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Post by jobsta on Oct 20, 2011 16:55:51 GMT -5
It means an awful lot to me:
I first came across GS at the time my parents were getting divorced. It really gave me something to look forward to and something to escape the screaming with.
It had a similar effect after the death of my long term partner. It was the first thing I giggled to after that darkness.
Finally this year when I have been unwell for most of it, it has provided me a cheerful outlet. I have converted all of dvd's to itunes files so I can watch episodes on my iPad. Great stuff during hospital stays.
It's not all doom and gloom. I watch the show in happy times and enjoy it just as much, but those 3 experiences have really made it have a deep connection.
What does the show mean to you?
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Post by jrichard88 on Oct 21, 2011 2:25:02 GMT -5
I came across Goodnight Sweetheart a scant 9 months ago in January 2011. I was writing a time travel romance screenplay, and was researching the genre and its prevalence across different artistic mediums - books, movies, and television. I've always been a big fan of sitcoms, so I wondered to myself if anyone had ever merged the two ideas together. I figured the chances were nil, as I just didn't feel as though the two vastly different concepts would mesh. In spite of my doubts, and just for fun, I punched "time travel sitcom" into Google. I was rewarded with the Wikipedia entry for Goodnight Sweetheart. At that point in time, the plot summary was pretty much the entire run of the show condensed into essay form, and I was startled at the similarities between my story and this one. There were some obvious differences - my main character had just broken up a long term relationship, whereas the character of Gary Sparrow was happily married in the present day - but the core concept of a modern day everyman traveling back to the 1940s and falling in love remained eerily similar. I think it was this striking similarity, combined with the novelty of a time traveling sitcom, that initially drew me into the show. Because I saw it as a novelty that would quickly fall apart on screen, I had no intention of watching anything beyond the first episode. But that's not exactly what happened. I was taken in by the equal parts comedy and drama, with just the right amount of science fiction to push the plot forward. I think that's what I enjoyed so much about the show - the plot and characters never played second fiddle to the sci-fi elements, and that would've been an easy trap to fall into with a premise like this one. Thankfully, it remained all about the story and the characters, which, to me, is a key ingredient in storytelling that, too often, falls by the wayside in today's films and television shows. Goodnight Sweetheart - much like my own story in the same vein - had no business working at all. In the case of the show, the concept of a time traveling adulterer (and later bigamist) evoking any sympathy whatsoever as the story's main protagonist seems like a laughable misadventure that should've fallen flat before the end of the first series. But from the effortless blend of comedy and drama, to the very real and likeable characters, it works. And not only does it work, but it works astonishingly well. As a writer, it taught me that even the most unlikely of premises, no matter how crazy they may appear on the surface, can and will work, as long as you remain dedicated to the idea and trust your instincts. For that reason alone, Goodnight Sweetheart will remain as one of my all-time favorites. And that is what Goodnight Sweetheart means to me  |
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pat10
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by pat10 on Oct 23, 2011 16:28:39 GMT -5
Been a fan since it first aired on tv.i have always been a fan of time traval so this sitcon ticked all the box's for me.
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Post by brainwobbler on Oct 25, 2011 16:14:32 GMT -5
I'd lost my dear mother in hospital what seemed like not very long before GS was first aired, so as you can appreciate I was pretty low, what made things worse was the fact that the programs on TV were such a let down (like today) but GS was one of the ones that I saw as being a throwback to how TV was in the golden era, it certainly helped cheer me up, my elder brother who also sadly passed away 9 years ago loved GS too, I remember him remarking on how it was 'the' very best show there was at the time and I second that, I never realized at the time and it probably just never occurred to me what a huge fan base it had although I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised. One of the first things I did once I got on the internet with my own PC nigh on a decade ago was to search for information about all the old classic shows that I used to know from the 1970's which as I've mentioned on here before included Timeslip, TimeTunnel, Lost In Space, Land Of The Giants etc, then once I'd found all of those I then looked at other more recent classics which of course included Goodnight Sweetheart, also got most of the DVD collection around the same time, the similarity between Timeslip and GS in terms of the type of time travel style is another huge factor that interested me about it, if the makers never saw Timeslip then all I can say is it must be a case of great minds thinking alike and I declare without a shadow of a doubt that the makers of both of these amazing classics, one from the 70's and one from the 90's were sheer geniuses . |
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Post by Terry Kinane on Oct 25, 2011 16:57:49 GMT -5
These are great posts. Directing Sweetheart was a real pleasure, and it's very nice to know that the show struck a note with with you guys. Nice to know that all the hard work was worth it.
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Post by ibindere on Oct 26, 2011 10:01:33 GMT -5
I'd always been fascinated by the concept of time travel. As impossible as it is, I just would LOVE to be able to do it! So I’ve always loved any time travel shows and films, such as the back-to-the-future trilogy. I first saw GS quite by accident when the very first episode aired in 1993. I was drawn in and captivated from the start, and I watched every episode as they aired.
