Klansmen (lost episode). - The Professionals (1977) Discussion

[–] Jamesina_Bond_007 19 years ago

Yes, Klansmen is on the DVD box set. It was also on a video that I bought several years ago. I have watched it and I thought it demonstrated that racism is a bad thing in society . It is about a racist organisation that uses violence.An example is putting a brick through the window of the home a mixed marriage couple. The episode does highlight a lot of prejudices. However, the orgnasation is defeated in the end by CI5. The racism in it is true to life and shows how the black and Asian community were treated in the 70's (and sometimes to this day).
Bodie does make some racist remarks to a black nurse who is treating him, but he is supposed to be delirious at the time and coming out of unconciousness. In fact, Bodie ends up going out with this attractive black nurse.
However, I still can't see this episode ever being shown on British TV.

"You made me miss!I've never missed that board before".

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[–] Font 19 years ago

Thanks for that. I had a feeling that the episode would still be considered too sensitive to be shown today. Only The Professionals would have Bodie making racist remarks to a black "bird", and then pulling her. LOL. What were the remarks he made? When was this episode made?

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[–] Jamesina_Bond_007 19 years ago

I can't remember what Bodie actually says to her/ I last wacthed it a few months ago.I'll have to watch it again. It was one of the early episodes in the first season, so it would have been made around 1977.

"You made me miss!I've never missed that board before".

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[–] Font 19 years ago

Thanks. Considering the time it was made, Roots was shown during the late 70's on ITV and that was very racially sensitive, so I wonder why they weren't willing to show Klansmen at the time?

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] nigel-34 19 years ago

It was never shown on Terrestrial television in the UK though it did make an appearance when the series was broadcast on satellite there.

It was also exported for showing on terrestrial tv outside of the UK so Australian, New Zealand and American audiences have all seen it.

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[–] nigel-34 19 years ago

It was never shown on Terrestrial television in the UK though it did make an appearance when the series was broadcast on satellite there.

It was also exported for showing on terrestrial tv outside of the UK so Australian, New Zealand and American audiences have all seen it.

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[–] mmttcc 19 years ago

Yes, I saw it. As you know, the episode deals with racism, and the most controversial part is that Bodie seems to be a racist himself. He uses some derogatory words against black people (especially after he is wounded by a black man and he's in hospital). However, while he's in hospital, he's taken care of by a black doctor and a black nurse, and once he recovers he apologizes for all the bad things he said and (of course) ends up dating the pretty black nurse.

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[–] Mexiward 19 years ago

It is a good episode and deals with a racial issues. There is a back ground to Bodies racisim, and in the end he sees sense which surely sends a positive message? There is also a good plot twist near the end.

I can not believe they pulled the episode, there is a lot worse/blatant on TV even now.

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[–] Just_Call_Me_Nathan 17 years ago

Is Klansmen included on the Series 1-4 Complete Box Set?

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[–] Haskins 17 years ago

Is Klansmen included on the Series 1-4 Complete Box Set?

Yes, it is (I have it)

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[–] Just_Call_Me_Nathan 17 years ago

Thanks Haskins. I'm planning on buying the boxset soon and I would feel a little cheated if a set that proudly displays the message "All epiosdes ever made" failed to include the infamous Klansmen. Thank-you for putting my mind at rest. :)

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[–] Haskins 17 years ago

You're welcome! Good man on buying the boxset - do it, it's well worth it. Now you have no excuse! I was hooked all the way through.

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[–] Just_Call_Me_Nathan 17 years ago

You're right Haskins. Buying the boxset has been WELL worth the money. Like you, I've been hooked from the start. Fantastic show. They don't make 'em like they used to.

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[–] lee-937 17 years ago

Just got to see Klansmen after finally getting round to buying the boxset, I was well impressed with the episode, the racism issue was covered pretty well, especially when we found out the character Miller was himself Black. I can see why LWT decided not to screen it back in the 70's!

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[–] Jason_Radley 16 years ago

It's a very poor episode. The only good thing was seeing Tony Booth playing against type.

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[–] h-ahmad-1 16 years ago

I think it's a pretty well-plotted episode that could have done with a bit more pace. Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins were very convincing in playing Doyle and Bodie as they are incapacitated.

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[–] smailliwmik 16 years ago

I can see why it wasn't shown as it was probably too "sensitive" for the time... But like others I think it's a very well-plotted well executed story and the racism is covered and rebuked well... I think it should have been shown...

Now IMO the worst most disgustingly blatant racist episode is Take Away I was actually shocked by it, even for Professionals standards... I wouldn't of let Takeaway go out cos it really is terrible... the only good thing about Takeaway is Bodie going undercover as a hobo and smoking a fag!...

apart from that it's pretty bad.

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[–] w22nuschler 15 years ago

I don't like racist themed episodes. It's just an ugly thing I don't want to see. I was angry to see my favorite character on the show, Bodie, making some racists comments. I am not thru the episode yet, but it does no good to write episodes like this. It's not enjoyable and it certainly won't change peoples views on the subject. I went in thinking rascism is wrong no matter what race is involved. We all were created by God and all came from Adam and Eve. I am a Conservative who believes in God.

The series has been really good, but there are a few episodes like this one that suck.

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[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 15 years ago

I have seen the episode twice, once just recently, and yes, it is painful to watch. It certainly does make the point of showing racism as a bad thing, but there are a lot of racial slurs in it.

The problem in this episode is mostly Bodie's behavior. Of course, you do expect him to act un-PC, that's why he's Bodie and that's why we love him (just like Gene Hunt). But certainly not like the way he acts in "Klansmen". He seems to be almost obsessed by hate which is not like him. He does change his opinion in the end, but still. It is an odd episode.

Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

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[–] mungreluk 11 years ago

Its never been shown here in the UK has it ?

But for some strange reason, Virgin TV have it down as being 'Originally aired in November 87' (which if it were true, would be 10 years after it was made).

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[–] 11 years ago

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