Square Eyes

Hughesy wrote:I must say the BBC have really delivered the goods this Christmas, with some truly memorable programmes. I suppose a churl might point out that they've repeated these new seasonal specials far too often (in prime time slots too!) and often only a day or two after they first went out. Isn't that what the iPlayer was designed for? Oh, and there have been too many nights where there's been nothing at all of interest on. But still, the BBC have easily had the pick of the best progs this Christmas so fair play to them!

I agree totally. BBC did a good job this year or rather, last year, but then itv stopped trying a long time ago. I liked Gavin and Stacey, The Royal Family, those christmas top of the pops2 they had on late on bbc2, the series about the old film studio RKO on BBC4 they repeated, Shooting Stars, Have I got news for you, and a few other bits they did over the festive period. I think they got something stupid like 9 out of 10 of the top rated shows on christmas day.

All those critics in the print media need to shut up and stop trying to cast the corporation in a bad light. They only do it because they have a vested interest anyway. The parent companies of the papers they work for all own media outlets that would benefit massively if the license fee was scrapped.

savage sounds wrote: I agree totally. BBC did a good job this year or rather, last year, but then itv stopped trying a long time ago. I liked Gavin and Stacey, The Royal Family, those christmas top of the pops2 they had on late on bbc2, the series about the old film studio RKO on BBC4 they repeated, Shooting Stars, Have I got news for you, and a few other bits they did over the festive period. I think they got something stupid like 9 out of 10 of the top rated shows on christmas day.

Bugger, I missed that series about RKO. Meant to watch it as well. I've probably missed it on the iPlayer now too. Fingers crossed they repeat it soon (I know it's a longshot, the BBC ever repeating anything but I live in hope!)

Anyone else been watching Dead Set? I love a good zombie thriller, me, so this has been right up my street (even if the cast all look about 12 to my increasingly befuddled eyes!). Really looking forward to the concluding part tomorrow.

Hughesy wrote:

savage sounds wrote: I agree totally. BBC did a good job this year or rather, last year, but then itv stopped trying a long time ago. I liked Gavin and Stacey, The Royal Family, those christmas top of the pops2 they had on late on bbc2, the series about the old film studio RKO on BBC4 they repeated, Shooting Stars, Have I got news for you, and a few other bits they did over the festive period. I think they got something stupid like 9 out of 10 of the top rated shows on christmas day.

Bugger, I missed that series about RKO. Meant to watch it as well. I've probably missed it on the iPlayer now too. Fingers crossed they repeat it soon (I know it's a longshot, the BBC ever repeating anything but I live in hope!)

Anyone else been watching Dead Set? I love a good zombie thriller, me, so this has been right up my street (even if the cast all look about 12 to my increasingly befuddled eyes!). Really looking forward to the concluding part tomorrow.

Watched it the first time round, it is good, the writer Charlie Brooker definitley has an ear for young, thick people's dialogue! And he also seems to have a thing for Aisleyne from Big Brother whatever number it was. He casts her in everything he does and I have it on good authority that he is facebook friends with her!

savage sounds wrote: Watched it the first time round, it is good, the writer Charlie Brooker definitley has an ear for young, thick people's dialogue! And he also seems to have a thing for Aisleyne from Big Brother whatever number it was. He casts her in everything he does and I have it on good authority that he is facebook friends with her!

He even took her to Glastonbury last year (or was it the year before).

Bit of a predictable ending to Dead Set I thought, but then I suppose there was (literally) no way out other than the conclusion we were given (certainly not in such a short series). Very enjoyable overall though. No prizes for guessing which of the characters Brooker was using to channel his own thoughts through either!

I've been watching Cowards, the new-ish BBC4 sketch show. It's alright I suppose. Actually I'm not sure why it's not on BBC3 as it has more of a whiff of that channel. The short cartoons are easily the best bits.

Hughesy wrote:I've been watching Cowards, the new-ish BBC4 sketch show. It's alright I suppose. Actually I'm not sure why it's not on BBC3 as it has more of a whiff of that channel. The short cartoons are easily the best bits.

