Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures In East London and Surrey.
On the 12th May it was the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of my favourite radio and TV comedians, Tony Hancock. How many of today’s (or recent) comedy stars will be celebrated with repeats of some of their most popular work made over half a century ago. Sadly, Tony died in Australia in 1968, when I watch or listen to him, I often wonder what he might have made if he had lived longer (this internal monologue happens when I think about other faves such as Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, River Phoenix and Marilyn Monroe).
Over the last couple of years, I have visited regularly visited Riverside Studios beside the River Thames to watch classic episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour on the big screen. These programmes were produced at Riverside in the late 50s to early 60s for the BBC. The funny thing is I am a lifelong Doctor Who fan and over the same period at the same venue there have been many events showing classic episodes of Who also made at Riverside in the 60s. Why haven’t I attended, seriously I need to get my priorities right.
Talking about a certain classic BBC programme which this November celebrates its 61st B’day, Doctor Who returned last weekend. Until last weekend the programme would transmit on BBC One in the early evening on a Saturday (this routine changed a few times in the 80s) and was enjoyed by millions of loyal fans. Over the last few years, the way the programme is consumed has changed because of the number of views on the BBC‘s streaming/catch up service iPlayer. Streaming really is the future of broadcasting and as expected it’s not just Doctor Who that is enjoying larger and larger online viewing figures, while traditional linear channels numbers appear to be in decline. This is because many of us have several additional services/platforms that offer thousands of series and films which can be watched at the touch of a button, why wait for a film or TV to appear on a channel at a certain time on a specific date.
Doctor Who is still being shown on BBC One on a Saturday early evening, but these new episodes which are being called Series 1 (personally I consider this Series 40 since 1963 or the 14th since the programme returned in 2005) are being made available on iPlayer at midnight on Friday, about 18 to 19 hoursbefore the debut on BBC One. Last Friday (11th of May) as the clock struck twelve the double bill of opening episodes appeared on my screen, of course I watched. Partly because I couldn’t wait, and I didn’t want to be spoilt. For as long as I can remember I have watched new Who when the episode premiered. During this new series I will try to watch at midnight online and in the early evening on BBC One, and then many additional times after that online. Sadly, it doesn’t matter when I view the show because I do not count towards its viewing figures stats (though I do know someone whose viewing does affect the official figures). I am just a fan who loves to watch the show.
Entertainment really is changing, there doesn’t appear to be event TV anymore, a programme that millions would all watch at the same time and talk about it with friends and colleagues the next day. When I was young there were only 3 channels, most of the time if I missed a programme, I had to hope for a repeat.
Doctor Who is a programme that has consistently evolved since it first appeared in 1963, it has had to, to survive. This new streaming experience is an experiment, the show is currently partly financed by Disney. The House of Mouse have backed 2 series (the second is in production now and will be transmitted in 2025) of the adventures of the 15th Doctor. Traditional television viewing figures are down for all programmes on every channel because of the number of online services we have. Will the Doctor be able to capture the streaming audience in the UK and more importantly this year around the world, I hope so.
I started talking about my love of Tony Hancock, it has regularly been said that public houses would empty when he was on the radio and TV. His programmes really were event television. If Tony had been born later, he would be producing comedy on a streaming channel and maybe a bigger name than he is. To people like me the lad from East Cheam is already worldwide comedy legend. The big question is, Is todays brightly coloured slightly outrageous comedy better than the simpler black and white days. That’s an argument for another ramble.
And Finally……
This week I said out loud, “I eat mushrooms in all forms. I am not prejudice”.
