TV TV Cream looks at programmes for schools and colleges

Watch!, to take one of the fondest-remembered examples, provided junior pupils with a weekly dose of 'topic work' on a different subject each term - Darwin and evolution, Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, various overseas cultures and assorted historical periods (the Romans, feudal Britain) were among the areas covered by a smiling man-woman duo (most famously the grand-sounding yet relentlessly chummy Louise Hall Taylor and James Earl Adair). As well as the informal clothing (open-necked shirt or bright polo-neck for the 'boys', floral prints and roomy blouses for the 'girls'), the trick used here was to have the presenters appearing to learn along with the viewers, rather than declaiming facts and figures straight at them. They didn't have all the answers, but could find them out, thus (hopefully) spurring the children on to further study after the programme.

Personally I prefered Zig-Zag ...

Travel The full text of Michael Palin's 'Sahara' is online; although it was a cut above other travel shows on television it lacked the urgency of previous adventures. There was an excitement to the first series, 'Around the World in Eighty Days' -- was he going to beat Fogg? In 'Pole to Pole' and 'Hemmingway' there was at least a path to follow, the game being how close he could stay to the path laid out. In 'Sahara' he just seemed to be pottering about trying to go everywhere he could. The only episode with resonance was the last, as he revisited the buildings from 'The Life of Brian' -- for a few moments the story became personal again. Reading the following though, I did feel someone had cancelled Christmas:

Sahara was filmed between February 2001 and February 2002. For various reasons, it was impossible to shoot it as one continuous journey. Summer heat and all-year-round bureaucracy forced a number of breaks upon us. The diary days in the text represent days at work, give or take the very rare day off, and not time spent travelling out to the desert.

Not a journey any longer ...

News I've been wondering of late why I don't write about the news here. Myra Hindley died tonight and UK firemen have just returned from a 48 hours strike with another coming soon (possibly) unless a deal is done. Both heady subjects and I'm sure there will be other bloggers writing long passages as you read. But I won't be commenting on them or a great number of what must be quite important news stories. To be honest I simply don't know enough about the subjects to give an informed opinion. I don't know what the mood was like when the moors murders were taking place; I can't imagine conditions must be like for some fire workers. Which leads to my other reason -- how can anyone. Why do people have this inbuilt need to express their opinion on subjects they don't know anything about? Television news programmes have of late been asking people to 'text' in how they feel about a subject, express themselves in 260 or so words. And often the answers are fatuous and ill informed. I just don't see the point in adding to this collecting mass of trash here. Not about the news anyway.

Who The story of ‘Shada’ is legendary in Doctor Who circles. It was to be the classic end of Season Seventeen, and Douglas Adams great swansong. Tom Baker was at the height of his power. But after location recording was completed around Oxford and some studio work, industrial action meant the show was never completed. Although there was talk of remounting and completing the piece the following year other internal politics prevailed and nothing happened. Eventually Adams reused large chunks of the plot in ‘Dirk Gently’ and subsequently refused to novelise the original. The footage eventually surfaced on BBC Video, with proceeds to charity, and filmed inserts by Tom Baker (still mad as a hatter) at an exhibition screaming ‘SHADA’ into the camera menacingly. This was deleted when stocks ran out and the story again returned to history.

Now it’s back, in a new production on BBCi from Big Finish Audio. It’s been slightly re-written to incorporate Paul ‘its only a matter of time until I play him on TV you know – c’mon I dare you’ McGann as the Eighth Doctor but everything else seems present and correct – its even got Lalla ‘I married Tom’ Ward as Romana. And K9 is in it. With sitcom legends Melvyn Hayes and Andrew Sachs. Considering the original Shada has slipped into continuity, I know there are going to be some fans who aren’t going to like it. Actually I find it a shame they couldn’t have include McGann’s audio companion Charley (India Fisher) in there somewhere. She’s the best thing to happen to Who in years ...

Books Sometimes authors tell the truth about how they decided upon the idea for their new book: Richard Morgan in Slate Magazine:

It started out from an argument I was having with a Buddhist. The point of conflict was the karma system. He was arguing any suffering you undergo in this life is a direct result of something bad you did in a previous life, which sounds fair until you realise that you can’t actually remember any of your previous lives. Then, it suddenly starts to sound existentially pretty fucking unfair. After all, if you can’t remember a previous life then to all intents and purposes that life was lived by another person. And why should you be paying for someone else’s crimes?

