28 December 2007
TWO THOUSAND AND HEAVEN
I'm currently working through this year's Off The Telly review of the year. The piece is a collaborative effort, so not all the opinions espoused therein are mine. That being the case I thought it might be a bit of fun to post here a list of my entirely own favourite programmes from 2007 - feel free to add yours to the following:
DRAMA: With everyone else seemingly finding David Tennant to be utterly irritating, I have to confess I still love the Tenth Doctor, particularly when he's being impish. This year's Doctor Who might have contained a lot of mediocre stuff, but I still think it's the best thing on telly by about a million miles. It has such a massive emotional library from which to pull stuff from, and this year's return of the Master was just brilliant (albeit only when Jacobi was in the role). Of course nothing further need be added to the already thousands of positive reviews for Cornell and Moffat's contribution to series three.
COMEDY: I have to confess to having been a bit slow to catch on to The Thick of It. A lot of things about it put me off - Peter Capaldi for a start, and the overly naturalistic faux documentary style, but I have to concede it is simply brilliant. In truth it's been a shit year for comedy but "a tete-a-tiny-tete" almost made up for it.
REALITY: Another genre of telly that was a bit rubbish this year. I stand by earlier comments that Dragon's Den is no longer essential viewing. Big Brother was okay, and most other reality shows this year were poor. Probably the pick of the bunch in 2007 was The Apprentice.
LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT: Well controversially I'm going to give this to Britain's Got Talent. Ant and Dec know how to perfectly judge this sort of thing so that it never feels too exploitative. Although variety acts seem to be making a comeback in a major way, the selection for this series was particularly entertaining. Sadly, I've never been able to "get" Strictly Come Dancing.
DOCUMENTARY: I'm on far safer ground here as I think the undisputed documentary series of 2007 was The Secret Life of the Motorway, fantastic archive footage, great interviewees and an utterly evocative series.
DRAMA: With everyone else seemingly finding David Tennant to be utterly irritating, I have to confess I still love the Tenth Doctor, particularly when he's being impish. This year's Doctor Who might have contained a lot of mediocre stuff, but I still think it's the best thing on telly by about a million miles. It has such a massive emotional library from which to pull stuff from, and this year's return of the Master was just brilliant (albeit only when Jacobi was in the role). Of course nothing further need be added to the already thousands of positive reviews for Cornell and Moffat's contribution to series three.
COMEDY: I have to confess to having been a bit slow to catch on to The Thick of It. A lot of things about it put me off - Peter Capaldi for a start, and the overly naturalistic faux documentary style, but I have to concede it is simply brilliant. In truth it's been a shit year for comedy but "a tete-a-tiny-tete" almost made up for it.
REALITY: Another genre of telly that was a bit rubbish this year. I stand by earlier comments that Dragon's Den is no longer essential viewing. Big Brother was okay, and most other reality shows this year were poor. Probably the pick of the bunch in 2007 was The Apprentice.
LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT: Well controversially I'm going to give this to Britain's Got Talent. Ant and Dec know how to perfectly judge this sort of thing so that it never feels too exploitative. Although variety acts seem to be making a comeback in a major way, the selection for this series was particularly entertaining. Sadly, I've never been able to "get" Strictly Come Dancing.
DOCUMENTARY: I'm on far safer ground here as I think the undisputed documentary series of 2007 was The Secret Life of the Motorway, fantastic archive footage, great interviewees and an utterly evocative series.
24 December 2007
RIGHT TO REPLY
Well, Merry Christmas everyone.
The following was, received from Sean Power, presumably the same Sean Power who plays Marty in BBC2's Lead Balloon. It's in relation to John Phillips' review of the show, which you can read here.
The following was, received from Sean Power, presumably the same Sean Power who plays Marty in BBC2's Lead Balloon. It's in relation to John Phillips' review of the show, which you can read here.
John Phillips,
My agent just passed on your lame review to me. Im not going to waste my breath on you too much , because to be honest your opinion means fuck all to me. Arm chair critics are just that- fat fkn morons sittin in front of there tv screen with there laptop on their round tummy and wearin dirty clothes with questionable stains on them. But- because you ' put it out there' I m gonna give it back to you. Firstly, having been in comedy scene in NYC for 7 years in the 80's I worked with both Richard Lewis and Larry David- you muppet -and can guarantee they'd back me in telling you - to get a fkn life and 'move on' with all the fkn curb refs, or the office. If you didnt know, dopey, there were a whole lotta shows that came before them... and set a sort of pre-ce-dent from'' whence they did take .''
Second- you really such an expert on sit coms; their structure, character development, 'one liners' try writing one- no better- write one now and get it produced- Then you can put your opinioins out on the web
Thirdly- watch who you insult in your '''reviews''' because it could come back and seriously bite you on the ass. Let ,me be more clear- if I see you walkin down the street-I will personally bite you on the ass.
Now not be unfestive- seeing as its xmas eve here in L.A.
Happy Holidays
20 December 2007
THE ADVENT FROWN
Everyone must have a piece of Christmas television that's become a tradition in their house - The Snowman, The Queen, Top of the Pops. For me, it's always been the Christmas edition of Blue Peter.
