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TISWAS
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SYNOPSIS Today Is Saturday Watch And Smile (or Wear A Smile or other variations). This series was a British children's TV show full of sketches, songs, custard, baked beans, water, and whatever else they could dump on the adults. The series regulars are all profiled at TV Cream. But this site, as usual, will profile Sylveste McCoy. (The "r" in his name came later.)
Sporting a black t-shirt which said "Sylveste is the Real McCoy," Sylvester guested in several episodes as Professor No Ken Do, the karate expert; a werewolf; a flower; a car; and other interesting identities. Some friends of mine have suggested that he might have been the Phantom Flan Flinger, but I don't believe it for a second.
REVIEW What is it about British kid's shows? I dearly love them for their warped senses of humor. And TISWAS is probably the most warped. (Yes, even more warped than Ghoul Lashed.) So far, only one DVD has been released (containing the three compilations released on VHS earlier). And there was a 25th anniversary special which aired recently and was released. Hopefully more compilations will be released in the future.
12 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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The Last Place on Earth
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SYNOPSIS In 1911 Captain R. F. Scott (Martin Shaw) of England and Captain Roald Amundsen (Sverre Anker Ousdal) of Norway raced each other to the South Pole. This 7 part miniseries was based on the biographical book of the same title (well, re-named) by Roland Huntford. During the miniseries, the viewer discovers that Scott and Amundsen were men with the same strengths and weaknesses as the rest of us. Scott is shown to be a leader who doesn't listen to the advice of his experts. While Amundsen had to actually sneak to the South Pole (his backers all thought he was returning to the North). The tragedy of the story arises when Scott and his men fail to return from the South Pole alive.
REVIEW I know what you're thinking... *Seven hours*? But honestly, the miniseries keeps moving and you can watch the whole thing in one go. (Well, I've only done it once. On a night with a particularly bad case of insomnia. And the miniseries didn't put me to sleep.) I must admit, before I watched Last Place on Earth, my whole knowledge of Captain Scott came from Monty Python. So yes, I was a little disappointed when Oates wasn't attacked by a giant electric penguin. Um, yes, as I was saying...
I was under the opinion that Captain Scott was some fabulous explorer who conquered the South Pole. What I discovered was that he was a man under a lot of stress, with a wife who had grand designs for him, and who didn't always listen to reason. I had never heard of Amundsen until I saw the miniseries, and when it was done, I had a less than positive opinion of him. But of course, the main reason I wanted to see this miniseries was for Sylvester McCoy.
Sylv plays the part of Lt. "Birdie" Bowers, an unctuous underling to Scott. It's quite apparent that Bowers was smitten with Mrs. Scott (see the first scene with him and Mrs. Scott), and it's possible he was equally smitten with Mr. Scott. McCoy does a great job in this miniseries, as does the rest of the cast. And he looks *fine* in uniform. (Alas, Bowers was one of the men in Scott's party that continues to the Pole, but doesn't make it back.)
8 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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Ghoul Lashed
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SYNOPSIS When Attracta Ghoul made her first husband, Crud (Sylvester McCoy), he was hideous to look at. So she made him her Butler, instead. However, as you can tell from the wavs below, Crud is still very much in love with Attracta. Her second husband, Ivor, is dumb as a brick. And her two children, Boris and Karla, are just as Ghoulish as the rest of the family.
Ghoul Lashed was a wrap-around kids' TV series in the UK. Several shows, like The X-Men, Spiderman, and others aired between scenes with Attracta, Crud, and the rest of the Ghoul family. Then they had their own episode somewhere in the line up, Ghoulish Tales, which usually had nothing to do with the outlying story.
REVIEW McCoy hammed it up (as did the rest of the cast) as the decaying Butler. The show was silly, full of in-jokes (including the occasional Doctor Who joke), and definitely for kids. I only wish something as goofy as this series had been on American TV when I was a kid.
6 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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Beyond Fear
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SYNOPSIS This is a dramatized "true life" story about Stephanie Slater (Gina McKee) who was kidnapped and raped by Michael Sams (Sylvester McCoy). Told mostly in flashbacks, the story begins with Slater's boss paying off the ransom. Then Stephanie is returned home. The rest of the story is Stephanie remembering what happened and the police doing what they can to catch Sams.
During the course of the movie, Stephanie recalls how Sams tortured her by keeping her in a box, chained, with threats of boulders dropping on her and electric shocks awaiting her. She also finds that he's killed one other person, a prostitute called Julie Dart. She shows courage in testifying against this man, and he is eventually convicted of kidnapping and murder.
REVIEW I've seen both the Channel 5 version and the extended international version (as shown on Lifetime TV). I prefer the extended version because you get to see more Sylv. Sure, he's playing this horrible man (which is hard to stomach) but it's still fun to watch him act. The movie tries to pull at your heartstrings, which can become cloying, but the flashbacks are done well. Sylv's face isn't seen until 2/3 into the movie when Stephanie gets to see him during his trial.
14 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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See It Saw It
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SYNOPSIS In the village of Much Jollity on the Mirth, the King and his Jesters, See and Saw, help young viewers learn new words. Also appearing in this children's television program is Sylvester McCoy as the very, very old Lord High Chamberlain. He tries to help the King out, but usually gets things wrong.
The children watching the program live are on a giant see saw. Whenever the King shows them a video clip, they have to decide on an answer by running from one side of the see saw to the other. The sketches themselves don't star the King and his subjects, but the actors in other roles.
REVIEW Yes, this program is for children a bit younger than I am. But it was certainly fun to see McCoy in yet another interesting role. And in one of the stories, he played the part of the King's Aunt Grizelda. This is probably the funniest episode I'd seen. Just seeing Sylv playing the spoons while wearing a dress and funny glasses... Ah well, guess you had to be there.
12 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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