Andy Kershaw: The maverick's maverick
Amongst the expected messages of tribute to George Michael who died at the age of just 53, there was a lone voice that called into question into whether the level of outpouring for his death wad equivalent to his death, Andy Kershaw questioned whether Michael would be mentioned in the same bracket as Joni Mitchell and Louis Armstrong among others. This has led to Kershaw of being accused of being insensitive but anyone with knowledge of Kershaw's career and background will know that he is someone who does not stick to the conventional path. He got his first job in the media after meeting Trevor Dann, producer of Whistle Test (formerly known as The Old Grey Whistle Test) when he was working as road manager for Billy Bragg which saw him take the post of host/reporter. Kershaw brought an attitude that was sceptical of big names, one example being a very terse interview with Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Jon Lord which when after his far more genial co-host David Hepworth opened the interview with a question about pay and then for most of the interview Kershaw constantly asked if Deep Purple had got back together just for the money, it is said that Gillan and Lord left the studio at the first opportunity. For 15 years between 1985 and 2000 at BBC Radio 1 Kershaw was a champion for World music with one programme being broadcast simultaneously on both Radio 1 and Radio 4. Among Kershaw's other television work includes Travelog, a Channel 4 travel programme which concentrated on more unlikely destinations than those seen on BBC1's Holiday or ITV's Wish You Were Here. As if to continue his reputation for going against the norm Kershaw went to North Korea. For those complain about Kershaw's remarks really should get to know what the man has done.
For those interested both the Deep Purple interview and the North Korea film can be seen on Youtube.
Thursday, 29 December 2016
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Matt Berry,: Jesus Christ Superstar fan
For those fans of Toast of London that Matt Berry both starred and co-wrote (with Arthur Matthews) will remember the episode Bonus Ball in which Berry's Steven Toast loses the hefty sum of twenty thousand pounds to none other than Andrew Lloyd-Webber, after being told by Elaine Paige that he stills owe Lloyd-Webber the sum of money prompting Toast to flip the finger and telling Lloyd-Webber to stick up it his Starlight Express. Toast then finds that none other than Michael (played by himself) Ball is out to collect Lloyd-Webber's money. Now the impression you may be left with is that Berry is not a fan of Lloyd-Webber's work, however in a film for the BBC's Culture Show he sings his praises for the work that would give Lloyd-Webber and his collaborator Tim Rice their big break the album of Jesus Christ Superstar. Berry in the film notes that the presence of such talents as Deep Purple legend Ian Gillan and members of Joe Cocker's backing band gives the album a cutting edge that you would not expect. Berry interviews the 2 musical knights and Murray Head (who in the 1980's had a hit with One Night in Bangkok form an another Tim Rice hit Chess co-written with ABBA's Benny and Bjorn) who performed the role of Judas, they all testify that the album was approached with all seriousness though they were some hiccups along the way such as Gillan ad libbing the word baby during the song set when Jesus is in the temple. Berry's conclusion is that with it's blend of Rock and Classical music Jesus Christ Superstar (album version) is something that demands your attention. The film can be seen on Youtube
For those fans of Toast of London that Matt Berry both starred and co-wrote (with Arthur Matthews) will remember the episode Bonus Ball in which Berry's Steven Toast loses the hefty sum of twenty thousand pounds to none other than Andrew Lloyd-Webber, after being told by Elaine Paige that he stills owe Lloyd-Webber the sum of money prompting Toast to flip the finger and telling Lloyd-Webber to stick up it his Starlight Express. Toast then finds that none other than Michael (played by himself) Ball is out to collect Lloyd-Webber's money. Now the impression you may be left with is that Berry is not a fan of Lloyd-Webber's work, however in a film for the BBC's Culture Show he sings his praises for the work that would give Lloyd-Webber and his collaborator Tim Rice their big break the album of Jesus Christ Superstar. Berry in the film notes that the presence of such talents as Deep Purple legend Ian Gillan and members of Joe Cocker's backing band gives the album a cutting edge that you would not expect. Berry interviews the 2 musical knights and Murray Head (who in the 1980's had a hit with One Night in Bangkok form an another Tim Rice hit Chess co-written with ABBA's Benny and Bjorn) who performed the role of Judas, they all testify that the album was approached with all seriousness though they were some hiccups along the way such as Gillan ad libbing the word baby during the song set when Jesus is in the temple. Berry's conclusion is that with it's blend of Rock and Classical music Jesus Christ Superstar (album version) is something that demands your attention. The film can be seen on Youtube
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Richard Hammond's dubious thoughts of ice cream
It used to be the case that when the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May got together (usually on Top Gear) something would be said or done that would cause offence to a lot of people. The most famous examples being when the trio drove into a redneck town in the Southern United States in cars bearing messages like country music sucks (and that was the most subtle) designed to inflame the inhabitants which leads to the sight of the trio and film crew being driven out of town, Clarkson using a polticy incorrect version of an nursery rhyme to decide on which car is the best or when in Argentina Clarkson drove in a Porsche which supposedly had number plates that made reference to The Falklands War which again saw the trio fleeing for their lives. Now having moved to Amazon Prime for The Grand Tour following Clarkson's' bust up with a producer saw the trio leave Top Gear (though May still does some work for the BBC) in an act of solidarity. It is Hammond's turn to court the headlines for the wrong reasons. During a conversation about eating a choc ice in a car Hammond said he did not eat ice cream and then made a remark about the sexuality about those who did. This has caused a furore with some people calling him out for his comments. Since Amazon Prime is a streaming service as opposed to a regular broadcasting one it does not come under the normal regulations, though one wonders if they may a commercial price that Amazon may have to pay for Hammond's comments.
