Recommended Television Programmes

[Serial_Apologist]

I haven't seen it mentioned here, so I thought I'd put in a word for the three-part documentary 'The Irish Civil War' on PBS America. As far as I could tell it is scrupulously impartial.

One thing they emphasise is the importace of seeing the event in context with other civil wars and revolutions taking place before and around the same time in Russia, Finland, China, etc. Showing at the same time as the wars in Ukraine and Israel, it evokes the (perhaps naive) dismay as to why people cannot simply sit down and live in peace next to one another, accepting their differences rather than resorting to violence.

...'I wonder,
Will the world ever saner be,'
Said one, 'than when He sent us under
In our indifferent century!'

And many a skeleton shook his head.
'Instead of preaching forty year.'
My neighbour Parson Thirdly said,
'I wish I had stuck to pipes and beer.'

Thomas Hardy, April 1914.

Ah yes, that Hardy perennial.

[smittims]

I don't know how many look out for classical music on SkyArts (freeview channel 11). There used tobe a classical programme about 7 am each day but nowadays it's often Andre Rieu or Cirque de Soleil. However, next Tuesday , 7 November, a series of Bruckner symphonies starts. I haven't yet found out who's playing or conducting.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I scan the Sky Arts pages but not consistently enough. I record the music content infrequently (often broadcast at very unsociable times) and yes Rieu features more and more.

However, I thought it had gone from freeview because my Channel 11 is "Sky Mix" - competing with all the other audience seeking channels. However, per the Freeview website:

https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/upda...2-October-2023
Sky Arts is moving to channel 36

So I will look for it there (may need to re-tune the TV). I end up recording visual art programmes to a greater extent, but there is always the chance that the programmes do not go into great depth and the content feels "spun out". But at least its an adjunct to the repeats on BBC 4 (and sometimes BBC2).

[Sir Velo]

I do wonder how many views Rieu garners. Surely, even his most ardent admirer must have had a surfeit of him by now? No doubt, Sky bought the rights to broadcast Rieu ad nauseum but the product must be reaching its expiry date by now.

[smittims]

I admit I don't re-programme my recorder very often as I have so much set up on the timer! Thansk for the warning about the move .

I may be the only music lover who has never knowingly watched or listened to Andre Rieu. My loss, maybe...!

[oddoneout]

I do wonder how many views Rieu garners. Surely, even his most ardent admirer must have had a surfeit of him by now? No doubt, Sky bought the rights to broadcast Rieu ad nauseum but the product must be reaching its expiry date by now.

Why? If they like what he does why would they stop watching? It's quite possible that some folk do binge watch, but that happens with all sorts of output and performers. I can't imagine repeatedly watching TV series' or listening to/attending every Elvis related happening, but people do.
It could equally be said of the "classical music" world.
I had heard of him but knew nothing about him or what he did so when a documentary was shown a few years ago I watched. I can imagine that things are not all as friction-less as was shown( and I would be interested to know what Maastrict thinks of the Rieu empire), but none the less it was hard not to be impressed at the sheer energy and drive of the man - and I enjoyed the excerpts from concerts that were shown.

[JasonPalmer]

All dr who episodes now available on bbc iplayer, watched the first episode with tom baker. Cool robot

[Bryn]

All dr who episodes now available on bbc iplayer, watched the first episode with tom baker. Cool robot

Good to see Douglas Adams' "The Pirate Planet" there (Season 16, second series).

[JasonPalmer]

Loved the toy tank special effect !

[vinteuil]

the Bruno Cremer Maigret continues on Talking Pictures -

7 November Maigret Goes Home (l'Affaire Saint-Fiacre)
14 November Death of a Harbour Master (le Port des Brumes)
21 November Maigret in Finland (un Crime en Hollande)

.

[eighthobstruction]

the Bruno Cremer Maigret continues on Talking Pictures -

7 November Maigret Goes Home (l'Affaire Saint-Fiacre)
14 November Death of a Harbour Master (le Port des Brumes)
21 November Maigret in Finland (un Crime en Hollande)

.

Tried one last week....Hmmmm je dois dire bof avec des prejuges extremes....

[PatrickMurtha]

I have been enjoying episodes of the Sixties police procedural series Gideon’s Way, based on John Creasey’s novels, on YouTube. It didn’t outstay its welcome but offered 26 meticulously produced hours over a two-year period. With tons of location shooting, this show is a feast for knowledgeable London buffs. It must have been expensive to produce.

John Gregson is ideally cast as Scotland Yard detective George Gideon, whom I am also getting to know by reading the first of Creasey’s 21 novels about him, Gideon’s Day. (I haven’t yet seen John Ford’s film version, Gideon of Scotland Yard, with Jack Hawkins in the role.) Gregson is ably sidekicked by the cute-as-a-button Alexander Davion, playing Detective Chief Inspector David Keen.

[DracoM]

New 'Shetland' series is seriously awful - a massive disappointment after the Perez series.

[eighthobstruction]

Patrick Murtha....you might like this it has even got a part of it set in Mexico....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0v7yJIdzv4 ....based on Len Deighton novels...

[PatrickMurtha]

Patrick Murtha....you might like this it has even got a part of it set in Mexico....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0v7yJIdzv4

Will check out! I’ve read one Deighton novel, the first, The IPCRESS File, and enjoyed it very much.