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Post by scotch'arry on Jul 25, 2005 20:33:23 GMT
Why don't they ever show 'An Officer and a Car Salesman' during the re-runs on Paramount? This was a great episode, and they show all the other Christmas specials, except 'Early Years Bonus' but that's understandable, as it's not really a proper episode.
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Post by jno on Jul 26, 2005 6:35:09 GMT
I think the main reason these aren't repeated is that they are longer than one hour. Unfortunately on these subscription channels it seems to me that very little time and effort is put into making up the schedules and showing shows round and round and round seems to be the only thing they can do. I think repeating something too much can also often have a negative effect on the show. When Minder was created, it was not intended to be shown every day in soap opera fashion.
Unfortnately channels such as Paramount seem to spend more time wondering what they can cut out for political correctness in order to maximise the number of viewers in an afternoon slot. As most of us who saw Minder foirst time around will remember, they were always shown at 9pm where such objectionable material was 'after the watershed'. I find it astounding how they cut and edit words out of Minder and yet at 5 o'clock you can hear Richard and Judy using the same sort of language live over on Channel 4.
Minder (like "The Sweeney" and "The Professionals" on Men & Motors) should be shown in full without cuts after 9pm, one or at most two episodes a week. By sticking it on 3 times a day, everyday in a constant loop means only one thing - they don't have any programmes to show. These subscription channels would be better off all getting together and establishing a half decent schedule and cut out the Teleshopping embarrassment altogether - remember, people are actually PAYING for this tripe! Unbelievable, and I actually fell sorry for Sky who have to try and promote this failing system.
It just seems to blatantly obvious that these channels are trying to make money by excessive advertising and have no real interest in programming quality - a shame as there is no real sign of it getting any better.
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Post by scotch'arry on Jul 26, 2005 21:18:51 GMT
I couldn't agree more. It's happening on UK Gold as well, where such classics as Porridge, Fawlty Towers and Alan Partridge are repeated ad-nauseum. At least they are only showing Minder once a day now, but that's still far too much. After all, there are plenty of other quality dramas tucked away somewhere that could be dusted down and given an airing. How about 'Out' or 'Special Branch', for example? I've not seen these repeated for years. It's true that these channels seem to care little for the quality of their programming, and more for the cheaply made insurance ads that are shown at every available opportunity.
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Post by Terry on Jul 27, 2005 10:04:25 GMT
I never understood how the everyday Sky subscriber could live with paying for watching TV that is still interrupted by and filled with advertising.
On German channel system Premiere they also show mostly cr*p, but at least it is free of advertising.....
Marco xxx
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Post by jno on Jul 27, 2005 13:46:53 GMT
In all fairness to Sky though, it is not necessarily their fault the such channels show round and round repeats. What I don't like about Sky is the fact they advertise these channels as an incentive to want to subscribe. At the end the day though, it all comes down to money as we know and any lack of serious competition in the UK will probably keep this happening for a while yet. Then again, no immediate competition for Premiere in Germany or Austria either, they still don't show so many ads though. Sky and other "Family Pack" channels would please their customers no end by showing programmes without any ads then bundle them all together before the next programme starts. It's too much to hope for though, it's a shame that Ofcom don't ban repetitiveness, but how this will ever be implemented is beyond me!
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Post by scotch'arry on Jul 27, 2005 20:40:12 GMT
At least the Crazy Frog has legged it. For now!
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Post by Mr. Chisholm on Sept 27, 2005 8:38:12 GMT
It looks like 'An Officer & A Car Salesman' is available on the 'Specials 2 of 2' DVD, I've only had an old VHS copy of it till now.
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Post by nixonuk on Sept 27, 2005 10:14:23 GMT
I only used to subscribe to Sky for the classic shows we all love, when UK Gold started running with tripe like 2 point 4 children and the like I knew it was game over.
Since the arrival of DVD Box sets I have no need for these channels. I just pop in a DVD and watch the episode uncut...so I haven't subscribed to Sky for over 6 months now.....
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Post by scotch'arry on Sept 28, 2005 22:15:55 GMT
They're only leaving stuff a couple of months before they stick it on UK Gold. Little Britain is on there now. Where are all the old 60's, 70's and 80's shows? It's all Room 101 and bloody Jonathon Ross.
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Post by sfordcar on May 4, 2008 8:50:07 GMT
I watched this for the first time ever yesterday after looking forward to seeing something as good as "Minder on the Orient Express", I hated it, not one moment when I laughed, it was bad to see Terry in prison again which was unnecessary to the story, Chisholm should have still been in the police trying to get Arthur and it was not funny at all to see him go mad at the end. Arthur should have still been using the car lot, the title is "Car Salesman" yet Arthur went all up market and we didn't really see him do much dodgy like sell a bad motor.
I prefer Series 1 episodes to this and this has got to be the worst Minder episode ever!
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Post by arnie1 on May 4, 2008 9:25:24 GMT
Yeah I agree with that sfordcar. The episode didn't feel like a Minder episode to me - there are too many people in it as well.
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Post by gazpete on May 4, 2008 9:50:21 GMT
Ta for that just ordered it from Amazon!
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Post by sfordcar on May 4, 2008 10:10:33 GMT
Ta for that just ordered it from Amazon! Sorry...
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Post by gazpete on May 4, 2008 14:41:47 GMT
np i'll make up my own mind
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Post by Terry on May 8, 2008 10:48:32 GMT
I don't think it is that bad....one of the weaker eps, yes....but better than most stuff that is on nowadays.
