Never Mind the Buzzcocks
32x08 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Does the 00s
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x57 Week 12: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
6x05 The Vow
Strike
5x01 The Ink Black Heart Part 1
5x02 The Ink Black Heart Part 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Sort by date Show all posts
Friday, 7 February 2025
Saturday, 28 December 2024
TV
The Box of Delights
Part 3 In Darkest Cellars Underneath
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x23 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 1 [6th or so watch]
4x24 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 2 [season finale; 6th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
32x03 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Does the 90s
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
3x04 Week 1: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
9x01 Episode 1
9x02 Episode 2
[Watch series 9 (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 3 In Darkest Cellars Underneath
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x23 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 1 [6th or so watch]
4x24 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 2 [season finale; 6th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
32x03 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Does the 90s
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
3x04 Week 1: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
9x01 Episode 1
9x02 Episode 2
[Watch series 9 (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 2 January 2025
TV
Friends
5x07 The One Where Ross Moves In [6th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
32x05 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Does Girl Groups & Boy Bands
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
3x09 Week 2: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
14x01 Inside
I haven't watched Vera since 2018 — I find crime dramas too samey to watch too many of them (that's partly why I'm over a year behind on Death in Paradise), and I just didn't feel like more Vera at the time. But it's a pretty good show, really, and these are the final episodes, so it felt right to come back for them.
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
5x07 The One Where Ross Moves In [6th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
32x05 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Does Girl Groups & Boy Bands
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
3x09 Week 2: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
14x01 Inside
I haven't watched Vera since 2018 — I find crime dramas too samey to watch too many of them (that's partly why I'm over a year behind on Death in Paradise), and I just didn't feel like more Vera at the time. But it's a pretty good show, really, and these are the final episodes, so it felt right to come back for them.
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
TV
The Force
Episode 2 (of 3)
The second episode of this excellent documentary series takes a look at the UK's first dedicated rape unit outside London, an "experiment" given six months to prove itself as a concept that should be rolled out nationwide. As stated near the start, rape is second only to murder in seriousness in the opinion of the British public, but is one of the hardest crimes to prove and consequently has one of the lowest conviction rates. Ultimately, the unit is shut down -- though it's given a last minute reprieve, once most of its staff have already been reassigned. Effectively, it's deemed as not cost effective despite impressive statistics, though just about allowed to continue... for the time being.
All in, it makes for an engrossing documentary on the way rape is and could be investigated, and commentary on the (perhaps hypocritical) difference between the opinion of rape in general, i.e. second only to murder, and the opinion on specific cases, i.e. unsolvable -- something the work of this unit categorically disproves. To date, no other force has established a similar unit, while last year 15,000 rapes were reported in the UK, leading to just 955 convictions.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
It's Only a Theory
1x08 Episode 8
Marcus Chown, again! And yet they still pretend they don't know him. Come on guys, treat your viewers with some intelligence!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x08 (18/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
Martin Freeman does a good job in the guest host chair, though I couldn't see him doing it regularly (should they return to that route). One of the great things about the Buzzcocks guest hosts, incidentally, is that most of them seem to be having a whale of a time; unlike on HIGNFY, where they mostly seem nervous as hell.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Episode 2 (of 3)
The second episode of this excellent documentary series takes a look at the UK's first dedicated rape unit outside London, an "experiment" given six months to prove itself as a concept that should be rolled out nationwide. As stated near the start, rape is second only to murder in seriousness in the opinion of the British public, but is one of the hardest crimes to prove and consequently has one of the lowest conviction rates. Ultimately, the unit is shut down -- though it's given a last minute reprieve, once most of its staff have already been reassigned. Effectively, it's deemed as not cost effective despite impressive statistics, though just about allowed to continue... for the time being.