Am I the only person who read the first sentence and imagined him screaming and shouting at the placid face of the Dali Lama?

Competition This month's competition is a bit different and in the mold of the kind of thing they used to run on Blue Peter. I got the idea from a recent email from Vicki. I'd like you to send me the story of how you decided upon the name for your weblog. There are some really unusual ones out there which must have been inspired by something. If you haven't got a blog but use a nickname which you use all over, that'll do instead. You've got until 14th December to email, the subjectively best one after that date will find a 'feeling listless' soundtrack getting lost in the Christmas mail. I'll post any I receive with a link back to your site (or your favourite site), so get typing ...

Music For anyone in the area, the sublime Eva Katzler will be playing the Jazz7 on Sunday 17th November 2002. It's at HUGO'S, 25 Lonsdale Road, Queens Park NW6 6RA. The music begins at 8.00pm and you can book ahead on 0207 372 1232. More information can be found on the website.

Hello I have noticed that I've recently had a massive increase in my readership over the past few weeks. Hello to all you new readers. Why not sign my guestbook and let me know who you are? I'm having a few off days, but rest assured proper service will resume shortly.

Science? "Close, But No Cigar"

Internet I haven't been able to find Yahoo! Internet Life for months, to the extent that I ordered a folder at WH Smith last week. A week later I found out it has ceased publication. This is a tragedy. Of all the internet magazines, it was the only one which didn't patronise it's readership and genuinely thought of us all as a community -- one of their best articles was about how we all reacted to September 11th. There was a great month column by Roger Ebert. Speechless. Their URL now links to this page, which hardly a substitute.

People Joshua Jackson arrested. Great photo.

Who For the interested, BBC7's content has been launched. As Ananova reports:

"It will also include shows which went on to become TV hits such as Goodness Gracious Me, Room 101 and The League Of Gentlemen.

The 7th Dimension slot will mark the return of Doctor Who for the millions who missed the adventures of the Time lord. The show disappeared from TV screens more than a decade ago and there has often been talk of resuscitating the classic show. A one-off film was made starring Paul McGann in 1996.

According to Outpost Gallifrey, we should actually get that excited: "Likely to launch the Who broadcasts are the Jon Pertwee radio dramas "The Paradise of Death" and "The Ghosts of N-Space," with other programs to be announced later." I'm sure they're eyeing the Big Finish back catalogue with great interest.

Life I haven't been too happy the last couple of days. The reasons for my unhappiness are in the centre of the stuff which I can't talk about because of the blog rules, so I'm sorry but on this occasion I can't give you a confessional. Just think of all the stuff which pisses you off sometimes and fit them in this space here:

But I'm enjoying the healing power of film, college, drink and the internet, so I'll no doubt break out of it soon. But until then experience feelinglistless truly feeling listless.

Rest My unofficial Cameron Crowe retrospective continued tonight with 'Jerry Maguire'. For ages something bothered me about one of the shots in the film. I didn't look anything like the rest of it. It's the one were Zellwegger runs out of the house barefoot to meet Cruise in the street. Unlike the rest of the movie it has a look of magic realism to it. The audio commentary answered the question. It's a homage to 'My So-Called Life', in particular, the scene in the pilot when Brian has finished walking Angela to her house after she's been dropped off by the police. Crowe says it's one of his favourite TV shows. In fact Wiinnie Holtzman who wrote the thing appears with his mother in the 'you complete me' scene in the living room at the end. I think we may have found a director for the reunion film. It's only a matter of time now ...

Writing Watching 'untitled' the other night I wondered whether Lester Bangs ever tutored Cameron Crowe on his writing style as well as his approach to writing; and if he did how that advice might sound. Looking over this article by Joseph Hayes of The Burry Men, I might have an answer:

Now look again and find those pieces that turn you off, and examine that phenomenon. What makes you turn the page? Look at your own writing in terms of what impresses you in other writer's work, rather than trying to collecting credits from magazines that pay in copies. Because while those small publications have tremendous value, they can be a crutch, and the willingness to accept that crutch is based upon a lie.

You can almost see Bangs in here talking about how Crowe needed to move up to 'Rolling Stone' from 'Creem' magazine.

