View Full Version : The Green Green Grass (OFAH spin-off)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3971569.stm
Boycie and Marlene, two of the best-loved characters from BBC hit sitcom Only Fools and Horses, are to reunite for the spin-off Green, Green Grass.
The BBC confirmed that a pilot episode about the dodgy car dealer and his long-suffering wife is being filmed.
If the pilot, written by Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan, is a success it will become a series.
The actors, John Challis and Sue Holderness, are the only ones from the original series taking part.
The stars of Only Fools and Horses, David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, will not be involved.
Green, Green Grass will see Boycie and Marlene moving out of Peckham for a more refined life in the country, along with their son Tyler.
HenryKrinkle
01-11-2004, 13:26
Oh sweet Jesus!
...this sounds awful!!
Radiohead
01-11-2004, 13:28
Christ on a bike - what genius gave that the greenlight?
DavidMcGowan
01-11-2004, 13:46
:lol: This doesn't sound at all promising, although I suppose it kind of makes sense - the actors have appeared in plays together and made public appearances etc. trading upon their association with OFAH so I suppose they were more than happy to get this offer! It does sound like it's just going to be like any old dodgy sitcom spin-off - the characters don't really seem to have the potential to be fleshed out for a series, but I'll reserve my judgment. It's a shame that John Sullivan keeps trying to resurrect the OFAH universe, though - it went out on such a high in 1996 that it's sad to have all these 'new' episodes slightly spoiling the good name of the show. Traditional sitcom is kind of stagnant at the moment and Sullivan's providing of more of the same hasn't exactly been bad, but it just feels old-fashioned and disappointing compared with its contemporaries. I quite enjoyed Roger, Roger, as it at least dropped the laugh track and went with a more realist, documentary-like aesthetic.
The most interesting spin-off was a proposed 'Del and Rodney in the 1960s' show, that was rumoured in novel form in the mid-90s and then was suggested as a television series around the time Austin Powers and That 70s Show were coming into vogue. Not sure if it would have worked either - would be strange seeing different actors play the parts - but at least sounded a bit more promising, as it could have deepened the backstory hinted at in the OFAH shows, rather than this Boycie and Marlene thing which sounds like it will just riff on some of the established character traits in a new setting.
But, I reserve the right to take all this back if it turns out to be the British Frasier ;) (Yeah, right..)
I have always been of the belief that they should have left OF&H alone after the boys got their millions. The specials after that just did not cut the mustard, were tired and dragged the series down from its heights.
This smacks of desperation to me - rather than new ideas, they seem to be trying to rehash old ones in the hope of restoring the glory days of BBC comedy. What next - a "Dad's Army - the next generation"?
Thornastor
01-11-2004, 15:59
I also heard that there is an Early years of the Del and rodney series too. They should leave the classics alone.
thescrounger
01-11-2004, 16:31
Good actors and good characters. It could work.
Sounds like Grace & Favour v2.0 to me. :gag:
Good actors and good characters. It could work.
Good actors yes, but I think that Boycie and Marlene only work well as part of the ensemble cast for Del and Rodney to play off. The idea of them carrying their own show - personally I can't see it working.
could be good but I'd prefer another series of OFAH, wouldn't like the series to end of one of the worst episodes.
OFAH should be shot like a horse, it's all over. This sounds like a horrible idea, it was a great sitcom at first and got weaker and weaker (Uncle Albert was never a patch on Grandad), went out on a high in 96 and then came back very poor.
OFAH should be shot like a horse, it's all over. This sounds like a horrible idea, it was a great sitcom at first and got weaker and weaker (Uncle Albert was never a patch on Grandad), went out on a high in 96 and then came back very poor.
so thats 3 poor episodes against 7 great series and countless great specials and you think it should be shot like a horse? :D
thescrounger
01-11-2004, 17:29
Good actors yes, but I think that Boycie and Marlene only work well as part of the ensemble cast for Del and Rodney to play off. The idea of them carrying their own show - personally I can't see it working.
I always thought they were underused in OFAH. Much more potential there IMO.
Grandmaster
01-11-2004, 17:33
Boycie is a great character and has had some truly classic lines in Only Fools and Horses. In theory, I wouldn't much a spin-off series like this.
My only problem is that based on the evidence of the post-Uncle Albert episodes, John Sullivan these days is about as funny as woodworm in a cripple's crutch.
I always thought they were underused in OFAH. Much more potential there IMO.
Quite a few classic lines and moments, but I think there is only so far that his grating laugh and "Maaaaarleeeeeene" can carry a comedy.
I just wish they would try and create new comedy rather than going over old ground. Look at the likes of Little Britain - fantastic original comedy, critically acclaimed.
Grandmaster
01-11-2004, 17:52
Some classic Boycie lines (courtesy of The Sun)
"You know what they're like on this estate - they'd have the wheels off a Jumbo if it flew too low."
