Entertainment For Lively Minds
Murdoch free - need support
Posted by VincePacket on 12 April 2011 - 10:47pm.
It's been a busy few days for yours truly, planning season at work and the demands on my time have been biblical.
Coming up for a breath of fresh air and I find my Sky box has been deauthorised (where the hell did that month's notice go?)
I am in need of your recommendations. What's left to watch on the free to air channels? What needs to be series-linked on my Freeview box.
I already have Walking Dead and Spiral sorted. Anything else?
I'm looking forward to some ace recommendations.
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Crimson Petal
Catch The Crimson Petal and the White. A startling recreation of a huge and wonderful book; both the lead actresses (one a crimson petal and one, er, the white) are superb. It's the story of the thin line between prostitution and wifedom in Victorian England. Chris O'Dowd turns out to be a wonderful dramatic actor (though still funny when he needs to be). The first ep is still on iPlayer, I believe. Catch up with number 2 and settle in. Plus Gillan Anderson as a raddled Madame. Whats not to like?
Mrs. P has been watching that
She is raving about it - one for iPlayer.
Thanks
It's fantastic
Unsettling, enthralling - a costume drama that doesn't look like any other costume drama. Romola Garai as Sugar is mesmerising.
Also, if you fancy some old comedy, Dave is showing Smack the Pony, Peep Show, Spaced and Harry and Paul. Smack the Pony really holds up well - three naturally funny comedians in gloriously daft sketches.
Some suggestions
Glad you mentioned Spiral, I'm utterly engrossed in that at the moment.
Can recommend Twenty Twelve, very funny, anyone who has worked in any kind of office can see the bureaucratic nonsense that they have to deal with. I love the Head of Brand (played by Jessica Hynes)and her PR take on everything.
Big Bang Theory is great, Sheldon Cooper is a wonderful character...having to live with him or be a friend would be awful though.
I've been enjoying the Kidult series on BBC Four....particularly enjoyed the one of the Indian Marathon Boy which was heartwarming and horrific at the same time.
Mrs S is watching Filthy Cities on BBC 2, eye opening view of London of the past last week.
Thanks
I saw a filthy cities last night on Paris. Fascinating stuff how the city was redesigned specifically to be able to butcher revolutionaries.
Treme is just about to end. I enjoyed that.
Masterchef of course, if you're a fan.
Coming in the next four weeks, lots of good, interesting drama on the BBC and ITV:
The Suspcicions of Mr Whicher (with Paddy Considine)
United (with David Tennant)
Exile (John Simm)
The Shadowline (with Christopher Eccleston)
Vera (with Brenda Blethyn)
Case Sensitive (with Olivia Williams and Darren Boyd)
Doctor Who, if you like that sort of thing.
Plus there's a new series of Psychoville.
An excellent list
Thanks. I love a good drama but I have got into the habit of just watching big US shows on Sky. I am looking forward to rediscovering some proper home-grown quality programming.
It's scary how with the exception of Doctor Who (awesome family viewing with the Packets Junior) I have not heard of any of the above.
I think a Radio Times subscription is going to be important.
Do me a personal favour
Avoid the Radio Times.
Let me just say, other listings magazines are available.
Not...
...if you are one of those perverse people who buy the Radio Times for the radio there aren't.
Oh yes
there are
Oh no
they're not
I'm with Doods...
...I'm yet to find another listings mag that covers radio in any detail whatsoever. The Radio Times isn't great at it, but there is a choice of one at the moment.
Any other recommendations welcome, but I'd be surprised.
Are any of them as good as the RT?
Not looking for specific adverts that contravene article 37.1a(c) of the Word code of conduct F.A.Q. but I have always found the RT to be comprehensive in their (non satellite and cable) listings whilst simultaneously avoiding celeb gossip about soap stars.
Of course, it's been a few years since I last bought it so I could be wrong these days.
Are there decent alternatives for people that think Heat and Now magazines mark the end of civilisation as we know it?
Whisper it quietly but ...
I enjoy reading the Radio Times.
I know I'll probably get drummed out of the Massive, but if you just skip over the pages on Soap (and Sport, in my case) it generally has several articles where the majority of the page is covered with, well, words. Might have the odd interesting picture as well - and some of the articles are written by articulate and thoughtful experts (I loved a multipage article by David Hockney) and commentators.
There are also reviews of upcoming TV and radio programmes and you start to recognise the writers whose opinions you respect. All sounds a bit like another magazine I enjoy.
Sure, there's stuff in there about topics I'm never going to read (Strictly etc) but I can ignore those. It seems to have deliberately positioned itself at the opposite end of the spectrum to TV Plus etc and I know it must be doing something right when I read it regularly but still don't know any of the "TV celebs" my Mum talks about.
*whispers back*
Not only do I enjoy the Radio Times, but I subscribe via a cheap offer and a Jamie Oliver book freebie.
Radio Times Readers Anonymous
So, this Friday, it's you, me and Doods in the corner of An Outlet discussing our favourite Donkey Sanctuary advert - not to be missed!
Now then, let's not get carried away
Oooh look, three recliners to choose from !
Say it loud, I'm a Radio Times buyer and I'm proud. (ish)
I can go weeks on end and not read any of the magazine stuff. Roughly I check the radio listings, usually with a biro, go back through telly and the film section and that can be it.
I get it for the radio, really. If I just wanted the telly I could use virtually anything, but if I want to know who played what on Radio 3 there will be little or nothing.
I know : effortless cool....
Community is showing on Viva on Freeview
What such a good show did to deserve a channel like Viva i don't know.
Another vote for
Twenty Twelve, some of which is a little far fetched but Jessica Hynes is brilliant. Monday's episode had me in tears. I would also try The Big C which is on Thursdays, E4 I think. Unfortunately I think it is coming to the end of the series but has been very good thus far and Laura Linney is exceptional. It's about dealing with terminal cancer but isn't at all bleak and very moving, but not in a gloopy way. There was a prog on BBC4 on Monday which I have yet to catch up with about council house estates presented by Michael Collins who wrote an interesting book about the working class. Might be good.
Don't encourage them....
Read a book and listen to music. Hardly ever watch the TV any more and my life is far better for it.
Well aren't you the morally superior one!
Why even read a thread about TV if you have no interest in it, let alone comment on one?
So sorry...
didn't know I needed your permission to comment on the matter of TV. Was merely suggesting that there are a great number of wonderful other options available to spend one's time on.
Your pardon in truly begged.
You don't need mine or anyone else's permission
But thanks for pointing out that books and other non-TV related pursuits are available, nonetheless.
Why be so unpleasant?
There really is no need.
Again, sorry if my comment did not reach your criteria for posting.
Not meaning to be unpleasant
But I found your original post rather irritating.
The Anti TV Faction
There is always a hint of smugness with the above faction, even if it is not intended. I like a bit of tv, I like reading and I like the radio. The implication is that reading is better than tv and thus the person doing it is superior. Rather unfortunate.
I do a lot of reading
for my job and for pleasure.
Sometimes I just want someone else to do the heavy lifting while I chill out.
May I point you towards
TVCatchup
http://www.tvcatchup.com/guide.html?hour=12
a sort of iPlayer for the coming week on loads of free to air channels.
Blimey that's good.
Needless to say I immediately went to my iPad to see if there were any equivalents and it looks like there are a couple.
Any app recommendations to go alongside the great web one Dr.Pill has shown me?