TW3
That Was The Week That Was, also known as TW3, was a satirical television comedy program that aired on the BBC in 1962 and 1963.
Devised, produced and directed by Ned Sherrin, cast members included: David Frost, Roy Kinnear, Bernard Levin and Willie Rushton. The programme opened with a song — also entitled That Was The Week That Was — sung by Millicent Martin and enumerating topics that had been in the past week's news. Off-screen script-writers included Bill Oddie and Keith Waterhouse.
The programme was groundbreaking in its lampooning of the establishment. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was initially supportive of the programme, chastising the then-Postmaster General Reginald Bevins (nominally in charge of broadcasting) for threatening to "do something about it". During the Profumo affair, however, he became one of the programme's chief targets for derision. After two successful seasons in 1962 and 1963, the programme did not return in 1964, as this was an election year and the BBC decided it would be unduly influential.
At the end of each episode, Frost would usually sign off with: "That was the week, that was." At the end of the final programme he announced: "That was That Was The Week That Was...that was."
A compilation taken from telerecordings of the original live broadcasts was recently shown on BBC FOUR. Although historically interesting, most of the recordings are of very poor quality.
An American version of TW3 was broadcast on the NBC television network from January 10, 1964, to May, 1965. This version had a cast that included Frost, Buck Henry and Alan Alda; contributors included Gloria Steinem, Tom Lehrer and Calvin Trillin.
A Canadian show, This Hour Has Seven Days, aired from 1964 to 1966 on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Although partially inspired by That Was The Week That Was, the Canadian show mixed satirical aspects with more serious journalism. It also proved highly controversial, and like its inspiration, was cancelled after two seasons amid allegations of political interference.
In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, That Was The Week That Was was placed 29th.
ABC television in the U.S. is planning to for its new season of Primetime Live, beginning in September 2004.
