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TS Eliot wrote some of the most dreadful poetry of the twentieth century, but he also had his good days. And on one of those good days, he observed "Humankind cannot bear very much reality". True as this is, he lived too soon to be aware of the corollary; humankind cannot bear very much television either. I watched 5 1/4 hours last night and I still feel like something is nesting at the back of my eyes. How do some people do that every day?
(as for how much reality television humankind can bear, let's not even go there)
Spooks: I know many people consider this series almost risibly bad. I never agreed - there are definite weaknesses in the scripts, but the acting usually carries me through. Last night, though, it simply rocked. For starters, the post-Hutton BBC doing drama about Government conspiracies to rob the security services of their independence is inherently brilliant. Add a couple of new cast members, both bloody good, and two of the most gratifying screen deaths in ages, and I am very much sold. The second death in particular was the finest induced suicide since Top Ten.
The Sopranos: Everything's always gay with Tony - but he doesn't spot it in his own crew! Priceless. And I love seeing Carmela get screwed over. Everyone always seems to give her an easy ride when in fact she's every bit as nasty as Tony, but more hypocritical about it.
Angel: The final series enters its endgame. The darkness is building. The Apocalypse is underway, and has been all along, but the forces of good haven't noticed. Finally, the series seems to be back on track. So what do they do? A comic relief episode about someone called the Immortal who's always nicking Spike and Angel's girlfriends and has now seduced Buffy, set in Rome. Filmed without us seeing the Immortal or Buffy, and using only stock footage of Rome. Inexplicable.
I hate radio ads. "Got an interview in 20 minutes and you don't know where it is?" Then you're a knobber. And even if you buy the handheld GPS system they're selling, you always will be.
Why does no one ever talk about Mercury Rev anymore?
(as for how much reality television humankind can bear, let's not even go there)
Spooks: I know many people consider this series almost risibly bad. I never agreed - there are definite weaknesses in the scripts, but the acting usually carries me through. Last night, though, it simply rocked. For starters, the post-Hutton BBC doing drama about Government conspiracies to rob the security services of their independence is inherently brilliant. Add a couple of new cast members, both bloody good, and two of the most gratifying screen deaths in ages, and I am very much sold. The second death in particular was the finest induced suicide since Top Ten.
The Sopranos: Everything's always gay with Tony - but he doesn't spot it in his own crew! Priceless. And I love seeing Carmela get screwed over. Everyone always seems to give her an easy ride when in fact she's every bit as nasty as Tony, but more hypocritical about it.
Angel: The final series enters its endgame. The darkness is building. The Apocalypse is underway, and has been all along, but the forces of good haven't noticed. Finally, the series seems to be back on track. So what do they do? A comic relief episode about someone called the Immortal who's always nicking Spike and Angel's girlfriends and has now seduced Buffy, set in Rome. Filmed without us seeing the Immortal or Buffy, and using only stock footage of Rome. Inexplicable.
I hate radio ads. "Got an interview in 20 minutes and you don't know where it is?" Then you're a knobber. And even if you buy the handheld GPS system they're selling, you always will be.
Why does no one ever talk about Mercury Rev anymore?
