Still have that book . . . . & the Young Ones . . . . & the Spitting Image . . . . & the Not . . . The Nine O'clock News. My teenage Christmas presents were much appreciated
The ever Amazing trio Dawn, Jen and Ruby. Why didn't Ruby push that book in front of that interviewer's face, she was so stuck up and totally lacking in humour,I truly doubt she had ever seen Girls on top The idea behind Girls on top was that women could create an alternative comedy show, where they could practically express themselves in a way as risqué as any male based comedy at the time. Until Dawn, Jennifer and Ruby women had to fit a format in the comedy stakes, they had to stick to scripts mainly written or edited by men Then came this different take on everything from a female perspective fighting back at the masochistic perspective at the time, in my opinion, Girls on top was mainly childish humour but it was also honest humour, it never lied to you it gave you the situation as it was for women back in the mid eighties you had a sort of voice but compared to today, God did you have to make yourself hoarse in order to be heard. I was nine going on ten when Girls on top started and I remember the constant struggle my friends older sister's had against the sexist attitudes at the time, with women always being seen as some type of Barbie doll, especially if they were pretty, men at the time expected them to have candy floss for brains, no matter how educated they actually were or even if they had a very high IQ,they didn't even show respect for anything else some of these women had achieved in life ie if they were ever entrepreneurs , really pathetic Dynasty and the Colbys may have introduced power dressing to eighties women, but on reflection, at 42 I see that the female characters, especially Alexis, were just another truck load of painted Barbie dolls . There are some extremely funny episodes in Girls on top especially the one where Jennifer is kidnapped from a club for ransome by Robbie Coltrane whilst she was out dancing with the fabulous Tracey Ullman. Joan Greenwood did a tremendous job like the grand dame she was as the girls landlady.. In addition it introduced some other amazing talented actors Alan Rickman, Hugh Laurie, Robbie Coltrane, Helen Lederer to name but a few..
I think you may be seeing the show through some nostalgic eyes. ;) It was unquestionably progressive in the boundaries it pushed, no doubt, but it was an abysmally unfunny show. Even Jen & Dawn now refer to it as absolute rubbish and a horrible creative mistake. I recently rewatched it and they're right - it's *terrible*.
@@beatnickblanket Nope it was similar to Men Behaving Badly Admittedly they have done better stuff since, however what I said still holds true we were brainwashed by shows like Dynasty and the Colbys whilst growing up as nine or ten year old girls and all their female characters personified were rich Barbie dolls period, too think that is what society wanted young girls to aspire to. I really couldn't give a toss how Jen or Dawn saw it on reflection , that is their business In my opinion it is funny in parts no nostalgia here and anyway who could forget the great Joan Greenwood RIP one of our greatest actors of stage and screen.
P.S.: check their shoes - the heels I mean. No freedom there, for all four of them, whatever they "stand" for. Before you jump to conclusions: I know what those shoes feel like, and what they do to your feet. Still own and wear "ladies" shoes, but prefer to walk closer to the ground on shoes that fit me. Best wishes from Coco
I would love to have been a fly on the wall while they were together writing the book every interviewer asks about how hard it is to be a woman in the business
Armstrong didn't lay into them with the verbal aggression some interviewers nowadays get by on by lack of manners, imagination, brains and respect. There was room for all four of them, me thinks. Coco
It's strange how far away this world is. Words like "gusset" were considered kinda raunchy. Today there's not a word or idea that gets nixed before airing. It reminds me of the audio commentary for the Seinfeld episodes. The episode about the contest to see who could go without masturbating, they talk about the fact that they couldn't say the word, or gesture, or the words having to do with orgasms, today it's actually a very tame episode!
Wow, that Pamela is one dour, unexciting sack of organs. Well time had the last laugh I guess, those three funny ladies are still going strong and I'd never ever heard of this Pamela harpy before this clip.
Must be from 1985 which was when Girls On Top was first shown that autumn on ITV.
I sensed a lot of sarcasm and shade in this interview.
I remember watching Girls On Top with my parents. Was funny.
Still have that book . . . . & the Young Ones . . . . & the Spitting Image . . . . & the Not . . . The Nine O'clock News. My teenage Christmas presents were much appreciated
these 80's looks from my gals are soooo epic god damn the 80's were extra
I love Frenches hair. Thus has to be the 1980s. Love Saunders clothes and personality.
THERE WAS A GIRLS ON TOP BOOK!?!?!? I had no idea - I need this!!
DistantCousin there was also a Young Ones book- contemporaneous
can't wait for Ruby's new programme, she is so funny
"I think we can safely say that Ruby's voice is generally the loudest..."
We want that book!
GIRLS ON TOP needs an upgraded video release.
The ever Amazing trio Dawn, Jen and Ruby.
Why didn't Ruby push that book in front of that interviewer's face, she was so stuck up and totally lacking in humour,I truly doubt she had ever seen Girls on top
The idea behind Girls on top was that women could create an alternative comedy show, where they could practically express themselves in a way as risqué as any male based comedy at the time.
