Still Open All Hours

The overfed comatose state that comes with overindulging at Christmas tends to provide some cover for television specials that maybe wouldn't get away with it during the rest of the year. Still Open All Hours was screened during this period and just at a glance it seemed like it just the type of thing that needs that festive goodwill. Out of curiosity I decided to give it a go but unfortunately I do not think I would ever have had enough festive cheer for this to work. This special sees Granville now running Arkwight's corner store, with his lad Leroy filling the errand boy role. During the normal working day we see the colorful locals coming and going while Granville uses some old Arkwright trickery to shift a load of fish paste.

I did used to watch Open All Hours many years ago and I remember doing so more than once, so I must have enjoyed it but this rehashed special makes me doubt whether it was actually any good or not, because this 30 minute special certainly wasn't. The episodic nature of the show means we have locals coming and going and preventing any flow in the writing. On top of this the focus is on throwbacks and references to the original series, whether they work or not. Mostly the comedy is very dated which I guess comes with the territory but isn't really an excuse; it all seems very stiff and awkward as well. I think I laughed twice in 30 minutes, and those laughs were more chuckles than anything else – a Chuckle Brother being pulled around by a dog got me and the Johnny Vegas about "solo trumpet". Luckily the canned audience track had a much better time than I did – although their laughter at almost nothing and their "awww-ing" over a dog just reminded me that I wasn't making any noise.

The cast features a lot of faces and names; Jason is so-so, he overworks his lines as if the audience is slow and he really doesn't have the material anyway. Baxter's delivery is pretty poor and seems to be hamming it up a bit, perhaps assuming that this makes whatever he does funnier. Cole, Vegas, Williams and others all provide side characters and also contribute to the fragmented feel to the show. Maybe you have enough nostalgia to laugh because of what they are referencing (as opposed to laughing at the reference, which I think was the goal) but for me this was a pretty awkward and dated 30 minutes with a couple of chuckles amid a sea of poor writing and even festive cheer and nostalgia aren't enough to make me forgiving enough for this to work.

Like I'm sure a lot of Open All Hours fans I was dubious about this revival,but it is reassuring to see it hasn't been something that has been just cobbled together to fill a slot in the Christmas schedules - Still Open All Hours not only stands up as strongly as the original but also begs the questions as to why this sort of comedy isn't on our screens more regularly.

Yes, it's not all perfect and some of the jokes don't do a lot for me (though the studio audience seem to get them) but with the great Sir David Jason back as Granville (but with a hint of Arkwright) and the welcome sight of some old faces combined with the lovely gentle humour of Roy Clarke's writing I see no reason why this show shouldn't return for a full series. Stay open a bit longer Granville.

Open All Hours still stands as one of my favourite TV comedy shows. I had never really been interested in even checking out the rerun series. And I can't believe that its actually run now for 5 series. Curiosity however finally got the better of me, and I have now seen a couple of episodes. I can't believe that David Jason is trying to emulate Ronnie Barker, in his portrayal of the mature Granville. But it's like a rerun of their original dynamic, with Granville acting towards the young assistant, as Arkwright had towards him. I hope this is not the case, as with the best will in the world, David Jason is no Ronnie Barker. In the rerun we have some of the same characters from the original series. Granville of course, with Wavy Mavis, as uncertain as ever. And the Black Widow as predatory as ever, now with a glint in her eye for Granville. I can't really speak that much of the rerun as I have not watched that many episodes. But here goes anyway, it seems to have become something of a Mecca for comedy actors. With a range from the older through to the younger, that I can't help but recognise. It always makes for an entertaining view for someone my age, in remembering actors, and what they have appeared in. But this hardly compensates for what should be there anyway, and its not to my mind as funny as the original. Even the peerless Roy Clark has his work cut out, to hope to emulate his previous success.

Terrific revival of the classic sitcom, with much the same cast, a plausible follow up scenario and the same gentle but genuinely funny sense of humour. Roy Clarke has lost none of his genius for turning a good line in to a killer joke, simply by tailoring his humour to the character and actor's strengths. Sir David Jason, ages the character of Granville to perfection and in doing so gives us a whole new insight in to why his Uncle was the way he was, by putting the pathos at a perfect pitch, never straying in to sentimentality. The new character of Leroy, is a modern equivalent of the Granville of old who much to his father's chagrin has everything he would have wished for in his youth. The father's half hearted attempts to "slow the lad down" only really serve to show how much he loves his boy as there is none of the genuine meanness of Arkwright senior behind the plans. All in all this demonstrates admirably how modern comedy has lost it's way, by showing HOW TO DO IT PROPERLY.

I am from Oz and have been a fan of Ronnie Barker and David Jason in man if not most of their respective series. I find British humor the best the yanks would not know how to make comedy, yes some is just passable but most is great, Open all hours was a very matter of fact comedy and I have seen every episode, I love it as do many Australians (who have a sense of humor). The rehash is great, I do not agree with the previous comments, written by a cretin obviously, this is funny and especially if you can relate to the old characters, I found it so very entertaining I could watch as many episodes as they make, keep it going, Jason is great as are the old characters they brought back, I will be disappointed if no more are made as you have definitely whet my appetite, go British comedy never let it die, and David Jason well done, from 'Only fools and horses' to 'Frost', you were great and still are.....