'Mainly For Men', made by the B.B.C. in 1969, was not broadcast until 1992 when it went out as part of its 'T.V. Hell' theme night, a celebration of the very worst television. It was the unsuccessful pilot to a magazine programme aimed at ( yes, you guessed it ) men, chock full of features on subjects specifically designed to appeal to the hairy chested bloke who did not have to try too hard, such as motor cars, football, underwater cameras, and yes, sex ( 'Dick Stuart-Clark' of 'Doctor In The House' would have loved it! ).
There were specially shot sequences featuring nubile young woman gyrating to inane pop songs such as 'The Ideal Woman'. The presenter was Don Moss, a one-time disc jockey who rivalled Terry Wogan in the smarm stakes. He later fronted H.T.V. West game shows such as 'Try For Ten' and 'Three Little Words'. With his slicked-back hair and trendy suit, he was like one of Michael Palin's oily quiz masters from 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. George Best contributed an interview, as did David Bailey.
Looked at now it seems incredible it was ever made. Outrageously sexist from beginning to end, as well as condescendingly naff. Alison Graham, in one of her 'Radio Times' columns, cited 'Mainly' as being typical of the trite television of that era, and how lucky we are now not to have programmes of that calibre any more. Her statement would only have made sense if a) it actually had been broadcast in '69 and b) we did not have 'Top Gear' and 'Loose Women', the latter basically being 'Mainly' for girls. It does not surprise me in the slightest she thinks this became a series. She probably also thinks there were spin-offs such as 'Junior Mainly For Men' hosted by Len Jones ( the voice of 'Joe 90' ) and the one-season chat show 'Moss!', featuring guests George Lazenby and Mungo Jerry.
One person who must have been impressed by this was Arfon Haines Davies, an ex-continuity announcer for H.T.V. Wales turned producer. He gave us a late-night offering in the '90's entitled 'Mainly Men'. Can you guess what it was about?
There were specially shot sequences featuring nubile young woman gyrating to inane pop songs such as 'The Ideal Woman'. The presenter was Don Moss, a one-time disc jockey who rivalled Terry Wogan in the smarm stakes. He later fronted H.T.V. West game shows such as 'Try For Ten' and 'Three Little Words'. With his slicked-back hair and trendy suit, he was like one of Michael Palin's oily quiz masters from 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. George Best contributed an interview, as did David Bailey.
Looked at now it seems incredible it was ever made. Outrageously sexist from beginning to end, as well as condescendingly naff. Alison Graham, in one of her 'Radio Times' columns, cited 'Mainly' as being typical of the trite television of that era, and how lucky we are now not to have programmes of that calibre any more. Her statement would only have made sense if a) it actually had been broadcast in '69 and b) we did not have 'Top Gear' and 'Loose Women', the latter basically being 'Mainly' for girls. It does not surprise me in the slightest she thinks this became a series. She probably also thinks there were spin-offs such as 'Junior Mainly For Men' hosted by Len Jones ( the voice of 'Joe 90' ) and the one-season chat show 'Moss!', featuring guests George Lazenby and Mungo Jerry.
One person who must have been impressed by this was Arfon Haines Davies, an ex-continuity announcer for H.T.V. Wales turned producer. He gave us a late-night offering in the '90's entitled 'Mainly Men'. Can you guess what it was about?
