Curtis-Moore Syndrome

Hello Readers!

I felt that you should be the first to know that following a lengthy and most unpleasant Nuclear Medicine scan last week I have been diagosed with Curtis -Moore syndrome.

Roger Curtis and Tony Moore

(Actually the scan itself wasn't so bad, but honestly, the sort of people that work in these places...well the words incompetent, embittered failed musicians and/or scriptwriters, and nose-picking come to mind.)

First identified by Professor Robert Swipe and described on Swipecast 324, Curtis-Moore Syndrome is an incurable ailment where much loved icons from earlier in the life of the sufferer, notably TV series, appear less worthy, lacking in their original quality, or just plain "a Bit Crap Really."

Swipe first described the symptoms of CMS as a sinking feeling in the soul, and a sense of embarrassment knowing how much one has "gone on about" the show to friends, particularly in relation to "The Persuaders".

Other examples of the phenomenon are "UFO", Gerry Anderson's first TV series featuring actors rather than puppets, where somehow the actors were less convincing in their roles than their wooden equivalents in previous shows like Thunder-Ray, Stingball XL5 and Firebirds. But in 1971, as a 13 year old boy, I just couldn't get enough of UFO. I wonder why that was?

UFO: Star phwoars

A later example and one that led to my own symptoms is Sergeant Bilko, starring Phil Silvers. I have just taken delivery (OK, I rented it) of the 50 year anniversary 3-disc set of the well remembered programme, (Or was it the 50-disc 3 year anniversary set? I forget...) and I have to say; disappointing.

"Disappointing."

There, I said it. You can tell by the inverted commas.

Bilko: financial advice

Either this show wasn't that good, or when I first was introduced to the joys of Bilko reruns in the 80's by my good and sadly departed friend Joshua Zero, we must have been under the influence of jazz cigarettage, or they just haven't picked the best episodes to put on the DVD.

I hope it's the last one.

There is hope for CMS sufferers however. The original series of Star Trek remains a constant inspiration as to what can be achieved with papier mache, washing up liquid bottles, sticky-back plastic and ex B-movie actors.

Star Trek: may the force be with you

And repeated viewing of the video of Dean Windass's 1994 goal against Wycombe Wanderers shows how the brilliance of true genius never fades. I would post a link to it but I don't know how. Instead, and at the special request of a Mr Howes of Waterloo, no Vauxhall, er Clapham, who is 52 this week, here's a photo of Mr Windass.

Windarse: Brentford's new striker

Live long and prosper, readers!

Your friend

Stray (aka YLM746X)



Next week: More pictures of Gabrielle Drake please.