About Me
Page created Thursday 28th January 2010
Last updated Monday 8th March 2010
Hello dear reader,
Well, I don't know why on Earth you or anyone would wish to know about myself, but here are a few words.
I go by the name J. Gathergood, normally known as "Jay" (originating from a long ago joke by a friend about the spelling of my name, the details of which I've long since forgotten), or sometimes P.J., which originated from a combination of my father's initial (which I was sometimes called by, by my confused old grandmother) and my own. Very exciting so far, isn't it(!)
I
was born on 5th January 1978 (a Thursday I do believe), which by my calculations makes me 32 of your space years old, and have lived in Berkshire, South East United Kingdom for all of my life thus far.
I am 6'2 (maybe even taller with my hair combed up), and have been a vegetarian since the age of 11 (that's 1989, maths fans),
I have two Miniature Schnauzers called Minnie and Hettie, two cats called Matilda and Tosca, and Sea Monkeys. Until last year, I had a tortoise called Tim, but after he kept chasing the dogs around the garden and biting them (no I'm not making it up) he was sent to live with relations who have other tortoises.
My many varied hobbies include watching, collecting and studying classic television (both British and American) and collecting related memorabilia,
drawing, writing, collecting Masters of the Universe
figures, cycling, vintage computer games (I'm not really a games player but like Acorn BBC B games, and classic PC adventures from LucasArts and
Sierra),
crossing the road without looking, and scaring old ladies. I am also learning Japanese (don't ask me why, I haven't a clue!).
l am self-taught in website design (and how it shows!!) and am still learning, hence the rather basic layout of this site at present.
Why a site on 'The A-Team'? Well, the answer for is for a spin-off page, coming soon, but just to say: it's so much fun. It has a bit of everything - comedy, drama, action... from an era where television shows were exciting. I feel sorry for "the yoof of today" with their dull, PC programmes, not knowing what excitement we used to have "back in the day". The series is often written off as being mindless and repetitive, but for me it is the characters that bring it alive. I wanted to put this site together as a comprehensive overview of the series, especially when considering some of the misinformation that circulates on other sites (Bosco Albert* Baracus or Jose Tataro, anyone?) * - B.A. never had a middle name!
Some other shows I like include (list not comprehensive):
American:
 |
The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-85) (though the 2005 film was abysmal) |
|
|
Knight Rider (1982-86) (didn't care for any of the later versions) |
|
|
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1994-99) and Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001) (U.S./New Zealand) |
|
|
|
|
|
Starsky & Hutch (1975-79) (also, I personally really enjoyed the 2005 film) |
|
|
Riptide (1984-86) |
|
|
Miami Vice (1984-1989) |
|
|
Airwolf (1984-86) (we won't mention the infamously bad Canadian-produced 1987 version) |
|
|
Star Trek (mainly the original 1966-69 series, and the better days of The Next Generation (1987-94)) |
|
|
Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982-83) |
|
|
The Equalizer (1985-89) |
|
|
Quantum Leap (1989-93) |
|
|
The Rockford Files (1974-80) |
|
|
"CHiPs" (1977-83) |
|
|
T.J. Hooker (1982-86) |
|
|
And the many short-lived series, such as Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982-83), Manimal (1983), Automan (1983-84), Street Hawk (1985), the excellent The Highwayman (1987-88), and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993-94) |
(note that years are of original US broadcast, and overseas broadcast years were often quite different)
British:
|
|
The Sweeney (1974-78) |
|
|
Minder (1979-94) (let's discreetly overlook the 2009 "reimagining") |
|
|
Doctor Who (1963-89; 1996; 2005-?) I (generally) like the new series, but am more into the vintage version |
|
|
The Avengers (19616-9; 1976-77) |
|
|
Press Gang (1989-93) |
|
|
Grange Hill (1978-08) (though it was only ever good until about 1992ish) |
|
|
Knightmare (1987-94) |
|
|
The Professionals (1977-82) |
Australian:
|
|
Prisoner (Cell Block H) (1979-1986) (though it was never much good after Bea and Lizzie left in '83) |
|
|
Blue Heelers (1994-2006) |
I also like British comedy (both TV, and films, such as the Carry On series), including Porridge (1974-77), Dad's Army (1968-77), Only Fools and Horses (1981-91, numerous thereafter), 'Spaced (1999; 2001) and many others, and American cartoons such as The Simpsons (1989-?) (although they should have called it a day ten years ago!), Beavis and Butt-head (1993-97), still one of my favourites, the criminally underrated King of the Hill (1997-2009), South Park (1997-?), Futurama (1999-2003; ongoing), and Family Guy (2001-?).
