Comments for The Black Telephone http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com A web log about an archetypical southerner. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:18:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Goodnight Sweet Ferret by w3stol77 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/goodnight-sweet-ferret/#comment-28 w3stol77 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:18:15 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=261#comment-28 this latest series was very different to the previous one. there have been a couple of new characters; and some older characters given more to do. trevor bannister's character first appeared many years ago, and has only now become a regular. some of these new episodes have adopted a soap opera style, with continuing themes lasting more than one programme. this series in my opinion has improved with each episode. the ferret episode was the most enjoyable, it was more like the show used to be. i noticed this show didn't feature all of the supporting characters such as tom and aunty wainwright; so we didn't have too many boring pointless sub-plots (which are nearly always the same). i generally like the russ abbot character. not well written but performed brilliantly with lots of energy. the new trio however does not cut the mustard like in the old days. that said, times do change. the programme can never be like it was. it's 10 years too late for that. i regard the show since the death of bill owen as a different show, only loosely related. so i've reached the point now where i think maybe it doesn't have to end. it could go on forever. the future of the show does look bleak though. maybe one last feature length special with a decent ending. and featuring ivy, truly and clegg in more central roles. i doubt it. this latest series was very different to the previous one. there have been a couple of new characters; and some older characters given more to do. trevor bannister’s character first appeared many years ago, and has only now become a regular. some of these new episodes have adopted a soap opera style, with continuing themes lasting more than one programme. this series in my opinion has improved with each episode. the ferret episode was the most enjoyable, it was more like the show used to be. i noticed this show didn’t feature all of the supporting characters such as tom and aunty wainwright; so we didn’t have too many boring pointless sub-plots (which are nearly always the same). i generally like the russ abbot character. not well written but performed brilliantly with lots of energy. the new trio however does not cut the mustard like in the old days. that said, times do change. the programme can never be like it was. it’s 10 years too late for that. i regard the show since the death of bill owen as a different show, only loosely related. so i’ve reached the point now where i think maybe it doesn’t have to end. it could go on forever. the future of the show does look bleak though. maybe one last feature length special with a decent ending. and featuring ivy, truly and clegg in more central roles. i doubt it.

]]> Comment on Goodnight Sweet Ferret by David B Workman Sr. http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/goodnight-sweet-ferret/#comment-26 David B Workman Sr. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:03:25 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=261#comment-26 Well, I have enjoyed every Britcom I have seen, but this one takes the prize. I miss the early characters, most importantly Wally. The new characters each play an important part in the series. Each character is embed in my mind, even if not yet with us, will always be part of my family. If you never became a family member (one who appreciates the show) you may never miss it. I will! My wife, my mother in law, and my 8 year old niece look forward to the shows, and I have purchased, and downloaded the current ones. Great job cast, Fabulous job Roy Clark. Well, I have enjoyed every Britcom I have seen, but this one takes the prize. I miss the early characters, most importantly Wally. The new characters each play an important part in the series. Each character is embed in my mind, even if not yet with us, will always be part of my family. If you never became a family member (one who appreciates the show) you may never miss it. I will! My wife, my mother in law, and my 8 year old niece look forward to the shows, and I have purchased, and downloaded the current ones. Great job cast, Fabulous job Roy Clark.

]]> Comment on Some Adventures of the Inventor of the Mother Stitch by w3stol77 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/some-adventures-of-the-inventor-of-the-mother-stitch/#comment-19 w3stol77 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:17:35 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=234#comment-19 don't know why i still watch this programme as it is nothing like it was in the 70s and 80s. as regards to this recent episode it was good to see a scene in the cafe, as was always the norm. i am surprised that if the makers go to the trouble of including an interior scene with clegg and truly they do not allow them more screen time. after all, look at all that time we have to endure watching other secondary characters; howard, marina, glenda...if there were more pub and cafe scenes i imagine sallis and thornton would be able to appear more. somewhere in the 90s this programme lost its way, brought in too many characters and unbelievable situations. the episodes are too similar now. the show almost has a soap opera feel. it's a pity that some years ago the show didn't go back to basics; get rid of the dressing up and stunts every week and the overacting and the sub-plots. the show would rely on witty dialogue and often very little happening. three men wandering around, visiting the library, the cafe and the pub. here they would talk about the past, their regrets, worries etc. drama really. what also makes the programme unregonisable now are the locations used. you don't see white horse pub, the outside of the cafe, the church tower, the town centre...the 80s episodes had a real quality about them. don’t know why i still watch this programme as it is nothing like it was in the 70s and 80s. as regards to this recent episode it was good to see a scene in the cafe, as was always the norm. i am surprised that if the makers go to the trouble of including an interior scene with clegg and truly they do not allow them more screen time. after all, look at all that time we have to endure watching other secondary characters; howard, marina, glenda…if there were more pub and cafe scenes i imagine sallis and thornton would be able to appear more.
somewhere in the 90s this programme lost its way, brought in too many characters and unbelievable situations. the episodes are too similar now. the show almost has a soap opera feel. it’s a pity that some years ago the show didn’t go back to basics; get rid of the dressing up and stunts every week and the overacting and the sub-plots. the show would rely on witty dialogue and often very little happening. three men wandering around, visiting the library, the cafe and the pub. here they would talk about the past, their regrets, worries etc. drama really. what also makes the programme unregonisable now are the locations used. you don’t see white horse pub, the outside of the cafe, the church tower, the town centre…the 80s episodes had a real quality about them.

