Comment Feed for The Medium is Not Enough TV blog

Comment from sabine on Friday's Sitting Tennant (from Karen): Learners

2009-11-07T17:13:14Z

"D.T prays one last time before taking his real driving license test, unfortunately the BBC won't let him keep the TARDIS after he's done with the part."

I don't know, it kind of looks like a driving school car to me with that thing on the top. what is it suposed to be anyway?

Comment from George on Doctor Who - Dreamland clip

2009-11-07T01:04:31Z

Please.Please.Stop.

Comment from George on What have you been watching this week (w/e November 6)

2009-11-07T01:02:46Z

SGU - Great ep. Reasonably entertaining , I will keep watching!
Castle - Great firefly joke (this was last weeks Halloween ep)
Sprial - Finally caught up... brillaint and very happy that *SPOILER*
Lie To Me - Really enjoyed this, Tim Roth has never been so go or cheesy!

Comment from George on Friday's Sitting Tennant (from Karen): Learners

2009-11-07T00:58:40Z

Lords of Gallifrey hear my prayer!

Comment from Toby O'B on What have you been watching this week (w/e November 6)

2009-11-06T20:47:46Z

I recorded 'Heroes' this week, mainly because it brought back Charlie from the first season, and I wanted to relive old glories. Not sure if I'll come back to the series, however.

Public television offered up "Star Wars In Concert" which I recorded; it provided nice background music from the TV room while I was on the computer in Toobworld Central.

The plan Wednesday night at the Bit Torrent Rebel Alliance was to watch all of the stories shown so far in the third season of 'Sarah Jane Adventures', culminating with the wedding episode/appearance by the Doctor. But by the time we finally got around to it - one of the Rebels needed to finish off the Rip Torn episode of 'Columbo', plus we had to wait until the ball game was over - most of us were nodding off. And it didn't help that the episode with the Judoon was not very good. Too many shout-outs to other shows (which of course is bad for me!), and pretty bad writing. The Judoon should have executed the other alien on the spot, but I guess that's a no-no for a show aimed at even younger kids?

We skipped over the one that began in 2059 to get right to the Doctor, but then our hosts started fighting with each other and the rest of us decided to skedaddle......

The TV highlight for me this week was a trip to the Paley Center for Media. Because of my salute to Rod Serling back in October in my Inner Toob blog, I wanted to see a special drama called "The Man In The Funny Suit". Written, produced, directed and co-starring Ralph Nelson, it told the true story about the behind the scenes rehearsals for the live broadcast of "Requiem For A Heavyweight" on 'Playhouse 90'. The story centered on everyone's fears that comic Ed Wynn would screw things up but amazingly he pulled out a fantastic performance when it came time to air. Except for Jack Palance, just about everybody involved played themselves - Ed Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Rod Serling, Nelson, Ned Glass, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Faye, Bob Mathias, and a special cameo by Red Skelton who spoke up for "The Perfect Fool" when they came close to firing him.

For those interested in the history of classic TV, this is a must see. It's hard to think of a similar production being made today in which the real people involved would agree to appear as themselves, warts and all. (Celebs don't come off well in 'Extras' or 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', but those are fictional stories and always an exaggeration.)

To round out the day there, I saw an episode of 'The Ed Wynn Show' with guests Virginia O'Brien (no relation) - who appeared very uncomfortable in front of a camera - and Buster Keaton. Keaton was making his TV debut and he recreated the very first scene he ever performed in front of a movie camera, featuring a stunt I heard about and wanted to see in action: where he puts both feet up on a countertop.

And then there was an episode of 'Angel' - not the vampire show, but a sitcom from the early sixties which starred a French actress, Annie Farge, and Marshall Thompson. James Garner was the guest star, appearing as himself. It was a very sexist episode in which Garner helped Thompson's character to convince Angel that she should give up her dreams of movie stardom and be happy just being a homemaker.

It was a romcom that had a touch of 'I Love Lucy' - including Doris Singleton as Angel's neighbor and friend (Caroline Appleby on 'Lucy'). This isn't surprising since the show was created by Bob Carroll and Jess Oppenheimer, who oversaw the Lucy show.....

And of course, there were the usual suspects with the highlights being 'HIMYM', 'Castle', 'Modern Family', and 'Cougartown'. Still have yet to watch 'Fringe', 'Flash Forward'.......

Comment from Toby O'B on Friday's Sitting Tennant (from Karen): Learners

2009-11-06T19:13:25Z

"Please, Lord, let me nail this audition for 'Rex Is Not Your Lawyer'. And then, Lord, if You would be so kind, grant 'Rex Is Not Your Lawyer' a network pick-up to be a weekly series. And if You - in Your infinite omniscience - are not too busy, could You please see to it that the show's title of 'Rex Is Not Your Lawyer' be changed? It is awfully wordy. Oh, and a 5.4 share would be nice. Amen!"

Comment from stu-n on Doctor Who - Dreamland clip

2009-11-06T16:30:23Z

"Should have got the anime bloke to do something instead"

That is seriously brilliant. Love the Venusian karate skills.

