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Author Topic: Red Dwarf  (Read 13089 times)
K9
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Reply #35 on: January 21, 2009, 09:28:33 AM

the set...was made of garbage.

The fact that the set was largely made out of gaffer tape, carboard and copper wire was all part of the charm. I love the show for its simple humor, and the relationships between the characters. Although I'll agree that the seasons are a bit hit and miss. The episode "Backwards" is still one of the most original I have ever seen on any show; and Chris Barrie is by far and away the best and most skillfully-acted character in the series. (Since we're digging up old BBC sitcoms, does anyone else remember the Brittas Empire?)

Related, I just bought all 8 seasons on DVD from amazon, rather than coming in a standard box like I expected it comes in a photo-album-esque folder with a double page of pictures for each season. A really nice and unexpected tough.

I love the smell of facepalm in the morning
Righ
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Teaching the world Google-fu one broken dream at a time.


Reply #36 on: January 21, 2009, 10:34:53 AM

Yep. Brittas Empire was also good. The set you have is a new one which is just the shows. I bought Signe the older more expensive set with the extras & "smeg-ups".

The camera adds a thousand barrels. - Steven Colbert
DraconianOne
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Reply #37 on: January 21, 2009, 12:48:36 PM

The acting was ass, the jokes were stupid, most of the characters were simply dumb, like, StarHunter dumb, the set...was made of garbage.

Like you said, to each his own. Basically, if you think the joke's are stupid then you're never going to like it.  I won't excuse a lot of the humour because it's very British but it is very laddish humour. The fact that they got rid of the eponymous ship in season 3/4 with the premise that "they lost the ship because they were drunk" either tickles you or it doesn't. But to try and put some standards against the show that seem valid is actually a little unfair because Red Dwarf got made despite the best efforts of a lot of people who were in charge of the BBC at the time. 

The acting was ass - especially in season 1.  This is largely due to the fact that none of the principal cast were actors: you had a "punk" poet (Craig Charles), a stand-up comedian (Norman Lovett), a dancer (Danny John-Jules) and an impressionist (Craig Barrie).  When Red Dwarf got pitched to the BBC, it nearly didn't get made at all because the powers that be loathed sci-fi (as evidenced by the way they ran Dr. Who into the ground during the 80s). However, there was an available slot and little budget when a planned series didn't get made so they gave it to the Red Dwarf producers.  Then there was an electricians strike which nearly killed the whole thing but they managed to rush it into production and get it made even though they had the imminent threat of being taken off air at any time.

To complain about "garbage sets" is to not understand anything about the BBC or how it funds it's programs.  Basically, they have no money for sets or effects or anything like that. A few years back I had a chat with a woman who did the wardrobe and make-up for Blake's 7.  She told me that she had a set budget per episode for make-up, hair and wardrobe. That budget didn't change irrespective of how many people were in the episode - it was a set figure (something like £100). So if there were only five people then great - they could spend £20 per person. If there were 20 people then oh shit - that's a £5 each. 

Similarly, the effects people weren't given any money. So all the ships (like Red Dwarf and Starbug) and all the sets were cobbled out of whatever they could find. This wasn't ILM or Weta, this was a load of people gluing bits of old model airplanes to washing-up bottles and parts from broken televisions that they'd found in a skip.  Considering the constraints, the creativity was phenomenal.

I won't deny there are some ropey episodes and that season 7/8 were definitely below par (which is largely due to the two creators and writers, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, falling out and other writers being brought in to do those seasons with whichever one of them it was that stayed on.)  Then again, it's arguable that any series has it's ups and downs. 

None of this is a reason for you to like the series and none of this maybe of interest to anyone else. Red Dwarf survived and was a relative success in spite of itself and everything going on. Personally I think it's very funny and love watching it. YMMV and that's okay too.



Weirdo.

A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
Mrbloodworth
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Reply #38 on: January 21, 2009, 01:43:54 PM

The acting was ass, the jokes were stupid, most of the characters were simply dumb, like, StarHunter dumb, the set...was made of garbage.

Like you said, to each his own. Basically, if you think the joke's are stupid then you're never going to like it.  I won't excuse a lot of the humour because it's very British but it is very laddish humour. The fact that they got rid of the eponymous ship in season 3/4 with the premise that "they lost the ship because they were drunk" either tickles you or it doesn't. But to try and put some standards against the show that seem valid is actually a little unfair because Red Dwarf got made despite the best efforts of a lot of people who were in charge of the BBC at the time. 

