A few random thoughts

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply, I have always looked at Summer Wine as a distraction from "edgy" comedy shows, I am not a prude, but, I enjoyed the gentle and silly humour, I realise no actor should ever be bigger than the show he or she is in, but I found the compo trilogy after the death of Bill Owen had some touching moments and fine script writing.
 
IF you search the threads , there are still members on here who cannot bring themselves to watch those episodes because they are so emotional which is testimony to the compassionate way Roy Clarke handled Bill's passing, the episodes are a mix of pathos and humour handled beautifully by all who participated in their making . It must have been the most difficult time for all the of the cast and crew.
 
captain clutterbuck said:
IF you search the threads , there are still members on here who cannot bring themselves to watch those episodes because they are so emotional which is testimony to the compassionate way Roy Clarke handled Bill's passing, the episodes are a mix of pathos and humour handled beautifully by all who participated in their making . It must have been the most difficult time for all the of the cast and crew.
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You can see it especially on Peter's face how difficult it was but I think adding humor was the right thing to do, I know especially " up North " humor is a big part of funerals, it's how the grief is dealt with.
 
This is what I think. First of all, Hobbo was not the first character to be shoehorned in. It was Smiler. He was introduced as a one-off character who was then made permanent due to the fact that his character fit in. He would pop in and out of various story lines and gradually became accepted. On the other hand, Hobbo was suddenly introduced, given a major role (which was hard to accept,), and had a back story (which was hard to accept.)

On the other hand, IF he had been introduced as a milkman who popped in and out of various story lines, and instead of being a spy, being someone who is on top of all the gossip, he could have been more acceptable.
 
Adanor said:
This is what I think. First of all, Hobbo was not the first character to be shoehorned in. It was Smiler. He was introduced as a one-off character who was then made permanent due to the fact that his character fit in. He would pop in and out of various story lines and gradually became accepted. On the other hand, Hobbo was suddenly introduced, given a major role (which was hard to accept,), and had a back story (which was hard to accept.)

On the other hand, IF he had been introduced as a milkman who popped in and out of various story lines, and instead of being a spy, being someone who is on top of all the gossip, he could have been more acceptable.
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That would have been great, Abbot could have done that. He was offered the part of Barry's neighbour Boothroyd in 'Enter The Finger' (who could have become a recurring character) - but he declined. Basically he wasn't interested unless he got a permanent 'big' role.
 
I am not sure if I am going against the grain but I really enjoyed watching how the series reinvented itself which must have been necessary for it to last over three decades. If it was on now I wonder who might be cast for the trio ... a question for a new thread maybe?
 
FlatCap50 said:
I am not sure if I am going against the grain but I really enjoyed watching how the series reinvented itself which must have been necessary for it to last over three decades. If it was on now I wonder who might be cast for the trio ... a question for a new thread maybe?
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I'm completely with you FatCap50 I love the amazing scenery in high definition and the sedate pace of the latter series. And the cameo appearances by @maltrab are the icing on the cake.......
 
Good morning to the Summer Wine fans, I see that the series is being repeated again in the UK, the first series felt a little edgier, the language was a little more colourful, and now knowing the uneasiness between Michael Bates, and Bill Owen behind the scenes I suppose it is testament to both actors that the first season ever was completed. I must admit as fine an actor as Peter Sallis was, his Yorkshire accent was a little hit and miss, and I notice it was abandoned later on. It is not often a show has the pedigree to make me watch it again, but, this is what I feel is missing from the more modern comedies today. Perhaps I am just getting old, but, I will gladly watch this over and over.
 
It is on permanent repeat on U and Gold I posted an event a few weeks back ,which maybe does not occur that often, the very last and very first episode were broadcast on the same day.
 
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They have been repeating the show since about 1990, as new episodes were released on BBC, UK Gold etc would start showing them a couple of years later, so for the first couple of years all we got was series 1-4 on constant repeat, then series 1-6 often with any specials missing, at some point it was on every channels run by the UK brands, Gold, Living, Drama etc with the same episodes recycled twice a day on all of their channels.

It must of given them a pretty penny in advertising revenue over the years

With the full series boxset often available for £50-60 online it is well worth buying just to avoid the adverts and PC edits on the TV channels
 
The only exception in this perpetual loop is series 30 episode 1 I was a Hitman for Primrose Dairies , which is considered a Special and a Christmas episode, as it was shown first on New Years Eve . There are people at U and Gold who still believe it is a Christmas Episode, totally laughable as it is, thus viewers are robbed of an introduction to Hobbo , they see episode 2 and he appears as an established character . I see no valid reason for keeping to omit it.
 
I think that what ensure the longevity of the series was the constant need to add new characters. Some of which just jumped out the screen like Barey and Brenda and family.
 
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