Much to Mackay's disgust, Fletcher is laid up in the hospital wing of Slade prison with a broken foot. Also there is Blanco, an elderly man, and the conniving, weasel-like Norris.
On hearing that Norris now owns Blanco's most treasured possessions - an antique snuff box, a Japanese radio, and a music-box that plays 'Waltzing Matilda' - Fletcher is furious. Norris defends himself by stating that he won these fairly and squarely at cards.
Determined that Blanco should get his possessions back, Fletcher cooks up a clever plan to get Norris to hand them over...
Sitcoms like 'The Fenn Street Gang' and 'The Goodies' are easy to review because there are plenty of episodes to be critical of as well as to enthuse about. With 'Porridge', its a different situation. Its hard to be objective about the show because each episode is a masterpiece. The combination of Ronnie Barker's acting, great support work from Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde et al, the scripts by Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais all add up to one of television's greatest achievements.
'Happy Release' takes Fletcher temporarily away from his cell, though thankfully not away from his friends. David Jason makes his third appearance as the old lag Blanco ( his first was in 'No Peace For The Wicked' ).
Although they played different characters on many series ( 'Hark At Barker', 'Six Dates With Barker', 'Open All Hours' ), Barker and Jason clicked each time. So it is here. Fletcher telling Blanco a dirty joke is one of the episode's many highlights.
Colin Farrell, who plays 'Norris', was 'Ernie Hadfield' in the popular Thora Hird I.T.V. sitcom 'In Loving Memory'.
Funniest moment - Norris caught digging up a football pitch in a futile search for buried treasure!
On hearing that Norris now owns Blanco's most treasured possessions - an antique snuff box, a Japanese radio, and a music-box that plays 'Waltzing Matilda' - Fletcher is furious. Norris defends himself by stating that he won these fairly and squarely at cards.
Determined that Blanco should get his possessions back, Fletcher cooks up a clever plan to get Norris to hand them over...
Sitcoms like 'The Fenn Street Gang' and 'The Goodies' are easy to review because there are plenty of episodes to be critical of as well as to enthuse about. With 'Porridge', its a different situation. Its hard to be objective about the show because each episode is a masterpiece. The combination of Ronnie Barker's acting, great support work from Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde et al, the scripts by Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais all add up to one of television's greatest achievements.
'Happy Release' takes Fletcher temporarily away from his cell, though thankfully not away from his friends. David Jason makes his third appearance as the old lag Blanco ( his first was in 'No Peace For The Wicked' ).
Although they played different characters on many series ( 'Hark At Barker', 'Six Dates With Barker', 'Open All Hours' ), Barker and Jason clicked each time. So it is here. Fletcher telling Blanco a dirty joke is one of the episode's many highlights.
Colin Farrell, who plays 'Norris', was 'Ernie Hadfield' in the popular Thora Hird I.T.V. sitcom 'In Loving Memory'.
Funniest moment - Norris caught digging up a football pitch in a futile search for buried treasure!