Even if you haven't watched Blue Peter for decades, you'll know the format of the traditional Christmas show - lighting the final candle on the advent crown, cards from viewers, presents for the pets (although the tradition of giving the presenters presents too seemed to die out sometime in the '70, soon after Peter Purves received some Whistle Test cassettes), a last-minute make, the Christmas crib and the unforgettable climax with the team joined by hundreds of kids and the Chalk Farm band of the Salvation Army to croon a carol. Predictable, maybe, but always delivered with such affection and sparkle that - certainly for me - it's a top piece of life-affirming family telly to really kick off the festive season.
This was especially the case during the show's imperial phase earlier this decade, and was testament to Blue Peter's ability to stick with the show's traditions but make them relevant and enjoyable for new generations.
There's been a lot of changes to the programme this year, some of them for obvious reasons, but also due to a CBBC policy to aim purely at the under-12s with teenagers directed towards the new BBC Switch. The relaunch in September was a rather radical affair which certainly in the first few weeks had some teething problems, but with familiar staples such as the expedition and the appeal remaining in place, I'd assumed, and hoped, the Christmas show, which went out yesterday, would remain broadly similar.
But no. In fact, all the familiar Christmas traditions were junked to make way for a new format. The edition instead was a Christmas party for some of the young carers the appeal would be helping. It wasn't a bad show by any means - it was nice to see BP on a large scale in TV Centre Studio 1 again after months of squatting on a tiny fixed set, the kids seemed to enjoy it, and it helped promote the appeal further – but it wasn't the Christmas show. Hence, to round it off, rather than the Salvation Army, the musical item was Santa Claus is Coming to Town performed by ... Booty Luv.
Before the Daily Mail gets wind of this, the reason for the change was not "political correctness", as with cracker-pulling contests and Konnie visiting a Christmas tree farm, it was packed with Christmassy stuff. But not the traditional Christmas fare, and I find that hugely disappointing. Of course they have to move with the times, but to completely abandon a much-loved format after nearly 50 years seems rather unnecessary, as it was still massively enjoyable.
Biddy Baxter famously demanded the programme be "a rock" in viewers' lives, always familiar during turbulent times, so I don't know how children react to these bewildering and, really, largely pointless changes.
To use a crap analogy, I wouldn't like it if you gave me pizza for Christmas dinner rather than turkey. Christmas has been officially ruined.
Even if you haven't watched Blue Peter for decades, you'll know the format of the traditional Christmas show - lighting the final candle on the advent crown, cards from viewers, presents for the pets (although the tradition of giving the presenters presents too seemed to die out sometime in the '70, soon after Peter Purves received some Whistle Test cassettes), a last-minute make, the Christmas crib and the unforgettable climax with the team joined by hundreds of kids and the Chalk Farm band of the Salvation Army to croon a carol. Predictable, maybe, but always delivered with such affection and sparkle that - certainly for me - it's a top piece of life-affirming family telly to really kick off the festive season.
This was especially the case during the show's imperial phase earlier this decade, and was testament to Blue Peter's ability to stick with the show's traditions but make them relevant and enjoyable for new generations.
There's been a lot of changes to the programme this year, some of them for obvious reasons, but also due to a CBBC policy to aim purely at the under-12s with teenagers directed towards the new BBC Switch. The relaunch in September was a rather radical affair which certainly in the first few weeks had some teething problems, but with familiar staples such as the expedition and the appeal remaining in place, I'd assumed, and hoped, the Christmas show, which went out yesterday, would remain broadly similar.
But no. In fact, all the familiar Christmas traditions were junked to make way for a new format. The edition instead was a Christmas party for some of the young carers the appeal would be helping. It wasn't a bad show by any means - it was nice to see BP on a large scale in TV Centre Studio 1 again after months of squatting on a tiny fixed set, the kids seemed to enjoy it, and it helped promote the appeal further – but it wasn't the Christmas show. Hence, to round it off, rather than the Salvation Army, the musical item was Santa Claus is Coming to Town performed by ... Booty Luv.
Before the Daily Mail gets wind of this, the reason for the change was not "political correctness", as with cracker-pulling contests and Konnie visiting a Christmas tree farm, it was packed with Christmassy stuff. But not the traditional Christmas fare, and I find that hugely disappointing. Of course they have to move with the times, but to completely abandon a much-loved format after nearly 50 years seems rather unnecessary, as it was still massively enjoyable.
Biddy Baxter famously demanded the programme be "a rock" in viewers' lives, always familiar during turbulent times, so I don't know how children react to these bewildering and, really, largely pointless changes.
To use a crap analogy, I wouldn't like it if you gave me pizza for Christmas dinner rather than turkey. Christmas has been officially ruined.
BRUSHING® UP A CLASSIC
So it is all true. This, from PR firm Henry's House ...
