Stanley Baxter on Television (1979 TV Movie) User Reviews

Baxter on the box

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 18 August 2023]

The Annan Report was a government white paper into the future of British broadcasting.. Stanley Baxter had been off the air for three years when he returned with this show, a light hearted version of the report composed entirely of spoofs of television shows of the period. These included 'The Muppet Show' with Baxter playing 'Miss Piggy' and Lord Lew Grade, head of ATV. 'Botanic Man' gave Baxter the chance to impersonate the late, bearded scientist Dr. David Bellamy ("not long ago, filming in the mangrove swamps, some stupid reptile came across clearer than what I did. What's more, he got his own show!" ). There was a 'Mastermind' sketch with Baxter as Magnus Magnusson and a timid contestant called Ronnie Purviss answering questions on slezy tabloid newspaper headlines. Best of all was Sir John Gielgud And The Generation Game, in which the distinguished British actor found himself hosting a show in which contestants had to scoop up porridge and move it around the studio. 'The Channing Report' had Baxter as Carol Channing. 'The George Burns Show' showcased some glitzy musical numbers inspired by Busby Berkeley, and Liberace's piano catching fire in the middle of a number. Loved the Waltzing Waters! The 'Probe' item gave Stanley a chance to do several impressions, including Arthur Askey and Kenneth Williams. None of this of course would be likely to amuse modern audiences weaned on 'Little Britain' and 'The Mighty Boosh', but who cares? Baxter was a genius and his shows will reward anyone who watch them with an open mind. Baxter is not alone in criticising Rikki Fulton. The late actor/comedian was a bitter, unpleasant man who was unpopular with writers and producers. A young male dancer had to leave a pantomime because of sexual harassment. Baxter was right to make this public.

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[Rabical-91 · 1/10 · 6 September 2023]

I should respectfully point out that no one is hating Baxter for coming out as gay in his autobiography ( even though people already knew. Aside from that, I couldn't care less if he was gay, straight or bisexual ), nor is he being punished for telling the truth about himself. People are criticising more the fact that he is making unsubstantiated allegations on deceased people who are in no position to defend themselves, in particular the late ( and in my view far more talented ) Rikki Fulton. It's easy to say "Baxter did him a favour by keeping quiet on the subject until after his death!". What no one seems to question is why is he questioning Fulton's integrity at this stage? If the allegations were true, where was Baxter's desire to help those who were supposedly being pursued by Fulton at the time? Why wait until years after the person's death to speak up when no one is around to contest it? Casting aspersions on the dead is wrong and anyone who defends that sort of behaviour should be ashamed of themselves! It is also very ageist to assume that young audiences would not find Baxter funny because he is a product of 1970's. Plenty of young people ( myself included ) love the likes of Laurel & Hardy and The Marx Brothers who were on the scene long before Baxter. A case of 'tarring a group with the same brush'. 'On Television' was yet again more overlong sketches consisting of parodies, most notably 'Mastermind' and 'The Generation Game'. 'The Two Ronnies' later did a much funnier parody of the popular quiz show. Baxter did one more regular series for LWT in 1981 - 'The Stanley Baxter Series' - as well as one more special the following year before Baxter's LWT contract was cancelled due to his shows being too expensive to make.

I am aware that Rikki Fulton was not an easy person to work with ( he admitted that himself ) but I regard the allegations made against him to be nothing more than a nasty smear job. A bitter, unpleasant man? Total garbage! That description more fits Baxter. Baxter would have been right to make it public at the time if it were true but for him ( or anyone else ) to cast it up when nothing can be done about it is cheap, pointless and cowardly and if anyone is blind to that fact, I pity them! Are people so stupid as to not realise that by Baxter ( or indeed anyone else for that matter ) keeping quiet about it at the time, that makes him an accessory to the crime who allowed and condoned the behaviour? Something just does not add up there. I get the feeling Baxter is hiding something about himself and is passing the buck onto others to take the heat off himself! If you are defending Baxter's behaviour, you are every bit as bad as he is! For those who have not read his book, don't bother! It is nothing more than a tawdry collection of sordid, salacious tales and it paints Baxter out to be nothing more than a cowardly, backstabbing pervert!