BBC HD TV

You can let us know your BBC HD review by using the comments box at the bottom of this entry. What we would like to see is HD TV being pushed to being forwards so it becomes standard definition and not just for those with deep pockets that can afford to pay for Skys HDTV service (you can review the Sky HD package too if you wish). The technology is here, the television sets are in our homes so it’s now time for the TV industry to move things forwards.

Photography on Television

The blurb from the show says “To understand how the image makers of Hollywood created these iconic photographs, Rankin recruits a cast of leading Hollywood actors to help him recreate some of the most important”. Like I said it’s not the best programme I have seen on photography but if you like fashion and glamour go check it out on the BBC iPlayer (it was originally on BBC 2 at 8pm on Saturday 8^th January). Also if you like photography check out my street photography and I’ve also got some sports shots over there which will soon include the televised BAMMA fight pictures.

Rob Brydon allegedly said ” I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited”! What a statement lol. The Welsh comedian will also apparently sign with a guest at the end of every show. Which to me sounds pretty familiar. Didn’t another famous Welsh person have a light hearted television talk show where they sang on every show but on Channel 4? Ermmm pretty sure this format sounds familiar.

Psychoville

The note on the site reads “Your next appointment at Ravenhill Hospital will be Winter 2010. With six further courses of treatment to be taken at weekly intervals from Spring 2011″.

Psychoville stars Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Dawn French and Jason Hopkins. Its written by a couple of guys that made the popular TV show The League Of Gentlemen and got its first television airing on BBC Two on 18 June 2009.

James May Toy Stories Meccano Bridge

The show on BBC Two is described as “James May subjects traditional toys to supersize challenges. Here, he joins forces with Edwina Currie and top engineers to build a full-size bridge from nothing but Meccano.” If your watching tonights episode of James May’s Toy Stories (as cheap TVs will be) and you want to let us know your thoughts or reviews please use the comments below. It would be great to get some other tele addicts opinions.

Image: BBC Two James May’s Toy Stories

Little Britain USA New TV Show

David Walliams was quoted by the BBC as saying “We’re really, really excited and just sort of starting work on that now, so hopefully that will be on towards the end of next year. We’re really confident about it and really pleased with how it’s going. But it’s very early days.”

Maybe HBO didn’t hate Little Britain USA as much as I did as they are going to co-produce the new television with the BBC! David also commented “They really loved Little Britain USA and wanted us to do more but we felt we wanted to do something fresh. Especially for our audience in Britain.”

Gavin And Stacey

Ruth Jones said: “We didn’t want it to get too far away from the central story. Great shows like Fawlty Towers only ran for a short time and people forget that. But it probably won’t disappear for ever – it would be good to catch up with Gavin and Stacey. I can see us doing some specials.”

Personally I’m not a big fan of Gavin And Stacey, but it is nice to see a little bit of Essex on television for a change.

Fringe TV Show

I would love to say cheap televisions favourite TV shows were British made from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 but to brutally honest they can’t even get close to the little gems coming to our TV screens from our cousins in the USA. Actually unless we’re talking about comedy I think British made TV shows are in a dire state at the moment. Yes some may claim things like Dr Who are great, and yes I would agree that its fun, but it’s all very tongue in cheek. There’s no real grit, passion, clever writing, intense acting and so on.

Going back to Dr Who it totally proves my point about the main British TV channels not having a clue. First Dr Who comes back to the BBC and its popular with family’s watching TV on a Saturday night. So do ITV try to challenge or give an alternative to viewers? Nope they bring out something that’s pretty much inspired by Dr Who but with funny wormholes and dinosaurs! I can’t even remember what it was called although it got binned after two sporadic season [After writing this I got an email telling me that the TV show is actually being commission for two more seasons with a joint deal between ITV and Watch, oh and it's called Primeval lol].

Dr Who TV Show

They then try something else with Philip Glenister that had something to do with Van Helsing and more bad 3D graphics. God only know what happened to that. Then you have the likes of Merlin (Harry Potter inspired) and Robin Bloody Hood on the BBC.

Ah I can’t even be bothered moaning about the ridiculous state of British made television anymore. Give me some power and it’ll change, and if any retarded grad idealist is reading this who works for any of the channels please jus break the spiral and make British television shows original and groundbreaking again.

So what of the TV shows coming over from the good old USA that are really making good television at the moment?

Well to start Fringe is back for a second season and its already grabbed me back into wanting to see every episode. The other thing I like about Fringe is unlike something like the Mentalist it keeps its focus on the main story as much as the small stories told each month. Developing the characters and storyline at a believable (ok it is science fiction but you know what I mean lol) and intelligent pace. It’s a much better viewing experience than watching this week’s mystery body and now let’s solve the crime in 45 minutes in a Murder She Wrote style. It must be better for the writers and producers too!

