The Joy of Retro Telly!

 

For a long time, I didn't watch much television. I'd generally be so busy that I didn't find myself sitting in front of it until 8pm and I'd go to bed about 10pm, so a couple of hours a day would be about it.

When I first moved to Cambridgeshire, I didn't even have an aerial on the fist home I stayed in, so what I did watch was old DVD box sets or films that I bought.

When we moved into this house, for a long time, we did much the same, 2 hours at night and it was either a DVD or Netflix, which we'd signed up to.

But the start of the Pandemic and lockdown pretty much changed everything. With not much else to do with our lives, we started putting the TV on earlier and instead of just watching anything, I started buying Box Sets of TV series I'd loved in the past and fancied rewatching.

I started off by buying the 1980s series 'Howard's Way.' I'd only ever seen the first series which was back in 1986. It was on in the summer and we were open at St Osyth in Essex in an arcade, and I'd nip into the back room and have this hour to relax and take a break. After that first series, I'd never watched it again.

I decided to go and buy it. £30 invested for 5 series of a series. I hoped it wasn't a waste of money. Invariably, I always see life through rose-coloured glasses and so I always think that the programmes I used to watch were better than anything today.

'Howard's Way' wasn't, but it was still a fairly decent watch. I know nothing about the 'boating set and I imagine the series was just one big cliche, although an enjoyable one. 78 episodes for £30 wasn't bad value and it was well worth the money.

I progressed from there buying complete sets of '24', 'Miami Vice,' 'Monarch Of The Glen,' 'Quantum Leap,' 'Man In A Suitcase,' 'Land Of The Giants,' 'McCloud,' 'Sharpe,' 'Lovejoy,' 'Sunday Night At The London Palladium' and others. As well as that I started to rewatch series that I'd loved such as, 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Around The World In 80 Days with Michael Palin,' 'The West Wing,' 'Inspector Morse,' and 'Minder.'

So as you can tell, I haven't had much time for too many new series. And best of all, it's meant I've been available to totally miss out on watching the News and any other input of the unrest that's occurred in the last year.

Did I watch all of the series I bought? Not all. But I had enough variety and still have plenty to watch. 

I know that nobody thinks about buying DVDs anymore and most watch Netflix or Prime, but I've found it joyous to go back over those old shows and enjoy the innocence of a lot of them.

Then, back in November, I decided to buy one of those hard drive recorders to get some of the shows from the Freeview Channels. I've indulged in 'The Fugitive,' 'Tales Of The Unexpected,' re-runs of 'DIY SOS,' 'Grand Designs' and many more. I've stored loads of 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' and 'Hairy Bikers' shows and numerous murder and crime documentaries. Sky Arts have some great documentaries as well.

So all in all, I've become 'Retro TV Man' and I've loved it.

At Christmas, I watched all the classics that remind me of the telly when I was a kid. All those wonderful Musicals of the past. The Bing Crosby films, James Stewart and all those that still get a viewing (but without the adverts). And of course, what would Christmas be without 'Calamity Jane;?

So yes, I've had plenty of opportunities to watch telly over the last year. but I've mostly used my DBD collection.

Most of today's telly doesn't do much for me, sadly. And of the programmes I do watch, they tend to be what I class as 'Sunday Night TV', Dramas with a hint of comedy, stuff that can border on the nostalgic and then things like 'The Antiques Roadshow' and the wonderful, 'Repair Shop'

I suppose the thing is, I like to be entertained. Much of today's TV to me, seems dark, overtly political and heartless. And to be honest, I don't want to spend my downtime not enjoying what I'm watching.

Luckily for me though, I've still got complete, 'Frasier' and 'Gray's Anatomy' and 'The Sweeny' box-sets sat waiting for my attention.

So although I've slowly been drawn back to the telly, it's on my terms. If I'm going to watch it, at least it won't be interspersed with the agendas of the BBC, ITV and all. The thought of sitting through the news turns my stomach these days. And there's about as much chance of me sitting through 'Question Time' as there is of me running the next London Marathon, whenever that happens!

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Guilty Pleasures...stop saying it!

For ages, I’ve used the phrase ‘Guilty Pleasure’ whenever I’ve talked about something I like and I know it’s not cool and trendy. But recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no such thing.

You either like something or you don’t.

And when you choose to bracket your choice by saying it’s a ‘Guilty Pleasure,’ what you’re saying is that your overall taste isn’t as crap as you that particular thing you’re saying you like is.

But let’s get it straight, right here and right now!

What someone else thinks badly of your taste in anything is not your problem. It’s theirs.

After all, I’m pretty sure that there are things you don’t like that other people do. I’m sure you’ve heard someone else say that something is their ‘Guilty Pleasure.’ We all do it.

We’re all as bad as each other.

But do you realise how silly that is? If someone looks down on you because of your taste in something, surely they’re the one who needs to be more open-minded.

When we say a piece of music or a film is a Guilty Pleasure, what you’re really saying is, “I like it but please don’t judge me.”

I’ve come to the decision that no longer will I call anything a Guilty Pleasure. I think you should too stop too. It’s time to stand tall and proud!

