BS: What's On Telly? (UK)

Subject: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:37 AM

As I am thick enough to both own and watch TV, but obviously too thick to pick up a copy of the Radio Times (except at Christmas when it is obligatory to have a copy in order for it to become mangled by cats, stained with various oily snack products, and even sometimes circled with highlighter pen) I always end up missing good telly, or only cottoning on to good telly at a uselessly belated episode 5/7.

Now I'm at the end of my completely wrecked Christmas edition of the Radio Times, I will probably proceed with forgetting to pick up further copies until next time.

But with it's very last crumple-paged and smeary-inked aid, I am fortunately armed with foreknowledge of two quite interesting series beginning tonight.

In the first Around the World in 80 Faiths
(Beeb2 9pm), uptight but almost verging on dishy 'trendy Vicar' Peter Owen Jones, goes all anthropological with Voodoo and such-like fun stuff.

In the second Prog Rock Brittania (Beeb4 10pm) we will be treated to the same old catalogue of clips of skinny be-sideburned young men being noisy and showing off very nicely. There will also be other people talking about it all.

Is anyone else here thick enough to watch telly? And shameless enough to admit to it...?

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:45 AM

Hey we bought the Radio Times (this is the only time of the year we do) and never looked at it. That really is thick.

If I turn the tube on, I just flick through the stations until I lose interest and go back to Mudcatting or Googling or You tubing while the idiot box provides extra light and some background noise.

Just did see Michael Palin's reunion with friends he met doing some documentary in India yonks ago. A little bittersweet that one.

That Prog Rock looks interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:48 AM

Thank heavens for insomnia and the digital recording/playback facility! I flick through until I see something I like then slap the old 'record' on... it means I've got about 70 programmes all lined up to watch, but have the ability to save them for posterior if I want to, without having to burn a DVD or use a video tape.

I caught the Howard Goodall programme 'The Truth about Carols' over Christmas, which was fabulous, and have the 'Sacred Music' series still to watch, but I never bother with the Radio Times.. if I missed something, I didn't see it, I can't miss what I haven't had...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 12:17 PM

I watch a lot of Tv usually whilst on the laptop whether for pleasure or work. I find plenty of interesting programmes although I'm not that bothered by documentaries. Since we have digital freeview all the programmes are listed on the EPG. My problem is usually that everything I want to watch seems to overlap so end up with very complicated recording schedules which only work if the tv stations don't suddenly overrun and then still show 10 minutes of adverts for forthcoming programmes!
I don't consider myself thick or old!!

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 12:22 PM

I know it fills up the band width and all, but thank the deities for those '+1' channels - Channel 4 or ITV1 an hour later... I stand a fair chance of seeing all of what I want with them!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 12:23 PM

I watch very little TV, and I endorse the comment by a writer in our local paper.
TV over Christmas was more NO NO NO, than HO HO HO.
I do however have the radio on all day and every day, and there was some good stuff on there. The pictures were better too.

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 02:56 PM

Very good John

Made me smile. I do tend to like BBC Radio 4 quite a lot. Except for the Archers, and the Moral Maze, and Money Box and Gardeners Question Time. But for most part good.

When I lived in the US I used to get Prairie Home Companion on Sunday afternoons. Brilliantly funny. Wonder if I can get that online?

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Cats
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:25 PM

LTS ~ The Truth about Carols was really good, but I was a bit disappointed by the sacred music programmes. Tonight's highlight for me will be BBC 1 Doctor Who Confidential when they will reveal who the next doctor is going to be [sad isn't it?] and that, of course, will give rise to a new thread...

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:35 PM

Well, right now there is a bowl of goldfish, a cat, and a condom up there. So what's it to ya?????

Art

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 03:40 AM

Is the condom in case the cat wants to shag the goldfish ?

eric

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 04:10 AM

Enjoyed 'right-on Vicar' doing his anthropology thing last night, even if it was a bit of a breathlessly paced ten faiths in one hour (far too much crammed in). Watching the poor chap earnestly attempting to connect to the Moon Goddess via the medium of dance, while in the middle of a group of bare-nekked ladies, was truly a joy to behold! Best of all though was Prophet Fred and his Unity Church who is currently healing rifts between the various tribes of his island, and the faiths that have divided them as a consequence of typical meddling missionary zeal.

As to goldfish, cats and condoms.. Hey man, it's your personal life not mine.

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Jeanie
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 06:18 AM

I buy the Radio Times every week of the year - never any of the other listings magazines, though, always Radio Times. The reason: the cast lists and credits. I like to know who is playing/directing what and where - both on TV and Radio. I also like to have the cast list in front of me to refer to during a show.

As far as the Christmas/New Year TV was concerned, I did enjoy watching the nostalgic "Bill Cotton" night and the "University Challenge" night on BBC2. I felt a bit let down by the documentaries about the Cathar group reincarnation and the Glastonbury automatic writing. I remember seeing a much more informative programme about that Cathar group years ago. It seems these days that the programme-makers go so much more for photographic trickery and fewer and fewer actual facts/discussions....ah well....

The most interesting programme I saw over the Christmas/New Year was the one about the psychologist David Allison from Cambridge successfully helping people to overcome their phobias. It was fascinating, and marvellous to see their joy at being freed from their fears. Did anyone else see this ?

This coming week, I'm looking forward very much to the daily dramatisation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" on BBC1.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 09:11 AM

Jonathan Creek was good. Caught up with it on iPlayer at about 2am today. Kept expecting the QI noise eveytime Alan Davies said anything though...

They unveil the new Doctor Who tonight. BBC1 I think. Dunno what time though

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 11:34 AM

Really Dave? I would have thought they'd have made us wait until the end of the year to find out.

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 03:18 PM

See the doctor Who thread - It is Matt Smith. He was very good in the Philip Pullman thing a while back.

D.

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 03:21 PM

Oooh, nearly time for the new Masterchef...

Subject: RE: BS: What's On Telly? (UK)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 03:42 PM

you can till see the creepy christmas Lark Rise on iPlayer.

I haven't been at home enough to catch up with the telly! I'm sure January will resume its regular service quite soon, though.