Who's watching what on tv

[Purple Monkey]

Why has the world of comedy gone back to the 70's? Mrs. Brown's Boys? Since when is that shite acceptable in this day and age?

[Spindles]

It was recommended to me by the kind of people who think Jeremy C*ntson should be prime minister and try to involve you in conversations about how property prices are falling in their area because of "certain kinds of people moving into the area" with a knowing conspiratorial look in their eye that says "you know who I mean, go on, take the next step and name them then we are in it together".

Never seen it.

[Spartacus Mars]

Should have mentioned this already, loving Season 5 of Underbelly. A return to form. For those that don't know it's a crime drama based on real Australian gangsters and criminal ats.

Season 1 was awesome, the Australian eccy wars of the 80s. Season 2 was perhaps even better, the Mr Asia heroin syndicate of the 70s. Season 3 and 4 were a bit different, Lebanese nightclub owners, and the razor gangs of the 1930s. Not bad, but not "Underbelly" as I'd gotten used to it.

Season 5 is a return to form, the biggest speed dealer of the, erm, noughties.

Until now (first four episodes) I've been kind of on the gangster's side. As of last night's episode I'm counting the minutes until his arrest.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Spartacus Mars

[LondonTom]

On a better comedy note, I started watching the new series of The Thick of It (Last Weeks episode)....It was ok, had its moments but didn't grab like the other series have ...Should improve this week , Malcolm Tuckers back

[metallimuse]

On a better comedy note, I started watching the new series of The Thick of It (Last Weeks episode)....It was ok, had its moments but didn't grab like the other series have ...Should improve this week , Malcolm Tuckers back

I only got halfway through last weeks episode and realised it was going right through me and didn't retain my attention.Can't wait to watch tonight's episode though knowing Malcolm Tucker is back.

[Spindles]

"Nice haircut, what did you ask for, the Disney prince?"

Great line. Will be stolen.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Why has the world of comedy gone back to the 70's? Mrs. Brown's Boys? Since when is that shite acceptable in this day and age?

I have not seen Mrs Browns Boys but I dont think the 70's were as bad for comedy as people seen to remember. Apart from a couple of toe curling shows like Love thy Neighbour, it was still the decade that brought up Monty Python and Porridge. It should have been offensive but Rising Damp seemed to really work with Rigsby bordering on becoming an anachronism.

[Purple Monkey]

I have not seen Mrs Browns Boys but I dont think the 70's were as bad for comedy as people seen to remember. Apart from a couple of toe curling shows like Love thy Neighbour, it was still the decade that brought up Monty Python and Porridge. It should have been offensive but Rising Damp seemed to really work with Rigsby bordering on becoming an anachronism.

Ah I meant in terms of shite 70's comedy.

[lost]

saw the first episode of lilyhammer on BBC 4, promising start, I can see how its won a few awards

[When Jokers Attack]

saw the first episode of lilyhammer on BBC 4, promising start, I can see how its won a few awards

Didn't even know it was being shown here. WIll need to download the eps I have missed.

[Spartacus Mars]

Lilyhammer was good. Creepily right wing in places, and a strange change of tone towards the end, but good fun nonetheless.

Shame the East Street Band is touring, it has delayed filming of the second season.

[Spindles]

I have not seen Mrs Browns Boys but I dont think the 70's were as bad for comedy as people seen to remember. Apart from a couple of toe curling shows like Love thy Neighbour, it was still the decade that brought up Monty Python and Porridge. It should have been offensive but Rising Damp seemed to really work with Rigsby bordering on becoming an anachronism.

The 70s also had alot of stuff like Jim Davidson basically making racism socially acceptable, Benny hill making old men lusting after schoolgirls socially acceptable and that sort of thing.

I don't think we are a product of our media, but I think that if you are able to call black people "nignogs" at teatime and it not be seen as wrong it is hardly surprising we ended up with race riots at the end of the decade. Alf Garnett, Jim Davidson, Bernard Manning and many more were openly racist and this surely encouraged the problems of the time.

