Network, BBC, Screenbound, Renown, Fabulous Films and Simply Media thread

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Aclea

They're probably the only label that would take on NT9OCN without cutting out all the Chris Langham bits.

Doubt John Lloyd would allow this series to be released. He was the one who produced the 2 edited best of DVDs.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by Thaddeuscrane

The Do It Yourself Bee Gees Kit includes part of "Children of the World" but it's there even though a couple of Bee Gees tracks at the school disco meant edits for the Grange Hill dvd's.

Awesome, with this news I'm all in! The Gibb brothers' fondness for Kenny may have played a part in its inclusion on the set. He appeared on the Bee Gees' episode of This Is Your Life back in the day and Maurice praised him on one of the Bee Gees documentaries, Keppel Road methinks.

Not music-related but is the other Bee Gees skit on this set as well, the "Mass-of-chew-sets" interview?

Kenny Everett - Bee Gees Interview - UK TV - YouTube

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Awesome, with this news I'm all in! The Gibb brothers' fondness for Kenny may have played a part in its inclusion on the set. He appeared on the Bee Gees' episode of This Is Your Life back in the day and Maurice praised him on one of the Bee Gees documentaries, Keppel Road methinks.

Not music-related but is the other Bee Gees skit on this set as well, the "Mass-of-chew-sets" interview?

Kenny Everett - Bee Gees Interview - UK TV - YouTube

This was done for BBC hence the studio laughter audio.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Doubt John Lloyd would allow this series to be released. He was the one who produced the 2 edited best of DVDs.

I haven't seen him in years (he sponsored my membership of PACT many, many moons and prime ministers ago), but I doubt that's the case. I think those videos and DVDs were more a commercial necessity in the days when people simply didn't buy entire series and best of compilations basically followed the same template as the best of LPs and cassettes that preceded them (when those two compilations were done, BBC Video was still re-editing Doctor Who on VHS and Carlton were re-editing The Prisoner into 'movies'). It took years for the BBC to release complete Morecambe and Wise episodes rather than just compilations and we've only just got The Goodies complete even though all three stars wanted them all out there.

[Thaddeuscrane]

Originally Posted by Aclea

They're probably the only label that would take on NT9OCN without cutting out all the Chris Langham bits.

To be fair, I don't think anyone bar Network would take on a complete series release at all.
And apart from Network there's not many other labels interested in releasing shows from the era when apparently many cast members were dodgy.

Langham was only in series 1.
I was surprised people needed to ask about The Goodies release and wondered if Network would edit references to Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile.
They are one label uninterested in rewriting history so as expected everything is uncut. But I don't blame the BBC for running scared and making edits to some of their releases. The PC morons and Twitter fools can make a lot of noise.

Delving into series 1 of Everett. They have very quick stills during the end credits of things that have appeared. An obvious freeze frame of Elton John made me wonder if they were replacing stills of things that were cut but the very next one was a shot of Linda McCartney from the removed performance.
The Hot Gossip dances are great and it's amusing to remember series 1 went out at 6.45pm in a 45 minute slot so those episodes should be 50% longer than the other shows (bar specials). But the longer shows seemed padded out with more music rather than more Kenny so they suffer more.
Checked a few running times of the later series and the majority appear uncut.
Would have been nice to include one of the several Kenny documentaries they've aired in the last 10 years but hey ho. I recorded them all to dvd at the time but at least one would have been a worthy bonus.

If they get round to the BBC series there should be fewer edits as I don't recall any actual pop videos or adverts and IIRC it was down to one music guest per show.

[Thaddeuscrane]

As if it's not strange enough that the Kenny show went out at 7pm spare a thought for sensitive Yorkshire people.
They missed out on ITV over Xmas 1978 when YTV went on strike so all the major ITV Xmas shows made their appearances in Yorkshire during the early months of 1979. Lucky YTV viewers got to enjoy the Kenny Xmas show at 1045am on a saturday morning in February mixed in with the kids schedule. I expect their excuse was that it was 2 days before series 2 started on the Monday at 7pm

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

Thanks, as always, OceanBlue.

Am very interested in seeing Probation Officer.

Hoping we get a second volume this year.

