Underplayed Gems

Chalk and Cheese (1977)

Chalk and Cheese poster
Genre
sitcom
Country
United Kingdom
Length
1 season, 6 episodes
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this series is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Two neighbors are total opposites. One is a loud and scruffy Cockney. The other is a polished marketing executive. Their clashing lifestyles lead to comedy.

lightheartedcomedicdatedbroadcontrastingmildly farcicalpredictable

What happens

Chalk and Cheese is a sitcom television show, featuring Michael Crawford and Robin Hawdon. The concept began life as an earlier one-off comedy in 1977 called Spasms, which was re-cast and remade as the first episode of the series. Only Hawdon remained in his part from the original one-off comedy, since Jonathan Pryce, playing the other character, was occupied elsewhere. Crawford starred as Dave Finn, a scruffy, sexist and outspoken Cockney who lives in an otherwise genteel, well-to-do street, much to the annoyance of his neighbours. Robin Hawdon played Roger Scott, Finn's adjoining neighbour, a high-flying marketing executive and very much the polar opposite of Finn. Also appearing were Gillian Martell as Finn's wife Rose, and Julia Goodman as Roger's wife Amanda. The series, made by Thames Television, came on the back of the success of Crawford playing Frank Spencer in the BBC's Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Crawford was eager not to be typecast and the character he played here was considerably different to that of Frank. However he claimed that audiences did not take to his character, and after an offer of another starring stage role, it was cancelled after only one series. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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This page is from Underplayed Gems. Not quite it? You can browse by genre, country and year, or take this one into the 3D catalogue and ask the Catbot for something closer.