]]> Comment on Cobham Bus Rally 2009 by Annon http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/aec-regent-cobham-bus-rally-2009/#comment-18 Annon Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:02:11 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/aec-regent-cobham-bus-rally-2009/#comment-18 I made it last year! Trust me, you were better off at home! I made it last year! Trust me, you were better off at home!

]]> Comment on I Was A Hitman For Primrose Dairies by Billie http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/i-was-a-hitman-for-primrose-dairies/#comment-14 Billie Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:11:14 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=68#comment-14 I have watched LOSW for many years and have not veered from watching it after any of the cast died. Sadly, I think the show has really hit rock bottom. especially now they have added Russ Abbot, who I don't think is that funny. I saw the very first show with Russ in it and and a VERY quick/short appearance of Clegg and Truly. Now that some of the characters who made the show great, have died, I think I will give the LOSW a miss from now on. I have watched LOSW for many years
and have not veered from watching it
after any of the cast died.
Sadly, I think the show has really
hit rock bottom. especially now they
have added Russ Abbot, who I don’t
think is that funny.
I saw the very first show with Russ in it
and and a VERY quick/short appearance of
Clegg and Truly. Now that some of the
characters who made the show great, have
died, I think I will give the LOSW a miss
from now on.

]]> Comment on Milk Float No. 5 by Amber http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/milk-float-no-5/#comment-13 Amber Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:55:01 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/milk-float-no-5/#comment-13 It was nice to see your blog. Just Keep Writing! It was nice to see your blog. Just Keep Writing!

]]> Comment on And yet another one! by gafrequency http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/and-yet-another-one/#comment-7 gafrequency Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:42:45 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=127#comment-7 It's depressing that they are disappearing. I love the red telephone booths! -Chris <a href="http://www.gafrequency.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">Discover new music at Frequency, the Music Blog</a> It’s depressing that they are disappearing. I love the red telephone booths!

-Chris
Discover new music at Frequency, the Music Blog

]]> Comment on I Was A Hitman For Primrose Dairies by Tony Sturley http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/i-was-a-hitman-for-primrose-dairies/#comment-5 Tony Sturley Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:40:44 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=68#comment-5 The Hobbo character is a disaster. Why on earth has he been created with the same principal attribute ("special forces" operative) as Foggy? It worked brilliantly for Brian Wilde but Russ Abbott simply does not cut the mustard in this role. This is one cast change too many, especially as a principal character. This episode packed in too many characters with little or nothing to do, so what was the point? One can understand that Frank T & Peter S are truly (no pun intended) getting older and probably don't want to do much anymore, other than a token appearance but we didn't need all the changes at one go. The Hobbo character is a disaster. Why on earth has he been created with the same principal attribute (“special forces” operative) as Foggy? It worked brilliantly for Brian Wilde but Russ Abbott simply does not cut the mustard in this role. This is one cast change too many, especially as a principal character. This episode packed in too many characters with little or nothing to do, so what was the point? One can understand that Frank T & Peter S are truly (no pun intended) getting older and probably don’t want to do much anymore, other than a token appearance but we didn’t need all the changes at one go.

]]> Comment on I Was A Hitman For Primrose Dairies by w3stol77 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/i-was-a-hitman-for-primrose-dairies/#comment-3 w3stol77 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:30:57 +0000 http://blacktelephone.wordpress.com/?p=68#comment-3 i thought the series should have ended at the death of bill owen, even some years before that. in recent years this series is constantly reinventing itself, to deal with all the envitable cast changes. some work - frank thornton was a marvellous asset. others turn up as a one-off appearance; are asked to reappear; and become tiresome fixtures. with peter sallis and frank thornton now limited in their involvement in the show it seems we have a new regular trio - last of the summer wine: the next generation. alvin is compo. entwistle has turned from the wesley-type character into clegg. and now russ abbot as truly/foggy/seymour/blamire type. and very well he plays it too. probably most like seymour if i had to say. as usual the script wasn't up to much; but better than some recent offerings. it's unfortunate clegg and truly cannot appear more, even if in studio scenes, but if we must have a younger trio instead i'm very glad russ abbot is leading it. i thought the series should have ended at the death of bill owen, even some years before that. in recent years this series is constantly reinventing itself, to deal with all the envitable cast changes. some work – frank thornton was a marvellous asset. others turn up as a one-off appearance; are asked to reappear; and become tiresome fixtures. with peter sallis and frank thornton now limited in their involvement in the show it seems we have a new regular trio – last of the summer wine: the next generation. alvin is compo. entwistle has turned from the wesley-type character into clegg. and now russ abbot as truly/foggy/seymour/blamire type. and very well he plays it too. probably most like seymour if i had to say. as usual the script wasn’t up to much; but better than some recent offerings. it’s unfortunate clegg and truly cannot appear more, even if in studio scenes, but if we must have a younger trio instead i’m very glad russ abbot is leading it.

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