'Man About The House' started in 1973, and, two years later, was into its fourth season, now relocated to Thursday nights. Another new title sequence - Robin and the girls having a day out at a zoo ( the traffic warden is Bella Emberg ).
Football mad Robin and Chrissy have tickets to see Southampton play Arsenal, and borrow the Ropers' clapped out car. George has decided he wants to look ten years' younger, so buys a toupee from a mail-order catalogue. It looks, as you'd expect, ridiculous ( almost as convincing as the one William Shatner wore in the 'Star Trek' movies ). Everyone he meets bursts into laughter.
The car breaks down en route, and Robin is forced to push. They are suddenly surrounded by Hells Angels. Robin gives them a two-fingered salute as they pass by. Unfortunately, he is still there hours later, when the bikers return from the match, the worse for drink...
This was one of two 'House' instalments written solely by Brian Cooke. It is very good, though the 'toupee' idea has been done in other shows, most notably in 'Dad's Army' and 'On The Buses'. Roper's comments about colour television remind me of what my late father used to say whenever I asked him when he were going to upgrade - "They haven't perfected it yet!" - which meant he was unwilling to pay the extra money. The pub seen here is 'The White Swan', not 'The Mucky Duck' from earlier shows. Michael Redfearn, who spills beer over Roper's toupee, was the father in those Linda Bellingham 'Oxo' adverts. The leader of the Hells Angels is played by the late Hilary Minister, who was 'General Von Klinkerhoffen' in 'Allo, Allo'.
Funniest moment - Chrissy tells Robin to phone Roper to ask him how to fix the car's engine. He calls the pub, but it is a very bad line. "I'd like to speak to George Roper...rat-faced bloke...he's wearing a wig!". Only hearing half of this, the landlord ( John Carlin ) calls out across a crowded bar: "Is there a George Wig in here?".
Like the 'Men Of Letters' episode of 'Steptoe & Son', this features a Scrabble board that is full of very interesting ( obscene ) words.
Football mad Robin and Chrissy have tickets to see Southampton play Arsenal, and borrow the Ropers' clapped out car. George has decided he wants to look ten years' younger, so buys a toupee from a mail-order catalogue. It looks, as you'd expect, ridiculous ( almost as convincing as the one William Shatner wore in the 'Star Trek' movies ). Everyone he meets bursts into laughter.
The car breaks down en route, and Robin is forced to push. They are suddenly surrounded by Hells Angels. Robin gives them a two-fingered salute as they pass by. Unfortunately, he is still there hours later, when the bikers return from the match, the worse for drink...
This was one of two 'House' instalments written solely by Brian Cooke. It is very good, though the 'toupee' idea has been done in other shows, most notably in 'Dad's Army' and 'On The Buses'. Roper's comments about colour television remind me of what my late father used to say whenever I asked him when he were going to upgrade - "They haven't perfected it yet!" - which meant he was unwilling to pay the extra money. The pub seen here is 'The White Swan', not 'The Mucky Duck' from earlier shows. Michael Redfearn, who spills beer over Roper's toupee, was the father in those Linda Bellingham 'Oxo' adverts. The leader of the Hells Angels is played by the late Hilary Minister, who was 'General Von Klinkerhoffen' in 'Allo, Allo'.
Funniest moment - Chrissy tells Robin to phone Roper to ask him how to fix the car's engine. He calls the pub, but it is a very bad line. "I'd like to speak to George Roper...rat-faced bloke...he's wearing a wig!". Only hearing half of this, the landlord ( John Carlin ) calls out across a crowded bar: "Is there a George Wig in here?".
Like the 'Men Of Letters' episode of 'Steptoe & Son', this features a Scrabble board that is full of very interesting ( obscene ) words.