My tastes in film is as wide as my taste in television, but favourites include Dawn of the Dead (original 1978 version; in fact all of the Living Dead series), Back to the Future (1985), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), GhostBusters (1984), "Crocodile" Dundee (1986), Falling Down (1993), The Warriors (1979), Groundhog Day (1993), The Truman Show (1998), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), Gran Torino (2009). I won't even start on all the different kinds of music that I like (but the Beach Boys feature heavily!)
Boring section about my TV collection...
Well, I have bought many DVD box sets in recent years, but I still hold on to my old off-air VHS recordings. Before where you could by whole seasons of TV shows on DVD, pretty much the only way to get episodes was to record them off of the television. In the UK, especially before the days of satellite and cable, this was no easy task, as imported shows were often shown incredibly out of sequence (often jumping from season to season), often edited for content, ITV-wise usually a different episode shown in each region and chopped up even further, often for no apparent reason (yes London Weekend Television, I'm looking at you), and shown irregularly. As such, I amassed a large collection of recordings (around 7 examples of some episodes), all in various states of disrepair. When the DVDs came along, there were some issues (such as changed music for copyright reasons, scenes missing, etc.), that mean I still hold on to my old VHS tapes, of which I estimate I have around 700 cassettes scattered around! ...Just thought I'd mention it. You can wake up now!
Pet likes (is that even a phrase? Anyway...):
|
|
Chinese food (only as a special treat though, can't afford to put anymore weight on!) |
|
|
The internet as a learning tool (ohh, geeky) |
|
|
People who feel need to punctuate every single other word with a swear word. |
|
|
Receiving things in the post (mail) - it always seemed really special as a child, and it still does |
|
|
Films that can make me forget where and who I am for an hour and a half. |
Pet hates:
|
|
Food packaging that you need a degree in origami to open |
|
|
Paper cuts - why / how do they hurt more than big injuries? |
|
|
A good programme starting on terrestrial TV and then $ky buying up the rights ("giving people choice"!), as well as hogging rights (oh how I love Channel 4's "new" episodes of 'The Simpsons' made 5 years ago!) |
|
|
People taking noisy food into cinemas. Dammit, some people practically go in with a three course meal! |
|
|
...and in the middle of an important bit of the film, someone always decides that's the best point to open a bag of crisps (chips) or sweets (candy). Slowly. Torturously slowly. Just open the flippin' bag and get it over with!! |
|
|
Murdock being incorrectly spelled "Murdoch" |
|
|
People thinking Mr. T was a character in The A-Team - it was B.A.! (Okay, I'm being picky now!!) |
|
|
(Also, B.A.'s middle name was never Albert. Fan invented information that's been copied from site to site!!) |
This website is a work in progress, and I'm still learning, so bear with me, and check back regularly for updates and new features.
I can also be found on Facebook (Jay Gathergood) and Twitter (Jay_Firestorm).
I also have an occasionally updated blog, which has various thoughts on comments on myself, The A-Team, and life in general. And my (current) top 10 'A-Team episodes can be seen here.
That is all. I shall shut up now.
This site is dedicated to my grandmother Josephine ("Josie"), who first got me into the series back in 1983 (her favourite episode was "the one with the wedding", the first season's 'Till Death Do Us Part'), who passed away in January 2007.
DISCLAIMER / LEGAL STUFF
'The A-Team' was created by Frank Lupo & Stephen J. Cannell,
Copyright 1982-86, Universal / Stephen J. Cannell Productions
This site is intended as an unofficial fan tribute, and no breach of
copyright is intended. All featured photos, scanned material, etc., is intended
purely for illustrative and personal use only and not to be used for profit.
Please do not reproduce any material from this site, in whole or in part, without
first asking permission. Any questions, E-MAIL ME