Better spread of the top programmes

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32635, 17 June 1971, Page 4

Better spread of the top programmes

It has not always been possible for the N.Z.B.C. to feel confident that on every night of the week it can present something which the television , public finds especially attractive. Often, the jam i has had to be spread i very thinly; but the pre- ; sent programme structure is a good one, so > that on each of the seven 1 nights there is at least ■ one programme very well 1 worth seeing. The focal points of the ; schedules for Monday are the Bill Cosby Show and “Not i Only . . . But Also.” Next Tuesday another series from ’ Nana Mouskouri begins, so ; does a comedy series “Doctor in The House" which could be popular, and “The Gold Robbers” is one of the best detective series we have had. 1 Wednesday's fare is a little ; lighter, but "Steptoe and Son” I command a very wide i audience. “Ironside" and I the “Four in One” series on

Thursdays are usually very well done. Friday has “The Young Lawyers,” another production aiming at quality, as well as a feature film ’ which is sometimes a good one. “Z Cars,” “My World ‘ and Welcome To It” and Dean Martin are the principal i Saturday attractions and on Sunday there is “The First Churchills" and “Father, Dear Father” to win par- ■ ticular attention. i Unfortunately, the Bill i Cosby show ends next Mon- . day. He will be missed. Two [ other series ended on TuesI day night. Ron Walton’s “Facts, Facets, and Fallacies” has been excellent. Views on i “Room 222”. will vary. Some i of the stories have been good : ones, some trivial rubbish. ; This week’s finale must be i classed- among the better i offerings. Charmion King - gave a delightful performance ias the out-going, rather i gushing British exchange i teacher who enraptured her > students with her methods of teaching creative writing, but i who ran foul of the estab- ’ lishment because her fine i disregard for the rules and I regulations caused disruption i to teaching schedules. <s » ♦

William Davis, editor of “Punch” appeared in a “Pacemakers” programme which dealt, interestingly, with the changes in the City of London in the last 20 years. Perhaps the appeal of this short item was limited —it hardly fitted into the biographical background of “The Pacemakers” —but it was notable for some striking camera work. The failure of the micro-

wave equipment which prevented the transmission of three national link items required a second screening of a “South Tonight” item on Campbell Island, and a new comedy “Beggar My Neighbour,” which was very good fun indeed. Peter Jones, June Whitfield, Reg Varney and Pat Coombs romped their way through a ludicrous but amusing piece of nonsense based on keeping up with the Joneses, or in this case, the Varneys.

With the establishment of the robbery situation in the first episode of “The Gold Robbers,” the way was clear for a succession of stories each based on one of the rogues and the police pursuit of him. It is a simple process, but a highly effective one, because each of the stories has been well written, and the casting is excellent. Week after week, the principal guest stars have been outstanding, and now Jennifer Hilary has helped the series to maintain a remarkably high quality. She was cast as the wife of the van driver Conroy, who has escaped to Austria. Treated foully by two newspaper reporters, she breaks down under

pressure and assists In the capture of her husband. Her disillusionment about him was pathetic and brilliant. Geoffrey Whitehead as the despicable Conroy was outstanding too; but the strength of the cast, once again, went deep.—PANDORA.