Forgotten Irish sitcoms.

Dr Bob · 11-11-2020 1:47pm

I Am The Law wrote: »

What a totally depressing list of horsesh1t, for a country with a great sense of humor, you would have to wonder how this crap gets commissioned?

The worst of it was I somehow mixed the Hardy Bucks up with it and avoided watching that for years , which was a crime as HB is a brilliant show.

Dr Bob · 11-11-2020 1:49pm

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2219927/

Ah man , he switched back to camera work by the looks of it , hope things worked out for him .

the purple tin · 11-11-2020 2:03pm

WhenPigsCry wrote: »

Unlike so much awful RTE output of yesteryear, this one has been preserved for public consumption by Youtube.

I've never seen it before. Christ that is bad. Peepshow wannabe.

ShyMets · 11-11-2020 2:14pm

the purple tin wrote: »

I've never seen it before. Christ that is bad. Peepshow wannabe.

What has me flabbergasted isn't how horrendous it is. It's that someone actually commissioned this garbage and is probably still employed by RTE

Hangdogroad · 11-11-2020 2:17pm

Remember when RTE commisioned a series of comedy pilots circa 2008 which were supposed to be developed as potential series? Only saw the one by Dead Cat Bounce, something about businessmen playing golf. Forced surrealism and unexplained mixture of Irish, English and American accents. One of the characters seemed to be a carbon copy of Swiss Tony, down to the hair and moustache.

the purple tin · 11-11-2020 2:18pm

ShyMets wrote: »

What has me flabbergasted isn't how horrendous it is. It's that someone actually commissioned this garbage and is probably still employed by RTE

RTE is a closed shop they say. You won't get in without good connections but once in, you have an easy, high paying job for life.

Morgans · 11-11-2020 2:42pm

Dr Bob wrote: »

Friend of mine was in that (despite being in his mid twenties played some sort of 'cool schoolkid' guy who drove around in a convertible,) we still slag him off over it.

You are doing God's work.

Hangdogroad · 11-11-2020 4:46pm

Finbars Class mentioned a few times, dont think I saw it at the time.

https://mobile.twitter.com/KillianM2/status/1326529282869403648

whisky_galore · 11-11-2020 5:25pm

Hangdogroad wrote: »

It's something I've often wondered myself. How we just (mostly) never seem to master tv comedy in comparison to Britain. I think a lot of it had to do with the rigid censorship and Church control that was in place till recent decades. Any genuinely innovative comics had to go abroad, Dave Allen for example. The Btitish have a long tradition of satire. I think maybe our stringent libel laws might have a part in it too.

I think it's to do with larger population, more of a pool of talent rather than same tired old faces and usual favouritism/nepotism.

A selection of tv channels willing to take a punt on newcomers instead of just one, as was the case for many years.

Universities are a big help in getting like minded people together, more of an emphasis on am dram and such societies there. More comedy clubs so people can hone their talent (comedy clubs were unheard of here until relatively recently), places like Blackpool which have no Irish equivalent...whether that's a good or bad thing is moot.

To be fair, British tv comedy has more than it's fair share of lame duck shows, but that's inevitable.

Funding and money. Most everything in RTE apart from "stars" take home pay done on the cheap.

ShagNastii · 11-11-2020 6:46pm

Surprised nobody has mentioned This Is Nightlive. It, like a few things RTE has produced was a poor mans version of a funny UK show The Day Today.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Nightlive

It was baaaaaad. Like the recent turd that is Finding Joy every joke fall flat as a pancake.

Hangdogroad · 11-11-2020 6:57pm

This thread sparked a long forgotten memory about Molloy. There was a dream sequence where Jim Nortons character is being whipped by his mother in law who I think was played by Pat Leavy from Fair City, she was dressed in dominatrix gear and stockings. I swear I'm not making this up. I had a vague recollection of this scene up to now but thought it might have been Anna Manahan in Leave It To Mrs O Brien but now I know for sure what it's from.

saabsaab · 11-11-2020 7:13pm

Anyone remember 'Nothing to it" about young employed twentysomethings living in Rathmines? Late eighties. Pauline McLynn was in it.

EmmetSpiceland · 11-11-2020 8:15pm

Hangdogroad wrote: »

This thread sparked a long forgotten memory about Molloy. There was a dream sequence where Jim Nortons character is being whipped by his mother in law who I think was played by Pat Leavy from Fair City, she was dressed in dominatrix gear and stockings. I swear I'm not making this up. I had a vague recollection of this scene up to now but thought it might have been Anna Manahan in Leave It To Mrs O Brien but now I know for sure what it's from.

