Year end rambings, Sir Nigel Hawthorne, A Christmas Carol
and Charlie Higson) never saw a running gag they didn't love and, also like SNL, they can't resist beating it to death - even resorting to the unnecessary feature length skit. The last series has had it's moments but frankly the gags and characters have gone well past their sell by dates and more often than ever before the sketches fall flat.
Junkyard Wars
Junkyard Wars is a good example of transatlantic telly translation
done right. The original program was terrific, they even imported
American contestants, then the first American series were shot
in the UK before moving stateside for more recent installments.The
different versions of the show are nearly seamless - thanks in
no small part to co-hostess Cathy Rogers who's been part
of all the good series (now if they could only find the nerve
to bring Robert Llewelyn over as well instead of the generic
wacky guys they keep pairing Rogers with here in N.A) The various
robot war shows were fun for a while but Junkyard Wars has stood
the test of time to become a must see.
Are You Dave Gorman?
I clearly "don't get" this program. As a one off skit
it might have been mildly amusing but after about 5 minutes my
remote finger gets itchy and BBC America has lost me again.Is
this really the best show they could buy? Nope, it's not even
in the top 200.
The Weakest Link
At least the Millionaire franchise could be occasionally diverting
- this on the other hand...bah...
So, Graham Norton
All too often tired camp chat show that goes where so many have
gone before.
Comedy Central
Four words: Absolutely Fabulous - Black Books. Two
of the best comedy series on the air anywhere on this troubled
little planet are coming at ya courtesy of Comedy Central. The
new AbFab episodes have been wonderful and even better is Black
Books, the wicked little bookshop set comedy starring Dylan
Moran (Rufus in Notting Hill), Bill Baily and Tasmin Greig (The
Archers). These two series alone helped save the year for me.
DVDs
Fawtly Towers, Thunderbirds, Doctor Who, The Saint, Flambards,
Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes, Space 1999, Hammer's House of
Horrors and Blackadder. What a year for DVD releases.
The best British television viewing has been on those shiny little
discs and there looks to be a whole slew of nifty new releases
on the horizon in 2002.
Sir Nigel Hawthorne
One of my very favorite actors passed away this week. Sir Nigel
Hawthorne suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 72
Like most American's Sir Nigel first came to my attention as
Sir Humphrey in the Yes Minister/Prime Minister series.
As good
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