Comment from Aaron on What have you been watching this week (w/e November 6)

2009-11-06T16:04:49Z

The SJA Tennant episodes were great as an appetiser before Waters Of Mars. I wonder if any of the kids from that show will graduate to become companions in the main series? I think Clyde would be a fun companion.

Comment from Anonymous on Doctor Who - Dreamland clip

2009-11-06T15:39:31Z

It is insanely disappointing isn't it? Especially after all of the build up. Should have got the anime bloke to do something instead:

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/02/doctor_whothe_anime.php

Comment from sabine on Monday's Sitting Tennants: Back at last!

2009-11-06T13:50:04Z

I guess an exception every now and then can't hurt, or the gallery will have to be re-named as the 'in non-vertical position Tennant'.
I'm more intrigued by the PJ, I can't remember any episode of Dr.Who with Rose and Mickey and the Doctor in his PJ.
Was he running late and they had to drag him away from his bed to the set?

Yet I think the third one should have been disqualified for poor taste in clothing, look at that shirt/tie/vest combo! and that disappointed look on is face! he's probably looking at the photo-shot stylist..

Comment from stu-n on Doctor Who - Dreamland clip

2009-11-06T11:53:36Z

Oh, dear. Looks like a very bad attempt at Machinima.

Comment from MediumRob on Review: V 1x1

2009-11-06T10:49:42Z

"Ah, sorry, I didn't realise 'SyFy' was UK too (thought it had only changed name in the US)."

That's what the "In the UK" bit means ;-)
Generally, I do the airdate of the country of origin of the show in its home country first, then if I know where it's airing in my other targeted countries (UK/US/Canada - delete as appropriate), I put them underneath so people know when they can watch it too.

But it's easy to miss!

It's been a little while since I watched Sci Fi/SyFy, but IIRC it hasn't changed its name yet, but will be doing so at the end of December.

"I assume no news on when/if it's coming to free TV then."

Not yet.

"Sigh.Regarding the original series, the 'you need a symbol.. this is what we used last time' scene may not have been subtle, but didn't it just put a lump in your throat? It would be a shame if the new series, by going for subtle, no longer had such manly-tear-jerking moments of heroism, even borrowed heroism. But then, that wasn't in the first episode of the original either, so, give it time. "

True. That was a good but clunky moment. I imagine though that the new V is more likely to go the Jericho route and make references to the War of Independence, "Don't Step on Me" etc, if it's going to reference anything historical.

Comment from SK on Review: V 1x1

2009-11-06T10:42:37Z

Ah, sorry, I didn't realise 'SyFy' was UK too (thought it had only changed name in the US).

I assume no news on when/if it's coming to free TV then. Sigh.

Regarding the original series, the 'you need a symbol.. this is what we used last time' scene may not have been subtle, but didn't it just put a lump in your throat? It would be a shame if the new series, by going for subtle, no longer had such manly-tear-jerking moments of heroism, even borrowed heroism.

But then, that wasn't in the first episode of the original either, so, give it time.

Comment from MediumRob on Review: V 1x1

2009-11-06T10:19:49Z

@Nick: Does it have an old Jewish guy saying "This is just like what happened during the Holocaust" in case anyone missed the subtext? No, so automatically it's subtler. I do take the points you made on your blog though, but I was going to wait to see if some of the things like the scientist witch-hunt would turn up in later episodes.

@Jon: Was it with a guinea pig?

@SK: V clever. And like it says at the top, SyFy (the new name for the Sci Fi Channel) have picked it up for airing sometime in 2010

Comment from SK on Review: V 1x1

2009-11-06T10:13:06Z

Looks v. interesting (do you see what I did there?).

Have any UK channels picked this up yet?

Comment from TemplarJ on Review: V 1x1

2009-11-06T08:55:38Z

A bit harsh on the original there Rob. I love it, the first few hours at least. Really iconic stuff, and it played all its shock moments perfectly. Version 2 is just ... vanilla. The opening ten minutes was lacking in any sense of awe or scale, which the original had in spades. And where is our modern day Marc Singer, eh? What is television coming to?
(I had my first ever french kiss while watching the original transmission of V).

Comment from Toby O'B on Friday's Sitting Tennant (from Toby): WTF

2009-11-05T22:19:26Z

"I must be getting old," mused the Doctor. "How could I forget that Jamie would have no memory of me? And even if he did, that he never saw me before in this regeneration! And why did I decide to wear this outfit to visit him at the Battle of Culloden!!!"

Comment from Nick on Review: V 1x1

2009-11-05T21:40:53Z

You make a lot of good points, but I disagree with your statement that it had more subtlety than the original. Check out my thoughts and comparisons the review I wrote for my blog. http://nickleshi.blogspot.com/2009/11/comparing-new-v-to-original.html

Comment from Virginia Moffatt on That famous one-word crime scene from The Wire

2009-11-05T19:54:06Z

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this. My favourite scene in the whole series. A clear demonstration of the beauty of the interplay between writing/acting/directing and the amount of mileage you can make from one tiny little swear word.

I love Bunk!

Comment from MediumRob on That famous one-word crime scene from The Wire

2009-11-05T17:34:15Z

It's just the best, isn't it? And yet not a single Emmy, IIRC.