TV on DVD schedule w/e 20 December

Monday 14 December
Emmerdale Farm - 27 March 1973
Monty Python's Flying Circus - 'How To Recognise Different Types Of Trees From A Long Way Away'
Northern Exposure - 'The Body In Question'

Tuesday 15 December
Steptoe And Son - 'Those Magnificent Men And Their Heating Machines'
Man About The House - 'Of Mice And Women'
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - 'No Sex Please, We're Brickies'

Wednesday 16 December
Emmerdale Farm - 2 April 1973
The Jensen Code - Episode 4
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Course Of True Love'

Thursday 17 December
Tales Of The Unexpected - 'A Glowing Future'
On The Buses - 'Brew It Yourself'
The Forsyte Saga - 'Decisions'

Friday 18 December
Emmerdale Farm - 3 April 1973
Family Guy - 'Saving Private Brian'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'I've Got A Secret'

Saturday 19 December
The Equalizer - 'The Children's Song'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Fan-Dancer's Horse'
Film: Carry On Abroad

Sunday 20 December
Wonder Woman - 'The Man Who Could Move The World'
Department S - 'The Man From X'
NYPD Blue - 'Sorry, Wong Suspect'

TV 017: Blake's 7 - Dudley Simpson

Blake's 7 was one of the earliest series shown on RTE's second channel - RTE 2 - back in early 1979. It was a fascinating futuristic series with a bleak outlook.

Gareth Thomas played the part of a Roj Blake, an idealistic troublemaker who escapes from the remote penal colony Cygnus Alpha. He is ably assisted by a thief, a murderer, a fraudster, a smuggler, a telepathic guerrilla fighter and Zen, the master computer.

A dystopian masterpiece which is just as relevant today.

Dudley Simpson (who had previously worked on Doctor Who for many years) composed the memorable theme.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Blake's 7

TV 016: Bird Of Prey - Dave Greenslade

When this originally aired - 1982 - I thought it was one of the coldest programmes ever.
Time has not changed my opinion.

Bird Of Prey stars Richard Griffiths as a civil servant who unwittingly stumbles into a combination of rogue intelligence, espionage and conspiracy. While the series makes for exciting viewing, the general harshness and unfeeling nature of the majority of the cast make for extremely uncomfortable viewing.

Life is cheap seems to be the selfish mantra here.

The theme was composed by Dave Greenslade and aptly complements the computer / electronics setting.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Bird Of Prey

TV 015: The Big Match (La Soiree) - David Ordini

The Big Match was originally a Sunday afternoon staple whereas the BBC would show football highlights on Match of The Day the previous night. It started broadcasting in 1968 but by 1980 had won over the Saturday night slot for alternate seasons.

Brian Moore and Jim Rosenthal were the presenters that I remember best. Avuncular, knowledgeable and a joy to watch.

The theme tune had a number of incarnations. This one, by David Ordini, was used from 1974 to 1980. It's easily the best of the five with a jaunty feel that really set viewers in the mood for some top class action.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The Big Match (La Soiree)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 13 December

Monday 7 December
Emmerdale Farm - 19 March 1973
Monty Python's Flying Circus - 'Sex And Violence'
Northern Exposure - 'Jules Et Joel'

Tuesday 8 December
Steptoe And Son - 'Crossed Swords'
Man About The House - 'I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me'
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - 'Cowboys'

Wednesday 9 December
Emmerdale Farm - 20 March 1973
The Jensen Code - Episode 3
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Fascist Beast'

Thursday 10 December
Tales Of The Unexpected - 'The Best Policy'
On The Buses - 'The Inspector's Niece'
The Forsyte Saga - 'A Man Of Property'

Friday 11 December
Emmerdale Farm - 26 March 1973
Family Guy - 'Hell Comes To Quahog'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'The Hat'

Saturday 12 December
The Equalizer - 'The Confirmation Day'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Baited Hook'
Columbo - 'A Deadly State Of Mind'

Sunday 13 December
Wonder Woman - 'Anschluss '77'
Department S - 'The Trojan Tanker'
NYPD Blue - 'Cold Heaters'

TV 014: Big Deal - Bobby G

Big Deal was an likeable comedy drama about a chronic gambler (Ray Brooks) and his long-suffering girlfriend (Sharon Duce).

It ran from 1984 to 1986 and still holds up well today. The poker scenes are well acted, if somewhat unrealistic in the hands that are dealt, while the theme of gambling as an illness is depicted with sensitivity.

The theme tune makes me nostalgic for those early teenage years - watching this on Sunday nights with the prospect of school looming the following day.
It's sung by Bobby Guppy of Buck's Fizz fame.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Big Deal

TV 013: Bergerac - George Fenton

Bergerac, a gripping crime series that ran for ten years, was based in the unusual setting of Jersey.

Jim Bergerac, played by John Nettles, was an unorthodox and flawed detective sergeant with a penchant for booze and a clatter of girlfriends. My preference is for the early years (1981 to 1983 or so) where the fantasy element was largely absent.

The theme tune has a lilting Gallic flavour and was composed by George Fenton. It is instantly recognisable and very evocative of its surroundings.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Bergerac