All in, it makes for an engrossing documentary on the way rape is and could be investigated, and commentary on the (perhaps hypocritical) difference between the opinion of rape in general, i.e. second only to murder, and the opinion on specific cases, i.e. unsolvable -- something the work of this unit categorically disproves. To date, no other force has established a similar unit, while last year 15,000 rapes were reported in the UK, leading to just 955 convictions.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
It's Only a Theory
1x08 Episode 8
Marcus Chown, again! And yet they still pretend they don't know him. Come on guys, treat your viewers with some intelligence!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x08 (18/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
Martin Freeman does a good job in the guest host chair, though I couldn't see him doing it regularly (should they return to that route). One of the great things about the Buzzcocks guest hosts, incidentally, is that most of them seem to be having a whale of a time; unlike on HIGNFY, where they mostly seem nervous as hell.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 2 January 2011
TV
Due South
2x05 The Promise [2nd watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
24x11 Episode 11
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Primeval
4x02 Episode 2
This episode starts ridiculously (seriously, if you found a lizard that big in your house, would you flush it down the toilet? I wouldn't) and doesn't improve. Business as usual then.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Swingin' Christmas
Something a bit different for Christmas, even if only a handful of songs were specifically Christmassy, and (one might argue) most of the others weren't well enough known. Still, a nice idea and an entertaining hour-and-a-half. The website includes a full list of songs performed, including details of what's in the medleys.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [film series]
The Man Who Smiled (aka Mannen som log)
The other Swedish Wallander: between 1994 and 2007, Rolf Lassgård starred in nine TV movies adapting Henning Mankell's novels -- i.e. the stories also being used for the Branagh series (the other Swedish Wallander adapted a Linda Wallander novel followed by original stories).
This, the first BBC Four have brought to the UK, is the sixth film, from 2003, which was adapted by the British series as the second episode of series two. This version is rather different to the British -- the ending is completely changed, for one thing -- and, having already seen two actors portray the role, Lassgård takes some getting used to. He's not bad, though he feels more like your standard TV detective than the more unusual stylings Branagh and Henriksson brought. Plus, although he was the first actor to play the part, he's perhaps come too late to the party for British viewers.
2x05 The Promise [2nd watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
24x11 Episode 11
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Primeval
4x02 Episode 2
This episode starts ridiculously (seriously, if you found a lizard that big in your house, would you flush it down the toilet? I wouldn't) and doesn't improve. Business as usual then.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Swingin' Christmas
Something a bit different for Christmas, even if only a handful of songs were specifically Christmassy, and (one might argue) most of the others weren't well enough known. Still, a nice idea and an entertaining hour-and-a-half. The website includes a full list of songs performed, including details of what's in the medleys.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [film series]
The Man Who Smiled (aka Mannen som log)
The other Swedish Wallander: between 1994 and 2007, Rolf Lassgård starred in nine TV movies adapting Henning Mankell's novels -- i.e. the stories also being used for the Branagh series (the other Swedish Wallander adapted a Linda Wallander novel followed by original stories).
This, the first BBC Four have brought to the UK, is the sixth film, from 2003, which was adapted by the British series as the second episode of series two. This version is rather different to the British -- the ending is completely changed, for one thing -- and, having already seen two actors portray the role, Lassgård takes some getting used to. He's not bad, though he feels more like your standard TV detective than the more unusual stylings Branagh and Henriksson brought. Plus, although he was the first actor to play the part, he's perhaps come too late to the party for British viewers.
Friday, 29 November 2024
Sunday, 17 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
30x02 The Fires of Pompeii [2nd watch]
#bbbDW50 sticks with the Tenth Doctor for a little longer -- we haven't exactly used proportional representation for the Doctors so far, and we're not really starting here (not with any great degree of accuracy, anyway), but when it came to increasing the number of episodes from the original 45 to a more appropriate 50, it seemed fairest to bung in a couple more for the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors rather than a whole extra multi-parter for any earlier one.
Fans will no doubt easily guess why Fires of Pompeii earns a coveted spot here: one of its main guest stars is none other than Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor himself! Except not the Twelfth Doctor. Probably. Who knows what kind of retconning Moffat will attempt. (Probably none. Hopefully none.) Surprisingly, he's barely in the thing.
The episode also features a pre-Pond Karen Gillan, caked in make-up as a glorified extra... and yet, after two-and-a-half seasons as the main companion, really obviously her. But that's not why I've chosen it; that's just a coincidence.
Have I Got News For You
46x05 (1/11/2013 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x12 The Doctor Who Special [2nd watch]
From Christmas 2009 and repeated last week as part of the anniversary celebrations. It's a great fun episode, actually... though four years on accompanied by, "wow, doesn't David Tennant look a surprising amount younger!" and "wow, doesn't Phill Jupitus look clean-shaven and therefore kind of chubbier!"
Bernard Cribbins is still just blinkin' marvellous though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Poirot
13x02 The Big Four
Poirot finished forever earlier in the week, but with shocking tardiness I'm only embarking on the final series now. Though there are tonnes of earlier episodes I've never seen, so one day, with a DVD (or Blu-ray) box set, there's still plenty of new-to-me Poirot to come.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
30x02 The Fires of Pompeii [2nd watch]
#bbbDW50 sticks with the Tenth Doctor for a little longer -- we haven't exactly used proportional representation for the Doctors so far, and we're not really starting here (not with any great degree of accuracy, anyway), but when it came to increasing the number of episodes from the original 45 to a more appropriate 50, it seemed fairest to bung in a couple more for the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors rather than a whole extra multi-parter for any earlier one.
