She is simply awesome. I love her character.

Tudor's Marathon!

There was a brilliant documentary series a while ago by one of my favourite current tv historians. It's a history of the home, Concentrating on a different room/purpose each programme, and taking it from the medieval to the modern


Here's part 1 of the bedroom:

Here's fun:

An iconic American actor hosting an Iconic British show. Have I Got News for You, hosted by William bloody Shatner! I know!

And one of the guests is Charlie Brooker. A fave of mine, and a complete geek so most likely undergoing a major fanwank moment right there with Captain Kirk.

P1.
P2. In which Kirk sings...

Thanks for the history of the home video, Dana. I ended up watching all four parts of the "bedroom" series. Though I will say that the Elmer Fudd accent (I don't know the name of it, but it's the same accent Jonathan Ross has,) drove me absolutely nuts. Around here, that's a speech impediment. (To be fair, the lisped S in Argentinian Spanish causes me similar fits.)

She does have a slight speech impediment :p As, I believe, does Ross.


Also, they have slightly different accents, as they're from different parts of the South.


[eta] looked it up, the particular impediment they both have is rhotacism

That was just marvelous, I can see why you like Brooker, and damn! how sharp is the Shat at age 81? Working the room, going from prompter to hand-held cards and being natural as he's ever been, on a show that he claims not to have seen! In a culture not his own! (Well half, he's Canadian so "O Canada" is in his roundhouse)

You might enjoy his 'wipe' series. There's Screenwipe, Newswipe and Gameswipe.

part 1 of Gameswipe, it's a few years old, and a bit Britcentric but still good fun



A random episode of Newswipe which is some of his best stuff:







And some of his drama productions have been awesome.

Trailer for Dead Set (zombie apocalypse begins, only safe place is the Big Brother House




Then there are the three Black Mirror tales he did recently. Twisted but brilliant. Couldn't find any decent clips, but there're complete eps on the tube, and this little interview:

I've discovered a little gem of a sitcom called Spy. It had a six episode run last year, but as I don't have Sky Tv it passed me by. I'm used to ignoring Sky as not being particularly strong on original tv but I really have to update my habits there. This and a couple of other little series show some class.

It stars Darren Boyd, who is a brilliant comedy actor, as a somewhat hapless divorced father. He's in a custody battle with his wife, his son despises him, the 'family counsellor' who reports to the custody hearings is firmly on the wife's side, and his wife now lives with his son's headmaster.

His son is a little bastard. Precocious, brilliant and vicious.

In an attempt to win his son's respect he gives up his dead end job and gets back into the jobmarket to ty and use his degree in computer engineering. Goes for a job interview as a data clerk of some kind and ends up accidentally enlisted into the secret service, under the training of a maverick (insane, alcoholic, dangerous, and very funny) older officer.

He cannot tell his son. The whole series arc is about him trying to win his son's approval, being upstaged by various other, much more impressive men with much more impressive action-jobs than his (data clerk) and being completely unable to let on that he's a spy, with a gun and a telephone number for the 'Cleaners' should it become necessary.

There are other story elements, but that's the core of it. And it's really really funny. the first ep is like...ok, funny, lol moments, but was worried it might be a ne gag show. But it builds brilliantly across the series.

Bedlam is back.
And in a further pleasing alliteration, it is also better.

Laney Turner acts well, although her time in Eastenders has left her mouth with a permanent downturn (see Rupert Grint for similar) when she is not actively smiling.

Smacked-arse-face daughter Charlotte Salt is back, although we're not sure for how long as Daddy has a new Apprentice-style-sidekick in Asian playboy Nikesh Patel. Jack Roth (of Tim Roth fame) plays the understanding flatmate. Damn. He accepts her seeing ghosts and spazzing out. Where was he when I was buying all the toilet paper and feeling like I had to label my cheese?

Lee Mead will be turning up later. Yumyum. Probably not singing though - Will Young didn't get to after all.

