In my place
Monday, May 9, 2005 ~ Comments Off
Oh crap, it’s Monday morning. Already.
Today will be an exercise in self-control. Having had only about 4 hours sleep I’ll be attempting NOT to make sarcastic comments to any of my co-workers, and to stay awake at least until lunchtime.
I had planned to discuss Derren Brown and whether his latest tv show is starting to break the boundaries of responsible programming, but I’ve not done any research into any possibly long term effects of his methods so that’ll have to wait.
I had also planned to comment on a recent comment left here, but even generalising will be transparent and I can’t be bothered with the hassle. I’ll file that under “one more chance” I think and let it pass.
And with that cryptic piece of non-blogging I’m off to get another coffee. Back later if I’m still awake.
Mental
Friday, May 6, 2005 ~ Comments Off
Even if you don’t agree with his methods, if you’ve caught any of episodes of Derren Brown’s show Trick of the Mind, you’ll have to admit that he is very talented at what he does. Some of the results are remarkable. If you caught any of his first series you can see he is building on the foundations of the methods he developed back then but it’s one thing having a rough idea of how something is done, quite another to do it.
I’m not a fan of his more grandiose projects, the live Russian roulette was in a little poor taste, and think the series showcases his talents much better. Watching him bemuse a scouser into handing over his watch, wallet, keys and mobile phone, TWICE in quick succession was both hilarious and fascinating. If you are really interested, he reveals some secrets from the last series on his Channel Four website (including how those people in the phone boxes ended up slumped on the floor after a thirty second phonecall).
Tonights show, has him guess what object someone is thinking of as they stare into space, get slapped by Jo Whiley (lucky devil) and the finale is quite creepy, nasty and possibly a little sick, you are warned of this before the segment starts. I’m not going to spoil it for you, suffice to say that I was uttering various swearwords as the reveal slowly took place. “Twisted fucker” being one of the more choice phrases.
So tune in tonight, 9.30pm on Channel Four.
Balls
Monday, May 2, 2005 ~ Comments Off
Blimey.
Anyone watch the snooker – what a finish!
Bankers Skive
Monday, May 2, 2005 ~ Comments Off
Standing around in the rain isn’t the best way to spend a hungover Sunday morning, but then neither is working on a bank holiday Monday whilst several gallons of phlegm slosh around your head.
Anyway. Series finale of Huff last night, and boy am I glad that a second series has been ordered. Of course I’d have loved to have confirmed this on the show’s official website but alas, as you’ll see if you visit, those “pages are intended for access only from within the United States”.
There is a small bell ringing in my head that I’ve read about this recently on another blog.. nope, can’t remember. Anyone??
UPDATE: Twas the lovely Meg which as David points out I’ve already mentioned. I’m so well organised, aren’t I. Wish I could REMEMBER that I was that well organised. DOH.
So what’s all that about then, why on earth would you limit access to a website for a TV show that is syndicated into Europe (and probably other regions). How long will take for these companies to “get” the web properly? The entire point is that ANYONE ANYWHERE can access the information about that fabuluous TV show you’ve commissioned, they want to see if you have anything else in the pipeline that might be as good. Sheesh.
Anyway, Huff was an intelligently written and superbly acted show and it was nice to see Hank Azaria playing a ‘normal’ character, he’s quite an accomplished actor as well as being the voice of many Simpsons characters, and despite the show revolving around his character you never really felt it was all about him until last nights episode. Cleverly written, brilliantly acted.
Oliver Platt stole most of the scenes he was in, and as the series progressed you go from loathing him to loving him as he slowly reveals the real person behind the drinking, drug taking selfish idiot he starts out as. Paget Brewster (is she a relation of Sean Young?) also grew into the role the further the series developed, and showed that there is more to her than a short spell in Friends (the one where Chandler kisses Joey’s girlfriend, that’s Paget Brewster). Blythe Danner was excellent as Huff’s mother, slowly pickling her liver whilst dishing out backhand insults left right and centre. If it is repeated I’d highly recommended you watch it, I just hope that they trim the opening title sequence for the next series.
So we now have a hole in our viewing, 24 is still going (SHUSH, not watched last nights yet!!), Grand Designs allows us to dream of having enough money to build our own house, but apart from that… well House and Boston Legal are recorded but not watched yet, they come recommended but I’ll hold off judgement, anyone watched them?
One thing I did record last night, with many thanks to the Paramount Comedy Channel, was the TV series of Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Real reviews of the movie, as in reviews from people I know or whose blog I read, are trickling in and they’re not too favourable. Of course I’m aware that the books hold a special place in many home libraries and that films rarely stack up against the books they come from – how on earth could they, competing with millions of different imaginations – but I’ll still be going to see it.
So
Monday, October 28, 2002 ~ Comments Off
How are you?
It feels odd having been ‘away’ for a week or so. My ankle is healing, although still very stiff and bruised. I’ll be at home all week but hope to spend some more time on the PC catching up (soooo much catching up). If you’ve sent me an email I apologise I’ll get round to replying as soon as I can.
Other than that, not a lot for me to say really. Spent the most of last week lying on the couch with my right leg raised. Watching TV/DVDs and reading (Cold Six Thousand at the moment). Thankfully we are getting Discovery channels free this month, courtesy of those nice people at Telewest (we just have the basic package as we really don’t watch that much TV), so I’ve not had to suffer too much daytime TV.
TV wise, the highlight of the week was definitely Professor Robert Winston’s new show Human Instinct. Fascinating and original, well worth watching. The new series of The Soprano’s started well, and I’ve managed to watch a few old Hitchcock movies as well (The man who new too much on DVD, and finally got around to watching Notorious which I had taped last Xmas sometime…). Other film related watching included the AFI’s 100 most thrilling American movies which was must better than I expected but still featured a few suspect choices for my taste.
Hopefully next week I’ll be able to comment on something else (like what you guys have been up to!)
Weekender
Monday, September 30, 2002 ~ Comments Off
Friday night.
A work colleague’s 40th, several beers (and the creation of the Crushinator) then onto a house warming party. Home by 2:30 a.m. Hungover already covered, thanks for the cures guys!
Saturday night.
Dinner at brother-in-laws (a superb home cooked Indian meal), several bottles of red wine, back to in-laws house, where we were staying, at 4:45 a.m.
Sunday.
As covered, Dad’s birthday. Home again by 8 p.m. to restore the house to order in time for today.
This morning.
Mild shakes, completely shattered. Stayed up until midnight watching Abyss Live. As Nick says: “If there’s one thing the BBC is pretty damn good at, it’s popular science.”
Very Good TV
Sunday, August 25, 2002 ~ Comments Off
A stunning, fresh, fast paced [insert further numerous plaudits here] piece of television. So engrossing* that Louise and I stayed up all night on Saturday and watched it in one go. We started at 6:30pm and finished watching at about 11 a.m the next morning**.
It is that good.
If you didn’t catch it, either buy it or watch out for re-runs. I missed it on BBC2 but caught the week long airing on BBC Choice, so we taped those ones.
And what better way to spend an afternoon after getting no sleep? Have a BBQ with family (in-laws). The sun came out and we sat about laughing and teasing and avoiding wasps. There is something about that kind of afternoon, as it merges with the evening, surrounded by family that is very comforting and warming for the soul. Just what I needed right now, even if I didn’t realise it at the time.
But now I’m tired.
* Who was it that said TV would kill the art of conversation? I could (and have) talked about this show for hours.
**Each episodical ‘hour’ is shown in about 40 mins, probably due to American TV advertising requirements