31 March 2008
"TIDY!"
We're more than halfway through the latest series of Gavin and Stacey and so far, hardly anything has actually, you know, happened. But that's all to the good, because I reckon this is the funniest, most warm-hearted sitcom on telly for ages.
The Royle Family has always been heralded as the high water mark of realism in TV comedy, but Gavin and Stacey certainly comes close. The scene in last night's episode where everyone was getting excited over Mick's three-second appearance on The Six O'Clock News was wonderful, and surely everyone who's ever seen a loved one on telly could relate to it. Similarly last week's undignified fight between Smithy and his sister was both brilliantly funny and - as someone with a younger sister myself - a wonderfully accurate portrayal of sibling rivalry.
What's great is that all the characters in the series are likable, with even the more overt comic characters like Uncle Bryn and Nessa being fully rounded and sympathetic, without simply being used to set up jokes. The performances are exceptional too - James Corden is a great comedy actor and lights up the screen whenever he appears, and although some people seem to be finding Joanna Page a bit annoying, I think she's playing it just right, and her accent just makes the lines funnier ("It's going to be immense!").
The one drawback, though, is that it's on post-watershed BBC3, and presumably then post-watershed BBC2. Surely this is a series that deserves a pre-watershed BBC1 position? It's genuinely fun for anyone from nine to 99 - I recommended the last series to my parents and they really enjoy it too. Rob Brydon said that he suggested Corden and Jones removed some of less neccessary swearing to make it proper family viewing, and with a bit of editing, it could easily play at 8.30pm.
And I reckon that there, it would be the biggest show on telly, by miles.
The Royle Family has always been heralded as the high water mark of realism in TV comedy, but Gavin and Stacey certainly comes close. The scene in last night's episode where everyone was getting excited over Mick's three-second appearance on The Six O'Clock News was wonderful, and surely everyone who's ever seen a loved one on telly could relate to it. Similarly last week's undignified fight between Smithy and his sister was both brilliantly funny and - as someone with a younger sister myself - a wonderfully accurate portrayal of sibling rivalry.
What's great is that all the characters in the series are likable, with even the more overt comic characters like Uncle Bryn and Nessa being fully rounded and sympathetic, without simply being used to set up jokes. The performances are exceptional too - James Corden is a great comedy actor and lights up the screen whenever he appears, and although some people seem to be finding Joanna Page a bit annoying, I think she's playing it just right, and her accent just makes the lines funnier ("It's going to be immense!").
The one drawback, though, is that it's on post-watershed BBC3, and presumably then post-watershed BBC2. Surely this is a series that deserves a pre-watershed BBC1 position? It's genuinely fun for anyone from nine to 99 - I recommended the last series to my parents and they really enjoy it too. Rob Brydon said that he suggested Corden and Jones removed some of less neccessary swearing to make it proper family viewing, and with a bit of editing, it could easily play at 8.30pm.
And I reckon that there, it would be the biggest show on telly, by miles.
26 March 2008
SHOW AND TELL
Andy Favell, the Web Editor for Channel 4's The TV Show has been on the OTT blog phone. Here's what he said ...
I wondered whether this sort of thing may be of interest to the OTT blog and readership. The head of daytime at C4 has given The TV Show website an update on what's happening at daytime, asking viewers what they'd like to see replace Richard and Judy.
It's sparked a good discussion in the C4 forums.
LOST IN THE ASHES OF TORCHWOOD
The general mood surrounding telefantasy fans has been a little down of late. Ashes to Ashes has consistently mystified, with episodes regularly grinding to a halt halfway through for some oddly unrevealing moments of characterisation (the end of last Thursday's ep where Gene Hunt offers an apology seemed particularly pointless). Meanwhile, Torchwood infuriatingly continues to miss the mark. The whole thing seems compromised by a kids' show premise sitting in an adult drama. You get the sense the production team is so confused by the series, they've lost any sense of what a good episode of Torchwood should look like. Series two hasn't been completely crap, but it's continued to underperform.
It's Lost then, that I am turning to for my telefantasy kicks at the moment. This fourth series has been taut and adrenalized. The key moment for me occurred some weeks back when Jack asked Faraday to explain why he was running strange experiments on the island. The traditional prevarication then ensued, and I was left assuming that the answers Jack was looking for would be withheld for weeks on end. But just five minutes later, Faraday was outlining the whole theory regarding the island being caught up in some kind of time vortex thingy. What a relief to get some answers.
I'm not sure if the 60-odd hour investment in watching the first three series to start getting these kind of pay offs is entirely worth it, but the episode in which Desmond started jumping through time, was quite simply the best slice of telefantasy I've seen since "Blink", and remarkably complex and high-concept for a mainstream TV series.
Completely unrelated, but a quick nod of appreciation too for Virgin One's American Inventor.
It's Lost then, that I am turning to for my telefantasy kicks at the moment. This fourth series has been taut and adrenalized. The key moment for me occurred some weeks back when Jack asked Faraday to explain why he was running strange experiments on the island. The traditional prevarication then ensued, and I was left assuming that the answers Jack was looking for would be withheld for weeks on end. But just five minutes later, Faraday was outlining the whole theory regarding the island being caught up in some kind of time vortex thingy. What a relief to get some answers.
