Entertainment For Lively Minds
How Did That Get So Big?
Posted by jimmyshoes01 on 19 December 2010 - 5:46pm.
Flicking through the tellybox channels on a Sunday afternoon I saw an afternoon (at least) dedicated to the 90's phenomenon Riverdance.
This was huge back then, it was parodied extensively and that usually indicates success and I am aware that Flatley got hugely rich from it.
It's ridiculous and laughable and I don't understand why some things just go interstellar. I know there are books about trends and the like but in the spirit of ignorance, is there any other cultural craze, trend, show, franchise, etc that took over the country or the world and left you utterly bemused and cold?
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In the spirit of ignorance..
Facebook leaves me cold
Likewise Twitter
I don't give a shit what you had for breakfast.
Do you Tweet? Or have you?
The reason I ask is that your response is pretty similar to mine when I knew of Twitter but had next to no personal experience. Twitter is a grower, and it's not about who follows you: it's about who you follow.
That said, I'm glad X Factor is over. Nothing quite as irritating as seeing comfortably-off journos self-consciously proling it up in 140 characters or less.
I've Tweeted
I've Facebooked too. But not anymore. We're all turning into massive egotists.
I don't see it.
Everyone I follow on Twitter is funny and hardly ever tweets about themselves. Although Eammon Forde's thing is getting a tiny bit old, for me. But I follow 80 odd people and don't see the egotism thing really.
And Facebook is just another way for my friends and me to make each other laugh. Again, no egotism, barring a tiny handful, who tend to find themselves de-friended or hidden in short order.
I agree
I've defended Twitter on these boards before as well.
It's refreshingly free of all the silly games and add-ons that Facebook has, and seems to have none of the same social hang-ups involved in Facebook. You don't have "friends" so there is no social obligation to become friends with people just to be polite. And the 140-character thing is a good discipline for people: you don't get peoples' entire photo collection suddenly appearing, or constant youtube videos and stuff.
I follow about 15 people (friends and a few famous people) and about 15 or so follow me as well. It's a nice little way to communicate that doesn't take over things like Facebook can.
twitter
another plus one for twitter.
great for latest transfer news, secret gigs and generally quite funny.
I suppose i don't follow self centered morons which is helps a lot.
You're probably right
But then I'm a grouch and a misanthropist. And I hate having a cluttered mind. And in this age of information, my mind clutters easily.
Deleting my Facebook and Twitter was like taking a virtual retreat into the woods.
Never tweeted
But used to enjoy Facebook, that stopped suddenly when Raoul Moat became some sort of "hero / role model", I stopped facebooking virtually overnight, only been on a couple of times since, hardly miss it at all.
Massive egotists ? not sure if that is a play on words, but I find that so many people prefer virtual friendships to the real thing, & in real life, I have plenty of aquaintainces who get along with just fine, but only one friend.
People I know regard the amount of "friends" they have on Facebook is a matter of huge importance.
I find that quite sad, & slightly sinister.
I just don't get the hyped up American drama series...
Sopranos, Wire, Madmen, Lost etc etc
I'm sure they're very good but they just never click with me.
I agree...
I'll stick with Regan and Carter.
Well you can have both, Patrick!
The Sweeney is my favourite ever tv programme and the only box set I own, but I would acknowledge that there are individual episodes of The Sopranos in particular which are as good as tv gets.
I do agree, though, that many of the American drama series are overpraised, in fact it's their comedy which is streets ahead (Curb You Enthusiasm etc).
Having said all that the one thing I believe the people of the future will envy us for is that we were alive for the release of Pixar's string of masterpieces.
Exactly
the two best TV series of all time are The Sopranos and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads. Well known fact
To be honest I've hardly watched any of them...
so I can't really say too much. The reason I've avoided them is that I don't like very complicated dramas much. I can't follow what's going on and struggle to remember who any of the characters are. I like basic fare... bad guys, Regan and Carter, "Shut it, you're nicked"... job done. I suppose I am a bit of a simpleton at heart.
"We're The Sweeney
and we 'aven't 'ad any breakfast"
"I'm the Crowther...
and I 'aven't 'ad any espresso."
Or, indeed, dinner as they
Or, indeed, dinner as they had it in the first episode.
Regan and Carter never really struck as the "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" types...
I'm glad I'm not alone in this
Even the plot of Dallas used to bamboozle me - I had no idea what was going on in those business deals. All I know is that Cliff Barnes would be the chump while JR would end up laughing at his glass of whisky. What just happened? Don't know.
Oh yeah, definitely
I think (and I am generalising here) that the American approach to dramas seems to be different to the British approach: the American thing seems to be to try and string it out for as long as possible (so you get huge casts and labyrinthine plots) where the British way is to keep it concise.
