Actor/writer/ comedian/ flâneur. Expect some light drivel but sunny spells later.
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Prog 338 If memory serves, reading non-digital news media, goatee beards and knitting were of course illegal in Mega City One. One hundred days in the iso-cube for The Master and his wife.
Crystal Clear (1988) stuck with me for some reason. Richard is an art dealer who is a diabetic. He has lost his sight in one eye and falls in love with a social worker called Thomasina, who has been blind since birth. Unknown to Thomasina, Richard is still embroiled in a love affair with Jane.
Ha!
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Prog 337 This cover has got it all for me! It's like a typical VHS cover for some obscure (probably pirated) sci-fi horror movie you'd hire from that odd bloke who ran an iffy video rental store from his spare room. Old'uns, we all knew one of those outfits in the early '80s, amirite?
Still sounds fresh
Bogshed weren't as good at reggae as Sly & Robbie though, you must at least concede that?
It's Pel Benson, yes.
He's very poorly. www.independent.co.uk/arts-enterta...
Current mood.
They're good people.
I had a chat with Swells at a gig once in the mid nineties at the new Marquee venue. The bill? Sham 69, Fun-Da-Mental and The Nutty Boys (Chris and Lee from Madness). A bizarre confrontational gig, but spectacular.
Another music paper page/ bedroom poster from my collection. Forty years ago this month! Godspeed to Chrissy Boy!
Apparently, in the original British cut you never saw the demon but American producers insisted on including that big old devil puppet because U.S. audiences would feel cheated if they didn't get an appearance of a monster.
Prog 336 Iggy Pop's ancestor introduces on stage Ronnie Wood's ancestor at the very first music festival held in Britain during the Bronze Age
It's mint.
Ian Dury backstage after a sit-down gig said to a 17 year old me "You're the c**t who got everybody up and dancing. Fanks for that."
Still a scary film though.
According to the centre label 'Foolish Love', 'In My Dreams' and 'Gift' were also originals written by members of the band.
I think they should get director Gus Van Sant to pointlessly remake Life Of Brian shot-for-shot like he did with Psycho in 1998. Benedict Cumberbatch could play Brian but with a Graham Chapman AI face.
It's no Black Abbots.
Blimey!
What does that mean?
Cheapo vinyl find of the day. TV soap fans will recognise Vince Earl AKA Ron Dixon from Brookside. This LP has the extremely rare accolade of not being listed on Discogs. No clips on YouTube either, but oh, that cover.
I met someone who has heard Carnival Of Light at an exclusive listening session. I said "Well?" He just made that facial expression one makes when asked what they thought about the end of 28 Years Later.
Prog 335 A nice double bill cover and competition. The second prizes is not a night out with Frank Bough but handheld games. "A mini arcade in your pocket" Hardly. It's more like "A public swimming pool lobby with one Pac Man machine near the vending machines in your pocket"
A parody
Yes, a cable tv kids show.
Everybody in the street this week has been stopping and asking me where I stand on the St .George flag controversy. Let this children's TV show explain. youtube.com/watch?v=t8G5...
Prog 334 The 'activation' instructions on the back page explaining how to remove the poster and pin it to a bedroom wall were a little patronising, Tharg. But I'm being churlish, Belardinelli really pulled out all the stops with this cover art. Magnifico!
But where would I rest my arms?
Dicka -Dum Dumbed Down?
I don't know that album. Good?
I spotted this bench of bread in the Holloway Road last night. It's far more comfortable to sit on now, and handy if you're feeling a bit peckish when waiting for the No 43 or drinking a litre of White Lightning cider while shouting obscenities at passers by.
That image crossed my mind too.
Prog 333 Mmmmm, I could murder a synthi-sausage hot dog and a large portion of plasteen-fries right now. Where's me belly wheel for later?
Never seen that. Bonkers. I remember the first film.
Does anybody know what brand of hair conditioner John Hurt was using in 1977? Asking for a friend.
I understand. Difficult to get the tone right on here sometimes... Love and peace to you, sir x
Don't be a silly billy. I was mucking about
Prog 332 I've finally nailed why I had no interest in Sláine. I was a shorn-headed, post-punk kid, and this strip just reeked of the sort of thing snooty, heavy rock fans in my 6th form common room into Rush, BÖC & Wishbone Ash would like. But I'll concede now that this is a glorious cover!