So far I am more impressed with this series than the last, because of the acting and also because two characters admitted they would not be able to afford the accommodation without help/ favourable conditions. YES! Cost of housing in the UK is the major factor in the lives of almost everyone I know. Seems like horror/ fantasy programmes are better at acknowledging this than any soaps or sitcoms.

I still haven't seen bedlam....really must give it a go.

Caught the first part of a documentary series about illuminated manuscripts and what they tell us about early medieval kings.

yeh, I know it doesn't sound overly exciting, but it turned out to be really good.

Britain has one of the most well-documented histories in the world. A near unbroken line of record keeping stretching back over a thousand years. Some of the early records were within bibles and psalters, and many if not most of the great illuminated texts were commissioned by kings and princes, and as such we can often see specific kings and other powerful people represented within them.

Some of them are truly beautiful, and steeped in dark age history.Here's the opening segment to part one. Illuminations: the Private Lives of Medieval Kings, episode 1: Ruling by the Book

Another great documentary series:

Legacy: The Origins of Civilization

It's a few years old, and the video quality isn't magnificent, but well worth watching. The historian is Michael Wood (my favourite!) and the first episode deals with Iraq. Really interesting and beautiful, I think. The oldest civilization the first flowerings of human cities.

One more (for now:P). Same historian, from 2004, In Search of Shakespeare

Episode 1:



It's a really interesting look at Shakespeare, as well as the Elizabethan world he lived and worked in. For instance, did you know that Elizabethan England was effectively a 'police state'? With an almost Stasi like approach to information and intelligence. A place of spies and informants.

Brit friend of mine posted this on FB today. In three minutes, it's all you need to know about the Aurora shootings. His point is devastating. But it wasn't aired this week, this is from 3 years ago.

I think he's one of the best commentators on the news, and how it works.

We've been watching Foyle's War, another Masterpiece Mystery program like the new Sherlock. I find it a little slow, but what it lacks in energetic American pacing it does make up for in awesome British plot thickness and character development. Glatt and Dana, I think you'd both like it. Sundae, I'm of two minds about--I can see you loving it, or maybe getting too frustrated by the same slowness that irks me. Although it's a period drama, so I have no idea how old the actual show is... could be that it's a classic you've seen a thousand times since you were a child, for all I know.

That's a good show.

Foyle's delivery is so... deeply emotionally emotion-less.

Ah man, Foyle's War. That was one of my dad's favourite programmes. I dip in now and again. When I'm in that period detective drama mood. It's a lovely show. And he's an excellent character.

I'm going to look it up.

Meanwhile, my wife and I were just talking about whether we should wait for Downton Abbey season 3 to be broadcast here in the winter or stream it when it starts on ITV in a couple weeks.

We're going to wait and watch it at the same time as all our friends here in the States.

just finished Stephen Fry in America, via streaming on from Netflix on TWIL's Roku. Very awesome.

And now I've gone and done it. I've started watching Shameless.

Subtitles are a requirement, of course. But it's quite fascinating so far. Besides just being a good show with funny writing, it's a depiction of a world that just doesn't exist in the US. Our poorer classes don't look like that, they contend with different problems and different attitudes.

And now I've got 6+ seasons to take my time with! It's a mother lode of entertainment.

Set in the region where I grew up. Had family on estates like that. Lived at the edge of one for a while too. In Little Hulton, our street was like a tiny oasis of old style housing, surrounded either side by big estates. Much closer in tone to Salford and Manchester (Shameless country) than to Bolton where I grew up.

Agh! Just took a quick look -now I won't be returning to the family after finishing Doc Martin

Just finished watching Apparitions ... about an exorcist. Is there only one 6-episode series or did they do more?

And you get to watch episodes with Steve Pemberton. First series only I think.

You like doc Martin?

I've caught it once or twice, but didn't know who anyone was except the good Dr. Do they have plot lines that evolve from episode to episode, or is he just treating the patients?

yeah, I do, but more maybe for the nostalgic factor thann the plot -it's like the programs from my childhood, plus I lived in a small seaside town for a while and I knew all of those people. Also, I can "watch" it while doing something else. Not much "evolving" plot to speak of really, apart from his relationship with his GF. It's trash TV. Just British. I read trash novels too :)

When you're done, try the US version!

