Recommended Television Programmes

[Serial_Apologist]

I entirely agree. Still only £53.50 for the black and white telly licence, mind you Makes watching hours and hours of blood and gore and bare flesh slightly less stressful in black and white Don't suppose they make black and white sets any more, do they? Well, if they don't they should. My father had one until about 7 years ago, until someone came round and pressurised him to get it converted. I knew he shouldn't have let it go If compliant (or whatever the word is) black and white TV sets ever come back into fashion I'll have one

Some people just see everything in black and white!

[JasonPalmer]

I think BBC four should broadcast all the proms and Covent Garden productions, surely that is the kind of thing BBC four was meant to do eh

[jayne lee wilson]

Beautiful and rewarding series on The Wadden Sea, restrained background music, in-depth across four episodes and not pulling its punches on bird and animal mortality...
Highly recommended.

https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/1c9ac81e-ac3f-4ec3-a2c2-f22ec46aae85/the-wadden-sea-1c9ac81e-ac3f-4ec3-a2c2-f22ec46aae85/episodes/season-1/episode-1

[Serial_Apologist]

Very disturbing Panorama on tonight earlier on The Cloud, and how it's using up vast energy and water resources. One has not thought about these things at all, largely because the Powers That Be have said little or nothing. This is not the general public's fault - we've all been dragged into it: the initial set-up should have been to say users would only be allowed so long to store up personal data, after which it would be deleted.

[Bryn]

Very disturbing Panorama on tonight earlier on The Cloud, and how it's using up vast energy and water resources. One has not thought about these things at all, largely because the Powers That Be have said little or nothing. This is not the general public's fault - we've all been dragged into it: the initial set-up should have been to say users would only be allowed so long to store up personal data, after which it would be deleted.

I have avoided cloud 'services' from the start. My backups are local and disconnected from the internet, generally.

[oddoneout]

Very disturbing Panorama on tonight earlier on The Cloud, and how it's using up vast energy and water resources. One has not thought about these things at all, largely because the Powers That Be have said little or nothing. This is not the general public's fault - we've all been dragged into it: the initial set-up should have been to say users would only be allowed so long to store up personal data, after which it would be deleted.

I became aware of this some time ago and it simply added to my wariness of the hype surrounding the cloud concept and the wider implications of the digital "revolution". The use of "cloud" was a marketing win, implying as it does something nebulous and thus without earthly considerations. It is another example of the "out of sight, out of mind" approach, often used these days - as throughout human history it has to be said. Data centres, server farms and the like are not environmentally cost-free or benign. That's not to say they shouldn't exist - that would be silly - but more awareness is necessary.

[Stanfordian]

'Funny Woman' on Sky Max
Gemma Arterton is simply superb in this 6 part series based on Nick Hornby's 2014 book 'Funny Girl' a comedy set in the 60s. Also in it are Rupert Everett and David Threlfall.
I love it!

[jayne lee wilson]

'Funny Woman' on Sky Max
Gemma Arterton is simply superb in this 6 part series based on Nick Hornby's 2014 book 'Funny Girl' a comedy set in the 60s. Also in it are Rupert Everett and David Threlfall.
I love it!

I sort-of enjoyed ep.1, will continue tonight, but so far it's a bit too stereotyped and been-there-done-that about the sordid sexist brutality beneath the Swinging 60s glamour. Entertaining but rather superficial, although Rupert Everett's seedy agent (channelling George Melly) finally livened things up, after the clichéd parade of Northern Beauty Queens and showgirls, matronly floor managers, posh Gents who feel they've bought the right to rape you after an expensive night out....

The direction is predictable, too restless and the script less than inspired; maybe it will deepen as we go along, but...it is a well-trodden territory and needs a sharper fresher angle.

We had all this with rather more flair in the recent film Last Night in Soho, better pop-soundtrack too.

[smittims]

Is anyone watching the 'New Generation Artists' series on BBC4? Episode 2 is on tomorrow and Ep.1 is on iPlayer.

Georgia Mann talks to the camera and the musicians sit around in a circle, coming forward one by one to do their thing. Older members may recall a 'Schubertiade' at the Aldeburgh Festival where they did this. I supose it's another attempt to find a way of doing classical music on TV. It didn't appeal to me, partly because I just want to listen to the music and partly because I don't really want to look at their faces all the time, which is mostly what we see. But what do I know? Maybe it's just the thing to get new listeners; I wonder what 'Sam' thinks.

[johncorrigan]

I really loved Joe Cornish's films, 'Attack the Block' and 'The Boy Who Would Be King', so I thought we would take in his adaptation of Jonathan Stroud's series 'Lockwood and Co' on Netflix at the moment. Set in London in an alternate timeline, the country appears to have had an infestation of ghosts for 50 years, and we follow the three young protagonist agents as they hunt out the sources of the ghosts. Eight 45-minute episodes were quite thrilling and spooky enough to keep me on the edge of my seat, but not so scary that it sent me running for the back of the couch. Not sure if there'll be a second series, but I would watch more.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I sort-of enjoyed ep.1, will continue tonight, but so far it's a bit too stereotyped and been-there-done-that about the sordid sexist brutality beneath the Swinging 60s glamour. Entertaining but rather superficial, although Rupert Everett's seedy agent (channelling George Melly) finally livened things up, after the clichéd parade of Northern Beauty Queens and showgirls, matronly floor managers, posh Gents who feel they've bought the right to rape you after an expensive night out....

The direction is predictable, too restless and the script less than inspired; maybe it will deepen as we go along, but...it is a well-trodden territory and needs a sharper fresher angle.

We had all this with rather more flair in the recent film Last Night in Soho, better pop-soundtrack too.

I think it’s reasonably well directed and theyve spent a lot on sets and costumes . But the script just isn’t up to it. They rely heavily on the very talented Gemma Arterton. Some of the others are sleep walking through their parts. It’s not in the same league as Marvellous Mrs Maisel which has a similar theme but so many fascinating side stories - the ex-husband’s night club , the maths prof turned journalist ,the rag trade , the whole New York Jewish milieu, the closet gay pop star - the feisty agent and her terrible apartment and Lenny Bruce. I must start watching it again..

[Stanfordian]

On Netflix

'American Murder: The Family Next Door'

A disturbing American true crime documentary.

[smittims]

In my case, fortunately, the family next door moved before murder became obligatory.

[Stanfordian]

In my case, fortunately, the family next door moved before murder became obligatory.

However, I certainly wasn’t laughing whilst watching this. In truth, it unsettled me for a couple of days.

[jayne lee wilson]

Closing in on the final episode of Funny Woman... well, it has deepened a little, but no radical change of pace or tone. What is clear is that Arsher Ali as Dennis is carrying the drama at least as much as Gemma Arterton. Among all the cyphers and stereotypes, he brings warmth, depth and complexity of character to the narrative which would otherwise be lacking; an effective foil for Arterton's more volatile and spotlighted highs and lows (which she does well, without too much self-parody...).....

Cliffhanger at the end of ep. 5....so (even if I think I've guessed it out...) at least I'm keen to see the dénouement now.... but which way will it go? My late night treat....