It used to be the case that when the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May got together (usually on Top Gear) something would be said or done that would cause offence to a lot of people. The most famous examples being when the trio drove into a redneck town in the Southern United States in cars bearing messages like country music sucks (and that was the most subtle) designed to inflame the inhabitants which leads to the sight of the trio and film crew being driven out of town, Clarkson using a polticy incorrect version of an nursery rhyme to decide on which car is the best or when in Argentina Clarkson drove in a Porsche which supposedly had number plates that made reference to The Falklands War which again saw the trio fleeing for their lives. Now having moved to Amazon Prime for The Grand Tour following Clarkson's' bust up with a producer saw the trio leave Top Gear (though May still does some work for the BBC) in an act of solidarity. It is Hammond's turn to court the headlines for the wrong reasons. During a conversation about eating a choc ice in a car Hammond said he did not eat ice cream and then made a remark about the sexuality about those who did. This has caused a furore with some people calling him out for his comments. Since Amazon Prime is a streaming service as opposed to a regular broadcasting one it does not come under the normal regulations, though one wonders if they may a commercial price that Amazon may have to pay for Hammond's comments.
Friday, 23 December 2016
John Bonham: The Last Interview
In the 1970s Led Zeppelin had built a reputation for hard living to match their music. Stories abounded of the wild nights they spent with large numbers of willing young women, the taking of vast quantise of drugs and Jimmy Page's interest with the occult. The mystique of the band was further enhanced by their manager Peter Grant restricting their dealings with the media. In 1980 when hosting a now long forgotten music show called Alright Now, Billy Connolly had a rare interview with John Bonham. After calling Bonham the greatest Rock drummer in the World, Connolly introduce a clip of the Led Zeppelin film The Song Remains the Same which features him spending time in the pub, racing fast cars, spending time at home with his family and performing a drum solo. The interview itself is a light hearted affair as Bonham answers to Connolly questions range from shrugs of the shoulders to no more than 2 words. Sadly later in 1980 Bonham died after an alochic bender and then after Led Zeppelin disbanded. The interview can viewed on Youtube and shows a man who did take the world all that seriously.
In the 1970s Led Zeppelin had built a reputation for hard living to match their music. Stories abounded of the wild nights they spent with large numbers of willing young women, the taking of vast quantise of drugs and Jimmy Page's interest with the occult. The mystique of the band was further enhanced by their manager Peter Grant restricting their dealings with the media. In 1980 when hosting a now long forgotten music show called Alright Now, Billy Connolly had a rare interview with John Bonham. After calling Bonham the greatest Rock drummer in the World, Connolly introduce a clip of the Led Zeppelin film The Song Remains the Same which features him spending time in the pub, racing fast cars, spending time at home with his family and performing a drum solo. The interview itself is a light hearted affair as Bonham answers to Connolly questions range from shrugs of the shoulders to no more than 2 words. Sadly later in 1980 Bonham died after an alochic bender and then after Led Zeppelin disbanded. The interview can viewed on Youtube and shows a man who did take the world all that seriously.
Thursday, 22 December 2016
Unseasonal Xmas TV specials
Not all specials shown at Xmas make any reference to the holiday, in fact some will go some way to distance themselves from it. Here are 3 such specials from 1989.
Only Fools and Horses - The Jolly Boys Outing
In the first episode after Rodney's marriage to Cassandra, Del manages to get his brother to join up the titular annual meeting even after making even after giving the most spectacular wrong answer during a game of Trivial Pursuits. The group make their way to Margate (after a delay caused by Rodney accidentally kicking a football into a policeman) during a sunny August bank holiday and enjoy their day out. However their coach blows up due faulty wiring. The group then split to find accommodation with Del hooking up again with Racquel. The episode end with Rodney punching Cassandra's after mistakenly thinking that he was making a play for her.
Miss Marple - A Caribbean Mystery
When one of her nephews pays for her to escape a extremely cold winter, Miss Marple goes to Barbados but however violent death follows her. And soon she is using her deductive skills to get to the bottom of the mystery with the help of a tycoon played in a guest role by Donald Pleascene. The episode went out on Xmas day night and attracted a large number of complaints over it's depiction of murder and drug use. One such person was Richard Curtis who wrote the whimsical Lenny Henry starring fantasy Bernard and the Genie as a response.
