I've just caught the end of 'Terry and June' on some obscure Sky channel whilst doing my usual channel hopping during advert breaks. The conclusion now as it was when I was very young and watching it for when it was first broadcast, remains the same. The word 'horseshit' doesn't seem to do Terry and June justice. Appallingly contrived and utter bollocks seems perhaps more appropriate. It was part of that 1970's English sitcom genre which always left me cold. It just wasn't funny and watching it now many years after it was first broadcast, it still doesn't make me laugh. Embarrassed yes, amused - no. The world of suburban Home Counties sitcom living seemed a million miles away from a young kid brought up in Lancashire. I couldn't get my head around 'housewives' like June Whitfield being fully made-up all day and twittering on about souffles and coffee mornings. Exposure to bumbling golf-playing, Rotary Club husbands wearing beige Farah Pants / cardigans and calling his wife 'darling' just didn't register in my upbringing. I had never seen anyone come home from work and reach for a decanter before mixing a for gin and tonic before settling on the patio. Not only that, the lines always seemed to be delivered in that 50's style 'oops, more tea vicar?' farce-like way which you could see coming like a runaway no.15 bus slamming on the brakes on a patch of black ice. Other sitcoms in this genre and of this time which also left me cold (but were surprisingly popular and gained huge ratings) were:-
The Good Life
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
George and Mildred
Robin's Nest
To The Manor Born
Bless This House
Butterflies
Bless Me Father
Never The Twain
Hideous..
