Cracking open a Galaxy Audio PA amp

[Don Pearce]

Shame about the remake!

That remark can be applied pretty much universally.

d

 

[polymod]

Well, not to belabor the point *too* much, but Fawlty Towers was
absolutely sublime compared to either one of those other two shows.

Do we have any "Vicar of Dibley" fans?
Still one of my favorite shows.

And I have to hand it to your Brits: there has never been *anything* on
television to equal "The Prisoner", and I doubt there will be in my
lifetime.

Agreed. as a matter of fact I liked the show so much I named my debut CD
after it

Cheers!

Poly

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Cleese said the episodes were basically written on a week-

by week basis, and took on average no more than 10 minutes
to conceive and structure, and produce the scripted dialogue for.

I suspect it took longer to come up with the anagram.

"Fawlty Towers" was a good series, but not up to the best British and
American sitcoms. My favorite was "Basil the Rat" [sic], but that's probably
because I like sweet li'l critters.

 

[thanatoid]

Again, the actual humour in Fawlty Towers was not that
'classic'. It worked so well because it was written by
Cleese himself, in conjunction with Connie Booth, with whom
I understand he was having a relationship. The 'supporting'
actors were chosen carefully to 'fit in', and did so
admirably well. Much of the individual episodes were also
ad-lib'd at the time of shooting, and according to a
documentary I saw about the making of it, most scenes were
little - if any at all - rehearsed. Cleese said that the
episodes were basically written on a week by week basis,
and took on average no more than 10 minutes to conceive and
structure, and produce the scripted dialogue for. So what
was actually produced, is a testament to the writing,
acting, and creativity skills of the main characters.

Interestingly, there was only ever 12 episodes. Everyone
always thinks that there was a lot more. Prunella Scales
was actually amused by it all. She said that over a very
long career, she has played many many parts in TV, film and
theatre, including some really 'heavyweight' parts. And yet
the one thing that she is always remembered for, is her
part as the long suffering wife of Basil ...

Thanks for the interesting info. I believe those 6 hrs or so are
among the most brilliant stuff ever made for the idiot box in
ANY country ever - and I am familiar with TV in several very
different countries.

 

[George Jetson]

Ab Fab was a very 'special' kind of humour that would only ever have
worked with those four main characters, who sparked off each other in a
unique way. I think that this is often the case for why remakes, as well
as covers of classic songs, often don't work. The original story or song,
is written with an actor or set of actors or singer in mind, and because
of this, work well, and become classics. Often, you can hear a song or see
a film for the first time, and just know that it will still be playing in
30 years time.

There are of course exceptions to this, but they are so few as to
admirably prove the rule.

Arfa

Feck! don't forget father ted.

 

[polymod]

H.H. ??

Hehe...if you mean Herbie, no it's not that "Prisoner". I wish

Poly

 

[David Nebenzahl]

The Prisoner was another interesting one that I saw a documentary about.
McGoohan said that he originally conceived it as a sort of 'follow on' to
his character in the long running sixties series "Danger Man".

[snip]

.... which was called "Secret Agent Man" over here in the U.S. Good show,
very well conceived and put together, but of course lacking the
surrealism that made The Prisoner so great.