I'm not sure if the 60-odd hour investment in watching the first three series to start getting these kind of pay offs is entirely worth it, but the episode in which Desmond started jumping through time, was quite simply the best slice of telefantasy I've seen since "Blink", and remarkably complex and high-concept for a mainstream TV series.
Completely unrelated, but a quick nod of appreciation too for Virgin One's American Inventor.
25 March 2008
FOR THE LOVE OF ADA
I spent most of Good Friday morning sat on a train that firstly didn't move for ages, and then followed a route seemingly planned by throwing darts at a map of Britain, but it wasn't so bad, as it meant I got to read most of We Don't Know What We're Doing, the quirky, good-humoured and thoughtful book on what it's like to be a football fan, written by the quirky, good-humoured and thoughtful Adrian Chiles.
Perhaps only Jeff Stelling can rival Chiles as the best football presenter on TV right now. On Match of the Day 2 he brilliantly combines thoughtful and detailed analysis with laugh-out-loud humour. He's by no means the slickest host (this week he forgot the word "goalkeeper") but that's all part of his laconic charm. He can put proper questions to his pundits, forever asking them to explain exactly why players have done such a thing in terms that fans can understand.
Best of all is the regular "2 Good, 2 Bad" section, where Adrian simply narrates a deadpan summary of all the cock-ups and silly moments that have taken place over the weekend - which in other hands might be awful, but thanks to Adrian's wit is fantastic ("If you're in the Portsmouth area, have you seen this ball?").
Such is Adrian's success on the sofa, it's not surprising to see other broadcasters sniffing around him, and rumours are rife of a possible move to ITV. This must never happen, because there's no way Adrian can replicate what he does so brilliantly in an hour late at night than in the five minutes that ITV provide before live games. He works best in the studio, where there's time to kick back and take a more reflective look, and gently take the piss when the games are rubbish. You wouldn't be able to do this while presenting Manchester United vs Rosenborg in the Champions League.
It's not the first time ITV have been looking to brighten up their football coverage -a while back they were hoping to poach Jeff Stelling, but in the end he turned down their overtures. Again, he would have been completely the wrong fit for ITV, given he excels in the Soccer Saturday format where he's frantically darting around the grounds. The only way he could do that on ITV is if they let him host the General Election ("Declaration at Enfield Southgate, Chris Kamara!" "Unbelievable, Jeff, Portillo's out!").
In addition, I don't know why anyone with any sense would want to work for ITV given it's seemingly forever looking to replace its existing hosts with someone more exciting. I'm sure Steve Rider and Matt Smith are thrilled by ITV's support for their work.
Perhaps only Jeff Stelling can rival Chiles as the best football presenter on TV right now. On Match of the Day 2 he brilliantly combines thoughtful and detailed analysis with laugh-out-loud humour. He's by no means the slickest host (this week he forgot the word "goalkeeper") but that's all part of his laconic charm. He can put proper questions to his pundits, forever asking them to explain exactly why players have done such a thing in terms that fans can understand.
Best of all is the regular "2 Good, 2 Bad" section, where Adrian simply narrates a deadpan summary of all the cock-ups and silly moments that have taken place over the weekend - which in other hands might be awful, but thanks to Adrian's wit is fantastic ("If you're in the Portsmouth area, have you seen this ball?").
Such is Adrian's success on the sofa, it's not surprising to see other broadcasters sniffing around him, and rumours are rife of a possible move to ITV. This must never happen, because there's no way Adrian can replicate what he does so brilliantly in an hour late at night than in the five minutes that ITV provide before live games. He works best in the studio, where there's time to kick back and take a more reflective look, and gently take the piss when the games are rubbish. You wouldn't be able to do this while presenting Manchester United vs Rosenborg in the Champions League.
It's not the first time ITV have been looking to brighten up their football coverage -a while back they were hoping to poach Jeff Stelling, but in the end he turned down their overtures. Again, he would have been completely the wrong fit for ITV, given he excels in the Soccer Saturday format where he's frantically darting around the grounds. The only way he could do that on ITV is if they let him host the General Election ("Declaration at Enfield Southgate, Chris Kamara!" "Unbelievable, Jeff, Portillo's out!").
In addition, I don't know why anyone with any sense would want to work for ITV given it's seemingly forever looking to replace its existing hosts with someone more exciting. I'm sure Steve Rider and Matt Smith are thrilled by ITV's support for their work.
20 March 2008
FLEETWOOD MAC SAID TO BE "QUITE PLEASED, REALLY"
Formula 1 is moving back to the BBC, although it seems nobody has managed to uncover why ITV are dropping it midway through their contract or, indeed, F1 are dropping ITV. The timing is a bit odd, given that Britain has, in Lewis Hamilton, a driver capable of winning the world title for the first time in a decade.