Fans will no doubt easily guess why Fires of Pompeii earns a coveted spot here: one of its main guest stars is none other than Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor himself! Except not the Twelfth Doctor. Probably. Who knows what kind of retconning Moffat will attempt. (Probably none. Hopefully none.) Surprisingly, he's barely in the thing.
The episode also features a pre-Pond Karen Gillan, caked in make-up as a glorified extra... and yet, after two-and-a-half seasons as the main companion, really obviously her. But that's not why I've chosen it; that's just a coincidence.
Have I Got News For You
46x05 (1/11/2013 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x12 The Doctor Who Special [2nd watch]
From Christmas 2009 and repeated last week as part of the anniversary celebrations. It's a great fun episode, actually... though four years on accompanied by, "wow, doesn't David Tennant look a surprising amount younger!" and "wow, doesn't Phill Jupitus look clean-shaven and therefore kind of chubbier!"
Bernard Cribbins is still just blinkin' marvellous though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Poirot
13x02 The Big Four
Poirot finished forever earlier in the week, but with shocking tardiness I'm only embarking on the final series now. Though there are tonnes of earlier episodes I've never seen, so one day, with a DVD (or Blu-ray) box set, there's still plenty of new-to-me Poirot to come.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Monday, 30 September 2013
TV
Doctor Who
13x04 Terror of the Zygons Part Four [2nd watch]
OK, so maybe I was wrong about the Skarasen the other day. Some dodgy effects at the end aside, though, this is a cracking conclusion to a great story. Top choice for the Fourth Doctor, if I do say so myself.
Also noteworthy, #bbbDW50 reaches the halfway point today: this is the 25th episode of the 50 we'll be watching to mark the anniversary. (However, because scheduling decisions will see the final 10 episodes squeezed into two weeks, the chronological halfway point was... yesterday. Huh, thought they'd be further apart than that. But I suppose turning the single-episode TV Movie into a three-parter for our schedule counterbalances the speed of the final episodes. Anyway...)
Incidentally, the 5.1 surround sound mix on the DVD sounds fantastic, especially the theme music.
Friends
2x17 The One Where Eddie Moves In [4th or so watch]
The Great British Bake Off
4x06 Sweet Dough
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
13x04 Terror of the Zygons Part Four [2nd watch]
OK, so maybe I was wrong about the Skarasen the other day. Some dodgy effects at the end aside, though, this is a cracking conclusion to a great story. Top choice for the Fourth Doctor, if I do say so myself.
Also noteworthy, #bbbDW50 reaches the halfway point today: this is the 25th episode of the 50 we'll be watching to mark the anniversary. (However, because scheduling decisions will see the final 10 episodes squeezed into two weeks, the chronological halfway point was... yesterday. Huh, thought they'd be further apart than that. But I suppose turning the single-episode TV Movie into a three-parter for our schedule counterbalances the speed of the final episodes. Anyway...)
Incidentally, the 5.1 surround sound mix on the DVD sounds fantastic, especially the theme music.
Friends
2x17 The One Where Eddie Moves In [4th or so watch]
The Great British Bake Off
4x06 Sweet Dough
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friday, 21 January 2011
TV
The Graham Norton Show
8x12 (14/1/11 edition)
Why do the /programmes department of the BBC website (as I believe it is actually called) so often struggle to get things like episode numbers right on their own series?
(I say "so often", I mean "sometimes". But really, with so many semi-OCD people in the world, surely you should be employing them to do stuff like this? People like me, f'rinstance...)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Great Outdoors
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Magicians
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x13 (dropped 30/10/08 edition)
Ah-ha! At last! The infamous missing Buzzcocks episode featuring Russell Brand as a team captain, which should have aired in October 2008 but was canned due to the Brand/Ross/Sachs phone call scandal (remember that, eh?) Clearly someone at the Beeb thinks two years (and three months) is an appropriate amount of time to have waited.
Worth it though. It's like a little previously-undiscovered gem to have Amstell back in the host's chair, and just generally new Buzzcocks is always a joy.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
8x12 (14/1/11 edition)
Why do the /programmes department of the BBC website (as I believe it is actually called) so often struggle to get things like episode numbers right on their own series?
