REWIND TV

[jim244]

It's a really great TV show isn't it and tonight saw a part one of (I presume) a 2 part story which makes me wonder if they were going to pitch it as a JK movie (as they did with The Saint 2 parters).

[stevezodiac]

Several Man From UNCLE two parters were released as feature films over here. It gave fans a chance to see their heroes in colour as we only had black and white tv in the 1960s.

[jim244]

Several Man From UNCLE two parters were released as feature films over here. It gave fans a chance to see their heroes in colour as we only had black and white tv in the 1960s.

Yes and I've got the 2 boxsets...
One is UK Region 2 and has 5 movies; the other region 1 and has 8 movies.
TO BE HONEST...(and I may have posted this before)...
I missed UNCLE as was born late sixties and don't think it was ever repeated until the BBC 2 run in early 90s.
I had lots of Uncle on video but was just the movies; they seemed to be the only thing shown in UK.
ALSO the repeat run missed out loads of episodes.
I don't understand why such an internationally famous tv series has seen so little coverage in the UK.
I'm currently collecting the original 23 books paperback series.

[stevezodiac]

I saw Robert Vaughn a few years back when he was in the Carrick theatre production of 12 Angry Men. Martin Shaw was also in it.

[jim244]

Yes, one episode last week featured Yutte Stensgard and Ayshea Brough. Wonderful.

Getting as bad as you Sir, just spotted in tonights' episode (watching at moment) a young Felicity Kendal.

[DavidKW]

I saw some UNCLE repeats and the films on TV during the 80s and 90s. Have to say I'm not a fan of the series, always sexist and predictable always one dimensional characters, Solo always gets girl, Ilya always in different clothes to when he started. (Girl from UNCLE its spin off even more sexist).

Yeah its always fascinating to see the guest stars in Jason King. Not as good as Department S but great escapist fun.

Same for Return Of The Saint: goof location shots but somehow never as good as studio bound Roger Moore version in the 60s. Guest stars I recognised in recent ROTS episodes included Tessa Wyatt (was on TV a lot in 70s and 80s; by this episodes she was ex wife of Tony Blackburn and future, now ex wife of Richard O'Sullivan), plus Paul Medford playing a despot's young son - later added a J in his name and played Kelvin Carpenter in early years of misery factory Eastenders; and Shame Rimmer in another episode, best known as long time associate of Gerry Anderson, both in voice work (eg Scott Tracy in Thunderbirds) and live action (has guested in most of his live action series).

[jim244]

I saw some UNCLE repeats and the films on TV during the 80s and 90s. Have to say I'm not a fan of the series, always sexist and predictable always one dimensional characters, Solo always gets girl, Ilya always in different clothes to when he started. (Girl from UNCLE its spin off even more sexist).

Yeah its always fascinating to see the guest stars in Jason King. Not as good as Department S but great escapist fun.

Same for Return Of The Saint: goof location shots but somehow never as good as studio bound Roger Moore version in the 60s. Guest stars I recognised in recent ROTS episodes included Tessa Wyatt (was on TV a lot in 70s and 80s; by this episodes she was ex wife of Tony Blackburn and future, now ex wife of Richard O'Sullivan), plus Paul Medford playing a despot's young son - later added a J in his name and played Kelvin Carpenter in early years of misery factory Eastenders; and Shame Rimmer in another episode, best known as long time associate of Gerry Anderson, both in voice work (eg Scott Tracy in Thunderbirds) and live action (has guested in most of his live action series).

Firstly: Thanks for some excellent information; I knew most of this but wasn't aware of Paul Medford in R.O.T.S.
Secondly: Dave ...One hundred percent agree with you that Department S and The Saint were far better that R.O.T.S. and Jason King.
Thirdly: I disagree (politely -it is just my view) about UNCLE.Is one of my fave shows of all time and (in my opinion) all shows of that time period were similarly written to follow a "bible" of what that show was meant to look like as written and decided by the creators and producers.
All are formuliac.
Forthly:Richard O Sullivan currently resides in Brinsworth care home in Twickenham where my former kitchen porter now works.
My KP tells me Richard is a very lovely guy.

[DavidKW]

I think Man from UNCLE is an acquired taste like most cult TV shows - either people like it or they don't, each to their own.

Will say that when viewing UNCLE it has provided me with a few inspirations of spy/sci-fi ITC type TV series I've been creating in my mind for so many years. May see light of day if miracles still exist and I find the times and breaks to bring these to light. If I see something I don't like on TV or more often say it could be better if only they did this, I then ask myself how would I do better, which helps inspire writes and my creativity.