Bergerac - Second Time Around
Written by Ian Kenndy Martin who created The Sweeney, Second Time Around is not your usual episode of the Jersey based show. In the first 10 minutes a crook handcuff one of his former associates to a metal ornamental chair and throws them into a pool for the man to die. Made at a time when Bergerac was a show that was taking it's dues from Miami Vice, John Nettles as Jim Bergerac goes for the Don Johnson/Sonny Crockett look. the music soundtrack is of the big boomy syth variety that was poplar then, the episode was filmed during what was an obviously hot summer therefore making Jersey looking even more exotic and then there is a sequence which goes from a car chase to a speed boat chase which ends with a bad guy escaping from the clutches of the law by being picked up helicopter thereby making you wonder how it was done on a late 1980s BBC budget. Despite having a larger than usual body count the episode went out before the watershed on Boxing Day night.
Not all specials shown at Xmas make any reference to the holiday, in fact some will go some way to distance themselves from it. Here are 3 such specials from 1989.
Only Fools and Horses - The Jolly Boys Outing
In the first episode after Rodney's marriage to Cassandra, Del manages to get his brother to join up the titular annual meeting even after making even after giving the most spectacular wrong answer during a game of Trivial Pursuits. The group make their way to Margate (after a delay caused by Rodney accidentally kicking a football into a policeman) during a sunny August bank holiday and enjoy their day out. However their coach blows up due faulty wiring. The group then split to find accommodation with Del hooking up again with Racquel. The episode end with Rodney punching Cassandra's after mistakenly thinking that he was making a play for her.
Miss Marple - A Caribbean Mystery
When one of her nephews pays for her to escape a extremely cold winter, Miss Marple goes to Barbados but however violent death follows her. And soon she is using her deductive skills to get to the bottom of the mystery with the help of a tycoon played in a guest role by Donald Pleascene. The episode went out on Xmas day night and attracted a large number of complaints over it's depiction of murder and drug use. One such person was Richard Curtis who wrote the whimsical Lenny Henry starring fantasy Bernard and the Genie as a response.
Bergerac - Second Time Around
Written by Ian Kenndy Martin who created The Sweeney, Second Time Around is not your usual episode of the Jersey based show. In the first 10 minutes a crook handcuff one of his former associates to a metal ornamental chair and throws them into a pool for the man to die. Made at a time when Bergerac was a show that was taking it's dues from Miami Vice, John Nettles as Jim Bergerac goes for the Don Johnson/Sonny Crockett look. the music soundtrack is of the big boomy syth variety that was poplar then, the episode was filmed during what was an obviously hot summer therefore making Jersey looking even more exotic and then there is a sequence which goes from a car chase to a speed boat chase which ends with a bad guy escaping from the clutches of the law by being picked up helicopter thereby making you wonder how it was done on a late 1980s BBC budget. Despite having a larger than usual body count the episode went out before the watershed on Boxing Day night.
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Lessons learnt from Pointless picture rounds
Some surprising things can discovered about how much people know about certain things especially when they have been shown in pictures.
Jockey AP McCoy who was voted in 2010 BBC Sports Personalty of the year is not as well know as that win would suggest.
Despite it's status as a symbol of water cooler talking subject matter, Breaking Bad is not really widely known
Nobody recognises Simon Le Bon when he is wearing a beard.
Some surprising things can discovered about how much people know about certain things especially when they have been shown in pictures.
Jockey AP McCoy who was voted in 2010 BBC Sports Personalty of the year is not as well know as that win would suggest.
Despite it's status as a symbol of water cooler talking subject matter, Breaking Bad is not really widely known
Nobody recognises Simon Le Bon when he is wearing a beard.
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Radio Review: Stardust
BBC Radio 4, Drama
Starring Matthew Beard, Sophie Rundle, Charlotte Riley, Frances Barber
In the mid 1990s Dirk Maggs came to be known for bringing the likes of Batman, Superman and Judge Dredd in an number of serialised dramas that played out as instalments on Mark Goodier's BBC Radio 1 afternoon show. For his latest production (which he wrote and co-directed) Maggs takes a plunge into the world of fallen stars, witches and feuding brothers in his adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel that had been previously made into a film with Robert De Niro. Maggs with his cast and use of sound effects create a rich and evocative world, one sequence worth mentioning is one with a Billy Goat turned man thinking he is still a billy goat trying to head butt a Unicorn with the expected and bloody results. Of the cast Frances Barber as a Witch out to get the heart of a fallen star turned young women so that she and her sisters can became young again. Dirk Maggs once again cements as the man who brings the fantastical to radio with style and panache..
Stardust can be heard on BBC I-player until late January 2017
BBC Radio 4, Drama
Starring Matthew Beard, Sophie Rundle, Charlotte Riley, Frances Barber
In the mid 1990s Dirk Maggs came to be known for bringing the likes of Batman, Superman and Judge Dredd in an number of serialised dramas that played out as instalments on Mark Goodier's BBC Radio 1 afternoon show. For his latest production (which he wrote and co-directed) Maggs takes a plunge into the world of fallen stars, witches and feuding brothers in his adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel that had been previously made into a film with Robert De Niro. Maggs with his cast and use of sound effects create a rich and evocative world, one sequence worth mentioning is one with a Billy Goat turned man thinking he is still a billy goat trying to head butt a Unicorn with the expected and bloody results. Of the cast Frances Barber as a Witch out to get the heart of a fallen star turned young women so that she and her sisters can became young again. Dirk Maggs once again cements as the man who brings the fantastical to radio with style and panache..