(I say "so often", I mean "sometimes". But really, with so many semi-OCD people in the world, surely you should be employing them to do stuff like this? People like me, f'rinstance...)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Great Outdoors
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Magicians
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x13 (dropped 30/10/08 edition)
Ah-ha! At last! The infamous missing Buzzcocks episode featuring Russell Brand as a team captain, which should have aired in October 2008 but was canned due to the Brand/Ross/Sachs phone call scandal (remember that, eh?) Clearly someone at the Beeb thinks two years (and three months) is an appropriate amount of time to have waited.
Worth it though. It's like a little previously-undiscovered gem to have Amstell back in the host's chair, and just generally new Buzzcocks is always a joy.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 10 January 2011
TV
Derren Brown: Behind the Mischief
A nice little look at Derren the person, to mark the 10th anniversary of his TV career. Perhaps disappointingly short on new insights into his tricks though.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Just Good Friends
2x01 Guilt
Little Crackers
Episode 6 Better Than Christmas
Episode 7 Goodbye Fluff
Jo Brand's episode (Goodbye Fluff) is one of the best so far -- it's actually funny. Christmas shorts by comedians don't have to be funny, I suppose, but as they're a) by comedians, and b) open with a "Sky Comedy" logo, you kinda expect laughs.
The Magicians
1x02 Episode 2
I did the play-along-at-home trick this week (having done last week's after the show -- even having seen the answer, it didn't work). This week it did work... but then the thing on the website is insanely easy for the production to rig -- and, having tried it a few times, I never got the wrong card -- so I'm afraid I don't buy it as a proper trick. Still, love the theme music.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
24x12 Episode 12
The South Bank Show
37x09 Victoria Wood Revisited
Remember when, back in September, I said I was finally getting round to watching these South Bank Show Revisiteds? Yeeeaaah...
A nice little look at Derren the person, to mark the 10th anniversary of his TV career. Perhaps disappointingly short on new insights into his tricks though.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Just Good Friends
2x01 Guilt
Little Crackers
Episode 6 Better Than Christmas
Episode 7 Goodbye Fluff
Jo Brand's episode (Goodbye Fluff) is one of the best so far -- it's actually funny. Christmas shorts by comedians don't have to be funny, I suppose, but as they're a) by comedians, and b) open with a "Sky Comedy" logo, you kinda expect laughs.
The Magicians
1x02 Episode 2
I did the play-along-at-home trick this week (having done last week's after the show -- even having seen the answer, it didn't work). This week it did work... but then the thing on the website is insanely easy for the production to rig -- and, having tried it a few times, I never got the wrong card -- so I'm afraid I don't buy it as a proper trick. Still, love the theme music.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
24x12 Episode 12
The South Bank Show
37x09 Victoria Wood Revisited
Remember when, back in September, I said I was finally getting round to watching these South Bank Show Revisiteds? Yeeeaaah...
Sunday, 2 December 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x12 (27/11/12 edition)
That must be the smallest contribution to the prize pot yet. Unsurprisingly none of them were bright enough to even get to the final question, never mind actually win the money. Only fair.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Dragons' Den
10x10 Episode 10
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
James Bond: A BAFTA Tribute [2nd watch]
BBC special from 2002 celebrating 40 years of the Bond films. It's interesting to watch it again now: 10 years doesn't necessarily seem like such a long time, especially when you're only going back to the '00s, but it actually really feels it. You wouldn't think TV has changed so much in that time, for instance, but at points this has a borderline-old-fashioned sense; and certainly everyone looks older now, especially Roger Moore (as seen on HIGNFY the other night).
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Person of Interest
1x18 Identity Crisis
1x12 (27/11/12 edition)
That must be the smallest contribution to the prize pot yet. Unsurprisingly none of them were bright enough to even get to the final question, never mind actually win the money. Only fair.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Dragons' Den
10x10 Episode 10
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
James Bond: A BAFTA Tribute [2nd watch]
BBC special from 2002 celebrating 40 years of the Bond films. It's interesting to watch it again now: 10 years doesn't necessarily seem like such a long time, especially when you're only going back to the '00s, but it actually really feels it. You wouldn't think TV has changed so much in that time, for instance, but at points this has a borderline-old-fashioned sense; and certainly everyone looks older now, especially Roger Moore (as seen on HIGNFY the other night).
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Person of Interest
1x18 Identity Crisis
Monday, 11 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
27x12 Bad Wolf [4th watch]
With less than a fortnight until the anniversary, #bbbDW50 reaches the revived series. NuWho makes up exactly 20% of my viewing for this. That feels like it's disproportionately large, right? Wrong. From a grand total of 33 seasons of Doctor Who, the seven modern-era ones make up just over 21%. Pretty much bang on, then. The viewing rate will also step up to squeeze all the episodes in: rather than three per week, it'll be 10 episodes over the next 12 days.
