Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011

Subject: BS: John Sullivan RIP
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 07:06 PM

The sublime creator of Delboy and Rodney Trotter passed away on 23 April after suffering viral pneumonia.

Thanks for all the laughs, even if only from fools and horses...

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: John Sullivan RIP
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 07:21 PM

Wikipedia entry here . Apparently the most popular BBC sitcom of all time...

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 09:45 PM

Never heard of it. We get a lot of British programming over here, but I looked at the write-ups from your Wikipedia link. They sound so anchored in idiomatic British culture that they might not translate over here in the U.S.

Sorry, nonetheless - you hate to lose the folks who created some of your favorite programs!

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 10:23 PM

SRS, you're absolutely right, most of those programmes didn't take all that strong here in Australia either.

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: theleveller
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 08:56 AM

I didn't know that John had died - how very sad. I knew him many years ago - he was a superb writer.

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:59 PM

SRS - you're right, I don't think Only Fools and Horses (about Trotters Independent Traders (small-scale spivs and scam merchants), living in Peckham, south London) would be comprehensible to a US audience. Or Citizen Smith, which was John Sullivan's other great comedy series, with rebel Robert Lindsay (with beret on head)hoping to change the world.

Though (for those who appreciate double-edged and quite dark comedy)the concept of Del and Rodney Trotter going to a fancy dress party dressed as Batman and Robin, and finding on arrival that they hadn't been informed that the host had died unexpectedly and the fancy dress party cancelled, so they'd actually arrived at the wake in B&R outfits when everyone else was dressed in mourning outfits might... (especially as they'd rescued a local female black councillor from a mugging while they were running, in the B&R outfits, to the party/ funeral).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 08:57 AM

"Trotters Independent Traders (small-scale spivs and scam merchants), living in Peckham, south London"

However the wondrous George Cole and friend show on a similar theme (Minder) is still running in Australia - having shifted from the ABC to commercial TV.

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 09:29 AM

Batman and Robin was a classic. The show of Only Fools and Horses could make the whole family laugh without offending anyone but my favourite episode however was when Del found a rare expensive butterfly which he had rescue from a park fountain only for friend Denzil to come along and high-five him crushing his valuable find.

Subject: RE: Obit:comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan-23 Apr 2011
From: Stu
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 10:00 AM

I really love Only Fools and Horses.

Some years ago HMV in Manchester (when it was good) used to have a screen wall upstairs in it's DVD department. I was up there one day and they were running the show when Del and Rodney are cleaning the Lord's chandeliers. Granddad's upstairs unscrewing the bolt and Del glances across and says to to Rodney "Brace yourself Rodney, brace yourself", and then the inevitable happens.

Everyone on that floor of the shop stopped what they were doing to watch that - every single person. Then we were all laughing to ourselves and the tension built up in the scene was broken; a testament to his writing and the actors.

Brilliant stuff, and John Sullivan will be sadly missed. That's him singing the theme tune apparently.