The acting was ass - especially in season 1.  This is largely due to the fact that none of the principal cast were actors: you had a "punk" poet (Craig Charles), a stand-up comedian (Norman Lovett), a dancer (Danny John-Jules) and an impressionist (Craig Barrie).  When Red Dwarf got pitched to the BBC, it nearly didn't get made at all because the powers that be loathed sci-fi (as evidenced by the way they ran Dr. Who into the ground during the 80s). However, there was an available slot and little budget when a planned series didn't get made so they gave it to the Red Dwarf producers.  Then there was an electricians strike which nearly killed the whole thing but they managed to rush it into production and get it made even though they had the imminent threat of being taken off air at any time.

To complain about "garbage sets" is to not understand anything about the BBC or how it funds it's programs.  Basically, they have no money for sets or effects or anything like that. A few years back I had a chat with a woman who did the wardrobe and make-up for Blake's 7.  She told me that she had a set budget per episode for make-up, hair and wardrobe. That budget didn't change irrespective of how many people were in the episode - it was a set figure (something like £100). So if there were only five people then great - they could spend £20 per person. If there were 20 people then oh shit - that's a £5 each. 

Similarly, the effects people weren't given any money. So all the ships (like Red Dwarf and Starbug) and all the sets were cobbled out of whatever they could find. This wasn't ILM or Weta, this was a load of people gluing bits of old model airplanes to washing-up bottles and parts from broken televisions that they'd found in a skip.  Considering the constraints, the creativity was phenomenal.

I won't deny there are some ropey episodes and that season 7/8 were definitely below par (which is largely due to the two creators and writers, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, falling out and other writers being brought in to do those seasons with whichever one of them it was that stayed on.)  Then again, it's arguable that any series has it's ups and downs. 

None of this is a reason for you to like the series and none of this maybe of interest to anyone else. Red Dwarf survived and was a relative success in spite of itself and everything going on. Personally I think it's very funny and love watching it. YMMV and that's okay too.



Weirdo.

I wasn't even holding it up to the standards you give. I know it was a low budget show. I was holding them to the standards of low budget shows.


Today's How-To: Scrambling a Thread to the Point of Incoherence in Only One Post with MrBloodworth . - schild
www.mrbloodworthproductions.com  www.amuletsbymerlin.com
Signe
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Muse.


Reply #39 on: January 21, 2009, 01:51:30 PM

Obviously all your taste is in your mouth, MrB!

My Sig Image: hath rid itself of this mortal coil.
WayAbvPar
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Reply #40 on: January 21, 2009, 02:33:29 PM

IIRC, Mr. B voluntarily played some of the worst MMOGs out there for months. Suffice it to say that his tastes run counter to mine.

When speaking of the MMOG industry, the glass may be half full, but it's full of urine. HaemishM

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Bunk
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Operating Thetan One


Reply #41 on: January 27, 2009, 06:02:39 AM

Confirmation on the upcoming special:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7851989.stm

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"I have retard strength." - Schild
raydeen
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Reply #42 on: January 31, 2009, 03:38:30 PM

Red Dwarf always killed me. My favorite line:

Rimmer: Step up to Red Alert!
Kryten: Are you certain sir? It does mean changing the bulb.

The one thing I hated in later distributions of the show was the remake of the intros. I thought it was a bit tasteless trying to 'modernize' it with CGI and crappy metal versions of the theme. Lost all the charm of the original models and such. And one thing thats been bugging me for years. I was watching one of the newer releases and Holly goes into his 'supplemental' report and states that they found a moon or asteroid that looked exactly like Marilyn Monroe's bottom. I could SWEAR that I remember the original statement being that it looked like Felicity Kendall's bottom. Stupid thing to ask but can anyone confirm or deny this? Am I just senile now or was I wasted as a teenager?


I was drinking when I wrote this, so sue me if it goes astray.
NowhereMan
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Reply #43 on: January 31, 2009, 03:55:04 PM

I might just be very suggestable but Felicity Kendall rings a bell where Marilyn doesn't. I hope they didn't though...

"Look at my car. Do you think that was bought with the earnest love of geeks?" - HaemishM
Righ
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Reply #44 on: January 31, 2009, 04:27:43 PM


The camera adds a thousand barrels. - Steven Colbert
raydeen
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Reply #45 on: February 01, 2009, 07:48:15 AM

I knew it! They did redo the intro at some point for the american audience. I guess we're just not educated enough in our britcom lore to know who Felicity Kendall is.  swamp poop Speaking of which, they really need to bring back Good Neighbors. Which was originally called The Good Life, I know.

