AXED... - Teachers (2001) Discussion

[–] Imtheonlygayinthisvillage 19 years ago

awwww if that's true then i'm sad :-( i loved the forth series myself actually i thought series 1, 2 and 3 were kind of boreing xxxxxxx

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[–] psi_fla 19 years ago

If that's the case, mate, then you are very much in the minority. Series 1 to 3 contained all that was great about Teachers.

Unless, of course, you are being sarcastic...

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[–] Imtheonlygayinthisvillage 19 years ago

1 to 3 is about as funny as a dose of the pox. At least the third series was off beat and stupid.I enjoy being a in a minority 'mate' at least we like fresh material not endlessly recycled "Cold Feet oh aren't we naughty and still young cos we drink and smoke and say the words *beep* and tw@t even though we dont need to"!!! And no i'm not being sarcastic

Dicky Snapples - the dwarf who hides apples xxxxxx

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[–] psi_fla 19 years ago

No offence, but Series 4 had just as much drinking, swearing and smoking.

Series 1 to 3 had a better cast and more interesting characters. The only thing that was better in Series 4 was the soundtrack.

Also, by Series 4, all subtlety and realism the series ever had had flown straight out the window. And come on, are you telling me that Bob breaking down in front of Lindsay, or Ping leaving Bob, was as effective a moment as...

- Simon splitting with Maggie in Series 1
- Simon's departure in Series 2
- Simon's hilarious return in Series 3
- Brian messing it up with Eileen
- Kurt admitting why he hadn't "done it" with Carol - priceless.
- Penny's revenge on Matt

I could go on and on.

Case closed.

PS I don't watch Cold Feet.

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[–] Imtheonlygayinthisvillage 19 years ago

The fact that it had no subtlety and realism is what made series 4 so funny. ping leaving bob was a dam site more funny than all of those.
I dont watch cold feet ethier cos it's sh*t that's my point.
Dicky snapples - the dwarf who hides apples

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[–] psi_fla 19 years ago

That was the problem! If it had been very funny, I would have excused the lack of subtlety et al. But it wasn't that funny at all. One episode was remotely memorable (Episode 7, involving Damien and Anna). As for Ping, well, ok, she had her moments. I loved it when she'd go round the school asking "Where Bob?", even though that could be misread as stereotyping Thai brides.

There's another problem. I'm all for TV shows taking no prisoners - that's what drew me to Teachers in the first place. But Series 4 went too far as far as its irreverence was concerned, to the point of being borderline offensive. Example: That episode where Penny was a racist. Too far-out and a complete waste of time, with a plotline that's been done much better in Father Ted.

A show like The Office didn't earn its reputation for just being a "comedy". I thought Teachers was supposed to be a comedy/drama, not a comedy full stop?

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[–] Imtheonlygayinthisvillage 19 years ago

Hmmmmmmmmm u make a good point apart from being uptight about it's non PC content but it aint to evry1's taste i guess. i still think 1,2 and 3 are sh*te though

Dicky Snapples the dwarf who hides apples

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[–] psi_fla 19 years ago

It's official...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2005040930,00.html

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[–] Imtheonlygayinthisvillage 19 years ago

awww big fat hairy bollocks!!!!!!! god i'll just have to watch acording to bex when i want a laugh. Obviously i'm being sarcastic xxxxxxxxxxx
Dicky Snapples - the dwarf who hides apples

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[–] mrsmcfly 19 years ago

No matter if you hated the fourth season or loved it - this really bites. I mean, there was still a chance of it getting better anyway.

Mathilda, don't you ever do that again or I'll break your head, you got that?

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] martin_billany_1987 19 years ago

I feel the show has been getting worse since Simon left.
Lindsey filled the gap he left, and I feel that she, Brianand Kurt carried the third series, but I'm not sure Teachers really functions well without the original cast.

And did that bug anyone else?
Teachers disappearing without a trace!?
I don't recall any mentions of Susan, Jenny or J.P. since they departed, and didn't see enough of series 4 to hear anything about Brian or Kurt...

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] throwing_copper 19 years ago

I agree with that (although to be honest, I was glad when Simon left, because I disliked him and I felt it was more a "Simon the teacher" program rather than "Teachers" - the focus was too much on him). It would have been nice to see some consistency over the seasons - by the time you have warmed up to a character, they are already gone again. Season 4 didn't do anything for me, I was too disappointed to see Brian and Kurt go. They remain my favourite characters in the program.

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[–] speedqueen 19 years ago

Nooooooooo!

I just moved to the UK and watched every episode of season 4, and loved it!

I guess I can at least look forward to watching seasons 1 to 3 sometime.

But I was so in love with Ben, and he was only in season 4... :(

I wish they had got to do a proper series finale.

---
F#ck me gently with a chainsaw

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[–] concerned_local_resident 19 years ago

I thought the forth was okay - I wanted to still kill Penny but it was okay. But I am pleased it has in a way before he got really bad.

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[–] lady-eleanor 19 years ago

ok, it kinda sucked the way the characters in series 4 just seeemed to all hate each other, but ben was one of the best things that ever happened to that show, he was so sweet! The stories were still good, and i have to agree that it was better than series 1 and 2. Jenny and Susan were just so boooooooooooooring, Lindsay really brightened everything up.

"He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"

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[–] psi_fla 19 years ago

Jenny and Susan were also smarter and more attractive, and played (no offence to Vicky Hall, who is excellent) by marginally better actresses.

I'll also take this opportunity to clear up an issue brought up in a discussion earlier on this post.

I didn't just prefer Seasons 1 to 3 of Teachers over Season 4 because of the subtlety and realism (not that Teachers ever had too much subtlety, but still...), but also because the characters were MORE REAL. How many young people, teachers or students, identified with Simon, Susan or Jenny or shared the problems of Brian or Kurt? You couldn't make the same claim about any of the other characters. Lindsay and Matt were largely successful because of the skilled comic timing of the actors playing them.

I was once comparing Teachers to The Office...now there is no comparison. The Office had skilled comic actors playing real characters, and it never openly manipulated you - the kind of strengths Teachers showed before it lost its way.

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[–] auntyjesus 19 years ago

So disagree about series 4 - to me much much the best. Was so fed up with Brian and especially Kurt by end of series 3 so was relieved to get rid of them. Feel like those 3 new boys , especially Ben, really refreshed it - and i loved Bob's story. Subtlety and realism were never really part of the deal and frankly feel it's just stupid to compare it to the office - at any part in any series - it's a very different type of show. The office is about realism so real that it's excrutiating (whilst clearly still funny) - teachers is lighter, more joyful, more silly - and that to me came together best in series 4. I think it's a terrible terrible shame that it's not coming back - especially when the best channel 4 seems to have to offer in it's place is the dismal no angels - which is just teachers without the wit.

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