Think. Have you fully read the post? Stop. Don't repeat what the poster has posted. Use Your Eyes and Ears, Wait, Look and Listen, and Arrive without having to apologise for skim reading a post that was barely a few sentences.
Like I said, "You're on your own."
I was thinking about Green Cross Code Man today. His main super power was that he gave children advice on how to safely cross the road and could teleport to busy British thoroughfares. That's it. He also admits that once he's said his piece, you're on your own. He'd never have made an Avenger.
Prog 331 Big cash prizes to be won every week in your super soaraway 2000 AD!!!
I spotted a dad in Highgate today wearing a t shirt depicting the main characters from the 1987 romantic comedy, Broadcast News. And I thought I wore niche pop culture T shirts. I'm tempted to get one made up of the cast of the film, Mannequin.
MACH 1 was Six Million Dollar Man though, sci-fi AF. Blackhawk was a Tornado character they felt obliged to continue out of misplaced courtesy after the comics merged. Given, Invasion wasn't that futuristic, but at least it felt vaguely contemporary.
Prog 330 Sláine's first appearance. Personally, I didn't think he belonged in 2000 AD. What's futuristic or sci-fi about this Celtic grunt? Another example of the comic belatedly trying to capture the zeitgeist? Conan The Barbarian was released in the cinemas a year before.
Prog 330 Sláine's first appearance. Personally, I didn't think he belonged in 2000 AD. What's futuristic or sci-fi about this Celtic grunt? Another example of the comic belatedly trying to capture the zeitgeist? Conan The Barbarian was released in the cinemas a year before.
I remember sharing a flat with Andy Parsons at the Ed Fringe that year. We were all sat in the living room watching the news with our mouths open. Andy wandered out of his bedroom in his dressing gown, stared emotionless at the TV and said glumly, "I suppose that means the rugby's off."
And getting under their partner's feet who has enjoyed having them away for a month.
And many of those acts will be sat on a train home with massive hangovers and constipation, getting the fear about how much money they've lost this year.
Yesterday afternoon, I saw this big, beautiful golden spider just patiently getting on with its day, waiting for a spot of lunch. Life of Riley.
Good man. I love Laibach.
Prog 329 🎶"2000 AD... toy adverts In disguise🎶 Bandai Robo Machines apparently came out a year before Transformers, but less popular. They were the Betamax of multicoloured shape shifting toy mechanoids, if you will?
Showing your age? Or knowledgeable about 1970s Olympic weightlifters? 😉
I recently found this Aug '83 music paper cover/ old bedroom poster in my folk's attic. Now. Can we resolve this issue once and for all? My mate was obsessed with this at the time. Is El Thommo's scrotum poking out of his shorts? Or is this merely underpants gusset leakage? You decide.
My good friend, @pugwalsh.bsky.social found my 'Perfect People' entry from another 1979 issue of Look-In in his personal collection.
Prog 328 One of my favourite 2000AD covers. Unexpected, shocking and funny! Great Steve Dillon art (via SPFX devised by Rick Baker).
Saving them for the next housemate task.
Forty six years, mate, forty six years!
Like JFK's assassination, Berlin Wall coming down and 9/11, we all remember where we were the night Bubble was evicted from BB2. I was playing the Dane in an RSC production of Hamlet. During the last act, I requested the houselights to be brought up to announce the devastating news to the audience.
From Look-In issue 1979 Can you remember your "Perfect People" in 1979? Me? Hat: Ray Sawyer (Dr Hook) Glasses: Dennis Taylor Nose: Madeline (Bagpuss) Mouth: Jaws (Moonraker) Body: Giant Haystacks Legs: Grace Jones Voice: Bernard Cribbins Strength: Hans Moretti Personality: Max (Hart To Hart)
Prog 327 In 1983, I would've been so stoked by this storyline. Judge Dredd AND werewolves? They should've thrown in a Rik Mayall cameo for the hat trick.
Tres bien!
You got there first! Ah, the bane of the internet, any comic observations or puns have usually already been done. Last week, I came up with a funny post about 'loan dolphins' being kinder than loan sharks but after a swift google search discovered its a character on some sitcom web series.