First up, then, is the Ninth Doctor (of course). Although he only stuck around for one season -- a total of 10 stories -- there are several classics to choose from. His season finale seems a natural choice to sum up his era -- Daleks, Captain Jack, the regeneration... and Bad Wolf, which looks like it will factor in to the 50th special.
The most remarkable thing, watching this now, is how old it looks. It's only been eight years, but somehow it looks... not dated, necessarily, but not the same as TV drama now. I mean, what the hell cameras were they using to make every single light source glow to three times its size?! And all the Big Brother / Weakest Link stuff has dated terribly. Even at the time we knew it would, but (again) it's only been eight years -- how bad is it going to look in another five, ten, twenty? Future viewers will not just benefit from some contextual notes, they'll need them.
Still, not a bad story. A lot of the biggest bestest stuff is in Part Two though.
Friends
4x19 The One with All the Haste [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x06 Episode 6
27x12 Bad Wolf [4th watch]
With less than a fortnight until the anniversary, #bbbDW50 reaches the revived series. NuWho makes up exactly 20% of my viewing for this. That feels like it's disproportionately large, right? Wrong. From a grand total of 33 seasons of Doctor Who, the seven modern-era ones make up just over 21%. Pretty much bang on, then. The viewing rate will also step up to squeeze all the episodes in: rather than three per week, it'll be 10 episodes over the next 12 days.
First up, then, is the Ninth Doctor (of course). Although he only stuck around for one season -- a total of 10 stories -- there are several classics to choose from. His season finale seems a natural choice to sum up his era -- Daleks, Captain Jack, the regeneration... and Bad Wolf, which looks like it will factor in to the 50th special.
The most remarkable thing, watching this now, is how old it looks. It's only been eight years, but somehow it looks... not dated, necessarily, but not the same as TV drama now. I mean, what the hell cameras were they using to make every single light source glow to three times its size?! And all the Big Brother / Weakest Link stuff has dated terribly. Even at the time we knew it would, but (again) it's only been eight years -- how bad is it going to look in another five, ten, twenty? Future viewers will not just benefit from some contextual notes, they'll need them.
Still, not a bad story. A lot of the biggest bestest stuff is in Part Two though.
Friends
4x19 The One with All the Haste [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x06 Episode 6
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
TV
Castle
3x07 Almost Famous
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
32x04 The Doctor's Wife [2nd watch]
By chance rather than design, #bbbDW50 includes one episode from each of the Eleventh Doctor's series. This episode from 2011 (my God, is it really 2½ years old?!) was hailed as an instant classic by so many -- in part, let's be perfectly honest, because of the hype surrounding its writer. I'm not saying it wouldn't have garnered such love if it had been by anyone else, but... well, it wouldn't have garnered such love, would it?
I didn't fall for it quite so deeply. In fact, I thought it was interesting and fine, but held back by the level of expectation and the consequent, shall we say, "squee"ing over it. (I hate the 'word' "squee", making it perfect for this occasion.) Returning to it for the first time in 2½ years (my God, is it really 2½ years old?!) allows a chance for personal reappraisal.
...but not much has changed. It's a very good episode, and the conceit is a great one, but it's not flawless. House is not as effective an enemy as it feels he/it was imagined to be, and Amy and Rory basically run around corridors just so they have something to do. Similarly, the Doctor and Idris seem to fly their makeshift TARDIS for ages, again in a move that feels time-killing.
Still, the bits that work do work really well, and ultimately it's that sky-high expectation and overreaction from some quarters that can leave the episode to feel underwhelming.
Friends
5x03 The One Hundredth [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x07 Episode 7
aka The One With Huey Morgan And The Mug.
The Newsroom
2x08 Election Night Part I
2x09 Election Night Part II [season finale]
Good in places, spectacularly mawkish in others. Apparently it is coming back, but this does have the feel of a series finale... while also leaving plenty of doors open.
3x07 Almost Famous
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
32x04 The Doctor's Wife [2nd watch]
By chance rather than design, #bbbDW50 includes one episode from each of the Eleventh Doctor's series. This episode from 2011 (my God, is it really 2½ years old?!) was hailed as an instant classic by so many -- in part, let's be perfectly honest, because of the hype surrounding its writer. I'm not saying it wouldn't have garnered such love if it had been by anyone else, but... well, it wouldn't have garnered such love, would it?
