green light with new material. He's a great writer.
But we don't know that he is a great writer any more, do we? What was the last "great" episode of sitcom he wrote? Maybe he's tried to get a green light for lots of new ideas but he's been knocked back.
Sad fact is people get old and lose their spark, and the world moves on apace too. I grew up with a lot of John Sulivan stuff and loved it but I'm not begging for him to write a new sitcom right now.
Well, you're not going to get one are you! Another 20 rehashes of Only Fools to come yet.
At least a spin-off following Trigger anyway.
Quote: Leevil @ July 7 2009, 2:26 PM BSTI remember watching Citizen Smith when I was little and finding "Power to the People" funny. That's all I remember though.
The only thing I remember about Citizen Smith is me and my little sister had completely misheard the "Power To The People" bit and used to shout "Pull out the pea pod!"
We still do it now, 30 years on.
BTW does anyone remember Heartburn Hotel written by John Sullivan?
As I remember there was huge media anticipation about it and then...well it just sort of fizzled out as the series was aired. To be honest I don't remember a lot about it. Was it any good?
Quote: Badge @ July 9 2009, 1:32 AM BSTSad fact is people get old and lose their spark, and the world moves on apace too. I grew up with a lot of John Sulivan stuff and loved it but I'm not begging for him to write a new sitcom right now.
This is true, we don't know. I spoke with Dad's Army co-writer Jimmy Perry over the phone last year, he told me he'd recently had two scripts turned down by the BBC, so it does happen.
Quote: Robert D @ July 9 2009, 1:40 AM BSTAt least a spin-off following Trigger anyway.
No chance!
Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 9 2009, 9:58 AM BSTI spoke with Dad's Army co-writer Jimmy Perry over the phone last year, he told me he'd recently had two scripts turned down by the BBC, so it does happen.
A writer on a show told me there was a lot of fuss and excitement about the fact they'd got Eddie Braben on the writing team. None of his material ended up being chosen.