A better deal for ‘Opportunity Knocks’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 5

A better deal for ‘Opportunity Knocks’

There were moves by, both channels on Thurs-i day night to capture' viewers, but it is doubtful if in either case they were sufficiently start-1 Ung to have immediate impact. Television Two has cer-l tainly shown good sense ini pulling its talent quest, “Op-i portunity Knocks” away I from oppostion with TVl’s popular comedy, “M.A.S.H." Not only is TVI serving ! the viewer (and doing some! good for its ratings), but the show’s competitions are de-1 serving of a better deal. It was sad to think that! new, and possibly, exciting] talent was striving for recognition and being ignored by so many viewers who know from experience that at least with “M.A.S.H." their entertainment is guaranteed. However, “Opportunity Knocks” might have to wait until next week before the effects of its later time-slot are more fully felt. The way programmes ! worked out this week there] was a temptaion after! “M.A.S.H.” to stay with TVII and give its new — if only] in the sense that its hasn’t] been around for a few years — police drama, “Hawaii] Five-O”, a trial. And while it might be un-| fair to wipe “Hawaii FiveO” completely, the temptation will be nowhere near as strong next week, particularly as the tailend of “Opportunity Knocks” indicated the competition is intensifying. But back to “Hawaii FiveO” briefly. It has had a long run in the United States and if Americans like it TVI may well conlude that New Zealanders should, too. Yet if memory serves’ us correctly, it was not a hit here in the old N.Z.B.C. days and] finished up in the afternoon, j On re-acquaintance, it made only modest impres-] sion. The star, Jack Lord,]

■ was, as previously rushing, I all over the place snorting lines like “find me” to a collleague who wished to know [where he could contact him. On the credit side, the plot was reasonable, even though the rather annoying technique was employed of letting the audience in on the villainy well before the police get around to figuring out what is going on. This makes the police look dim-] [wits and the audience is! [left to wait patiently for the] 'inevitable foiling of the; plot. . Television Two need have Ino wrries about its suIpremecy being threatened in I the latter part of the evening, where it has “Dave Allen at Large” to draw the masses. Even in spite of extraneous noises, which were duly apologised for, Allen — with a little help from a team of about a dozen writers — provided a merry time with jokes pre- [ dominantly religious or al[Coholic. In fact, he did his I tiddly act so many times I that the team’s order for the I week could well have been Iboozey jokes.

Dave Allen invariably has one or two jokes, or skits, that makes his show such a talking point. The muchravaged Italian nuns oif World War II and the bid to get a packed confessional box into the “Guiness Book! of Records” would rank high! on the list this week. :,s Jenny Goodwin, TV2’s early-evening news reader, makes so few mistakes that it comes as something of a surprise when she does slip up. She erred on Thursday when her pronunciation of Kevin Meates’s name was more meaty than matey. And speaking of newsreaders, Alan Gaskell, the recent addition to the “Points South” team, is coming along nicely. He has a lively and appealing style, very suitable to such a programme. — K.J.M.