Yeah I saw that the other night. I thought it was ok and may watch some of the other episodes on i-player if I am allowed to go on the computer. I agree that the animations are good and also I liked the bits of them all living in the caravan together, not that they are particularly funny, I just find it amusing that a group of ordinary blokes with normal jobs would live in a caravan together.

I haven't done any research in to this theory but I reckon that the guys that make the series are all Oxbridge graduate comedians who met at the footlights or something. Therefore the beeb thinks their humour will be too clever for the young idiots they reckon watch BBC3 so they stick it on 4.

savage sounds wrote: I haven't done any research in to this theory but I reckon that the guys that make the series are all Oxbridge graduate comedians who met at the footlights or something. Therefore the beeb thinks their humour will be too clever for the young idiots they reckon watch BBC3 so they stick it on 4.

I've no idea where they sprung from either but that theory of yours has the definite ring of truth about it, Mr S!

Today I've mostly been enjoying the FA Cup (sponsored by Ian somebody or other). The Swansea v Fulham game in particular was a gem. Swansea are quite possibly the best footballing side in the country at the moment, for my money. They're actually out-passing the Arsenal nowadays. It was also nice to see that ITV didn't cut to any unscheduled ad breaks seconds before any of the goals this time.

Even tonight's FA Cup (sponsored by Ian) highlights were good, presented as they were by that nice Matt Smith, as opposed to that double glazing salesman chap who they had anchoring the previous round's Saturday night highlights package. Jimmy Floyd Hashelbank'sh alsho a good pundit too, I think. For shore.

Not many at Blackburn though!

The new series of Criminal Minds on Living TV. This is the third time I've watched this episode. I watched it Friday night, recorded it and watched it again yesterday, and, just thought I'd watch it again on the catch up night too.

Yes, it was a good one.

I'm enjoying Lark Rise as its second series ends, Minnie is a great character. Did you know Sue Tully directed some of these?

There's Lost Series 5, and Heroes Series.. oh dear I lost count... and I'm downloading House, I can't be bothered to wait till May. The new Simpsons titles are worth catching too from Series 20.10 onwards - it's now (finally!) widescreen too.

For comedy, the Old Guys has ended, it was a bit so-so; Al Murray's sketch show is good in places, I like his enthusiasm, and there's a couple more "Not Going Out's" to come.

So here we are in May. Lots of things have ended, or are soon to end. The slightly "meh" Reggie Perrin that didn't quite work, but was very watchable, the great series 5 of Lost, and the not so great Series 3 of Heroes (what happened to that after such a good start?) There's the Apprentice, quite fun, the last couple of Ashes to Ashes, the last few Primeval, and a few Robin Hoods.

More and more though I am turning to DVD's and things I've not gotten round to watching. Just lately, tv has gone a little downhill.

I've given up on TV now. There is so little on. My digi box is set for The Bill and Home and Away and that's it.

Got a few Private Practice and CSI's and Lost to watch on the computer and then it's trash TV for the most part until the winter.

When does Big Brother and The X-Factor start again

Geffers wrote:So here we are in May. Lots of things have ended, or are soon to end. The slightly "meh" Reggie Perrin that didn't quite work, but was very watchable, the great series 5 of Lost, and the not so great Series 3 of Heroes (what happened to that after such a good start?) There's the Apprentice, quite fun, the last couple of Ashes to Ashes, the last few Primeval, and a few Robin Hoods.

More and more though I am turning to DVD's and things I've not gotten round to watching. Just lately, tv has gone a little downhill.

I agree with you RE Reggie Perrin. It has its moments but overall it doesn't quite cut the mustard. I basically watch it for the train scenes. Very true to life

I recently got BT Vision and that's been a revelation. No more watching things at the appointed hour for me. Now I can just watch and go!

Wallander (the Swedish version) on BBC4. I much prefer the Swedish version. It may be the slow pace or the actors being unknown (to me) gives the programme a documentary feel. I'm also not sure it's the slow pace, giving time to think, or, the fact that it means the subtitles are on for longer and large enough for me to read too, usually I have to sit a foot from the screen to read subtitles

The documentary about Wallander's creator, Henning Mankell, was interesting too. What a nice fella he seems.

I'm hoping BBC4 show all the feature length episodes.