I didn't fall for it quite so deeply. In fact, I thought it was interesting and fine, but held back by the level of expectation and the consequent, shall we say, "squee"ing over it. (I hate the 'word' "squee", making it perfect for this occasion.) Returning to it for the first time in 2½ years (my God, is it really 2½ years old?!) allows a chance for personal reappraisal.
...but not much has changed. It's a very good episode, and the conceit is a great one, but it's not flawless. House is not as effective an enemy as it feels he/it was imagined to be, and Amy and Rory basically run around corridors just so they have something to do. Similarly, the Doctor and Idris seem to fly their makeshift TARDIS for ages, again in a move that feels time-killing.
Still, the bits that work do work really well, and ultimately it's that sky-high expectation and overreaction from some quarters that can leave the episode to feel underwhelming.
Friends
5x03 The One Hundredth [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x07 Episode 7
aka The One With Huey Morgan And The Mug.
The Newsroom
2x08 Election Night Part I
2x09 Election Night Part II [season finale]
Good in places, spectacularly mawkish in others. Apparently it is coming back, but this does have the feel of a series finale... while also leaving plenty of doors open.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
TV
Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe
One-off special in which Brooker provides what effectively amounts to a Beginner's Guide to Gaming. There's a welcome disdain for the fetishisation of certain genres and their violent content, while continuing to appreciate what's actually good about gaming. Always nice to see Monkey Island turning up anywhere, but my main thoughts on this were how much I agreed with what Dara Ó Briain had to say. That and being rather surprised at just how bloody & gruesome some games are now -- the complaints on the news about the negative impact of games on impressionable minds used to be ludicrous, but I'm not so sure now.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Film 2009 with Jonathan Ross
Episode 16 (29/9/09 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
5x03 Adverse Events
5x04 Birthmarks
What an odd feeling to see the old team working together again. One wonders why they're still around -- they have so little to do in almost every episode, and are doing the new leads out of a place in the title credits. Still, while Adverse Events was perfectly adequate, Birthmarks was one of House's better episodes, thematically consistent (all the parent issues) and nicely revealing about its characters (by which I mean the regulars, particularly House and Wilson).
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x01 (1/10/09 edition)
James Corden did a pretty good job as the first incumbent of the newly guest-hosted Buzzcocks. Still, no Simon Amstell; but then, who is?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
One-off special in which Brooker provides what effectively amounts to a Beginner's Guide to Gaming. There's a welcome disdain for the fetishisation of certain genres and their violent content, while continuing to appreciate what's actually good about gaming. Always nice to see Monkey Island turning up anywhere, but my main thoughts on this were how much I agreed with what Dara Ó Briain had to say. That and being rather surprised at just how bloody & gruesome some games are now -- the complaints on the news about the negative impact of games on impressionable minds used to be ludicrous, but I'm not so sure now.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Film 2009 with Jonathan Ross
Episode 16 (29/9/09 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
5x03 Adverse Events
5x04 Birthmarks
What an odd feeling to see the old team working together again. One wonders why they're still around -- they have so little to do in almost every episode, and are doing the new leads out of a place in the title credits. Still, while Adverse Events was perfectly adequate, Birthmarks was one of House's better episodes, thematically consistent (all the parent issues) and nicely revealing about its characters (by which I mean the regulars, particularly House and Wilson).
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x01 (1/10/09 edition)
James Corden did a pretty good job as the first incumbent of the newly guest-hosted Buzzcocks. Still, no Simon Amstell; but then, who is?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
TV
How to Win in the Den
Episode 1 Pitching and Presentation (of 4)
Despite the title implying a new concept, this is just the latest Dragons' Den catch-up-with-previous-contestants series. (And, despite listings calling it Dragons' Den: How to blah blah blah, the words "Dragons' Den" never appear on screen. So there.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x01 Episode 1
Hurrah for the return of Buzzcocks! They may have plasticky new CGI titles and a slight set redesign, but it's still the same old hilariousness. I just hope the final round isn't all about the guest host every week.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x24 (29/9/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Episode 1 Pitching and Presentation (of 4)
Despite the title implying a new concept, this is just the latest Dragons' Den catch-up-with-previous-contestants series. (And, despite listings calling it Dragons' Den: How to blah blah blah, the words "Dragons' Den" never appear on screen. So there.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x01 Episode 1
Hurrah for the return of Buzzcocks! They may have plasticky new CGI titles and a slight set redesign, but it's still the same old hilariousness. I just hope the final round isn't all about the guest host every week.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x24 (29/9/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 17 December 2009
TV
Buzzcocks Extra
These little extra bits have been on the BBC Red Button throughout this series of Buzzcocks, but I've never bothered to look at them before. I don't know if this is typical of what they offer, but in this week's team captains Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding discuss a variety of "Christmas debates", like Santa vs Santana, snowmen vs Snow Patrol and Slade vs sleighs (please note that they didn't all begin with 'S'). S'all good-natured fun.