TV Some review of last night's Have I Got News For You is up at Off The Telly. Fortnight to go until the next episode. Who do we think will be the next person to sit behind the big red desk? Jonathan Ross would be steady hands, but I'm surprised no one has brought up Clive Anderson's name yet. But then since the Discovery Mastermind, we haven't heard so much as a peek out of him anyway. Where are you Clive?

The Press After the theatre hostage crisis in Moscow, the Russian Government's Press Ministry has drafted stricter guidelines for journalists. Although the results are based upon those found in other countries (the BBC is singled out), they aren't that clear and misleading. One editor is indignant:

"Everything is mixed up - a 'memo to a young reporter,' demagoguery, quite reasonable statements and absolutely naive things," he said. "What does it mean to 'avoid reporting details of the work of specialists involved in saving lives'? During the anti-terrorist operation - maybe, but afterward - I am sorry! Does this mean we should not discuss and raise questions about the secret services' actions? The special forces exist not for the sake of the special forces, but for the sake of society, and it is our duty to discuss their performance."

You could unkindly suggest that it's the kind of censorship one might expect from that end of the world, but it might be important to remember two things. It's only a suggestion not law, and people have been allowed to question it.

Quiz! Just took the 'The 60 seconds Premier Squadulator' which is supposed to guess which soccer team you support:

"You're quite an easy going character. You roll with life's punches and take the good times with the bad. Although you think you're doing fine, your friends worry you're not fulfilling your potential. Although you know you've got plenty of time, you wonder if you'll ever find the right person. Boro won't fell that gap, but they'll prove mildly diverting while you're looking."

For reason which will relentlessly amuse regular readers of my guestbook, my team is Middlesbrough. I might point out here that you really must be scared when a little flash quiz can look so accurately into your soul ...

Reality Check Five reasons why I'm visiting an alternate reality...

(1) Everton are fourth in the Football League above Manchester United
(2) Ben Affleck and J-Lo engaged.
(3) The International Space Station continues construction without a hitch
(4) Stan Lee is about to sue Marvel Comics
(5) Someone actually won the full purse on 'The Chair' tonight.

Have I Got News For You. An Old Review.

My first review for Off The Telly, way back in 2002, was of the first guest celebrity edition of HIGFY, a week after Paul Merton provided emergency cover, a week after he and Hislop eviscerated Angus Deaton (aided by Christine Hamilton) when it became apparent his position at the head of a quiz satirising the weekly news had become untenable when he himself had become the topic of the weekly news.

TV The high profile sacking of Angus Deayton from his role as host on Have I Got News For You has left the BBC with something of a problem. As with many shows, the topical news quiz worked because of a specific chemistry that had built up over many years between the presenters. Unlike other panel games where the host and team captains are as interchangeable as the guests (see They Think It’s All Over) it was always difficult to imagine the show without any one of the three.

In fact we saw the effects some years ago when Paul Merton took a series off to get his head sorted out, to be replaced by Eddie Izzard and Clive Anderson amongst others. Funny men in their own right, but without the specific wit and knowledge of the news displayed by Merton. Izzard was particularly numbing as he frustratingly offered “jam” as the answer for everything. And since the show has only recently become a cornerstone of the BBC1 schedule any change would no doubt affect its ability to entertain.

Merton tried his best last week under extreme pressure (no time to prepare, Deayton’s chair still warm). In a familiar studio but forced to put on his Room 101 style presenter hat, he was by turns squinty and nervous. The writing was probably as good as usual, but the script filled with the nuances of Deayton’s speech patterns lay there coming from his lips. During the missing words round he suddenly became Roy Walker on Catchphrase telling the guests that their joke answers were good but not correct. Now and then he seemed to glance over at Ross Noble, borrowing his seat for a week wondering if he would ever be back there.

Tonight he was much more comfortable as team captain again, as the second guest presenter in as many weeks Anne Robinson took charge. She had been one of the names that had been mooted by bookies as a possible permanent replacement along with John Sargeant and Chris Moyles. As is usual when such lists appear, none of possibles fitted the bill, the closest being Stephen Fry, although his showing during a special episode as part of last year’s Comic Relief didn’t inspire confidence. Of the rest, Robinson seemed an odd choice and so it proved during the show.

