PC Stratford
Passenger Engine
I'm a walking television show. I can't get away from it.
Posts: 755
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Post by PC Stratford on May 1, 2010 20:34:32 GMT
Whilst as most of you can gather that I am a huge fan of the show, I think the show has gone on for far too long. I have heard that there will be another series of 6 episodes due to be shown later this year (most likely filmed last year) and it looks like it will be the last.
I would like to see one last special to say goodbye, but I honestly don't know. The BBC have yet to confirm or deny anything, so I think it's now a matter of waiting. I personally don't want the show to go on without Peter Sallis, (who is now 89 I believe) and I think that Roy Clarke seems to have run out of good ideas
But only time will tell...
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Post by Ian on May 1, 2010 20:58:19 GMT
The series had muddled along rather well in recent years to be fair, despite the losses of Bill Owen, Kathy Staff, Dame Thora Hird to name but a few. It was the last series, with the introduction of new central character 'Hobbo', where the storyline quality really seemed to nose-dive.
LOTSW has survived this long by reinventing itself when needed; soon gone were the days of the first series where 3 old men sat in a library and chatted until closing time.
I've nothing against the actor Russ Abbott, who's performances as Hobdyke in the last series were spot on, but the character and plots didn't do the show justice.
Add on the fact that Peter Sallis, Frank Thornton and Jane Freeman can only do studio work as the Beeb won't pay the high insurance costs for actors of their age going on location... putting Clegg as a secondary character was a terrible, terrible mistake.
As you say, we'll just have to wait and see.
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PC Stratford
Passenger Engine
I'm a walking television show. I can't get away from it.
Posts: 755
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Post by PC Stratford on Jun 2, 2010 20:58:19 GMT
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Post by Matthew24691 on Jun 2, 2010 21:48:28 GMT
to be honest... i think it was time... even i like this program, but i feel that it lost it after Peter Sallis and Frank Thornton were reduced to secondary characters, it just wasn't the same... i think with this the age of the great british sitcom has come to an end...
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Post by Halstead on Jun 2, 2010 22:47:26 GMT
Bah, somebody's already beaten me to posting the news! I've also been a loyal fan of LOTSW, but I agree that it lost its way since the 21st century and Bill Owen's death. If the Beeb called the sitcom off after Last Post Pigeon, (Compo's final appearance), then I'd guess we'd been locked in a debate since that time whether or not it should be reivied although the argument would not definitely continue up to today!
Also some points that IMO detract from LOTSW was the show losing it's rustic charm since 2000s, with more characters, new housing plots and a biased BBC watching over it. I would certainly be watching the Countryfile special to see how it pans out to be sure.
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Post by Chris on Jun 3, 2010 0:40:48 GMT
If you're particularly defensive of the show, I wouldn't recommend reading the Guardian's online article on the axing. The majority of the reader comments are from haters and there's all the usual snide remarks about tin baths. To be honest though, like mattyd24, I'm somewhat relieved the series has been put out of it's misery so to speak. I only hope Roy Clarke knew of the decision well in advance, so that a proper finale could be written.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2010 8:43:55 GMT
It's a shame because, courtesy of this new trio, I was begiing to get back into the show in terms of the latest series. But at least it'll go out on a high for me as a result. Maybe they can use the B-Side version of the show's theme tune to play over the end credits of the last episode; I'm sure it'll more than the curtain down on the show in terms of a finale...
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Post by Ian on Jun 7, 2010 10:05:24 GMT
According to one report (from the BBC mind; it'd read quite different if it came from the cast or crew) the 'final series, due in August, will be a fitting end to the series'.
If Roy Clarke, Peter Sallis or Alan Bell had said that, I'd be fairly sure they were right. With that comment coming from Auntie Beeb, I doubt it very much. It sounds very much like a get out statement, to avoid having to film a suitable and fitting finale.
BBC... prove me wrong. Please.
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StuFew
Goods Engine
Posts: 250
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Post by StuFew on Jun 7, 2010 18:13:27 GMT
Very sad to see Last of the Summer Wine is ending after 37 years, but to be honest I think its been on borrowed time for a while. In my personal opinion I don't think it was ever the same after Compo died. It was interesting that they brought the "three old men" concept back in the recent series, but I think side-lining Cleggy and Truly was a mistake.
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Post by Chris on Jul 25, 2010 21:24:45 GMT
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Post by Sodor's No.1 on Jul 26, 2010 12:44:52 GMT
I do, or should I say did, like Last of the Summer Wine, but recently it has just declined to such a stage that if it hadn't have been axed this series, it wouldn't have been far away. The new trio just seems a bit samey and something we've seen before. Hobbo seems to be trying too hard to be Foggy, and Alvin seems to be thought of as the replace ment fro Compo, though not as funny or as daft! Entwhistle just stands there and chips in with the odd unfunny comment, which makes the viewer think 'Why are the audience laughing? There's nothing to laugh at.'
I used to enjoy the earlier series of Summer Wine, especially the ones with Foggy in as that trio seemed perfect. I have all of the currently relesed DVDs, as far as I'm aware, and am eagerly awaiting the release of the next ones. Vut I won't be hurrying out to buy the latest series and the previous few in a hurry when they come out. If I do, it will only be to complete the collection.
Personally, I think Mr Clarke should have ended the series way before now, as people will be left with the impression that it was a poor series to the end, which it was a few years earlier. They should have put the cameras away and called it a day when Bill Owen died. I certainly hope the ending is satsfactory enough to do the show justice.
