Kind word for 'Jokers Wild’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 4

Kind word for 'Jokers Wild’

"Jokers Wild,” the Saturday exeuing joke-telling programme featuring two panels of professional British comedians, has found little favour with other reviewers in this column.

However, programmes affect different people in different ways, and although it might never be numbered among the highlights of the week, “Jokers Wild” does seem to me to offer more laughs than most other programmes with this object. True, some of the jokes are older than their tellers, and others are a deep shade of blue, but there is a spontaneity about the programme which overrides many of its drawbacks. The sense of rivalry between the panels is nicely done, and the host, BarryCryer, has a splendid way of getting the last laugh with a comment which is presumably ad lib. However, the secret of the show’s success (for those who think it qualifies for this description) might well be Les Dawson. Both in his technique and his delivery he is a very fine joke-teller, and he has the rare knack of being able to slip in many little jokes on the way to reaching the point, of his story. The Saturday night drama, “Cool Million,” was yet another to attempt to produce a television character in the James Bond mould. Jefferson Keyes, a private investigator with a winning personality and an unlimited expense account was a better imitator than most, and certainly worked hard enough to eam his exorbitant fee. It was a very involved

: story, built on murders, a i kidnapping, the activities of J a crime syndicate and a legal | battle, but the clever use of (music and background diaI logue enabled the viewer to I keep track of the issues. i James Farentino was wellsuited to the role of Jefferjson Keyes. He. was the per- | feet gentleman in the presence of women, and was no less adept in the company of males—friends or foes. The story called for Farentino to feign mental illness in order to meet a psychiatrist, and this evoked memories of the similar situation in Friday night's episode of “Mod Squad.” However, it was, fortunately, a performance not nearly as exaggerated as that by Clarence Williams 111, of “Mod Squad.” I have occasionally criticised Williams, with his partners, for being devoid of expression. This time, the script called on him to sink to the depths of despair, and although he overacted dreadfully, there must be a sneaking regard for his sustained effort and complete immersion in the part. The rest of Friday night’s viewing was of the Commonwealth Games boxing and swimming, and at both venues the presentation was ! first-class. However, it seems to be widely held that apart from the classic track and field events, the Games sport which came over best on television was weight-lifting. —K.J.M.