Author Topic: HEARTBEAT and the 60's: Written By a HUGE Heartbeat fan.  (Read 243 times)

thisisnothollywood

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HEARTBEAT and the 60's: Written By a HUGE Heartbeat fan.
« on: April 15, 2012, 04:40:59 pm »
Heartbeat and the 60’s   Even though I was born in the early 60’s, I don’t have alot of recollection growing up in that era yet I have always had a fascinationof the 60’s primarily because of the music.  It is no wonder then why I have been a fan ofthe U.K.television program called Heartbeat.  Infact, the show’s theme song is a Buddy Holly tune though sung by NickBerry who happens to be one of the show’s early leading characters.  Whether you missed the 60’s or not, thesounds of Dusty Springfield, Donavan, The Animals and Sandi Shaw were sure tomake you feel nostalgic.  From theopening scene, you can’t help but be put in a good mood as the sounds ofthe 60’s just seem to come alive.  Nextthing that always struck me was the many scenes of beautiful Englishcountryside and that coupled with the nostalgic music provided such a perfectblend in creating a 60’s feel.  Thoughthe 60’s may have been described as “swinging”, they wereanything but in Yorkshire where life wassimpler.  To many, Yorkshirewas a drab, dreary, cold, miserable place, kind of like the life of a coalminer.  If you want to get a feel of whatlife was really like, I suggest you look at the photos of photographer JohnBulmer, the man who captured the North of England’s true colours.  His work has been featured at the National CoalMining Museumin Wakefield in West Yorkshire.  Another strong feature of the show is thedisplay of old British cars and some classic ones. Who could forgetGina’s arrival in Aidensfield driving a mini and come to think of it, whocould forget her wearing a mini.  One ofmy favorite scenes was a recent episode where David spots an Americancaddy.  He thought that was the mostbeautiful car he’d ever seen.  Forall the show had to offer, the greatest appeal was its characters and superbacting.  There have been many belovedcharacters that have come and gone in 18 seasons.  Though the early episodes centered on Nickand Kate’s relationship, it was the appeal of that loveable rogueGreengrass and Sergeant Blaketon’s many attempts to catch that slipperysnake that hooked me.  The performance ofBlaketon is brilliantly portrayed by Derek Fowlds. He plays the good Sergeantthe way it should be, a no-nonsense by the book sort of way.  Greengrass reminded me so much of a real lifecharacter from my childhood.   While growing up in a small Canadian town in Southern Ontario, we had our own Greengrass only he wasknown to all as “Pete The Puffer” because he liked hisciggies.  He was dressed rather shabbilyalways bumming off smokes, looking for a free meal, cleaning windows andbasically doing any odd job he could find.   Heartbeat’s characters have neverfailed to connect with its audience, to create an emotion, a mood or bond withthe viewer.  That to me makes the show sospecial along with the fact it’s one of the few good family-friendlydramas.  So after 18 seasons, it is timeto say good-bye.  The show over the yearshas lost viewer share for various reasons such as the changes of cast and lessthan stellar writing.  However, one ofthe main reasons for dwindling ratings is due to the fact that today unlike in1992 when the show began, there are more TV channels and choice of shows thanever before and we have seen a change in viewing habits as the world seems tohave gone mad with all these reality shows. Still, as the final episodes are airing in the U.K., Heartbeatcontinues to maintain a strong viewership and loyal following.  It goes to show there is still a market forthis type of family-friendly, feel-good show. Too bad the TV executives at ITV don’t think so.

This was written by Mike, a huge fan of the Sixities and Heartbeat... thanks Mike!

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manton

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And still a huge fan, lol.

thisisnothollywood

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Good to hear!