Thursday 13 October 2016
515 Behind the Scenes with ...
First viewed : 10 September 1981
This was a ten part documentary series going "backstage" with various creative people. I only watched the first episode because its subject was Pamela Stephenson.
It was clear from the word go that Pamela was preparing for a solo career so the programme increased fears that Not The Nine O Clock News was no more. It also gave clues as to why Pamela ultimately failed to become a top comedienne outside of the team. For one thing she was trying to be too many things at once , dancer, author, actress and singer. For another, she made some lousy choices when looking for collaborators. As you can see from the picture she's throwing shapes with ex-Shock duo Tik and Tok who were only headed for the dumper. For her musical debut she called on Richard Burgess and John Walters from briefly popular jazz-rockers, Landscape, after appearing in the video for their second ( and last ) hit "Norman Bates". The EP she made with them, "Unusual Treatment", died a horrible death when released at the beginning of 1982. The programme included her performing the track "Music Bitch Weekly".
Of course Pamela bounced back in various guises but the programme was an interesting look at someone taking a wrong turn at the height of their fame.
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