Is It Catching?

[luv_ya_humphries]

I saw this episode today and it just didn't seem all that well done to me. I just felt it wasn't the same and that it could have been done a lot better with the fact that Mr Humphries only seemed sick for a few moments. Although I did like the line when Mr Humphries asked Mrs Slocombe to wriggle her right big toe and then her left big toe...

Just... what did everyone else think of that episode?

[Dear_Sexy_Knickers]

They showed that episode on my local PBS station tonite too...it's kinda cheesy and far-fetched...Mr. Harman and all of the customers, Rumbold and everyone else that's been around them all day would have been "exposed" too...but the final scene, when they were all in the water bed was sort of funny...i agree with you about the toe thing :D

[Mr. Harmon]

This is my wife's favorite episode and since she's not a fan of Brittish Comedy, the only one she actually likes ha ha. She loves the "Penguin Suits" as she calls them. :mrgreen:

Personally this one is in my "top ten" favorites. I loved that evil grin on Mr. Harmans face (as he's shutting them in) so much that I asked the Wibster to make me an avatar from it. :mrgreen:
(<--- See? hee hee )


I also love Mrs. Slocombe in the waterbed "Hugging the rail" while everyone else is sneezing ha ha ha.

[Old Mr. Grace]

I think this episode will best be remembered as the introduction of Mr. Spooner, Old Mr. Grace, and Mr. Grossman.

[Mr. Rust of Audio-Visuals]

This one felt like it was written to introduce everybody that was new, and when that didn't fill up enough time, they cobbled the rest together from whatever half-finished episode scripts were within reach-- the "shoe-selling" episode, the "battle over the canteen table" episode, and the "Is it Catching?" episode. Could've been worse...2 of those are all right episodes. Not "IIC?", though.

Does anyone else agree with me on this-- Mr. Grossman actually does a pretty good job with the few unfunny lines he has, in this episode. I used to think Milo Sperber was AYBS?'s biggest dud actor, but looking at it again, he's a good actor, but was really badly miscast in a broad comedy. In another show, especially a drama, he would probably be excellent. I think he figured that out, didn't really give his all in his remaining episodes, and then bailed (by mutual agreement with the producers).

My point is, I think he was good in the shoe sequence and the table sequence. After that, the writers gave him nothing to do.

[dazzlestar14]

Altogether it wasn't an awful episode, I would give it a 6/10.
There were some comical parts and they did a good job of introducing the oh-so-many new castmembers.

[frankdicer]

This one felt like it was written to introduce everybody that was new, and when that didn't fill up enough time, they cobbled the rest together from whatever half-finished episode scripts were within reach-- the "shoe-selling" episode, the "battle over the canteen table" episode, and the "Is it Catching?" episode. Could've been worse...2 of those are all right episodes. Not "IIC?", though.

Does anyone else agree with me on this-- Mr. Grossman actually does a pretty good job with the few unfunny lines he has, in this episode. I used to think Milo Sperber was AYBS?'s biggest dud actor, but looking at it again, he's a good actor, but was really badly miscast in a broad comedy. In another show, especially a drama, he would probably be excellent. I think he figured that out, didn't really give his all in his remaining episodes, and then bailed (by mutual agreement with the producers).

My point is, I think he was good in the shoe sequence and the table sequence. After that, the writers gave him nothing to do.

The one thing I remember about Milo Sperber was that in the E.C. (ending credits) he always acted like he was sprucing himself up for us. A crease here, a smoothing touch there.
I liked that.

[minki]

Does anyone else agree with me on this-- Mr. Grossman actually does a pretty good job with the few unfunny lines he has, in this episode. I used to think Milo Sperber was AYBS?'s biggest dud actor, but looking at it again, he's a good actor, but was really badly miscast in a broad comedy. In another show, especially a drama, he would probably be excellent. I think he figured that out, didn't really give his all in his remaining episodes, and then bailed (by mutual agreement with the producers).

My point is, I think he was good in the shoe sequence and the table sequence. After that, the writers gave him nothing to do.

I agree, I think it was a case of Right Actor Wrong Vehicle. He didn't do TOO bad--he wasn't a favorite and didn't endear himself to me, but he did all right in the role.

IIC is a cute episode...I think it was a bit much to introduce two new characters in one go (Grossman and Spooner). But the waterbed scene and the spacesuits did help redeem it.

[Very Young Mr Grace]

Mrs. Slocombe could open the Times, sit on it, and read two pages at once! :mrgreen:

[missmacinthorpe]

IIC is a cute episode...I think it was a bit much to introduce two new characters in one go (Grossman and Spooner). But the waterbed scene and the spacesuits did help redeem it.

I've always hated this episode and have considered it the "Spock's Brain" of AYBS? for years ("Spock's Brain" is funnier, though). For some reason it always bothered me that they didn't use a real disease (measles, for instance). :shrug:

MM (celebrating 200 posts--just 50 more for the coveted key!)

