Richard Mascall's Weblog

May 2009 TV Report

 

See here for April's report.

Total Hours Watched : 35

Programmes watched :

Films :-

The Entertainer (1960)

The Living Daylights (1987)

Working Girl (1988)

Saving Grace (2000)

Documentaries :-

Story of Brian Clough

Incredible Human Journey

South Pacific Nature

Comedy :-

Big Bang Theory Series 2 (Episodes 13, 14, 15 (again), and 16)

30 Rock Series 2 (Episodes 10, 11, and 12)

Other :-

Sky At Night (Asteroids)

Alan Whicker (Islands)

Queens of Pop (Dusty, Sandie etc)

Clapton at BBC (disappointing)

1959: Year of the Cool

“Westminster Bridge”

April 2009 TV Report

See here for March's report.

Total Hours Watched : 40+

Programmes watched :

Films :-

The Long Good Friday (1980)

How The West Was Won (1962)

Documentaries :-

World War I Flying Aces

Making of "Streetcar Named Desire"

Jackie Stewart story

Yellowstone (part 3)

The Story of Cool

Shackleton Expedition Re-enactment

Queen Victoria Accession

Cinerama History

Comedy :-

Big Bang Theory Series 2 (Episodes 11, 12, and 15)

30 Rock Series 2 (Episodes 7-9)

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (Thelma leaves Bob)

Other :-

Sky At Night (Huygens)

Alan Whicker x3

Dr Who Easter Special

Lake District drive

Sandie Shaw Supplement (60s)

Cilla (60s)

Inspector Foyle

Martin Freeman Goes To Motown

Messiah (Howard Goodhall)

March 2009 TV Report

See here for February's report.

Total Hours Watched : 34.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Casablanca (1941)

Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Dr Strangelove (1963)

Sleuth (1972)

Live Flesh (1997)

Documentaries :-

Story of "Casablanca"

Story of "Streetcar Named Desire"

Gladstone v. Disraeli

The Real Bonnie and Clyde

Chateau Margaux

Beverley Sisters

Captain Cook

Yellowstone (parts 1 and 2)

Elia Kazan

Comedy :-

Big Bang Theory Series 2 (Episodes 8, 9, and 10)

30 Rock Series 2 (Episodes 3-6)

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (Terry being a handyman, Bob in wheelchair)

Other :-

Sky At Night (Enceladus)

February 2009 TV Report

See here for January's report.

Total Hours Watched : 31

Programmes watched :

Films :-

All The King's Men (1949)

Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1971)

Shakespeare In Love (1998)

Standing In The Shadows og Motown (2002)

No Mercy (1986)

Documentaries :-

What Darwin Didn't Know

Attenborough on Darwin

Story of Nationwide

Footlights

Sory of Iran

Tamla Motown's 1965 UK tour

Comedy :-

Big Bang Theory Series 2 (Episode 7)

30 Rock Series 1 (2 episodes)

30 Rock Series 2 (2 episodes)

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (Terry borrowing money, Bob drink/drives)

Other :-

Extreme Dreams

Sky At Night (Northern Lights)

Smile performance

January 2009 TV Report

See here for December's report.

Total Hours Watched : 29.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down

View To A Kill

South Pacific

Gerry (Terrible - spaced through last 90 minutes)

Documentaries :-

RKO Story

Germaine Greer on Feminism

Comedy :-

Big Bang Theory Series 2 (Episode 6)

30 Rock Series 1 (4 episodes)

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (Bob and Thelma's return, Susan back to Canada)

Bilko (Mess Sergeant Can't Win)

Other :-

Extreme Dreams

Million Dollar Traders

December 2008 TV Report

Total Hours Watched : 31.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Devil and Daniel Webster

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Documentaries :-

Braden 1969 Interviews

Ascent of Money (three programmes)

History of Glam Rock

History of Blackadder

Beeching's Cuts (SE England)

Palladio

British Style Genius (Westwood)

Horizon (Time)

Arctic History

Comedy :-

Big Bang Theory Series 2 (4 episodes)

30 Rock Series 1 (4 episodes)

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (Lads' weekend fishing)

Bilko (The Investment)

Drama :

Dr Who Christmas Special (The Two Doctors in 1851)

Devil's Whore (parts 3 and 4)

Other :-

Sky At Night (other planets)

Save The View (Brighton)

Home cinema from the 1950s

Comedy Songs

June 2008 TV Report

See here for May's report.

Total Hours Watched : 24.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Hannah and her Sisters

For Your Eyes Only

All About Eve

Road to Bali

Documentaries :-

Wild China

Graham Hill story

Jonathan Dimbleby's Russia (part 3)

 

Comedy :-

The Big Bang Theory (several)

Shaun The Sheep

Other :

Dr Who (several)

Best Property in Britain

Sky At Night (Titan v. Ganymede)

May 2008 TV Report

See here for April'sreport.

