I Finally Watched "The Pop Star"

[Very Young Mr Grace]

My local PBS affiliate usually shows seasons 1-4 in repeats every Saturday Night, but to my surprise I tuned in last evening and suddenly they were showing the very last episode ever, "The Pop Star"! Needless to say I nearly fell out of my chair. I had never seen that episode before, but I knew all about it from my fellow AYBS fans on the boards and from reading about it in Britcom books.

I own a handful of the BBC videos and a couple of the DVD's, but I haven't ventured out past season 7 (other then a few episodes here and there of season 9) to catch the full adventures of the gang with Mr. Spooner. Suddenly "The Pop Star" was in front of me and I glued myself to the screen for the next half hour watching the last piece of AYBS history.

Did Croft and Lloyd know that "The Pop Star" was their last episode? Did they have any idea the show would not return after the 10th season? As much as I enjoyed the episode, I wonder if they would've created a more proper "goodbye" if they knew that was the end. Or, maybe, it was meant to end that way, with just another silly day in the life of the Grace Brother staff.

Your thoughts?

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Did Croft and Lloyd know that "The Pop Star" was their last episode? Did they have any idea the show would not return after the 10th season? As much as I enjoyed the episode, I wonder if they would've created a more proper "goodbye" if they knew that was the end. Or, maybe, it was meant to end that way, with just another silly day in the life of the Grace Brother staff.


They knew the Pop Star was to be the last. The said in interviews that they just couldn't come up with anymore ideas that happen in the store. That's how GAF came to be.

[Lucas The Tucas]

Whew ! Congratulations VYMG... :mrgreen:

The last show made was "Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe."

The "Pop Star" was played last on TV.

Lucas :D

[frankdicer]

Whew ! Congratulations VYMG... :mrgreen:

The last show made was "Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe."

The "Pop Star" was played last on TV.

Lucas :D

So now the question is " did they make PopStar knowing it was going to
be played last?"

In any event, there is the hint that the whole group might be leaving to be
the backing group.

[dazzlestar14]

But "Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe" couldn't have been the last episode made. Because during the "Celebrating Mollie Sugden" special, she and John Inman talked about how difficult it was not to cry while filming "The Pop Star", because they knew it was their last one. I swear I remember that.

[Maurice Moulterd]

Did Croft and Lloyd know that "The Pop Star" was their last episode? Did they have any idea the show would not return after the 10th season? As much as I enjoyed the episode, I wonder if they would've created a more proper "goodbye" if they knew that was the end. Or, maybe, it was meant to end that way, with just another silly day in the life of the Grace Brother staff.


They knew the Pop Star was to be the last. The said in interviews that they just couldn't come up with anymore ideas that happen in the store. That's how GAF came to be.

Trying to be positive here, but it is hard. I don't like this episode at all and positively hate the song. But, if as a result of this episode we got GAF, well then... that is a positive :D

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Dazz, I remember Mollie saying that as well. Maurice, it's not one of my fav's either. It's a bittersweet eppy, knowing it's the last one, It's sad.... :cry:

[Lucas The Tucas]

As far as Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe it was either on the Jeremy and David interveiw or the one with Frank T.

Lucas :D

[sonosun]

But "Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe" couldn't have been the last episode made. Because during the "Celebrating Mollie Sugden" special, she and John Inman talked about how difficult it was not to cry while filming "The Pop Star", because they knew it was their last one. I swear I remember that.

They knew it was to be the last one aired. Like in movies when they film the scenes in any order they see fit and the film has to be spliced in order to make sense. Good-Bye Mrs Slocombe was the last one made, but it didn't air last.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I remember Wendy saying that when the last one was recorded, she hit the pavements looking for a job and wound up with "The Eastenders".

[Tiddles]

They knew the Pop Star was to be the last. The said in interviews that they just couldn't come up with anymore ideas that happen in the store. That's how GAF came to be.

Hmm...we touched on this on the other board. My understanding (from one of the AYBS? Bibles we all own) is that there was a whole new season of AYBS? planned, and the BBC were the ones who shelved it. They (the BBC) wanted to move into other comedic directions. Upon some thought and hindsight--seeing how popular AYBS? was in its heyday-- they came back with AYBS? Again (Grace and Favour). The writers never wanted to let these characters die off. Glad they didn't.

[dazzlestar14]

I always thought that the end to this episode was kind of cute. Susie Aitchison, who played "Sam" (the assistant), kind of looked like my cousin when she was younger, with the big glasses. She pretty much messes up Mr Spooners shining moment, but she handled it pretty well.
~"It's just NOT my day!~

[sonosun]

~"It's just NOT my day!~

The Last Words heard on Are You Bing Served?

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

What I can't stand is the whole beginning of the eppy. The whole "Billingsgate Fish Market" thing was dumb IMO.

[Dick]

To think, wrapping up the epic adventures in Grace Bros. with stupid Spooner's crackpot singing aspirations. What anti-climax. :blah:

Dick

[Tiddles]

They weren't planning to wrap up the series at all. So Spooner's adventure wasn't ever meant to be the true "last episode."

[frankdicer]

~"It's just NOT my day!~

The Last Words heard on Are You Bing Served?

Yes and not even issued by any of the cast!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

~"It's just NOT my day!~

The Last Words heard on Are You Bing Served?

Yes and not even issued by any of the cast!

That helps with egos. That way not one of the cast members could get credit for uttering the last words. :wink:

[Dean]

What I can't stand is the whole beginning of the eppy. The whole "Billingsgate Fish Market" thing was dumb IMO.

I'm at the other end of the spectrum - I think this is the funniest line in the show, and quite witty of Mrs Slocombe (well the writers I suppose). :D

The bit at the end with the sped-up recording is just an embarrassment....

