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24 Nov 06 - 05:17 PM (#1892716) Subject: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Just seen the new BBC Series Jam and Jerusalem. Pretty impressed. Good cast. Well acted and, the biggest suprise of all, Music by Kate Rusby! Theme tune is Ray Davies's 'Village Green Preservation Society' and she makes a fine job of it indeed. Incidental music was excelent as well. Thought at first they may have 'over egged' it with the number of famous names and mass of odd characters but I soon got used to it and hope it develops into another BBC classic. Certainly worth watching just for Sue Johnston ('Barb' Royale). Best comment must have been from Jennifer Saunders' character. "It was going realy well till Sting played the lute..." Cheers DtG |
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24 Nov 06 - 05:22 PM (#1892720) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: John MacKenzie I got a bit fed up with Dawn French playing another variation on the same character, yet again, apart from her it was excellent, but I thought she merited a 'Ham Actor of the Year' award. Giok |
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24 Nov 06 - 05:25 PM (#1892723) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Which one of her multi-personalities though, Giok? :-) Bet it's fun at her and Lenny's house though. (Are they still married?) D. |
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24 Nov 06 - 05:32 PM (#1892733) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: greg stephens Little too much of the Vicki Pollard in Dawn French's part I thought. Pretty easy targets they seemed to be aiming at I thought. Djembe player and fire-twirling in church was OK. 5/10. |
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24 Nov 06 - 05:45 PM (#1892744) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: GUEST,Shimrod A bit of a 'curates egg' really. It had its moments: Joanna Lumley on the bike in the lowest possible gear, the new-age fire twirling in the church and the guest speaker at the WI meeting talking about a typical day Lidl etc., etc. The 'Independent' describes it as "dire"; I didn't think that it was that bad, but it was far too silly for its own good. |
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24 Nov 06 - 05:46 PM (#1892745) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: McGrath of Harlow Pretty good (even aside from the music, which was a splendid surprise). But it really needs to have another funeral in the next episode - this time for the Dawn French character. And I wouldn't miss the Jennifer Saunders character either. But they wrote it, so I suppose we're stuck with them. It's really a hyped up version of Calendar Girls. I'm not complaining about that. Unless they start getting their kit off. |
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24 Nov 06 - 05:56 PM (#1892751) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Geoff the Duck If they can kill off a character each show, we might be able to keep it going ubtil the jokes run out. With J Saunders, I doubt they will last that long. couldn't understand why Kate was the theme song, which would have suited a series set in Yorkshire, but seemed out of place with a "middle England" village setting. Quack! GtD. |
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24 Nov 06 - 06:04 PM (#1892757) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: greg stephens The Ray Davies version would have been more fitting, perhaps? Rusby's voice inhabits a rather precise mythical world which didn't seem to resonate with this bit of fantasy Mummersetshire: or not for me, at any rate. |
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24 Nov 06 - 06:09 PM (#1892762) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Always makes me happy to know that a TV critic doesn't like something I do. I don't trust anyone who makes a living commenting on the work someone else has done:-) |
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24 Nov 06 - 06:47 PM (#1892790) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: McGrath of Harlow The only critic I always enjoy is Nancy Banks-Smith - she always seems to find something to enjoy in anything she reviews, and, if it's something I've seen, more often than not it tends to be something I enjoyed in it too. |
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24 Nov 06 - 06:59 PM (#1892801) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: artbrooks Wonder how many decades it will take for BBC America to get it? |
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25 Nov 06 - 12:34 AM (#1892957) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Liz the Squeak Bugger, missed it. Ho hum.... But fire twirling isn't exactly 'new age' - the Maoris and other Polynesian settlers have been doing it for centuries. LTS |
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25 Nov 06 - 05:41 AM (#1893040) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: John MacKenzie Scots do it too Giok |
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25 Nov 06 - 06:04 AM (#1893055) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: McGrath of Harlow But not in C of E churches during funerals. |
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25 Nov 06 - 07:14 AM (#1893094) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Keith A of Hertford I liked the music. Unlike callender girls, all WI members here were portrayed as morons. C of E took a bashing too. As Giok said, easy targets. Dawn French did a similar thing last year set in Cornwall, which came across as sophisticated metropolitans taking the piss out of rural England. |
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28 Nov 06 - 03:05 AM (#1894302) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: GUEST,Lea Does anybody know if we non-UK people can listen to that new KR song on the 'net? |
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28 Nov 06 - 05:06 AM (#1894364) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Can't see one, Lea. Can't even find it on an album:-( I could record it to MP3 but it isn't the full song. Sure it will be released soon - Probably chart as well seeing as it is TV based. Keep looking either at Kate's site of for 'Music from the series'. Cheers DtG |
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28 Nov 06 - 05:11 AM (#1894365) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Paul from Hull Missed this last week, & could have kicked myself, because the trailers looked good. Somewhat mixed reviews here, though tending towards the non-positive, but I'll give it a go (providing I dont forget again!) |
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28 Nov 06 - 07:24 AM (#1894474) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: McGrath of Harlow First episodes of sit-coms always tend to over-egg the pudding - they try to introduce everyone and explain too much. Sort of jumping up and down saying "look at me, look at me". I think this one will work out well if thay keep the Sue Johnston and Pauline McLynn characters (Sal and Tip) at the centre, and don't overdo the rather forced fun and games. |
