A review of the opening episode of John Sullivan's 1986 sitcom, Dear John, starring Ralph Bates, Peter Blake, Rachel Bell, Peter Denyer and Belinda Lang.
This is IMO a very underated show. John Sullivan was a class writer who always introduced interesting characters in to his sit-coms. He produced many series over a number of years. He even wrote early sketches for the Two Ronnie's.
I believe I may have seen some episodes as a kid. When tributes to John Sullivan were made after his death, this show was briefly mentioned. So, with reawakened interest, I started to watch it. It's a great show - the style of it reminds me slightly of Sullivan's Only Fools And Horses and David Renwick's One Foot In The Grave. There are hilarious moments, but some moments of sadness that actually help enrich it.
David Renwick is another writer I really admire for how he constructs an episode, clearly planning out the plot of each week's story very carefully and thereby providing the narrative framework from which all the comic moments can then be hung. Easy to see why he was able to work in the murder mystery format just as comfortably with Jonathan Creek. I'm just working (finally) on the review of the second episode of Dear John, and already I'm seeing some of those more poignant moments you mention that Sullivan would go on to use to great acclaim, and with even more tenderness, in Only Fools and Horses. The ability to make us care for his characters, and then laugh at them seconds later, was part of his genius and part of the great legacy he passed down to other writers.
Yes, thanks Gretel Petal, so it looks like Forces TV begins a run of this seldom-repeated show from today (Tue 15th Feb 2022 - 19:35). It can be found as follows: Sky 181, Virgin 274, FreeSat 165, FreeView96, YouView96 Furthermore, in addition to the two 45min review videos on the show posted not so long ago by a channel called The British Sitcom History Podcast, a podcast called SADDO is also embarking on an episode-by-episode review. The rennaissance has arrived!
Thanks, Mike. My review for Dear John episode two (after a massive gap) is finally on its way. I'd better not commit to reviewing any other shows until I've made more inroads with this one! Steptoe and Son would be a great candidate. I admire the other two you mention as well, but I think not with sufficient fondness to want to review them. John Finnemore's R4 sitcom Cabin Pressure would probably be where I went next, if I were to take the format onto a new show...
Copyright for all the clips used belongs to BBC Studios. I'm claiming fair usage on the grounds of analysis. I wanted to include some forensic-level exploration of the humour of the episosde, which is not really possible without reference to the clips. TH-cam's automated copyright claim system blocked the usage of of the original file at the point of upload. The same content but with the monochrome/edge filter applied to the clips got through. To my eyes, this still allows you to see the gestures and expressions the actors are using. Apologies to any viewers who find it distracting or difficult to make out. I'm sure the owner and/or the platform can have the video taken down if they have an objection to it. I'm (obviously!) not intending to monetise via this content. But I do hope fans of the show will be inspired to rewatch this old masterpiece. Like I say in the video, DVDs of the 2 seasons and the Christmas special are available to buy, if you can track them down.
@@Robc--jd6yh It is curiously little repeated and little showcased on modern digital platforms. A while back it enjoyed a run on Forces TV (Channel 274 on Virgin). When it will appear again, if ever, I couldn't say. Sorry.
excellent review watched British Sitcom History dear john review they have not got a clue Trigger could have done a better job than them 2 losers one of them a so called actor because he had a line in the Bill , your review was honest intelligent and i really enjoyed listening to you brilliant keep up the good work
Grateful for your kind comments. I do need to get on and finish my review of episode two! Ironically, the BSH review of Dear John is the one of their uploads I find least to agree with. They pick at a few flaws in the one particular episode they focus on (some of the acting being a bit stagey, for example) but - in my opinion - don't give enough weight or credit for the show's strengths in general. It is interesting to see how many more views the BSH videos for Dear John have attracted compared to some of the other shows they have covered. Perhaps the show's quality combined with its relative under-exposure (i.e. never seems to get repeated) has brewed a small army of enthusiasts. To be fair to the BSH guys, their videos tend to provide a lot of great background information on the cast, writer, etc and offer a bit of an insider insight (that I don't have) into how shows get picked up, made and funded. Yes, they seem to have been strangely lukewarm on Dear John but seems like there are plenty of others out there who still love it.
It's odd that it never gets repeated on the BBC or Dave. All the episodes, including specials, are included in a single DVD box set released by BBC Worldwide in 2016. I imagine the BBC and the distributors would be less keen for all the content to appear freely available online! It would seem, in 2021, that TH-cam's copyright scanning process is sophisticated enough to flag up as an upload infringement even short clips of the show. You will see from the video that I needed to apply a filter over the clips I wanted to analyse in order to smuggle them onto the platform.
