Yet more random old tv...

[thisbluespirit]

I've been tired today, so I was doing some aimless LJ-browsing, and found this! One Saturday morning CBBC show I used to like (late 1980s or early 90s, I think) was On The Waterfront, which was a comedy sketch show. And the best bit was the condensed and dubbed mini-episodes of (real old 1970s TV action show) The Flashing Blade.

As you've probably guessed - someone's saved their old video recordings of these, and put them up on YouTube. *joy* But the main reason I'm sharing is... well, guess who wrote them (apparently)? Russell T Davies! :lol:

All the people who wrote my childhood TV are now writing my adult TV, it seems. Is there no escape?

Anyway, the quality is shaky, as you would expect, but you can see for yourself, should you wish, as it must be one of the earliest bits of his writing around:

(There are quite a few more on YT as well. ETA: "We're surrounded by killer frogs!"/"That wasn't in the script!"/ "Script?! You mean there's a script?")

And, I know. One day I will rejoin you in the 21st C...

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I seem to be spending most of my time either hanging out in the 19th century or the first half of the 20th, so I wouldn't worry too much if I were you!

[thisbluespirit]

:-)

(And, oy, I'm supposed to be sharing when you get the time machine!! ;-D)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

And so you shall! I'm talking about books and TV shows. (I've just taken Wilkie Collins' 'No Name' off my library pile... And in the last three weeks I've read three Dickens novels...)

Plus I've been watching Poirot and Foyle's War...

[thisbluespirit]

:lol: I did know what you meant, really. And, ooh, Wilkie Collins! :-)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I thought mention of WC's name would attract your attention!

This'll be the first of his novels I've read (as opposed to listened to the radio adaptations of!)

[thisbluespirit]

Well, I love his books, as you know. I like The Moonstone and The Woman in White best (like everyone) but No Name is pretty good, too. (Yay for the best 19th C 'Sensation' writer!)

:-)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

TWiW and TM are the two I've heard...

Not really a reply, but...

[thisbluespirit]

I just had a play & so here are three icons so far (don't worry - there will be some more):

Re: Not really a reply, but...

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Thank you! *drools appreciatively*

Re: Not really a reply, but...

[thisbluespirit]

:-) I'll do some more - hopefully today, but my icon-making mojo switches itself on and off like nobody's business. Those three were fun, though. (And they do have colouring and texture in them. Just the kind you can't see. ;-p)

And in completely unrelated news, I'm nearing the end of Martin Chuzzlewit, and was v amused/pleased by Patrick Troughton calling David Collings "my true heart" earlier this morning. ♥ :lol:

Re: Not really a reply, but...

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Hee, okay...

Aw, sweet!!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I must have seen that at some point as I remember that theme tune! I don't remember this episode in particular though. I can't even recall if I saw the original series of the Flashing Blade or if it's the On the Waterfront redub I saw. I suspect the original, only because On the Waterfront isn't pinging any bells for me.

[thisbluespirit]

I think On the Waterfront was from about 1989? It was one of the summer CBBC Saturday morning shows. I was surprised to learn a few years ago that The Flashing Blade was actually a real TV show and, er, not some random thing they'd put together for this. :-)

I remembered the dubbed versions as a highlight of my childhood TV - it was lovely to be able to watch them again. They're daft, but they actually are quite funny, so it wasn't just my faulty memory.

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

oh god yes, i watched Flashing Blade in the 70s. But it always was in at a Sat a.m. school holidays slot.

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

loved the flashing blade back in the day :)

[thisbluespirit]

I didn't know it was a real show for years. (I'm afraid I'm a little too young for that. ;-p) I only know these comedy versions - and somehow I suspect that there aren't killer frogs, letters from the Director, or people disguising themselves as duvets in the original... :lol:

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

ha-ha, true - & i wish there had been!! :)

but it was very silly though and people loved the naff of it.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Okay, you're officially having way too much fun now. I want to go find more of these to watch and it's all your fault. :-D

[thisbluespirit]

:-) I was so pleased to stumble over it. I'd remembered them being funny all these years, and they were. Daft, of course, but pretty funny in places. And, if you do, I think I liked 4 (or was it 5?) and 12 quite a bit.

I'm so amused as well that it was RTD, 'cos I had no idea.