IMDb user comments for
"The Green Green Grass" (2005)

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15 comments in total

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11 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
The Only Fools And Horses Cash Cow Has Been Well Milked, 9 September 2005
Author: Tom from Norwich, Uk

For those who have BBC Three , they will be surprised to see Simon Day's "Grass" being well and truly ripped off by John Sullivan in this Only Fools and Horses spin off . In "Grass" Simon Day's character Billy Bleach "grassed" on a local London gangster and through the witness protection act was relocated to the sticks of Norfolk. The underrated six part comedy tackled the ideas of country meets city and a fish being out of a water. Replace Billy Bleach with Boycie and add Marlene and son Tyler and you have the plot for the "Green Green Grass" staring you in the face . The basic idea of the show is taking Sullivan's well loved east end (of London) humour from Only Fools And Horses and setting it in a completely different background , the opportunities for humour being how will a cockney con man interact with manure kicking yokels instead of the likes of his own ? Coming on BBC 1 on a Friday at 830 vastly limits and waters down the potential for border line humour and leaves the audience with the sort of harmless weak humour that has done "My Family" and "My Hero" no favours and also being an Only Fools And Horses spin off within the early moments the jokes feel very tired because we've had twenty years of it in Sullivan's first sit-com , for instance there is a scene at the beginning where Boycie finds that his satellite navigation system is not up to scratch and guess who sold it to him ?? This joke sets the tone for tired Only...jokes to be repeated again and again , I can imagine Boycie meeting country high society types in the next few episodes and making "hilarious" faux pas , which could be funny if Del Boy hadn't of done it for two decades of Only... . This show will ultimately fail because of the writer and because it is on 8.30 on BBC 1 , devoid and humour and ideas , the strings in your heart it will try to tug are better served by watching old episodes of Only on DVD.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Could be a hit with Only Fools veterans and newcomers, 12 September 2005
Author: Fried-Gold from Oxford, England

As a massive Only Fools and Horses fan, I began watching the first episode of John Sullivan's new sitcom with a certain degree of trepidation. My fear was that my fondness for OF&H would be ruined by a cheap, quickly knocked out spin-off featuring the classic comedy creations that are Boycie and Marlene. However, I was almost completely wrong. I think that a true Only Fools fan would find it impossible not to laugh at this fish-out-of-water caper, even if it is Boycie just doing almost exactly what he did in OF&H (slagging off Marlene, being tight, and just being quite nasty). Just this time it's got a new, nicer setting. Another of my worries was that Sullivan would just milk Only Fools for all its worth, by name dropping the entire population of Peckham. Wrong again, he didn't do this. Del-Boy was mentioned once or twice and there was a cameo from Paul Barber (Denzil), but apart from that there was no real mentions of any core Only Fools characters. For anyone walking around saying things such as "The Only Fools And Horses Cash Cow Has Been Well Milked" clearly hasn't got a clue what they're talking about. Although this comedy series isn't exactly a fresh concept, it is very entertaining indeed. To summarise, I think that the legend that is John Sullivan is on top form, and the rest of the series should hopefully be a joy to watch.

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6 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
So far so good..., 12 September 2005
Author: Awais (awaisyboy@hotmail.com) from England

I am also a OF&H fan.I was worried than show spin offs like this won't work. Like the Friends spin off Joey...which honestly made feel sleepy. After watching the first episode I am eagerly waiting for the next one, where we will meet rest of the new characters. The characters of Boycie and Marlene work great together so it would make an interesting show based around their family life. The show is set in the present as their son is now teenager and will be interesting how his character develops. They moved to Shropshire out in the sticks and it would be interesting if they evolve or still have the London banter going on. But,John Sullivan has made a good first humorous episode and long it may continue be that way.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Decent enough but will never EVER match the quality and laughter Only Fools And Horses brought to our screens!, 12 December 2007

Author: Aaron Hassard from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Okay, this show is alright, funny in bits, story's are abit stupid sometimes (Farm Idol? what next) but overall a decent show, but it will never match the quality of Only Fools And Horses has (To Hull And Back, Strangers On The Shore, quality episodes), but i wonder if T.G.G.G will do 60,90 minute Christmas specials O.F.A.H had in the past.

I'm hoping to get Series 1 on DVD for Christmas this year and am looking forward to seeing the pilot episode (never seen it before) in which Boycie And Marline sneak of to the country away from the Driscoll Brothers!