So.... Shameless Brit version. hmmm. Halfway through first episode.

Forgot about the washers in the kitchen

Ooh! I didn't even know there was one. Are they on separate but equal footing in your mind, or is one better than the other?

I haven't seen the British one, unfortunately.

The US one rests on the acting abilities of the dad and daughters, who are excellent. Especially the oldest daughter, who can really make you feel the joys and pain of her character's life. The rest of the show is good, but I'm sort of waiting to get back to her story when it's following someone else.

Having seen the first few series of the British Shameless, but not any of the US version -
from what I've heard, the value American Shameless totally rests on how much you appreciate William H. Macy. As a fan of his, and as a HUGE Coen brothers fan, I think I'd like it. But if you don't really dig William H. Macy, from what I've heard, you won't dig the American Shameless at all.
One of these days relatively soon I plan to catch up on the British version, and then start watching the American. I'll give my little bit of criticism that I can, when I do. But I can definitely say that I've LOVED what of the British version that I've watched.

Thanks Clodfobble. You're absolutely on target with the warning for Americans to watch with the subtitles on. Twil and I are streaming it here at my place. The Roku does not support subtitles, but the PS3 does. We've watched a couple episodes on each and even after getting some help from the subtitles watching without is almost hopeless. I get the tone, and the volume, but I can't make out more than half of the dialog.

We gorged ourselves on the whole first season and the beginning of the second season just this weekend. Now, I've promised to wait until we're together again before I continue watching. It will not be an easy promise to keep.

Here's a really nice little four part drama to look out for. It's halfway through and I'm really enjoying it.

Good Cop:

Also: Accused. Each week a different story.

Here's the series trailer:


One of the early Shameless actors in one of them, and Sean Bean [Ed Stark] in another.

And finally, some comedy. Whites

OMG I find it hysterical that you guys need subtitles :lol:

You have to admit, Shameless accents are a lot harder than Downton Abbey accents. I can understand the posh folks just fine. :)

For those who haven't seen the show--watch the intro to the clip below. I bet not one American on this board can understand more than 50% of what he's saying.

Here's one who could. But I didn't quite catch what they all "know how to" do when the cops show up just before the title appears.

They know how to throw a party

Cant see the clip, but remember the line :P

I loved the first two series of Shameless, but once Fiona and Posh Lad left I dropped off it. I'd watch every so often but didnt keep up.

You understood why they won't let Carl grow his hair out?

On another listen, I didn't get:

Name of the neighborhood (probably because it's a proper name, so no context)
What Carl's hair standing on end makes him look like, and the second reason (something loves him?)
Debbie, between "total angel" and "she'll go miles"

Chatswood Estate

because it makes him look like Toyah, second, nits love him.

...total angel, you're to check your change but she'll go miles

And, absent from the end of that intro but present in the regular series after "know how to throw a party" is the shout "Scatter!" but it sounds like "Scaa-ah".

I get the gist, but details like Chatswood or Toyah do make a difference. One word that does appear in the subtitles but I don't have a ready translation for is "owt". I have substituted "anything" in my American mind.

Still, despite CLODFOBBLE'S MASSIVE, JUST MASSIVE SPOILER up there, I intend to (try to) continue to watch it.

As for me, *****SPOILER ALERT*****

I'm not kidding. highlight and be illuminated at your peril!

Well. You know Ian and Kash? How they have a satisfactory love life? Didn't feel good to learn that Ian actually has someone like Kash? I know I felt that way for him. He's a sympathetic character and I want the best for him. That he's gay isn't something I find distasteful. I also don't find it especially titillating, I'm just happy that he's got a love life in the face of a daunting social milieu. Yay Ian.