We should have the courage of our convictions! And when saying so, we shouldn’t preface it with an apology for liking it. There’s no need to.

Let me give you some examples of the way I’ve made excuses for liking things.

Last year, I decided to buy the ‘Howard’s Way’ box set of DVDs. I only ever saw the first series of it when it was on the telly back in 1986 and for all it’s ‘ham’ acting, I really liked it and wanted to see the rest. In fact, had it the show been more polished, it probably wouldn’t have worked for me. The stories were fine, it was some of the actors who were a bit under-par, but for me, it was a must-watch.

And when I said last year that I was looking to buy it, people 'took the Mickey' and said what a crap series it was and how I was wasting my money.

“But it’s a Guilty Pleasure of mine,” I replied.

I also bought the set of ‘Sunday Night At The LondonPalladium’ shows. They take me back to watching them with my parents as a child. I don’t care, I’m a nostalgic person, it’s my cup of tea. It doesn’t have to be anyone else's.

In the same way, I love Russ Conway’s plinky-plonky piano playing. It reminds me of being a little boy and it holds great memories for me. I like the tunes too but when I mention it to anyone, I always say that Russ Conway is a ‘Guilty Pleasure’ of mine. The truth is when I listen to his music, I don’t feel guilty, I feel happy!

Surely what we like as individuals is up to us? Just because someone else doesn’t like it doesn’t make us wrong and them right any more than if it were the other way around.

I love a Rom-Com. I enjoy them and they make me feel good. I’m not a lover of War films, James Bond or Jason Bourne type films. Halfway through them, I start to get bored. And those dark Batman films just leave me cold. But put Love Actually or Pretty Woman on, I’m as happy as Larry.

I can’t stand X-Factor, The Only Way Is Essex, Love Island or any of those kinds of telly programmes. I love Documentaries, doing up your house programmes and Strictly Come Dancing. And I don’t see why I have to apologise for it.

And neither should you. We’re all individuals. And my God, wouldn’t it be boring if we all liked the same thing?

You shouldn’t be surprised if you hear that I’m listening to, and loving Cheesy Music – Even, Rene & Renato’s, ‘Save Your Love’ makes me smile.

So I’ve decided, I’m no longer making any apologies to the Music Police for the kinds of music I like nor will I apologise to the film critics for my taste.

I love the music I was brought up with now, even though I didn’t like some of it then. My Dad’s brass band and easy listening music used to do my head in – now I love it and have been hunting down all his old albums. In fact, over the last year or so I’ve bought box sets of Ray Conniff and Edmundo Ros amongst others.

I make no apologies for not wanting to like new music. Why should I? 90% of it I don’t like – I’m not in its demographic to start off with. So why bother trying to pretend I’m cool and trendy for liking it when I don’t.

And I’ll make no apologies for liking some novelty hit from the early 60s. Joe Brown’s, ‘Jellied Eels’ will give me more pleasure than any opus from Led Zeppelin ever will. I'm not knocking them, I just like what I like,

Abba make me cringe. Programmes like ‘Shameless’ or ‘Who wants to Be A Millionaire’ will never be on my watch list but that doesn’t mean I’m some kind of superior being for not liking them. At the same time, I like The Spice Girls, Michael Portillo’s Railway journey shows and ‘Lovejoy’.

When it comes down to it, it’s all down to choice and I don't feel I should have to justify what I like to anyone. And neither should you.

We all love stuff that other people think is rubbish. But it’s my rubbish. You don’t have to like it.

I like what I like and I’m not going to hide it away because of what others may think. It’s time to bring some of the great music, films, TV shows and whatever else I like out of the closet.

It’s time to parade our unique likes, and to Hell with those who look down on us.

Let 2021 be the year when we finally say goodbye to the term ‘Guilty Pleasure’ and let’s finally stand tall with our heads held high, behind what we, as individuals like.

As I sing to myself the classic, “Oh your red scarf matches your eyes...”

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The innocence of 60s & 70s Variety TV

Back on my nostalgic trip - I know you couldn't do anything like the Black & White Minstrel show in this day and age, but I find myself wishing we still had variety shows like these back in the 60s and 70s.

It seems to me that shows like this from a bygone age were full of talented performers. I'm listening to my Dad's LP and remembering the work that went into producing those shows.

Different sets for each song. Each section a different theme. I know the songs were old even then, but I still find myself singing along.

Perhaps I just like them because they remind me of being sat on the floor in front of the telly, eating sweets, drinking cherryade and feeling the warmth of my family around me.

I recall shows like this being on the telly over Christmas - a circus on the telly in the afternoon.

Today's telly just doesn't match up for me.

Things have moved on over the years but the innocence of a bygone time still resonates with me.

I know I wear rose-tinted glasses when I look back but I suppose that was because I had no cares and woes then.

Mind you, I'm glad I'm not my Dad's remote control anymore!

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Jame's Top 10s - Comedy TV Series

 I love comedies - they cheer me up. 

And over the years, I've found plenty to love. 

Some obvious ones don't make my list. Some that I thought were brilliant at the time, when I've watched them again years later, don't seem as funny.

But the ten below, represent slices of humour that have kept me amused for hours.

