MorecambeAndWise
Just some of the thousands crowding to catch at glimpse of Tony Appleton
Eric & Ernie
Posted by Martin Simmonds on 2 January 2011 - 12:58pm.
Who would have thought that Eric and Ernie still had it in them to rescue one more Christmas TV schedule?
Last nights comedy drama was superb.
Great casting of the boys as children and then in later years together with some wonderful lines from Victoria Wood.
It made my day.
Highly recommended.
More from Martin Simmonds.
Agreed
BAFTAs all round.
Especially the chap playing Eric.
eddie g | 2 January 2011 - 1:08pm
I honestly laughed out loud about 6 times during it
Full marks all round to both main characters - perhaps a special mention to the bloke doing little Ern as - in real life - his understated performance gave room for Eric to give it the full dog and pony.
Also honourable mentions to Victoria Wood: who has gone some way to redeeming herself after her last Christmas special farrago, and Vic Reeves/Jim Moir for his most sympathetic depiction of the sidelined dad who puts up with his families absences out of love for them both.
BernkastelCues | 2 January 2011 - 1:29pm
We watched with unalloyed delight.
After about 15 minutes Mrs. Fox turned to me and asked,
What do you think of it so far?". Rubbish!
I cried. We hooted. It was by far the best thing I've seen throughout the festive wallow.
Vulpes Vulpes | 2 January 2011 - 1:46pm
Without
a doubt the best thing on TV this christmas. Funny and poignant with top draw performances, but unlike most comedy dramas about deceased famous comedians / national trasures it didn't make you want to slash your wrists by the end, a real treat. The guy playing Eric was phenomenal!
sirbriancannonhunter | 2 January 2011 - 2:22pm
My Christmas Present
Was the box set of the entire Morecambe and Wise bbc tv series recordings. About 22 discs (about £70 on amazon). I've a lot to look forward too!
Martin Simmonds | 2 January 2011 - 5:05pm
BAFTAS?
You bet. The guys were wonderful. If it were on again tonight, I would watch it again. It was that good.
geacher53 | 2 January 2011 - 5:32pm
I'm relieved
To see the unanimous approval on here (I thought it was going to be another Jools Hoolland type slag and cynicism fest). I have it recorded and will watch it later.
Thomas the Rhymer | 2 January 2011 - 5:33pm
That's 'cos that was rot and this was most definitely not.
Sven Garlic | 2 January 2011 - 7:11pm
What all of you said
It was just fantastic! I spent Christams about 12 years ago with some friends who had Spanish friends of theirs staying. We all watched an old Morcambe and Wise Christams show and even the Spanish father who was the only person who spoke no English was laughing almost as much as the rest of us. Eric Morcambe just had funny bones.
davebigpicture | 2 January 2011 - 5:40pm
Had a similar conversation last night
I didn't see the Eric and Ernie drama, but the '76 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special was on beforehand. My girlfriend and I remarked that there was just something about Morecambe and Wise that makes you laugh - they don't even have to do anything. Same goes for The Two Ronnies and Tommy Cooper in my book; I can't think of anyone who can claim to be as naturally funny as that today.
Joe R | 2 January 2011 - 5:57pm
Saw that
And was surprised how good Elton John was as a, cough, straight man. Also, he gave a great solo (no strings or backing singers) performance of Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word.
Thomas the Rhymer | 2 January 2011 - 6:36pm
The voices
We caught up with it this afternoon and it was the way they caught the inflections in Eric and Ern's voices that helped make it such an enjoyable drama. Full marks to all concerned.
Was the writer of the disastrous TV series fictionalised or was there someone of that name who will forever be held up to ridicule as the man who managed to make Eric & Ern not funny? Mind you, their films The Intelligence Men and The Magnificent Two weren't great either.
Carl Parker | 2 January 2011 - 6:34pm
Graham McCann's biography
Says that producer Bryan Sears thought they were too northern. Denis Goodwin and Bob Monkhouse were first choice for scriptwriters but for some reason they didn't produce anything so six other writers provided material which would explain Eric and Ernies dissatisfaction with the scripts.
It's a while since I read this but from memory last nights programme tallied quite well with this book which itself was reckoned to be a very faithful account of their lives when it was published.
davebigpicture | 2 January 2011 - 7:48pm
The highlight of the holidays
On the telly, anyway.
I enjoyed it. The story, the pace, the performances, all were equally balanced. The lad portraying the elder Morecambe was excellent, as was Jim Moir who, divorced from his own manic material, pretty much stole it for me.
AA Gill was less keen in his Sunday Times column, finding it too bland and sanitised. I see a point there, and I agree with him that M&W sometimes weren't that funny every single time they appeared on tv during their 70's, but I disagree with him that a deeper darker story was being hinted at that was not told.
No doubt all was not sunshine and smiles across all those years. Sometimes though close relationships do just roll along happily enough.