Now, remember when Frank was faced with seduction by Karen? I didn't like that pairing. I even said, no, he's not gonna do it. I clearly jinxed him because in the very next scene, they're humping away at about 7.5 on the richter scale. Oh, no, shit!

Somewhat later, Kash and Ian are talking and Kash chastises Ian saying "OI! Hands off the married man!"

Freeze frame!

I actually paused the playback when it hit me that these two sexual pairings are practically the same, a married adult man having sex with a middle-teenager. In both cases, all the parties involved are willing, enthusiastically so! But my reaction to each one was **very** different. I was happy for young Ian to be getting some lovin', physically and emotionally. I was disappointed, angered that Frank would be succumbing to his baser instincts by taking advantage of Karen's underage seductions. Where's the adult in the room?!

Now... wait a minute? They're the same thing, adult man, under age partner. One gay, one straight, but I don't think that was the rub. Why did I have such dramatically different reactions?

***** END SPOILER ALERT *****

OK it's getting better

I totally understand the need for subtitles, it just makes me laugh.
in the 1980s there was a series called Auf weidersehen, Pet. Full of Geordies. I left my cosy Dormitary suburb near Manchester for a year and went off to live near there. Came back a year later -when the series started, with the accent. was the only one who could understand it! Once a week translation services were requested.....

Hey whoa hey! That was Dana, not me, sir. I'm only like 4 episodes in, no spoilers from me.


And in response to your highlightable bit: it's because one is about love for both parties, while the other is about pure lust for one of the people involved.

You are right. I was wrong. DanaC was responsible for that MASSIVE, JUST MASSIVE SPOILER, not Clodfobble.

I apologize for my mistake.

I'm soooo sorry! :(

make it up to me by helping understand "owt".

If that happened on the American version, I'd stop watching like a flash. I'm a fan of William H. Macy, but his character can't hold up the show on his own.

owt = 'aught' = anything :P


It's often paired with 'nowt'

What's up?owt or nowt? = what's up? aught or naught?

I think of it as "aught," the opposite of "naught."

Edited to correct :p You're right it's aught.

thank you. you're forgiven.

:)

Neither nowt nor summat, as Barbara of Bab's Cabs says.

BTW my colleague was going through word recognition today and marked as incorrect a pupil who said "Are" for "Our". I pointed out to her afterwards that most of the children in our class do this, it's not confusion but accent. You can hear it when they say the Lord's Prayer.

Newer Roku units have subtitling, the older ones don't.

Wolf! There you are. We was just talkin about you in the APB thread yesterday (I think)

Dave channel have taken on the show Red Dwarf. A year or so ago they made a three part special, reuniting the original cast. Now they're about to air the first full series of new Red Dwarf eps since 1999.

I used to love the Dwarf when it first started. But by the third or fourth series I'd dropped off it (19/20 years old). I've seen odd ones of subsequent series, but not really followed the story.

But, I really did used to love it. So, the last couple of years as they've been running old ones on Dave, I've loosely reconnected with the show. It's dated at times, and some of the jokes are very timebound, but a lot of it still works I think.

Anyways. here's a classic clip. Lister (the only surviving human crew member of Red Dwarf), is attempting to teach Kryten the service android how to lie.




And a Top Ten bits vid someone put together:

This current series of Inspector Gently has been really good. I haven;t watched the final one yet, but if it's anywhere near as good as the other three I'm in for a treat :P

They've had some cracking guest stars this series. Lenora Chrichlow as a geordie lass. That was fun. And of course, the ever wonderful Mark Gatiss. He has such screen presence. Really nicely understated performance. And the scenes with him and Gently were marvellous.

Watching that ep of Gently right now.
He is wonderful, it's true. Hence the Gatiss Gap (although this is more than a cameo).

Caught a continuity error already, which always pleases me. Pedant that I am, yes.
Shot of M Gatiss turning to face his wife, no glasses, no movement of hands to face. Shot of M Gatiss from wife's perspective - glasses on. Naughty.

Am really enjoying the twists and turns of the story, but probably won't watch again, just because of the time commitment.