A NEW LOOK FOR ONE OF TV’S MOST FAMOUS INSTITUTIONS:
BASIL’S SWAP SHOP OPENS FOR BUSINESS ON CBBC
Children’s favourite Basil Brush® will get a whole new generation of children swapping this January on CBBC. Basil’s Swap Shop will open its doors to offer children across the UK the chance to swap their stuff and anything goes, from gadgets and gizmos, to games and gear – everything is swappable on this show.
THE FOX FACTOR
This revival of classic show Swap Shop is being hosted by the loveable Basil Brush® whose characteristically cheeky wit, charm and irresistible energy make him the perfect host for Swap Shop. Presenting alongside Basil will be Barney Harwood, best known for causing mayhem with CBBC’s Prank Patrol.
INTERACTIVE SWAPPING
Viewers will be able to do more than just watch Basil’s Swap Shop on TV by playing along live or online. Basil’s Swap Shop catapults the Swap Shop format into the 21st century, with a mix of interactive and hilarious comedy entertainment, jokes, sketches, music and games, all reflecting Basil’s own unique character.
From 26th December onwards, the Swap Shop window will open online at bbc.co.uk/cbbc where children will be able to leave the details of their swap and have the chance to be featured on the show. Other children can also post their bids and details of what they’d like to offer in exchange.
CELEBRITY SWAPPING
It’s not just children who have things to swap. Each week, sports stars, pop stars, actors and star guests will be visiting the Swap Shop to trade their goods with children. Every guest that visits Basil’s Swap Shop must have something to swap – so get ready to see some of the nation’s favourite stars trading some interesting items…
TOP TEN SWAPS
Every week Basil will give a rundown of the Top Ten Swaps chart, which will be updated throughout the show and will feature live chats with the children who are trading on-air, while exploring some of the more bizarre, funny and peculiar transactions taking place.
Basil’s Swap Shop is a studio-based live entertainment show which will broadcast from January on CBBC on BBC2, aiming to get children swapping some of the great piles of ‘stuff’ cluttering up their homes.
19 December 2007
"IS IT TRUE YOU'RE BRINGING BACK THE MASTER?"
"The Voyage of the Damned", then. Lots of fun, not the most cerebral slice of Who ever, but terribly exciting, and with one real groaner they could only get away with on Christmas Day. That's what I reckoned, anyway.
The press launch, held at London's Science Museum, brought out a fascinating array of guests - from Anne Widdecombe to Nick Cave, and all points between (John Simm chatting to Nerys Hughes - hooray!). The enthusiasm and goodwill towards the show clearly continues unabated, with journalists overjoyed to be there, and representatives of various Who offshots also along for the ride (Lis Sladen, Naoko Mori and Peter Davison - who was told by someone who'll remain nameless, "You're in my top four Doctors: obviously there's Eccleston ahead of you").
The Q&A session following the screening prompted David Tennant's comment he's sticking with the series through 2008 and 2009, and also - thanks to a wonderfully blunt enquiry from one of the more juvenile members of the audience - a tacit admission from RTD that Davros is on his way. And who would be his ideal Who? Hitler, he reckoned. Or Julie Goodyear.
My favourite bit from the session, though, was one young chap: "Is it true you're bringing back the Master?". RTD: "Er, no - we're not bringing him back at all". "My friend lied then". "If your friend phones up The Sun, he'll get £350 for that!"
The press launch, held at London's Science Museum, brought out a fascinating array of guests - from Anne Widdecombe to Nick Cave, and all points between (John Simm chatting to Nerys Hughes - hooray!). The enthusiasm and goodwill towards the show clearly continues unabated, with journalists overjoyed to be there, and representatives of various Who offshots also along for the ride (Lis Sladen, Naoko Mori and Peter Davison - who was told by someone who'll remain nameless, "You're in my top four Doctors: obviously there's Eccleston ahead of you").
The Q&A session following the screening prompted David Tennant's comment he's sticking with the series through 2008 and 2009, and also - thanks to a wonderfully blunt enquiry from one of the more juvenile members of the audience - a tacit admission from RTD that Davros is on his way. And who would be his ideal Who? Hitler, he reckoned. Or Julie Goodyear.
My favourite bit from the session, though, was one young chap: "Is it true you're bringing back the Master?". RTD: "Er, no - we're not bringing him back at all". "My friend lied then". "If your friend phones up The Sun, he'll get £350 for that!"
NAME THAT WHO-NE
Ouch, that's a shocking pun. Sorry everyone.
Anyway, I'll blog properly about last night's Who launch in a bit, but one thing I've yet to see reported from the event is the new arrangement of the theme tune. It's rather good - not hugely different, but certainly beefed up.
I'd heard Murray Gold had worked on a Peter Howell-esque version for the Children in Need skit. It was said everyone on the production had fallen in love with the effort, realising it was too good to throw away on a one-off. Obviously it was never used - I wonder if that's where this new take comes from?
Anyway, I'll blog properly about last night's Who launch in a bit, but one thing I've yet to see reported from the event is the new arrangement of the theme tune. It's rather good - not hugely different, but certainly beefed up.