Stardust can be heard on BBC I-player until late January 2017
Monday, 19 December 2016
Easing chart congestion
In 2014 the British singles charts saw 42 no1s , In 2015 the number was 26 and this year it was just 11. How has this situation happened? Well the charts equate 100 streaming hits for 1 song as 1 sale, this has led to long runs at the top of the charts for the likes of Drake have had long runs at the top of the charts. Well now action has been taken with the number of streaming hits going up to 150 to equate to 1 sale, the hope being a much greater range of artists will get into the charts. One has to remember back in the days of just good old fashioned sales that both Bryan Adams and Wet, Wet, Wet had marathon runs at the top of the charts.
In 2014 the British singles charts saw 42 no1s , In 2015 the number was 26 and this year it was just 11. How has this situation happened? Well the charts equate 100 streaming hits for 1 song as 1 sale, this has led to long runs at the top of the charts for the likes of Drake have had long runs at the top of the charts. Well now action has been taken with the number of streaming hits going up to 150 to equate to 1 sale, the hope being a much greater range of artists will get into the charts. One has to remember back in the days of just good old fashioned sales that both Bryan Adams and Wet, Wet, Wet had marathon runs at the top of the charts.
Sunday, 18 December 2016
BBC SPOTY 2016 round up
Sports Personality of the year
1. Andy Murray (Tennis)
2. Alistair Brownlee (Triathlon)
3. Nick Skelton (Showjumping)
Team of the Year
Leicester City (Football)
Coach of the Year
Eddie Jones (Rugby Union)
Overseas Personality
Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
Lifetime Achievement
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Sports Personality of the year
1. Andy Murray (Tennis)
2. Alistair Brownlee (Triathlon)
3. Nick Skelton (Showjumping)
Team of the Year
Leicester City (Football)
Coach of the Year
Eddie Jones (Rugby Union)
Overseas Personality
Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
Lifetime Achievement
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Saturday, 17 December 2016
What is it about Mrs Brown and her boys?
Taking pride of place at BBC1 Xmas night schedule is the show that was recently voted the best sit-com on British TV in the 21st Century beating the likes of The Office, has won awards including BAFTA and NTA wins, has hit viewership peaks of 11m and has even had a spin off film. Yet for all it's success it has been on the receiving end of some of the most vitriolic reviews that a TV show has got in recent years, so why the extreme reactions? Mrs Brown's Boy has had a journey that has included radio, books stage shows and a prior film version that did involve creator Brendan O'Carroll. And then the TV show was launched in 2011 with little to no fanfare in a grave yard slot, from this some what muted start the show grew to become the massive hit it is today but the critics were if anything had the reverser reaction. The main charge they bring against the show is that for all it post modern trappings (gaffes are kept in, there are shots of the audience laughing at the action, musical numbers etc) it is a show that is deeply rooted in the era of the nadir of the British sit com, the early 1970's.. This was a time when shows like On the Buses and Love thy Neighbour were massive hits at the time but now viewed through the prism of political correctness they are seen as appearing to lowest common denominator. Though On the Buses is at times repeated on ITV3, both it and Love thy Neighbour do not feature on all time great British sit-com lists. If anything Mrs Brown's Boys is seen as a massive step back when the past decade has seen the likes of The Office and The Thick of It had been redefining the language of the sit-com. The question of if Mrs Brown's Boys joins the pantheon of great British sit-coms like Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses to name just 3 will judged be in the fullness of time.
Taking pride of place at BBC1 Xmas night schedule is the show that was recently voted the best sit-com on British TV in the 21st Century beating the likes of The Office, has won awards including BAFTA and NTA wins, has hit viewership peaks of 11m and has even had a spin off film. Yet for all it's success it has been on the receiving end of some of the most vitriolic reviews that a TV show has got in recent years, so why the extreme reactions? Mrs Brown's Boy has had a journey that has included radio, books stage shows and a prior film version that did involve creator Brendan O'Carroll. And then the TV show was launched in 2011 with little to no fanfare in a grave yard slot, from this some what muted start the show grew to become the massive hit it is today but the critics were if anything had the reverser reaction. The main charge they bring against the show is that for all it post modern trappings (gaffes are kept in, there are shots of the audience laughing at the action, musical numbers etc) it is a show that is deeply rooted in the era of the nadir of the British sit com, the early 1970's.. This was a time when shows like On the Buses and Love thy Neighbour were massive hits at the time but now viewed through the prism of political correctness they are seen as appearing to lowest common denominator. Though On the Buses is at times repeated on ITV3, both it and Love thy Neighbour do not feature on all time great British sit-com lists. If anything Mrs Brown's Boys is seen as a massive step back when the past decade has seen the likes of The Office and The Thick of It had been redefining the language of the sit-com. The question of if Mrs Brown's Boys joins the pantheon of great British sit-coms like Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses to name just 3 will judged be in the fullness of time.
