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Post by RitaLittlewood on Sept 8, 2008 17:08:14 GMT
Okay since there's so damn many these days I've started a new thread to put them in starting with this from Media Guardian and the usual question applies - WHY? ?Back to the 70s: Rentaghost and Worzel Gummidge to return to TV Oliver Luft guardian.co.uk, Monday September 08 2008 11:26 BST The classic 1970s children's programmes Rentaghost and Worzel Gummidge look set to make a comeback, after RDF Media, the independent production company behind Wife Swap, licensed the rights to remake both shows. RDF has reached a licensing deal with the Los Angeles-based intellectual property development company Pidgeon Entertainment to develop, produce and distribute the shows in the UK and internationally. "We feel there is real potential for these classic brands to be reworked for a modern-day audience and are very excited to be working with Patrick [Pidgeon, founder of Pidgeon Entertainment] to take them forward," said Nigel Pickard, the director of family entertainment at RDF. Rentaghost, which was written by Bob Block, ran on the BBC for nine years from 1975 to 1984, with some of its nearly 60 episodes periodically rebroadcast over the past 15 years on CBBC. The plot of the programme focused on a group of ghosts who work for a firm called Rentaghost. Among the team of phantoms were the medieval court jester Timothy Claypole; Miss Popov, a sneezy ghost; a Scottish witch, Hazel the McWitch; and a pantomime horse called Dobbin. In 2006, Rentaghost was revived on the stage by the comic and I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! winner Joe Pasquale, who produced and co-wrote a musical version that toured the UK. Worzel Gummidge was adapted from a series of children's books by ITV into a live-action TV series that ran for over 30 episodes from 1979 to 1981. The show featured a scarecrow, played by the former Doctor Who Jon Pertwee, with interchangeable heads for thinking, dancing, and working. Worzel Gummidge also featured the actor Una Stubbs as the scarecrow's love interest – an Aunt Sally doll with bright pink cheeks and a tendency to move like a robot. "In spite of being an American, it has always been my intent to get both iconic shows back to the UK for a revival, but at the same time confident that today's worldwide kids' audience will embrace their reintroductions as well," Pidgeon said. |
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Post by Nick on Sept 8, 2008 17:13:02 GMT
Ye Gods......they won't let them lie  |
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Post by CG Wendy on Sept 8, 2008 18:04:35 GMT
*sigh* When will they learn to leave the classics well alone?
I`m all for reliving my childhood, but this is taking the pi$$
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Sept 8, 2008 21:45:28 GMT
I know. It's bloody ridiculous. Can you imagine Worzel Gummidge with CGI? It will ruin the charm. Just repeat Rentaghost and Worzel and get new ideas!!!! Patsy |
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Post by CG Wendy on Sept 9, 2008 22:22:37 GMT
Who or what is CGI Pats?
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Sept 10, 2008 18:33:01 GMT
Computer generated image. All those special effects these days are done that way and I can always see the join so it spoils it. I prefer imagination and blowing things up properly. LOL!
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Sept 10, 2008 23:53:20 GMT
Ta for the explanation  Kids today are so spoilt. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Oct 17, 2008 13:19:00 GMT
From the BBC: Hogging the headlines  Pinky & Perky ham it up for a new generation of fans The Pinky & Perky Show Monday 3 to Friday 7 November on CBBC Superstar swines Pinky & Perky are set to hog the headlines once again when they return to TV screens after a 25-year absence. Loud, silly and extremely funny, the computer-generated animation series, The Pinky & Perky Show, sees the popular piglets hamming it up for a whole new generation of fans. Here, Programme Information has some interesting facts on the piggy pair. The original creators of Pinky & Perky, Jan and Vlasta Dalibor, were born in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). They devised the concept of the twin piglets in 1956 and created the puppets together with a host of other characters which later appeared in various TV series and live shows. Jan Dalibor carved the original puppets out of wood. The pig is a Czech symbol of good luck. In the original series, Pinky wore red clothes and Perky blue but, as they were appearing on black-and-white TV, Perky often wore a hat! In 1959 they were given their own BBC light entertainment series that went on to conquer the globe. Between then and 1973, Pinky & Perky shows were broadcast in the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and some European countries. Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Tom Jones, Harry Secombe, Michael Aspel, Freddie And The Dreamers and Henry Cooper all performed with the popular piggies. In their mid-Sixties TV heyday, Pinky & Perky regularly attracted viewing figures in excess of 15 million. Pinky & Perky released 16 LP albums between 1957 and 1973, many of which featured The Beakles – a band of mop-headed Crows who parodied their Liverpool counterparts. They took America by storm, making more Las Vegas appearances in one year than Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr combined. In 1963 they shared the bill with The Beatles, Harry Secombe and Marlene Dietrich at the Royal Command Performance. At their peak, they succeeded in attracting more viewers than the mighty US sitcom import, The Lucy Show, starring Lucille Ball. Pinky & Perky appeared 11 times at the London Palladium in the UK and six times on the Ed Sullivan show in the USA. At one point, Pinky & Perky received more fan mail than The Beatles. Pinky & Perky regularly incurred the wrath of campaigner Mary Whitehouse, who allegedly wrote to the BBC's Director-General, claiming that the pigs were a subversive influence on young children. More than 220 30-minute Pinky & Perky shows were produced during their 15 years at the top of children’s programming. Characters Vera Vixen and Morton the Frog starred in the original series and appear in the newly revamped show with new roles. ------------------------------------------------------------------ I think they're scary! Not the cute piggies of our childhood. Patsy |
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Post by valda on Oct 17, 2008 15:59:50 GMT
they look evil  , its good they are comeing back for todays kids , but why make them look like that and not the cute no harm in them little piggys I remember so well from my childhood?. makes me wonder what they have done to Morton the frog and Vera Vixen now I hope they aren't as scary as Pinky and Perky are . |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Oct 17, 2008 16:25:42 GMT
Hi Val! How are you?