Until Dawn, Jennifer and Ruby women had to fit a format in the comedy stakes, they had to stick to scripts mainly written or edited by men
Then came this different take on everything from a female perspective fighting back at the masochistic perspective at the time, in my opinion, Girls on top was mainly childish humour but it was also honest humour, it never lied to you it gave you the situation as it was for women back in the mid eighties you had a sort of voice but compared to today, God did you have to make yourself hoarse in order to be heard.
I was nine going on ten when Girls on top started and I remember the constant struggle my friends older sister's had against the sexist attitudes at the time, with women always being seen as some type of Barbie doll, especially if they were pretty, men at the time expected them to have candy floss for brains, no matter how educated they actually were or even if they had a very high IQ,they didn't even show respect for anything else some of these women had achieved in life ie if they were ever entrepreneurs , really pathetic
Dynasty and the Colbys may have introduced power dressing to eighties women, but on reflection, at 42 I see that the female characters, especially Alexis, were just another truck load of painted Barbie dolls .
There are some extremely funny episodes in Girls on top
especially the one where Jennifer is kidnapped from a club for ransome by Robbie Coltrane whilst she was out dancing with the fabulous Tracey Ullman.
Joan Greenwood did a tremendous job like the grand dame she was as the girls landlady..
In addition it introduced some other amazing talented actors Alan Rickman, Hugh Laurie, Robbie Coltrane, Helen Lederer to name but a few..
I think you may be seeing the show through some nostalgic eyes. ;) It was unquestionably progressive in the boundaries it pushed, no doubt, but it was an abysmally unfunny show. Even Jen & Dawn now refer to it as absolute rubbish and a horrible creative mistake. I recently rewatched it and they're right - it's *terrible*.
@@beatnickblanket Nope it was similar to Men Behaving Badly
Admittedly they have done better stuff since, however what I said still holds true we were brainwashed by shows like Dynasty and the Colbys whilst growing up as nine or ten year old girls and all their female characters personified were rich Barbie dolls period, too think that is what society wanted young girls to aspire to.
I really couldn't give a toss how Jen or Dawn saw it on reflection , that is their business
In my opinion it is funny in parts no nostalgia here and anyway who could forget the great Joan Greenwood RIP one of our greatest actors of stage and screen.
And Katherine Helmond (Soap ; Who's the Boss) guest-starred as Ruby's mom.
Yep! Just ordered it... 1p on Amazon!
Wow! Cool clip. Thanx for posting.
Love GOT, thanks for the video. God the 80's is a horror (I was there) the grey prison set, and flat presentation - never again!
“Your ✌🏽sitcom✌🏽 .”
The passive aggression is flying in all directions here!
OMG I love this!!
thank you!
that was fantastic!
great set design and props
This is brilliant ❤
Dawn looked a bit like Alison Moyet with that hairdo
That's the first thing I thought too 🙂
P.S.: check their shoes - the heels I mean.
No freedom there, for all four of them, whatever they "stand" for.
Before you jump to conclusions:
I know what those shoes feel like, and what they do to your feet.
Still own and wear "ladies" shoes, but prefer to walk closer to the ground on shoes that fit me.
Best wishes from Coco
I would love to have been a fly on the wall while they were together writing the book every interviewer asks about how hard it is to be a woman in the business
I WANT THAT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Ahh the girls back in the 80s, classic stuff! =D All that was missing was Tracey Ullman! That interviewer so didn't have a sense of humour though lol.
Interviewer is basically impersonating Parkinson, probably thought that was how to do the job.
I want Dawn's hair without the blonde SO BADLY.
Isn't it fabulous?!
Armstrong didn't lay into them with the verbal aggression some interviewers nowadays get by on by lack of manners, imagination, brains and respect.
There was room for all four of them, me thinks.
Coco
Dawn actually does look like Victoria Beckham.
It's strange how far away this world is. Words like "gusset" were considered kinda raunchy. Today there's not a word or idea that gets nixed before airing. It reminds me of the audio commentary for the Seinfeld episodes. The episode about the contest to see who could go without masturbating, they talk about the fact that they couldn't say the word, or gesture, or the words having to do with orgasms, today it's actually a very tame episode!
Wow, that Pamela is one dour, unexciting sack of organs. Well time had the last laugh I guess, those three funny ladies are still going strong and I'd never ever heard of this Pamela harpy before this clip.
... but she showed respect, if I'm not mistaken.
;)
Coco
no way the blond is what makes it!
Indeed ;)
is ruby american? i just noticed her accent isn't british at all
She born and raised in America. Her parents were terrible so she ran away.
I want to be Jen!
Oh yeah, for sure..she just needs to loosen up her funny bone a bit hehe.
the presenter was a snatch, fer sher
Ruby reminds me of jennifer rush back in the day.