I'd heard Murray Gold had worked on a Peter Howell-esque version for the Children in Need skit. It was said everyone on the production had fallen in love with the effort, realising it was too good to throw away on a one-off. Obviously it was never used - I wonder if that's where this new take comes from?
17 December 2007
"YOU'VE JUST EATEN THE BABY JESUS!"
Apropos the time of year, five of television's greatest ever Christmas episodes:
Ever Decreasing Circles (Christmas special)
The loudest laugh you'll ever hear in a BBC sitcom turns up in this, when Richard Briers wakes up on Boxing Day to discover lying next to him in bed is ... Well, you can guess. It's a hysterical, touching, slightly surreal and avowedly inspiring episode that avoids all cloying sentimentality and goes instead for clumsy, authentic emotion.
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes ("The Blue Carbuncle")
A shameless bit of Granada period festive finery, but what's not to like? Holmes and Watson spend the best part of an hour schlepping round London on Christmas Eve on the trail of an elusive goose, encountering shysters, tinkers, vagabonds, washerwomen and rozzers aplenty. Everywhere and everyone is decked out in seasonal splendour and suffused with yuletide spirits, even, yes even, Holmes himself. The moment when they discover the location of the titular gem is simply fantastic.
Yes, Minister ("Party Games")
"Mrs Hacker left these for you to sign: your personal Christmas cards. But it won't take long. Only eleven hundred and seventy-two." The story of a shady lady from Argentina, drunken pratfalls, a Prime Ministerial resignation, butter mountains, wine lakes and the Emulsified High-Fat Offal Tube. And, ultimately, the sight of Paul Eddington getting to become Prime Minister: the perfect Christmas present you could wish for in any year.
Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Mary, Joseph and Larry")
This is an especially great episode because Larry starts off by going out of his way to do good - putting up with his in-laws, distributing generous tips at the golf club - and yet can't help but contrive to be his own worst enemy, accidentally eating a batch of cookies depicting the nativity because he thought Jesus "looked like a monkey". Hiring a local performance troupe to hastily restage a crib scene in his driveway, more trouble ensues when he tries to get the bloke playing Joseph to agree that "the woman playing Mary is hot". Still, at least the ensuing tussle dislodges the pubic hair stuck in Larry's throat.
The West Wing ("In Excelsis Deo")
I'm going to say this is the best of the lot. The 48 hours before Christmas Day are filled, variously, with the President popping out to a second-hand bookshop, his secretary revealing it's the anniversary of her sons' deaths in Vietnam, his press secretary flirtatiously jousting with a reporter, two of his senior staff laying their careers on the line for his chief of staff, and his communications director taking it upon himself to arrange a full military funeral for a homeless Korean War veteran. It sounds a jumbled, disjointed mess, but it's the complete opposite, embracing every cliche and convention of "the Christmas episode" then turning them all on their head. There's rarely been a more shiningly sincere example of festive television.
Ever Decreasing Circles (Christmas special)
The loudest laugh you'll ever hear in a BBC sitcom turns up in this, when Richard Briers wakes up on Boxing Day to discover lying next to him in bed is ... Well, you can guess. It's a hysterical, touching, slightly surreal and avowedly inspiring episode that avoids all cloying sentimentality and goes instead for clumsy, authentic emotion.
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes ("The Blue Carbuncle")
A shameless bit of Granada period festive finery, but what's not to like? Holmes and Watson spend the best part of an hour schlepping round London on Christmas Eve on the trail of an elusive goose, encountering shysters, tinkers, vagabonds, washerwomen and rozzers aplenty. Everywhere and everyone is decked out in seasonal splendour and suffused with yuletide spirits, even, yes even, Holmes himself. The moment when they discover the location of the titular gem is simply fantastic.
Yes, Minister ("Party Games")
"Mrs Hacker left these for you to sign: your personal Christmas cards. But it won't take long. Only eleven hundred and seventy-two." The story of a shady lady from Argentina, drunken pratfalls, a Prime Ministerial resignation, butter mountains, wine lakes and the Emulsified High-Fat Offal Tube. And, ultimately, the sight of Paul Eddington getting to become Prime Minister: the perfect Christmas present you could wish for in any year.
Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Mary, Joseph and Larry")
This is an especially great episode because Larry starts off by going out of his way to do good - putting up with his in-laws, distributing generous tips at the golf club - and yet can't help but contrive to be his own worst enemy, accidentally eating a batch of cookies depicting the nativity because he thought Jesus "looked like a monkey". Hiring a local performance troupe to hastily restage a crib scene in his driveway, more trouble ensues when he tries to get the bloke playing Joseph to agree that "the woman playing Mary is hot". Still, at least the ensuing tussle dislodges the pubic hair stuck in Larry's throat.
The West Wing ("In Excelsis Deo")
I'm going to say this is the best of the lot. The 48 hours before Christmas Day are filled, variously, with the President popping out to a second-hand bookshop, his secretary revealing it's the anniversary of her sons' deaths in Vietnam, his press secretary flirtatiously jousting with a reporter, two of his senior staff laying their careers on the line for his chief of staff, and his communications director taking it upon himself to arrange a full military funeral for a homeless Korean War veteran. It sounds a jumbled, disjointed mess, but it's the complete opposite, embracing every cliche and convention of "the Christmas episode" then turning them all on their head. There's rarely been a more shiningly sincere example of festive television.
