The Generation Game (was ... Aunt Marge scene)

[GulPlum]

At 23:03 15/06/04 , Sophia wrote:
>  GulPlum  wrote:
> > At the Dursleys', Dudley is watching The Generation Game on TV.

<snip>

>Do you realize you could probably make a galleon or two if you
>decided to publish a collection of this and similar trivia in the HP-
>movies? I'd buy it!

Why bother? :-) There are plenty of web sites which include such nuggets 
for free (the "trivia" link on any movie's page on IMdB is a good place to 
start). Not to mention various fan sites and forums like this one, where 
obsessed fans pick apart their favoured cultural artefacts for 
cross-references. Besides, I don't want to make money, I just want to show 
off. :-)

>Do you think there was any particular point to picking The Generation Game 
>to play on the telly for this scene? An in-joke for those who can figure 
>it out? I mean, PoA is really the beginning of "the generation game" for 
>Harry...

There isn't a single doubt in my mind that the reference was deliberate. 
Cuaron is just the kind of director who'd do that kind of thing (Terry 
Gilliam, Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton are a few others who immediately 
spring to mind).

I can just imagine the pre-production meeting with Stuart Craig (set 
designer, who happens to be British):
"So, Alfonso, what's Dudley going to be watching on TV?"
"Well, Stuart, I don't know British television shows from the nineties. Was 
there something crass and idiotic in the early evening schedules that 
someone as vapid and stupid as Dudley might watch?"
"Er, well, dinner time is too late for kids TV, but there was "Noel's House 
Party" but - hey - what about 'The Generation Game'?"
Alfonso falls off his chair laughing, crying out: "Who made it? Get clearance!"

I must admit that the first time I saw the movie, I was about 50/50 certain 
that it was TGG, but the second time (on the same day; sad? moi?) I paid 
closer attention and by the end of the scene, I was up to about 80% 
certain. By the end of the credits, I was up 99%: why else would the list 
of acknowledgments include "BBC Enterprises" (which is the part of the BBC 
which clears use of all BBC recordings for commercial use)? The only doubt 
in my mind was that Jim Davidson has done other stupid shows for the BBC.

The third time I saw the film, I was already giggling when we saw the first 
shot of the TV, as I was up to 100%. :-)

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, currently running Cuaron's 'Great Expectations'  on 
the TV for background inspiration