One of those key phrases that writers, comedians and all kinds of people use far too easily conjoins to any given name and goes thus - "...On Drugs." As in "It's like Monty Python on drugs" given as a review quote on a poster for some really crappy production. Mind you, some great TV shows have done some pretty subversive things involving psychotropic substances, overdoses of sugar, too much caffeine, accidental mushroom consumption and the like. 'The Simpsons' has done it a few times. I've enjoyed every one of them. I don't quite know why. I was once a student.
'Life On Mars' is one of the few key popular dramas of recent years here in the UK, refers both to a general nostalgia for the past as well as a love of old cop dramas from the 70's - 'The Professionals', 'The Sweeney' for example - and it's due for its Second Series in February 2007. The show sees what could either be subconcious dreaming or time-travel involving a cop from the present disappearing to the apparent past, and one element of the show that's made the papers today involves a drug-induced vision of a few of the characters as though they were in an old kids show, 'Camberwick Green'.
Now, although I'm not sure how well that show (or the idea of the transference of characters from 'Life on Mars' into it, temporarily) transfers, but I like the idea and it's something of a mini trend. Well, you see, there's also an advert that's been running in recent times which takes Windy Miller from 'Camberwick Green' and ironically sexes it up for Oatso Simple and applies the Great British Phrase "Getting your oats" with a mild childish, ironic snigger. That ad involves Charlie Higson (of 'The Fast Show') and is really nicely animated, as well as being just nicely produced all over. Yes, for all those who were students in the U.K during the 80's and 90's, this might well be a revival of the ironic consumption of Childrens TV in late-night alcohol (*cough*) fuelled houshold parties that was popular for a small slice of that population back then. Some of us had work to do... [Source : The Sun' complete picture there].
Windy Miller Oatso Simple Advert at YouTube.
'Camberwick Green' (actually from 1966) Original Closing Credits at YouTube; great music...
'Camberwick Green' Information at Wikipedia.