As you say though, Monty Python, Porridge and many more greats appeared during this time. So it wasn't ALL bad, just most of it, a bit like the music: a decade that saw great punk, progressive rock, funk, reggae and soul also saw disco, stars on 45 and a whole host of dire crap by men in cardigans sat on a tall stall, BAD progressive rock and much more.

[Kowalski]

The 70s also had alot of stuff like Jim Davidson basically making racism socially acceptable, Benny hill making old men lusting after schoolgirls socially acceptable and that sort of thing.

I don't think we are a product of our media, but I think that if you are able to call black people "nignogs" at teatime and it not be seen as wrong it is hardly surprising we ended up with race riots at the end of the decade. Alf Garnett, Jim Davidson, Bernard Manning and many more were openly racist and this surely encouraged the problems of the time.

As you say though, Monty Python, Porridge and many more greats appeared during this time. So it wasn't ALL bad, just most of it, a bit like the music: a decade that saw great punk, progressive rock, funk, reggae and soul also saw disco, stars on 45 and a whole host of dire crap by men in cardigans sat on a tall stall, BAD progressive rock and much more.

Interesting that as usual Jim Davidson is an easy target when it comes to racist material. You obviously don't remember much about Porridge?

[Spartacus Mars]

Interesting that as usual Jim Davidson is an easy target when it comes to racist material. You obviously don't remember much about Porridge.

The homophobia and racism of Barker to me seemed like a kind, aware comedian making contemporary references and in-character humour (the humour of convicts, at that). For example, McClaren (who was black and Scottish) was abused by Fletcher... for being Scottish. McClaren arrived angry and was racially abused pretty much by all, but the point is he started to integrate. (Let's not forget he was one fo the few non-white prime-time faces of the time).

Davidson to me seems like a gloater and a bully. I saw no progressive progression in any of his characters. It's like he did a Porridge Day 1 script and stayed there.

New TV: Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 1 is on my USB stick. Looking forward to it. S1 started okay and flagged. S2 was an improvement. Fingers crossed for S3.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Spartacus Mars

[When Jokers Attack]

New TV: Boardwalk Empire Season 3 Episode 1 is on my USB stick.

Same here, Getting watched soon.

[sifi]

70s sitcoms : taxi, mork and mindy, yes minister, fawlty towers, mash.

all excellent IMHO.

[MrZigster]

Final episode of Weeds.

Very strange. Like it jumped a couple of series or something?

[incident]

Final episode of Weeds.

Very strange. Like it jumped a couple of series or something?

I think it's more like

six or seven years

But I could be off slightly on that. Can't say I was that impressed with the final episode to be honest. Just seemed far too bland to be the finale, especially at an hour long.

[metallimuse]

Big Fat Quiz of...the 80's is on channel 4 right now.I love these shows every new year!Anyone else watching?

[Spindles]

Finally watched the last episode of weeds. Means I can come here and read the spoilers.

At first I was like...huh? Did I forget to watch several episodes?

Next up, bit to eat and finally watch this week;s doctor who, have had to avoid the thread since saturday.

[The Nal]

New season of Boardwalk Empire has started I see!!

[lost]

Saw the trailer for the new series of Red Dwarf on Dave, Christ they are looking old.

[dingbat2]

F'in loving The Thick of It. Last night's episode about the "mind camp" was comedy genius. This series just seems to get better every episode

[grumpyhack]

Andrew Marr's new History of the World on BBC1 Sunday nights. He pulls together a fascinating series of developments and connections.

[Purple Monkey]

Saw the trailer for the new series of Red Dwarf on Dave, Christ they are looking old.

Last episode is called "The Beginning" so that could be the very very last episode after all.

It's fucking sad that Dave Lister never got home and Rimmer's character arc is fucked up completely - the Rimmer from series 1 to 7 completed his redemption by becoming Ace and the new Rimmer was a reset. Bit of a mess in the end.

Better they just end it. Get Lister back to Earth and be done with it.