I'm watching series two of the classic "Yes, minister". I don't know .... the writing, acting and jokes are still good, but I'm afraid it isn't very relevant anymore. Politics simply isn't like that anymore. Now there's the internet, mobile phones, better fashion and female politicians who are good at dancing.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,912Chief of Staff
Other than the bureaucracy, mistakes, cart-in-front-of-the-horse, self-serving, secrecy, incompetance etc. it's completely outdated! They have the help of computers and social media to do those things now.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,818MI6 Agent
edited August 2022
I have the Complete Yes Prime Minister as an omnibus novel. As it is the same writers who wrote the series, its virtually identical. For a nice change.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. What with all that's happening, I am just waiting for the day the train staff, nurses, fire fighting personnel, Barristers and Police fire bomb Westminster on behalf of the people! So glad I live in Wales out of the way.
Cike Zero, 2 Pint glass.
HOLLY! Tea time dear!
(Thunderbird 2 deposits an entire roast chixken in Holly's bowl.) She is dieting again.
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
The BBC should make a modern version of it. There are a couple of comedies such as Veep today, but I don't think they are as litterate and sharp as Yes, (prime) minister was.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I think it all comes down to the quality of the writing. That's where every film or TV show really starts, at the writing stage. Sadly I fear that the heyday of really good writing is decades behind us at this stage. So many TV shows are derivative or even actual remakes or retreads of earlier classics. That's mostly why I enjoy classic television of the 1960s, 70s and 80s and am generally not so keen on what cane after that, bar a few exceptions. I'm sure there is still good writing talent out there but there's not enough of it for this era to be called a new Golden Age in TV.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
While I agree that a good TV show starts with the writing, I don't agree good writing for TV is a thing of the past. Remember that we mainly remember the very best of the old series. I suspect most series from the 1960-80' were worse written than many shows made in recent years.
Would you really say The Wire, Sopranos, Mad Men, Fargo, House M.D. and (much of) GoT were badly written? I admit these shows were not really comedies, but several had comic aspects.
Today’s woke society will not allow good comedy to be written anymore, the days of Steptoe & Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, The Likely Lads, Only Fools And Horses etc. are long gone. Things will change again, no doubt, and we will have decent comedy series again, but it probably won’t happen in my lifetime.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
I've already mentioned Veep as a sharp political satire. There are also very good TV comedies that some may call "woke". Perhaps Community was woke - it certainly was brilliant.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,818MI6 Agent
edited August 2022
Oh Archer is beautifully inappropriate!
Pam, Carol and Ray are my favorite characters, and Ayesha Tyler who voices Lana is as beautiful as she is amazing.
I was truly saddened to learn of the passing of Jessica Walter. Incredible actress, she made Mallory Archer very much her own.
Part of the problem is we are now in an era where no one is prepared to take risks.
Thunderbirds got a chance, because Lord Lew Grade believed in the Andersons.
Star Trek The Next Generation got a chance, because Paramount was prepared to take the chance. It is prob why Paramount today is still holding its own, while Fox and Lucasfilm have been absorbed into The House Of Mouse.
We all know how The House of Eon got built.
Today, its either play it safe by going tepid to reduce potential offence, or reboot / reinvent / remake territory, which very rarely brings anything new to the table.
Yes Minister works so well because it IS timeless. The only novel factor is James Hacker is actually an endangered species. An MP that is wanting to do the right things.
(Winces) I'll be back in ten mins, my Sciatica is playing up.
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
Nothing says Young & Cool like saying "my sciatica is acting up". 😁
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I had sciatica a few years ago and it was very painful. It seemed to clear up though. It's an ailment I share with two of my literary heroes, Ian Fleming and John Gardner who both suffered with it from time to time.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
I’ve never seen any of the comedies that you list, but they are all American series, I was specifically calling out British comedies and those that I listed and many others including, Up Pompeii!, On The Buses, Love My Neighbour, Are You Being Served and Mind Your Language would never get made in their original format today. I’m not a fan of American comedies apart from the old ones like The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched and Green Acres, they were like the British sitcoms. Yes, I’m out of touch with the modern world, but not so much that I don’t know how to subscribe to streaming items such as BritBox where I can wallow in nostalgia 😂
By the way, this is a proper pub debate - I love it!!!
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
@Thunderpussy That Two Ronnies sketch where men meet up in secret gatherings to watch banned movies, sounds like the Bijou Cine Club in Soho in the 1970’s, not that I ever went of course, I only heard about it from other people 😂😉
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Comments
Hey Guys!
Missed me? 😉
Yes ...... of course. Did you get my order?
I literaly just walked in the door 24!
Holly will be back in a few days, she is dealing with field mice at my Father's house. They keep making a mess in the garden!
What are you having?
I think I 'll shake things up and have a Coke Zero.
I'm watching series two of the classic "Yes, minister". I don't know .... the writing, acting and jokes are still good, but I'm afraid it isn't very relevant anymore. Politics simply isn't like that anymore. Now there's the internet, mobile phones, better fashion and female politicians who are good at dancing.
I watched the two series of Yes, Prime Minister not too long ago…thought all the story were extremely relevant still 😳
Other than the bureaucracy, mistakes, cart-in-front-of-the-horse, self-serving, secrecy, incompetance etc. it's completely outdated! They have the help of computers and social media to do those things now.
