26 December 2006
CHRISTMAS LOGGED
Come the arse end of Christmas Day, having a second go at the trifle, we switched on five's Greatest Most Embarrassing TV Moments (or a title something along those lines, anyway - I'm not going to look it up). It dawned on me that I'd actually seen it before, but still ... This was a transmission from a dying world when Donna McPhail, Richard Blackwood and Mike McClean still seemed to have some relevance. I enjoyed most of it.
Unlike Little Britain Abroad which actually could have slotted into the aforementioned countdown somewhere within the top 10. That two people could write a sketch which involves Steve Coogan saying, "Don't press that red button", and then Matt Lucas pressing that red button (and that was it) boggles the mind. Can you imagine getting up from the computer desk and saying to your colleague, "Right, that's that one finished, let's take a tea break"? Talk about insubstantial ... This was a terrible, terrible comedown for a show that I'm still happy to admit once loving.
Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas spesh was lots of fun, thankfully, albeit utterly pointless - all taking place in a pre-recorded vacuum wherein the champs of the current run had clearly yet to be crowned (cheers to Zoe Ball for making that obvious with her chat about all of the final four being potentially good enough to clinch it). I really did enjoy "Action" Jackson's routine.
The turkey sandwich viewing today thus far has been a job of work, clearing up programmes recorded on my TV Drive. We've had Doctor Who Confidential (very nice, but much too long), Doctor Who (I sensibly left it till Boxing Day, lest it be accused of ruining Christmas Chez Kibble-White for a second year running - although, as it happens it went down pretty well), and - my favourite so far - The Big Time, that episode where Gwen Wotsit cooks at the Dorchester.
How I ache once more for genuine TV characters like Magnus Pyke (he puts the "nuts" into nutritionist, says Esther Rantzen) and Robert Morley (who referred to Gwen as "my darling" throughout). I don't, however, pine for '70s cuisine, piped onto the plate and adorned with cocktail sticks and glace cherries.
And now? It's a DVD of Quatermass and the Pit - the original BBC version. The pace is glacial (I've written all this and not missed a plot point) but somehow it feels like perfect post Christmas Day viewing.
What have you been watching?
Unlike Little Britain Abroad which actually could have slotted into the aforementioned countdown somewhere within the top 10. That two people could write a sketch which involves Steve Coogan saying, "Don't press that red button", and then Matt Lucas pressing that red button (and that was it) boggles the mind. Can you imagine getting up from the computer desk and saying to your colleague, "Right, that's that one finished, let's take a tea break"? Talk about insubstantial ... This was a terrible, terrible comedown for a show that I'm still happy to admit once loving.
Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas spesh was lots of fun, thankfully, albeit utterly pointless - all taking place in a pre-recorded vacuum wherein the champs of the current run had clearly yet to be crowned (cheers to Zoe Ball for making that obvious with her chat about all of the final four being potentially good enough to clinch it). I really did enjoy "Action" Jackson's routine.
The turkey sandwich viewing today thus far has been a job of work, clearing up programmes recorded on my TV Drive. We've had Doctor Who Confidential (very nice, but much too long), Doctor Who (I sensibly left it till Boxing Day, lest it be accused of ruining Christmas Chez Kibble-White for a second year running - although, as it happens it went down pretty well), and - my favourite so far - The Big Time, that episode where Gwen Wotsit cooks at the Dorchester.
How I ache once more for genuine TV characters like Magnus Pyke (he puts the "nuts" into nutritionist, says Esther Rantzen) and Robert Morley (who referred to Gwen as "my darling" throughout). I don't, however, pine for '70s cuisine, piped onto the plate and adorned with cocktail sticks and glace cherries.
And now? It's a DVD of Quatermass and the Pit - the original BBC version. The pace is glacial (I've written all this and not missed a plot point) but somehow it feels like perfect post Christmas Day viewing.
What have you been watching?
Comments:
<< Home
I've been watching nothing on the TV, mainly because I've been in the US for nearly two years and I still don't know what the TV channels actually do. In the UK I knew I was watching the BBC. As far as I know over here there is only one TV station which is transmitted at staggered time intervals over 250 channels.
We did decide to get all Christmassy with DVDs however, and watched three versions of A Christmas Carol - the Alastair Sim one, the Patrick Stewart one and the Muppets one. It's difficult to say which one topped out but they were all good. Especially good to see George Cole in the Sim one. I assumed, stupidly, that he'd be playing Tiny Tim, what with the film being quite old and all. He turned out to be playing young Scrooge, which must have made him 102 when he made Minder.
Minder... any chance of a reunion episode of that show?
We did decide to get all Christmassy with DVDs however, and watched three versions of A Christmas Carol - the Alastair Sim one, the Patrick Stewart one and the Muppets one. It's difficult to say which one topped out but they were all good. Especially good to see George Cole in the Sim one. I assumed, stupidly, that he'd be playing Tiny Tim, what with the film being quite old and all. He turned out to be playing young Scrooge, which must have made him 102 when he made Minder.
Minder... any chance of a reunion episode of that show?
# posted by 
: 2:25 PM
: 2:25 PM
Oh, a Minder reunion - what a top idea. Obviously, Ray would have to be dispatched in the first reel ...
I always loved Minder, but I wonder if the public would actually care about a reunion show. It seems to have slipped quietly out of the national memory over the years, which is odd, given that it was once a bona fide, Trotter-rivalling British treasure.
# posted by : 11:31 AM
: 11:31 AM
Watched It Started With Swap Shop last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Noel looked to be choking back a tear come the end. I was also saddened to hear of Tony Hart's ill health. Here's to a good recovery!
On Christmas Day the only things I watched in completeness were Who, Dibley and Little Britain. Out of the three I probably enjoyed Dibley the most (quite surprised at this as, usually, I can happily miss it without caring one way or the other). Doctor Who was great family viewing, if a little bit too 'pantomime' for my liking. But then again, what else should you expect at Christmas?
I did, partially, watch TOTP for the first time in about 15 years, but found myself wistfully hoping for some sort of Christmas TOTP '83 reunion episode or something (a wish that was partially sated by TOTP2 later that evening).
Recorded Dracula last night, but everyone seems to be saying it was shit...
On Christmas Day the only things I watched in completeness were Who, Dibley and Little Britain. Out of the three I probably enjoyed Dibley the most (quite surprised at this as, usually, I can happily miss it without caring one way or the other). Doctor Who was great family viewing, if a little bit too 'pantomime' for my liking. But then again, what else should you expect at Christmas?
I did, partially, watch TOTP for the first time in about 15 years, but found myself wistfully hoping for some sort of Christmas TOTP '83 reunion episode or something (a wish that was partially sated by TOTP2 later that evening).
Recorded Dracula last night, but everyone seems to be saying it was shit...
I caught up with Dracula last night and - being almost totally unfamilar with the original story - I thought it was pretty good. Quite a small tale, really, albeit one let down by some terrible wigs.
I've now got My Science Fiction Life on, which - with its pans across shelves full of Star Trek videos (videos - I ask you) and people in Star Fleet uniform - is inspiring some real feelings of loathing in me. Alas.
I've now got My Science Fiction Life on, which - with its pans across shelves full of Star Trek videos (videos - I ask you) and people in Star Fleet uniform - is inspiring some real feelings of loathing in me. Alas.
The only thing I remember watching was Doctor Who, and that was enjoyable. For once, I found Catherine Tate likable...
Post a Comment
<< Home