Friday, 16 December 2016
CG Resurrection
The following contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story so look away if you have not seen it.
Final Chance
SPOILERS
Rouge One features a sub plot that focus on a power struggle between the villain played by Ben Mehdelson and Gran Moff Tarkin, all Star Wars buffs know that the role Tarkin was played in the original Star Wars film by Peter Cushing who died in 1994. Guy Henry whose credits include numerous Harry Potter films, Holby City and V for Vendetta takes on the role of Tarkin in Rouge One but his face is grafted over with that of Cushing while he delivers the limes. This is a bit of distraction for those clear memories of Cushing's performance as a different voice comes out of his face. If you look at photos of Henry you will find a close resemblance to Cushing that you have to wonder why the filmmakers use CGI instead of prosthetics to create an image of Cushing and avoiding unnecessary confusion.
The following contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story so look away if you have not seen it.
Final Chance
SPOILERS
Rouge One features a sub plot that focus on a power struggle between the villain played by Ben Mehdelson and Gran Moff Tarkin, all Star Wars buffs know that the role Tarkin was played in the original Star Wars film by Peter Cushing who died in 1994. Guy Henry whose credits include numerous Harry Potter films, Holby City and V for Vendetta takes on the role of Tarkin in Rouge One but his face is grafted over with that of Cushing while he delivers the limes. This is a bit of distraction for those clear memories of Cushing's performance as a different voice comes out of his face. If you look at photos of Henry you will find a close resemblance to Cushing that you have to wonder why the filmmakers use CGI instead of prosthetics to create an image of Cushing and avoiding unnecessary confusion.
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
BBC SPOTY 2016: Shortlist rundown
This Sunday BBC sports personality of 2016 will be revealed. There are 16 candidates. I have split then into 3 groups.
Not a chance of winning
Sophie Christasen
Kadeena Cox
Won't win but may come second or third
Nick Skelton
Danny Willett
Dame Sarah Storey
Nicola Adams
Kate Richardson-Walsh
Max Whitlock
Adam Peaty
Alistair Brownlee
The out and out favourites
Jason Kenny
Laura Kenny
Jaime Vardy
Gareth Bale
Mo Farah
Andy Murray
This Sunday BBC sports personality of 2016 will be revealed. There are 16 candidates. I have split then into 3 groups.
Not a chance of winning
Sophie Christasen
Kadeena Cox
Won't win but may come second or third
Nick Skelton
Danny Willett
Dame Sarah Storey
Nicola Adams
Kate Richardson-Walsh
Max Whitlock
Adam Peaty
Alistair Brownlee
The out and out favourites
Jason Kenny
Laura Kenny
Jaime Vardy
Gareth Bale
Mo Farah
Andy Murray
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Xmas Day 2016 telly
When most of us are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ some people are stuck indoors watching televison, here is a brief run down on what is on.
BBC1
The first part of a 2 part Great British Bakeoff send off precedes a somewhat rigid schedule of Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Call the Midwife and Mrs Brown's Boys. The most interesting is Doctor Who's take on the superhero genre.
BBC2
There is a screening the Oscar winning The Artist. A Xmas edition of University Challenge and there is repeats for Dad's Army and Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Speaking of Rowan Atkinson.
ITV
Filling the Downton Abbey shaped hole in it's schedule is Rowan Atkinson second outing as French detective Maigret. Other than that Coronation Street and Emmerdale are separated by Paul O'Grady's For the Love of Dogs.
Channel 4
A couple of festive films get seasonal outings. It's a Wonderful Life and Home Alone
Channel 5
On this channel a couple of musicals. The Wizard of Oz and Singing in the Rain.
When most of us are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ some people are stuck indoors watching televison, here is a brief run down on what is on.
BBC1
The first part of a 2 part Great British Bakeoff send off precedes a somewhat rigid schedule of Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Call the Midwife and Mrs Brown's Boys. The most interesting is Doctor Who's take on the superhero genre.
BBC2
There is a screening the Oscar winning The Artist. A Xmas edition of University Challenge and there is repeats for Dad's Army and Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Speaking of Rowan Atkinson.
ITV
Filling the Downton Abbey shaped hole in it's schedule is Rowan Atkinson second outing as French detective Maigret. Other than that Coronation Street and Emmerdale are separated by Paul O'Grady's For the Love of Dogs.
Channel 4
A couple of festive films get seasonal outings. It's a Wonderful Life and Home Alone
Channel 5
On this channel a couple of musicals. The Wizard of Oz and Singing in the Rain.
Monday, 12 December 2016
Weather Men, the golden generation
Today the death of Ian MacSkill has been announced, Macskill was one of a quartet of weather forecasters who left a huge impact the national psyche. Michael Fish who was right to refute a women who had phoned to say that a hurricane was coming the UK's way, the only problem was that the winds that did come were of near hurricane levels. John Kettley who became immortalised by the band A Tribe of Toffs with the song John Kettley is a Weatherman. Bill Giles was seen as so reliable he ended up selling retirement insurance. MacSkill himself was always enthuisnatic despite how horrible the weather was. The four of them achieved a level of fame that their predecessors and successors never achieved.