[Tiddles]

The bit at the end with the sped-up recording is just an embarrassment....

Well it's silly....and I think robbed from an "I Love Lucy" ep or three...."Cuban Pals" (this one in particular where Lucy is dressed as Carmen Miranda, lip synching to "Mama Yo Quiero and the record gets accidentally speeded up), "Home Movies" and perhaps "The Amateur Hour."

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

What I can't stand is the whole beginning of the eppy. The whole "Billingsgate Fish Market" thing was dumb IMO.

I'm at the other end of the spectrum - I think this is the funniest line in the show, and quite witty of Mrs Slocombe (well the writers I suppose). :D

The bit at the end with the sped-up recording is just an embarrassment....

It was just a slow type of dialog that didn't seem to fit the AYBS? mold. Kind of like a time killer till something funnier happens. Just my opinion though.... :wink: I do think it's one of the better eppys in Season 10.

[John Inman Fan]

Whether you like the show or not-Mike Berry really took off in his singing career after this point and even today the song is probably one of his favorites and best seller.

Marlies

[DebLovesJohnInman]

This was my least favorite and also that it was the last one.:(

[Red Shadow]

As for this being the last episode, I remember one of the cast members saying at the end of most seasons, it was uncertain if they would be coming back the next season or not. It just turned-out that after this season, AYBS was officially shelved.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

As for this being the last episode, I remember one of the cast members saying at the end of most seasons, it was uncertain if they would be coming back the next season or not. It just turned-out that after this season, AYBS was officially shelved.

They knew this was the last one. Lloyd and Croft weren't interested in continuing the show anymore because of lacking ideas.

[Melchett]

The Last Words heard on Are You Bing Served?

True, but the last we hear singing is "Chanson D'Amour" ("Song of Love") by the majority of the cast members, so I suppose that's a least a nice ending message to the show.

[Red Shadow]

In a way, it wasn't such a bad ending. There wasn't any true closure per say, but not all sitcoms have ended with a final story that wraps it all up. The show Cheers is a prime example. At the end of "The Pop Star," we are left thinking that the staff will just have to give-up fame as entertainers and go back to work behind their counters tomorrow morning. It's like the show ends but Grace Brothers doesn't; they just keep on selling knickers and Y-fronts.

[Mr. Rust of Audio-Visuals]

This episopde just aired on MPT and I'd forgotten a couple of things that didn't make sense:

1) After Mr. Grace "quarantines" them over the phone when the staff is trying to get out early to make the demo, Mr. Spooner gets very upset and says "They only wanted me, and now they don't want anybody!!" What does Mr. Grace have to do with whether the record company wants a demo or not? And who would take this particularly silly order from Mr. Grace seriously?

2) At the end, Susan(?) the production assistant is given the orders to take the demo tape down to somebody as a backup in case Spooner's voice gives out. When it turns out to be the wrong speed, the director tells her "This could be the end of your career." Why? All they asked her to do was run the tape down to the technician, who definitely should have checked that the tape was the proper speed.

They were definitely running on empty by the time they wrote this one.

[sonosun]

This was my least favorite and also that it was the last one.:(

True the Pop Star was the last episode transmitted,but it wasn't the last episode made. Goodbye Mrs Slocombe was the last episode made. Goodbye Mrs Slocombe was transmitted first in the last season,but it was the last episode made.:)

[cloggedmind]

This episopde just aired on MPT and I'd forgotten a couple of things that didn't make sense:

1) After Mr. Grace "quarantines" them over the phone when the staff is trying to get out early to make the demo, Mr. Spooner gets very upset and says "They only wanted me, and now they don't want anybody!!" What does Mr. Grace have to do with whether the record company wants a demo or not? And who would take this particularly silly order from Mr. Grace seriously?

2) At the end, Susan(?) the production assistant is given the orders to take the demo tape down to somebody as a backup in case Spooner's voice gives out. When it turns out to be the wrong speed, the director tells her "This could be the end of your career." Why? All they asked her to do was run the tape down to the technician, who definitely should have checked that the tape was the proper speed.

They were definitely running on empty by the time they wrote this one.

1) He panicked. Imagine.. someone in AYBS? jumping to conclusions! :D

2) Maybe she's already goofed up one too many times? Typical tv stations go through more production assistants in one year than you've had hot dinners!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

This episopde just aired on MPT and I'd forgotten a couple of things that didn't make sense:

1) After Mr. Grace "quarantines" them over the phone when the staff is trying to get out early to make the demo, Mr. Spooner gets very upset and says "They only wanted me, and now they don't want anybody!!" What does Mr. Grace have to do with whether the record company wants a demo or not? And who would take this particularly silly order from Mr. Grace seriously?

2) At the end, Susan(?) the production assistant is given the orders to take the demo tape down to somebody as a backup in case Spooner's voice gives out. When it turns out to be the wrong speed, the director tells her "This could be the end of your career." Why? All they asked her to do was run the tape down to the technician, who definitely should have checked that the tape was the proper speed.

They were definitely running on empty by the time they wrote this one.

1. I think it was just a bad joke about the "quarantine" thing and the call was put in to Mr. Grace about the staff leaving early to get to the studio for the demo.

2. I thought the same thing myself. Why should the poor girl get the blame ? Like they say though in any business ... shite rolls downhill. :lol:

[AlexDS69]

Though the series finale was (as many series finales are) a sad moment, at least the show went out with a bang. "The Pop Star" is one of my favorite episodes.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I don't think it's a bad eppy, just a melancholy one. I'd watch this eppy over a lot of the later eppys.

[stripes_n_bows]

I like 'the popstar' as well. It just felt like a bit of a strange ending. Of course when you think about Grace and Favour 'continuing' the story, than it can sort of be ended this way.