TV

Doctor Who Confidential
4x15 The Eleventh Doctor
So, the 11th Doctor is... Matt Smith! A surprise choice, to be sure, who looks... well, kinda the same... Oh well, we've got over a year to get used to the idea. (For further thoughts, look here.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Some Like It Hot (1959)
[2nd watch; #2a in 100 Films in a Year 2009]

Son of Paleface (1952)
[#2 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]

January 1st 2009

For whatever reason, my scheduled posts for January 1st didn't get posted. They're there now, if anyone cares.

TV

2008 at the Movies
It's amazing how well some things do at the worldwide box office, especially compared to their meagre performance in the key US market (see: The Mummy 3). Also, really cheesy graphics, and a disappointing lack of the usual studio guests and viewer-voted top films elements, thanks to Jonathan Ross' ongoing BBC ban. I hope he's back in place for next year -- while this had it's moments, it's nothing like as good as the usual Film 200X year-end round-ups.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Top Gear
12x08 (28/12/08 edition) [season finale]
Francis Ford Clarkson, Francis Ford Hammond and Francis Ford May undertake to travel from the bottom to the top of Vietnam, managing in 8 days what the Americans failed to do in however many years that war dragged on for. Unfortunately, it's far from the best Top Gear Mad Challenge Special, especially as Jeremy seemed miserable for a large chunk of it and they were on motorbikes -- if further proof were needed that Top Gear is no longer a car programme and is instead an entertainment show, that would be it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Marple
3x04 Nemesis [2nd half; season finale]
An above-average episode with a neat conclusion, despite the old rule of "most famous person in smallest role did it" applying.

Articles

New Doctor to be revealed on BBC One tomorrow
(from BBC Press Office)

"The BBC confirmed today that it will reveal the identity of the 11th Doctor as part of a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential to be aired on BBC One tomorrow, Saturday 3 January 2009, at 5.35pm... The programme will be broadcast live on BBC Big Screens [in city centres] nationwide."
Oh my oh my oh my! Yay! Be interesting to see the ratings on that one.

Also...
"There will be four Doctor Who specials featuring David Tennant that will run in 2009 into New Year 2010."
Considering that the last two specials will form a two-parter, and the specific wording of that statement, I'm suspecting a Christmas Day 2009 / New Year's Day 2010 two-parter to say farewell to the 10th Doctor. How cool is that? (Answer: extremely.)

Poem of the Day: Text me my darling

by John Lancaster

After a Christmassy break, this week sees the return of the grand tradition of Funny Friday here on Poem of the Day. Sadly, this is the last regular Funny Friday, as Poem of the Day is becoming Poem of the Week from now on. Every Friday, a new poem. There'll still be funny ones, just not every week.

Anyway, this piece is lifted from deviantART and, as with the very first Funny Friday, I think the rhyme and maintained rhythm are key to the humour, but so is the excellent spoofing of the subject.

My phone subscription will renew
But I can't contain my Love 4U
My facia's the height of fashion
My keypad rattles with great passion

I need a bit of SMS
If only to relieve the stress
I'll type a ;>) with sexy lashes
Hot Love tonight - In dots and dashes

Text me tonight - Oh, Text me harder!
Or I'll get bored and raid the larder
Text me my darling - Please B mine
O Text me where the sun don't shine!

It's more exciting at peak rates
Please Please B quick - my phone awaits!
Text me my precious - with skill and grace
(I'll orgasm in uppercase)

As mentioned, the original version of this is published at deviantART. Please comment there, and mark it as a favourite too, if you wish.

TV

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year
2008 edition
Entertaining, but not as good without Jonathan Ross, Rob Brydon, Russell Brand, Noel Fielding.

Marple
3x04 Nemesis [1st half; season finale]
ITV's scheduling of its Marple is decidedly odd -- for more thoughts in this vein, look here.

Films

Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
And so, the third year of 100 Films begins, once again on New Year's Day itself. (Last year's New Year's Day film was The Simpsons Movie, the year before Eragon.)