Today the death of Ian MacSkill has been announced, Macskill was one of a quartet of weather forecasters who left a huge impact the national psyche. Michael Fish who was right to refute a women who had phoned to say that a hurricane was coming the UK's way, the only problem was that the winds that did come were of near hurricane levels. John Kettley who became immortalised by the band A Tribe of Toffs with the song John Kettley is a Weatherman. Bill Giles was seen as so reliable he ended up selling retirement insurance. MacSkill himself was always enthuisnatic despite how horrible the weather was. The four of them achieved a level of fame that their predecessors and successors never achieved.
Sunday, 11 December 2016
Radio Review: Thunderball
BBC Radio 4, drama
Starring Toby Stephens, Alfred Molina, Tom Conti, Janet Montgomery
The latest of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels to be brought to radio under the direction of Martin Jarvis who in the guise of Fleming himself narrates the action. Those who know Thunderball just through the film version may be disappointed that the embellishments that came with it, such as the femme fatale character of Fiona Volpe are gone as this is faithful to the novel. Toby Stephens as Bond shows us the the many facets of the character such as his determination to get one up on the enemy in whatever that may be, charming the ladies and despairing over M's obsession with his health. Alfred Molina as Blofled and Tom Conti as Largo mark for a pair of the most hissable villains as they plot nuclear blackmail. Janet Montgomery as Domino who despite speaking in a cut glass English accent is Italian makes for a tender love interest. The action is brought vividley to life through the combination of Jarvis as Fleming narration, Stephens conveying Bond thoughts and the use of sound effects. It is curious to think that Stephens as the bad guy Gustav Graves who modelled himself on Bond in Die Another Day has now become the definitive radio Bond.
Thunderball can heard on I-player until 10 January 2017
BBC Radio 4, drama
Starring Toby Stephens, Alfred Molina, Tom Conti, Janet Montgomery
The latest of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels to be brought to radio under the direction of Martin Jarvis who in the guise of Fleming himself narrates the action. Those who know Thunderball just through the film version may be disappointed that the embellishments that came with it, such as the femme fatale character of Fiona Volpe are gone as this is faithful to the novel. Toby Stephens as Bond shows us the the many facets of the character such as his determination to get one up on the enemy in whatever that may be, charming the ladies and despairing over M's obsession with his health. Alfred Molina as Blofled and Tom Conti as Largo mark for a pair of the most hissable villains as they plot nuclear blackmail. Janet Montgomery as Domino who despite speaking in a cut glass English accent is Italian makes for a tender love interest. The action is brought vividley to life through the combination of Jarvis as Fleming narration, Stephens conveying Bond thoughts and the use of sound effects. It is curious to think that Stephens as the bad guy Gustav Graves who modelled himself on Bond in Die Another Day has now become the definitive radio Bond.
Thunderball can heard on I-player until 10 January 2017
Friday, 9 December 2016
Greg Lake for Xmas no 1
It used to be the case that the United Kingdom was on the edge of it's seat about who would have the no 1 single at Xmas. However in recent years with the co-ordinated efforts of Simon Cowell , X Factor winners have dominated the past decade. There have been exceptions. A couple of choirs guided by Gareth Malone, a charity single for the Hillsbrough legal fight and Rage Against the Machine topping the charts with the seasonal Killing in the Name. For this year I would like to see I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake to be re released for many reason, first and foremost all proceeds should go to cancer charities because of the disease he died of, as a reminder of his talents and lastly it would good to have a Xmas no 1 that was about again.
It used to be the case that the United Kingdom was on the edge of it's seat about who would have the no 1 single at Xmas. However in recent years with the co-ordinated efforts of Simon Cowell , X Factor winners have dominated the past decade. There have been exceptions. A couple of choirs guided by Gareth Malone, a charity single for the Hillsbrough legal fight and Rage Against the Machine topping the charts with the seasonal Killing in the Name. For this year I would like to see I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake to be re released for many reason, first and foremost all proceeds should go to cancer charities because of the disease he died of, as a reminder of his talents and lastly it would good to have a Xmas no 1 that was about again.
Thursday, 8 December 2016
DVD Review: Game of Thrones - Season 6 (2016)
TV Drama
Starring Peter Dinklage, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Heady
This is the season that marks the point where the TV show has over taken George R R Martin's original source material, A Song of Fire and Ice series of novels. So both readers and non-readers have no idea of what is coming next and that helps the show with it's progression towards the end game as the producers have said that there are just 2 more seasons. Each episode rattles along with no fat to weigh it down as they all have moments that have an impact on the overall storyline. In the North Jon and Sansa try to make alliances in order to drive out the ruthless Boltons out of Winterfell, King's Landing sees various factions plotting to gain power, Dany and Tyrion having to deal with the slavers and Arya contuing her assassin training. As the season progress an number of long standing characters are killed off, some deserve it and some who don't. Episode 9 Battle of the Bastards not only features the engagement at Winterfell that the title refers but also the slavers attack that is repelled by Dragon, this makes one of the most thrilling pieces of television ever made. Special mention must go out to 2 actors who both make a big impression in very few episodes, Max Von Sydow brings gravitas to the role of the mystic Three Eyed and in just 1 episode Ian McShane makes a big impression as a warrior turned holy man. The extras include a look at the filming of the Battle of the Bastard that includes the fact that the shot where Jon Snow facing off a 40 strong Calvary charge was done for real. You are left with much antictpation for the final 2 seasons.
