Spatz S1E5 (1990) - FULL EPISODE

Local Hero. Karen's desperately trying to think up a new marketing ploy, and the perfect chance for a piece of free publicity arrives when a staff member performs the Heimlich manoeuvre on a choking customer. The idea of being headline news isn't necessarily a dream come true for everyone, though - not that anyone else would understand. This episode was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 21st March, 1990. Five shows in, and this one is Lily's chance to shine. In the course of the series, she's mostly the quiet and sensible character, and it makes perfect sense that she wouldn't crave the limelight thrust upon her the way her workmates seem to. Of course, there's also an underlying problem that needs addressing, and her scene with TJ as she discusses it is just about as poignant as a Children's ITV sitcom can get. Of course the interjections from Karen lighten the mood as necessary, and she's brilliant from the perfect timing of her very first entrance, through the line "Tell them in your own words - I wrote it all out for you," and right to her reaction to being royally shafted at the end. In other fun, look out for a fantastically inappropriate First Aid lesson that would probably see the restaurant closed down these days. In fact, on that note, what kind of fast food joint closes on a Saturday night anyway? How strange. Also odd is the fact that, even though we're only five episodes in, this is the second story line already regarding some sort of conflict between a worker and her overbearing parent. That said, one detail that reminded me yet again that I could never be a television writer is the guy saved by Lily. Now, the plot requires that someone needs to choke and have the Heimlich manoeuvre performed on them - and that's as far as I'd go. Anyone in the vicinity would have done. But this bloke has his own back-story and puts in a proper funny performance! I simply wouldn't have even considered going to those sorts of lengths. Keep an eye out for the Children's ITV continuity at the beginning and end featuring Jeanne Downs, Scally, Clive Warren, and none other than Michaela Strachan - there to promote her new single Take Good Care of My Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rlnuj1xmrU Many thanks to Joe for lending me this tape. (To the best of my knowledge, the contents of this video have never been available commercially anywhere in the world. Please also note that I don't monetise any of my uploads. Nevertheless, if you are a copyright holder and have an objection, please don't hesitate to contact me.)