Non-Fiction

Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Foreword by Philip Pullman
Introduction by Russell T Davies
Introduction by Benjamin Cook
Well, I feel thoroughly introduced. "If you still want to be a writer after reading this, you probably will be" says Steven Moffat. So let's see...

Poem of the Day: New Year’s Reality Check

by Joanna Fuchs

Rather describes my thoughts on New Year's resolutions 'n' all. Found online (among a collection of New Years poems) here.

Another year, another chance
To start our lives anew;
This time we'll leap old barriers
To have a real breakthrough.

We'll take one little step
And then we'll take one more,
Our unlimited potential
We'll totally explore.

We'll show off all our talents
Everyone will be inspired;
(Hmm... while I’m writing this,
I'm getting very tired.)

We'll give up all bad habits;
We'll read and learn a lot,
All our goals will be accomplished,
Sigh... or maybe not.

Oh well, Happy New Year anyway!

Happy New Year indeed!

Happy New Year!

Ooh, 2009...

Films

The Blues Brothers (1980)
[#99 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]

Russian Ark (2002)
[#98 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]

Stardust (2007)
[2nd watch]

Swing Time (1936)
[#100 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Hurrah! Made it!

Articles

Warner Bros. Won't Settle Watchmen Case (from Studio Briefing)
and
Fox Wants to Delay Watchmen Release by Robert Greenberger (from ComicMix)
Fox really aren't doing themselves any favours here.

Poem of the Day: Auld Lang Syne

by Robert Burns

Poem of the Day is not dead, just forgotten in a rather busy day yesterday!

But today it's back (obviously), and there's none more appropriate for this day. As this is Poem of the Day's first New Year I think it can be excused (again).

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gies a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

If you feel in need of a translation, look here.

Happy 2009!

A final push...

It's New Years Eve, but some of us are 'working'...

Today is the final day of 2008, and so the final day of 100 Films in a Year's second year. And have I made it to 100?

Not yet.

A quick look at the coming soon page reveals I’m up to #97 — only three films to go, with 24 hours left.

Read the full piece (not that it's very long) here.

Films

White Christmas (1954)
[#97 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
24 hours to go! Nearly there...

TV

Gilmore Girls
5x10 But Not as Cute as Pushkin
5x11 Women of Questionable Morals

Films

Chicago (2002)
[#96 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]

Die Hard 2 (1990)
[#95 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]

Snakes on a Plane (2006)
[#94 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]

Might make it to 100 yet...

Articles

Warner Bros. Loses Watchmen Suit
(from Studio Briefing)
Well, I didn't expect that outcome!
"Despite the fact that it has been more than ten years since Fox decided to abandon production based on the superheroes graphic novel, a federal judge on Wednesday ruled that it continued to own a copyright interest in the project."

Poem of the Day: The Day After the Day After Boxing Day

by Paul Cookson

Today is, in fact, the day after the day after the day after Boxing Day, but as yesterday was Sunday this was the best I could manage. Anyway...

On the day after the day after Boxing Day
Santa wakes up, eventually,
puts away his big red suit and wellies,
lets Rudolph and the gang out into the meadow
then shaves his head and beard.
He puts on his new new cool sunglasses,
baggy blue Bermuda shorts (he's sick of red),
yellow stripy T-shirt that doesn't quite cover his belly
and lets his toes breathe in flip-flops.

Packing a bucket and spade,
fifteen tubes of Factor Twenty suncream
and seventeen romantic novels
he fills his Walkman with the latest sounds,
is glad to use a proper suitcase instead of the old sack
and heads off into the Mediterranean sunrise
enjoying the comforts of a Boeing 747
(although he passes on the free drinks).

Six months later,
relaxed, red and a little more than stubbly,
he looks at his watch, adjusts his wide-brimmed sunhat,
mops the sweat from his brow and strokes his chin,
wondering why holidays always seem to go so quickly.

Google revealed this poem to me, and also turned up this analysis... which doesn't contain any analysis at all.