Beachcombers - final episode and wrap party story

Final show clip and wrap party for the final episode of CBC's longest running TV series.

The series was longlived but the shows that stick out most for me were all prior to 1980—prior to around the time McCloskey (buddy to everybody, even Relic) died. The show was memorable for the central gritty conflict between idealistic and honourable Greek Nick Adonidas with his tug boat (Persephone) and the rough, crusty curmudgeonly loner Relic and his ultra fast but suitably beat up jet boat, battling each other for stray logs along coastal waters of British Columbia. It was the source of tension and humour alike. The sparse boundary characters and the setting (remembering the show took place in a small village cove) provided a warm blanket. The episodes I remember best (aside from Nick or Huey or Jesse or whoever, trapped under a log, barge or barrel as the tide comes in) were

1. Fools' Gold -- where Nick and Relic both bait each other with real / bogus gold sites (many years later and influence on Bre-X, with the shotgunned nuggets)

2. Relic's Toothache -- with the baked Alaska sequence

3. The RC Airplane battle w Relic vs all challengers. The little machingun was inspirational. That was an early one!

Anyway the best of the shows were as decent as any good US TV show at the time in the 1970s.

Unfortunately the 1980s came along and blew the grittiness and earthiness present on TV,. Family shows became the it thing to be (Family Ties, Cosby Show etc) and then the CBC tried to rework the Beachcombers charm by adding bland sappy characters and syrupy scripts, lots of little kids etc. etc,. and the plots and conflicts moved like molasses -- literally (just watch the action and pacing in the later episodes, you'd think Nick was talking in slow motion). Over earnest, even Relic, careful not to tread in the wong place.


Up in heaven Relic is running aground his jetboat, the Persephone is towing John Candy's house boat, while on the beach , The King of Kensington has Nick Adonidas pinned under him as the tide comes in, as they fight for that lucky medallion.


Added: April 27, 2008 (Less info)
Beachcombers - 20yr running comedy drama on CBC - news story on shooting of the last episode.


The series was longlived but the shows that stick out most for me were all prior to 1980—prior to around the time McCloskey (buddy to everybody, even Relic) died. The show was memorable for the central gritty conflict between idealistic and honourable Greek Nick Adonidas with his tug boat (Persephone) and the rough, crusty curmudgeonly loner Relic and his ultra fast but suitably beat up jet boat, battling each other for stray logs along coastal waters of British Columbia. It was the source of tension and humour alike. The sparse boundary characters and the setting (remembering the show took place in a small village cove) provided a warm blanket. The episodes I remember best (aside from Nick or Huey or Jesse or whoever, trapped under a log, barge or barrel as the tide comes in) were

1. Fools' Gold -- where Nick and Relic both bait each other with real / bogus gold sites (many years later an influence on Bre-X, with the shotgunned nuggets)

2. Relic's Toothache -- with the baked Alaska sequence

3. The RC Airplane battle w Relic vs all challengers. The little machingun was inspirational. That was an early one!

Anyway the best of the shows were as decent as any good US (adventure/comedy/drama) TV show at the time in the 1970s.

Unfortunately the 1980s came along and blew the grittiness and earthiness present on TV. Family shows became the it thing to be (Family Ties, Cosby Show etc) and then the CBC tried to rework the Beachcombers charm by adding bland sappy characters and syrupy scripts, lots of little kids etc. etc,. and the plots and conflicts moved like molasses -- literally (just watch the action and pacing in the later episodes, you'd think Nick was talking in slow motion). Over-earnest, even Relic, and careful not to tread in the wrong place.

Up in heaven Relic is running aground his jetboat, the Persephone is towing John Candy's house boat, while on the beach , The King of Kensington has Nick Adonidas pinned under him as the tide comes in, as they fight for that lucky medallion.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Beachcombers
• CBC
• Bruno
• Gerussi
• Nick
• Adonidas
• Rob
• Clothier
• Relic

[kingazzaman]

I loved this show as a kid. It was on afternoon tv here in Australia. My dad would come home from work (pre-vcr days) and demand a full brief on what happened on Beachcombers that day.

He took us to Canada for a vacation because he loved the scenery.

[TVGuido]

Thanks for that! Aussies and Canucks are a similar breed or brew or something like that!

[TVGuido]

Watch in high quality to as the pastels come out poorly as it is

[terrykozak]

The last episode should have had guest appearances by Tommy Hunter, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray and the Band.

[nativehero2007]

Relics My boyhood hero

[nativehero2007]

@andmaketherain thats for sure



[landrykkb]

@jabmalassie I took it for granted as a child myself,and I remember at one point when it was Disney,then the Muppets,followed by Beachcombers.

[andmaketherain]

Mmmmmmmmm...Wei Chen............

[jabmalassie]

I couldn't stand this show as a kid. It came on after Disney world.

[GESSO217]

Instead of showing episodes of Jepordy and Wheele of Fortune CBC should be playing reruns of The Beachcombers. Maybe then I might watch that station.

[isafella1]

tv came to our mining city mount isa in australias outback in1971 and this great great canadian series was shown on school holidays in 72/73 in the afternoons. we'd be playing cricket outside or out bush but would always make it inside to watch nic and relic trying to outdo each other. this was our first look at canada and this aussie is still hugely impressed - a legendary tv series

[ralphyization]

Not nice to say, but,.... my brothers always called my mom "relic" haha That was their way of saying she was an old coot! I don;t think she appreciated the name much, but, she took it for what it was worth...zilch!

[ralphyization]

@terrykozak Not "TOO" high end, eh??

[ralphyization]

@kingazzaman I'm not sure whether to be proud, or embarassed!! he he!! Any Canadian show is totally NOT generally popular in Canada!