Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight

Subject: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Sooz
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 02:20 PM

Billy Connolly's "World tour of New Zealand" starts tonight on BBC1 (9,30pm I think) The music for the series is provided by John McCusker.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 03:58 PM

I shall be watching my new DVD of 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkerban'. I find it preferable to an hour of fuckin' and blindin' posing as comedy.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Fliss
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:42 PM

Owch!

Ive watched Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets round at a friend's over lunch today... very grown up of me! :)

Then Ive watched Billy Conolly tonight... very childish of me!:))

And Ive loved both.

I put up with the swearing because of the wonderful asides and scenery and observations of life which makes Billy so well watching.

And I cant wait to watch 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkerban'. And the next episode of Billy.

cheers
fliss

fliss

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:47 PM

Enjoyed it too, but thought Connolly wasn't on form.
Giok

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 05:52 PM

Yeah, I confess - I like BC too, just can't help but feel that his observation and wit are a bit cheapened by the cussin'. That said, I used to work as a boilermaker's apprentice (honestly!) and I've been known to let the odd 'fuffin' fly (haven't I Sooz!), so who am I to criticise?

Mrs. Johnny tells me the DVD was good - I had my head stuck in Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: GUEST,big phil
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:02 PM

Better to hear a bit of cussin than be deaf

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Fliss
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:04 PM

I was hoping he was going to play his banjo. Hes a great pal of Ralph McTell and I was hoping Ralph was writing the songs again.

Suppose he wouldnt be the same without the expletives. I like the out of the way places he finds to visit, artists and excentrics. If you listen to him, he is very observant and makes very apt comments. His own sort of philosophy interspersed with ***!

If you compare him to Ralph, they are very similar only Ralph is never smutty.... well Ive never known him to be. He also makes very apt observations on life in his songs... eg Stranger to the seasons.

fxx

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Eye Lander
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 06:09 PM

loved the programme and the background music - absolutely fab

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: GUEST,The Devonian
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 07:17 PM

Watched BC right through to the end just to see who composed the superb music. Might have guessed it would be young McCusker. Absolutely first-rate and it's good to see that BC hasn't forgotten his folk roots - Cara Dillon was credited with much of the music on his last TV series.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Sooz
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 04:43 AM

Music great, scenery wonderful, many of BC's observations very apt and witty. So why does he have to wrap it all in bad language - surely he cannot be that insecure?

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Travelling Audience
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 07:37 AM

Sorry to have missed Billy Connolly, we have watched his progs. in
the past.    Funnily enough we bought Harry Potter's new DVD yesterday and settled down last night to watch it with Martin.
Must read the next book!
Was the Programme a one off or was it one of a series?

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Sooz
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 07:52 AM

Think its a series.....

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 08:23 AM

Strangely enough we watched the Harry potter as well. Something about it just didn't work. The school seems to have metamorphosed, for no apparent reason, from a flat set of enclosed grounds to somewhere half way up the steep slopes of a mountain. Malfoy has turned into an ordinary teenager, instead of the arrogant snivelling oik he is supposed to be, and nobody seems to wear their wizards robes any more - just t-shirts and jeans. It really lets the school down!!
It seemed to lack some kind of edge. Perhaps they should have cast Billy Conolly to put some *!!@@* life in it! ;¬)
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 10:14 AM

We were watching the real McCusker last night in Derby - thanks to Mick Peat for a great nights entertainment.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Jeanie
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 04:40 PM

I watched it (yes, it was the first of a series, travelling all around New Zealand) and thought the music and the whole programme were excellent: scenery, history, jokes (e.g. "Diet Holy Communion" -'I can't believe it's not Jesus'; only someone like Billy Connolly can get away with stuff like that !)

I was very touched by that story about William Rigney, who arranged for the burial of the unknown man, "Somebody's Darling" and requested to be buried alongside him. I was thinking that there must be a song in there, somewhere. I've just done a quick Google search and found an already existing song: "The Man Who Buried Somebody's Darling" written by New Zealand folksinger Dan Bergin. Does anyone here know any more about this song ?

Looking forward to the next programmes in the series.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:02 PM

I only saw the closing credits (I was re-watching a David Wilcox tuition tape) but I did note Andy Seward credited as the sound engineer.

Am I sad?

Best regards
John Robinson
Acoustyistics Ltd
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk
Described by Ralph McTell as "a terrific guitar player who also writes great songs"

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: GUEST,bones
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:22 PM

Brilliant sound track. Does anyone know if it is available on CD.?

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 05:13 PM

I'm an old mate of Billy's but I think he's lost it now. He used to tell stories but the last episode had just jokes, and old ones at that. His language did nothing but cheapen the whole act. Sorry Billy, but time's up (although the scenery was superb).

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 07:05 AM

Got this from his web site:

"John McCusker has composed and produced the score for Billy Connolly's latest project. The first programme in the series will be shown this Saturday, 20.11.2004, on BBC 1 at 9.30pm. The series and will continue for eight weeks and features John¹s Music throughout.

There will be a DVD on sale in shops from early December and a CD of the music available around the same time, "Billy Connolly¹s Musical tour of new Zealand". This will be released on Pure Records and will available by mail order through our new webshop as well as in the usual record stores. We are hoping for a release date of 13/12/2004. "

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Fiolar
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:24 AM

I particularly liked his story about the town in Colorado called "Beaver" which had a brewery and advertised themselves as "Beaver Liquors." In spite of his effing and blinding he still manages to attract full houses.

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: Gray D
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 07:40 PM

Hmmmm, interesting, yer man McCuskger did the "moth" joke at Sidmouth back in August, the Connolly did it in N.Z.

I wonder who learned it from whom?

You didn't get to see either? Well then, adopt a Scottish accent (or do your Tommy Cooper voice - it works just as well) and repeat . . .

Man turns up at his doctor's and says "You've got to help me. I think I'm a moth".

Doctor says " Well, you don't want me, you want the psychiatrist down the hall"

"Yeah, I know. I was on my way there when I noticed your light"

Gray D

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: GUEST,bones
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 08:24 PM

Cheers Mrs Annie for the info on sound track.( Should make a nice xmas present for the wife!.) Have you got a web address for your new webshop.
regards Bones

Subject: RE: Connolly/McCusker BBC1 tonight
From: GUEST,The Devonian
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 08:38 PM

Amazing amount of background info. on this thread. Especially like the bit saying Billy Connolly and John McCusker are both on the road telling the same jokes. Next thing we know Billy will take up fiddle and copy John McCusker's haircut!