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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 21, 2023 7:35:19 GMT
She did do well & got a Hollywood hug to boot. What in heaven's name is an onion bottle? Surprisingly, a bottle shaped like an onion.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 21, 2023 8:12:52 GMT
Did you notice early in Roadshow an onion bottle found in the River Lugg?! That I did
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Post by patricklondon on Nov 23, 2023 12:30:20 GMT
Saturday nights were never great but they are particularly dire these days. Recently it's dawned on me that scheduled broadcasting is slowly but surely (or maybe not that slowly) shifting to other patterns. I've used my PVR for "shift viewing" for years, and am more and more digging into the (internet-based) on-demand services. On which note, since we're on the 60th anniversary of Dr Who, I heard this morning that the BBC is making all of the different series available on the iPlayer. Only a few hundred to plough through, if that's your thing. A couple of other non-broadcast options I've turned up: Someone has posted on Dailymotion the complete Barchester Chronicles, with Nigel Hawthorne, Geraldine McEwan and Alan Rickman, and Vanity Fair, which should keep me going through the winter. National Theatre at home - that's one to be paid for, but £7.99 for the best seat in the house is a bargain.
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 23, 2023 14:27:26 GMT
What I’ve never seen repeated are the Dennis Potter series, Pennies from Heaven and the Singing Detective. Perhaps I’m looking in the wrong place.
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 23, 2023 14:59:58 GMT
Mick, see if you can get this to play. It plays for me but took a minute to load as my internet isn't so good. It seems a bit problematic to post the link but paste this first archive.org/details/and add on this without a space the-singing-detective/1.Skin.mp4
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 23, 2023 16:00:02 GMT
Thanks Mark. I’ll give it a go once my computer is working again. Just got the phone at present.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 30, 2023 4:59:34 GMT
Hope the neighborhood didn't hear me yell for joy when my favorite won the Great British Bake Off. This one made me super happy even though I really liked the other two finalists, who are both brilliant. But hooray for --!
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 30, 2023 16:24:44 GMT
Death in Paradise was good fun for many years but I eventually got a bit bored with it and never bothered watching the latter series. Now I've just realised there is Beyond Paradise with Kris Marshall supposedly set in Devon but actually filmed in Cornwall. It came out earlier this year and follows the same format - which could be a good idea or a bad idea. I've only watched the first episode so I'll give it a chance but on first blush seems easy and comfortable viewing. Like putting on an old pair of slippers that you've forgotten about in the back of a cupboard.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 30, 2023 16:48:55 GMT
Oh, that's interesting. I agree that Death in Paradise got boring with only about 5 different plots. However, I will presume that the new series will take the same track.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 2, 2023 13:48:46 GMT
I wasn't keen on Death in Paradise but Jeff loved it.
The Graham Norton Show is back altho it isn't up to speed yet imo...Doctor Who is cheering me up. Russell T Davies, David Tennant and Catherine Tate...brilliant combination for a silly romp..great stuff.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 5, 2023 20:10:39 GMT
The Singing Detective is on over Xmas on BBC4.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 5, 2023 22:58:21 GMT
I am not watching any brain-strainers at the moment. Finished watching Lessons in Chemistry. It was borderline happy-sappy, but Brie Larson seems very much a serious actress who'd be worth looking for in meatier roles.
My two shows now are The Gilded Age, still rather sluggish and stilted, and Julia, which is in its second season. Juli is not edge-of-the-seat stuff, but there are some good performances & reasonably engaging sub-plots.
The title role of Julia is played by Sarah Lancashire, who is always good. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but Lancashire's weight in the show is somewhat distracting. Julia Child was a very tall woman -- 6'2" -- but not overweight. The reason I find Lancashire's weight somewhat off kilter in the role is that part of the message of Julia Child was that one could eat exquisite French food that sated the senses without overindulging and thus remain as slender as any French person.
But Sarah Lancashire is an excellent actress who manages not only the double strain of an American accent and Julia Child's strange fluty voice but also conveys Child's bubbly personality.