[CrockettandTubbs]

It's only on DVD, but I just got an email about this pre-order (they do take the money straight away, however):

https://networkonair.com/coming-soon...eid=b8fe718f1c

Eli Wallach, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, etc...

Theme music by John Barry, too.

[McCrutchy]

Network announced a new "Forgotten TV Drama", on DVD, For Maddie with Love, starring Nyree Dawn Porter and Ian Hendry, which I've not heard of, but it sounds intriguing. I don't believe any of it has been on DVD before (EDIT: It seems one episode was released on a soaps compilation DVD from Network), but all 48 episodes from both series will be released as a six-disc box set, which can be pre-ordered from Network from today, for just £20:

https://networkonair.com/coming-soon...omplete-series

It looks like it will be out on 15 April, but Network also put the first two episodes up on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDzrXBdfw8g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DlBHvYG7oQ

[OceanBlue]

Thanks McCrutchy for posting about For Maddie with Love. Had never heard of the series before. Decided to get it recently. Inside the thick DVD case, along with the six discs, is the limited edition booklet. It mentions another series which I'd like to see released as part of the Forgotten Dramas line, an early role for actress Stephanie Beacham, Marked Personal.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Thanks McCrutchy for posting about For Maddie with Love. Had never heard of the series before. Decided to get it recently. Inside the thick DVD case, along with the six discs, is the limited edition booklet. It mentions another series which I'd like to see released as part of the Forgotten Dramas line, an early role for actress Stephanie Beacham, Marked Personal.

Thanks OceanBlue, I received my copy from Network the other day, and it will go into the "to watch" pile. It looks like a great release.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Thanks OceanBlue, I received my copy from Network the other day, and it will go into the "to watch" pile. It looks like a great release.

Do you know much about the Armchair Theatre Archive DVD releases? There is what looks like a positive review in the latest issue of Sight & Sound magazine of the four volumes released to date. On the front covers is the 'Forgotten TV Drama' logo.

[OceanBlue]

Discovered this series this week after checking Amazon UK for new titles, a DVD release of Jack the Ripper: The Complete Series. It stars two of the actors from Z Cars and it's two spin-offs (including Softly Softly: Task Force). It's released in the third week of October.

[OceanBlue]

Does anyone here recommend the TV series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes?

[FaceInTheLeaves]

I’ve just noticed Network’s Children of the Stones DVD is out of print.

What are the chances of it getting a blu-ray release?

[Aclea]

So far I think they've only done TV shows that were shot on film rather than tape, so not high.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by FaceInTheLeaves

I’ve just noticed Network’s Children of the Stones DVD is out of print.

What are the chances of it getting a blu-ray release?

Is this series any good?

[Modman]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Is this series any good?

It's of its era but good, however, I am not sure I would recommend it as a blind buy.

Here's a link to the full series, if you want to check it out.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SwT0wLnT7Rc

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Is this series any good?

As Modman said, it's of it's time. However it's also well written and directed, often quite creepy, the characters are likable and unlike some of it's contempories pacy enough not to bore. Genuinely avant garde theme music too:

Children Of The Stones Theme - YouTube

Would upgrade if they announced a genuine HD blu-ray but I think it more likely it's getting a slimmed down re-release without the rather good booklet and/or the bonus DVD with episodes of Sky, King of the Castle, The Clifton House Mystery and Into the Labyrinth (maybe they've lost the rights to one or more of these?)

Personally of the children's fantasy shows on Network DVDs I'd recommend Sky and The Owl Service, both of which IMO are stranger and more unsettling, over Children of the Stones. And of course though it's played for laughs and a younger audience Catweazle is wonderful (well season 1 anyway) and highly recommended (word is Network are giving it a blu-ray upgrade in 2020) However if you've not already got a taste for 70's fantasy/sci-fi/children's TV probably best to watch an episode or two before committing to any of these shows.

On a related note here's a clip of Stewart Lee using the Children of the Stones and The Changes as touchstones in a brief discussion of teenagers on TV.

Stewart Lee talks about television for teenagers - YouTube

[Modman]

I think kids in the 1970s were very fortunate when it came to dedicated TV drama e.g. The Owl Service, Sky, Children of the Stones, The Georgian House, The Feathered Serpent, Raven and many others.