I look at the massive "seasons" of The Wire or 24 or The Sopranos and I can't even be bothered starting because I know there's no way I'll ever take it all in.
But then, I suppose we have Eastenders, don't we!
If it can't be said in a six episode series
rather than a 26-episode 'season', then I'm usually not interested.
Any kind of video/computer game, I'm afraid...
...Wii = Why? to me. Never touched anything like that it just seems so empty. And I'm sure there's million other consoley things that have superceded even that that I don't even know the names of.
And texting. Don't get me started.
Me too
My family just don't understand why I don't get video games. Mind you, I get football even less.
Yep...
...with you on that as well!
Texting
Can be cheaper than calling. And more convenient. Obviously, I write mine out in longhand and re-draft beforehand.
I love texting
And I think it's a very sensible re-dress to atone for the evil of the telephone. The very idea of a machine which sits there and rings to demand your attention when someone wants to speak to you!
No no no: I prefer texts every time: a short succinct message with no extraneous fat and waffle that the recipient can ignore until they are ready to respond in their own time.
Just a few.
Harry Potter,U2,The X-Factor,The De Vinci Code,Lager,David Beckham,Lady GaGa,Ersatz Mexican Food,The Saw Franchise,The Three Tenors,Diana Princess Of Wales (dead or alive),Big Brother,Texting,saying Innit,Binge Drinking,Tattooing & Piercing,The Apprentice,Celebrity Biographies.
ect,ect,ect....
What about...
Mumford and Sons.
The one and only David 'successful for England' Beckham
Pretty much agree with everything so far but one mentioned is particularly topical.
Yep, David Beckham is getting a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' on the Sports' Personality thing this evening.
Apart from the obvious reasons for him not deserving this award (his DIRE international record and his singular lack of a personality, even for a footballer).....erm.....how? and why?
Not just me then
An accurate hoofer and hard worker but little vision and couldn't dribble soup, which for a winger tends to be a bit of a handicap.
He has, though, probably sold more shirts than all other English players put together. That's a lifetime achievement of sorts, I suppose.
I don't particularly dislike Beckham
and he had some great games with/for United, but I found it hugely ironic if not downright embarrassing that he received his award from Bobby Charlton (a recent and justified Lifetime recipient who was/is a true colossus of the game)and his contemporary Ryan Giggs, a man who has achieved so much more in his career (although obviously not three mediocre World Cup stints).
Although it was touching that he remembered his colleagues/team-mates, and namechecked Preston North End amongst the 'great clubs' he has played for (LA Galaxy, not so much) why was it that his speech took up so much more time that that of the actual main prizewinner, AP McCoy? Whatever context it's in, the story always ends up being about Beckham...
Sports Personality
Didn't watch it, obviously, but heard that Beckham had wife and kids in tow and was jarringly sentimental.
Why didn't Colin Montgomery win something like this?
His preparation, focus, man-management skills and ability to get on with the fans and the media for two years resulted in his international team WINNING against the Americans.
A Captain's victory to go with his fantastic Ryder Cup record as a player.
Beckham's unwanted involvement in that spurious role HE gave himself at the World Cup resulted in four shocking performances to go with the shocking performances (and, as Captain, the crying on the touchline) he gave on the pitch in the 2006 World Cup.
Do the English public respect this?
Didn't watch it myself, but
Didn't watch it myself, but didn't CM get Coach of teh Year. For actually, y'know, winning something.
Isn't the lifetime achievement award (yes, I know, he's nobbut a bairn) a bit like the Sean Connery Oscar? "You're never going to win anything again, so here you go son" type of thing?
'becks'
so many ups!. for years i've felt like i've been banging a silent drum over Beckham the footballer.
having witnessed him playing for all his adidas sides (spainish branch, us branch etc)
has there ever been a more over rated footballer. kudos to you all, and doffs spurs/aberdeen half and half ski hat in respect.
Strictly Come Celebrity House
Swap Gardening Brother
Michael
McIntyre. This has been covered here before I know, but his stellar rise to fame seems uniquely baffling. Peter Kay I can understand because of his broad, toddler to granny appeal, but MM's success is a real mystery.
Likewise....
John Bishop.
And having just appeared on SPOTY....
James Corden.
Now James Corden's agent
Really does deserve an award for making someone with such limited talent so ubiquitous.
Corden's talent...
...what frustrates me is that he IS a good actor, and seems completely willing to piss over this talent.
He was wonderful in Mike Leigh's All Or Nothing, and I saw him on stage several years back in the first run of History Boys, where, again, he was great. Also good in Fat Friends.
