Dead ComicsI appear to have a backlog of deceased comedians who are begging an appropriate response!
Last night I learned of Dudley Moore's untimely death. He had been suffering from the debilitating effects of a degenerative brain disease for several years, which robbed him of his infectious laughter, sharp wit and accomplished piano playing. Although he forged a solo film career in the United States, for me Dud will always be inexorably linked with his comic partner Peter Cook. Their 'Not Only But Also' and 'Pete and Dud Get the Horn' productions are still guaranteed to have me in stitches.
This sad event follows the recent death of Spike Milligan. As a child I was an avid reader of Milligan's books: Puckoon, Rommell Gunner Who, Bedside Milligan, A book of Bits...I read them all. My parents were embarrassed to travel with me on public transport because I used to laugh out loud. I'd read the same bit over and over again and each time it would get more ridiculous until I was laughing uncontrollably with tears streaming down my face and other passengers looking over at us as if I was some kind of nutcase.
What made his books even funnier was the fact that some of the really stupid comments were based on true observations relating to military rules and regulations. Ridiculing the pomposity of establishment figures was his speciality, a trait taken extreme in 'Q' his TV series was broadcast on BBC2 in the late 70's.
Clare's cousin Verity who works at the BBC has it on good authority that Milligan's 'Q' series is about to be reissued on VHS and DVD. This is a timely release, cynical perhaps? but I'm sure Spike would applaud it.
'Q' was a great TV series and probably wouldn't go out today. It was just a vehicle for Spike on a budget of zilch, assisted by a regular crew of out-of-work actors. Every week they would plunder the BBC wardrobe and props department, ad-libbing to camera and would frequently abandon scripts altogether with a pathetic chorus of 'What are we going to do now?...What are we going to do now?...What are we going to do now?...'
How people will deal with the image of a Dalek wearing a turban, crashing around in a living room, exterminating a cat and a parrot and shouting "Put it in the curry" in an Indian accent is anyone's guess? But I look forward to seeing those mad sketches again if only to counter the politically correct mediocrity that pervades mainstream TV today.
I know the loss of this great comic will be felt by many friends who shared my love of Milligan's madness. Characteristically, his epitath reads 'I told you I was ill'.
posted by Paul Fillingham at 10:42 AM
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UFOJust watched a couple of episodes of UFO. It's great to indulge myself in this childhood classic, now released on super-shiny DVD. UFO was one of the first programmes I ever saw on a colour TV set, that was back in 1970 when I was only nine years old....I'll return to the subject of colour TV some other time.
'A Question of Priorities' - the episode featuring an old dear's cottage being invaded by an alien is one of the better ones. I hate science fiction when it it is too fantastic but the personal effects in the old lady's cottage makes the whole thing far more chilling than any amount of unconvincing space hardware.
Personally, I always wanted to write a science fiction drama where aliens landed in Mansfield and got roughed-up by locals out on the piss on Friday night! Of course Blidworth is remote enough to have had it's fair share of alleged UFO visitations.
Links:
The definitive UFO series website
Blidworth UFO sighting 13 Aug 2001
Blidworth Ball Lightning / UFO incident 12 Nov 1987
posted by Paul Fillingham at 1:18 AM
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White Knuckle RideThe dot.com fallout continues as over-valued media and telecommunications giants continue to creak at the seams. Last week it was Pace Micro abandoning their set-top-box deal with NTL. This afternoon it's the turn of ITV Digital with dire warnings appearing on the BBC news website. Granada and Carlton are expected to pick up the tab for this one. They will have to find the cash from somewhere, though it's hard to imagine how our clients can trim their marketing budgets any further?
Links:
Pace Micro Technology
ITV Digital goes bust - BBC news
NTL warns of cash crisis - BBC news
Headland Multimedia
posted by Paul Fillingham at 3:50 PM
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Secret WeddingYes, the secret's out. Yesterday Clare and I were
married at Shakespeare Street registry office.
posted by Paul Fillingham at 8:47 PM
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