Bob Monkhouse has sadly died. I heard it on a radio playing in the background this morning while I was out and about. Immediate thought: ‘Shit.’ It wasn’t a great surprise, but I was hoping his treatment would give him a bit longer.
Read More »Bob Monkhouse, R.I.P.
Well, I guess Christmas is almost over for another year. The Day Itself is done with. It seems like our television schedulers have given up any pretence of making any real effort this year… I wonder if that reflects an overall feeling of growing apathy?
Christmas day was just like a weekend day, really. Only with decorations and turkey. We ended up watching My Fair Lady in the afternoon, which I hadn’t seen for years. I’m not a musical fan, but this one’s a sentimental favourite for unknown reasons. I like it. Rex Harrison was great.
Read More »Good Riddance
Oh, I wanted to mention the return of the fabulous Foyle’s War last Sunday. You haven’t seen it? This is essential viewing, beautifully photographed and… Read More »Don’t Mention the War
Wow, tonight’s EastEnders was brilliant. And not just because of The Obvious. The scenes between Sharon and Dennis were tremendous. Everyone who remembers the early… Read More »He’s Back
On a lighter note, wasn’t the two-part drama Alibi, Monday and Tuesday night on ITV, really terrific? Original, witty, compelling and superbly acted. But then,… Read More »Foyled Again!
I just got a lot of packing done. I’d be in fairly good shape to move tomorrow, at a push, so I feel I’ve done something useful! I haven’t felt like writing much, tho’.
Brief comments on some recent films we’ve seen:
Panic Room… excellent stuff! Original story idea, stylish direction and Jodie Foster. Need I mention that Jodie is supremely cool? If I have little to say about this one, I guess it’s because it all works so well and beggars only mindless praise. See it if you haven’t already done so.
Last night’s viewing: Stephen King’s Rose Red, a four-hour television production from 2001. Unlike most King-based films, this is an original script by the man himself, rather than an adaptation of his prose by other hands.
Read More »Seeing Red
Video purchase this week: the ABC Murders episode of Poirot, with David Suchet. This one was made in 1992 and, as far as I can remember, was particularly good. (They’re all good, though. Suchet is wonderful.) Anyway, we’ll be watching it later tonight.
This gives me a reason for mentioning the recent news story about the forthcoming Poirot episodes… four to be filmed this year, the first commencing later this month (Five Little Pigs). Rumour has it that Gwyneth Paltrow will appear in Death on the Nile. Suchet still hopes to film all of the original stories! (total so far: 49.)
Read More »Eh Bien, Mon Ami
My mood isn’t as bad today. I’m just weary of being messed around. If anyone out there has a job for me, get in touch!… Read More »Oh… What-Ever!
I do watch sport occasionally. Just not football. Football is the work of the Devil. (If you’re American: I mean soccer.) Mostly it’s athletics or tennis I tolerate fairly well.
So Tim Henman’s into the second week of Wimbledon. Again. Will he actually make it through to the final this time? I think, probably not. Having said that, this tendency to slag him off because he’s never won does piss me off a bit. I mean, let’s bear in mind the stream of no-hopers (at least in the men’s game) England has produced, like, for as long as I’ve been alive, pretty much. Tim’s track record is incredibly consistent and creditable.
Read More »I Must Be Serious
