Millions watched this every Sunday evening ( including myself ), mainly to laugh at the clips of horrible foreign programmes such as 'Endurance', 'Ultra Quiz' and 'The Price Is Right'. Back in the early '80's, we could safely laugh in the knowledge that our television was the best in the world.
Clive made an excellent presenter, erudite as well as witty. Unfortunately, British producers then thought it would be a great idea to copy the programmes being ridiculed. The three listed above were subsequently adapted for British audiences.
Twenty-odd years later, our television is indistinguishable from the infantile dross Clive regularly used to make fun of. Noisy, game-show contestants prepared to make utter fools of themselves, hyper-active hosts, tacky sets, live insects consumed with relish by publicity-seeking idiots, we've got them all. Worse, Clive isn't around to mock them. Hasn't the 'joke' rather backfired somewhat?
Clive made an excellent presenter, erudite as well as witty. Unfortunately, British producers then thought it would be a great idea to copy the programmes being ridiculed. The three listed above were subsequently adapted for British audiences.
Twenty-odd years later, our television is indistinguishable from the infantile dross Clive regularly used to make fun of. Noisy, game-show contestants prepared to make utter fools of themselves, hyper-active hosts, tacky sets, live insects consumed with relish by publicity-seeking idiots, we've got them all. Worse, Clive isn't around to mock them. Hasn't the 'joke' rather backfired somewhat?