Careful now, H. You’re “revealing” a lot there, what if it turns out that there was no such scene? Best keep that one to yourself.

I know a lad who obsessed with an episode of, what he calls, “forced transvestism” perpetrated on Stephen in Glenroe. You know the lad who looked like a Scottish Terrier?

He claims 2 young ladies “accost” him in a car and put make up on him. I think he said something about a feather boa around him too. There may well have been some moustache “play” involved.

The whole thing smacked of deranged fantasy, the way he’d go on. Would never just let it go. Don’t see the guy too much anymore but from speaking to others that know him he still brings it up. Just between us, I think the whole thing brings “him” up. If you know what I mean.

So be careful, do your research and try not to get too “sucked in” by this BDSM sequence. Good luck and stay safe.

mloc123 · 12-11-2020 12:00pm

George White wrote: »

Wrote notes in a daze of shock and surprise.
It begins with Ruth McCabe singing, " you ate all pies, you ate all the pies, you fat bastard, you ate all the pies."

They live in a freezing cold house with no electricity.
There is a mix of Northern and South accents.
Begins with mother's sixtieth birthday
"hailstones - french bastards - testing stuff in the sea, burning sheep"
Broangh Gallagher - too good for this. She was in Pulp fiction, you know.
winter fuel is actually burning wooden furniture,
A poor painting of the queen, "no happy queen but a glum virgin""the crying virgin"
clash of acting styles - d'unbelievables don't do well in the background
"Van morrison" is "grumpy bitch"
The exteriors look older than 2000 - father ted-style cuts to burning sheep
mother falling through the roof - Ruth McCabe proves herself extremely capable, despite given Mrs. Doyle schtick

Mother practices being dead, McCabe relishing her material too far, oversexed, too much gravitas, buried in chelsea home kit, away strip, keep the blue flag flying.
Characters singing Ken Dodd's Tears- while virgin cries
"in the end, i typed up on the screen - sent it electronically"
warwick davis as undertaker, Basil Hodge
Damien Kearney as postman
deirdre o'kane
alistair mcgowan as john motson
Set in Tully McFadden.
rita haill
"asta sighvats"
Bobby a schoolteacher - Deirdre o'Kane his mad ex

Illiterate Jon Kenny- "I never see the word bargain in the oxfam shop".
pick up rocks, sulk the milk out
"thousands starving in kilburn"

st. mungo's school for derelicts - "dear rita, been in love with the back of you head"
Kennedy the gay son cries, "my vocal cords were black" - Billy Carter proves he is better - Jeffrey Holland quality
"young man who grinds the poridge", "hair reminds of hairy boiling water, suffering from alopecia "

Deirdre O'Kane as a random assasin/spurned lover.
"what's the use in being queer if nobody knows about it"
Lost son, Nevan Finnegan as ludovic Kennedy- ludovic - mick hucknall's frigigng love bastard ("I thought he looked like Charlie Drake")
hamish Mccoll and Sean Foley as the soldiers.

Damien Fitzgerald - the unseen 7th member, a footballer for Chelsea - "Damien's chelsea custards"
"Oliver Mannion as mick maccattackney"
"john brobbey as tennessee" - the black soldier.
Jon Kenny's character John F started work wiping sweat off a blacksmith age six - they took the Janet and John books off the curriculm- there were no lesbians in them so they became outdated, so they have to go to Dublin to find a book in the series to educate John F.
a dealer in dublin to get the book
Eddie Nestor from the Real McCoy as an African, Naquila Mambembo
Cast include Max Clifford-groomed Anglo-Irish pop teenybopper Declan Galbraith, Billy mulligan. Martin mulligan, Ciaran Owen, Liam Donaghy, Anthony O'Reilley
leaving the sois cake -"can't bear putting on weight after i die"
Shipping news is seen as a load of craic
Fair City's Vivienne, Helen Norton as lollipop lady

I am now looking online to buy a copy of this :pac:

Real Life · 12-11-2020 12:29pm

the purple tin wrote: »

Soupy Norman.
A Polish soap opera overdubbed by Mario Rosenstock.
Gas craic it was.

Soupy Norman was great, but was it not created by the Apres Match guys?

COVID · 12-11-2020 12:35pm

Real Life wrote: »

Soupy Norman was great, but was it not created by the Apres Match guys?

Yes, one of them, Barry Murphy.... along with writer and former stand-up, Mark Doherty.

Church on Tuesday · 12-11-2020 1:28pm

Zeek12 wrote: »

I don't but I really should. I was a kid living in two-channel land in 1989!

Loved Jim Norton/Bishop Brennan in Fr. Ted. He's my favourite character in it.

