"Scrambled" Comedy About McCartney's "Yesterday"
Urban Myths Series 3, Episode 7, explains the humourous creation of Yesterday and premiered on 22/5/19. The half hour series had been previously blasted publicly for its Michael Jackson episode from another series. This might explain why the "Paul Is Dead" myth wasn't even considered. The creation of this "safe" episode turns out to be decent. It is a bit one note because it assumes that Paul, in November 1963, dreaming up "Yesterday" was an overwhelming problem to the point of annoying anyone he spoke with for at least the month.
The program opens with the actor playing McCartney to look similar, in a side view profile, to Paul in the opening shot when sat at the piano to test out the chords he's dreamt up. However, by the time we realise that he is living with The Asher family, as the character goes to wake up girlfriend, Jane, promising no funny business, the rest of the show goes from intriguing to increasingly boring. How else can we explain how a Beatles mini biopic that has one notible actor, Hugh Dennis, as Jane's father, features no one else with known acting credits, except how to emulate Beatles? The show even decides Jane's brother and Paul's friend Peter Asher should be uncasted and their little sister has higher priority to be included as "Zelda."(Clare is the actual name of the youngest Asher).
The comedy only seems to come from about three sources- Puns revealing titles of future Beatles compositions, the other three Beatles being sour at Paul, mostly for not living in the same London home as them, and Paul's persistent interest in asking, well, anyone(Including the 15 Beatles Fans at the doorstep of the Asher's), "Have you heard this song before?" It is funny when he calls both Cliff Richard and Mick Jagger to play guitar over the phone, but the rest is bland comedy.
Yes, the actor playing Paul turns out to nail down his early 60s voice but is no way more good looking than the other actors playing John, Ringo, or George(whom is portrayed as a Gigolo...seriously!). It does manage to get John and Paul to have a heartfelt talk about their writing partnership but until this scene happens near the end, most of the characters have already moaned that Paul has, in fact, wrote an original composition. Jane Asher seems the most irritated with Paul's song obsession and he agrees he can enjoy the holiday away she wants after his John chat scene ends.
There is a bit of fact checking to consider in this program but nothing outstanding inaccurate. However, It won't be getting any awards for its England depiction of Beatlemania in 1963(surely a predecessor to the upcoming British Invasion should have been shown their day-to-day schedule of playing in concert or on the road most days.)
It's a 3 out of 5 star review from us. Not Saying Anything To Paul McCartney would like to have gotten back that 1\2 hour back in our lives but it was worth reviewing. Visit us on Facebook for updates on the current West Coast leg of the Freshen Up Tour.
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