16 December 2007
"I DON'T LIKE IT ..."
It's the new BBC website front page now beta testing. We now live in a customisable, modular age. All very Web 2.0 etc. And actually, I do like the clock.
14 December 2007
"ALL THEM PROGRAMMES IS RECORDED IN AUGUST!"
Broadcasters have been ripping off millions of viewers through phone-ins. The Controller of BBC1 was forced to resign over media pressure. Thousands of viewers risk being disenfranchised by digital switchover. And what's Liberal Democrat broadcasting spokesman Don Foster doing? Counting up all the repeats on Christmas telly again.
It's ironic that Foster's moaning about repeats given the only time he seems to show up in the media is to talk about the repeats on Christmas telly. Here he is doing it in 2006 and here he is doing it in 2003. And, as usual, it's utter rubbish. On the day itself, BBC1 is all new from 1.30pm until 11.30pm, ITV1 is from 3pm to 9.30pm, and of the other channels, who cares? So BBC2 is showing Dad's Army at 8pm on Christmas Day - that's because everyone's going to be watching EastEnders and Harry Hill's TV Burp. What else are they going to do?
Of course repeats are going to be up if you include cartoons at 5am. Look at the programmes Foster cites as being repeated - The Snowman which is on at 2pm and Creature Comforts which is at 10.30am. If you're going to be watching telly then, what do you expect?
Besides, it's not as if the "golden age" of Christmas telly was any better. 1977 is always cited as the best ever Christmas Day line-up, but the prestigious post-Queen slot was filled by The Wizard of Oz, for the second time in two years, while before that was last year's Are You Being Served? and the ancient National Velvet. Or what about 1991 when BBC1 primetime was largely filled up with two utterly unfestive films?
Foster seems to be living in some sort of sitcom version of Christmas where The Great Escape is unspooled every Christmas night and the nation stands up for the Queen's speech. Your dad comes up with more relevant and topical material after he's downed five glasses of bucks fizz, and he's not being paid for it.
It's ironic that Foster's moaning about repeats given the only time he seems to show up in the media is to talk about the repeats on Christmas telly. Here he is doing it in 2006 and here he is doing it in 2003. And, as usual, it's utter rubbish. On the day itself, BBC1 is all new from 1.30pm until 11.30pm, ITV1 is from 3pm to 9.30pm, and of the other channels, who cares? So BBC2 is showing Dad's Army at 8pm on Christmas Day - that's because everyone's going to be watching EastEnders and Harry Hill's TV Burp. What else are they going to do?
Of course repeats are going to be up if you include cartoons at 5am. Look at the programmes Foster cites as being repeated - The Snowman which is on at 2pm and Creature Comforts which is at 10.30am. If you're going to be watching telly then, what do you expect?
Besides, it's not as if the "golden age" of Christmas telly was any better. 1977 is always cited as the best ever Christmas Day line-up, but the prestigious post-Queen slot was filled by The Wizard of Oz, for the second time in two years, while before that was last year's Are You Being Served? and the ancient National Velvet. Or what about 1991 when BBC1 primetime was largely filled up with two utterly unfestive films?
Foster seems to be living in some sort of sitcom version of Christmas where The Great Escape is unspooled every Christmas night and the nation stands up for the Queen's speech. Your dad comes up with more relevant and topical material after he's downed five glasses of bucks fizz, and he's not being paid for it.
12 December 2007
GREAT TO BE BACK, SO IT IS!
Jim McDonald's return to Coronation Street has been long overdue, and for once I'm actually not speculating nor pondering the plotlines ahead for Charles Lawson, though one can imagine that something isn't quite going to go to plan when Liz and Vernon (a fantastic character) tie the knot in two weeks. I'm just glad the ex-con, ex-Army patriarch with the temper from hell is back.
The McDonalds have always been brilliant. Feisty, argumentative and racked with tensions, they nonetheless maintained the believable end of their edginess and it was a poor decision to axe first Andy (though Nicholas Cochrane's character, as the strongest-willed, was the most disposable) and then Jim. Although both have returned sporadically when plotlines have demanded it (the Blackpool special, Steve's riotous second wedding to Karen) it has fallen on Simon Gregson's shoulders to prove that a McDonald presence on the Street needed to be maintained. Bringing back the character of Jim pays a sly tribute to Gregson's standing on the Street these days as, despite being only 33 in real life and in character, one of the programme's longest-serving continuous characters.
I hope Jim is back to stay, and although he is much more chalk to the rest of the family's cheese, I hope there are plans afoot to bring back Andy too, even beyond any necessary cameo for Cochrane to undertake for the wedding episode. There is a difference with the McDonalds I enjoy.