I would recommend this show to fans of OFAH or people just interested in comedy!

7/10

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3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Mildly amusing, but certainly nothing more, 15 October 2005
Author: davideo-2 from Birmingham,England

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

When the testimony of Boycie (John Challis) nearly sends the Driscoll Brothers, two of Peckham's most notorious gangsters, down before the case collapses due to a technicality, him, his infamous wife Marlene (Sue Holderness) and their teenage son Tyler are forced to relocate to the Staffordshire countryside, where their big city ways create a 'hilarious' culture clash with the stuck in their ways locals.

This long-awaited spin off of the hugely successful (and rightfully so) BBC comedy series Only Fools and Horses finally came to the end of it's series last night. But I missed it, along with the last two episodes before it. Which should be an indication of, despite how eagerly I awaited it, intently missable I ended up finding it.

I had this strong suspicion it would all fall flat on it's face before I even saw it and I'm sure there were those whose knives were sharpening straight away who wanted it to fail. But, sadly, to a large degree, this is what's happened.

Being as huge as OFAH was, a spin-off show was always going to happen one day. And, short of Del and Rodney being the two leading stars and basically just starting another series again, Boycie ('heh heh heh heh heh heh heh') and Maaar-lene were probably the best characters to choose (although the writer showed a bit of indecision by having Denzil make a guest appearance in the first episode!) But whichever way you look at it, it's a series that's simply clutching at straws and the desperation cracks are apparent from the off-set, even with John Sullivan back as the writer (more money in the bank.)

The main problem is simply that it's rarely ever funny. There were only one or two moments that raised a mild chuckle, and I can't even remember the jokes. Challis and Holderness desperately try to re-ignite the chemistry they once shared, but the dead script simply kills any chance of it. The show appears very cheap and slapped together in light of it's source of inspiration, most apparent in the opening and closing credits, with some clunky production values to match it. The only other redeeming feature is Sullivan singing the opening theme again in true OFAH vein.

You knew it was desperate to begin with, and that it would never match the quality of where it came from. And, sadly, here what you see is what you get. **

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2 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Too dry!, 15 March 2006
Author: Simon Rodgers from Birmingham, United Kingdom

I have seen other comments and I agree that this show was quite bad and unfunny, however it was interesting I guess because if it wasn't made, we would not have been able to prove how a spin off from a very popular show would have turned out like.

Now that we have the answer to this enigma, hopefully the BBC and John Sullivan will now put it to rest (hopefully after a good ending). Don't take it to heart John, but I'm sure even YOU would have trouble topping a classic like Only Fools and Horses!

I personally think that the Boyces were good characters to start with in Only Fools and Horses, but only as supporting roles. casting them as main characters just did not work. I was expecting the Trotters to maybe make a cameo appearance, but it never happened.

If you want to make a good spin off, why not use Trigger? He was probably the most funny supporting character. While in Only Fools and Horses, nearly everything he came out with was funny, so why not give him a go?

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0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
One minute I love it, the other minute I hate it, 30 December 2007

Author: Jack Massey from Manchester

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I have very mixed feelings about this 'Only Fools and Horses' spin-off. One minute I think it is really good, the next I think to myself this is awful.

Boycie's life is at risk by the Driscoll Brothers. So for his, Marlene's and Tyler's safety, they sell up and buy a farm in the countryside. Working on the farm are many 'Ooh Aah' stereotypical farmers.

There are three shows I compare this sitcom to. Firstly, the obvious, the one everyone compares it to 'Only Fools and Horses' Obviously, Horses is ten times the show this is. Boycie and Marlene were funnier around the Trotters. Then I compare it to 'Two in Clover' This is a sadly forgotten 1969 sitcom, where Sid James and Victor Spinetti leave the city and buy a farm in the country. But this show was full of great scripts and very funny situations and again ten times funnier than this. I regard 'Clover' as one of the funniest British sitcoms ever and would strongly recommend anyone to buy the DVD of the complete series. Then I compare it to 'The Vicar of Dibley'. Larger than life country type in brilliant conversations. But Frank, Owen, Jim, David and Hugo are ten times funnier than Brian, Elgin, Jed and Mrs Cakeworthy. Obviously though, there are bound to be funny moments in episodes, what with Boycie's laugh and John Sullivan's scripts (he only writes a few episodes now though, other writers contribute including his son Jim). The best thing about the show: The theme tune. Brilliant, written and sung by the great John Sullivan himself. It's not the only brilliant theme tune he's written- just look at 'Citizen Smith' and 'Only Fools and Horses' Best Episode: But is it Art? Series 3 episode 1.

