The Persuaders

[GoogaMooga]

I had a go at the "cult" TV series "The Persuaders" today. When I was a child and watched it in 1972, eight - nine years old, I thought it was the coolest thing on TV. We played Persuaders, a neighbor kid would be the playboy Danny Wilde, and I'd be the more suave Brett Sinclair. "The Persuaders" was a HUGE success in Denmark, and has had countless reruns, to this day. But revisiting it today, I must say, it doesn't hold up very well. The repartee between Tony Curtis and Roger Moore is the only thing that isn't creaky, isn't hoary old seventies bollocks. Really, there is nothing there to excite me, except for one thing, the opening credits, and John Barry's groovy main theme. A portent of great things, I remember the thrill I felt watching it as a child, but alas, the show itself doesn't deliver. At all. So off to Accord it goes, my complete DVD box, and the extended episode, "London Conspiracy".

[The Modernist]

It was rubbish, I thought that even as a kid. Great theme tune though.

[Neil Jung]

Yes, you’re right. It doesn’t hold up at all. Pretty much nothing from that era is watchable nowadays. Even the mighty Tarot was hugely disappointing apart from the theme tune.

[The Modernist]

Yes, you’re right. It doesn’t hold up at all. Pretty much nothing from that era is watchable nowadays.

sweene
I strongly disagree there. The comedy and single dramas more than hold their own. I would agree that long form drama ( we didn't call it that back then of course) is on a different level these days, but even there you've got things like The Sweeney which are still great

[GoogaMooga]

I've got the Sweeney box, but haven't started on it yet. I think the American cop shows from the 70s are okay, at least I hope so. Kojak was my favorite.

[Fonz]

What the fuck do you expect from a show that was aimed at an early Saturday evening audience?
My boy and I are watching the boxset at the moment, and he loves it. I love it. He’s 8. I’m (ahem) 50.
It is what it is.

The theme tune is the best. The best.

The cars are the best. That 206 is what I’m buying if I win the lottery.
The V8 will nestle beside it, in the triple garage. Next to my S-Max.

[Rorschach]

I was a teenager when it first aired so right in the middle of the two target markets I should think.
I seem to remember I would watch the intro every week and then go and do something else. I still occasionally watch that intro on YouTube.

[Quaco]

It's not great but the relationship between the two is interesting. As I understand it, it was a bit like I Spy in that they changed scenes around and improvised a lot on set, and I think that freewheeling thing comes through. I was just watching it last night, as it happens. Overall, it's a bit dated -- and I'm not generally one to care about that -- but I still like it.

American cop shows -- well, some are really good, some I guess aren't. I'm currently in the middle of a Cannon boxed set that is really addictive. Streets of San Francisco is excellent, almost like short films -- not self-consciously like Columbo was, just full of great acting.

[GoogaMooga]

Good point about Columbo.