On the Rocks

It's true that I've never seen "Porridge," but I think this show was genuinely underrated. As far as I know, about the only attention it got was negative - it was called too light a comedy (considering the subject), and was also accused of being full of ethnic stereotypes, which it really wasn't. And it was full of very good comedy actors, some of whom I've hardly seen since, like Jose Perez as Fuentes, the leader of the group. And Melvin Stewart, one of the most underrated character actors of all (even his great "All In The Family" character seldom gets mentioned when people write about that show), as the nasty guard (at least, by LIGHT COMEDY standards), always trying to get something on the main characters, especially Fuentes. And Tom Poston as the nice, put-upon guard (again, I've never seen Porridge, so I don't know the similar character on that show, but Poston was very good). And Rick Hurst, who's made a career out of playing likable oafish characters.

The last comment about the bit that the BBC could not have afforded to do is wrong, they did that bit at Leeds Football ground when an inmate is released and Fletch and Blanco (David Jason from Only Fools & Horses) conspire to fool him.

Happy Release (Originally Transmitted 14 Nov 1975)Fletcher is enjoying a stay in hospital but has to stay in the ward with the unpleasant Norris. Norris is due to be released and Fletch cons him into buying a treasure map with the possessions he took off old lag Blanco Webb. Norris hilariously finds himself digging for treasure in the middle of Leeds United's football pitch.

On the Rocks was based on the British sit-com Porridge. Compared to Porridge On the Rocks is trivial. Porridge had both the horribleness of prison as well as the human spirit of the inmates, Whilst being very funny there was still a seething dark undercurrent. On the Rocks was a summer camp in comparison.

I was sorry when it went off the air. The show was funny but I'll admit it had its share of juvenile humor. Which was fine. It was nice because they actually had exterior scenes which is rare due to time and expense. There was scene that stands out in my memory. To keep it clean, let's say it was the scene that involved the gas tank on the prison van and the prisoner who had to relieve himself.

The gag with someone digging for loot in the centre of a well known sports pitch did appear in an episode of the original British series called "Happy Release". This concerned a soon to be released prisoner called Norris, who is tricked into buying a treasure map from Blanco Webb (David Jason). At the end of the programme Norris is arrested trying to dig up the centre circle of Elland Road football ground, home of Leeds United. The episode was first transmitted in November 1975.

Coincidentally, supporters of George Davis (who was in prison after being convicted of bank robbery) dug up the pitch at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds during an England/Australia Test match in August 1975, causing it to be abandoned.