[Watch it online at BBC Comedy Extra.]
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
17x14 (11/12/09 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Merlin
2x08 The Sins of the Father
Ah, exciting action/adventure fare. Love a good swordfight.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x12 The Doctor Who Special
Fun-filled festive edition of the music quiz... with a Doctor Who theme, obviously. Also, a timely reminder that Bernard Cribbins is absolutely wonderful in every way. Barmy, but brilliant.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x06 Mastermind
An excellent, filmic episode, justifying its theatrical release.
[Due to its original theatrical release, this also counts as #88 in 100 Films in a Year 2009.]
We Need Answers
2x03 Poetry, God, Politics and Geography
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
These little extra bits have been on the BBC Red Button throughout this series of Buzzcocks, but I've never bothered to look at them before. I don't know if this is typical of what they offer, but in this week's team captains Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding discuss a variety of "Christmas debates", like Santa vs Santana, snowmen vs Snow Patrol and Slade vs sleighs (please note that they didn't all begin with 'S'). S'all good-natured fun.
[Watch it online at BBC Comedy Extra.]
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
17x14 (11/12/09 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Merlin
2x08 The Sins of the Father
Ah, exciting action/adventure fare. Love a good swordfight.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x12 The Doctor Who Special
Fun-filled festive edition of the music quiz... with a Doctor Who theme, obviously. Also, a timely reminder that Bernard Cribbins is absolutely wonderful in every way. Barmy, but brilliant.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x06 Mastermind
An excellent, filmic episode, justifying its theatrical release.
[Due to its original theatrical release, this also counts as #88 in 100 Films in a Year 2009.]
We Need Answers
2x03 Poetry, God, Politics and Geography
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 21 October 2013
TV
Doctor Who
22x07 The Two Doctors Part One [2nd watch]
Instead of moving on, #bbbDW50 this week welcomes back the Second Doctor, guest starring in this Sixth Doctor adventure. It's an odd one: it begins with him and Jamie, spends a whole 10 minutes of the episode with them, and only then introduces the incumbent TARDIS team... who we spend the rest of the episode with, only fleetingly seeing the other Doctor and his companion in one other scene. They haven't even teamed up by episode's end.
It also feels like conclusive proof the 45-minute episode length was a bad fit for Who at the time. It feels slow and unfocussed, like someone's taken a 25-minute episode and stretched it rather than sticking two back to back. I know old drama moves at a slower pace and I'm fine with that, obviously, but this... just doesn't seem to work.
Or it could just be yet another weak Sixth Doctor story, of course.
Also, it's clearly evident that this was a relatively early entry in the DVD range. The restoration, while not bad, is nothing like as slick as on more recent titles. For one thing, this is before the Restoration Team's standard-for-years practice of replacing the opening & closing credits with a new, cleaner version, and as such they look pretty shoddy. Probably not a title that merits the full revisited treatment, though I'm sure it could be improved on now.
Have I Got News For You
46x02 (11/10/2013 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
22x07 The Two Doctors Part One [2nd watch]
Instead of moving on, #bbbDW50 this week welcomes back the Second Doctor, guest starring in this Sixth Doctor adventure. It's an odd one: it begins with him and Jamie, spends a whole 10 minutes of the episode with them, and only then introduces the incumbent TARDIS team... who we spend the rest of the episode with, only fleetingly seeing the other Doctor and his companion in one other scene. They haven't even teamed up by episode's end.
It also feels like conclusive proof the 45-minute episode length was a bad fit for Who at the time. It feels slow and unfocussed, like someone's taken a 25-minute episode and stretched it rather than sticking two back to back. I know old drama moves at a slower pace and I'm fine with that, obviously, but this... just doesn't seem to work.
Or it could just be yet another weak Sixth Doctor story, of course.
Also, it's clearly evident that this was a relatively early entry in the DVD range. The restoration, while not bad, is nothing like as slick as on more recent titles. For one thing, this is before the Restoration Team's standard-for-years practice of replacing the opening & closing credits with a new, cleaner version, and as such they look pretty shoddy. Probably not a title that merits the full revisited treatment, though I'm sure it could be improved on now.
