Channel 5 at 20
It is now 20 years since Channel 5 was launched and in that time it has gone through many changes both on and off screen. When it launched it had a mix of Football, films, comedy and chat. Channel 5 covered most of Chelsea's path to winning the 1998 European Cup Winners Cup with only the final being covered by BBC1. One of Channel 5's big selling points was that there would be a film on at 9 PM every night though this tended to be a mix of actual cinema releases, Direct to Video releases and US TV movies of variable quality. Stars like Simon Pegg and Graham Norton made early appearances in comedy shows made by Channel 5. Jack Docherty hosted a late night chat show only when he went on holiday he came back to find that his stand in Melinda Messenger had replaced him full time. After a few years Channel 5 had become more reliant on US imports such as CSI (and spin offs), Law and Order (and spin offs) and NCIS (and spin offs) to names just a few. In 2010 Richard Desmond bought the broadcaster, and one of the first things that happened was that Big Brother was brought back from the TV graveyard after being axed by Channel 4 with some suggesting this was done only to keep filling the pages of the Desmond owned newspaper The Daily Star. In 2014 Desmond sold Channel 5 to US giant Viacom for £700 million, one of the most curious things to happen under Viacom was the transferring of the US imports to the smaller sister channels with the schedules given over to home made factual programmes. The next few years for Channel 5 may be unknown but it will not be uneventful.
Friday, 31 March 2017
Thursday, 30 March 2017
TV Review: Brian Pern - A Tribute
Starring Simon Day, Rhys Thomas
Channel: BBC4
After the sudden death of the one time Thotch front man and inventor of World Music the BBC broadcast a tribute featuring contributions from other rock legends like Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and Elton John. Brian Pern is or course the fictional creation of Simon Day who plays Pern and Rhys Thomas who kinds of plays himself as the director of the film. The show plays with the format of such programmes with various talking heads like Brian's band mates played by Nigel Havers and Day's Fast Show cast mate Paul Whitehouse, his ex wives with his first one played by Jane Asher who had her own relationship with Paul McCartney in the 1960's and his manger played by deadpan wit of the highest order by Michael Kitchen. Another Fast Show cast member John Thomson makes a hilarious appearance as a Thotch fan who believes that Brian has faked his death and is now living in the Amazon. Doctor Who fans will be delighted by the appearances of both Christopher Eccleston and Peter Davison, Eccleston plays an edgy record producer who is not happy with producing a Prog Rock record while Davison as himself lambasted Brian's acting abilities when Brian appeared on Doctor Who with clips showing his non acting ability. Brian's Advenntures in sound have provided some of the biggest laugh out moments of recent years so it is sad to see him go though they may be a chance that this is not the last we have seen of him.
Starring Simon Day, Rhys Thomas
Channel: BBC4
After the sudden death of the one time Thotch front man and inventor of World Music the BBC broadcast a tribute featuring contributions from other rock legends like Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and Elton John. Brian Pern is or course the fictional creation of Simon Day who plays Pern and Rhys Thomas who kinds of plays himself as the director of the film. The show plays with the format of such programmes with various talking heads like Brian's band mates played by Nigel Havers and Day's Fast Show cast mate Paul Whitehouse, his ex wives with his first one played by Jane Asher who had her own relationship with Paul McCartney in the 1960's and his manger played by deadpan wit of the highest order by Michael Kitchen. Another Fast Show cast member John Thomson makes a hilarious appearance as a Thotch fan who believes that Brian has faked his death and is now living in the Amazon. Doctor Who fans will be delighted by the appearances of both Christopher Eccleston and Peter Davison, Eccleston plays an edgy record producer who is not happy with producing a Prog Rock record while Davison as himself lambasted Brian's acting abilities when Brian appeared on Doctor Who with clips showing his non acting ability. Brian's Advenntures in sound have provided some of the biggest laugh out moments of recent years so it is sad to see him go though they may be a chance that this is not the last we have seen of him.
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
What links Pointless with Star Wars/
In a round which contestants were asked to name actors from the biggest film series of all time from clues given about them, Warwick Davis was given as an answer which of course was right. Host Alexander Armstrong then added that Pointless was made at the same studio where Davis filmed his scenes for Return of the Jedi.
In a round which contestants were asked to name actors from the biggest film series of all time from clues given about them, Warwick Davis was given as an answer which of course was right. Host Alexander Armstrong then added that Pointless was made at the same studio where Davis filmed his scenes for Return of the Jedi.
