I hadn't realised until recently that John Thaw had appeared in a sitcom other than 'Home To Roost' so I decided to give this pre-'Sweeney' outing a go. I shortly wished I hadn't bothered. As mediocre as 'Home To Roost' was, it was a comedy masterpiece when compared with this dismal, dated, laughter-free drivel.
We have 2 useless crooks, George (played by professional cockney Bob Hoskins, who chews up the scenery when given half a chance) and his gormless pal, Stan (Thaw). Just to eliminate any lingering doubts from the audience's minds that Thaw's character isn't the sharpest tool in the box, the producers have instructed him to speak in a truly awful, stereotypical, fick-as-two-short-planks accent. As if the accent wasn't 'hilarious' enough, Stan, at every available opportunity, will turn to George and ask him 'Izzat thi right wurd?' after using a word in conversation that he wasn't certain to be appropriate. This was something which wasn't even remotely funny the first time I heard it being said, let alone the 34th. Alongside these pathetic losers we have Annie (George's wife and Stan's live-in lover). She is played by Pat Ashton and proves to be the least annoying character of the bunch although that's hardly saying much.
Once you add in a mountain of clichés regarding cockney villains, a totally ridiculous premise ( even for a sitcom ) and, worst of all, a script that was about as funny as a dose of food poisoning, then you're left with a 'comedy' that's long been forgotten (and deservedly so).
The 1970's was a golden era for sitcoms ? You're having a laugh (and that's more than you'd get from watching this).
