Too much Edwards, too soon

Press, Issue 33846, 19 May 1975, Page 4

Too much Edwards, too soon

Television One, in a typical burst of overenthusiasm, has spent a lot of screen time plugging' the “EdwardsDean on Saturday” shows, using the most extravagant of terms about the principals,

Michael Dean was given particular treatment and pounded, in advance, like (something rather better than I (an amalgam of Wilde, Shaw, ' Coward, and Danny Kaye. He turned out to be a pleasant young man able to provide an occasional felicitous: phrase, and to give an( object lesson in interviewing: by not interrupting his subjects unnecessarily. Perhaps, in the next few I weeks, Mr Dean will show; the utter brilliance thrust on him by an organisation which does not know how to spell modesty. And if he failed in the impossible task of living up to his reputation, the show as a whole was a very good one, much more enjoyable than it was a week earlier.

If it had a fault, it was that “Dean on Saturday” relied over-much on interviews. There was a long one with Merv Smith, “the breakfast man.” He was interesting, but not the most exciting of subjects, and hardly warranted all the time Dean spent with him. Then Dean talked to Mary ! jSeddon, who was an out-! | standing success. Her bright,! bubbling personality, her ! pertinent comments on a variety of subjects, and her delightfully natural screen 1 presence made this outstandingly good. But there was a third long: interview — with the übi-i quitous Dr Edwards. To be; sure, it was about Edwards himself, and influences on( his early years. But he had already ap-, peared with Dean in a lively! exchange at the start of the, show-part of the established format apparently — and it seemed a little soon for another dollop of Ed-! wards, in only the second i i week of the show. It sug-! gested that next week Edwards will interview Dean. And the week after, ‘ they I might interview each other.

In television, there have [to be personalities, and Edwards is’ certainly one of them, for he has inspired a lively love-hate relationship with the viewing public. But it was rather too soon for him to be paraded again, and at such length. A better balance between people talking and night club or variety acts would! improve the show; and the j list of interesting people to: talk to certainly does not [ begin and end with Brian Edwards.

This Saturday-night show; |is going to be the linchpin of TVl’s promotion. It will I icommand a vast audience, it; will almost certainly be good. But .it would be a [comfort to many if the proi motion of the show — and a i lot of others — was calmed down a little. * * *

For the rest, the week-end ; was undistinguished. Tina j came a little closer to a line in that Guinness book by appearing in yet another new outfit on Friday evening. But few wear them better.

Hilda Ogden gave a quite; , memorable little perform- j ■ance in “Coronation Street” with her grey wig and over-I indulgence in liquor. She is! one of the least likeable characters in “The Street;”! : but she is one of the best I performers. sjs Hs i There was a heavy-handed! ‘use of Westerns — an hour! an a half of “The Virginian” on Friday. “Vera

Cruz” for even longer on Saturday. “The Virginian”! has much more substance' than the old television outdoor dramas like “Laramie,”' but it is unlikely to produce' many Academy Award win-! ners. It is hard to believe! that there is such demand for Westerns as this programme placement suggests;; but it must be so. >(: s?

lan Johnstone induced a few more winces with his “Conference was happy . . .”

bit and “Beryl s Lot” scored with the introduction of a note of pathos by Barbara Mitchell as Vi Tonks. It was a good balance of sadness and gladness.

Dick Van Dyke, whose [ comedy in previous series ;had worn a little thin, made a welcome reappearance; for his new job, in a television soap opera, promises some laughs. There, were some delightful nudges at television making. • ❖ ❖ V

“The Six Million Dollar Man” is a lot of rubbish. It was stilted and silly, and overemphasises its dramatic highlights with the use of slow motion, in the irritating fashion of “Kung Fu.” The lead-in sequence to explain who or what the “Six Million” man is now seems interminable.

Janice Finn, who plays Jane Fleming in the New Zealand serial, “Close to Home,” began her career as a production secretary with AKTV2. In 1967 she went to London where she did the same job with the 8.8. C. and with the Central Office of Information film section. After returning to Auckland in 1969, she was transferred to WNTVI and began work on drama. She started acting with Wellington Repertory and then spent four years with Downstage. He television appearances to date have included roles in “Pukemanu,” “Buck House,” and “The Longest

Winter.”

For reliability*, there is not! much to beat “Man About The House.” It is not uproarious comedy, but it is[ steadily amusing, and every I now and then there is a line or two of particular sparkle. —R.T.B. ;