The McDonalds have always been brilliant. Feisty, argumentative and racked with tensions, they nonetheless maintained the believable end of their edginess and it was a poor decision to axe first Andy (though Nicholas Cochrane's character, as the strongest-willed, was the most disposable) and then Jim. Although both have returned sporadically when plotlines have demanded it (the Blackpool special, Steve's riotous second wedding to Karen) it has fallen on Simon Gregson's shoulders to prove that a McDonald presence on the Street needed to be maintained. Bringing back the character of Jim pays a sly tribute to Gregson's standing on the Street these days as, despite being only 33 in real life and in character, one of the programme's longest-serving continuous characters.
I hope Jim is back to stay, and although he is much more chalk to the rest of the family's cheese, I hope there are plans afoot to bring back Andy too, even beyond any necessary cameo for Cochrane to undertake for the wedding episode. There is a difference with the McDonalds I enjoy.
11 December 2007
BE SEEING YOU
Lark Rise to Candleford is a splendid period drama, which will be livening up Sunday nights on BBC1 from mid-January. And I'm just back from the press launch at London's Soho Hotel.
Inevitably, though, the most interesting aspect of this production for me - which stars Julia Sawalha, Dawn French, Mark Heap, Ben Miles and millions of others - was the writer, Bill Gallagher. Back in the '90s, he penned one of my favourite ever police dramas, Out of the Blue. Naturally I took a moment to collar him once the roundtables were done.
A very nice chap he turned out to be. Clearly, still proud of that series, he lamented its early demise at the hands of incoming BBC1 Controller Michael Jackson.
"What are you working on next?" I asked. "The Prisoner". Oh, shit, I'd forgotten about that. And, yes, filming is about to begin on that show in a village location somewhere in Namibia. My assumption was they're not going to revisit the iconography of the original series, and that seems to be broadly correct - although homage will be paid at various points. One episode features an antiques shop where a penny-farthing is among the clutter, another has a character signing off with, "Be seeing you". Most interesting of all, though, in episode two (if I've remember this right) the new prisoner will flee to an "Escape World" theme park, which will have clear echoes of ... the original Village.
From talking to him, Gallagher is clearly an aficionado of the original series, remembering fondly (if that's the right word) how disturbing he found it. He told me Patrick McGoohan (whose current illness has precluded his involvement in this version) starred in a Kafka-esque German play called, The Prisoner before commencing the series. A fact new to me.
He has, however, decided to remain undaunted by the expectation that will weigh down on the project. "Sod the internet", he said.
Inevitably, though, the most interesting aspect of this production for me - which stars Julia Sawalha, Dawn French, Mark Heap, Ben Miles and millions of others - was the writer, Bill Gallagher. Back in the '90s, he penned one of my favourite ever police dramas, Out of the Blue. Naturally I took a moment to collar him once the roundtables were done.
A very nice chap he turned out to be. Clearly, still proud of that series, he lamented its early demise at the hands of incoming BBC1 Controller Michael Jackson.
"What are you working on next?" I asked. "The Prisoner". Oh, shit, I'd forgotten about that. And, yes, filming is about to begin on that show in a village location somewhere in Namibia. My assumption was they're not going to revisit the iconography of the original series, and that seems to be broadly correct - although homage will be paid at various points. One episode features an antiques shop where a penny-farthing is among the clutter, another has a character signing off with, "Be seeing you". Most interesting of all, though, in episode two (if I've remember this right) the new prisoner will flee to an "Escape World" theme park, which will have clear echoes of ... the original Village.
From talking to him, Gallagher is clearly an aficionado of the original series, remembering fondly (if that's the right word) how disturbing he found it. He told me Patrick McGoohan (whose current illness has precluded his involvement in this version) starred in a Kafka-esque German play called, The Prisoner before commencing the series. A fact new to me.
He has, however, decided to remain undaunted by the expectation that will weigh down on the project. "Sod the internet", he said.
08 December 2007
THAT HAPPY DAY
The Extras Christmas special (most probably the last ever episode of the series) is on BBC1 Thursday, December 27.
I watched it on preview disc last night - and kind of enjoyed it. Worry not, interested parties, I shan't spoil plot details. However, it is overlong, too keen to grab at pathos (Maggie's circumstances dramatically reduced - cue lots of shots of her cleaning urinals for a living) and culminates in a very odd speech from Andy Millman/Ricky Gervais about the nature of celebrity, which brought to mind - shudder! - Jimmy Corkhill/Phil Redmond's 10-minute rant in the final Brookside ... should that comparison mean anything to anyone.
Two other niggles. As we all know, David Tennant gets a look-in, with a Doctor Who spoof. This is decidedly odd, treating the show as it was still perceived 25 years ago (ie. shit monsters and technobabble dialogue). And, The Ivy really, really doesn't look like that.
Nonetheless, some bits are very funny (The Birdie Song in particular, you'll know it when you see it) and there's a nice cameo when the action moves to The Carphone Warehouse. But the ending just isn't going to steal Christmas in the way Dawn 'n' Tim did in 2003.
