"Are You Being Served?" The Think Tank (TV Episode 1974) Poster

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9/10
How to Raise Sale Revenues?
theowinthrop29 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Business is bad at Grace Brothers, and Mr. Rumbold (Nicholas Smith) calls for a meeting of the staff to discuss ways of bringing business into the store. Besides the initial problem of getting the women's and men's wear department people in at some point, the meeting finds a depressing lack of ideas, except for one fairly sensible one: Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton) figures that a fashion show would certainly make people aware of the good and practical clothing sold at the store. In typical fashion Rumbold (who is usually befuddled and timid, except when throwing his own importance around) appropriates Peacock's idea only changing the title of the fashion show.

The episode's last ten minutes show an impatient Young Mr. Grace (Harold Bennett - he's impatient because he does not want to miss the Walt Disney cartoon at the movies, where he is going after work) watching a make-ship fashion show by the staff to get an idea of what the concept is. In typical fashion the costumes of the personnel mirror their personalities (Peacock dressed like a prosperous professional and strutting about; Mr. Humphreys - John Inman - flouncing around in an elegant but flamboyant outfit). In the end, Mr. Grace makes a sensible suggestion (for a change) that brings some discomfort to Mr. Rumbold.
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8/10
Modes on the move.
Sleepin_Dragon16 November 2019
Sales are down, and tempers are up, lots of irritation about rank and seniority. Captain Peacock's snipe about bowlers being worn by bailiffs and Private Detectives is so funny, the dynamic between Captain Peacock and Mr Rumbold was so interesting, Peacock believing he was higher socially, and should have been higher professionally too.

So much quality in these early episodes, the jokes and lines are all so fresh, the deliveries are excellent. There wasn't a single weak link, although you could see Inman being moved to the front. The fashion show is hilarious.

Mr Mash in future I would like you to wash the female dummies in a petticoat. Some of the lines are hilarious. The site of him cleaning the mannequin is so funny.

Excellent 8/10
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