7 posts tagged “tv”
So, at the moment I'm grabbing the 'family version' of the latest episode of Torchwood, because I'm curious about the differences. I can get the regular version of Torchwood here legitimately on BBC2 or BBC-HD, but I'm guessing the 'family' version is only available to UK viewers with the red button or something? I don't know really.
As far as I can recall, there was only one scene in the episode that could conceivably be kid-unfriendly. And even that's really iffy. Well in the U.S. it would definitely be off, but this is the (hopefully) more enlightened U.K. That's the scene where Jack and John kiss, but it was quite a chaste or sort of incidental kiss.
I have to admit when Jack and John got it on the first time, I sort of screamed. Not because it was a gay connection but because I did not see it coming, and...any kind of kissy scene on tv or in the movies makes me awfully embarassed. I don't know where this came from, and I'm no prude by any means! It's just so. I guess I am not much of a voyeur. One of the most awkward moments I had at the movies was when I went to see Bull Durham with my sister. The bath and toe-painting scenes made me want to hide. I still can't watch them on DVD, and I love that movie.
In any case, I'm enjoying this season of Torchwood a lot more than the first season so far. Not just because of that new love connection, but it helps. The newest episode was quite sad, though Toshiko's tears were so obviously fakey.
(Hmm, looks like Vox is where I come to prattle on about television.)
(Later: Nope, the kiss is there. And the bed scenes too. I'll have to try comparing with another ep sometime I guess.)
The Apprentice UK started its third seasion last night.
It's awesome in all the ways that the Trump Apprentice no longer is.
It's awesome because of Alan Sugar - gruff, curmegeonly, yet oddly lovable. Not a slimeball like the one with bad hair.
It's awesome because of the lack of in-your-face-product placement (besides stuff that Amstrad makes, which I suppose is sort of inevitable) BBC editing.
It's awesome because of the London setting, and the shots that make it look like the futuristic, buzzing business capital it is rather than the same old 'historic olde city' stuff.
It's awesome because the contestants who actually look like they are real people, not model/actresses.
Even the post-show, hosted by the excellent Adrian Chiles, is awesome.
Looking forward to 15 more awesome episodes!
(Even the Red Nose Day Celebrity Apprentice was great. I have so much more respect for Trinny Woodall now; she's not just some fashionista, she's an amazing fundraiser/PR type person. Scary good.)
Late last night as we were getting ready to pack it up for the day and go to bed, our compulsive surfing fingers lead us to the start of the Superbowl. Since the channel we hit on was NASN (North American Sports Network) this wasn't that surprising.
Then I idly wondered if other channels were showing it and clicked around to investigate. It was on:
- ARD in Germany (sort of a BBC-like semi-government network, no. 2 after ZDF)
- ORF1 in Austria (the first network of Austria)
- TV2 in France (the second network of France)
- ITV1 in the UK (the biggest commercial network in the UK)
Yes, Switzerland gives a ton of choices for teevee watching. But that aside...why the Superbowl? As far as I know American football is no where near being a globally popular sport. It ranks far below soccer/football, below basketball, and probably below ice hockey too. It may even rank below baseball which is very popular in countries like Japan and South Korea.
But do we get the MLB World Series on ten thousand channels across Europe? Or the NBA playoffs? Nope.
I can understand the Oscar ceremonies being broadcast to multibillions across the globe, even if it is in the wee hours of the morning in Europe and not-convenient hours elsewhere outside of the Americas, since everyone watches movies (and American movies are dominant, for better or worse). But the Superbowl? I don't get it.
(I fell asleep shortly after Prince. Loved the Aunt Jemima headkerchief.)
My Tim Gunn Bobblehead Doll is here!!
Just in time too since this has been the Day from Hell. Server. Failure. All my sites down. Sigh.
But anyway, more Tim Gunn Bobblehead Porn. Here he is, from the back:
A closeup! It's a fair likeness, though lacks any fine lines on his face that give the real Tim Gunn so much distinction and authority:
It's about 9 inches / 25cm high, and surprisingly heavy. Looks handpainted as there are brushmarks. It was a wee bit dusty, as if it had just come out of a mold or something, but a little polishing with a tissue removed that. Here's the base showing some of the brushmarks, and of course that all important slogan:
I did say I was not going to blog about Project Runway...but, seriously, WTF??
(spoilers ahead)
(oh btw, Swiss living people - I dl it from the iTunes Music Store, and it's seriously worth the $1.99 per ep.)
(I also have the second season DVD.)
So...why the hell is Vincent still there? He is seriously creepy. "This gets me off" he says, referring to his horrible dress which was basically a long tube with crap stuck over it.
And...since when is Alison's model "zaftig"? (And why does using a Yiddish/Germanic term for 'fat' make it better?) If that model is zaftig, then I am the Goodyear blimp, thankyou.
Alison's dress did make the model look a bit shapeless (it sort of reminded me of a corn husk doll), and I didn't like it, but she has way way way more talent than nutty Vincent.
I guess it's better to make a model look like a paper towel with stuff stuck on it, than a corn husk doll with no waist. Nothing ticks off fashionistas than making a woman look "zaftig" I suppose.
I finally got the time to watch the first 3 episodes of the new season. It looks like it's going to be as good as the first two seasons, which provided some of the most entertaining television in some time. People scoff at me for liking 'a reality show' but once they give this show a try, 99% of them become converts.
I think one main reason I love this show is because it features creativity, first and foremost. Sure there are the obligatory soap-opera-drama elements that all reality shows have, but the contestants simply must push their creativity to their heights. There are a couple of other shows that do this too: Top Chef is an obvious one (from the same people who make Project Runway). The Apprentice is not all about creativity, though it is about how to be an effective business person. The talent shows like American Idol, Top Model, and So You Think You Can Dance (the last one I adore) are also about creativity to some extent, though they do tend to become popularity contests more than anything else.
Project Runway is a better show than Top Chef for two reasons. One is that we can't taste the food on TC, we can only go by the judges' comments. We can see the PR designs and judge them for ourselves. The second reason PR is better is Tim Gunn. What a great teacher he must be! Or...is he? I wonder what his Parsons students would say. I am very glad they put him in the opening credits this season because he is such a critical component of the show. His podcasts are great too, and really provide insight into each episode.
I got a random survey request from NBC a couple of months ago, which was mostly about Project Runway and Tim Gunn. They seem to be considering putting him into other shows - some listed were a makeover show, some sort of fly-on-the-wall documentary, a talk show with him as the host, teaming him up with one or more of the Queer Eye guys. They all sounded rather fun but I hope he doesn't get over exposed.
I did rather detailed recaps of each Top Chef episode on my food site. I sort of thought about recapping Project Runway, but I'm no fashionista and have no real insights! So I'll just enjoy the action.
