It does when he said "I think the programmes got funnier as it's got older". Surely to goodness, nobody in their right mind can say this. It is a big deteriation when you think of early Summer Wine episodes, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Apperances.
Last of the Summer Wine - 2008 & 2009 Page 6
That's his opinion - an opinion of a programme he's been writing for 35 years. Also a programme which has paid his mortgage and put his kids through school. When asked by the press for his opinion he's not ever going to say "It's a load of old shite, I knock the scripts out in half an hour. I never watch it and I can't believe I get money for old rope like this" is he?
To insinuate that he's ill just because he's old and you don't like what he writes is fairly insulting.
The programme is now a victim of its longevity. There are still some good lines in there; the trouble is rarely do people retire from this show. This is a show people retire to. Therefore the cast gets older and less able to do what he might like them to do, but the characters still have to feature as they are part of the furniture. So new people are added to do the stuff the old timers are no longer able to do - the result is an overcrowded show with an expanding list of characters and small unrelated scenes. I don't think it's Roy Clarke's fault; it's down to the producers as much as anyone.
I believe Alan J W Bell has ben at the helm of the show for a good few years now as well
Quote: Maurice Minor @ May 16 2009, 7:36 PM BSTTo insinuate that he's ill just because he's old and you don't like what he writes is fairly insulting.
Alright, don't go so bloody PC on me, I don't genuinley believe this, I was being sarcastic, bloody hell.
Quote: Jack Massey @ May 16 2009, 9:29 PM BSTAlright, don't go so bloody PC on me, I don't genuinley believe this, I was being sarcastic, bloody hell.
Perhaps you need to work on your sarcasm then...
Watched a 1977 episode last night and what struck me was that several of the very familiar characters, Nora Batty for one, behaved in ways I was surprised by.
Practically all the characters now exist within a far too limited range, contributing to the feeling that very little has happened in the last 15 years.
Quote: Nick @ May 17 2009, 12:23 AM BSTPerhaps you need to work on your sarcasm then...
Perhaps you need to work on your intellegence maybe as if you think I honestly believe this, then maybe it's you with the problem. I'm not backing down on this one...
Ok, drop this now please. Next person to mention it gets a smacked botty.
Just watched the first five minutes of this evening's episode. What's that rumbling noise? Oh wait, it is Michael Bates, John Comer and Joe Gladwin turning in their respective graves.
Quote: Dene Kernohan @ May 17 2009, 1:08 PM BSTWatched a 1977 episode last night and what struck me was that several of the very familiar characters, Nora Batty for one, behaved in ways I was surprised by.
Practically all the characters now exist within a far too limited range, contributing to the feeling that very little has happened in the last 15 years.
Tell me Dene, what 1977 episode was it? 1977 was series 4, a very good series for the show.
I seem to remember watching this show in the 1980s and finding it most amusing and a proper sitcom. Strong characters most of the comedy from plot, character and situation. And then I peaked in some years later and it just seemed dull and full of old jokes. I don't know when the cross over happened but it seemed to at one time to have been a really good sitcom.
I quite liked the prequel series as well.
My opinion it happened in about 1986 the change from genius to God awful.
Quote: Jack Massey @ May 17 2009, 6:45 PM BSTMy opinion it happened in about 1986 the change from genius to God awful.
You're obviously not a Michael Aldridge fan then.
Michael Aldridge was wonderful, but not in LotSW
At least Seymour was a departure from Foggy. Always liked it when he doffed his hat to women and they still mistrusted huim because he socialised with Compo and Clegg.
Quote: Dene Kernohan @ May 17 2009, 1:08 PM BSTWatched a 1977 episode last night and what struck me was that several of the very familiar characters, Nora Batty for one, behaved in ways I was surprised by.
Practically all the characters now exist within a far too limited range, contributing to the feeling that very little has happened in the last 15 years.
That's probably another result of the already noted point that the cast has expanded hugely in recent years; with fewer characters you have room to show various sides of Nora Batty, whereas with more characters she only really has screen-time to shake a broom at someone and storm off in a huff after being wound up.
Today's episode wasn't particularly strong, but there were still some good moments - Alvin and Entwhistle gently extracting the Michael from Hobbo by declaiming "Do you ask that of The Shadow. Ho ho ho ho."* was rather amusing.
*This works rather better acted than in print I fear.