I watched it on preview disc last night - and kind of enjoyed it. Worry not, interested parties, I shan't spoil plot details. However, it is overlong, too keen to grab at pathos (Maggie's circumstances dramatically reduced - cue lots of shots of her cleaning urinals for a living) and culminates in a very odd speech from Andy Millman/Ricky Gervais about the nature of celebrity, which brought to mind - shudder! - Jimmy Corkhill/Phil Redmond's 10-minute rant in the final Brookside ... should that comparison mean anything to anyone.
Two other niggles. As we all know, David Tennant gets a look-in, with a Doctor Who spoof. This is decidedly odd, treating the show as it was still perceived 25 years ago (ie. shit monsters and technobabble dialogue). And, The Ivy really, really doesn't look like that.
Nonetheless, some bits are very funny (The Birdie Song in particular, you'll know it when you see it) and there's a nice cameo when the action moves to The Carphone Warehouse. But the ending just isn't going to steal Christmas in the way Dawn 'n' Tim did in 2003.
06 December 2007
REVIEW OF THE YEAR TIME
So with 2007 winding to a close with Manors Reborn and Doctor Whos preparing to disembark TARDISes, the time has come to solicit contributions for this year's OTT Review of the year. The format is pretty straightforward, you write about what you think have been the most notable programmes, people and events in the world of television over the last 12 months, and then email your thoughts to 2007@offthetelly.co.uk. From here we then hope to compile the definitive look back at the year for publication in January's Off The Telly. If you want to check out the previous form take a look here. We really appreciate any submissions and, as long as you provide your full name, we'll credit you in the final article. The deadline for submissions is Friday 14 December, so you don't have long.
As a reminder 2007 was the year of - the last Life on Mars, Heroes on terrestrial telly, Ming's Bling, The Sarah Jane Adventures, the end of Grandstand, the return of This Life, Channel 4's 25th, the TV cash for questions row, Tycoon, the return of Hell's Kitchen and, as they say in the pages of all the best magazines, so much more. That email address again then 2007@offthetelly.co.uk.
As a reminder 2007 was the year of - the last Life on Mars, Heroes on terrestrial telly, Ming's Bling, The Sarah Jane Adventures, the end of Grandstand, the return of This Life, Channel 4's 25th, the TV cash for questions row, Tycoon, the return of Hell's Kitchen and, as they say in the pages of all the best magazines, so much more. That email address again then 2007@offthetelly.co.uk.
05 December 2007
"ILLY"
Coronation Street current director, apparently. Illy. That's all. Illy. So what's going on here then?
03 December 2007
"I'LL JUST WANK OFF IANTO"
Those words spoken, of course, by John Barrowman at this morning’s press launch for series two of Torchwood (TX-ing from mid January on BBC2). This was as he sat down next to Gareth David-Lloyd in the screening room. The first actual words spoken in the second series, though? Oh, go on then - “‘Scuse me, have you seen a blowfish driving a sports car?”
For those who griped about series one last year, there’ll be little to appease them here. Everyone still fancies everyone, it’s violent, glib, swaggering. I think it’s terrifically entertaining (an early scene features James Marsters dressed as Adam Ant, strolling into a nightclub telling all the people he doesn’t fancy to go home). Yes, it’s still a bit silly, but this time out - if anything - it knows that. Later on, Ianto tells Jack to search the roof of a building, commenting that he’s good on roofs. Oh, and right at the start, as the team turn up in pursuit of the aforementioned motoring fish, a witness mutters, “Bloody Torchwood” as they roll on by in the Mystery Machine.
The obvious main headline from the morning, I think, was the fact the show is going to get a pre-watershed repeat, meaning there’ll be a “clean” version in circulation sans the swearing and violence. But not the same sex snogging. That stays in. Oh, and James Marsters - who plays Jack’s former Time Agency colleague - will be returning later in the run. “I’ve found Gray,” he muttered enigmatically, as he disappeared into the rift, setting up this year’s over-arching macguffin - which Jack, of course, refused to talk about.
What else? Well, Andrew Cartmel was in attendance, although I’m guessing purely in the role of an interested onlooker.
As the morning drew on, I interviewed Eve Myles, who was effusive and fun. Gwen gets married this year! And Rhys finds out about her day (or is that night?) job! Would she appear in Doctor Who? “I’m not in the next series,” she said - the qualification piquing my interest, before Barrowman walked over and groped her tits.
Come lunchtime, it was face-to-face with the man himself. Clearly a little tired from the morning’s press activity, he seemed a tad “off-duty” and more candid than normal. Despite the previous incident, there was little innuendo here. As a result, I found him fascinating. I asked him about the slightly frosty fan reaction to series one.
“It’s usually the fan sites that have the problem,” he said. “The public don’t have the problem. You think it would be the other way around. I don’t know what the fan sites want. We try to give them science fiction, we try to give them stories that are bizarre, we try to give them characters who do outrageous things that are off-the-wall. And when you give it to them, they’re still ... I don’t know what it is. What we have to really establish is, we’re not Doctor Who. And if you’re looking for Doctor Who, you’re looking at the wrong show.”