I liked the scenes where Arthur visits Terry in jail and the finale where Chisholm pretends being James Bond with his radio headset and the reactions of the others to it.
The weakest ep ever must surely be 'The Great Depression of 1994'... nothing of any sense in that.
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Post by Minderfan84 on May 8, 2008 12:09:45 GMT
I think it's quiet funny seeing Chisholm losing his marbles!
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Post by arnie1 on May 8, 2008 16:03:30 GMT
I don't think it is that bad....one of the weaker eps, yes....but better than most stuff that is on nowadays. I liked the scenes where Arthur visits Terry in jail and the finale where Chisholm pretends being James Bond with his radio headset and the reactions of the others to it. The weakest ep ever must surely be 'The Great Depression of 1994'... nothing of any sense in that. We are all Minder fans yes but the 'An Officer and a Car Salesmen' episode is rubbish, there is no way you can defend this episode. Terry looks out of shape and too old and Arthur is being protrayed as neither loveable nor roguish but rather really selfish and bad in a evil way.
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Post by gazpete on May 10, 2008 9:11:17 GMT
I just watched the episode, not bad - can see why Patrick Malahide wanted to quit though. The Arthur/Chisholm run-ins were beginning to resemble Inspector Clouseau and Comissioner Drefus, chiefly because of the way Chisholm was becoming obsessed with bringing down Arthur and the way he tries to strangle him as well.
Just my opnion anyway.
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Post by cranmer on May 10, 2008 22:21:03 GMT
I agree sfordcar, it was unnecessary to have Terry in prison. Arthur is always NEARLY getting Terry in trouble, but it always ends out well.
It was almost like a caricature of several of the characters.
If you were to line up the episodes in an identity parade, this would clearly be the odd-man-out.
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Post by jno on May 26, 2008 11:26:52 GMT
I think you have to look at the time when this came on the TV to defend this. This was a Christmas special and Minder had been off TV since 1985 so in a way this was a comeback episode - times had changed slightly and tension between Terry and Arthur had to be reintroduced to the audience I think, that is why Terry was behind bars.
The story isn't that bad but I agree, it is a bit slapstick in parts and Richard Briers does nothing for me in this role. I just feel the whole thing could have been done slightly better.
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Post by Mr Rycott on May 27, 2008 9:08:27 GMT
well, we're here with you right to the top of the hill big john!
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Post by mybodyguard on May 27, 2008 17:09:16 GMT
I didn't think the episode was "awful" but it definitely ran on too long. A normal length episode would have worked better. It did have some very funny character interactions, and some good quotes:
Terry-"I've never seen so many birds in the Winchester."
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casey
Winchester Regular
Posts: 43
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Post by casey on Jun 2, 2008 4:19:27 GMT
Agree with most of the previous posts, this episode was terrible.
Even Chisholm's character was now totally ridiculous, compared with earlier episodes.
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Post by jno on Feb 17, 2015 16:10:17 GMT
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Post by jno on Feb 19, 2015 10:50:44 GMT
12/88 Sunday Sport feature "An Officer & A Car Salesman"
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Post by jno on May 11, 2015 8:26:57 GMT
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Post by daz on Aug 12, 2015 21:00:42 GMT
After my discovery of Around The Corner, I followed on with this one.
A tad surreal at times, but a good light hearted episode. Didn't think Richard Briers was very good in it and he usually is very good, for me Peter Bowles would have been a good bit of casting for this part.
George Sweeney was in it, who I rate highly as an actor who we haven't seen enough of on TV. Always remember his performances in the Sweeney episodes when he plays the ex army guy with mental issues. I hope I am right in thinking he played that character in 2 episodes.
For me the episode was a little too polished, the best episodes of Minder are when they are on location in some of the less salubrious parts of London, just gave the episodes a more gritty, realistic feel.
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Post by flyingsquad on Aug 12, 2015 21:25:40 GMT
After my discovery of Around The Corner, I followed on with this one. A tad surreal at times, but a good light hearted episode. Didn't think Richard Briars was very good in it and he usually is very good, for me Peter Bowles would have been a good bit of casting for this part. George Sweeney was in it, who I rate highly as an actor who we haven't seen enough of on TV. Always remember his performances in the Sweeney episodes when he plays the ex army guy with mental issues. I hope I am right in thinking he played that character in 2 episodes.
For me the episode was a little too polished, the best episodes of Minder are when they are on location in some of the less salubrious parts of London, just gave the episodes a more gritty, realistic feel. He did as he played Tim Cook in 'Taste Of Fear' (my favourite Sweeney episode) and 'On The Run'.
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Post by jno on Aug 13, 2015 2:59:02 GMT
The final Dennis episode to be filmed, what is nice in this one is this is the only time we see Rycott and Jones hitting it off as a duo which I think works just as well as Chisholm and Jones.
Apparently during the filming of this Richard Briers had the rest of the crew in stitches with his great sense of humour.
I think the first 45 minutes of this one are great bearing in mind it was a 'comeback' special. Sadly as I mentioned above in then transcends into an over the top pantomime style slapstick ending which is a shame.
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Post by VAT on Aug 13, 2015 12:51:56 GMT
jno - "and Richard Briers does nothing for me in this role" Same here! RBs role needed someone more sinister, Richard Briers made it clown-like, which basically destroyed any semblance of reality the story line ever had! But this aside, not too bad an ep, until the last 15 mins or so.
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