So, he started his career with Mike Leigh films and sought-after stage roles. Gavin and Stacey may have reached an ubiquity, but it is very well written, clever, funny and warm.
So why is he content to fart about like a even cheaper Johnny Vaughan? Makes no sense to me.
To paraphrase Alexei Sayle...
They waved a giant cheque in front of his face, and he couldn't see what he was signing...
He was inTeachers when he was a kid
...
Yep, has the potential to be a great actor
However, I would remove "Gavin and Stacey" from your list (can't stand the programme) and add "Telstar" (great little film, great cast, my film of 2009).
Mobile phones
I'm not sure if they qualify as a cultural trend or a fad but I have never owned a mobile phone. People look at me as though I'm a mentalist or a time travelling mideaeval peasant. Have I missed something or are they now compulsary?
oh...and the Wire...it's bobbins
And I'll tell you another thing...
...all this modern pop music, it's just noise, I tell you! Can't hear the words. And politicians aren't what they used to be. You should've heard Winston in his prime. Made you proud to be British. And do you know what's a disgrace? TV. That and, I don't know, eggs or something. Seen the standard of your average supermarket egg lately? Ooooh, don't get me started. AND WHEN I GO FOR A PINT, I WANT TO TALK TO MY FRIENDS, NOT HEAR SOME DOLLY-BIRD SHRIEKING OOOH BABY AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE ON THAT BLOODY STEREOGRAM. And why can't you get a knife and fork in McDonald's? CALL THAT A FACKING RESTAURANT?
....and the coppers these days?
They look like schoolchildren!
you know you're getting old
when police superintendents start looking young...
you know when you feel old
when your nephew is a Detective Sargaent in Greater Manchester Police.
bum bum-bum bum-bum de-de de-de
tra-la-la-la-la-la-la...
...my arse
If those aren't the words
they should be!
David Beckham
Totally agree with Archies comments
My stomach....
It never used to be that big. I blame the onset of children. And the discovery of coconut milk as a cooking ingredient. And kettle chips. And beer. mmmmmm....Fullers Jack Frost....
" When you're young you can eat what you like, drink what you like and still climb into your 28 inch waist trousers,and zip them closed. Then you reach that age 24,25 your muscles give up, wave a little white flag, and without any warning whatsoever you're suddenly a fat bastard."
Middle aged grumpiness
I just don't understand its popularity
Damn
I thought this was a thread about Dolly Parton. Or Cathy Barry. Or.......
Returning to the prancing idiot referred to in the OP
I'm not a violent woman and there are only a few people in the world that I have a REALLY strong urge to punch in the face. Michael Flatley is one of them.
His style of dancing means he always has his arms firmly pinned to his sides, so I could land an absolute belter.
I mean no affront
to the practitioners and devotees of the art of Irish dancing, but to me it looks just like a row of people jumping up and down outside an engaged toilet bursting for a widdle.
'Jayzus! Come onnnnnn!'
...."I'm leaking
all down ma craic!" :-)
Why...
...do the Irish dance like that?
Because their arms have been decommissioned.
Each to their own, but...
I had never heard of Riverdance but someone brought it up at an informal dinner party I was at, and the next thing you knew we were all installed in front of the TV and had to watch a 90 bloody minute concert of it. A very long 90 minutes.
I had a very similar experience,
but with the 'Lord Of The Dance' variation (see below).
If I remember correctly, I had the home telephone number changed the following day, and edited our address book with scissors.
I worked in HMV the year the sequel came out....
"Lord Of The Dance."
You think Riverdance was bad? At least it was novel when it first appeared. In Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley was the eponymous Lord Of The Dance, a man seeking a bride, but does he go for nice potential bride or slutty potential bride? All to a ninety minute fiddledy diddledy version of that godawful "Dance, dance, wherever you may be? I am the Lord Of The Dance said he" tune.
Hearing and seeing that 8 hours a day for four months nearly sent me postal. By the time I left I could only be described as a "pent up ball of fury."
His latest show "Celtic Tiger" is seemingly beyond rubbish. I heard rumours that it opens with him doing Irish dancing dressed as a Roman Centurian. I could have this wrong. What I don't have wrong is the fact that it does have the story of the 1916 uprising told via the medium of dance...
Almost as entertaining
As watching the story of The Bloody Assizes told via the medium of petanque...
...on ice.
"Celtic Tiger"?
Presumably that's ceased its run now...
wouldn't the ice melt.....
when the GPO catches fire?
You gave us Cromwell,
We gave you Riverdance...
You
heartless bastards.
And
Graham Norton,
and
Patrick Kielty,
Who says we haven't got long memories?
Poker on the telly
That's... poker... on the telly.
That's *poker*... on the telly.