John Stewart Miller
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Post by John Stewart Miller on Oct 2, 2005 22:48:54 GMT
Two Ken Jones comedies (I think) on ITV. One was LWT ('The Wackers'). It's the first thing I recall seeing Keith Chegwin in but is never quoted or shown. It was regarded as contraversial at the time. Involved a down to earth Northern family. I recall Keith Chegwin in massively flaired jeans. Also, I think, a teenage girl character with a big mouth.
The family were awful, I suppose 'Shameless' would be the modern equivalent (of sorts..)
Around 1975, 76. I think it was a ratings flop. The lack of evidence it ever existed leads me to worry its been wiped?
The other series I want to query, (I think both featuring Ken Jones), was 'The squirrels'. I only recall one scene. Ken Jones (again Northern) turns up for an interview. The interviewer is also Northern. Ken Jones makes a blunt down to earth remark as a reply to the first question, and the interviewer says 'I like you, you've got the job..'
Never seen any clips of this one since either. I think it was 1976 - 77.
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Post by AndrewM on Oct 3, 2005 10:26:48 GMT
I remember my brothers telling me about "The Wackers" a scouse sitcom that was pulled after only a handful of eps had been screened. From what I was told it was very funny, and was only pulled because of complaints by the masses of bad language. No doubt, if seen today, it would seem pretty tame. I do remember "The Squirrels" pretty routine office based stuff (Ricky Gervais it wasn't). On the subject of pulled sitcoms though, does anyone remember "Hardwick House" a re-working of the inner city comprehensive theme, ala "Please Sir" didn't last long, I think only two eps screened, might have been pulled because of controversy, or just as likely that it was rubbish.
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Post by Laurence Piper on Oct 3, 2005 17:23:24 GMT
I recall The Squirrels myself. 1974-1977 or thereabouts. All three series still exist (not the pilot though, according to Kal). It was quite funny at the time and I'd like to see it again.
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Post by Geoff Sear on Oct 3, 2005 20:55:38 GMT
I recall The Squirrels myself. 1974-1977 or thereabouts. All three series still exist (not the pilot though, according to Kal). It was quite funny at the time and I'd like to see it again. That's nice to know. I recall reading a few years back that some of the shows were missing. I think some of the scripts were adapted and re-used for 'Fiddlers Three', though I could be mistaken. |
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Post by Laurence Piper on Oct 4, 2005 11:22:02 GMT
According to the Kal guide from '95, they all survive (can anyone from Kal or the Granada archive confirm?) ATV were definitely haphazard with their archive retention in the '70s but it seems this series slipped through unscathed (happily)!
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Post by Andrew Doherty on Oct 5, 2005 18:44:14 GMT
What a good and truly funny series 'The Squirrels' was, and, happily, still is.
I do remember watching in 1974/75 and I cannot recall this series ever being repeated, though I could be mistaken.
The series 'Fiddlers Three' was another very funny office comedy. Unlike 'The Office' the previous two comedies did seem to draw on some real situations, which I could relate to. That is why they were funnier, in my opinion.
Anyway, it is good to know the first of the mentioned exists. I seem to remember that the 'The Squirrels' was from Yorkshire Television.
Yours,
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Post by Laurence Piper on Oct 6, 2005 9:19:25 GMT
The Squirrels was actually made by ATV. I'm not sure what slot it occupied originally but the London area ITV screened repeats on weekday afternoons in the ;ate '70s, which was when I mainly saw a lot of them.
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Post by Peter Chadwick on Oct 6, 2005 10:12:22 GMT
The Squirrels was actually made by ATV. I'm not sure what slot it occupied originally but the London area ITV screened repeats on weekday afternoons in the ;ate '70s, which was when I mainly saw a lot of them. Fairly sure it was 7pm in the YTV region. A series I've always remembered, whereas some of the 'big name' series I've now completely forgotten seeing. Memory, eh?. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2005 12:41:51 GMT
"The Wackers" was Thames, not LWT.
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John Stewart Miller
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Post by John Stewart Miller on Oct 9, 2005 23:05:53 GMT
Thanks Cosmo - What about 'Wackers' does anyone know the archive status?
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Post by Stephen Doran on Oct 13, 2005 17:35:30 GMT
terrible i thought both shows.
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John Stewart Miller
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Post by John Stewart Miller on Oct 30, 2005 21:51:34 GMT
They were terrible, but I thought that was partly what made them 'good' i.e. topical. Mind you 'squirrels' had some funny bits.
Going off a bit, I thought 'Wackers' may have gained notoriety for its premier use of the expletive 'w*nker? Unless this was 'Rock follies'? That caused a fuss at the time.
Still wonder if anyone knows about 'Wackers'. No clips are ever shown. Mind you I expect it would be an embarrassment to Keith chegwin.
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