Recently the local PBS station (KQED) had an hour long program on how Monty Python ultimately cracked the U.S. market. It was, apparently, a touch and go thing--with too many decision making people thinking that British humor would not sell in the U.S. An early broadcast of the program in the U.S. was on commercial television and late at night where the ratio to ads and program is close to one to one. It destroyed the flow of the program. The Monty Python group (Cleese, etc.) protested and found a clause in the contract with BBC (who had sold the program to the U.S. statlions) which prohibited the cutting up of the program to accommodate ads and they became able to negotiate directly with the PBS system with, of course, a fantastic result for all of us.

Though the program didn't say this, I'm sure the Monty Python success opened the doors for all sorts of good British programs, both humor and serious. I don't think (the late, lamented) Dave Allen would have ever been shown here and probably not Black Adder without Monty Python's success. Or One Foot in the Grave or Waiting for God (with the brilliant Stephanie Cole) or As Time Goes By. Doc Martin likely would have been another casualty.

Thanks for PBS. I have a really strange memory of watching a number of "Carry On" movies as a child and teenager. That was back in the times of Saturday afternoon movies....why "Carry On" would be available in Staunton, Virginia or Rochester, NY in the 60's or 70's is beyond me. They were really funny. When "Python" came around my best friend and I became bedazzled. We drove 400 miles in winter weather to see them off Broadway and traveled to England in a quest to find them. Benny Hill, Are You Being Served? Came along. I learned all about "The Goon Show" and many other British comics. I loved it all. So uptight, but so disrespectful.....I loved it. Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By followed. It was destined that I would love DM. A neighbor turned me on. Britcom is a treasure. Now I have to see if I like Downton Abbey. I find it hard to be serious, but I could try.

Downton Abbey has an air of class, however there is quite a bit of subtle humor. I do get a giggle or two each episode.

I grew up with PBS and am thankful that it exists. B.C. (before cable), PBS was the only place we could get Brit shows when I was growing up (1970's). Upstairs, Downstairs was one of my earliest memories in addition to the others you listed. Our cable company cancelled the BBC America channel a couple of years ago (which really pissed me off). I wish they would bring it back in lieu of some of the crap they added in it's place, AND I wish that ITV had an American channel so we could get all of those great shows and movies in addition to Doc Martin.

ITV...America, great idea. Unfortunately on BBC America you could only get Top Gear and Star Trek The Next Generation which were good, but not exactly a broad choice. They did MBB for a while, but you have to admit....watching 10 minutes of MBB doesn't convince you it's something that you really want to watch. More like it grows on you, like a lovely fungus.

Or an epiphyte....

Portwenn Survivor

This week's episode thrown out of the surgery:

S2E5 Always on My Mind

Complete survey results: http://portwennonline.com/SurveyResults.html

New survey: http://portwennonline.com/SurveyCurrent.html

Episode title survey: http://portwennonline.com/SurveyEpisodeTitles.html

Be sure to check out the new Trivia page that is being created for each episode as we eliminate them!

Last week's episode trivia page: http://portwennonline.com/TriviaS1E3.html

A new wrinkle in the survey this week. Because a lot of people have had problems choosing episodes after getting rid of their least favorites, the voting numbers have been dropping. So, this week I determined that there are 11 episodes that have received 1 or 0 votes during the first 9 weeks. These 11 episodes are moving to the "Finals". The list of these episodes can be found on the "Current Survey" page. So, this week there are 26 episodes to choose from (instead of 37). Once this group has been whittled down to 9 episodes, I will add back in the 11 episodes and we will continue eliminations in the top 20.

Also - a few new Trivia pages (again). "Action Martin", "Radios" and "Sock Monkey" (Sock Monkey will also include some of James' favorite toys).

Sorry if I am being picky, but since is am a fan of both Doc Martin and Downton Abbey I feel I must point out the following:

Mr. Molesley is the (now) footman on Downton Abbey.

Mr. Moesey is the man who lives next to Ruth on Doc Martin.

I think Aunt Ruth might enjoy Moseley's company more than she would Mr. Moesey's company. She could give Moseley a good pep talk and get him back on track and become a valet again.

Did Ronald Pickup, who played Mr Moysey die recently? I know the gentleman that played Phil Pratt died, but I thought Mr. Moysey did too. Anyone know?

I've just uploaded another update to the Trivia pages. Now, every picture on the trivia pages has been turned into a thumbnail (still the same size). If you click on the picture, it will open full size for you if you want to take a closer look at the screenshot.

http://portwennonline.com/Trivia.html

Per Wikipedia, Ronald Pickup is still with us; is 73.

I know I've been a posting fool the last couple of days, but I just had to share this.

I remember noticing in On the Edge (Christmas Special between S2 and S3), that when Martin encounters Colonel Spencer on the cliff path, as Martin is walking away, Colonel Spencer kind of grabs and lifts up both of his man-boobs. It was a funny callback to S1E1 when Martin diagnosed him with gynecomastia. I was watching Always on My Mind just now (S2E5), which was filmed a year prior to On the Edge, and Ross (who was diagnosed with the same thing in S1E1) is in this episode getting Pauline her spot on the lifeboat. When he first shows up in the episode, he comes into the surgery to tell Pauline that there is a spot for her on the crew. Martin walks into the waiting room and Pauline says, "This is Ross." Martin says, "Yes, we've met." When Ross says he's one of the senior guys on the lifeboat, he puts his hand on his chest in kind of a bragging manner, but I just realized that he sort of grabs the man-boob also. I would call these two bits "Easter Eggs" in Doc Martin. Wonder how many others there are? Not counting the funny patient names, of course...