The question is, who's going to present it? Steve Rider left the BBC in a huff to front ITV's coverage, so it's unlikely he'll be welcomed back. Media Guardian ridiculously claims that "Gabby Logan, Gary Lineker and John Inverdale are all being touted," but it's unlikely to be any of those three, and it's definitely not going to be Gary Lineker.
My first thought on hearing the news this morning was that Richard Hammond should get the gig. For one thing, Bernie Ecclestone would surely approve of someone even shorter than him doing the job.
I'd also like to see James May doing the grid walk ("Kimi, a word? Oh cock") but that's possibly less likely.
It also remains to be seen who'll be commentating, but despite everyone on the BBC Sport Editors blog blindly imploring them to "get Murray Walker back" it's not going to happen. He's 85!
The question is, who's going to present it? Steve Rider left the BBC in a huff to front ITV's coverage, so it's unlikely he'll be welcomed back. Media Guardian ridiculously claims that "Gabby Logan, Gary Lineker and John Inverdale are all being touted," but it's unlikely to be any of those three, and it's definitely not going to be Gary Lineker.
My first thought on hearing the news this morning was that Richard Hammond should get the gig. For one thing, Bernie Ecclestone would surely approve of someone even shorter than him doing the job.
I'd also like to see James May doing the grid walk ("Kimi, a word? Oh cock") but that's possibly less likely.
It also remains to be seen who'll be commentating, but despite everyone on the BBC Sport Editors blog blindly imploring them to "get Murray Walker back" it's not going to happen. He's 85!
18 March 2008
I'LL GIVE YOU TEN DOLLARS FOR A VERBAL RESPONSE
What's happened to Curb Your Enthusiasm on More4?
This week's episode seems to have vanished, replaced - last night - with a jumble of unrelated, unexceptional programmes. Worse, next week the channel's entire Monday night has been given over to...back-to-back Phoenix Nights!
There were only two episodes left in the series as well. I know More4 has always been loathe to treat the show with any respect, but this is, well, diabolical.
This week's episode seems to have vanished, replaced - last night - with a jumble of unrelated, unexceptional programmes. Worse, next week the channel's entire Monday night has been given over to...back-to-back Phoenix Nights!
There were only two episodes left in the series as well. I know More4 has always been loathe to treat the show with any respect, but this is, well, diabolical.
10 March 2008
VELLY POOR TASTE?
Adrian Edmondson's upcoming, and much postponed, ITV1 sitcom, Teenage Kicks (currently due to air Friday March 28 - but that could all change) is an old school, broad-brush effort. And, here's a thing, it features a Chinese, Star Wars-loving nerd called David (Jonathan Chan-Pensley). There's a bit where one of the Caucasian characters takes the piss out of his accent, and gives it the full-on Charlie Chan. Is that okay, now?
07 March 2008
"NO CONSUMER ADVICE IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS WORK ..."
If you want even more proof of ITV1's confidence in their heavily trailed new series, the BBFC have just passed a documentary for the DVD: The Fixer: The Making of a Hit Series.
06 March 2008
CORRIE COURT OUT?
So, is Casey the Mad Arsonist, Abductor and Adulterer ever going to be put on trial on Coronation Street?
Kevin Webster was before magistrates and on his way to chokey within a fortnight of smacking his daughter's teacher. Now, I appreciate that the backlog of committal proceedings is long, but surely by now the trial or hearing at Weatherfield Crown Court would have happened?
Or are Granada trying to airbrush a largely ineffective old storyline quietly away?
Kevin Webster was before magistrates and on his way to chokey within a fortnight of smacking his daughter's teacher. Now, I appreciate that the backlog of committal proceedings is long, but surely by now the trial or hearing at Weatherfield Crown Court would have happened?
Or are Granada trying to airbrush a largely ineffective old storyline quietly away?
RAGS TO RICHES
The Curse of Steptoe is the first in BBC4's The Curse of Comedy season. And I've just finished watching it on preview disc. It's wonderful - Jason Isaacs (Harry H Corbett) and Phil Davis (Wilfrid Brambell) nail their roles. There's a moment early on when the two actors are in a read-through for the pilot episode. Corbett is working "off book" and giving it the full-on "you dirty old man" accent. Brambell is still reading from the script, and uncomfortable at the prospect of turning on his "'Arold!" performance. But then Corbett gets in his face so much, it's as though he can't help it. Suddenly he switches on the sneer, and Phil Davis is old man Steptoe. It's great.
The film documents the actors' frosty relationship, with both each other, and the show that simultaneously made and ruined them. It's beautifully shot, cleverly written ("The father's just a feed, really", Corbett tells his wife) and - well - just loads better than the BBC recent trails make it appear.
Catch it on Wednesday 19 March on BBC4.
The film documents the actors' frosty relationship, with both each other, and the show that simultaneously made and ruined them. It's beautifully shot, cleverly written ("The father's just a feed, really", Corbett tells his wife) and - well - just loads better than the BBC recent trails make it appear.
Catch it on Wednesday 19 March on BBC4.