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Post by Ian on Jul 27, 2010 10:59:38 GMT
Sadly, the Truly and Clegg appearances were all like that last series; a tiny cameo usually before the credits, and that was it. Why they can't be given cafe/library scenes I don't know. At least they'd be a bit more part of the plot.
This entire episode could have been part of the last series. Same Toby/Morton plot taking centre stage.
No Ivy, Auntie or the criminally unused Tom; hope they return later in the series.
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Post by Halstead on Jul 27, 2010 13:55:07 GMT
Sadly, the Truly and Clegg appearances were all like that last series; a tiny cameo usually before the credits, and that was it. Why they can't be given cafe/library scenes I don't know. At least they'd be a bit more part of the plot. One reason why Clegg and Truly's appearances are restricted is possibly down to a policy from the BBC stating that actors over the age of 80 can't be filmed doing external scenes due to a plethora of reasons like h&s. It sounds like a silly policy and one I cannot 100% confirm yet but a few TV anoraks might've heard this case before. Looking at sunday's offerings, the Countryfile edition was more interesting than the show itself, we even get a peek at Bill Owen's resting place. I missed the first few minutes of LOTSW and probably missed out on Clegg but I can't understand either the massive laughs towards the new trio's unfunny quotes. Due to my small inability to control emotions, I sometimes laugh unexpectedly when I see a familiar face (like Richard Wilson a.k.a Victor Meldrew) on television. Although I don't do this a lot whilst watching LOTSW, it often happens during the Howard + Marina scenes mainly because their actions make themselves seem like an awful Carry On parody sometimes. Finally I was a bit angry when I found out it was on by the last minute, as the BBC did no effort to mention this in the trailers but I'm guessing a reference to the show closing in the national news will be inevitable.
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Post by Chris on Jul 27, 2010 17:55:46 GMT
One reason why Clegg and Truly's appearances are restricted is possibly down to a policy from the BBC stating that actors over the age of 80 can't be filmed doing external scenes due to a plethora of reasons like h&s. It sounds like a silly policy and one I cannot 100% confirm yet but a few TV anoraks might've heard this case before. Yeah, basically it's hard to find a company that will insure actors of that age: entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3905028.ecePeter Sallis guest starred in the ITV drama Kingdom only last year. Strangely, in this he had loads of outdoor scenes - some quite close to a river. How they managed to get around the insurance problem in that instance, I'm not sure!
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Post by Ian on Jul 28, 2010 7:30:52 GMT
Maybe ITV were just willing to pay for a good actor? I dare say LOTSW has long been an expensive production, moving everyone up North and being there for several weeks. Can't have been cheap by any means, especially with the sizeable cast.
But like I said in my last, the lack of outdoor filming shouldn't prevent Clegg and Truly being part of the storyline. They could have easily featured in one of the library scenes. But who knows... got 5 episodes in which they can shine yet. Hope they do.
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Madness
Main Line Engine
Posts: 1,992
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Post by Madness on Aug 3, 2010 21:52:41 GMT
Bringing the show to an end is sad. But it has had it's time and most of the original characters are long gone. The new ones are good, but some aren't that good.
Peter Sallis whose been on it since the beginning is a brilliant actor, but I wonder how he's feeling now that the show has come to an end? Frank Thornton was a great man to have on the show and Russ Abbot was a great choice to have on the show.
My favourite is Elie, the blind one, he was hilarious and I loved it when he fell down the cellar at the bar.
'Has he come yet?' 'Not yet Elie.' 'Oh I'll go wait in the bar then.' Walks wrong way and falls into the cellar. 'Have they got a basement bar now?'
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Post by melshiri on Aug 13, 2010 11:24:04 GMT
Sometimes I watch LOTSW whenever I am either bored, or if there's nothing on tele'. I have watched the 2010 series so far and it is not bad. There was a scene at the beginning of one episode when Truly and Clegg are in the countryside. The long shot is clearly body doubles, then the close up of both was clear that they were both on green screen, shame. I am a bit suprised that it is coming to an end, but I do know that from Sky News, they have said that a new book of the series is to be released called, Last of the Summer Wine - The Story of the World's Longest Running Sitcom and they said it reveals that Clegg will have the last line.
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Post by Halstead on Aug 13, 2010 17:50:58 GMT
Yes it was revealed in a popular daily newspaper that the 29th August will be the date for The Very Last of the Summer Wine and they also mentioned that Clegg will have the final line of the sitcom with "Did we lock the door?"
The article vaguely states that this is a running joke towards the show, which I presume is a satirical jape as to why they didn't call the series to an end before. Or maybe Clegg has OCD...
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PC Stratford
Passenger Engine
I'm a walking television show. I can't get away from it.
Posts: 755
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Post by PC Stratford on Aug 28, 2010 22:45:49 GMT
Final episode tomorrow. It looks like the end of a long era folks
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Post by melshiri on Aug 29, 2010 9:20:15 GMT
Talking of the last episode, I saw a trailer for it on BBC One a few days ago.
It showed some various clips from older episodes of Summer Wine with Compo and the gang, then some clips from I think either the last episode of some of the episodes that were broadcast earlier in this series. The Summer Wine theme tune accompained it while the continuity announcer talked over it, even saying things like; It's the end of an era for the nation's longest sitcom, or something like that.
It has been subtitled for scheduling, The Very Last of the Summer Wine.
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