TV Drama
Starring Peter Dinklage, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Heady
This is the season that marks the point where the TV show has over taken George R R Martin's original source material, A Song of Fire and Ice series of novels. So both readers and non-readers have no idea of what is coming next and that helps the show with it's progression towards the end game as the producers have said that there are just 2 more seasons. Each episode rattles along with no fat to weigh it down as they all have moments that have an impact on the overall storyline. In the North Jon and Sansa try to make alliances in order to drive out the ruthless Boltons out of Winterfell, King's Landing sees various factions plotting to gain power, Dany and Tyrion having to deal with the slavers and Arya contuing her assassin training. As the season progress an number of long standing characters are killed off, some deserve it and some who don't. Episode 9 Battle of the Bastards not only features the engagement at Winterfell that the title refers but also the slavers attack that is repelled by Dragon, this makes one of the most thrilling pieces of television ever made. Special mention must go out to 2 actors who both make a big impression in very few episodes, Max Von Sydow brings gravitas to the role of the mystic Three Eyed and in just 1 episode Ian McShane makes a big impression as a warrior turned holy man. The extras include a look at the filming of the Battle of the Bastard that includes the fact that the shot where Jon Snow facing off a 40 strong Calvary charge was done for real. You are left with much antictpation for the final 2 seasons.
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Career trashing moments
There are times when celebrities have done their careers a lot of harm by doing something really stupid. Here are a couple of those.
Hughie Green
From when ITV started in the 1950s, Green was a behemoth of a figure hosting numerous shows. The mos famous of these was the talent show Opportunity Knocks which gave big breaks to the likes of Les Dawson, Pam Ayres, Tom O'Connor, Little & Large and Lena Zavroni to name a few. But behind the scenes Green was making enemies with his behaviour. Things came to head in 1978 when Green used Opportunity Knocks as a vehicle for him to air his right wing political views. Despite Opportunity Knocks popularity it was axed and Green suffered exile from British TV screens save for the odd chat show appearance. Green hit the news after his death in in 1997 when it was revealed he was the biological Father of Paula Yates
Kenny Everett
Everett made his name on the pirate radio station Radio London and was one of the group of DJs who worked for BBC Radio One that included Terry Wogan, John Peel and Tony Blackburn.. In what would be one of many occasions Everett would have with the powers that be he was sacked after making comments about the then Transport Ministers wife paying a bribe to pass her driving test. In 1978 Everett made the move to TV with the Kenny Everett Video Show which saw him bring the characters that he played on his radio show like Sid Snot along guest appearances by the likes of Kate Bush, Freddide Mercurary, Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard. Just before the 1983 General Election Everett appeared at a Young Conservatives even where he enthused the crowd by saying Russia should be bombed and that then Labour Leaders Michael Foot's walking stick should be kicked away from. him. Everett's anti establishment reputation was in tatter. This led to a very tense interview with Sinead O'Connoer on Irish TV. Before his death in 1995 Everett focused mainly on his radio career.
There are times when celebrities have done their careers a lot of harm by doing something really stupid. Here are a couple of those.
Hughie Green
From when ITV started in the 1950s, Green was a behemoth of a figure hosting numerous shows. The mos famous of these was the talent show Opportunity Knocks which gave big breaks to the likes of Les Dawson, Pam Ayres, Tom O'Connor, Little & Large and Lena Zavroni to name a few. But behind the scenes Green was making enemies with his behaviour. Things came to head in 1978 when Green used Opportunity Knocks as a vehicle for him to air his right wing political views. Despite Opportunity Knocks popularity it was axed and Green suffered exile from British TV screens save for the odd chat show appearance. Green hit the news after his death in in 1997 when it was revealed he was the biological Father of Paula Yates
Kenny Everett
Everett made his name on the pirate radio station Radio London and was one of the group of DJs who worked for BBC Radio One that included Terry Wogan, John Peel and Tony Blackburn.. In what would be one of many occasions Everett would have with the powers that be he was sacked after making comments about the then Transport Ministers wife paying a bribe to pass her driving test. In 1978 Everett made the move to TV with the Kenny Everett Video Show which saw him bring the characters that he played on his radio show like Sid Snot along guest appearances by the likes of Kate Bush, Freddide Mercurary, Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard. Just before the 1983 General Election Everett appeared at a Young Conservatives even where he enthused the crowd by saying Russia should be bombed and that then Labour Leaders Michael Foot's walking stick should be kicked away from. him. Everett's anti establishment reputation was in tatter. This led to a very tense interview with Sinead O'Connoer on Irish TV. Before his death in 1995 Everett focused mainly on his radio career.
