Day 304 - On the TV

 ON THE TV

Prompt - On the TV.  Flip to a random TV channel and write about the first thing that comes on, even if it is an infomercial!

I didn't even know there was a channel called 'Forces TV'.  Presumably aimed at the British military?  I'd just missed their version of the News, which might have been interesting, in time for a double bill rerun of a very old American TV series.  One I'd never seen before, although I'd heard the name, and which I've been told was largely aimed at children.  What this says about the UK's service personnel I'm not too sure...

The programme was ChiPs, which I understand is an acronym for California Highway Patrol.  From the cars I saw I'd reckon it was made in the late seventies or early eighties.  I'd also guess that a lot of these programmes were made, as the production values looked to be on the cheap side.

What I saw of this episode (only about ten minutes, as I had to make the dinner, but I doubt I could have stood much more anyway) showed a very conventional, very 'safe' US drama-entertainment.  One of the first shots, an ariel view, showed an ocean liner firmly docked to the sun drenched quay, which tod me this was Long Beach and the boat the Queen Mary.  They seemed to be very proud of having it as a backdrop because I lost count of the number of times it cropped up in that short period of time.

One thing was quickly evident.  The cast, or at least the 'good guys' were all conventionally pretty, all slim and athletic and tanned, all as bland as the beige they were clad in.  I didn't recognise any of them, but that could be because they didn't get a lot of work after this.  They were awful, although trying to make anything of the stilted dialogue might have given Olivier problems too.  

The plot seemed to centre on a visiting Hungarian delegation, and a minor robbery that took place at the same time.  Within five minutes we had something vaguely resembling a car chase, with the blue car of the robbers being pursued by the huge motorbike of one of the policemen.  Despite the car proceeding at what looked a fairly sedate pace, judging from the vehicle's body language, the powerful bike couldn't catch them and gave up the pursuit when they went into a car park and 'disappeared'.  The bike rider didn't move with much urgency either, but too great a speed might have messed up his hair...

As well as the dreadful script, the backing music was dire - formulaic and distracting - while the sets looked on the shoddy side.  Although I did notice that following ChiPs came Blake's 7 - vastly superior acting and plots, but even worse sets!)

I guess squaddies aren't renowned for their critical faculties...