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November 2007 Archives

Another Great Christmas Advert

Posted by David Higgerson on November 30, 2007 11:55 PM

It's one of those adverts which always makes me think of Christmas. It used to be a fond memory, then I worked at the place...

Have I Got News For You

Posted by Remote Control on November 30, 2007 4:53 PM

WHAT’S the best thing that ever happened to Have I Got News For You? As TV programmes go, it hasn’t changed that much since the first series with the exception of losing its host.


Praise for Jimmy McGovern

Posted by Remote Control on November 29, 2007 12:16 AM

JIMMY McGovern isn’t the sort of man to hide his opinions – or indeed, his talent – so perhaps it was a bit remiss of this blog not to sing the praises of The Street (BBC 1, 9pm).

It’s a great series, and McGovern, along with his team of writers, make great use of the fact that the only thing linking the episodes, each a self-contained drama in its own right, is the fact they take place on the same street.

Very few dramas get people talking at the office the next day (except Spooks, but this series it has been more likely to elicit comments like ‘isn’t the new format crap’ than how good it has been) and tonight’s is no exception, throwing up, as is does, moral judgements which are harder to call than you might expect.

Tony Blair Years: Cut the crap, Mr Milburn

Posted by Remote Control on November 25, 2007 12:20 AM

What to say about last week's The Tony Blair Years (BBC 1, 10.15pm), the second of which, featuring interviews by David Aaronovitch, is on tonight.

In many ways, it was quite informative. Enjoyable even. Aaronovitch, accused of being a Blairite pupper, had been predicted to give the ex-PM a soft ride by not asking tough questions. That didn't prove to be the case. He did ask tough questions - but all too often Blair wriggled out of the question and instead of acting on journalistic instinct and asking the same question again, or in a slightly different way, Aaronovitch moved on.

This series has been billed as the definitive look at Blair's time in office. It deals with many of the issues Blair isn't keen on by talking to others, but often he himself isn't featured in those bits. And at times, the first episode, which focussed on the Blair-Brown relationship seemed to be more Get Gordon than insight analysis.

It's Christmas!

Posted by Remote Control on November 24, 2007 12:07 AM

I'm not sure how Coca-Cola came to be an integral part of Christmas, but it doesn't feel like Christmas without their adverts.

Here's a couple I found on YouTube, both of a similar vein, and I'm pretty certain I've watched their advert on the telly already.

Posh Spice rides to the rescue of Ugly Betty (with video)

Posted by Remote Control on November 23, 2007 12:02 AM

POSH SPICE is one of those famous people I'd dearly love to hate. Largely due to the things I've read about her. But then I hear an interview with her and realise that she's very good at laughing at herself, is generally quite genuine, and if indeed some of the stories about her excesses are true, it's because she's a little potty, rather than just down-right self-indulgent

Food Poker - cooking gone mad

Posted by Remote Control on November 20, 2007 1:38 AM

I'm sure there was a time when cookery programmes served one function, and one function alone: To show us, the great culinary uneducated, how to cook something other than sausage and mash.

Say what you like about programmes hosted by Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver - but at least at their heart, they have recipes for us to follow (or to laugh at the thought of following).

Has the X Factor lost its X?

Posted by Remote Control on November 17, 2007 2:12 PM

IF you're enjoying X-Factor this time round then you are probably not blessed with full hearing. Harsh and unfair I know, so mark that down as an attempt at hangover humour.

But you probably haven't read Ben Elton's Chart Throb book, which is supposedly the story of a TV singing show which superceded and copied to a T the X-Factor, but which, when you read it, inevitably leads you back to the real thing.

Eastenders: Why mention Hillsborough?

Posted by Remote Control on November 15, 2007 2:54 PM

I watched Eastenders for the first time in a long time on Tuesday. And for the first time in an even longer time, I actually enjoyed it.

But perhaps that is because I missed the Hillsborough reference when watching it (in my defence, I did what I always do during soaps, and nip in and out of the room and generally not pay attention).

How ITV shamed itself over the McCanns

Posted by Remote Control on November 6, 2007 7:01 PM

As classic examples of mind-numbing 'documentaries' which reveal nothing and seem to only serve a purpose of filling 30 minutes of prime time between two episodes of Conoration Street, this one was text book.

Is Setanta a kiss of death to a match?

Posted by Remote Control on November 5, 2007 12:48 AM

It's sometimes mean to pick on the new boy before he gets into his stride. But sometimes it's essential. And I feel that Setanta, the sports TV channel falls into that category.

This isn't going to be some rant about inferior graphic, inferior commentary or inferior presenters when compared to Sky because none of the above are quite true. And when you compare it to, say, ITV covering the Premiership, the Irish TV station does work out to be the lesser of two evils.

Julie Etchingham, Sky News, and revealing the truth behind the Tories

Posted by Remote Control on November 3, 2007 3:17 PM

GIVEN that those in media circles who commented on ITV's decision to appoint Julie Etchingham as Sir Trev's right-hand woman on the new News At Ten all called her a 'safe pair of hands' this gaffe is particularly amusing.

Is Noel Edmonds ever going to look any older?

Posted by Remote Control on November 2, 2007 6:49 PM

There used to be a time, I’m sure, when it wasn’t really a celebration for a programme to mark its second birthday. I think the Simpsons changed all that.

And what with Saturday afternoon being an absolute sod to fill for the mainstream channels (what with nasty Sky buying up everything) it would appear a chance to mark Deal or No Deal’s second birthday was too good an opportunity to miss.

I

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