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28 Nov 06 - 09:55 AM (#1894617) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Bagpuss I think Dawn French must have some sort of dirt on Jennifer Saunders and blackmails her into giving her a part in the stuff she writes... |
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28 Nov 06 - 08:09 PM (#1895146) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Big Phil Vicar of Dibly in disguise was my first thought......... |
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29 Nov 06 - 05:18 AM (#1895364) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: John MacKenzie I always did think of Dawn French as what our American friends call 'a one trick pony' or in her case, a Clydesdale! G. |
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29 Nov 06 - 01:44 PM (#1895749) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Mrs.Duck Did nothing for me. I like Dawn French in Vicar of Dibley but have never enjoyed anything involving Jennifer Saunders. I'll probably see how it continues as new series can take time to gel. Not a fan of kate Rusby either but thats another story. |
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30 Nov 06 - 09:11 AM (#1896474) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: billybob I laughed all the way through, mind you I think I have met some of the characters when doing talks for the local WI ! (Ok so they could not get Hannah Gorden!) |
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01 Dec 06 - 05:13 PM (#1897830) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Ruth Archer Sounds like the KR band doing incidental music throughout, too - sure I heard Mr Cutting's melodeon at one point! |
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02 Dec 06 - 01:50 AM (#1898065) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave Hanson Excellent incidental music, and Ruzzer does a cracking job of the ' Village Green Preservation Society ' eric |
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02 Dec 06 - 03:21 PM (#1898477) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Paul from Hull Well, I watched last night, having missed the 1st one, & thought it was ok, but no better than ok. With that cast & pedigree, I would initially have expected far better, but with what people were saying about the 1st episode, I then began to expect far worse. There must have been a BIG dofference between last weeks, & last nights episodes for it to get 'slated' to the extent it was, here & elsewhere? |
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02 Dec 06 - 05:46 PM (#1898625) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Geoff the Duck A heck of a lot of good actors wasted. One problem is that there are so many on the cast and somebody has decided that if someone is present in a scene, they MUST be given a line. Trouble is that all the "lines" are just space fillers and not actually funny. Quack! GtD. |
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02 Dec 06 - 05:59 PM (#1898636) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Damn - Knew there was summat I wanted to watch last night! Anyone know if and when it is repeated? DtG |
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02 Dec 06 - 06:04 PM (#1898641) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Paul from Hull Tuesday night/Wednesday morning at 3.40am, Dave |
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03 Dec 06 - 02:48 PM (#1899012) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Thanks Paul - I'm not keen enough to stay up but I'll try and tape it. |
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03 Dec 06 - 07:00 PM (#1899177) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: McGrath of Harlow I'd expect subsequent episodes to be better than the opening one, because that's how it works generally in English sit-coms, they try to introduce everything in the first, and it's overcrowded. Trouble is that all the "lines" are just space fillers and not actually funny. True, lines shouldn't just be space fillers - but God preserve us from shows that try to have funny lines as such, "jokes". The humour needs to arise out of the situations and the interplay between characters, and that's what the lines are mean to do. And that is the context in which lines that wouldn't be that funny become funny. ....................... I see there are rumblings from the WI about Jam and Jerusalem: WI group not amused by Jam and Jerusalem show A new sitcom about a village guild of women who range from the comically deranged to the spectacularly stupid yesterday drew fire from the Avon Federation of Women's Institutes. Its secretary, Ros Knight, said Jennifer Saunders' BBC1 show Jam and Jerusalem, which features Dawn French, was in poor taste. "It plays to the worst side of people's nature and I don't like it at all. I'd like to see it taken off the air." The BBC stuck by the programme, saying it was intended as "an affectionate portrayal of the lives and relationships of the women that make up the group". Actually I suspect that it's likely to do wonders to help the WI recruit new blood. Of course that might be what they are really worried about... |
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04 Dec 06 - 05:12 AM (#1899418) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: GUEST,Shimrod "A heck of a lot of good actors wasted." Those of you who are as old as me may remember certain 'blockbuster' films of the 60s and 70s. These often had huge casts of stars, ie. David Niven and Peter Sellers and Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and Alec Guiness and Peter O'Toole and ... well, you get the picture (no pun intended!). These films were usually dire and completely forgettable - which is probably why I can't remember the title of a single one!! I'm afraid 'J & J' rather reminds me of those old films. |
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08 Dec 06 - 05:26 PM (#1903877) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: GUEST,Peter Ormrod The funniest series on television for ages. Don't know why women have the edge with comedy and especially with this unlikely subect: The WI of all settings but resulting inabsolutely hilarious stich-making scenes. THe death of the doctor and the prosthetic arm nearly made be pass out I laughed so much. |
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08 Dec 06 - 05:41 PM (#1903898) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome Enjoyed tonight with the almost 'folky' beating the bounds theme. The vicar trying to dress for the occasion was so like some people I know it was amazing:-) DtG |
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08 Dec 06 - 06:10 PM (#1903931) Subject: RE: Jam and Jerusalem From: Dave the Gnome BTW, Peter, you weren't the Peter Ormrod that worked for Oracle about 11-12 years ago were you? If so we met while you were working at Kemira. DtG |