... Just as TMR has a totally different slant on it when viewed as an adult with the memory of watching it as a child, the all new Bill and Ben are back and just as delightfully daft as ever.
The narrator still has a comfortable, easy on the ear voice, and weed is still whiny. Strangely enough, ... Read review
Advantages: Amusing and Entertaining Disadvantages: no obvious ones
...a child, the all new Bill and Ben are back and just as delightfully daft as ever.
The narrator still has a comfortable, easy on the ear voice, and weed is still whiny. Strangely enough, even though the earlier B & B programmes were in black and white, I remember them as terracotta! They still prance around 'flobbalobbing' all over the place, with some rather interesting fellow garden-dwellers, who strangely enough seem to understand ... ...any useful new phrases from Bill and Ben, although the 'neighbours' are wonderfully well-spoken.
What I like about this type of programme for young children is that it teaches certain social skills. Problem-solving, how to get on with other people(/creatures), how important it is not to give up too easily to name but a few.
For adults? Well, I can only speak for myself of course, but I found the two main characters wonderfully ... more
This could be the kids programme that eclipses The Magic Roundabout for entertaining adults as much as children. Just as TMR has a totally different slant on it when viewed as an adult with the memory of watching it as a child, the all new Bill and Ben are back and just as delightfully daft as ever.
The narrator still has a comfortable, easy on the ear voice, and weed is still whiny. Strangely enough, even though the earlier B & B programmes were in black and white, I remember them as terracotta! They still prance around 'flobbalobbing' all over the place, with some rather interesting fellow garden-dwellers, who strangely enough seem to understand what B & B are flobbing on about.
As far as being instructive to children, obviously they are not necessarily going to learn any useful new phrases from Bill and Ben, although the 'neighbours' are wonderfully well-spoken.
What I like about this type of programme for young children is that it teaches certain social skills. Problem-solving, how to get on with other people(/creatures), how important it is not to give up too easily to name but a few.
For adults? Well, I can only speak for myself of course, but I found the two main characters wonderfully camp and went from being totally fed-up to having tears of laughter in my eyes within about five minutes.
I only came across this programme by accident, as I was not particularly interested in seeing it revamped. I am so glad I did see it, it has made my day and I shall be watching this whenever I can from now on!
Advantages: Slowcoach! Slowcoach! Slowcoach! Disadvantages: Bill and ben talk
Bill and Ben, Bill and Ben, sound familiar ? If so then the new series will be a combination of elation that their back and disappointment that their speech no longer resembles words. To be fair what they were saying was never that clear, but you always felt it made sense. Watching the new programs i quickly came to the conclusion that the flowerpot men were talking rubbish because someone had failed to see the subtlty behind their original voices. ... ...In one program he it bill and ben and shock them about. His dialogue is as witty as eyores and he is far and away the best character.
All in all this is a good show. If its not the original i'd say it was an improvement. ...
Telute 16.01.2001 (12.01.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bill and Ben
Advantages: kept to the original format Disadvantages: none
...young to remember the original Bill and Ben series, but I have seen clips of it, and I do think they have kept to the original format very well. Bill and Ben still talk in their Flob a Lobbish way rather than using proper words, but they do get their meaning across. The puppets are really good clay-like figures who move really well.
The episodes are set in a bright and cheerful garden that is appealing to young children. Little Weed is still as ... ...called Slowcoach the tortoise who is brilliant. I don't know if he was in the original show or not. He talks very slow and deliberately and seems to be the butt of some of the jokes. I think that this is a programme that young and not so young can enjoy together. ...
anjib 06.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bill and Ben
Advantages: Weirdest speech ever Disadvantages: Rooted in the past
Well, whatever next? The Flowerpot Men are back on our screens in glorious living colour, but they seem very different from their ancient black and white ancestors, now that was television. I personally think it's a BIG mistake to have brought these back, the original series had a shaky, cheap charm all of its own and the magic is forever vanquished by the updated prog. I must be getting old....
When I showed my kids the original they couldn't believe ... ...unbelievably naff it all was - well, I suppose it is when you're used to Dragonball Z and Robot Wars. The story of two puppets who live in a garden with a plant that keeps going "weeeeed..." does seem well weird in the cold light of day, perhaps you've been taking too much acid Daddy?
Well, what do they know. The Flowerpot Men were ace and the original is far better than this nasty piece of exploitation - I'll stick to my memories thank you very ...
dave27 20.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Bill and Ben
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It is aimed at children under the age of six and is a great way to take a break from looking after your wee ones and get on with other chores while they sit and watch programmes such as Teletubbies, The Tweenies, Bill and Ben, Story Maker and Angel Mouse.
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Advantages: Keeps the kids quiet Disadvantages: Apparently it rots the brain
And lo', God appeared to us and said 'I am not happy my children, I command you to watch Cbeebies and tell me the lessons that you have learned'
So I set to work....
The day was not going well at all, I was still poorly, my eldest had an in-service day, the childminder phoned up sick so I was left with the 3yr old as well. My peace was nigh well shattered.
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The good oldies are Andy Pandy, Noddy and Bill and Ben, but they've been tampered with, updated, now in 3d puppets? I'm still as scared as ever of Bill and Ben, Andy Pandy isn't the same without the strings, and they are thoroughly sanitised, every story is ...
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