His best turn was in Deception though, Ireland's greatest unintentional sitcom courtesy of TV3.

https://img2.thejournal.ie/inline/774075/original/?width=630&version=774075

Hangdogroad · 12-11-2020 2:02pm

saabsaab wrote: »

Anyone remember 'Nothing to it" about young employed twentysomethings living in Rathmines? Late eighties. Pauline McLynn was in it.

Yes, it was technically a series offering advice to unemployed young people but shot in sitcom fromat. It was way funnier than any of the conventional comedy RTE was serving up at the time.

Sgt Hartman · 12-11-2020 2:26pm

Does anyone here remember Stew from approximately 16 years ago on RTE2? It was a comedy sketch show as opposed to a sitcom. It featured Pat "Eoin McLove" McDonnell.
Some of the sketches were really hit and miss such as the farmer woman who thought her cows were leering at her and the posh guy reminiscing about pleasant past events whenever he stumbled upon vomit or dog turds on the pavement.
I think it lasted about 2 seasons before the plug was pulled on it.

Also there was Your Bad Self from approx 2010, another comedy sketch show with Michael McElhatton and Domhnaill Gleeson. I remember the South African Lady sketches which made very little sense.

Sebastian Dangerfield · 12-11-2020 2:30pm

Sgt Hartman wrote: »

Does anyone here remember Stew from approximately 10 years ago on RTE2? It was a comedy sketch show as opposed to a sitcom. It featured Michael McElhatton and Patrick "Eoin McLove" McDonnell.
Some of the sketches were really hit and miss such as the farmer woman who thought her cows were leering at her, the posh guy reminiscing about pleasant past events whenever he stumbled upon vomit or dog turds on the pavement, and the South African Lady sketches which made very little sense.
I think it lasted about 2 seasons before the plug was pulled on it.

I dont say this lightly because I watch a lot of crap tv, but this was the absolute worst pile of shi.t that has even been made

El Tarangu · 12-11-2020 3:24pm

Sgt Hartman wrote: »

Does anyone here remember Stew from approximately 16 years ago on RTE2? It was a comedy sketch show as opposed to a sitcom. It featured Pat "Eoin McLove" McDonnell.
Some of the sketches were really hit and miss such as the farmer woman who thought her cows were leering at her and the posh guy reminiscing about pleasant past events whenever he stumbled upon vomit or dog turds on the pavement.
I think it lasted about 2 seasons before the plug was pulled on it.

This was shocking bad.

Also there was Your Bad Self from approx 2010, another comedy sketch show with Michael McElhatton and Domhnaill Gleeson. I remember the South African Lady sketches which made very little sense.

This I remember as being funnier - Amy Huberman starred (and I think, wrote it).

El Tarangu · 12-11-2020 3:27pm

El Tarangu wrote: »

This I remember as being funnier - Amy Huberman starred (and I think, wrote it).

I thought that this sketch was funny enough - the actor playing the driver, even though he isn't in it much, is pretty funny.

NewbridgeIR · 12-11-2020 3:53pm

saabsaab wrote: »

Anyone remember 'Nothing to it" about young employed twentysomethings living in Rathmines? Late eighties. Pauline McLynn was in it.

Wrote a piece on it and uploaded clip
https://wheresgrandad.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/nothing-to-it/

bodhrandude · 12-11-2020 4:01pm

Sgt Hartman wrote: »

Does anyone here remember Stew from approximately 16 years ago on RTE2? It was a comedy sketch show as opposed to a sitcom. It featured Pat "Eoin McLove" McDonnell.
Some of the sketches were really hit and miss such as the farmer woman who thought her cows were leering at her and the posh guy reminiscing about pleasant past events whenever he stumbled upon vomit or dog turds on the pavement.
I think it lasted about 2 seasons before the plug was pulled on it.

Also there was Your Bad Self from approx 2010, another comedy sketch show with Michael McElhatton and Domhnaill Gleeson. I remember the South African Lady sketches which made very little sense.

I remember Stew alright, an Irish take on The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and Big Train style sketch shows. Mildly amusing at times, I'd rate it above Naked Camera and Anonymous anyway that were usually on the same bill on Monday nights on Network 2.

Church on Tuesday · 12-11-2020 4:33pm

bodhrandude wrote: »

I remember Stew alright, an Irish take on The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and Big Train style sketch shows. Mildly amusing at times, I'd rate it above Naked Camera and Anonymous anyway that were usually on the same bill on Monday nights on Network 2.

There was Bull Island before that too.

Pretty average at best from what I remember.