"I heard a rumour that Mickey Mouse wears a Rodney Trotter wristwatch."
"Marlene's always moaning about how I don't respect her. I mean, me? Don't respect my own wife? Daft old mare."
Trying to sell Del a car: "A man like you needs something to reflect your image - I've got a lovely Skoda in the forecourt."
I was thinking along the lines of Swiss Tony. Comedy gold for The Fast Show, but try to make a 30 minute sitcom out of "[insert activity] Paul is very much like making love to a beautiful woman" and it pretty soon loses its appeal.
Fred2002
01-11-2004, 19:32
I also heard that there is an Early years of the Del and rodney series too. They should leave the classics alone.
Doubt that will happen if anyone at the beeb remembers the diatribe of codwallop that was First of The Summer Wine...... :gag:
Arthur Fowler
02-11-2004, 07:39
Some classic Boycie lines (courtesy of The Sun)
"I heard a rumour that Mickey Mouse wears a Rodney Trotter wristwatch."
Classic! :clap:
But I can't see the two of them having enough quality to carry a series.
webslinger
02-11-2004, 08:29
Doubt that will happen if anyone at the beeb remembers the diatribe of codwallop that was First of The Summer Wine...... :gag:
They didnt??? ...........did they?
never heard of that myself, must have been woeful!
Fever Dawg
04-09-2005, 19:30
This is starting on Friday night.
I fear I might be cringeing behind my cushion when it's on.
It's had some good reviews and there are some experienced character actors involved, so there could be potential for a few series.
Here's a bit more info about the series and actors:
Only Fools and Horses' favourites Boycie and Marlene are off to start a new life in Shropshire swapping their Peckham palace for a rambling farmhouse in John Sullivan's new seven part sitcom, The Green Green Grass.
The Green Green Grass is the debut programme from Sullivan's new company Shazam Productions for BBC ONE.
Boycie (John Challis) is on the run from the infamous Driscoll Brothers and his only hope of living to old age is to leg it before they catch up with him.
So he up sticks with his reluctant wife Marlene (Sue Holderness) and recalcitrant son Tyler (Jack Doolan) to a secluded farm in Shropshire.
Looking for peace and a quiet life, Boycie is horrified to discover that the farm comes with three staff – farm manager Elgin (David Ross), ploughman Jed (Peter Hepplethwaite) and herdsman Bryan (Ivan Kaye).
But not as horrified as Marlene when they convince him that he's the perfect material to be a gentleman farmer. And then he buys a bull...
There's also trouble from the neighbours as adjoining farmer – the patriotic and outspoken Welshman Llewellyn (Alan David) – takes an instant dislike to Boycie.
Tyler finds love when he goes to school and meets Rhian (Karen Paullada) and Marlene is thoroughly confused by her work-shy housekeeper, Mrs Cakeworthy (Ella Kenion).
John Sullivan said: "When I was writing Only Fools, I often used to wonder what Boycie and Marlene were like when they were at home together alone. And now I've had the chance to find out!
"They're like lots of married couples – constantly bickering and trying to hide their little secrets but deep down they love each other.
"Inevitably Boycie is better suited to the country as being a gentleman farmer appeals to his ego and he's not afraid to try anything once, but Marlene finds the transition more difficult. Stilettos weren't made for traipsing across fields!"
The Green Green Grass is written by John Sullivan, directed by Tony Dow and produced by Gareth Gwenlan with executive producer Tim Hancock.
" I have a bad feeling about this !"
these two characters were very much in the background in OFAH.....I don't see this working.
thescrounger
05-09-2005, 10:20
They were the best supporting characters in OFAH so it could work. Boycie always brought a smile to the face when he was on screen.
They were the best supporting characters in OFAH so it could work. Boycie always brought a smile to the face when he was on screen.
I still liked them, and I hope this does succeed, its just that it could be a little thin, and I would rather have seen a brand new comedy from John Sullivan.
Went and saw a recording of this down at Shepperton Studios a couple of months ago (I hink it was the fourth in the series).
IMHO it was pretty awful. Predictable characters and situations leading to predictable punchlines. However, it was very similar in flavour to OFaH over the last couple of years, so the audience that tunes in due to that should get what they expect. :)
thescrounger
05-09-2005, 11:33
I still liked them, and I hope this does succeed, its just that it could be a little thin, and I would rather have seen a brand new comedy from John Sullivan.
I doubt he's got a new series in him.
This show was already discussed in an OFAH thread a while ago.
http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380105&highlight=green+grass
Some mates of mine went to the filming of an episode of this, and they reckoned it was absolute pants.
I think it will be good.
I know a lot of people like to slate Sullivan after the last 3 OFAH episodes but lets not forget he's done 7 Series and 22 Specials prior to them which imo where fantastic.