Total Hours Watched : 24.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Big

Sleeping With The Enemy

Amadeus

Documentaries :-

Escape From Alcatraz

Jonathan Dimbleby's Russia (parts 1 and 2)

Tirpitz Mission

Comedy :-

The Big Bang Theory (several)

 

Other :

Dr Who (several)

Derren Brown's Trick Or Treat

Those Were The Days (1966, 1968, 1976)

Sky At Night (Current Unknowns)

Black Young Farmers

April 2008 TV Report

See here for March's report.

Total Hours Watched : 26.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Terms of Endearment
Moonraker
Godfather 2

Documentaries :-

Natural World (Scottish Wilderness)
The Harp
Story of The Who

Comedy :-

The Big Bang Theory (several)
MASH (Series 3, "Payday")

Other :

Sky At Night (Sun)
"Smile" performance
History of Robin Hood (Jonathan Ross, dreadful)
Gadget Show

March 2008 TV Report

See here for February's report.

Total Hours Watched : 36.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

Godfather
Wrath of Khan
Motorcycle Diaries

Documentaries :-

Life In Cold Blood x3
Rageh Omaar Inside Iran
Story of Tibet
Twenties In Colour x3
South Bank Show (1968)
Ken Adam story

Comedy :-

The Big Bang Theory (several)
Shaun The Sheep (several)
MASH (S3 Ep22 BigMac)

Other :

Henry Moore at Kew
Hard Sell x2
Wainwright Walks x4
Sky At Night
Money Programme (Biofuels)
Ready Steady Cook
Treasures of India

February 2008 TV Report

See here for January's report.

Total Hours Watched : 34

Programmes watched :

Films :-
Manhatten
Grease (rather disappointing)

Documentaries :-

Summits (Munich 38, Vienna 61, Geneva 85)
Darfur
Life In Cold Blood (parts 1 to 3)
George Melly's Last Stand
History of British Pop (1950s)
Albert Khan's World of Colour (1920s)
10 Things You Didn't Know About Volcanoes

Comedy :-

The Big Bang Theory (several)
30Rock (several)
Shaun The Sheep (several)

Other :

Sky At Night (Messenger mission)
Masterpieces of the East (The Great Stupa, The Golden Throne)
Around The World In 80 Gardens
Bobby Charlton on Munich disaster
Wainwright's Walks (Hellvellyn, Cat's Bells, Helms Crag)
Ben Fogle's Extreme Dreams (Venezuela)
Polar Bear Week

Goodbye 30Rock, Hello Big Bang Theory

I love Sgt Bilko but, with the occasional exception of some episodes of MASH, have not otherwise been an enthusiast for US TV situation comedies. This changed, and how, when a neighbour told me last autumn that there was a series called 30Rock just starting whose writer and star, a Tina Fry, he knew.

So I gave it a try and found it hysterical. The first series finished the other week which rather depressed me but the Good News is that there is a DVD coming out next month with all the episodes. And a second series has been produced so I hope Five show it soon.

With my prejudice against US sitcoms now a little shaken, I thought I'd give another series a try. Channel 4 were showing something called The Big Bang Theory and the two episodes so far have also had me laughing out loud. The situation is that two high IQ but low socially skilled nerds live in one flat and a highly attractive but not so clever woman moves into the flat on the same floor.
Example of humour : Girl, Penny, describing to Leonard and Sheldon how heartbroken she is that her relationship with her boyfriend has just finished : "Do you know, I was with him for four years - that's almost as long as being at High School." Sheldon : "You took four years to get through High School ?"

"Big Bang" lacks the sophistication of 30Rock but still manages to produce side-splitting moment after side-splitting moment. The pre-recorded laughter track volume is set too high but fortunately normally I am laughing too much myself to notice.

January 2008 TV Report

See here for December's report.

In January 2008 ...

Total Hours Watched : 35

Programmes watched :

Films :-
Les Miserables Concert
The Spy Who Loved Me
The Empire Strikes Back

Documentaries :-

Sky at Night (Meteors, Space Debris)
Story of Satellites
Story of Civilisation (part 3)
Making of "Star Wars"
Making of "The Spy Who Loved Me"
History of Light Entertainment
History of Pop (60s, 70s)
10 Things You Never Knew About Earthquakes

Comedy :-

30Rock (numerous)
Shaun the Sheep (numerous)

Other :
Jamie Oliver on Battery Chicken and Eggs
Juke Box Jury

December 2007 TV Report

See here for November's report.