I've only just noticed this range of pans in Poundland. They should introduce more British comedy satirist branded pans: Stephen Fry pans, Jonathan Pie Pans ...erm...Jimmy Carr's Roast (Battle) pan? Erm...nope, that's all the British comedy satirist/pan crossover puns I've got.
Oh. how they laughed at us, but come the great digital warfare aftermath, we will be the ones laughing. Laughing at Police Squad on DVD.
Prog 326 Post to be read in the style of The A Team spoken intro. Originally, GI stood for “Galvanized Iron” used to make military items. Evolving over time, GI took on multiple meanings, including “Government Issue”, “General Issue” By the 22nd Century, GI stood for "Genetic Infantryman"!!!
Priority Postbox Lady Womantha Crystal Pistols Olga Barker
This Asian street food takeaway flyer is the first time I've seen a menu call a curry a 'Ruby Murray'. They should change the other sections accordingly: Soft drinks? Edna Everage obv Roti shoti & rice? John Gotti & vice Sides? Jekyll & Hydes Dosa Walla? David Van Day's Dollar!
That prog isn't at hand but Ro-Jaws probably thought the franchise was starting to get a bit silly, like most thought at the time.
Prog 326 "Tharg Wars - Return Of The Editor". This wordplay almost works. If only the galactic order were called 'The Jeditor', it would've been a home run. They've also invited a fictional decomissioned municipal sewage robot to review the movie. Was Barry Norman unavailable?
I once typed in 'Arthur Askey' and a suggestion was "Who is Arthur Askey dating". The old rascal!
I just read in the news how much Rick Buckler from The Jam had left in his will. How is this ANY of our business? Maybe, they should also reveal transcripts of Rick's voicemails, his bank statements and medical records so we can get an even fuller picture of the late drummer?
Before you got a telly?
Ah yes.
Do they still do the sachet of crispy noodles though?
Prog 324 Stuff BMX bikes, where can I win an anti-gravity man cave armchair?
Ah, leave Rob alone. At least he's not dying his hair, the silver fox.
This Is England 2025?
I was reminded that we lost the brilliant Sean Lock four years ago today. I shall now wear my 15 Storeys High t shirt in his memory. All the cast & crew were given one after filming the series. It's too small and quite uncomfortable to wear. I think Sean would be amused by that.
Prog 322 Something's occurred to me. The most popular and classic 2000AD characters: Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog & Rogue Trooper all have something in common. There is nothing behind the eyes. Any semblance of humanity is hidden behind a helmet, mutation or eugenics. Thoughts?
I just used AI to find out who played 'Norm' from the Twix adverts in the 90s (He was also Simon Perry from the ITV kid's show What's Up Doc?). It was actually Stephen Taylor Woodrow not Kevin Eldon. This long running falsehood @herring1967.bsky.social is having serious consequences!
Aniseed and creosote.
Morrissey.
I'm often accused of being over-nostalgic, but come on, who doesn't experience a warm feeling when they remember people from the noughties remembering people from the nineties who remembered Spangles from the seventies?
😆
My music collection, beergut, cheaper holidays and fairly intact life savings will be getting their A Level results today. Good luck, my children!
Ah. I wonder if the success of The Hills Have Eyes (1977) was rather galling for them?
Prog 322 Oh great, now I'm going to have the chorus of Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon prowling around my head for the whole day. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qae2...
Almost a decade's gap though between the two films though.
A good companion piece for Deliverance (1972).
Tiberius?
Thanks Neil, I've made a note of that to watch after I've finished the whole series.
Are they though? I don't think I've seen a set wobble in Who more than once.
I'm really enjoying revisiting I'Claudius after a few decades. The terrifying theme tune is not unlike the 70s Doctor Who theme. At the end of each grim episode the music starts with this sort of sonic jump scare like a Dr Who cliffhanger. www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa0W...
Regulartramp
Prog 321 The cover of Prog 321 is not unlike the ancient ITV Saturday evening quiz show '3-2-1' hosted by Ted Rogers. It's colourful, mildly entertaining, but you don't know what the hell is going on. I do like that bottle font though.
