The Dumbing Down Of Shirley Brahms

[Tiddles]

Do you all feel that they "dumbed her down" in later episodes? If you watch eps like "Camping In" she seems very worldly and astute in an innocent sort of way...and not taking any nonsense from the men. She's no rocket scientist, but her humor is dry and very sharp. She deadpans her lines and rolls her eyes in disgust and disbelief at her surroundings. In later eps, her voice seems to have gone up several octaves, her accent is a bit thicker, and she seems to have lost some of her moxy. She's not quite a bimbo, but she's walking that thin line. Anyone??

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

In the early eppy's they play her up that she's a virgin and the later ones, she's showing all she's learned in "Catford" !!! :shock:

[Pamela]

Hmmm, good point guys. I suppose it's most noticible from when Lucas goes-after he's gone she doesn't need the snappy answers-which is a shame!

[Old Mr. Grace]

I never got the impression that she was "dumbed down". I always felt that in the later episodes they made her more "common" than she already was. In some of the later episodes she seemed really bad tempered. The most obvious example is "Friends and Neighbors" when she complains constantly about Tiddles boiling cods heads, having to make tea, the crying babies, etc.

[frankdicer]

I never got the impression that she was "dumbed down". I always felt that in the later episodes they made her more "common" than she already was. In some of the later episodes she seemed really bad tempered. The most obvious example is "Friends and Neighbors" when she complains constantly about Tiddles boiling cods heads, having to make tea, the crying babies, etc.

I agree with OMG that they played her as "common"; more mileage for
jokes I suppose....
OTOH, after several years, Miss Brahms could have changed a bit, seeing as
how young she was at the start.

I thought in Friends and Neighbors, though, she was
upset because of Mrs. Slocombe taking advantage of the situation.
She's mad as a wet hen and can't get out of the bean bag chair.... :lol:

[sonosun]

She can't get out of the bean bag chair and showed her knickers too. :shock:

[frankdicer]

She can't get out of the bean bag chair and showed her knickers too. :shock:

I noticed that...several times in fact....she showed them, not I noticed them.
Well in that case both actually.

[dazzlestar14]

I agree entirely that they dumbed her down a whole lot. She used to seem so sassy in the older ones, but with a sort of class. Then they just made her seem way too common and dumb. I still loved her though, but I preferred her older lower voice as opposed to the very high annoying one.

[frankdicer]

I agree entirely that they dumbed her down a whole lot. She used to seem so sassy in the older ones, but with a sort of class. Then they just made her seem way too common and dumb. I still loved her though, but I preferred her older lower voice as opposed to the very high annoying one.

You are right about that voice...ouch!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I know during "The Hold Up" with that high pitched voice, I was wishing that the robbers would have kept her gagged for the whole eppy !!!!

[Tiddles]

[color=blue]I know during "The Hold Up" with that high pitched voice,]

:brahms01: "HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP!!" Oy ve.... :roll:

[dazzlestar14]

The only time I actually liked her high pitch freaky voice was when she read the commercial for "Closed Circuit".

"Ello shawpas!" :lol:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I know during "The Hold Up" with that high pitched voice,

:brahms01: "HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP!!" Oy ve.... :roll:
:lol2: :lol2:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

The only time I actually liked her high pitch freaky voice was when she read the commercial for "Closed Circuit".

"Ello shawpas!" :lol:

"Roll up, roll up !!!!!"
She did sound like a fish wife !!!! :lol2:

[dazzlestar14]

I know! But she did do a good posh impression, IMO.
Then Ol' Toothy Girl had to come and steal the show, lol.

[Tiddles]

I love that "ROLL UP ROLL UP" bit. :lol: I also like "Here!! What's YOUR game!?" :camping:

[Dean]

here's my theory for what it's worth... (not much?)

Miss Brahms is a character that isn't really completely developed - as originally written she is just a pretty face for the audience to ogle in the manner of the secretaries in the latter seasons, a dolly bird for Mr Lucas to chase and a "straight man" for Mrs Slocombe to talk to.

the character worked because of Wendy Richard's very real skills both as an actor and as a comedian. They wrote some of Wendy into Miss Brahms as the show progressed.

But you know we never really saw the character develop that much. The best evidence of that I can offer is that in the whole season there wasn't one show that revolved around her, where Miss Brahms was the focus of the episode. Stories revolved around Mrs Slocombe... Captain Peacock... Mr Lucas... Mr Humphries... Mr Grainger.... even (the last show) Mr Spooner... but there was never a story written about Miss Brahms. I suppose the closest was the one where she dressed up to go to the restaurant when some bloke thought she had the posh voice - but that plotline is only for the last third of the show and even then she doesnt get the best lines...

