"As Time Goes By" (1992) TV series 1992-2005

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Release Date:

12 January 1992 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Lionel and Jean were lovers many years ago at the time of the Korean War. They are separated by a misunderstanding...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Secretary | Housekeeper | Writer | Paint

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 14	8:30 PM	PBS
Sat. Nov. 21	8:30 PM	PBS

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Jean / ... (67 episodes, 1992-2005)
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Lionel / ... (67 episodes, 1992-2005)
Moira Brooker	...	Judith / ... (62 episodes, 1992-2005)
Philip Bretherton	...	Alistair / ... (59 episodes, 1992-2005)
Jenny Funnell	...	Sandy (58 episodes, 1992-2005)

Runtime:

30 min (64 episodes) | UK:60 min (1 episode) | UK:45 min (1 episode) | UK:50 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:G (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | USA:TV-PG

Company:

D.L. Taffner

Trivia:

The programme was originally titled "Winter with flowers", but when a cake bearing the title was presented at the filming of the first episode, the cast and crew refused to eat any cake unless the name of the series was changed.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In Season 3 Episode 2, Lionel is telling Rocky a joke about a parrot with no feet. ("So the parrot said, 'No, I didn't see a thing. I got so excited I fell off my perch.'") Rocky replies, "I understand the joke, I just don't think it's funny. In Season 9 Episode 3, Rocky tells the same joke to Mrs. Bale, laughs, and admits, "It's a very good joke, that!" (Note: "Season 5 Episode 6 has Lionel telling the joke to Steven, who doesn't get it.)

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Rocky Hardcastle: Rock on!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Funny Ladies of British Comedy (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

As Time Goes By

Wonderful series about late romance & middle class life

I first caught this program on Maryland Public TV in the afternoon years ago. It reminded me so much of my own parents, and sometimes my life. Jean & Lionel are a wonderful old, married pair facing the usual tribulations of being old in years but young at heart. And though I've watched all the episodes dozens and dozens of times, I still enjoy them today.

My only complaint is with the ill-fated season 8. Some episodes just don't make much sense. Lionel selling the Country House conflicts with his decisions in Season 5 to keep it as is and protect the village from "high flyers". Also the Alistair/Sandy romance conflicts with her stated non-attraction in the previous 7 seasons. The viewer thinks the writer lost touch with his own characters in that season.

But season 9 redeems our favorite family and finally gives everyone a happy ending. (Though I do wonder who was left to run Type For You when the girls left for their happy endings.) One hopes in the fictional world, Jean & Lionel have taken up the ways of their older counterparts (Rocy & Madge) and traveled the world. A visit to Sandy & Harry in Canada, perhaps a trip to Hawaii with Judy & Alistair. Even some Mongolian trekking with Mr. & Mrs. Hardcastle the Senior. Then back to the Holland Park homestead for Christmastide with the grandchildren, with a weekender in Hampshire for Mrs. Bale's Christmas Party.

While the world has lost the great Joan Simms (Madge), her spirit and enthusiasm for life are captured in this series. May everyone share Madge & Rocky's motto at 70-80 Plus... "Rock on!"