Things didn’t begin well. In a move which was supposed to provide context but in fact gave little cause for confidence, Robinson advised she “hadn’t watched the show since 1995″ (and she was going to present the thing?) and a clip of an old episode was presented as the reason why. Merton was off on one of his old tirades, this time about Anne Robinson’s wink as presenter of Points of View. It was a classic piece of nostalgia from when the show was arguably at the height of its powers, the late Paula Yates the guest, that very episode being the one in which she called Ian Hislop the “sperm of the devil”. For a moment some viewers might have hoped that this episode was going to get a repeat showing. No such luck. We were cruelly brought back to the present as Robinson stumbled through some japery about giving Hislop some extra points up front for Paul’s cheek. Merton tried his best to milk the moment but it didn’t really work.

The sinking feeling continued as Robinson stumbled through the introductions of the guests, John O’Farrell and John Simpson. These are hardly ever the best jokes of the show. Last week Merton didn’t even try. Here it wasn’t clear when O’Farrell’s introduction had ended – pregnant pause then laughter. This was something that continued throughout the show. The audience often seemed to wait for Robinson to get the line out, so that they could work out how Deayton would have said it then laughed. In many ways this isn’t Robinson’s fault. She isn’t a comedienne and is more used to the ad-libs which are written for her on The Weakest Link. But often after shows, Deayton was allowed to re-film his fluffed lines (seen on some of the series videos). This privilege didn’t appear to be available to Robinson which lessened her impression overall.

Luckily Hislop and Merton were largely on form in their savaging of the host. Hislop in particular was keen to turncoat her by bringing up her time on The Mirror under Robert Maxwell. Robinson squirmed uncomfortably after the reminder, and there was some sport as she turned against the Private Eye editor, who was relishing the chance to trot out his old (admittedly funny) Maxwell jokes. Oddly (in this edit) Merton’s last infamous television meeting with the former Watchdog presenter on Room 101 didn’t warrant a mention, although he did get one of the best lines. At a moment when the show was flagging Merton shouted “Bank!” crippling the audience. When told by Anne that she was pleased that he watched The Weakest Link Paul explained that he “only ever saw the last five minutes because The Simpsons was on after it.” Even the host smiled at that one. For a moment there was chemistry and spirit amongst the group.

The one thing Deayton was good at was shutting up at the right moments and letting the team captains speak. Presumably used to lengthy recording blocks when you can’t fall behind, Anne must have assumed she had to get the entire show recorded in half an hour and kept talking over the guests and captains. At one point she told an indignant Hislop to shut up so that she could say something. As his forehead furrowed he must have wondered whose show it was. Since the programme had become the story the guests felt slightly beside the point. John Simpson was like a walking (or seated) re-run of his past appearances, so we got to hear again about the interview with Gaddafi in which the Colonel farted constantly. It’s a surprise his rainforest psychedelic drug experiences didn’t put in an appearance, but that may have been in poor taste. But he was up to the challenge when Robinson tried to make something of his proclamation that he had liberated Kabul. Simpson told Robinson: “Do you know the burkha covers your entire face? Perhaps you might like to try one.”

Filling the role of the guest no one outside Whitehall had heard of was John O’Farrell who offered a couple of good one-liners but failed to make an impression because he became Robinson’s whipping boy. At times she seemed to be victimizing him as though he was a guest on The Weakest Link. There the host has a habit of constantly referring back to the one thing she knows about a contestant and here it was again – his failure in an election. It hadn’t been all that funny in her introduction, but it came back up time and again.

And so half an hour passed. On the evidence of tonight’s performance Robinson won’t be the permanent presenter of Have I Got News For You, but the experiment will have helped Hat Trick and BBC bosses to decide what they won’t want from a new host. While it’s difficult to see Deayton being invited back next series, it’s equally hard to see the show’s continuation without him, despite the best efforts of Merton and Hislop. The last name to be mooted was Johnny Vaughn. Personally I would prefer Johnny Vegas. He couldn’t be any worse than Anne Robinson was tonight.

Ouch.  Anyway as we've seen the show did survive, went from strength to strength and now has a regular rota of very competent presenters many of whom are arguably better than Deayton ever was.  Which reminds me that I haven't watched last Friday's episode yet.  Thank goodness the iPlayer's been invented since then too.