My Mid-Life Crisis Conts……
This Week I Watched……
“Bridgerton”, (S3, Part 1, ep 1 to ep 4). “Click”, (TX: 11/05/24). “Dead Boy Detectives”, (S1, ep 3 to ep 4). “Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (Results Section Only)”, (TX: 11/05/24). “Gardeners’ World”, (2024, ep 6, TX: 19/04/24). “Have I Got News For You”, (S67, ep 6, TX: 10/05/24). “I Kissed A Girl”, (S1, ep 3 to ep 4). “Inside No. 9”, (S9, ep 1). “Late Night Lycett”, (S2, ep 5, TX: 10/05/24). “Lexx”, (S4, ep 2). “Oprhan Black”, (S2, ep 1 to ep 10)(S3, ep 1 to ep 10). “Taskmaster”, (S17 (S8 on C4) ep 8, TX: 16/05/24). “The Bureau Of Magical Things”, (S2, ep 10). “The Old Doctor Who Show – Space Babies / The Devil’s Chord Review”, (TheOldDoctorWhoShow/YouTube)(TX: 11/05/24). “The Sky At Night”, (TX: 13/05/24). “The Young Offenders”, (S4, ep 1 to ep 4). “This Week In Space”, (This Week In Space/YouTube)(Ep 110, TX: 10/05/24).
Doctor Who Watched This Week……
“Space Babies”, (Series 1 or S14 (S40 Since 1963) ep 1, TX: 11/05/24). “The Devil’s Chord”, (Series 1 or S14 (S40 Since 1963) ep 2, TX: 11/05/24).
“Doctor Who: Unleashed”, (ep 1, “Space Babies”, TX: 11/05/24)(ep 2, “The Devil’s Chord”, TX: 11/05/24).
Amazing Tour Of TERRA ALPHA – Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol!”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 09/04/24). “Doctor Who In Studio: The Ark In Space CG Set Tour”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 26/03/24). “Doctor Who In Studio: The Five Doctors CG Set Tour”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 20/03/24). “Doctor Who: The Three Doctors – A CG Set Tour!”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 30/04/24). “Doctor Who In Studio: The Tomb Of The Cybermen Episode 1 CG Set Tour”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 03/04/24). “Marco Polo: The Roof Of The World: A CG Tour Through Doctor Who’s 1964 Set!”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 23/04/24). “The First Doctor’s Regeneration: Behind The Scenes On Doctor Who’s The Tenth Planet – A CG Set Tour”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube) (TX: 08/05/24). “The Greatest Show In The Galaxy: When Doctor Who Was Shot In A Tent! An Amazing CG Set Tour”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 15/05/24). “The Trial Of A Time Lord: A Crazy CG Tour Through Doctor Who’s Set!”, (Andrew Orton/YouTube)(TX: 16/04/24).
This Week I Listened To……
“Angel On Top”, (ep 1.10, “Parting Gifts”, 31/10/18). “Blake’s 7: The Mutoid Podcast”, (SB, ep 11, “Gambit”, 11/05/24). “Buffering: A Rewatch Adventure”, (S1, ep 12, “Prophecy Girl”, 07/12/16)(ep 0.03, 04/01/17). “Clinton Baptiste’s All-New Paranormal Podcast – Best Bits – Compilation 1”, (17/05/24). “Dinner On Me With Jesse Tyler Ferguson”, (“George Takei”, 14/05/24). “Doctor Who Flashcast”, (TeeVee)(ep 27, “The Return Of Doctor Mysterio”, 26/12/16)(ep 28, “The Pilot”, 16/04/17)(ep 29, “Smile”, 23/04/17)(ep 30, “Thin Ice”, 30/04/17)(ep 31, “Knock Knock”, 07/05/17)(ep 32, “Oxygen”, 15/05/17)(ep 33, “Extremis”, 21/05/17)(ep 34, “Pyramid At The End Of The World”, 28/05/17)(ep 35, “The Lie Of The Land”, 04/06/17)(ep 36, Empress Of Mars”, 11/06/17)(ep 72, “The Star Beast”, 26/11/23)(ep 73, “Wild Blue Yonder”, 04/12/23)(ep 74, “The