Christmas Ain’t Coming Any More

You really don’t need me to tell you what to be watching on Christmas Day, do you? Doctor Who, Gavin and Stacey and find yourself a good DVD or two. Job done.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish each and every one of you, all the very best for the season. Your support is much appreciated.

“Barrowmaaaaan!!”

So, as promised, a look forward to Day One of the Christmas telly schedule as defined by the glorious bumper edition of the Radio Times. Saturday 19th has bugger all on offer in the great scheme of things. It sees the final of this year’s “Strictly” and RT proudly lumps that in as its Pick Of The Day, not for me though ‘cos I have not seen a single second of it this year (nor any other) so that won’t be part of mine nor the Other Viewer’s watch list. The other choice cuts from the RT recommendations include a Take That concert, a CSI marathon, “Love Actually” if a rom-com is what you’re after, and finally “Merlin” whose second series comes to a close. This will be the 7th or 8th installment of Carry On Camelot that finds its way on to our Sky Planner unwatched and it’s probably a prime candidate for the Yellow Button of Doom unless we get round to tuning in soon. If a movie is what you’re after then an advert-less “Bladerunner” is on BBC2 at the same time as the Richard Curtis popular hit, which sounds much more appealing. The four back-to-back eps of CSI on Five are up against Channel 4’s frankly bizarre choice of three hours of “Wife Swap”. God forbid.  Choice cuts elsewhere that might pass the time include Doctor Who’s “Journey’s End” on BBC3 at 7pm, “Live from the Apollo” with Rhod Gilbert on BBC HD at 9:40pm or “Wallender”, which I’ve heard good things about but never seen. That’s BBC4 at 9:30pm. However, my picks of the day will be the movie “Frost/Nixon” which is premiering on SkyMovies and day four of the first cricket test between South Africa and England to see if the tourists can keep up their fightback.

World Cup Fever

It all starts here. Novelty records, metatarsils, unbounded optimism, wall-charts and booking your holidays. Yes, it’s the World Cup Draw. England, third out of the proverbial hat as the seeds for Group C have been drawn against Algeria, USA and Slovenia. First up is a match against our friends across the pond, the US of A on Saturday 12th June and I’m already planning the party. The draw itself was its usual fun with a remarkably watchable Charlize Theron and some French chap hosting the ceremony and a handful of sporting icons pulling plastic balls from glass jars. Amazing to think 150m people were watching, worldwide. Of course, there’s always room for comedians as the above Wikipedia screenshot proves. Now the only question left is which episode of Doctor Who series 5 will act as the warm-up entertainment before the match?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8073734.stm

At 1pm this afternoon, BBC news announced that Karen Gillan will be the new Doctor Who companion.  Who fans on DWF and Twitter let out an initial. … “Who’s that?” However, in Moffat we trust.  Welcome to the big time, Karen!!

Christmas 2008 has been consigned to the history books and with it the festive fortnight of strange and delightful television schedules have concluded. I have to confess that I didn’t watch a great deal of the stuff over the last two weeks but now, as the bumper edition of the Radio Times heads off to the nearest recycling plant, I feel it is time to look back at my personal choices of shows that were blessed by the highlighter pen here at Chez Fazzinchi.  Not that  there were too many but here are the few bits and pieces that I sat down to enjoy with varying degrees of success.

Blackadder Rides Again. I don’t generally watch many documentaries but a bit of rare insight from Rowan Atkinson himself on this much trailed one enticed me in to watching and I was rewarded in spades.  Blackadder was one of those shows that got better and better and each of the four seasons played and it was fascinating to hear about the far from simple production process (especially, that final scene)

Survivors. This six-part thriller came to a conclusion in the week leading up to Christmas and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The script may have been a shade ropey at times but it was one of those dramas that stays with you for quite some time afterwards. It is also good material for one of those “what if…” discussions over a bottle of good wine. Even the little kid was watchable.

Doctor Who (and Doctor Who Confidential). Enough said about The Next Doctor on this blog already, perhaps. However, the second viewing, as predicted, did turn out to be a bit more rewarding.  The producer commentary published on the official website (and played on BBC3 via the red button) gave an unusual amount of insight as well. As for the “special announcement” during this weekend’s Doctor Who Confidential, well, name one other show that could get over 6 million viewers for some casting news?

The 39 Steps. I thought, although many didn’t, that Rupert Penry-Jones was on fine form as Richard Hannay during this remake of the John Buchan classic. The romantic subplot helped turn the original gritty story into a lighter, more nostalgic tale that may not have been to everyone’s taste (and was more than a little surprising for its inclusion) but I thought it added a Christmassy feel to proceedings.

Gavin and Stacey. Gentle yet magnificent viewing.  All the regulars were on fine form as Gavin successfully decided to seek a new job in South Wales much to the chagrin of his mother and Smithy. Beautifully observed subplots involving the turkey, the keyboard, more about the fishing trip, baby Neil et al made for the perfect Christmas Eve. And it sets everything up nicely for the recently confirmed thrid series.

Wallace and Grommit. Other than the bloomin frustration of having the recording cut off early, the latest outing for one man and his dog from the Nick Park factory was deserving of its number one spot on Christmas Day. All the usual clever touches were there along with a blistering plot that provided chuckles aplenty.  Cracking.

Crooked House. Only watched one of the three so far, which wasn’t as scary as I thought it might be. I am hopeful for better things to come. I also have the last few Merlins, The Ascent of Money and Royal Institute Christmas Lectures clogging up my PVR, which I need to watch to free up some room for the deluge of new shows about to descend.

Christmas TV 2008….. 7/10.  Not a classic but enough sixpences in a  stodgy old pudding to satisfy.

The 11th Doctor… who’d have thunk it?

Well, now we know. Doctor Who Confidential as promised has revealed the new Doctor, and he is Matt Smith. I could have written out a list of 100 names that I would have liked to have seen and he would not have been on it. Not because I think it is a bad decision but just because I can only recall seeing him in the Ruby in the Smoke before.  It is great that they have chosen someone from way out of left field and he did nothing but impress during the introduction show. Let the debate commence. Too young? Too old? Too quirky? Too hairy? Too much like David Tennant? Not enough like David Tennant? You decide.