I just finished reading Arthur & George. A great story, but I found the book slow going. I read about the first 1/3 of the book, the speed skimmed the last of it looking for good scenes (I know, I'm bad, but I need what I read to flow along a little faster).

Martin will make a smashing Conan Doyle.....all the physical descriptions and even the high energy personality traits are perfect. There is even a scene in the book that harkens back to the wine tasting scene in "Dirty Tricks" and you know what a great job he did in the kitchen..can't wait. He even describes his huge hands as paws and MC's hands look like a tennis racquet. We'll see what they do with the moustache.

Jean Leckie is supposed to be 21. Caroline Catz is a bit older but again the physical description...hazel eye...porcelain complexion...longish face....is so similar that I can't believe she'd play another character. Plus, Jean Leckie is a mezzo soprano singer and we know CC can sing.

I'm thinking that the young Indian man from "Marigold Hotel" could be George....he of the pop bottle glasses.

A really important character will be "the Mam", Arthur's Mum, with whom he has a touch too close of a relationship. Britain has a rich assortment of beautiful, talented older women actors. I hope they find someone that's perfect.

As to Touie, the first wife with tuberculosis....no idea....but I don't see it being CC...

I guess a really good thing is that even though Arthur and Jean don't consummate their relationship, there should be a good amount of snogging.....yay!

Arthur and Jean don't consummate their relationship for years until Touie dies...after that...I think 2 more little Conan Doyle's came along.

According to letters to his mother, Arthur Conan Doyle and Jean Leckie consummated their relationship well before the death of his first wife. The fact that they later married and had children was of no interest. It was their salacious relationship -- known to and accepted by Touie -- which was of interest. I suspect the movie based on Arthur and George will borrow heavily from Sir Arthur's letters to mam if Jean and Sir Arthur are its focus. The letters may hold your interest if you are more interested in Jean and Arthur than in Arthur and George.

If you are talking about Dev Patel, he is a big film star (remember his first film, Slumdog Millionaire"). Probably not likely to be in made for TV movie.

Well, Arthur & George is a novel...not meant to be nonfiction...in the book their supposed idealistic behavior prevailed.

Don't do this....it stings DMfan...no ill will intended...I apologize for my ignorance

Mofromco I am not trying to sting you, but the Jean Leckie/Arthur Conan Doyle relationship and subsequent marriage is very high researched, written about and discussed among Arthur Conan Doyle scholars and fans. The resurgence of interest in Sherlock Holmes arising from the wildly popular BBC "Sherlock" has only heightened interest. The fact that Martin Clunes and Caroline Catz are cast in a re-make of the movie done by BBC about 10 years ago is a big career coup for both of them. Again, not trying to sting you but I don't think the production will focus on snogging but on the very critical trial of George Edalji, which contributed to England's institution of a Court of Criminal Appeal. Martin Clunes has an opportunity to further his dramatic acting chops. IMHO, Clunes has used Doc Martin to successfully transition from a comedic actor to a very serious dramatic actor. I am happy for both of these fine actors that they will have a chance to show their talent in this movie.

Well, I'd like a little snogging from my lowbrow point of view....otherwise it will be a long two hours. Why else would MC and CC pose for publicity pictures? Sexual tension..sublime.

I, too, finished the book and I think you are right DMfan. Caroline Catz will have a minor role in the Arthur & George movie if they follow the book closely. (IMO if they want viewership numbers, Jean Leckie's role has to be made a bigger part.) It was interesting at one point where George Edalji thought that ACD went about helping him in his appeals process much the same way he wrote a Sherlock Holmes story. He felt what happens in real life doesn't necessarily hold true if you are using techniques only found in a fictional book. I am wondering if MC will have a waxed handlebar mustache, not the brush job he had in Goodbye, Mr. Chips!

Does anyone know what that publicity photo was all about on the DM S6 blogspot? It can't be for DM, or Arthur & George. MC has a silly devilish grin with a hairdo done with an eggbeater and CC looks very seducive. Could this be for something we have no knowledge or perhaps for "Harvey"?

Nope..that was for "Arthur & George".....no question..sex sells.....look up the article

There is a stage adaptation of Arthur & George and I wonder if that will be more in line with the movie? While I'm sure a lot of people would disagree with me, I'd almost like to see a modern adaptation of Arthur & George (sort of like Sherlock), not a remake of the earlier movie.

In any case along another line, after DM is over I hope we see MC & CC in some different projects with each other. I like her as his acting partner and I think M enjoys working with C. Arthur & George will be a good test to see if that is true and if they have good chemistry aside from DM.

Who knows what lies ahead for Martin after DM is over? Downton Abbey? We've heard of a new Simon Nye sitcom...I don't know about that. What is amazing is that through all the Harry Potter and Hobbit pictures which have employed virtually every British actor known, he hasn't taken a role? A homebody, we realize, but soon his daughter will be in the next level of education...his mobility will be greater. He is such an extraordinary actor. It would be awesome to see him in other things. From what little I've learned, he is not the type to sit on his bottom for too long...maybe a baddie in James Bond...who knows. I'm just having fun speculating..no need for heavy handiness.

I'm thinking maybe Harvey is not gonna happen. I was rereading the article about it and it said they were looking to preview it at the Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn. I checked their website and they have the list of productions scheduled through January with no mention of Harvey.

Just FYI, CC is actually twice that old. But your intention was to be tactful, clearly.

Just FYI, CC is twice that old. More than "a bit," IMHO. But clearly you meant to be tactful