Giggle”, 10/12/23)(ep 75, “The Church On Ruby Road”, 26/12/23)(ep 76, “Space Babies”, 11/05/24)(ep 77, “The Devil’s Chord”, 14/05/24). “Doctor Who Literature”, (ep 17, “ The Three Doctors”, 06/03/22). “Doctor Who – Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Indefinable Magic Bite Size 1 (Space Babies)”, (17/05/24). “Dog Stars Podcast”, (ep 29, 17/05/24). “Exocast”, (ep 49-c, 08/03/21). “Hard Boiled Eggs And Nuts – A Laurel And Hardy Podcast”, (ep 47, 08/07/18). “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 336, 17/05/24). “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (LBC)(11/05/24)(12/05/24) (17/05/24). “Now Playing Presents – Diamonds Are Forever”, (28/08/12). “Pale Blue Pod”, (05/12/22)(13/05/24). “Radio Astronomy (Sky At Night Magazine) Star Diary”, (“13th to 19th May”, 12/05/24). “Random Movie Generator With David Earl And David Edward’s”, (S3, ep 20, 15/05/24). “Random Trek”, (The Incomparable)(ep 13, (TNG), “Timescape”, 21/08/14). “Robot Or Not?”, (The Incomparable)(ep 136, 23/07/18)(ep 297, 16/05/24). “Sicker Sadder World – Rewatching Daria”, (S1, ep 10, “The Big House”, 09/05/17). “Smersh Pod – Deep Rising”, (13/05/24). “Space And Things Podcast”, (STP194, 16/05/24). “Space Rocket History Podcast”, (ep 211, 07/06/17)(ep 212, 14/06/17)( ep 213, 31/06/17)(ep 214, 28/06/17). “Star Trek Universe Podcast”, (11/05/24). “The Dropout – Elizabeth Holmes On Trial”, (ep 2, 31/08/21)(ep 3, 07/09/21). “The Incomparable Mothership”, (The Incomparable)(ep 714, “You Can’t Protect People From “Doctor Who”, 03/05/24). “The Mystery Hour With James O’Brien”, (LBC)(16/05/24). “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (LBC)(13/05/24). “The Official Doctor Who Podcast”, (“Space Babies And The Devil’s Chord”, 11/05/24). “The Old Doctor Who Show”, (ep 155, “Space Babies And The Devil’s Chord”, 11/05/24). “The Rewatcher: Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, (S1, ep 12, “Prophecy Girl”, 12/12/22). “Two-Minute Time Lord”, (2MTL 479: 02/02/24)(2MTL 480: 10/05/24)(2MTL 481: “The Space Babies”, 16/05/24). “Universe Today Podcast”, (ep 340, 31/05/17)(ep 341, 01/06/17)(ep 342, 06/06/17)(08/05/24). “Very Nearly an Armful – The Tony Hancock Hancock Appreciation Society”, (S7, ep 3 – Live At Riverside Studios”, 11/05/24). “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (LBC)(10/05/24)(13/05/24)(17/05/24).
Tony Hancock 100 Listened To This Week……
“Calling All Forces (1952) & Star Bill (1954) (Original Broadcast, BBC Light Programme, 25/02/52 & 21/03/54)”, (BBC Radio 4x/Sounds)(12/05/24). “Hancock’s Half Hour – A Visit To Swansea (Original Broadcast, BBC Light Programme, S2, ep 4, 10/05/55)”, (BBC Radio 4x/Sounds)(12/05/24). “Star Bill (Original Broadcast, BBC Light Programme, 07/06/53)”, (BBC Radio 4x/Sounds)(12/05/24). “Steve Punt’s Hancock Cuttings”, (BBC Radio 4x/Sounds)(12/05/24).
This Week I Enjoyed Music By……
“Morrissey”, “ABBA”, “Alanis Morissette”, “Daniel Beddingfield”, “ELO”, “Fun Boy Three”, “Heaven 17″, “Housemartins”, “Howard Jones”, “Kings Of Leon”, “Sleeper”, “Tears For Fears”, “Tenacious D”, “The Killers”, “The Last Dinner Party”, “The Libertines”, “The Specials”, “The Stone Roses”, “The Who”, “The Zutons”, “Ting Tings”, “Wet Leg”.
MisFits Mid-Life Crisis.... 