Yet another great show from ITC. Although
it
ran for only one season it remains very fondly looked at by 60's TV
fans
and the public a like. When Marty Hopkirk is killed by a vicious hit a
run, It is left to his partner Jeff Randall to run their private
investigation
business with Marty's widow Jean. This would be normal enough if it
wasn't
for the fact that Marty has come back as a ghost to help, and only Jeff
can see him. The man behind the concept of Randall and Hopkirk
(Deceased)
was none other than the late Dennis Spooner. Whilst working on "The
Baron"
for ITC, Spooner met the producer Monty Berman, with whom he later
formed
the production company Scoton. Soon after this, Scoton were informed
that
they were to film Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) alongside "Department
S". Spooner was interested in the paranormal, and this along with
influences
from films such as "Blithe Spirit" and "Topper", gave him the basics
for
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).
.
.
LATEST NEWS
VIC & BOB ON VHS
&
DVD (23.10.01)
With season two coming to an end on BBC1,
what
better time to release the first season on DVD. You know our view on
the
show, but how does the DVD fair? Well, not too bad as it turns out.
Obviously
no format is going to improve the acting of Reeves & Mortimer
(Although they do improve by the 2nd season) but the DVD has some nice
extras. A 50 minute making of documentary is very welcome, as is the
music
video of the excellent Dave Arnold theme tune. But it's not all good
news.
The episodes are broken on to 2 disks and unforgivable, they are in a
pan
& scan 4:3 ration screen. This really is shocking, considering that
the BBC (Who for some reason did not release the disks themselves) went
to all the trouble of making them in the wide-screen format. Still
overall,
not to shabby. 6/10.
All episodes of the original series will be
released on DVD & video over the next few months with episodes one
& two out on DVD and episodes one to four out on video from the
26th
of June. further videos and DVD's will follow on a bi-monthly basis.
SEASON 2 (23.04.00)
It has just been confirmed that the Vic
&
Bob vehicle will be picked up for a further 7 episodes. Season 2 will
go
into production later the year and shown on BBC 1 in spring 2001.
We at CulTV, having seen all 6 episodes of
the re-make, have to be say that it has not improved that much
throughout
the season. However the final episode - A Man of Substance is a
superb piece of television. Although the acting from Vic & Bob is
still
poor, The Prisoner/Avergers style episode really shows off what the
format
is capable of. Overall Tom Baker adds a little
class
to the show, but because the acting is weak by the principle cast and
other
plot lines are weak re-writes at best. The UK press are now stating
that
the show is a bad re-make of a bad show. Now, although the
original
was not one of the better ITC productions, it is still a far sight
better
then a lot of modern television and if the right team were behind it,
it
could have been a huge hit for the BBC. That's it from us on the new
series
for now, and perhaps forever as a new season looks unlikely.
THE STORY SO FAR.....
(19.03.00)
:
Without seeing anything of the new Randall
& Hopkirk show, CulTV has accused Charlie Higson and the BBC of
producing
a tacky remake of a Cult TV classic. Not in the same way that the US
has
made features like 'The Saint and 'The Avengers' but by doing some of
the
worst casting in remake history. Although I, the editor, have nothing
personal
against Vic & Bob (I can't think of two nicer guys to have a beer
with),
I was under the impression that neither could act and would turn the
light
drama into a comedy of their styling, of which I am not a fan. Over the
past few months I have been sent loads of E Mails on this subject and
this
page has been featured in a number of newspapers and magazines because
Vic & Bob have both been readers of CulTV and wanted to have their
say.
Over the last few weeks the
information
coming to light did seem to indicate that I could be very wrong about
the
show. Tom Baker was added to the cast, David Arnold was to perform the
theme tune and the budget was to be a staggering £1,000,000 an
episode!
I have always maintained that if I was wrong I would be happy to make a
public apology. However if I was right, it would be another reason to
stop
incapable people re-making classic shows. Now the first episode
transmitted
and clips of the forthcoming 5 have been previewed, the verdict is in.
THE VERDICT: (19.03.00)
GUILTY: It is with great regret that I
report
that my instincts were correct. Vic & Bob both prove beyond any
doubt
that they are no actors. The show seems to be an episode of Shooting
Stars
with a plot, and not much of a plot at that. The script at worst has
Charles
Dance struggling to pull off a performance and at best is confusing yet
obvious. The budget does not show on screen and the director cuts
between
scenes in a way I'm sure he thought was clever, but that just doesn't
work.
On the good side David Arnold plays a good opening theme (Although it
is
not the original) and the show does look glossy. I have to admit that
the
show will most likely get better with the introduction of Tom Bakers
character,
however Vic & Bob are so unbelievable as Marty & Jeff
that
overall the show is destined to fail, albeit the ratings will decide
weather
the show will get a second season. Remember these are just my personal
views, however the pilot episode has been slammed by the British press
so the prospect of the show working with the public looks unlikely.
CulTV Exclusive
(25-01.00)
We have just learnt from an inside source
that
Vic Reeves has seen this web page and found the comments above very
amusing!
(It just goes to show he has a sense of humour.) The other big news is
that James Bond composer, David Arnold will be reworking the main theme
and incidental music. Although my hopes for the new series have never
been
high, insiders say that the first episode looks great, is shot on film
and begins with Marty being killed on the way to his wedding!!! We then
cut to Marty's funeral were the plot begins. Tom Baker will not appear
until the second episode where he plays a ghost who the late Mr.
Hopkirk
befriends.
CulTV would like to assure Vic & Bob
that
they will certainly have the last laugh if they make the show work,
(and
we will be the first to admit we were wrong.) However the casting still
seems incredible wrong. Well, we all find out in March when the show
debut's
on BBC1.
NEWS UPDATE(19-07.99)
.
The Radio Times (The UK TV Guide) has just
announced that the new series of Randall & Hopkirk will also star
Tom
Baker. It is not clear at this time weather he will be appearing as a
guest
star or a regular but the ex Doctor Who is currently shooting the show.
Others who have signed up for the revamp are Charles Dance, Emily Fox
(Bad
Blood) and The Fast Show's Paul Whitehouse.
NEWS
It is with great sadness that I report that
Randall & Hopkirk Deceased is about to re enter production for a
new
season due to air in Spring 2000, Starring (Of all people) Vic Reeves
and
Bob Mortimer. For the latest updates on this tragic event please watch
this space.
.
EPISODE GUIDE
..
1. My Late Lamented Friend and Partner
