THAT'S TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT: THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF BBC TELEVISION (TV)
Summary
This special pays tribute to the fiftieth anniversary of the biggest television network in Europe: the British Broadcasting Corporation. Using a constant stream of clips from the network's vast archives, as well as interviews with performers and creators of past and present BBC programming, "That's Television Entertainment" provides a colorful chronology of the history of the path-breaking television enterprise. The program opens with a medley of theme songs from the network's most memorable programs and then offers an in-depth look at one of the genres for which the BBC is known, the sketch comedy/variety program. Clips of skits based on World War II, racial tension, and acrobatic dogs are shown alongside recollections from people as diverse as Margaret Thatcher (who waxes nostalgic about the political-parody show "Yes, Minister") and Rod Stewart. The film briefly focuses on comedian Johnny Speight, who was known as a pioneer in the world of darkly satirical comedy; Speight's assaults on such sacred cows as religion and race are still considered incendiary by some people, notes comedic actor John Cleese. Another featured program, "That Was the Week That Was," is discussed by George Brown. Cleese talks about his favorite shows as a youth, the film-noirish detective programs "Z Cars" and "Dixon of Dock Green," which starred Jack Warner. David Frost suggests that the BBC's broadcast of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was probably the first thing most people ever saw on television. After a brief look at the BBC's first hit game show, "This is Your Life" (in a clip featuring a young Richard Attenborough), the program takes a more in-depth look at the BBC's dedication to music programming. Clips of Tom Jones's first performance on "The Six Five Special" are shown, as is an interview with actress Jenny Agutter, who recalls her fondness for the novelty program "Juke Box Jury." The first part of the film ends with a look at famed talk-show host Michael Parkinson, who could hold his own with guests such as those featured in the clips that are screened. These include Grace Jones, who physically assaults Parkinson; Muhammad Ali, who threatens to beat him up; Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog; Shirley MacLaine, who calls Parkinson a "pig"; Bette Midler; and Larry Adler and Itzhak Perlman.
The program continues with a look at a few of the BBC programs that have inspired devoted cult followings. Ringo Starr talks about his passion for the creepy thriller program "Quartermass II," and clips from "Doctor Who" and Douglas Adams's "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" are shown. The next segment of the program looks at some of the more unintentionally humorous material that has aired on the BBC. Clips of an eccentric cooking-show host and a series of half-baked pet stunts are aired. Next, Michael Palin talks about his respect for the comedy routines of Dudley Moore and Peter Cook, and Moore and Cook return the favor, praising "Monty Python's Flying Circus." A number of clips of both Cook and Moore and "Python" are shown. Comedian Lenny Henry discusses the influential punk-rock comedy series "The Young Ones," and Henry's own parody video of Michael Jackson's hit song "Thriller" is shown. Roger Moore talks about the offbeat humor of Rowan Atkinson and of John Cleese in "Fawlty Towers," and actor Ronnie Barker is interviewed about his days as a member of the comedy team "The Two Ronnies." A large portion of the film is then dedicated to some of the musical highlights from the BBC over its distinguished history. Performers include Elton John, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Gary Glitter, ABBA, Queen, John Denver, and Paul McCartney. The program ends with a skit meant to demonstrate that although the BBC is often though of as rather stuffy when it comes to more "adult" programming, it is able to poke fun at itself. In the final bit, orchestra conductor Andre Previn throws a mock tantrum when his piano player refuses to come in on cue.
Cataloging of this program has been made possible by the Bell Atlantic Foundation, 1999.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC (United Kingdom)
- DATE: November 30, 1985
- RUNNING TIME: 1:25:44
- COLOR/B&W: Color and B&W
- CATALOG ID: T87:0112
- GENRE: Arts documentaries; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - United Kingdom; Television broadcasting - Great Britain; TV - History
- SERIES RUN: BBC (United Kingdom) - TV, 1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Colin Strong … Producer
- Ronnie Hazlehurst … Music by
- Pat Parrish … Researcher
- Larry Adler
- Jenny Agutter
- Muhammad Ali (see also: Cassius Clay)
- Richard Attenborough
- Bellamy Bellamy
- Richard Briers
- George Brown
- Petula Clark
- John Cleese
- Joan Collins
- Alistair Cooke
- Michael Crawford
- David Croft
- Peter Davison
- Les Dawson
- Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain
- David Frost
- Ray Galton
- Denis Healey
- Roy Hud
- Alan Stratford Johns
- Grace Jones
- Terry Jones
- Tom Jones
- Penelope Keith
- Kermit the Frog
- Neil Kinnock
- Fulton MacKay
- Shirley MacLaine
- Cliff Michelmore
- Bette Midler
- Jonathan Miller
- Warren Mitchell
- Bill Owen
- Michael Parkinson
- Itzhak Perlman
- Miss Piggy
- Su Pollard
- Magnus Pyke
- Esther Rantzen
- Cliff Richard
- Peter Sallis
- Prunella Scales
- Alan Simpson
- Johnny Speight
- David Steele
- Pamela Stephenson
- Rod Stewart
- Margaret Thatcher
- Jack Warner
- Colin Welland
- Frank Windsor
- Ernie Wise