Kirs-tea
05-09-2005, 13:34
" I have a bad feeling about this !"
these two characters were very much in the background in OFAH.....I don't see this working.
I agree. I'm not sure there's enough material to make a series out of the 2 characters.... I think I'll avoid it for fear of cringing too much! :(
Rollocop
05-09-2005, 13:52
Challis and Holderness were at a Memorabilia Con in Glasgow a couple of years back. They were there to sign autographs (for £15 each) but both sat with faces like toffee cos everyone was just walking past them! :)
spearce8
05-09-2005, 13:54
Challis and Holderness were are a Memorabilia Con in Glasgow a couple of years back. They were there to sign autographs (for £15 each) but both sat with faces like toffee cos everyone was just walking past them! :)
:lol:
Challis and Holderness were at a Memorabilia Con in Glasgow a couple of years back. They were there to sign autographs (for £15 each) but both sat with faces like toffee cos everyone was just walking past them! :)
at £15 each I'm not suprised, why did they charge for an autograph?
My personal appraisal of Only Fools and Horses.... is as follows:
Anything made in the 1980s was terrific;
Anything made in the 1990s was still pretty good;
Anything made thereafter shouldn't have been.
At its absolute best (from about 1982 to 1989 I reckon), it was superb: fast, fresh, funny. But the endless repeats, the lousy last few episodes and the ****-poor DVD releases have all turned me off the series a bit. However, many of the 30m episodes are undisputed classics of the genre.
Don't really hold out much hope for The Green Green Grass, but will watch it and see.
My personal appraisal of Only Fools and Horses.... is as follows:
Anything made in the 1980s was terrific;
Anything made in the 1990s was still pretty good;
Anything made thereafter shouldn't have been.
so you only disliked the final trilogy? which where filmed altogether so it's not as though he made 3 rubbish ones on the trot.
That still leaves 7 Series and 22 Feature Length Specials, which is a pretty impressive run for any show.
I'm hoping Sullivan will deliver.
That still leaves 7 Series and 22 Feature Length Specials, which is a pretty impressive run for any show.Were there as many Christmas specials as that? Surely not.
But yes, I liked everything up to 1996, although I didn't like the '90s episodes as much as the '80s ones.
I like the line about the dodgy videos that only work on the continental current..
trigger - 'fell off the back of a lorry did they?'
Boycey- 'if they did it was going round a roundabout in Dussledorf '
:lol:
thescrounger
05-09-2005, 18:50
at £15 each I'm not suprised, why did they charge for an autograph?
All celebs at memorabillia events charge for autographs. That's the way the event works.
Chief Brody
06-09-2005, 18:52
I feel i must again stick up for the final three episodes of Only Fools and Horses. OK, perhaps they weren't exactly vintage (with the possible exception of the 'Gary' special), but they don't deserve to be dismissed as harshly as some fans have done. The 'comeback' episode, for example, has some of the best-ever Trigger material ('Dave's just had a big row with the Sultan of Brunei', 'This is the karaoke version'), and the ending is actually a better way to finish the series than that offered in 1996. In 1996, the boys may have become millionaires, but we're left thinking that perhaps Del would miss his old life too much and didn't really want to be a millionaire after tasting the life. Couple that with Cassandra's miscarriage and the ending is more of a downer than some think. The new trilogy ends with Rodney finally becoming a Dad, and the Trotter's actually having some comfortable wealth thanks to Uncle Albert. The longstanding plot point about Rodney's parentage is also finally resolved. So i for one think it's a better ending. To do more episodes though, would really be pushing it.
rbullivant
07-09-2005, 05:30
Quote: John Sullivan said: "When I was writing Only Fools, I often used to wonder what Boycie and Marlene were like when they were at home together alone. And now I've had the chance to find out!
The fact that the creator had no idea what the characters were like outside of the sitcom he wrote just proves how poor it is going to be, the characters are one dimensional and I strongly doubt that this can be stretched to a whole series.
Surely celebs charge £15 an autograph because it has some value, surely a Boycey autograph is way overpriced
Rik
Quote: John Sullivan said: "When I was writing Only Fools, I often used to wonder what another big bag of cash to add to the pile would be like. And now I've had the chance to find out!
Fixed quote.
I agree. A promising start, plenty of laughs - some good one-liners from Boycie. Will take some getting used to without the Trotters.
I think it could take the series to become familiar with it. It took Only Fools until mid way through Series 2 to take off with the public.
Didn't like this at all, the characters just dont work in their own series. Very few laughs too. I'll watch a few more episodes but I think this series is going to turn out as a major disappointment
I thought it was superb. I was quite relieved, as many have been quite cynical about this show and I think it did very well! :)
DuncanSWardle
09-09-2005, 22:28
Enjoyed it but pit off by other half pointing out where the pub is (actually called The Bridges) and other locations
Kirs-tea
10-09-2005, 11:45
Wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. A few mild chuckles! I think I'll watch it again but wouldn't miss out on a night out to stop in and see it!
mattjhnprc
10-09-2005, 12:25
I though it started off well but lost its way when they got to the coutryside. But ill give it a few episodes and see if it improves
Panavision
10-09-2005, 13:09
I didn't like it but it wasn't terrible. Boycie works better when we see him Del and company.