NewbridgeIR · 12-11-2020 4:36pm

I hated Stew but think Paul Tylak is rubbish. AKA Ashti the Kurdish refugee in Fair City.

I remember Molloy but only watched one episode. I was excited as I thought it might be connected to the Beckett novel (and Waiting For Godot was on the Leaving Cert English syllabus for us in the class of ‘89).

I endured Extra! Extra! in the run-up to Christmas 1993. Poor show,

saabsaab · 12-11-2020 4:39pm

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Wrote a piece on it and uploaded clip
https://wheresgrandad.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/nothing-to-it/

Didn't know that any clips still existed. Edgy for RTE at the time.

whisky_galore · 12-11-2020 4:44pm

David Kelly and Sean Hughes joined forces for the forgettable Signal Box in late 90s or early 00s(?)
It was supposed to be "surreal" comedy, but it was actually shít comedy.

BPKS · 12-11-2020 4:47pm

Not a sitcom but The End (?) on a Friday and Saturday night during the mid 90s was a godsend for those of us in 2 channel land who would listen on in jealousy as our posh friends with "the channels" told us of Channel 4 shows they would watch.

Telling our Irish teacher to watch it for the Peig cartoons and almost getting a beating the following Monday after we were told it was sacrilegious was something I wont forget in a hurry.

Hangdogroad · 12-11-2020 5:53pm

bodhrandude wrote: »

I remember Stew alright, an Irish take on The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and Big Train style sketch shows. Mildly amusing at times, I'd rate it above Naked Camera and Anonymous anyway that were usually on the same bill on Monday nights on Network 2.

I didn't think Stew was as bad as some here are making out, hit and miss but had its moments. Funniest sketch I remember was Patrick McConnell as this paranoid tinfoil hatter type who's in the pub with his friend. Friend tells him his doctor has told him he has terminal cancer. Paranoid lad goes "if your doctor tells you you're gonna go make sure you bring the bastard with you".

Hangdogroad · 12-11-2020 5:57pm

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

There was Bull Island before that too.

Pretty average at best from what I remember.

As political satire it was toothless. The only thing I found funny was when it did a pisstake of Paddy O Gorman, of O Gormans people about the way he comes onto young women he interviews

the purple tin · 12-11-2020 6:06pm

Hangdogroad wrote: »

As political satire it was toothless. The only thing I found funny was when it did a pisstake of Paddy O Gorman, of O Gormans people about the way he comes onto young women he interviews

The State Of Us was a great satire. Celebs from RTE and FFG getting it in the neck.

The Mulk · 12-11-2020 6:48pm

whisky_galore wrote: »

David Kelly and Sean Hughes joined forces for the forgettable Signal Box in late 90s or early 00s(?)
It was supposed to be "surreal" comedy, but it was actually shít comedy.

This was a remake of a 60's 'sitcom'/sketch from RTE

https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/0024/016.html

I had high hopes, I was disappointed:(

Hangdogroad · 12-11-2020 6:57pm

The Mulk wrote: »

This was a remake of a 60's 'sitcom'/sketch from RTE

https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/0024/016.html

I had high hopes, I was disappointed:(

The remake was around 1995/96. Open to correction but I think it was a scene for scene remake based on the old script. The 60s original had been wiped.

Say Your Number · 12-11-2020 7:07pm

Wouldn't classify it as a sitcom but The Modest Adventures Of David O'Doherty was good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcepP_OdMtQ

saabsaab · 12-11-2020 7:26pm

Hangdogroad wrote: »

The remake was around 1995/96. Open to correction but I think it was a scene for scene remake based on the old script. The 60s original had been wiped.

I wonder has the 95 version gone too? RTE used to wipe the tapes a lot back then to save storage cost etc.

Hangdogroad · 12-11-2020 7:39pm

saabsaab wrote: »

I wonder has the 95 version gone too? RTE used to wipe the tapes a lot back then to save storage cost etc.

I think the practise of wiping was more 60s and 70s but you wouldn't know with RTE. I'd wager it's still in their archives but cant see it being repeated or getting a dvd release anytime soon.

Del.Monte · 12-11-2020 7:48pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

Wouldn't classify it as a sitcom but The Modest Adventures Of David O'Doherty was good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcepP_OdMtQ

Okay, I lasted until 1.21 - what was it about as it looks a pile of ****e?

saabsaab · 12-11-2020 7:49pm

Hangdogroad wrote: »

I think the practise of wiping was more 60s and 70s but you wouldn't know with RTE. I'd wager it's still in their archives but cant see it being repeated or getting a dvd release anytime soon.

