Your favourite scenes from plod procedurals

[H-O-W-L]

'MTV cops' supposedly, and I don't think the show ever did this again

It was constant throughout Vice, actually -- driving scenes set to music like this. Always a belter when it happens. Go look up the Brothers in Arms scene if you don't intend on watching the series. So fucking good. It's a show that's well worth watching the first three seasons of, IMO.

[H-O-W-L]

fucking hell that Frank Zappa video made me download all of Miami Vice

Yeah it's well worth watching all of the first three seasons. You can bin it after that if you want, 4 and 5 get hyper-rough even if I like the ending a lot

[Sebastian Cobb]

Any time Sippowicz is on screen.

I don't even like the show, but there's something endearing, he's like their Tosh.

[Camp Tramp]

Any time Sippowicz is on screen.

I don't even like the show, but there's something endearing, he's like their Tosh.

With a penchant for brutalising suspects which I never saw in Tosh.

[Glebe]

Coincidence time: Was looking up the actor Roger Sloman on Wiki yesterday morning, popped on the telly and there he is in The Sweeney attacking John Thaw.

[A Hat Like That]

This morning's The Sweeney was a televisual delight. George Cole as the mark, John Hurt as what could be the first UK TV depiction of a computer hacker*, a lovely bait and switch just before a nice brutal action scene at the end.

And, well, sad Sweeney end music justified.

*usingwhat looked like what was available at the time, lovely old chonky computers etc.

[Mister Six]

Has to be this, and I only saw it for the first time yesterday.

[Sebastian Cobb]

There's an episode of Cracker where Jimmy's got it in for a suspect who reluctantly cleared themselves with an alibi which was working cash in hand while claiming dole. Jimmy is sore about being wrong and says to DCI Wise (Ricky Tomlinson) that they really ought to inform "the soshe" and he just bellows "OH BLOODY HELL JIMMY!".

[gilbertharding]

*usingwhat looked like what was available at the time, lovely old chonky computers etc.

Lovely.

*to a room full of computer studies students* "But first, a few remarks about the VDU, or 'visual display unit'..."

You didn't mention casual sexism with both the 'casual' and the 'sexism' turned up to 120.

[Des Wigwam]

Has to be this, and I only saw it for the first time yesterday.

Really reminds me of Jerwain in Phone shop declaring "bisexual is gay" - and is all the better for it.

[gilbertharding]

Today's episode of The Sweeney was the one where Posh Matey out of George and Mildred beats up Arfur English out of Are You Being Served, before running away to gibber in a phone box.

[monkfromhavana]

Today's episode of The Sweeney was the one where Posh Matey out of George and Mildred beats up Arfur English out of Are You Being Served, before running away to gibber in a phone box.

That's a good one. Total bottle job.

[gilbertharding]

That's a good one. Total bottle job.

A promising career polishing a chair with his Arris on the fifth floor, gone.

There was a nice reversal of this trope was given a outing in the one where posh matey from Bristol gets shot in the power station and his wife who's somehow also a doctor save his life, a few episodes ago.

[A Hat Like That]

I like that episode.

"That's why the boss drives in the front", the scene with the young rapscallion and the cut knee, getting him to whistle when he walks past the dodgy house. Lesley Schofield.

[shiftwork2]

That's a good one. Total bottle job.

I haven't seen it for many years but there's a scene where Regan reports his cowardice to Haskins who looks grave and says something like 'that's a very serious allegation, Jack'?  It makes an effortless connection of respect between the two and also hints that Haskins was nails when he had a proper job.

Christ I need to see The Sweeney again soon.

[A Hat Like That]

This morning it was the one with a young James Cosmo. Kaleidoscope slow theme ending. Lovely.

[Glebe]

Okay it's comedy drama rather than plod procedural but I've been warming to Ray-era Minder of late.

[monkfromhavana]

Okay it's comedy drama rather than plod procedural but I've been warming to Ray-era Minder of late.

The thing about the Ray-era is, if there had been no Dennis Waterman-era, people would have loved it. It was still good, but lost a little of the dynamic because you always felt that Ray wasn't trapped like Terry was.

Also it means there's more screen time for George Cole, which is a big win.

But, on the debit sign....there's no Chisholm, who I think might well be one of my favourite supporting characters in anything.

[sevendaughters]

There's an episode of Cracker where Jimmy's got it in for a suspect who reluctantly cleared themselves with an alibi which was working cash in hand while claiming dole. Jimmy is sore about being wrong and says to DCI Wise (Ricky Tomlinson) that they really ought to inform "the soshe" and he just bellows "OH BLOODY HELL JIMMY!".

nearly every scene from when Jimmy starts losing it is ten on ten brilliance as scenes and storytelling but while we're just doing one off scenes I loved when Coltrane does the Bogart "I think this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship" and Ricky Tomlinson replies with "I doubt it lad", doesn't over-egg the Scouse chippiness too.

[Glebe]

The thing about the Ray-era is, if there had been no Dennis Waterman-era, people would have loved it. It was still good, but lost a little of the dynamic because you always felt that Ray wasn't trapped like Terry was.

Also it means there's more screen time for George Cole, which is a big win.

But, on the debit sign....there's no Chisholm, who I think might well be one of my favourite supporting characters in anything.

Continued to feature top notch guest stars. Which was nice.

[Glebe]

Wow! Never saw this before!

[Glebe]

Was watching a bit of A Touch of Frost last night, so the guy who plays Ray's Dad in Minder is on the force!

[monkfromhavana]

Was watching a bit of A Touch of Frost last night, so the guy who plays Ray's Dad in Minder is on the force!

As well as David Jason's brother, who plays the records office guy.

[Glebe]

As well as David Jason's brother, who plays the records office guy.

Wait, that's the guy I'm talking about! I stand corrected!

[monkfromhavana]

No, they're different.

A Touch of Frost is Arthur White.
Ray Daley's dad is Sidney Livingstone.

Fuck knows why I have posted this, but facts are important when you're dealing with the rozzers.

[Glebe]

I've developed a system to remember this:

A Touch of Frost? - Jason's brother, of course!

Minder on soon? Livingstone, I presume!

[monkfromhavana]

I've developed a system to remember this:

A Touch of Frost? - Jason's brother, of course!

Minder on soon? Livingstone, I presume!

Terry McCann, can, Ray Daley, Fail-y

[Glebe]

Mustachioed Del - brother appears as well!

Ray's dad in sight - 'tis not Arthur White!

[Sebastian Cobb]

Not quite plod but I'm watching the last episode of The Lone Gunmen and Michael McKeen has cropped up as a men in black type guy.

[gilbertharding]

ITV4 has just started another run through of The Professionals*, and it's amazing how, especially in the first series, they seem to have given Gordon Jackson two specific character traits.

1. He has a limp.
2. He likes 'pure malt Scotch whisky'.

I am constantly bemused by the second one, as 'pure malt' is no longer (if it ever was) a phrase which anyone uses to describe Scotch. Single malt, yes - but apparently that isn't the same as 'pure malt', which is frowned on as an expression because it's obscure way of referring to blended (though most blends are based on grain whisky not malt). Nothing wrong with blended Scotch, of course, but it's not something enthusiasts tend to bore on about.


* sometimes The Professionals is a plod procedural, other times it looks as if the producers have watched Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and thought 'what if Kid's TV?'