Total Hours Watched : 33

Programmes watched :

Films :-
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1935 version)
Barbarella

Documentaries :-

Sky at Night (Satellites, Man on Moon)
Earth (Atmosphere, Ice, Ocean, Conclusion)
Story of Civilisation (parts 1 and 4)
St Pancras documentary (parts 5 and 6)
South Bank Show (Eric Clapton)
Charkes Dickens' Invention of Christmas

Comedy :-

30Rock (Episodes 7,8, 9, 10)
Lead Balloon
Shaun the Sheep (numerous)

Other :
Dr Who Christmas Special
Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)
Nutcracker History
Kenny Everett story
Can Gerry Robinson Save the NHS ?

November 2007 TV Report

See here for October's report.

Total Hours Watched : 36

Programmes watched :

Films :-
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Star Wars
Klute
Shape of Things
Phantom Of The Opera

Documentaries :-

Kenny Everett Story
St Pancras (parts1, 3, and 4)
Genius of Photography (parts 1 to 5)
Earth (Volcanoes)
Helvetica
Dankworths Story
The Making of "Phantom Of The Opera"

Comedy :-

30Rock Episodes 3, 5, and 6
Lead Balloon
MASH "Aid Station"

Other :
Gadget Show (iPhone v. N95)
Sky At Night (Meteors)
Sky At Night (Comet Holmes)
50 Top Comedy Sketches

October 2007 TV Report

See here for September's report.

Total Hours Watched : 34.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-

The World's Fastest Indian
Coming Home
Man With The Golden Gun

Documentaries :-

Radio Caroline Story
History of Today Programme
Democracy In Bolivia
Enlightenment
Bob Dylan at Newport
The Making of Help!
Paul McCartney Electric Proms
The Making of "Man with the Golden Gun"

Comedy :-

Shaun The Sheep x9
MASH S3 x2
Bilko (Twitch)
30Rock Episode 2

Other :

Coast (SE England)
Coast (SW Scotland)
Sky At Night (Jodrell Bank)
How To Be A Gardener x2
Blue Peter (Bolivia)
In Search of Perfection
Children's Plato

September 2007 TV Report

September 2007 TV Report

See here for August's report.

Total Hours Watched : 19.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-
Duck Soup
Long Sleep
Annie Hall
Chinatown

Documentaries :-
Brian Epstein story
Beijing
Frankie Howard biography

Comedy :-
MASH Series 3 x3

Other :
Belle de Jour
Romeo & Juliet (Nureyev and Fonteyn)

August 2007 TV report

August 2007 TV Report

See here for July's report

Total Hours Watched : 36

Programmes watched :

Films :-
Hell Drivers
39 Steps (1935 version)

Documentaries :-
Jeremy Clarkson going to magnetic North Pole
Life In The Freezer parts 5 & 6
Sky At Night (Robonet)
Mountain x4
Dounreay Story
National Trust (John Lennon's house)
Secret Story of the Motorway (parts 1, 2, and 3)
George Melly on Surrealism

Comedy :-

Other :
Avengers (Epic - awful)
Avengers (13th Hole - not bad)
Derren Browne

July 2007 TV Report

Total Hours Watched : 43

Programmes watched :

Films :-
Lord of the Rings (part 6 of 6)
Live and Let Die
Rebecca
China Syndrome

Documentaries :-
Edwardians In Colour
Building of the Burj al Arab Hotel
Making of the Queen Mary 2
Mao Tse Dung
Making of Live and Let Die
Tim Marlow on National Gallery's London Grand Tour
Susan Polgar story
Athens and Democracy (parts 1 and 2)
Life In The Freezer (parts 1 and 2)
George Melly Tribute
Sky At Night x2
Coast (North East Britain, West of Ireland)

Comedy :-
Bilko (the Eating Contest)
Shaun The Sheep x5

Other :
Life On Mars (parts 1 and 2)
Avengers (Girl from Auntie)
Dr Who (The Last of the Time Lords)

June TV Report

Total Hours Watched : 24.5

Programmes watched :

Films :-
Hamlet (Mel Gibson version)
You've Got Mail

Documentaries :-
Anthony Gormey
Andrew Marr's History of Britain (parts 1, 2, and 3)
Reith biography
Remaking of Sgt Pepper
Coast (Orkney and Shetland, Bournemouth)
Monkees history

Dr Who :-
Human Nature
Family of Blood
Blink (so good, like all Steven Moffat's Dr Who episodes)
Utopia
The Sound of Drums

Comedy :-
MASH (one of series 3)

May 2007 TV Report

Total Hours Watched : 30.5

Main Programmes watched :

Films :-
Mrs Dalloway
Barefoot In The Park
Philadelphia Story
Lord Of The Rings (2nd half of part 2 and first half of part 3)

Documentaries :-
Women in Afghanistan
Scouting For Boys
Albert Khan's Photographs (Two programmes)
Typewriter Story
Pre World War I dialects

Dr Who :-
The Lazurus Experiment
42

Comedy :-
Bilko ("The Horse")
Hancock ("The Railway Journey")
MASH (Series 3) x2