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1 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
I disagree. This is brilliant, 28 October 2007

Author: simon3818 from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I disagree with any bad comments about this sitcom. It is genius. OK, i will admit, i was expecting it to fall on its face after the pilot but it didn't. For those who don't know, this is a spin off to Only Fools & Horses and has the Boyce's as them main characters. Taking into account they were really supporting characters in OFAH, in the early episodes you only saw Boyces once a series and Marlene came in in series 4 or 5, they have been expanded. They escape London to hide from the Driscolls (Londons answer to the Mafia and i doubt these two could spell "mafia") and now live in a farm with 3 locals as their staff. These 3 are brilliant and people saying they slag off people from the country are crazy. I don't think of country people like this - they are characters from a comedy!!!! Enjoy it!!! It keeps connection to OFAH with the mention of characters and events that happened, Denzil is in the pilot, Trigger and Uncle Albert are mentioned (the only Trotter). Del still gets in it as it was hinted Boyces bought the Sat Nav from him. It would be unfair though to bring the Trotters into this as Boyce, Marlene and Tyler (who you never saw in OFAH) have been made and are moulding to the lead role.

This is back on British BBC1 next Friday (Nov 2nd) for another series and i say more more more more please Mr Sullivan.

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1 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
It's alright!, 13 August 2006

Author: Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States

This show is not the funniest British comedy but it is certainly not one of the worst around. I actually laughed and look forward to it. The cast is good, the plot and setting make it interesting, and the characters need time to get developed but the actors who play them are quite worth watching. I like the husband and wife and son. The fact that Gareth Gwenlan who also produced Waiting For God produces this show gives me faith that it will get better. I don't know who Sullivan is. Yes, Only Fools and Horses, was a classic British comedy but it doesn't just happen. A good comedy takes time and work to nourish it along the way. It's not perfect but it's not rubbish neither, it's worth watching and there are few good new British comedies that are around to enjoy and this one is a favorite of mine. I wish British comedies did have the season of American shows. A season in American can range from 14 on the cable stations to 26 on the networks. There are some shows who have less episodes than others but that's a whole other story of politics and money. I wish BBC and other British stations would nurture British comedies in the same manner that they nurture reality television shows which are just awful.

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2 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Lighten Up! Its A Comedy!, 3 November 2006

Author: ProfessorStahlman from United Kingdom

The curse of the 'spin-off' strikes again! Everyone has heard of 'M*A*S*H', but who remembers 'Trapper John'? Those who fondly remember 'Friends' don't feel as affectionate about 'Joey'. 'Going Straight' was funny, but no 'Porridge'. With 'The Green, Green Grass', John Sullivan has attempted to construct a semi-sequel to 'Only Fools & Horses', a show loved by millions. A colossal task, whichever way you look at it.

The premise is this; the Driscoll Brothers are out of jail, and after the man whose evidence put them away - Peckham car dealer Boycie. A terrified Boycie sells his business, and with wife Marlene and son Tyler, flees to the countryside to begin a new life as a gentlemen farmer. Its a 'fish out of water' show, an idea used before in countless comedies, such as 'Two In Clover', and the U.S. shows 'The Beverly Hillbillies' and 'Green Acres'.

'Grass' was never going to replicate the success of its parent show - and didn't. The first season was patchy at best, but the second, recently concluded on B.B.C.-1, is a definite improvement. Though new writers are credited, it still feels like Sullivan's baby. The supporting characters are stereotypes - the yokel farmhands, the idle housekeeper, the Welsh farmer - but that doesn't really matter. This is a comedy, for heaven's sake! You'll also find stereotypical country folk in 'Emmerdale', yet no-one seems particularly bothered about that! Whatever its faults, it has given this reviewer at least one good laugh a week, which is more than most modern B.B.C. comedies can do in a whole series.

I hope 'Grass' is allowed to continue - if only to save us from the dross that is 'The Mighty Boosh' and 'Little Britain'? Best place for them is Farmer Boyce's compost heap!

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