I missed Press Gang when it was originally being broadcast, despite being the right age and watching a lot of kids TV. I watched the series for the first time recently with a group of friends, and am now hooked. Frankly, this is one of the best television series I have ever watched - and the "Kids TV" label be damned.
The writing works on many levels - farce, one-liners, situational comedy, tense drama, passionate emotions - without becoming trite or maudlin. It tackled Big Issues(tm), like solvent abuse, adultery and child abuse, but avoided clubbing its readers over the head with a ten-pound moral at the end of the show. And each episode packed into 25 minutes! In short, it treated its child (and adult!) viewers with the respect they deserved. And it pays off handsomely. The acting is superb, particularly the interplay between Spike and Lynda, the writing sparkles and the emotional punch of a few of the episodes is monumental. Press Gang even somehow manages to survive multiple viewings without losing anything.
Despite only having access to ropey third-generation copies (AFAIK, only the first series was ever put onto video - and that long out of print) Press Gang is one of my all-time favourite programs. Sure, it's supposed to be kids TV. And, sure, it's about young people. But (at the risk of sounding like a freak) this is some of the best television ever made. If you ever get the chance to see it, make sure you do. You'll be glad you did.
The writing works on many levels - farce, one-liners, situational comedy, tense drama, passionate emotions - without becoming trite or maudlin. It tackled Big Issues(tm), like solvent abuse, adultery and child abuse, but avoided clubbing its readers over the head with a ten-pound moral at the end of the show. And each episode packed into 25 minutes! In short, it treated its child (and adult!) viewers with the respect they deserved. And it pays off handsomely. The acting is superb, particularly the interplay between Spike and Lynda, the writing sparkles and the emotional punch of a few of the episodes is monumental. Press Gang even somehow manages to survive multiple viewings without losing anything.
Despite only having access to ropey third-generation copies (AFAIK, only the first series was ever put onto video - and that long out of print) Press Gang is one of my all-time favourite programs. Sure, it's supposed to be kids TV. And, sure, it's about young people. But (at the risk of sounding like a freak) this is some of the best television ever made. If you ever get the chance to see it, make sure you do. You'll be glad you did.