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- Episode aired Sep 24, 1984
Tripper meets the man who is to be his assistant manager. He also meets The Grazer, who eats, drinks and sleeps in the supermarket.Tripper meets the man who is to be his assistant manager. He also meets The Grazer, who eats, drinks and sleeps in the supermarket.Tripper meets the man who is to be his assistant manager. He also meets The Grazer, who eats, drinks and sleeps in the supermarket.
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Featured reviews
Episode one sees the arrival of Mr Christian, who joins Norman Tripper as his Assistant Manager.
It's not wonderful, when you think that it stars Leonard Rossiter, but this first episode is mediocre at best. Rossiter is pretty funny, but he's not working with great material.
It is nice to see the interior of the shop, it takes you back to the 1980's, as does the awful music.
I like the canteen Supervisor Hilda, she's funny, I liked her love/hate relationship with Tripper.
What a total waste of John Arnatt, a wonderful actor, with a terrific voice, he's reduced to buying cheese from this awful shop.
Mehh, 5/10.
Unfortunately for Rossiter. Unlike Rising Damp or The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. This would be found in the bargain basement bin.
Rossiter is Tripper, the put upon supermarket manager whose staff seem to be shiftless.
In the first episode he has to introduce the new keen assistant manager Mr Christian. Move Alf the ineffectual security man to the cheese counter, placate Hilda whose romantic overtures he has rebuffed. Then deal with the grazer, a tramp who wanders around the store eating the products.
More importantly Tripper has to labour with two bolshie characters so he can get to a Laurel and Hardie gag.
It is pretty desperate stuff with cardboard cutout characters. All of them seem to staple sitcom caricatures. There is a mention of Bruce Forsyth who would take over from Tripper's character in the follow up series.
There was a lifting of a line from Hill Street Blues by Tripper as he gives a pep talk in the staff room. 'Let's be careful out there.' The writer should had considered that he should had been more funnier.
Did you know
- TriviaIn a moment of unintentional foreshadowing, Bruce Forsyth is mentioned by Tripper (Leonard Rossiter) in this episode when he is giving his morning brief to the employees. Bruce Forsyth later took over the role of the supermarket manager after the death of Rossiter, and the series was renamed to Slinger's day.
- Quotes
Mr. Christian: Erm, you were saying you have to keep on top of the staff.
Norman Tripper: Oh yes it's absolutely imperative that .. we...
[Realises the store hasn't been opened]
Norman Tripper: No customers in yet, Mr Battle?
Alf Battle: It's very early, Mr Tripper.
Norman Tripper: You have opened the doors?
Alf Battle: Well, um, oh but I'm not security anymore, I'm cheese aren't I? I'll be no good on cheese.
Norman Tripper: You were no good on security, we had the burglar alarm stolen last month. Open the doors!
- ConnectionsReferences Hill Street Blues (1981)