I'd like to see Del make an appearance in one of the shows.
rbullivant
10-09-2005, 14:20
It was OK but not that good, about as good as the most recent Only Fools episodes. Probably will watch it again. The humour was just too predicatable for my tastes
Rik
Porsmond
10-09-2005, 19:29
Was'nt great, but was'nt bad either.Had a few good laughs here and there so was actually quite suprised. I think I will still tune in for the remaining episodes if I remember its on
I watched this the other day, agree with what some other people have said about it being a bit predictable in places. Think I will watch it again this week, hopefully it will pick up a bit :)
Wonder if any of the OFAH cast will make an appearance? only person I noticed in the first episode was Denzil. Would be nice to see Trigger :D
SIMON ADEBISI
12-09-2005, 12:46
When is this on?
friday nights - first was at 8.30pm now I think subsequent episodes will be 9pm.
Viewing figures show that 9.1million watched the first installment!
Andrew WK
12-09-2005, 14:54
BBC1's belated Only Fools and Horses spinoff, The Green Green Grass, got the biggest launch episode audience for a sitcom for many a year on Friday night, attracting more than 9 million viewers.
Only Fools and Horses' creator John Sullivan has transported John Challis's character, Boycie, to a new life in the Shropshire countryside with his wife, Sue Holderness's Marlene, to escape vengeful gangsters.
Sullivan's new sitcom may have got a lukewarm critical reaction, but still attracted 9.1 million viewers and a 42% audience share between 8.30pm and 9pm on Friday, according to unofficial overnights.
The Green Green Grass easily saw off competition from a repeat of ITV1 docusoap Airline, which gained 3.2 million viewers and a 14% audience share.
rbullivant
12-09-2005, 15:46
Good ratings but how many will be watching next week?
Rik
3 million people switched off this week, decent enough episode though.
how did you get the viewing figures so early, Reggie?
Only Fools and Horses spinoff The Green Green Grass lost more than 3 million viewers on its second outing.
The comedy began strongly last week with an average of 9.13 million but dropped to just 6.12 million (28%) on Friday night, according to early figures.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds24508.html
mind you - moving it to 9pm would not have helped. 6.12 million is FAR from bad for a post watershed sitcom at 9pm!
I found 9 million hard to believe to be honest!
considering the first episode got 9 million viewers there doesn't seem to be much talk about it, has everyone stopped watching?
I missed the second episode but watched this weeks which was ok, some good lines, "can I have my Bull back?" :lol:
some of the characters seem a bit rubbish at the moment but its early days.
JamieC460
25-09-2005, 15:41
I also liked the Little Red Riding Hood set up and gag.
I agree with you about the lack of comments regarding this series, as it's one of the best comedy shows in years. Then again, OFAH took two series before it became popular.
It's funny to see several of the critics in the press, are changing their minds.
pumpkinos
25-09-2005, 15:47
I saw this weeks & other than the 2 parts already mentioned that made me laugh I wasn't overly impressed.
ShakeyJake
25-09-2005, 16:08
I do kind of like it, but it does seem a little Vicar of Dibley
I do kind of like it, but it does seem a little Vicar of Dibley
that just put me right off :D
but your spot-on, the characters (that cleaner especially) wouldn't seem out of place in that rubbish.
Grandmaster
25-09-2005, 17:15
I watched the second episode and found it twee and predictable, but still much better than average BBC1 sitcom. The humour seems to be on much the same level as the horrific Dibley, but aimed a bit more towards the Last of the Summer Wine audience. Sullivan's writing of Tyler in particular is excruciating, just like it was for Damien in the last lamentable OFAH episodes.
The old 'city bloke being conned by yokels pretending to be idiots' storylines do tend to be a bit yawnsome too... the OFAH Boycie was smarmy, arrogant and usually came out on top, complete with a brilliant quip or two. When he did come a cropper, that's what made the situation even funnier. The all-new Boycie is the butt of half of the jokes and it doesn't really sit right with me.
I missed the other episodes and I don't feel particularly bereft to be honest. Still, if Sullivan has found an audience that likes this, more power to him. I'd be interested to see how many viewers the latest episodes have got though.
Goblin, I've merged your thread with this one.
I'll change the thread title to include the name of the show (if I can, anyway).
I did think the first one was pretty good, but the second didn't impress, and I'm not sure if the new setting will suit the characters as Grandmaster has said. However, I'm certainly willing to give it a chance.
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.