Grotbags has come up with a plan to cut out the middle man and simply beam Emu straight up onto the Grotmobile, while Rod has been busy at the Pink Windmill manufacturing compasses - which is handy, because you never know when you might find yourself miles away from where you need to be. I believe this one was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 17th November, 1982.
Before anyone asks: yes, that's exactly how the episode started, and I haven't shortened it or anything. It looks to me like they must have over-run by quite a long way, because not only do we go from the Central moon straight into the last few seconds of the titles, but I reckon a whole skit featuring Rod and Emu cooking (and possibly burning) breakfast has been left on the cutting room floor. This is both a pity and puzzling, given that the smell of whatever went wrong is a running gag throughout. Here's hoping the missing clip survives in the archive somewhere, though I doubt we'll ever see it.
As for the songs in this one, the first is It Will Come in Time (originally by Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright), and off the top of my head, this is the only time one of the Kids basically dueted with Rod. Major thumbs-up to Lorraine for her performance. But in fact, this is a busy episode for Rod's singing voice, as he later takes the lead vocals on The Drifter (originally by Steve Lawrence), a song he'd revisit in 1989 on EMU-TV. (That's another rarity, by the way.) Check out the 'variable' weather in all those walking-through-a-field shots - I'm sure some of them were recorded separately, as it looks like the rain was coming down quite hard at times.
By the way, does anyone know if the compasses on show were actually available in the shops? It's a slightly odd choice for merchandise if so, but also some pretty bold product placement! Also, can anybody confirm that the "Me daughter Kitty" gag is a reference to a catchphrase from Old Mother Riley? I presume so.
Technical point to end on: marvel at those early-80s video effects once more as Grotbags's top half beams down but her bottom half doesn't. All joking aside, it's really quite effective for the time, and I strongly suspect it was achieved simply by draping a blue sheet over her. Can't beat the old school techniques. Oh, and don't miss the microscopic pieces of Watch It! continuity at the beginning and end, plugging the brand new drama Nobody's Hero.
Many thanks to both Jayne and Joe for lending me tapes with this episode.
(To the best of my knowledge, the contents of this video have never been available commercially anywhere in the world. Please also note that I don't monetise any of my uploads. Nevertheless, if you are a copyright holder and have an objection, please don't hesitate to contact me.)
11 мар 2018