@@johnnyBgoodson yes I've noticed on gold crap comedies are repeated like royal family vicar of Dibley absolutely fabulous but not anything actually funny like dear john
@@tonydoherty2190 Yes, I really like the dialogue-based kind of gags that Dear John was full of, so Ab Fab and Royle Family, relying for humour more on the mannerisms of the characters than on explicit punchlines, were never quite my cup of tea. I liked Vicar of Dibley better. I felt Emma Chambers and Roger Lloyd Pack (now both sadly gone) contributed to a particularly strong supporting cast. But, no, it wasn't quite funny enough that I felt inspired to produce a video reviewing it. >>> BTW, check out the work of the guys at the British Sitcom History Podcast channel for videos giving reviews of shows like Dear John, Fawlty Towers, Steptoe, and so forth.
@@yell50 Well what one person calls 'woke', another might call taking reasonable steps not to offend or reinforce unpleasant stereotypes. In any case, I don't see Dear John as the sort of show that ages badly in that respect. Yes, Kirk is a highly non-PC character, but is clearly the idiot of the gang. The others, who call him out on it, are fairly enlightened types.
@@johnnyBgoodson you can't live you life trying not to offend people we all should be able to laugh at our selves and at each other, comedy is comedy only when you are not suppose to laugh Because it automatically becomes very funny. Woke comedy don't sell tickets why? Because it takes itself so seriously, you feel like your being preached at, thank God we still have got a huge catalogue of vintage comedy shows we can still revisit.
@@yell50 It's definitely good to have so many great old sitcoms available to rewatch. In my videos here I speculate, briefly, on why Dear John appears to be less discussed and repeated than other sitcoms from the same period or by the same author. I mention some of the characters being rather two dimensional. I think the inconsistent quality is another issue. But I never thought it had aged badly with respect to modern sensibilities. I don't feel Dear John belongs in that particular conversation.
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This is IMO a very underated show.
John Sullivan was a class writer who always introduced interesting characters in to his sit-coms. He produced many series over a number of years. He even wrote early sketches for the Two Ronnie's.
Top fact. Love it. Thanks.
"My name is John and I'm in the wrong room." Probably the moment I fell in love with sitcoms.
Great analysis of one of my favourite sitcoms. Thanks.
Thank you. Dear John fans always welcome here!
I believe I may have seen some episodes as a kid. When tributes to John Sullivan were made after his death, this show was briefly mentioned. So, with reawakened interest, I started to watch it. It's a great show - the style of it reminds me slightly of Sullivan's Only Fools And Horses and David Renwick's One Foot In The Grave. There are hilarious moments, but some moments of sadness that actually help enrich it.
yep - that's s great summary
David Renwick is another writer I really admire for how he constructs an episode, clearly planning out the plot of each week's story very carefully and thereby providing the narrative framework from which all the comic moments can then be hung. Easy to see why he was able to work in the murder mystery format just as comfortably with Jonathan Creek. I'm just working (finally) on the review of the second episode of Dear John, and already I'm seeing some of those more poignant moments you mention that Sullivan would go on to use to great acclaim, and with even more tenderness, in Only Fools and Horses. The ability to make us care for his characters, and then laugh at them seconds later, was part of his genius and part of the great legacy he passed down to other writers.
i loved this program
Love DAZZLING DARREN DRING!!…. Dont give me that jive, clive! 😂😂😂 great review of an enjoyable, likeable series👍👍👍
Thanks. Yes, I need to keep working through the episodes, not least to cover Ralph's exploits at the turntables!
John Sullivan is a genius ..the confusion over the two clubs ..is hilarious....and Kirk St Moritz could have had a spin off.😆
Now *that* is an idea!
For anyone who's interested, 'Dear John' is being shown on Forces TV (Channel 274 on Virgin) beginning Tuesday, 15th February.
Awesome news. Thanks!
Yes, thanks Gretel Petal, so it looks like Forces TV begins a run of this seldom-repeated show from today (Tue 15th Feb 2022 - 19:35). It can be found as follows: Sky 181, Virgin 274, FreeSat 165, FreeView96, YouView96
Furthermore, in addition to the two 45min review videos on the show posted not so long ago by a channel called The British Sitcom History Podcast, a podcast called SADDO is also embarking on an episode-by-episode review.
The rennaissance has arrived!
Hi very good review and tribute to Dear John. Looking forward to more reviews.
Bless you. And long live Trapdoor!
Hi Jonny , any chance of any more reviews,and how about some more classic comedies like Steptoe, Fawlty Towers, Rising Damp etc ,thanks
Thanks, Mike. My review for Dear John episode two (after a massive gap) is finally on its way. I'd better not commit to reviewing any other shows until I've made more inroads with this one! Steptoe and Son would be a great candidate. I admire the other two you mention as well, but I think not with sufficient fondness to want to review them. John Finnemore's R4 sitcom Cabin Pressure would probably be where I went next, if I were to take the format onto a new show...