Just some of the thousands crowding to catch at glimpse of Tony Appleton
Eric & Ernie
Posted by Martin Simmonds on 2 January 2011 - 12:58pm.
Who would have thought that Eric and Ernie still had it in them to rescue one more Christmas TV schedule?
Last nights comedy drama was superb.
Great casting of the boys as children and then in later years together with some wonderful lines from Victoria Wood.
It made my day.
Highly recommended.
More from Martin Simmonds.
Agreed
BAFTAs all round.
Especially the chap playing Eric.
eddie g | 2 January 2011 - 1:08pm
I honestly laughed out loud about 6 times during it
Full marks all round to both main characters - perhaps a special mention to the bloke doing little Ern as - in real life - his understated performance gave room for Eric to give it the full dog and pony.
Also honourable mentions to Victoria Wood: who has gone some way to redeeming herself after her last Christmas special farrago, and Vic Reeves/Jim Moir for his most sympathetic depiction of the sidelined dad who puts up with his families absences out of love for them both.
BernkastelCues | 2 January 2011 - 1:29pm
We watched with unalloyed delight.
After about 15 minutes Mrs. Fox turned to me and asked,
What do you think of it so far?". Rubbish!
I cried. We hooted. It was by far the best thing I've seen throughout the festive wallow.
Vulpes Vulpes | 2 January 2011 - 1:46pm
Without
a doubt the best thing on TV this christmas. Funny and poignant with top draw performances, but unlike most comedy dramas about deceased famous comedians / national trasures it didn't make you want to slash your wrists by the end, a real treat. The guy playing Eric was phenomenal!
sirbriancannonhunter | 2 January 2011 - 2:22pm
My Christmas Present
Was the box set of the entire Morecambe and Wise bbc tv series recordings. About 22 discs (about £70 on amazon). I've a lot to look forward too!
Martin Simmonds | 2 January 2011 - 5:05pm
BAFTAS?
You bet. The guys were wonderful. If it were on again tonight, I would watch it again. It was that good.
geacher53 | 2 January 2011 - 5:32pm
I'm relieved
To see the unanimous approval on here (I thought it was going to be another Jools Hoolland type slag and cynicism fest). I have it recorded and will watch it later.
Thomas the Rhymer | 2 January 2011 - 5:33pm
That's 'cos that was rot and this was most definitely not.
Sven Garlic | 2 January 2011 - 7:11pm
What all of you said
It was just fantastic! I spent Christams about 12 years ago with some friends who had Spanish friends of theirs staying. We all watched an old Morcambe and Wise Christams show and even the Spanish father who was the only person who spoke no English was laughing almost as much as the rest of us. Eric Morcambe just had funny bones.
davebigpicture | 2 January 2011 - 5:40pm
Had a similar conversation last night
I didn't see the Eric and Ernie drama, but the '76 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special was on beforehand. My girlfriend and I remarked that there was just something about Morecambe and Wise that makes you laugh - they don't even have to do anything. Same goes for The Two Ronnies and Tommy Cooper in my book; I can't think of anyone who can claim to be as naturally funny as that today.
Joe R | 2 January 2011 - 5:57pm
Saw that
And was surprised how good Elton John was as a, cough, straight man. Also, he gave a great solo (no strings or backing singers) performance of Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word.
Thomas the Rhymer | 2 January 2011 - 6:36pm
The voices
We caught up with it this afternoon and it was the way they caught the inflections in Eric and Ern's voices that helped make it such an enjoyable drama. Full marks to all concerned.
Was the writer of the disastrous TV series fictionalised or was there someone of that name who will forever be held up to ridicule as the man who managed to make Eric & Ern not funny? Mind you, their films The Intelligence Men and The Magnificent Two weren't great either.
Carl Parker | 2 January 2011 - 6:34pm
Graham McCann's biography
Says that producer Bryan Sears thought they were too northern. Denis Goodwin and Bob Monkhouse were first choice for scriptwriters but for some reason they didn't produce anything so six other writers provided material which would explain Eric and Ernies dissatisfaction with the scripts.
It's a while since I read this but from memory last nights programme tallied quite well with this book which itself was reckoned to be a very faithful account of their lives when it was published.
davebigpicture | 2 January 2011 - 7:48pm
The highlight of the holidays
On the telly, anyway.
I enjoyed it. The story, the pace, the performances, all were equally balanced. The lad portraying the elder Morecambe was excellent, as was Jim Moir who, divorced from his own manic material, pretty much stole it for me.
AA Gill was less keen in his Sunday Times column, finding it too bland and sanitised. I see a point there, and I agree with him that M&W sometimes weren't that funny every single time they appeared on tv during their 70's, but I disagree with him that a deeper darker story was being hinted at that was not told.
No doubt all was not sunshine and smiles across all those years. Sometimes though close relationships do just roll along happily enough.