Secondly is a new TV show called Flash Forward which has just started on Channel 5 here in the UK but is being screened in pace with the US (so no downloading illegal copies via torrents as its not needed). Apparently this TV show is from the same guys that brought us Lost and it starts with everyone in the world passing out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds for no known reason, everyone that does pass out has a vision of that time 6 months in the future (don’t worry these details wont ruin the TV show for you). It’s only been one episode of Flash Forward so far but I’m pretty sure this is another American TV show that will be keeping my big plasma television warm and fuzzy this autumn and winter. Lets just hope it doesn’t lose its way like Lost did.

Flash Forward Destruction

Next could be described as slightly culty lol, but True Blood is an excellent TV show. I think Channel 4 may have finally just picked up on it and will start airing season one on UK TV screens soon (I’m sure it was on one of the more obscure channel last year). The guys in the USA are already on season 2, but I’m willing to bet its as good as the first with plenty of vampire blood sucking, crazy antics and more funny dark humour. If you recognise the girl that plays the lead that’s because she was in the X Men films.

True Blood

Sticking with the dark and humorous theme season 4 of Dexter is also coming back to our television screens very soon. I still can’t believe none of the major UK TV channels haven’t picked up on Dexter and his psychopathic hobby (ok ITV had it on one of their more obscure channels). Episode one was recently leaked on the internet, but I’m still hunting down the actual season start date for Dexter. Oh one thing I do know is the old guy from 3^rd Rock From The Sun is in it and looks to be season 4′s serial killer! Odd thing about the Dexter TV show is I personally think it’s much better than the books it’s based on, which doesn’t happen very often.

Dexter

Ok I’ve blabbered on for far too long and probably not made much sense at all. Was going to mention season 4 of Heroes has just started in America and here in the UK in November, but its hit and miss if it will be any good (just one of those TV shows with mountains of potential but always falls short). Right seriously I’ve now finish ranting. If you agree or disagree with what I’ve said (providing it makes sense) don’t forget you can comment on this post and give your own opinion.

Top Gear's Car Crash Richard Hammond

Apparently Richard Hammond was fine after crashing his Morgan Aeromax and exchanged insurance details with the other parties involved in the accident. Steve Pizzati who is a former professional race driver was also unhurt in his car crash, however it sounds much more dangerous than Hammond’s little shunt saying after the event “On the last lap the two guys in front of me banged wheels and hit me. I’ve got caught up in it and it’s caused me to flip – I guess you would say two and a half times, because the car’s ended up on its roof.” He also went on to say he had “humdinger of a headache and a sore neck” as a result of the crash.

For those who have been living without a television for the past god knows how long Richard Hammond was almost killed in 2006 when he crashed a Jetcar whilst filming a video for Top Gear on BBC2.

God only knows who the BBC will pick as the new Formula One commentary team but I pray its not Murray Walker! ITV claim that they didn’t want to renew the TV rights contract they have to broadcast Formula One stating the decision was a “straightforward commercial decision”. I personally think that’s rubbish especially when you consider how much more popular Formula One is now Lewis Hamilton is a real contender for the F1 title!

Adam Parsons who is a BBC sports correspondent said “ITV are saying it was a straightforward commercial decision. A lot of people I have spoken to today have queried that. Within ITV, what they are saying is that even though Lewis Hamilton is great, even though the Brazilian Grand Prix [at the end of last year] got a huge viewing figures, that actually over the course of a year viewing figures are not that impressive, they’re not that great. A lot of races are happening at night, they’re not happening at peak time. That it is not particularly good value for money. The other side of that is the BBC is saying, Lewis Hamilton and the ripple effect of that is wonderful, millions of people tune in and the Brazilian GP was the most-watched sports event of last year. You might say ITV would rather bad-mouth it because they’ve just lost the rights but on the one hand they’re saying straightforward commercial decision. But on the other plenty of people are saying that having spent a decade broadcasting when a German, a Finn and a Spaniard were winning world titles, it seems a bit curious [for ITV] to pull out when a Brit is on the verge of winning it.”

Its hard not to agree with him! But who really cares, I’m just happy I can watch great Formula One Grand Prix races like last week in Australia without having to be interrupted by a load of random adverts trying to sell me a Skoda! High brum brum five!

Update 21/03/08:

It appears that after yesterdays news about the BBC winning the broadcasting rights to air F1 again that they are trying to line up Top Gears Richard Hammond to front the new F1 coverage. Thankfully it appears that Murray Walker wont be the BBC F1 commentator although he may make occasional appearances. A friend of Richard Hammond last night said “Richard would love to do it – he’s mad about F1.”