Disney Classics

Oh my goodness – I don’t know how many of you have just been watching South Today, but they covered the story of a grandfather who, to say is Disney obsessed, is the understatement of the year.  He always fancied himself as a Peter Pan (we all know someone like that…) and his granddaughter was always a Tinkerbell fan.  So he did the obvious……tell the Disney story on his body….in tattoos!!  His legs, arms and back are literally covered in Disney scenes and characters.  Current cost of this ‘hobby’ - £8,000!!!

The funniest part was his wife’s statement - “I wasn’t a great fan of tattoos” she said, “Now I’ve fallen in love with them..”.  Not much choice there darling!

Anyway, the story finishes with the observation that his chest is, to date, tattoo free.  Allegedly he wants to decorate this with Dumbo….and the trunk goes where exactly…??!!

So – what are your favourite Disney classics? 

Classic Game Shows

Thanks to a couple of posts from my followers (cheers Lou & Jonesy) I have the theme for today’s post. 

“Nice to see you… to see you …nice…..Didn’t they do well?”  Who could fail to identify the originator of those catchprases.  And he’s still going strong – Brucie was 83 years ‘young’ yesterday, presents ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and can’t resist indulging in a gentle quickstep.  The Generation Game was definitely one of my favourites.  Jonesy mentioned ‘Top of the Form’ which I personally don’t remember (too young….?!) but which was a BBC radio and television quiz show for teams from secondary schools in the UK which ran for 38 years, from 1948 to 1986 (thanks to Wikipedia for that information).  Not bad on the longevity front and led naturally to me thinking about University Challenge. The original series aired for an impressive 913 episodes on ITV from 1962 to 1987 before being cancelled.  It was revived by the BBC in 1994 and has aired since on BBC2.  Series 40 started in July 2010 (thanks again to Wikipedia).  For today’s post I thought a clip portraying some of the best classic comedians of the last 30 years (many of them still going strong) taking part in University Challenge would provide some entertainment - please see below and enjoy!  And if you have any thoughts on classic game shows then please post a comment.

University Challenge - The Young Ones

Reality versus Classic

Watching the ‘Biggest Loser’ last night (don’t ask….) got me thinking about reality tv versus classic.  In my television watching lifetime to date, much has changed.  ‘When I were a young lass’ we had BBC1, 2 and ITV – full stop.  I actually remember the launch of Channel 4 in 1982 (yikes – nearly 30 years ago) and the days when you could only receive a tv signal via aerial or cable.  We now also have satellite and broadband, along with the ability to watch live television on mobile devices, and the switchover to digital, underway since 2008, is due to be completed next year.  Soon the aerial will be relegated to the scrapheap along with the gramophone, tape recorder, and soon probably the fax machine, CD player and landline telephone, amongst others.  (By the way, if you want to know more about the switchover, this link may help: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/what__and__why/tv_explained)

Anyway, I digress - back to reality versus classic – I’d like to know your views. Despite loving classic tv, I also, uncharacteristically, used to be a devoted fan of the X-Factor for a few seasons (tragic I know).  However I can formally announce that I have now had my fill. Unlike the ‘classics’ such as Only Fools and Horses (to which I shall keep returning), there is definitely a limit to how many ‘people just like us’ can be watched singing karaoke, publicly losing weight (admirable though that is) or having their house made over. I am going to conduct an experiment and attempt to veto reality programmes for an (unspecified) period of time and watch only the classics……let’s see what choice of programmes I actually get.

Please let me know your views on the subject – what do you see as ‘real’ entertainment and why?  Do you think reality tv adds much to our lives; does it make us feel better or worse about ourselves? Should it be increased/limited/banned completely?  What classic tv programmes should be reinstated if the amount of reality programmes is reduced?

What's your classic?

Definition of classic:

 ‘….. something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality’. (Wikipedia)

‘Of the first class, of the highest rank or importance; approved as a model; standard, leading.’ (OED)

‘Only Fools and Horses’ is eminently justifiable as classic tv comedy.  It was made and broadcast by the BBC – seven series were originally broadcast on BBC1 between 1981 and 1991, not forgetting the Christmas specials.  In addition, episodes are regularly repeated on Gold. Wikipedia tells the story:

Set in Peckham in south London, it stars David Jason as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter, Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney, and Lennard Pearce as their ageing grandfather (later replaced by Buster Merryfield as their Uncle Albert). Backed by a strong supporting cast, the series chronicles their highs and lows in life, in particular their attempts to get rich.

After a relatively slow start the show went on to achieve consistently high ratings, and the 1996 episode "Time On Our Hands" holds the record for the highest UK audience for a sitcom episode, attracting 24.3 million viewers (over a third of the population).[12] Critically and popularly acclaimed, the series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA, the National Television Awards and the Royal Television Society, as well as winning individual accolades for both Sullivan and Jason.[13] It was voted Britain's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll.[14]

It also had an impact on British culture, contributing several words and phrases to the English language and boosting the popularity of the Reliant Regal van. It spawned an extensive range of merchandise, including books, DVDs, toys and board games.[15] A spin-off series, The Green Green Grass, has run for four series in the UK. A prequel, Rock & Chips, was first aired in January 2010.

I’m on a hunt for more contenders for classic tv programmes – please submit your ideas and why you think they are classic. I will then hunt for classic clips if need be.

Looking forward to hearing from you….. lovely jubbly….

Only Fools and Horses Classic Clip

Blogs for Dummies

OK – deep breath… here we go… first ever post on my first ever blog.  You wouldn’t believe the journey I’ve had just to get to this point.  The technical process of creating a blog shouldn’t be that hard – should it?  Step 1 – open Google email account.  Tick.  Step 2 – create a blog.  Tick.  Step 3 – Write amusing and engaging material and post to blog…..urr – where is the blog?  Lost it.  Phone a friend.  Friend finds it (thanks Katherine).  Back to the material….lost train of thought along with blog.  Oh yes – material.  Classic TV programmes and buckets of nostalgic reminiscing – people are going to be fighting over themselves to add their views..  Let’s sit back and let the comments roll in…

(waiting…still waiting…..a few hours later still waiting…………………………..)

OK – so when you write a blog you actually have to do something to get people to follow it?  Right.  Watch this space.