Have I Got News For You
46x02 (11/10/2013 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 30 December 2013
TV
Arrow
2x09 Three Ghosts
Atlantis
1x12 Touched by the Gods Part One
1x13 Touched by the Gods Part Two [season finale]
Seems a shame a lot of people gave up on Atlantis so quickly -- it's grown into itself and become not bad. Considering Merlin had a similarly shaky start, this could well continue to improve if it's given the chance (which it will have in at least one more season).
[Watch Touched by the Gods Parts One & Two (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friends
6x21 The One Where Ross Meets Elizabeth's Dad [4th or so watch]
6x22 The One Where Paul's the Man [5th or so watch]
Bruce Willis!
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x12 Buzzcocks: The Hunt for the Missing Episode - A Documentary with Krishnan Guru-Murthy
2x09 Three Ghosts
Atlantis
1x12 Touched by the Gods Part One
1x13 Touched by the Gods Part Two [season finale]
Seems a shame a lot of people gave up on Atlantis so quickly -- it's grown into itself and become not bad. Considering Merlin had a similarly shaky start, this could well continue to improve if it's given the chance (which it will have in at least one more season).
[Watch Touched by the Gods Parts One & Two (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friends
6x21 The One Where Ross Meets Elizabeth's Dad [4th or so watch]
6x22 The One Where Paul's the Man [5th or so watch]
Bruce Willis!
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x12 Buzzcocks: The Hunt for the Missing Episode - A Documentary with Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Thursday, 9 December 2010
TV
Due South
1x22 Victoria's Secret Part 2 [2nd watch]
Live at the Apollo
6x02 (2/12/10 edition)
Lee Mack's everywhere at the minute: he hosted HIGNFY the other night, he hosted this (which is last week's), and he's the host of tonight's (i.e. not the one below) Buzzcocks. Madness.
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
24x07 Episode 7
Oh my lord, that might just be the worst episode of Buzzcocks ever. Tim Westwood is a horrid person and an appalling host. How does he have a career?!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x22 Victoria's Secret Part 2 [2nd watch]
Live at the Apollo
6x02 (2/12/10 edition)
Lee Mack's everywhere at the minute: he hosted HIGNFY the other night, he hosted this (which is last week's), and he's the host of tonight's (i.e. not the one below) Buzzcocks. Madness.
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
24x07 Episode 7
Oh my lord, that might just be the worst episode of Buzzcocks ever. Tim Westwood is a horrid person and an appalling host. How does he have a career?!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 18 June 2012
TV
Just Good Friends
3x06 Employment Prospects
After nearly a year it seemed like a good idea to finish this. (That's nothing compared to Gilmore Girls, mind.)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x10 Episode 10 [2nd watch]
21x11 Episode 11 [2nd watch]
More quite-old-repeat viewing courtesy of Dave. I've very definitely seen this series. My favourite bit was the band I've never heard of who the NME said were going to be big in 2008 (the year these first went out). Clearly, they were very wrong.
Playhouse Presents
1x03 Nixon's The One!
15th April, 19th May, 18th June -- I'm watching these pretty precisely at once a month. Ought to step that up considering there's 11 of them.
This one was... weird. Not sure what to make of it, to be honest. Is it really based on real tapes (which they reiterated twice with no kind of retraction note at the end), or is it a complete spoof? I couldn't be sure. It wasn't especially dramatic, but I didn't really laugh either. And it's getting a full-series spin-off too! Bizarre.
Silk
2x05 Episode 5
Despite starting this significantly through its run, I've now caught up -- because it's great. The finale's on Wednesday, which means if you haven't watched it yet the whole series will be available on iPlayer for another nine days.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x06 Employment Prospects
After nearly a year it seemed like a good idea to finish this. (That's nothing compared to Gilmore Girls, mind.)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x10 Episode 10 [2nd watch]
21x11 Episode 11 [2nd watch]
More quite-old-repeat viewing courtesy of Dave. I've very definitely seen this series. My favourite bit was the band I've never heard of who the NME said were going to be big in 2008 (the year these first went out). Clearly, they were very wrong.
Playhouse Presents
1x03 Nixon's The One!
15th April, 19th May, 18th June -- I'm watching these pretty precisely at once a month. Ought to step that up considering there's 11 of them.
This one was... weird. Not sure what to make of it, to be honest. Is it really based on real tapes (which they reiterated twice with no kind of retraction note at the end), or is it a complete spoof? I couldn't be sure. It wasn't especially dramatic, but I didn't really laugh either. And it's getting a full-series spin-off too! Bizarre.
Silk
2x05 Episode 5
Despite starting this significantly through its run, I've now caught up -- because it's great. The finale's on Wednesday, which means if you haven't watched it yet the whole series will be available on iPlayer for another nine days.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
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