I’ve been catching up on the comic books and trade paperbacks I bought and the films I saw last year, but I've neglected the television shows I watched and liked last year. Talking about Heroes and FlashForward the other day got me thinking that I should mention programmes that deserve…
Is there something inherent to the genetics of the genre fan that provides the pig-headed determination to keep watching a series to the very end, even if the show isn’t as enjoyable as it used to be? Is it an ersatz faith, believing in the show despite the problems? Is…
It’s embarrassing to attempt writing about The Wire when my writing skills are as limited as they are, but I had put down some thoughts about this programme because I absolutely fucking loved it, and it definitely deserved all the attributes of ‘the best programme on television’. I came to…
This may be an easy play on words that has probably been said before, but: I wish FlashForward would flash forward. I want to know what happens but I’m not enjoying the process of finding out via the weekly television show. FlashForward was hyped like crazy before it came onto…
Defying Gravity shot itself in the foot with tagline of ‘Grey’s Anatomy in space’ – you can’t afford to have such a negative start to a television series in the current TV climate. It’s tough enough to survive without an inaccurate description creating inaccurate perceptions before the show even starts,…
I have mentioned previously my adoration of Charlie Brooker in print (Screen Burn) and on TV (Screenwipe, basically Screen Burn on TV; Newswipe, a mocking and angry look at news; Gameswipe, an intro to video games but with humour), so I was very happy with You Have Been Watching, his…
I’m sure I loved the Adam West Batman TV series when it was repeated during my youth, with the colourful characters, the silliness, the catchphrases and action. However, I have to confess that I don’t have any love for it any more – I now think it’s silly and stupid…
I don't intend to be very topical in this return to blogging, but I wanted to get some thoughts down about the recent (and much-hyped) series finale/swan song for David Tenant while still fresh in my head. I’m not a hardcore Doctor Who fan, but I watched it growing up…
It took a long time for Channel 5, sorry, Five to start airing the second season of 30 Rock (and they've buried it on one of their silly offshoot digital channels, Five USA – what a stupid name – which annoyingly has one of the worst receptions on our DVR,…
What is hard in comedy is to be very funny AND to have emotional depth; the default is to be have some jokes and lurch to an awkward sentimental moment, with neither section working very well. However, Free Agents manages this feat, made even more impressive by the fact that…