I have the Complete Yes Prime Minister as an omnibus novel. As it is the same writers who wrote the series, its virtually identical. For a nice change.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. What with all that's happening, I am just waiting for the day the train staff, nurses, fire fighting personnel, Barristers and Police fire bomb Westminster on behalf of the people! So glad I live in Wales out of the way.
Cike Zero, 2 Pint glass.
HOLLY! Tea time dear!
(Thunderbird 2 deposits an entire roast chixken in Holly's bowl.) She is dieting again.
"Yes, (Prime) Minister" is brilliant! Anyone who hasn't seen it is seriously missing out.
Apparently it was Margaret Thatcher's favourite comedy.
The BBC should make a modern version of it. There are a couple of comedies such as Veep today, but I don't think they are as litterate and sharp as Yes, (prime) minister was.
I think it all comes down to the quality of the writing. That's where every film or TV show really starts, at the writing stage. Sadly I fear that the heyday of really good writing is decades behind us at this stage. So many TV shows are derivative or even actual remakes or retreads of earlier classics. That's mostly why I enjoy classic television of the 1960s, 70s and 80s and am generally not so keen on what cane after that, bar a few exceptions. I'm sure there is still good writing talent out there but there's not enough of it for this era to be called a new Golden Age in TV.
While I agree that a good TV show starts with the writing, I don't agree good writing for TV is a thing of the past. Remember that we mainly remember the very best of the old series. I suspect most series from the 1960-80' were worse written than many shows made in recent years.
Would you really say The Wire, Sopranos, Mad Men, Fargo, House M.D. and (much of) GoT were badly written? I admit these shows were not really comedies, but several had comic aspects.
Today’s woke society will not allow good comedy to be written anymore, the days of Steptoe & Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, The Likely Lads, Only Fools And Horses etc. are long gone. Things will change again, no doubt, and we will have decent comedy series again, but it probably won’t happen in my lifetime.
I don't think Mad Men, House and GoT are worryingly woke 😂
They’re not comedies, N24, I’m talking about situation comedies, two entirely different mediums.
Agreed. Comedy has the power to offend those who seek to be offended which applies to the generation coming up through now.
South Park and Archer are rarely called too woke ...
I've already mentioned Veep as a sharp political satire. There are also very good TV comedies that some may call "woke". Perhaps Community was woke - it certainly was brilliant.
Oh Archer is beautifully inappropriate!
Pam, Carol and Ray are my favorite characters, and Ayesha Tyler who voices Lana is as beautiful as she is amazing.
I was truly saddened to learn of the passing of Jessica Walter. Incredible actress, she made Mallory Archer very much her own.
Part of the problem is we are now in an era where no one is prepared to take risks.
Thunderbirds got a chance, because Lord Lew Grade believed in the Andersons.
Star Trek The Next Generation got a chance, because Paramount was prepared to take the chance. It is prob why Paramount today is still holding its own, while Fox and Lucasfilm have been absorbed into The House Of Mouse.
We all know how The House of Eon got built.
Today, its either play it safe by going tepid to reduce potential offence, or reboot / reinvent / remake territory, which very rarely brings anything new to the table.
Yes Minister works so well because it IS timeless. The only novel factor is James Hacker is actually an endangered species. An MP that is wanting to do the right things.
(Winces) I'll be back in ten mins, my Sciatica is playing up.
Nothing says Young & Cool like saying "my sciatica is acting up". 😁
I had sciatica a few years ago and it was very painful. It seemed to clear up though. It's an ailment I share with two of my literary heroes, Ian Fleming and John Gardner who both suffered with it from time to time.
CHB: You're a Bond fan who feels modern comedies are too "woke". Archer is just what the doctor ordered!
@Silhouette Man I have a similar connection, as I'm stunningly Handsome ( One of the beautiful people ) I share that fact with
Many Bond actors, I've just had to come to terms with it. 😉
It's your cross to bear?.... beer? bare? 🤔
I’ve never seen any of the comedies that you list, but they are all American series, I was specifically calling out British comedies and those that I listed and many others including, Up Pompeii!, On The Buses, Love My Neighbour, Are You Being Served and Mind Your Language would never get made in their original format today. I’m not a fan of American comedies apart from the old ones like The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched and Green Acres, they were like the British sitcoms. Yes, I’m out of touch with the modern world, but not so much that I don’t know how to subscribe to streaming items such as BritBox where I can wallow in nostalgia 😂
By the way, this is a proper pub debate - I love it!!!
I think your " Toxic Masculinity " is showing @CoolHandBond 😁 I've started buying many old Comedies on DVD as I
think in the future many will either be unavailable or heavily edited. I'm reminded of the old Two Ronnies sketch " The
worm that turned " in a future Britain where things like the Clint Eastwood movies are banned for being too Masculine 😄
and men have to meet up in secret gatherings to watch them.
At least you have something positive in common with Bond people, @Thunderpussy. Conversely, I seem to get all the bad stuff. 🙂
@Thunderpussy That Two Ronnies sketch where men meet up in secret gatherings to watch banned movies, sounds like the Bijou Cine Club in Soho in the 1970’s, not that I ever went of course, I only heard about it from other people 😂😉