On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:07:23 +0000, Bill Pragnell wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> It's kinda a mix of the radio version and the BBC TV version.  You get
>> the "dish of the day", for example, which appears in the TV version.
>> Personally, I prefer the Hagunennons to Hotblack Desiato
> 
> Agreed - the idea of disaster area was very funny, but I thought the
> hagunenons (far too many 'n's in that name) were better too.

:-)

>> was interesting to see David Prowse outside the Darth Vader outfit -
>> and to hear why Lucas had to use James Earl Jones to do the voice for
>> that character in the Star Wars films.
> 
> *grin* I reckon Prowse's broad west accent sound is about the least
> suitable voice for Vader I could possibly imagine!

Eddie Izzard in his routine where Darth Vader orders Penne Arrabiata. :-)

>> But Mark Wing-Davey nailed the role in the radio version and the TV
>> version.
> 
> Completely. "Hand me the rap-rod, plate captain!"

"Sheesh, you guys are so un-hip it's a wonder your bums don't fall off".

>> I expected Mos Def to do much better than he did.  His interpretation
>> was just flat, though.  I preferred Geoffrey McGivern's interpretation
>> over all of them, though I understand why he couldn't do the TV version
>> (hard to be an "impoverished hitchhiker" given how large he is).
> 
> Haha, interesting, I never knew that. I don't think I've ever seen what
> he looks like IRL... :)

He appeared in an episode of Blackadder (third series IIRC).

>> I was surprised, though, that I felt that Martin Freeman did an
>> outstanding job as Arthur.  Given that Adams wrote the part essentially
>> just for Simon Jones (kinda like the part for the book was written for
>> someone with a "Peter Jones-y sort of voice"), I didn't think anyone
>> could do the role justice.
> 
> He was very different. It didn't really spoil it for me, but I did have
> trouble linking him in my mind to the character.

He was different, no doubt about it.  But he brought the right amount of 
everything Simon Jones brought to the role.  It probably helped that 
Simon Jones was available to coach him on the character as well. :-)

>> Of all the Trillians, though, I preferred Susan Sheridan.  She came
>> across as the most believable when it came to holding a degree in
>> astrophysics.
> 
> Yes, the improbably-named Deschanel (how fitting!) was good in the film,

I thought she was only OK.  Not bad like Rockwell for Zaphod, but just 
OK.  The Point of View gun was an interesting idea and she did well with 
that.

> but the girl in the TV series was terrible. Far too ditzy and shallow.

Yes, but I have to admit that bring her in (Sandra Dickenson) in the 
later radio series as the alternate Tricia McMillian was a stroke of 
genius on the part of Dirk Maggs.

> As you say, the original was pretty definitive. She had such a sexy
> voice too!

There is that as well, of course. :-)

Jim

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