[DavidKW]

I do remember reading an article on Brinsworth about 20 years ago, and Richard was shown there alongside the likes of DJ Alan Freeman and Penny Calvert - Bruce Forsyth's first wife and a former pop singer to boot. Charlie Drake was also in room but refused to take part and be pictured, by then he was a bitter and twisted ex "luvvie". Only Richard survives of them now.

Richard O'Sullivan suffered a very fatal stroke many years ago, but I believe it's never shattered his spirit. Last time I read about a public sighting of him in the papers was when his ex Tessa and their son Jamie came to visit. He looked much older than his real age, but great he's still the same person underneath to this day.

[DavidKW]

On Rewind, one series I chanced across was The Optimist. I'd never heard of this series before, I believe it was an early series for the new Channel 4 in 1983. Quite enjoyable in places it is.

However they have only been showing its first series, would love to see the second if and when they get the rights to these. One main reason for this is that I read these were all directed by Robert Fuest, who directed amongst many other things, the latter episodes of The Avengers, the Dr Phibes films and original And Soon The Darkness films, also 2 of The New Avengers, of which he hated I believe.

His earliest work was doing pop music series Thank Your Lucky Stars (all his wiped, just 3 editions of that said series survive. Scandalous) and his last TV series he directed episodes of was CATS Eyes in 1985-86 (terrible series that could and should have been better. Uses to watch as I fancied Leslie Ash. Fuest loved her stunt driving).

[DavidKW]

Is great Rewind has been showing repeats of the 1970s Roobarb animations (I remember seeing these first time "buffer's slot" between end of kids' programs and early evening news in 1974-75) but so frustrating this is as a schedule "filler" so its in random slots arpound the schedules and thus hard to catch.

Rewind should create a half hour schedule of nothing but Roobarb cartoons.

The same frustrations and should do applies to their repeats of TSW's Mysterious Tales.

[jim244]

I do remember reading an article on Brinsworth about 20 years ago, and Richard was shown there alongside the likes of DJ Alan Freeman and Penny Calvert - Bruce Forsyth's first wife and a former pop singer to boot. Charlie Drake was also in room but refused to take part and be pictured, by then he was a bitter and twisted ex "luvvie". Only Richard survives of them now.

Richard O'Sullivan suffered a very fatal stroke many years ago, but I believe it's never shattered his spirit. Last time I read about a public sighting of him in the papers was when his ex Tessa and their son Jamie came to visit. He looked much older than his real age, but great he's still the same person underneath to this day.

Great info and thanks for posting.

[jim244]

Is great Rewind has been showing repeats of the 1970s Roobarb animations (I remember seeing these first time "buffer's slot" between end of kids' programs and early evening news in 1974-75) but so frustrating this is as a schedule "filler" so its in random slots arpound the schedules and thus hard to catch.

Rewind should create a half hour schedule of nothing but Roobarb cartoons.

The same frustrations and should do applies to their repeats of TSW's Mysterious Tales.

We must be of a similar age David as I too recall Roobarb with Custard the Cat from a similar time period (and later repeats).
Brilliant to know that it's on Rewind currently but as you say, a half hour format of playing a few of these in the same time slot would be a nice thing.

[jim244]

On Rewind, one series I chanced across was The Optimist. I'd never heard of this series before, I believe it was an early series for the new Channel 4 in 1983. Quite enjoyable in places it is.

However they have only been showing its first series, would love to see the second if and when they get the rights to these. One main reason for this is that I read these were all directed by Robert Fuest, who directed amongst many other things, the latter episodes of The Avengers, the Dr Phibes films and original And Soon The Darkness films, also 2 of The New Avengers, of which he hated I believe.

His earliest work was doing pop music series Thank Your Lucky Stars (all his wiped, just 3 editions of that said series survive. Scandalous) and his last TV series he directed episodes of was CATS Eyes in 1985-86 (terrible series that could and should have been better. Uses to watch as I fancied Leslie Ash. Fuest loved her stunt driving).

I have seen The Optimist advertised on the channel and had also never heard of this series before and am yet to watch an episode.

[stevezodiac]

I see they are repeating Fantasy Island and Married With Children from next week. Talking Pictures has finished The Beverly Hillbillies, I presume they could only show the episodes that were out of copyright, Rewind is now showing the series.