[Tiddles]

"Marine's Disease" has the silly symptoms. The funny lump on the nose, the sneezing fits. I think it just comes over funnier than if they'd just gotten chicken pox or mumps or some other mainstream malady.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

This eppy was the beginning of the end for me.

[missmacinthorpe]

"Marine's Disease" has the silly symptoms. The funny lump on the nose, the sneezing fits. I think it just comes over funnier than if they'd just gotten chicken pox or mumps or some other mainstream malady.

The first time I saw it on public TV, it was quite a letdown because the TV Guide description had made it sound so hilarious. At least no one's asked me (yet) to explain what I mean by "the 'Spock's Brain' of AYBS?". :lol:

MM

[amy2375]

I don't think this was a great episode. I agree that it would have been funnier had they used a real disease, however I crack up when I hear:

"How do you get this marine's disease?"

Mr. Humphries: "I was afraid someone was going to ask that"

The look on Mr. Humphries face was hysterical!

[Tiddles]

And the best line...


"I KNEW I should have kept me hands off those winkles last night!!" :humphries01:

[Lucas The Tucas]

Dear Miss Mac

I Know How Much You LOVE "SPOCK'S BRAIN"!

I only saw the show once...I have a better opinion of it that you...

And a couple Questions about it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucas

[missmacinthorpe]

I don't hate "Spock's Brain". It's comically bad/good; it's just widely considered by Trek fans (justifiably or not) as the worst episode from the original series. There was a thread recently at one of the main Trek message boards basically trying to think of good things to say about the show. You might have to be a member to view the thread, but here goes: http://www.trekbbs.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=5380574&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1

MM

[Ronald]

This was the worst episode of AYBS.

* Bad line

* First episode without Mr. Lucas

* Young Mr. Grace for the last time, but worse: Kenneth Waller for the first time

* Mr. Grossman, a very poor role by Milo Sperber, for the first time

Also the only episode that I erased on VHS.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

This was the worst episode of AYBS.

* Bad line

* First episode without Mr. Lucas

* Young Mr. Grace for the last time, but worse: Kenneth Waller for the first time

* Mr. Grossman, a very poor role by Milo Sperber, for the first time

Also the only episode that I erased on VHS.

Totally agree !!!

[Dean]

I don't much care for the quarantine scenes - but I really like the bit at the beginning where Mrs Slocombe is auditioning as a shose salesperson - it's a great example of how funny Mollie Sudgen is with material that isn't intrinsically all that funny - it's lifted by the quality of her comic acting and timing.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I don't much care for the quarantine scenes - but I really like the bit at the beginning where Mrs Slocombe is auditioning as a shose salesperson - it's a great example of how funny Mollie Sudgen is with material that isn't intrinsically all that funny - it's lifted by the quality of her comic acting and timing.

The only part of the show that I like. Mollie is genius !!!

[offthefloor]

completely agree greg, this is the only thing that i like about the eppy as well, apart from that, its a dud

[dazzlestar14]

I don't like the episode because my least favourite episode "A Personal Problem" follows it. :o

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

completely agree greg, this is the only thing that i like about the eppy as well, apart from that, its a dud

I did get a great wallie of Humphries fiddling with the bump on his nose and it looks like he's giving up the finger. :lol:

[Lucas The Tucas]

OH MY !

Dazz ... I don't like the episode because my least favourite episode "A Personal Problem" follows it. :eek:


Say It Isn't So !

Dazz Hates a Spooner Eppy ... 2 of Them . :spoonerhead:

Lucas :sad:

[Goldie]

Well, unlike most of you :biggrin: , I enjoy this eppy. It is definitely off-the-wall. But I find the unbelievableness (is that a word? :041: ) of it to be too funny.

Mrs. Slocombe and the shoe selling bit is wacky and I love the way she goes up to the lift to straighten out her back.

The whole canteen scene had some funny lines..

Peacock ~ Madam, I don't like the tone of your voice.
Mrs. Yardswick ~ I don't like the color of your moustache, but I'm learning to live with it.

Mrs. Yardswick ~ I'm under a great strain cooking for you lot.
Miss Brahms ~ You'd be under a lot more strain if you had to eat it!

I love the fact that what was wrong with him is also so unbelievable. I think that if they would have given him a real disease, it wouldn't have tied in with the rest of the off-the-wall antics in the show.

I know there is no rhyme or reason to it, but I just love to watch this eppy. :biggrin:

[Dean]

The whole canteen scene had some funny lines..

Peacock ~ Madam, I don't like the tone of your voice.
Mrs. Yardswick ~ I don't like the color of your moustache, but I'm learning to live with it.

Mrs. Yardswick ~ I'm under a great strain cooking for you lot.
Miss Brahms ~ You'd be under a lot more strain if you had to eat it!

I didn't remember that that scene was part of this show - you're right, those are very very funny lines. Great writing!