"Slinger's Day" (1986) TV series

Writers:

Brian Cooke (writer)
Vince Powell (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

3 September 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Cast

Bruce Forsyth	...	Cecil Slinger (11 episodes, 1986-1987)
Liz Crowther	...	Sylvia (5 episodes, 1986)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Thames Television

Movie Connections:

Follows "Tripper's Day" (1984)

It's nice to see you, to see you nice in sitcom Bruce

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The sad death of Leonard Rossiter bought the end to the dire sitcom 'Tripper's Day' but two years later it returned as 'Slinger's Day' with Bruce Forsyth in his only sitcom role playing Cecil Slinger.

So Cecil Slinger was now in charge of the super-market of the most appalling staff. Shop manager Mr Christian was still there, as was Sylvia, Higgins, Dottie and Hardie (interestingly Laurel had gone- obviously bored of that Laurel and Hardy joke). Alf the security guard had gone but was replaced by Fred.

Though better than 'Tripper's Day' it still wasn't too good, but was mediocre. It's strange really as Leonard Rossiter was a much better comedy actor than Bruce Forsyth (taking nothing away from Bruce, he is a legend also), but I think the sitcom really did benefit Bruce more, as it was more daft and Bruce is brilliant at daft comedy, where-as Rossiter is better as clever comedy, as he so brilliantly proved in 'Rising Damp' and 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' Also, the great Irish actor David Kelly was a welcome new character, he had appeared as the man with one arm in 'Robin's Nest' and of course 'Fawlty Towers' may remember him as O'Riley, the awful builder. This lasted for two series, but creator Brian Cook only wrote two episodes, with six of them being written by Vince Powell and one episode was even written by the brilliant David Renwick, who wrote that superb sitcom 'One Foot in the Grave' Though some better laughs to be found, Cecil being the funniest and some better situations compared to 'Tripper's Day' there was still too much charmless corn, with the staff being too annoying to be funny.

Best Episode: Series 1 episode 1: The New Manager, as it's the only one I've seen.