Monday, 27 March 2017
Eurovison and the coup
The recent banning of the Russian entry for this years Eurovison song contest by hosts Ukraine because the singer set foot on hotly disputed territory has set many people shaking their heads over politics spoiling a event that was creating to bring nations together. This is not the first time politics has cast it's shadow over the event, in 1974 the year ABBA won with Waterloo would see the military in Portugal launch a coup when the first bars of the country's entry was played. Russia may still take part in the year's contest but it has been overshadowed by more serious matters.
The recent banning of the Russian entry for this years Eurovison song contest by hosts Ukraine because the singer set foot on hotly disputed territory has set many people shaking their heads over politics spoiling a event that was creating to bring nations together. This is not the first time politics has cast it's shadow over the event, in 1974 the year ABBA won with Waterloo would see the military in Portugal launch a coup when the first bars of the country's entry was played. Russia may still take part in the year's contest but it has been overshadowed by more serious matters.
Saturday, 18 March 2017
Who watches these shows?
Below is a list of TV shows that for some (to me) that people watch
Escape to the Country
Rich people are guidied around various expensive homes in the ultimate of property porn. Great viewing in these times of fiscal dire straits.
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
Sorry but Dogs and me do not get on , so watching a programmes full of them is the biggest turn off of them all.
The Jeremy Kyle Show
Now you can do a very long essay on the many moral problems that this show brings with it but you can just watch videos on Youtube to save you time.
Below is a list of TV shows that for some (to me) that people watch
Escape to the Country
Rich people are guidied around various expensive homes in the ultimate of property porn. Great viewing in these times of fiscal dire straits.
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
Sorry but Dogs and me do not get on , so watching a programmes full of them is the biggest turn off of them all.
The Jeremy Kyle Show
Now you can do a very long essay on the many moral problems that this show brings with it but you can just watch videos on Youtube to save you time.
Friday, 17 March 2017
Change of career for George
In a surprise move George Osborne the former Chancellor has announced as the editor of London newspaper The Evening Standard. Osborne had before entering politics had pursed a career in journalism having job interviews with the likes of The Times (to name just one) before operating as a freelance journalist. After getting a job at the Conservative party headquarters Osborne devoted himself the cut and thrust of politics rising to the post of Chancellor before being sacked by Theresa May when she became Prime Minster and is said to have given him a lecture on humility. The appointment has of course raised some eyebrows, Jeremy Corbyn has called on Osborne to resign his Taton seat (which is actually due to be abolished at the next General Election) saying that he can not be both an MP and newspaper editor at the same time. Alistair Campbell has suggested that person who has most to fear from Osborne in his new job is Prime Minister May. A lot of people will be interested in what The Evening Standard has to say in the future.
In a surprise move George Osborne the former Chancellor has announced as the editor of London newspaper The Evening Standard. Osborne had before entering politics had pursed a career in journalism having job interviews with the likes of The Times (to name just one) before operating as a freelance journalist. After getting a job at the Conservative party headquarters Osborne devoted himself the cut and thrust of politics rising to the post of Chancellor before being sacked by Theresa May when she became Prime Minster and is said to have given him a lecture on humility. The appointment has of course raised some eyebrows, Jeremy Corbyn has called on Osborne to resign his Taton seat (which is actually due to be abolished at the next General Election) saying that he can not be both an MP and newspaper editor at the same time. Alistair Campbell has suggested that person who has most to fear from Osborne in his new job is Prime Minister May. A lot of people will be interested in what The Evening Standard has to say in the future.
Thursday, 16 March 2017
New faces for GBBO
Channel 4 have announced who will be joining Paul Hollywood when The Great British Bake Off makes it move later this year. Joining Hollywood as judge will be Prue Leith, that could considered a like for like change for Mary Berry. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is the choice of presenters with the near ever present Sandi Toksvig filling one of the spots, however it is the other choice that has raised some eyebrows with Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh fame taking the role. GBBO will almost certainly be the largest audience Fielding will and the big question being is how will they take to his unique sense of humour. We will find out soon.
Channel 4 have announced who will be joining Paul Hollywood when The Great British Bake Off makes it move later this year. Joining Hollywood as judge will be Prue Leith, that could considered a like for like change for Mary Berry. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is the choice of presenters with the near ever present Sandi Toksvig filling one of the spots, however it is the other choice that has raised some eyebrows with Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh fame taking the role. GBBO will almost certainly be the largest audience Fielding will and the big question being is how will they take to his unique sense of humour. We will find out soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)