Probably Clement and La Frenais's most underrated show IMO. Pity it only lasted a series. I found out it was on DVD last week and am currently watching it for the first time in 18 years. 
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/11350965/Full-Stretch-Series-1/Product.html]
[h=218891]
Quote: peter gazzard @ October 29 2011, 9:17 PM BSTProbably Clement and La Frenais's most underrated show IMO. Pity it only lasted a series. I found out it was on DVD last week and am currently watching it for the first time in 18 years.
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/11350965/Full-Stretch-Series-1/Product.html]
[h=218891]
I have never even heard of this?
Quote: Will Cam @ October 29 2011, 11:09 PM BSTI have never even heard of this?
About the adventures of a limo hire company. Not surprised you don't know it, only one series was made, which was a big mistake in my opinion. 
No, this one passed me by too. Never seen it or heard of it but I see it now as one of those infuriating rubber stamped commissions for an established writing team that make unaired writers limp with despair and envy and disgust.
They were a great writing team, but how many great sitcom writers/partnerships put out weak sitcoms nowhere the standard of their best work, the sitcoms which enabled them to gain seemingly automatic commissions afterwards? Answer: Too many, I will have to look into it one day but possibly all of them were honoured with this dubious luxury, some more than others. I say dubious, because how can a thing that lasts one series and not even be remembered by sitcom lovers really add to the glory of a writer's output?
All shortlisted scripts vying for commission should be read anonimously, imb. That would put an end to the gravy train and give us sitcoms chosen on merit, with a greater chance of being popular and successful. If the 'special ones' have theirs get through, then they should be more delighted to know that they've still got the touch. But this is Britain, the main player is the BBC and I do not see such radical, egalitarian changes ever being made. 
I think the reason it wasnt on long was the production company behind it folded
Oh. 
Still, no point in deleting a good rant, I say.
I see your point though. Comedy should be commissioned on merit, rather than because of its writers, but take my word for it, FS was good.
Alfred, I really do wish I could give names, but there is far less blind rubber stamping than you seem to believe. I know of numerous big name writers - seriously big, proven names - who hav been made to jump through hoops only to get nowhere.
No one will deny that it often becomes easier once you're a proven success, and rightly so IMO, but it is certainly not the commissioning frenzy you continue to be so eager to paint.
Full Stretch was a show that Dick and Ian really wanted to write, inspired by a real life experience, and there was every intention of making further series. In the end, it fell victim to the then ITV cartel, in which the big boys wanted the plum commissions, and the small Meridian franchise was lucky even to get a first series on air.
Being well-known gets you a meeting and a script commission,or even a pilot,. but doesn't at all guarantee you a series, as Aaron says.