As much as I love the comedy (which is superbly written – especially the character of Reg) I have to confess that for me it’s all about the time travel.
Since the final series aired in 1999 I’ve gone on to buy the videos and then the DVD boxset, and I play them on a constant loop.
I’ve gone through a particularly awful and painful marriage break-up in the last 12 months and to tell you the truth GS has become my comfort blanket. I don’t know how I’d have got through the last year without it.
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Post by gnsh49 on Feb 14, 2012 3:48:55 GMT -5
think it transports me back to ww2, and of course i enjoy the time travel aspect, plus its just good quality production thats cheers me up
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Post by aspadistra on Feb 18, 2012 5:51:25 GMT -5
A lovely piece of escapism...though there are times when I want to slap Gary for being so selfish.
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Post by jobsta on Feb 18, 2012 9:16:46 GMT -5
A lovely piece of escapism...though there are times when I want to slap Gary for being so selfish. Have you watched the episode commentaries? They talk a lot about Gary's selfishness in them. And why we, as a viewing audience, forgive him for it! |
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Post by aspadistra on Feb 19, 2012 6:14:50 GMT -5
I haven't. Will have to do that, now.
Have to admit that I've only been watching the episodes and interviews.
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Post by jobsta on Feb 20, 2012 8:00:56 GMT -5
I haven't. Will have to do that, now. Have to admit that I've only been watching the episodes and interviews. That's what I did also. Watched the series and interviews and then went back with the commentary. I really enjoy the commentary though. There is a great vibe between the various writers. I wish they had done commentary on every episode! |
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Post by Terry Kinane on Feb 20, 2012 8:55:15 GMT -5
I really must get the DVD. I haven't watched an episode for more than ten years. |
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Post by ibindere on Feb 20, 2012 11:25:47 GMT -5
I really must get the DVD. I haven't watched an episode for more than ten years. hi terry, and a belated happy new year to you ! :-) it would be great if you did get the boxset and watch all the episodes in sequence, because i feel sure it would lead to a whole bunch of new postings from you on this forum, and that would be a treat for us lot!! |
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Post by jrichard88 on Feb 20, 2012 15:25:29 GMT -5
I say we pool our resources and buy Terry the complete series on DVD |
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Post by Terry Kinane on Feb 21, 2012 13:30:56 GMT -5
I'll definitely buy the DVD. It would be interesting to watch the series again after all these years. I've been in touch with, Nick, Vic and Chris. They all seem well. |
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Post by aspadistra on Feb 26, 2012 5:37:25 GMT -5
That's good to hear.
Have just watched the final episode. Their acting is so good: they make it seem effortless.
I wonder whether directing the final episode was particularly stressful? I'm thinking of the fact that there must have been awareness of the final ep as a legacy.
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Post by Terry Kinane on Feb 27, 2012 6:23:48 GMT -5
To be honest, because we had known for some time that we were making the final series, the last ep was a little sad, but everyone in the tv/film business is used to moving on to new projects. I would have ended the series differently though. My last shot would have been with a sad Ron in the present missing his friend Gary. As Ron leans on the fence at the back of the shop, he starts to disappear into it. |
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Post by brainwobbler on Feb 27, 2012 16:56:06 GMT -5
To be honest, because we had known for some time that we were making the final series, the last ep was a little sad, but everyone in the tv/film business is used to moving on to new projects.I would have ended the series differently though. My last shot would have been with a sad Ron in the present missing his friend Gary. As Ron leans on the fence at the back of the shop, he starts to disappear into it. I can imagine it was very sad but also would I be right in thinking it's got to be the most difficult thing to come up with a way to end a brilliant series??, I've known so many and this is usually the hurdle that they all fall down on, I think the award winner for the all time worst ending to a classic show was the USA's TimeTunnel, it was one of the most brilliant of them all during it's run but they messed up the ending really badly, anyone who's seen it will know what I mean, I heard it was partly due to a budget problem. |
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Post by aspadistra on Mar 4, 2012 18:56:14 GMT -5
To be honest, because we had known for some time that we were making the final series, the last ep was a little sad, but everyone in the tv/film business is used to moving on to new projects. I would have ended the series differently though. My last shot would have been with a sad Ron in the present missing his friend Gary. As Ron leans on the fence at the back of the shop, he starts to disappear into it. I would have liked this. I have to admit that I expected more closure - a bittersweet ending where the audience (through Ron) finds that Gary and Phoebe had a long and happy life together. |
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Post by kellimarie on Mar 14, 2012 18:12:22 GMT -5
An escape from boring reality, and the only thing I watched when I lost my partner to a stroke in Feb 2010. Thanks to everyone who worked hard to bring GNS to our screens. The best TV show ever, even if it did have a few boring and irratating episodes but only a few. No show is 100%
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