Copyright for all the clips used belongs to BBC Studios. I'm claiming fair usage on the grounds of analysis. I wanted to include some forensic-level exploration of the humour of the episosde, which is not really possible without reference to the clips. TH-cam's automated copyright claim system blocked the usage of of the original file at the point of upload. The same content but with the monochrome/edge filter applied to the clips got through. To my eyes, this still allows you to see the gestures and expressions the actors are using. Apologies to any viewers who find it distracting or difficult to make out. I'm sure the owner and/or the platform can have the video taken down if they have an objection to it. I'm (obviously!) not intending to monetise via this content. But I do hope fans of the show will be inspired to rewatch this old masterpiece. Like I say in the video, DVDs of the 2 seasons and the Christmas special are available to buy, if you can track them down.
I forgot how funny it was, bloody hilarious.
No argument with that!
Where do you get your hair cut?
The nineteen-nineties, normally.
Where can we watch whole episodes?
Like I say in the video, the DVD's are available!
@@johnnyBgoodson yes I meant on a platform befitting of the 21st century. It used to be on Britbox
@@Robc--jd6yh It is curiously little repeated and little showcased on modern digital platforms. A while back it enjoyed a run on Forces TV (Channel 274 on Virgin). When it will appear again, if ever, I couldn't say. Sorry.
excellent review
watched
British Sitcom History dear john review they have not got a clue Trigger could have done a better job than them 2 losers one of them a so called actor because he had a line in the Bill , your review was honest intelligent and i really enjoyed listening to you brilliant keep up the good work
Grateful for your kind comments. I do need to get on and finish my review of episode two!
Ironically, the BSH review of Dear John is the one of their uploads I find least to agree with. They pick at a few flaws in the one particular episode they focus on (some of the acting being a bit stagey, for example) but - in my opinion - don't give enough weight or credit for the show's strengths in general.
It is interesting to see how many more views the BSH videos for Dear John have attracted compared to some of the other shows they have covered. Perhaps the show's quality combined with its relative under-exposure (i.e. never seems to get repeated) has brewed a small army of enthusiasts.
To be fair to the BSH guys, their videos tend to provide a lot of great background information on the cast, writer, etc and offer a bit of an insider insight (that I don't have) into how shows get picked up, made and funded. Yes, they seem to have been strangely lukewarm on Dear John but seems like there are plenty of others out there who still love it.
It would be nice if someone would upload the two series and Christmas special of dear John cheers
It's odd that it never gets repeated on the BBC or Dave. All the episodes, including specials, are included in a single DVD box set released by BBC Worldwide in 2016. I imagine the BBC and the distributors would be less keen for all the content to appear freely available online! It would seem, in 2021, that TH-cam's copyright scanning process is sophisticated enough to flag up as an upload infringement even short clips of the show. You will see from the video that I needed to apply a filter over the clips I wanted to analyse in order to smuggle them onto the platform.
@@johnnyBgoodson yes I've noticed on gold crap comedies are repeated like royal family vicar of Dibley absolutely fabulous but not anything actually funny like dear john
@@tonydoherty2190 Yes, I really like the dialogue-based kind of gags that Dear John was full of, so Ab Fab and Royle Family, relying for humour more on the mannerisms of the characters than on explicit punchlines, were never quite my cup of tea. I liked Vicar of Dibley better. I felt Emma Chambers and Roger Lloyd Pack (now both sadly gone) contributed to a particularly strong supporting cast. But, no, it wasn't quite funny enough that I felt inspired to produce a video reviewing it. >>> BTW, check out the work of the guys at the British Sitcom History Podcast channel for videos giving reviews of shows like Dear John, Fawlty Towers, Steptoe, and so forth.
Forces TV showed it in entirety. OFCOM then took the bandwidth away for 5G. All part of the strategy shutdown Freeview.
Copy right for an old serial is a stupid and a very selfish gready capatilim to wisdraw a good British comedy from the wider public...
Brilliant comedy however because of the woke ideology we have today tv comedy would not be made like this today which is tragic....
@@yell50 Well what one person calls 'woke', another might call taking reasonable steps not to offend or reinforce unpleasant stereotypes. In any case, I don't see Dear John as the sort of show that ages badly in that respect. Yes, Kirk is a highly non-PC character, but is clearly the idiot of the gang. The others, who call him out on it, are fairly enlightened types.
@@johnnyBgoodson you can't live you life trying not to offend people we all should be able to laugh at our selves and at each other, comedy is comedy only when you are not suppose to laugh Because it automatically becomes very funny. Woke comedy don't sell tickets why? Because it takes itself so seriously, you feel like your being preached at, thank God we still have got a huge catalogue of vintage comedy shows we can still revisit.
@@yell50 It's definitely good to have so many great old sitcoms available to rewatch. In my videos here I speculate, briefly, on why Dear John appears to be less discussed and repeated than other sitcoms from the same period or by the same author. I mention some of the characters being rather two dimensional. I think the inconsistent quality is another issue. But I never thought it had aged badly with respect to modern sensibilities. I don't feel Dear John belongs in that particular conversation.