John Cleese wasted in 'Sez Les’

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34123, 8 April 1976, Page 4

John Cleese wasted in ' Sez Les’

(By R.

T. BRITTENDEN

j A mixture of curiosity and optimism draws viewers to a new television programme. It is not so much dissatisfaction with current fare—in spite of critics and ''viewers’ views—as the |fact that television survives on change. ■ As often as- not. the new programmes find their niche, and their support. But TV2’s new one this week, “Sez. Les” on Tuesday night, is not likely to discover either. Les Dawson is one of the least funny of comedians, even if he tries to persuade his audience that it is having a wondreful time by chortling at his own flat jokes. Only for a few brief moments during Tuesday’s performance was he anything but a failure. “Sez Les” did more damage than that. Somehow John Cleese, the delightfully urbane, poker-faced young man of “Monty Python's Flying Circus,” ’ had" been persuaded to take part in the performance. He appeared in a few tiny and trivial

.sketches. He struggled hard ■in the doctor’s consulting I room sketch with the very ■ weak material, but his talents i were squanderedj The best feature of the .first “Sez Les” show was the (lighting, which was most - attractive and effective, (especially in the modern dance group’s performances. Television One has a new ■ show too, apart from (“Moynihan.” “The Six (Million Dollar Man” was in (only its second week. ! The hour-long, utterly- prej dietable story' had all the fascinations and idiocies of ■ the previous series. Thev had jre-buiit not only Austin, but (the HLIO in which he had i crashed. And thev wanted [him to fly it again. There ■ was nasty espionage by I someone who wanted the (HLIO to fail so his own design would be accepted.

i There was some good (gadgetry from (he effects department, and Steve cony tributed his usual quota of reflective or penetrating stares. But no doubt "The ■Six Million Dollar Man” will (continue to send children of ■ indulgent parents to bed (beyond the normal hour. Soon, apparently, there is (to be a “Six Million Dollar (Woman.” To keep faith I with women’s beliefs in their (shopping .craft, this should ■ probably be changed to “The $5,999,999 Woman.” One canInot but wonder whether she! (and Steve will meet; what: lan electronic mating before? (the third series, “The Six| ■ Million Dollar Boy.” The other event of note on i ■ Tuesday' night was the! ■ appearance in “The! (Sweeney” of Nicola Padgett,! the wilful, elegant, enchanting Elizabeth of “Upstairs. ■ Downstairs.” She was a jcrook. But an elegant and enchanting one. She carried this very different role most capably; and for all the problems of translating the language of the underworld. “The Sweeney” remains tense, terse, swift-moving drama.