Going Back to the 80's TV

HousePlantQueen

MerylStreep

Am I the only old person on here who doesn’t watch these programs?
Please somebody, tell me I’m not 😄

You are not alone! When I have inadvertently come across a series from decades ago, I find it often to be wooden, badly acted, and as for the comedy........just not funny.

You are obviously watching the wrong things. I have found the acting to be of much better quality more often than not, but you have to get into the pace of the drama and give it time. Some may be wooden but many are not.

MerylStreep

Am I the only old person on here who doesn’t watch these programs?
Please somebody, tell me I’m not 😄

You are not alone! When I have inadvertently come across a series from decades ago, I find it often to be wooden, badly acted, and as for the comedy........just not funny.

Some good ones there ladies. I do agree though that there are more recent ones worth another watch.

Foxygloves

When I am feeling low I indulge myself with back to back “To The Manor Born” - gorgeous Richard de Vere and “Mrs Pou”. 💕
I also still love “As Time Goes By” “Yes (Prime) Minister” and “The Good Life”.
So glad I still have my DVD player and those box sets.

I also still love “As Time Goes By” “Yes (Prime) Minister” and “The Good Life”.

... excellent, all!

When I am feeling low I indulge myself with back to back “To The Manor Born” - gorgeous Richard de Vere and “Mrs Pou”. 💕
I also still love “As Time Goes By” “Yes (Prime) Minister” and “The Good Life”.
So glad I still have my DVD player and those box sets.

Some productions don't age well - but that's a very subjective reaction.

I think it's the quality of the acting - perhaps more than the 'plot' that makes a drama 're-watchable' years after its original date.

These are all dated in terms of production dates, but - to me - they are timeless:

"Jewel In The Crown" (1984)

"Brideshead Revisited" (1981)
... with Anthony Andrews, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Olivier (magnificent) and John Gielgud... what a cast!
Watching the slow disintegration and inevitable decline of an aristocratic family was compelling.

"Staying On" (1980)
... wonderful to see Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson together again, as an elderly couple attempting to make the most of their lives in surroundings that had become 'home' - dealing with each others idiosyncrasies, and the harsh reality (for them) of Indian Independence. It was both amusing and moving.

When I want a bit of 'escapism' and relaxation from the rigours and realities of modern life, I shamelessly re-watch the 1995 production of "Pride and Prejudice" - Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth were a delight.

No merylsteep you are not the only one I have no interest in going backwards on the whole I think there’s some rubbish on tv now as there was then ,but I also think there’s some really good dramas
I don’t like going backwards with TV programmes unless they are historical
At least there’s two of us😂😂😂 hey

Moonwatcher Up the Junction has been on TV more than once. I saw it a couple of years ago and it was on again some time later. Don't ask me which channel. It's fascinating to see such a young Dennis Waterman, although I remember him as a child actor too. I saw him as a schoolboy in a 1950s movie a while back. He was there on the screen all through my life, so I miss him now. Although he is still there in all those old episodes of New Tricks which are constantly shown, so I can't complain.

Moonlighting with Bruce Willis and Cybil Sheppard. The chemistry between those two was so good. There’s never been a better series before or since.
Late 90s was Ally McBeal, really enjoyed that as well

There have been some good dramas on recently but in between times I like to watch an oldie. I went to the cinema in my teens (many moons ago) to see Far From the Madding Crowd but enjoyed the more recent version too with Carey Mulligan. Another favourite film from the 60's was Up the Junction with Suzy Kendall and a very young Maureen Lipman. It's never been on tv and found it on YouTube.

Actually I think there's still plenty of quality TV now.In recent years I have loved Line of Duty,Happy Valley,Giri /Haji and Unforgotten for police and drama.I've laughed at The Detectorists,Ghosts,Derry Girls and Mum.And I really enjoyed the updated Poldark,Dickensian and Victoria for period drama.I don't mind revisiting some older programmes but barely have time to watch current TV.
I have however loved rewatching at Home with the Braithwaites and Cold Feet but I guess they are 90s/early 00s.

Ailidh

Meryl- me neither. I quite liked Onedin in its day but I tried to watch it recently an it hasn't worn well. Same with Upstairs Downstairs, very wooden.

Upstairs & Downstairs starts off rather wooden, like a stage production, but it does get going after a few episodes and then you get into it. The old productions have a much slower pace and you need to settle down and adjust yourself. After a couple of episodes you get used to the slow pace, and realise that there is real quality there. I especially noticed this with the Mayor of Casterbridge with Alan Bates and Anne Stallybrass (bought on DVD). Very slow, but boy was it a rewarding watch!

Drama, Talking Pictures and ITV3 all show old TV series and movies and are worth keeping an eye on.

I saw the whole of Tenko on Drama I think. That was absolutely amazing, the realism was incredible. I am currently working my way through Inspector George Gently a series which really has heart and soul.

I have watched all episodes of Upstairs & Downstairs and it was magnificent. I bought it on DVD along with Roots and The Thorn Birds all on DVD. If I want to watch something I won't wait maybe years for it to come on TV, I just buy it! Sometimes it never comes on but I have it in my collection.

I love to watch old westerns and war films that are on TV at the moment.
But old comedies like Alf Garnet makes me cringe when I see the serious racism that went on.
I’m a great fan of Scandi Noir type series. I love a good murder mystery series and they do it so well. The Bridge was great.

I might have watched and enjoyed them in their day but no I'm not big on old and dated t.v programmes. there are plenty of current programmes to watch and enjoy.

Meryl- me neither. I quite liked Onedin in its day but I tried to watch it recently an it hasn't worn well. Same with Upstairs Downstairs, very wooden.

I brought my mum a boxed DVD set of Upstairs Downstairs, she loves it. I used to like The Gentle Touch and Hawaii Five O. Dallas was always a big talking point at work, we all watched it. The Waltons was good, something all the family could watch.

Am I the only old person on here who doesn’t watch these programs?
Please somebody, tell me I’m not 😄

Gosh the Beiderbecke Affair, I loved that and the sound track.
This Life was so good and also comedy wise I loved Butterflies.

I cannot cope with noisy programmes so find particularly annoying the screaming audiences which cuts out much of the TV output.

Onedin line is on talkingpicturestv too, playing catchup with my recordings.

You're so right. I'm sitting right now watching one of my ancient all time favourites called 'The American President'. Great story, acting and cast and in full bright technicolour. No violence or dingieness here. Yippee!

Crown Court! That’s a blast from the past. The only thing to watch on day time tv if you had a sneaky day off 😂

Just had a look Jaylou. Wow some oldies there...The Larkins and Crown Court.

The original Poldark, The Onedin Line, The Beiderbecke Affair, Doogie Howser and Benson are a few I’d like to see again.

If you have access to the talkingpicturestv channel give it a go. I am hooked. All older series (Upstairs, downstairs, The Saint, Maigret, Champions, Randall & Hopkirk) and a lot of B+W films, short clips on life in the 60's, fascinating.

It's website is talkingpicturestv.co.uk/

On virginmedia it is channel 445 and I highly recommend it