| The Professionals (1977 – 1983) | |
|
|
|
| It all looked so good on paper. Two hard as nails cops, more kit than you can imagine; over the top car chases and nod and wink references to female interests, but the Professionals simply did not work. In fact no, worse still, it was bloody awful. | |
|
|
|
| Hyped as ‘Britain’s Answer to Starsky and Hutch’, the marketing men got this one well wide of the mark with the only similarity being Bodie and Doyle (played by Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw)’s annoying ‘buddy' relationship. Even their world-weary (read extremely annoying) boss Cowley, played by the late Gordon Jackson, only heightens the viewer’s state of frustrated despair. These guys were camp to the extreme, offest by the geography/PE teacher garb. Cool, tough or witty cops they were not. | |
|
|
|
| So what were the plus points? In a nutshell – kit. If you can grit your teeth and sit through a whole episode, and adopt a vehicular viewpoint, you will not be disappointed. All the usual suspects make an appearance: MkI and II Escorts, various 1970’s Renaults and Fiats and the usual peppering of Leyland’s finest. Plus plenty of commercial vehicles in familiar but long forgotten livery. | |
|
|
|
| The choice of cars that the Professionals themselves drive cannot be faulted. In early episodes Doyle has the pleasure of driving a Triumph TR7, Bodie a Triumph Dolomite Sprint and Cowley’s chosen wheels are a Princess (which was quickly replaced by a Rover SD1). By the second series Fords are order of the day – an Escort RS2000, Capri and Granada being driven by Bodie, Doyle and Cowley respectively. | |
|
|
|
| Probably the best way of getting through an episode of The Professionals is to watch it with the volume muted whilst fast-forwarding to the numerous street scenes.
Television for mindless idiots.
If you wish to make further suggestions...
Get in touch: info@autoshite.com | |
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)