Had a chat with an RTE man some time ago who would know and he said that this was still the practice (mid 80s amyway)

saabsaab · 12-11-2020 7:53pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

Okay, I lasted until 1.21 - what was it about as it looks a pile of ****e?

A bit harsh. Hit and miss.

12-11-2020 7:55pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

I remember The Roaring Twenties, seemed like it was only half-finished, might have had some potential if they spent a bit more time on it and didn't rush it out.

I missed it first time round so watched it today. Christ it was bad. Not a single actor in it appeared professional.

Story had some promise but it really did look like it was a demo tape thrown up by a few mates with an idea

NewbridgeIR · 12-11-2020 8:00pm

saabsaab wrote: »

Had a chat with an RTE man some time ago who would know and he said that this was still the practice (mid 80s amyway)

Depends on the type of programme. They stopped junking a lot of children's programmes quite early as they wanted to keep repeating them - build up enough for continuous syndication - e.g. Bosco.

For their 40th anniversary, there were a few documentaries which had tantalising clips of old dramas and plays - obviously still existed but RTE had zero interest in marketing or trying to release DVDs which was the optimum time to do in mid 2000s.

bodhrandude · 12-11-2020 8:04pm

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Wrote a piece on it and uploaded clip
https://wheresgrandad.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/nothing-to-it/

Loving your blog, thanks for the links, just watched Clash of the Ash and I'm well impressed.

saabsaab · 12-11-2020 8:04pm

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Depends on the type of programme. They stopped junking a lot of children's programmes quite early as they wanted to keep repeating them - build up enough for continuous syndication - e.g. Bosco.

For their 40th anniversary, there were a few documentaries which had tantalising clips of old dramas and plays - obviously still existed but RTE had zero interest in marketing or trying to release DVDs which was the optimum time to do in mid 2000s.

Fair enough some were saved but maybe like clips of old Late Late shows that's all that's left, few complete programmes?

EmmetSpiceland · 12-11-2020 8:18pm

‘Paddywhackery’ was great, on TG4. Paddy Courtney is a lad trying to get grant money for setting up a business “as gaeilge”.

The ubiquitous Fionnula Flanagan played a, sort of, ghost of Peig Sayers.

saabsaab · 12-11-2020 8:24pm

RTE should do a show around Foil, Arms & Hogg. Not everyone's cup of tea but they are popular. Maybe a sitcom about city slickers dropping out of their high powered lives and going green 'down the country' a kind of Fr Ted with wellies?
Make the countryside sexy again..

NewbridgeIR · 12-11-2020 8:26pm

bodhrandude wrote: »

Loving your blog, thanks for the links, just watched Clash of the Ash and I'm well impressed.

you're very welcome, glad you like it. Great to be able to share what's on the videotapes.

Del.Monte · 12-11-2020 8:34pm

Not sitcoms but RTE have all sorts of interesting stuff in their archives such as "The Year of the French", "The Burke Enigma" - an early crime series; also "Making the Cut" and "D.D.U". This is a response I got a while back - it's no wonder the organisation is bankrupt between this sort of nonsense and Forbes, Duffy, Tubridy and Darcy's ridiculous fees.

Hi

Unfortunately with most drama programmes there is copyright and legal restrictions, either because it was a co-production and RTE don’t own full copyright or that contract between actors and productions were never settled on.

So unfortunately none of the below are available to purchase as once of copies.

I’m sorry I couldn’t help further.

whisky_galore · 12-11-2020 9:26pm

saabsaab wrote: »

RTE should do a show around Foil, Arms & Hogg. Not everyone's cup of tea but they are popular. Maybe a sitcom about city slickers dropping out of their high powered lives and going green 'down the country' a kind of Fr Ted with wellies?
Make the countryside sexy again..

Obvious Green Acres ripoff.

whisky_galore · 12-11-2020 9:30pm

Del.Monte wrote: »

Not sitcoms but RTE have all sorts of interesting stuff in their archives such as "The Year of the French", "The Burke Enigma" - an early crime series; also "Making the Cut" and "D.D.U". This is a response I got a while back - it's no wonder the organisation is bankrupt between this sort of nonsense and Forbes, Duffy, Tubridy and Darcy's ridiculous fees.

Hi

Unfortunately with most drama programmes there is copyright and legal restrictions, either because it was a co-production and RTE don’t own full copyright or that contract between actors and productions were never settled on.

So unfortunately none of the below are available to purchase as once of copies.

I’m sorry I couldn’t help further.

They'll probably gather dust for a century before eventual release, that is if the tapes aren't degraded and rendered useless first. Typical RTE learned helplessness.

Forgotten Irish sitcoms.

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