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
True crime, purposeful or exploitation?
This week both BBC and ITV are screening dramas about notorious murderers. The BBC are showing Rillington Place about John Christie whose crimes led to one man Timothy Evans being wrongly hanged for Christie's crimes. While ITV are showing In Plain Sight about notorious Scottish killer Peter Manuel. There has been a long history of the public being fascinated with horrible crimes. Do programmes like the ones above just feed that hunger or serve a greater purpose? The Christie crimes were already the subject of a film 10 Rillington Place starring Richard Attenbourgh and John Hurt as Christie and Evans, the film was based on a book by Ludovic Kennedy who wrote it as a anti death penalty piece in response to a Conservative MP's trying to pass a bill to bring back the death penalty. The death penalty in the UK is still no longer used because of such miscarriages such as those that happened to Timothy Evans. Drama about real crimes continue to be a staple of the TV schedules. whether their withstand the charge of exploitation may be depend on what the programme is seeking to do.
This week both BBC and ITV are screening dramas about notorious murderers. The BBC are showing Rillington Place about John Christie whose crimes led to one man Timothy Evans being wrongly hanged for Christie's crimes. While ITV are showing In Plain Sight about notorious Scottish killer Peter Manuel. There has been a long history of the public being fascinated with horrible crimes. Do programmes like the ones above just feed that hunger or serve a greater purpose? The Christie crimes were already the subject of a film 10 Rillington Place starring Richard Attenbourgh and John Hurt as Christie and Evans, the film was based on a book by Ludovic Kennedy who wrote it as a anti death penalty piece in response to a Conservative MP's trying to pass a bill to bring back the death penalty. The death penalty in the UK is still no longer used because of such miscarriages such as those that happened to Timothy Evans. Drama about real crimes continue to be a staple of the TV schedules. whether their withstand the charge of exploitation may be depend on what the programme is seeking to do.
Monday, 5 December 2016
Suggestions for songs for the X Factor winner(s)
It is that time of year where the winning act make their assault on the Xmas charts. Here are some out of the box suggestions.
Big Log by Robert Plant
If we must have a ballad then lets have one by one of the giants of popular music
Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung
Up tempo number by British duo who are more well known in the US than their home country.
Street of Dreams by Rainbow
A piece of Rock Pop by Ritchie Blackmore's outfit
Heat of the Moment by Asia
Band made up of Prog Rock legends went for a more pop direction and found massive success in the US
It is that time of year where the winning act make their assault on the Xmas charts. Here are some out of the box suggestions.
Big Log by Robert Plant
If we must have a ballad then lets have one by one of the giants of popular music
Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung
Up tempo number by British duo who are more well known in the US than their home country.
Street of Dreams by Rainbow
A piece of Rock Pop by Ritchie Blackmore's outfit
Heat of the Moment by Asia
Band made up of Prog Rock legends went for a more pop direction and found massive success in the US
Sunday, 4 December 2016
The power of Fawlty Towers
The sad news of the death of Andrew Sachs brought much fulsome and deserved tributes to the actor. Sachs as Manuel was one of the many components that made Fawlty Towers the classic that it is. Manuel with his eager to please approach and happy go lucky attitude to life gave us someone to root for. Ballard Berkly as the Major gave us one of the most delightful eccentrics in UK sit com history, a buffoon he may be but he was a lovable buffoon. The plots may resemble those of standard British farces but their focus of British attitudes to class. foreigners etc. Prunella Scales as Sybil with her laugh and business sense tying to make the best of the hotel despite Basil's penny pinching. And then of course John Clesse, as co-writer with then wife Connie Booth came up with many memorable situations in which he as Basil showed both verbal comic skills in his dealings with other people like the many poor guest who suffer his ire and physical ones such famous scenes like the one where hits the broken down car with a tree branch while giving it a verbal reproach, Cleese recently revisited it for a commercial for an optician chain. To Andrew Sachs we give many thanks for bringing such joy to us.
The sad news of the death of Andrew Sachs brought much fulsome and deserved tributes to the actor. Sachs as Manuel was one of the many components that made Fawlty Towers the classic that it is. Manuel with his eager to please approach and happy go lucky attitude to life gave us someone to root for. Ballard Berkly as the Major gave us one of the most delightful eccentrics in UK sit com history, a buffoon he may be but he was a lovable buffoon. The plots may resemble those of standard British farces but their focus of British attitudes to class. foreigners etc. Prunella Scales as Sybil with her laugh and business sense tying to make the best of the hotel despite Basil's penny pinching. And then of course John Clesse, as co-writer with then wife Connie Booth came up with many memorable situations in which he as Basil showed both verbal comic skills in his dealings with other people like the many poor guest who suffer his ire and physical ones such famous scenes like the one where hits the broken down car with a tree branch while giving it a verbal reproach, Cleese recently revisited it for a commercial for an optician chain. To Andrew Sachs we give many thanks for bringing such joy to us.
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