I was drinking when I wrote this, so sue me if it goes astray.
Signe
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Muse.


Reply #46 on: February 01, 2009, 08:35:42 AM

Are you talking about the show in Surbiton.  God, I hate Surbiton.  I lived there for a year!  Anyway, I wasn't nuts about the show.  It was just okay for me.  One good thing was Paul Eddington, who later starred in Yes, Minister which I LOVED!

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rattran
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Unreasonable


Reply #47 on: February 01, 2009, 09:22:32 AM

I thought Richard Briers was great in it, and Felicity Kendall is cute in an annoying way. The show itself I found tedious.
I thought the Young Ones spoof of it was best.

Yay for new Red Dwarf though. Even if they are are old and have moved on. I'ma go listen to the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show now.
apocrypha
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Reply #48 on: February 01, 2009, 10:44:46 AM

I thought the Young Ones spoof of it was best.
This. I'm with Vyvyan:

"Vyvyan: No! No! NO! We're not watching the bloody Good Life! Bloody bloody bloody! I hate it! It's so bloody nice! Felicity "Treacle" Kendall and Richard "Sugar-Flavored-Snot" Briars! What do they do now? Chocolate bloody Button ads, that's what! They're just a couple of reactionary stereotypes, confirming the myth that everyone in Britain is a lovable, middle-class eccentric - and I - HATE - THEM!"

 awesome, for real

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Signe
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Muse.


Reply #49 on: February 01, 2009, 12:02:27 PM

Maybe Paul Eddington would have done more stuff in his elder years but he went and popped his clogs, dammit. The only drawback to the show was the fact that it was Margaret Thatcher's favourite.  That almost makes me feel dirty for liking it so much.

PS  I love The Young Ones.  Huge Nigel Planer fan here, too.  Even just looking at his face puts me in a good mood.

My Sig Image: hath rid itself of this mortal coil.
raydeen
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Reply #50 on: February 01, 2009, 02:59:41 PM

I really dug the show. Maybe it was because I grew up on a small farm so a lot of the situations hit home (although we weren't as hardcore as they were). Also loved it for Penelope Keith who can just put me into stitches no matter what she does. Although it's usually how she says things. Loved To The Manor Born as well.

Hey, I've got strange tastes and we're not talking RD anymore. Sorry for the derail but thanks for the info.

Let's get back on track

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV17GxTh3Mo

I was drinking when I wrote this, so sue me if it goes astray.
DraconianOne
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Reply #51 on: February 04, 2009, 10:02:24 AM

The boys are back in town.  But not looking so much like boys - just... old.


A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
apocrypha
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Planes? Shit, I'm terrified to get in my car now!


Reply #52 on: February 04, 2009, 11:25:53 AM

My god, especially Chris Barrie. This could be very bad  Ohhhhh, I see.

"Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism" - Rosa Luxemburg, 1915.
Signe
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Muse.


Reply #53 on: February 04, 2009, 01:12:59 PM

Kryten doesn't look old!

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Samwise
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WWW
Reply #54 on: February 04, 2009, 01:26:24 PM

They've aged pretty well IMO.  Except maybe Chris Barrie, but that's just because his hair turned against him.  He still has a baby face.

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Signe
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Muse.


Reply #55 on: February 04, 2009, 01:35:04 PM

He's making a frowny face which gives him frowny lines.  I saw some pics from that Massive Machines or whatever it was called and he looked great, only chubbier.  I think they all look great, too.  Lister always looks great to me.  That's why I named kitty after him.  I ignore the fact that he's a womanizing hard drug user in real life.  At least I'm pretty certain he's not a rapist!

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apocrypha
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Planes? Shit, I'm terrified to get in my car now!


Reply #56 on: February 05, 2009, 01:48:43 AM

I've also just noticed that part of the problem with Chris Barrie in that photo is that there's a grey line in the background that at first made me think his hair was mad grey and sticky-outy. It is still grey but not as bad as I thought at first.

"Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism" - Rosa Luxemburg, 1915.
Azazel
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Reply #57 on: August 15, 2009, 12:19:50 AM

When is this thing supposed to come out. I really should buy the rest of these on DVD at some stage, too...


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DraconianOne
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Reply #58 on: August 15, 2009, 05:01:51 PM

Came out on TV around Easter in the UK. Is already out on DVD here. Can't comment on other countries/regions.

A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
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