My pet theory is fans are alienated by the overt sexuality in the show. The original run of Who was asexual, making it comfortable viewing for - how can I put this? - those who perhaps aren’t able to express their erotic desires.
“See, I disagree with you,” said Barrowman, “because all the fans I talk to are so glad. The letters that I get, and the emails I get are people saying, ‘Thank goodness for finally representing the omni-sexuality of somebody, because it reflects how I really am!’. So I just think, to be honest, the problem comes from the people from the old school. The new school of the Whovians and the Woodies - I call ‘em - are the ones who are more savvy. The old school are from the classic series. You know what? It’s long gone! It’s a piece of history. It stands on its own. I’m a fan, I love it, I still love watching them. But the new Who, Torchwood? We’re different. You can’t compare us to the other one. And I think that’s where the problem is. Get over it!”
Anyway, I sense I’m rambling a bit now. So I’ll bring this entry to a close with a couple more snippets. Both from Barrowman. First up, he owns every bit of merchandise with his face on it (plus the bullets he shot at that Dalek back in series one). And, two, he seems genuinely unsure if he’ll do a further series of Torchwood. Not that he wants to stop playing Jack, but he seemed to have huge issues with the production of the show.
“We’ll see how things work out, I haven’t made any decisions. If we do get the go-ahead, I’ll really have to sit down and think about it. It’s not the commitment. Honestly, this last series was a bit of a nightmare at times, because of bad scheduling. Because of production things going wrong ...”
For those who griped about series one last year, there’ll be little to appease them here. Everyone still fancies everyone, it’s violent, glib, swaggering. I think it’s terrifically entertaining (an early scene features James Marsters dressed as Adam Ant, strolling into a nightclub telling all the people he doesn’t fancy to go home). Yes, it’s still a bit silly, but this time out - if anything - it knows that. Later on, Ianto tells Jack to search the roof of a building, commenting that he’s good on roofs. Oh, and right at the start, as the team turn up in pursuit of the aforementioned motoring fish, a witness mutters, “Bloody Torchwood” as they roll on by in the Mystery Machine.
The obvious main headline from the morning, I think, was the fact the show is going to get a pre-watershed repeat, meaning there’ll be a “clean” version in circulation sans the swearing and violence. But not the same sex snogging. That stays in. Oh, and James Marsters - who plays Jack’s former Time Agency colleague - will be returning later in the run. “I’ve found Gray,” he muttered enigmatically, as he disappeared into the rift, setting up this year’s over-arching macguffin - which Jack, of course, refused to talk about.
What else? Well, Andrew Cartmel was in attendance, although I’m guessing purely in the role of an interested onlooker.
As the morning drew on, I interviewed Eve Myles, who was effusive and fun. Gwen gets married this year! And Rhys finds out about her day (or is that night?) job! Would she appear in Doctor Who? “I’m not in the next series,” she said - the qualification piquing my interest, before Barrowman walked over and groped her tits.
Come lunchtime, it was face-to-face with the man himself. Clearly a little tired from the morning’s press activity, he seemed a tad “off-duty” and more candid than normal. Despite the previous incident, there was little innuendo here. As a result, I found him fascinating. I asked him about the slightly frosty fan reaction to series one.
“It’s usually the fan sites that have the problem,” he said. “The public don’t have the problem. You think it would be the other way around. I don’t know what the fan sites want. We try to give them science fiction, we try to give them stories that are bizarre, we try to give them characters who do outrageous things that are off-the-wall. And when you give it to them, they’re still ... I don’t know what it is. What we have to really establish is, we’re not Doctor Who. And if you’re looking for Doctor Who, you’re looking at the wrong show.”
My pet theory is fans are alienated by the overt sexuality in the show. The original run of Who was asexual, making it comfortable viewing for - how can I put this? - those who perhaps aren’t able to express their erotic desires.
“See, I disagree with you,” said Barrowman, “because all the fans I talk to are so glad. The letters that I get, and the emails I get are people saying, ‘Thank goodness for finally representing the omni-sexuality of somebody, because it reflects how I really am!’. So I just think, to be honest, the problem comes from the people from the old school. The new school of the Whovians and the Woodies - I call ‘em - are the ones who are more savvy. The old school are from the classic series. You know what? It’s long gone! It’s a piece of history. It stands on its own. I’m a fan, I love it, I still love watching them. But the new Who, Torchwood? We’re different. You can’t compare us to the other one. And I think that’s where the problem is. Get over it!”
Anyway, I sense I’m rambling a bit now. So I’ll bring this entry to a close with a couple more snippets. Both from Barrowman. First up, he owns every bit of merchandise with his face on it (plus the bullets he shot at that Dalek back in series one). And, two, he seems genuinely unsure if he’ll do a further series of Torchwood. Not that he wants to stop playing Jack, but he seemed to have huge issues with the production of the show.
“We’ll see how things work out, I haven’t made any decisions. If we do get the go-ahead, I’ll really have to sit down and think about it. It’s not the commitment. Honestly, this last series was a bit of a nightmare at times, because of bad scheduling. Because of production things going wrong ...”