Oh they do. At least when Bill & Ben and Muffin the Mule got makeovers they still looked cute. Trying to make them cool but in reality they'll give kids nightmares!
Patsy
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Post by valda on Oct 17, 2008 17:43:00 GMT
Hi Patsy I'm fine and how are you ? even when they revamped Rupert and co they still looked cute after it, why couldn't they do the same for Pinky and Perky? have a K I agree they are going to give the kids nightmares , they are enough to give the adults nightmares too (shudder ) |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Oct 17, 2008 17:52:00 GMT
I'm fine too. No idea. Mind you, I hated the new Wombles even though they were still furry. That didn't last long, did it? Thanks. Oh definitely. I'll have them after seeing that picture now! Patsy |
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Post by CG Wendy on Oct 17, 2008 19:45:21 GMT
*waves frantically* Hiya Val...good to see you again ;D
Pinky and Perky used to scare me as a tot. And from looking at these new ones, they look scarier than ever.
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Post by valda on Oct 17, 2008 20:32:03 GMT
glad to hear your fine too Patsy yes I know what you mean about the new wombles they were awfull even though they were still furry , if they would leave them all alone and not revamp them it would be better I think . waveing back frantically , Hiya Wendy its good to see you too I love your welsh banner underneath stan and hilda btw . aww sorry to hear pinky and perky scared you when you were a tot  but these new two would scare anyone they're new show should go out on halloween the new pinky and perky would be ok for then ;p lol |
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Post by sootycat on Oct 18, 2008 12:17:36 GMT
I used to love Pinky and Perky ( hangs head with embarrassment ) ;D
These two look horrible. Scare to kids to death.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Oct 18, 2008 12:40:18 GMT
Nothing to be ashamed of, Sooty. I've still got my records somewhere along with Sparky's Magic Piano and The Wombles! LOL!
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Oct 18, 2008 15:59:20 GMT
I have got a Pinky & Perky LP from the 60's (and a DVD of their' best of'episodes)  ;D |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Oct 18, 2008 16:31:58 GMT
They released a DVD? Wonder if it will have higher sales than the new one? Patsy |
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Post by pearly queen on Oct 24, 2008 14:35:56 GMT
Oh blimey, why?
Also the new Basil Brush is nowhere as good as the real one.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Oct 27, 2008 18:29:04 GMT
Oh for crying out loud. I'm with you both. WHY? ?? Patsy |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2008 5:06:19 GMT
Starts tonight 21:00 BBC1.
I'm a little bit nervous about it TBH - I really want to enjoy it, as the original is one of my all-time favourite series.
Reviews I've seen are promising, and as Patsy mentioned, it is in fact far more relevant now than when the original was made.
Hoping for the best.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 23, 2008 15:57:59 GMT
I suppose too it could be good for those who never saw the original. But like all remakes, for those who have then there's bound to be comparisons.
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 23, 2008 22:33:15 GMT
I gave up on this because I kept seeing the original actors in the roles.
Patsy
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2008 4:51:51 GMT
I know what you mean.
Actually we thought it was 'OK', and we'll probably persevere for the moment, as it's a very short series (6 episodes I think?).
It didn't have the starkness of the original, or the brilliant use of washed-out colours, but I thought they'd moved it to the present day quite sucessfully.
Am just going to look at Amazon, with regard to the original book by Terry Nation. Apparently he fell out with the producer after the first series and jumped ship - hence the book, which is supposed to show the course he would have taken.
In all fairness, although the original was great, it did lose it's way towards the end, and was never finished off in a satisfactory manner.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 24, 2008 11:39:50 GMT
I agree. Series 3 was terrible. One thing I didn't like about this was the writer was also called the creator. I thought to create something it had to be an original idea.
Patsy
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, its good they are comeing back for todays kids , but why make them look like that and not the cute no harm in them little piggys I remember so well from my childhood?. makes me wonder what they have done to Morton the frog and Vera Vixen now I hope they aren't as scary as Pinky and Perky are . 
but these new two would scare anyone 
;D