And so here's my Top 10

10) Friday Night Dinner - Two siblings share their Friday night dinners at their parents home and, somehow, something always goes wrong.

9)Third Rock From The Sun - A group of aliens are sent to Earth, disguised as a human family, to experience and report life on the third planet from the sun.

8) Soap - The soap-opera-ish antics of two families: the Campbells and the Tates.

7) Father Ted - Three misfit priests and their housekeeper live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland that it seems to be.

6) The Vicar Of Dibley - A boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentrically conservative small town's church.

5) Spin City - Mike Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, and his team of half-wits must constantly save the Mayor from embarrassment and the media. Mike is later succeeded by Charlie Crawford.

4) Scrubs - In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D." Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.

3) The Royle Family - A  sitcom about a family going through everyday life in the Royle family house (mostly, in front of the TV).

2) Frasier - Dr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father, and works as a radio psychiatrist.

1) The Odd Couple - Two men, a neat freak and a slob separated from their wives, have to live together despite their differences.

That's my choices - I had a few close that could have been included, but these are the ones that made it for me.

I'd love to hear your choices. Feel free to let me have your choices below. 

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When you just can't help yourself...

 I woke up feeling nostalgic this morning. And just to prove it, I bought these little beauties advertised locally.

I'll probably never do them - I just needed to have them. Another of those buys where my heart rules my head! 

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How many ad jingles can you remember?

 

I’m a member of a lot of retro and nostalgia groups online. And the other day, someone started a thread about the advertising jingles that were on the television when we were kids.

You know, those little songs that even 30 or 40 years later you still remember.

Try these out for size:

“Only the crumbliest flake is chocolate, tastes like chocolate never tasted before”

“She flies like a bird in the sky ....”

“For mash get Smash...”

“A finger of fudge is just enough...”

“Do the shake and Vac and put the freshness back”

Just hearing those words brings the pictures from the adverts back into mind. Each advert was like a little story. In fact, I’d as far as to say, they were as good as watching the programmes at the time.

How many of these adverts from the 80s do you remember?

Click here if the video doesn't play

Feel free to leave a link in the replies for your favourite add - there are 1000s on YOUTUBE!

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Freeview Play and a whole new world of rather sedenatary lockdown TV...

 

We have been devotees of Netflix and Amazon Prime for a few years now but have always been a bit blase about Freeview.

That's probably because we've gotten so used to watching 'on-demand' that we can't be doing with watching programmes when they're 'on'.

However, there are a lot of programmes that are on the Freeview channels that we want to watch but are on at inconvenient times for us.

We were talking about it the other day and thought about buying a new TV that had Freeview Play so that we could record the programmes we'd like to see but I didn't want to spend £300+ on a new TV when ours is perfectly fine.

We were in our local supermarket the other day and I needed to buy some contact glue, however, they've changed everything around in the store and so I couldn't find any.

What I did find, however, was a set-top hard disc recorder for well over a third of the price of a new TV,  And with a second lockdown starting this week, I decided to splash out and buy one.

And it's like a whole new world of programmes I like, have now become available. As you can see from the photo, my interests include re-runs of old telly series and food programmes! I've already got 36 different shows recorded and none of them are the big hitter shows - you won't find Coronation Street or Eastenders on it. You won't find Pointless and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and most definitely won't see X factor and I'm a Celebrity type show there either.

What you will find is plenty of documentaries like The South Bank Show or Daytime telly such as Antiques Road Trip and American Pickers.

There will be plenty of music-based shows - already recorded are Frank Sinatra's Main Event, The Sammy Davis Jr Story and Long Hot Summers ( The style Council story).

Add a healthy dose of shows like Who Do You Think You Are, How Do They Do That?  Heir Hunters and a few Murder and Crime documentaries and it's the perfect mix of shows for us.

I think that just about proves how boring we are!

And whilst we're on this next lockdown, I think I'll be spending more time in front of that box in the corner than I normally would.

What are your lockdown plans?

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Living Big In A Tiny House

During the lockdown, I watched more television than I have for ages and I discovered programmes I've never seen before.

'Living Big In A Tiny House' intrigued me. Having spent a lot of my life in a trailer (caravan), I have intimate knowledge in a confined space of a tiny home, so when I came across this, I wanted to see what it's all about.

First of all, it's on YOUTUBE - luckily I have a Roku, so could watch it on the television.

The premise of it is that people who are sick of the rat race, can't afford the costs to live in a house or just want to live their lives in a different way, have built their own homes in a very small footprint.

What I found in them was that they came up with some ingenious solutions to the problems of living in such a confined area.

And I was surprised by the different kinds of people who took to this way of living.

The show is put together by a husband and wife team. She does all the filming, and he does the presenting. They also love in their own tiny home and their love of the subject matter shines through.

It's a very well produced show and usually runs for around 15-20 minutes to give you a taste of how their subjects live in their home.

I watched one episode and was hooked! 

I found it was an interesting watch and I hope you will too.

Here's an episode to give you a taster.

If you can't see the video, click here

If you'd like to follow them in YOUTUBE, click here

Let me know what you think of the show.

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