I think it was a shame they didnt use the character more. An example - the show where Mr Lucas is trying to get off work to go on a date - imagine if that show had been written around Miss Brahms trying to get off work instead. Lots of possibilities there and we could really have seen Wendy Richard shine!

[dazzlestar14]

That was an excellent piece of writing Dean, and I agree with everything you wrote! It would certainly have been interesting to see some more episodes with light upon Miss.Brahms!

[Tiddles]

I think it was a shame they didnt use the character more.

Exactly! Same thing I've been saying here for years. Which has been agreed on by other board members. Good observation. In my own phrasing, they never gave Wendy her proper dues on this show. They made her into a bimbo. It's easier to have her yelling "HELP HELP HELP!!!" than have her saying the SASSY lines she was once given in earlier eps!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

here's my theory for what it's worth... (not much?)

Miss Brahms is a character that isn't really completely developed - as originally written she is just a pretty face for the audience to ogle in the manner of the secretaries in the latter seasons, a dolly bird for Mr Lucas to chase and a "straight man" for Mrs Slocombe to talk to.

the character worked because of Wendy Richard's very real skills both as an actor and as a comedian. They wrote some of Wendy into Miss Brahms as the show progressed.

But you know we never really saw the character develop that much. The best evidence of that I can offer is that in the whole season there wasn't one show that revolved around her, where Miss Brahms was the focus of the episode. Stories revolved around Mrs Slocombe... Captain Peacock... Mr Lucas... Mr Humphries... Mr Grainger.... even (the last show) Mr Spooner... but there was never a story written about Miss Brahms. I suppose the closest was the one where she dressed up to go to the restaurant when some bloke thought she had the posh voice - but that plotline is only for the last third of the show and even then she doesnt get the best lines...

I think it was a shame they didnt use the character more. An example - the show where Mr Lucas is trying to get off work to go on a date - imagine if that show had been written around Miss Brahms trying to get off work instead. Lots of possibilities there and we could really have seen Wendy Richard shine!

I have to be in agreement here with Dazz and Tids, that was excellant Dean !!!! Closed Circuit was the closest that our Shirley came to her own show. Damned good observation Dean !!!!:thumb:

[Mr. Rust of Audio-Visuals]

It's only really bad in the last season, especially, like you guys have already mentioned, in "Hold Up". Sometimes you could pass it off as lack of education, but in this episode she's straight-up DUMB.

Of course in "Grace and Favour" she's completely back to normal again!

[Tiddles]

Of course in "Grace and Favour" she's completely back to normal again!

Indeed!! She was WAY matured by this time! Matter of fact, a viewer maybe compelled to ask...WTF happened to Miss Brahms!!? Totally different character in AYBS? Again. TOTALLY. Looks and attitude! AND....her voice has gone down ten octaves!! :lol:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Of course in "Grace and Favour" she's completely back to normal again!

Indeed!! She was WAY matured by this time! Matter of fact, a viewer maybe compelled to ask...WTF happened to Miss Brahms!!? Totally different character in AYBS? Again. TOTALLY. Looks and attitude! AND....her voice has gone down ten octaves!! :lol:

It was that married man who owned the arcade that did it to her !!! :wink:

[dazzlestar14]

That scene always makes me a little sad, but her strength is always with her no matter how smart or dumb she becomes. :mrgreen:

[Dean]

Indeed!! She was WAY matured by this time! Matter of fact, a viewer maybe compelled to ask...WTF happened to Miss Brahms!!? Totally different character in AYBS? Again. TOTALLY. Looks and attitude! AND....her voice has gone down ten octaves!! :lol:

Mind you by that time Wendy was in her late 40s! Bit old to really still be the dolly bird!

[Tiddles]

Mind you by that time Wendy was in her late 40s! Bit old to really still be the dolly bird!

I am in my late 40's so I disagree. :blush2: It depends on how a woman ages due to her genes, her health, etc. Wendy did have cancer...as well as some really hard emotional times. She smokes. I suspect she enjoys drinking as well. All these factors add up to how you look over 40. :wagstaff:

[Lucas The Tucas]

TIDS ...
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by Dean http://www.minki.net/aybsforum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.minki.net/aybsforum/showthread.php?p=43421#post43421)
Mind you by that time Wendy was in her late 40s! Bit old to really still be the dolly bird!

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I am in my late 40's so I disagree. :blush2:

:emotlol: :emotlol:

Lucas :pop:

[sonosun]

Lucas contain yourself.

[Tiddles]

TIDS ...

:emotlol: :emotlol:

Lucas :pop:

Uh...what amused you so much?

[Dean]

I am in my late 40's so I disagree.

I am in my early 40s and sadly wasn't even that good looking in my early 20s :(

But I'm sure you are still exceptionally good looking Tiddles :)