Not Enough TV

Recently I have been feeling somewhat lost in the television universe. That is kind of strange as I work in television, watch it hours on end in the office and follow the industry news with great enthusiasm. But somehow I seemed to have missed several programmes I really rather like. I’m watching more and more box sets at home. You know, what I want when I want to. Kind of like when you still had a VCR  and you would programme it to record the programmes you liked. We haven’t come that far really.

But I was not happy with my box sets. I felt restless. I had missed the third season of Skins. And then I found Seesaw. Seesaw is an online on demand TV service that offers catchup programming from Channel 4 and Five. But more importantly, it has also got a nice big catalogue of (mostly) free archive programming from both channels and BBC. It’s like a treasure box! The original Queer as Folk is there as are Skins, Misfits, Footballers' Wives, Bleak House, Peep Show and Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.

Try it and you’ll soon find you have lost a day or two. Me, I found peace. And I no longer miss my VCR.   

Queer as Folk was the coolest thing in television in 1999.
Btw, how weird is it to watch Aidan Gillen in The Wire? Weird!  

Princess for a Day - Or Maybe More

So finally the fairytale is coming true for the commoner Kate Middleton and she is getting her prince and half of the kingdom! I somehow missed the news yesterday morning and was more than baffled when a friend texted me and offered to fly to the UK for wedding. Was I getting married? And would I forget if I was, I wondered?

It was nice to see how all the terrestrial TV channels could finally air their Kate & William love story specials. It was especially interesting to see how they got around the fact that the shows were obviously recorded months ago when they had no idea of when or how would Wills finally pop the question.

It was also heartwarming to read and hear all the comments on how this royal wedding will bring the whole nation cheer and happiness in this time of recession. Indeed, if you lose your job and there’s no more benefits to claim, it does fills you with joy to see two privileged, super rich youngsters to marry, probably on your tax money...

Don’t get me wrong, I’m wishing the happy couple all the best. And I’m planning to buy a lot of wedding kitsch. Be warned, it will be a wedding overload in the press this Spring. It didn't take long from elle.uk to try and get us all into the wedding mood. Somehow, they did managed to forget the most gorgeous bride of the all, and she is a queen too!

Madonna: the cool bride 

  

Autumn TV picks

What to watch this autumn? Well, this:

Lip Service – a new beep drama following the lives and loves of a group of 20-something lesbian, set in Glasgow. For anyone who loved the L Word. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/comingup/lipservice/

Episodes – a comedy about an English couple who after producing a successful British TV show, move to LA to remake it for the American audience. Starring Matt LeBlanc aka Joey from Friends as himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zdifiN8ngA

The Big C – Showtime’s new comedy (really!) about a suburban teacher and mom Cathy who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, starring Laura Linney. Brilliant! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grwTFjohG5o

Superb or stinkers? Remains to be seen:

Being Human US – the Americans have remaked the fantastic British show. They usually don’t get it right but if this is the case there’s no reason for despair as the shoots for the third season of the original are on the way too. The trailer for the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgNBT_0hSs&feature=related

The Event – NBC’s high-concept drama trying to fill the void left by cancellation of 24, Lost, Heroes and Flashforward. What is the event? Will we ever find out? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4vumb8J-x8

Hellcats - CW’s cheerleading teen drama. Do I need to say more? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CucOd13xsKo

And of course the new seasons of the old favourites: Dexter, True Blood, Nurse Jackie, Gossip Girl and Mad Men. Bring on the rain and darkness, I don't care!

Hot lesbians of the Lip Service

Who Do You Think You Are?

OMG, can't stop crying when watching Lisa Kudrow in Who Do You Think You Are! Apparently she's Jewish and her roots are in Eastern Europe where most of her relatives were killed by the Nazis.


And, yes I know that BBC has been making WDYTYA for ages now but the Americans celebs are just bigger and do it better. Can't help loving the scene where Kudrow meets distant relatives in Poland. She's moved to meet her father's lost cousin. They get emotional too: "I can't believe Lisa Kudrow is in my house, not in my television"!


No wonder Friends was such a good show. Kudrow really is like Phoebe. When is someone going to pay me millions for playing a quirky, silly blondie?