Just looked at some clips from Julie & Julia, with Meryl Streep as Julia and Stanley Tucci as her husband Paul. Meryl Streep is of course great in the role, although she looks a great deal like Meryl Streep. But Stanley Tucci is so good that I almost wish I hadn't looked up those clips, as he not only completely eclipses David Hyde Pierce's performance, but also looks remarkably like the real Paul Child.
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Post by lugg on Dec 6, 2023 20:03:37 GMT
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Post by lugg on Dec 6, 2023 20:14:27 GMT
So much to watch ...so little time. Masterchef - The Professionals has reached the final week. Still hooked. 2 episodes into The Boat Story and still trying to continue despite the violence. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0glbknc/boat-storyFor sure it cannot be pigeon holed into a particular genre despite many attempts. I am usually a fan of anything the Williams brothers do but I am withholding judgement. Plus I am troubled by the role played by Tchéky Karyo, certainly not Baptiste - like .
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 6, 2023 20:21:05 GMT
Re bixa above, it’s difficult to watch David Hyde Pierce without thinking of Frasier even though he looks nothing like Niles.
I love Stanley Tucci. His programme about Italian food was wonderful.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 6, 2023 22:10:18 GMT
Re bixa above, it’s difficult to watch David Hyde Pierce without thinking of Frasier even though he looks nothing like Niles. I love Stanley Tucci. His programme about Italian food was wonderful. My trouble with David Hyde Pierce in this role is that he seems so reduced since his role as Nils. Of course he is older, but it's something other than the time which inevitably shows on a person's face. He just seems tired and even perhaps ill. Much as we all loved Hyde Pierce as Nils, overall Tucci is simply the better actor. Also, he has a robust vitality that worked well for his movie version of Paul. I was rooting for my local girl who has now attained celeb status here. I think everyone watching loved her. She certainly stole Paul's heart! Quite of few GBBO contestants, whether they won or not, have gone on to write cookbooks, start food-related businesses, etc., so it can be a springboard to other things besides the very valuable experience and sense of satisfaction they get from it.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 6, 2023 22:22:33 GMT
Throughout my life I have avoided books, movies, and tv shows about spies and spying, not least because I seem to have some kind of learning disability when it comes to keeping track of the plots in that genre.
A few weeks ago I read a review of the tv series, Slow Horses which really intrigued me. Even so, at the end of the review I thought, "Naaah -- spy stuff, so not for me."
But the review stuck in my brain, so I gave the show a chance. I'm only two episodes in, but it has gotten hold of me already. It's now in the second season, so I have all of season one to look forward to before I catch up.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 12, 2023 4:23:33 GMT
Just watched the last episode of season one of Slow Horses. There are several reviews of it by The Guardian online. Suffice to say that every one of them burbles & with good reason. Watch it!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 12, 2023 13:28:41 GMT
Regarding GBBO my friend's son made it to the final, didn't win but is now a local hero. He's been on the local tv news, radio and in the local newspaper. Also the 'Syston Banksy' knitted a little Josh-post-box topper. I don't know if there are 'guerrilla-knitters' outside the uk? People who knit/crochet things to decorate the environment with. Traditionally they place things on top of red post boxes..but they also festoon fences and street furniture sometimes too..usually setting their creations out at night in secret. There is a very prolific lady in a Leicestershire village known locally as 'The Syston Banksy'.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 12, 2023 15:34:37 GMT
He is very, very good. At the end, when it was down to three contestants, it seemed that only Josh or Matty could be the winner.
And yes, there are guerilla knitters all over the world, as far as I know. Sometimes they're called "yarn bombers". They would dress some trees around Oaxaca (there are pictures somewhere here) and I also posted pictures of a knitting adorned bridge in Amsterdam.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 12, 2023 15:43:06 GMT
I think you don't see it as often as you used to, but there were plenty of people dressing up tree trunks.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 12, 2023 16:15:42 GMT
He is very, very good. At the end, when it was down to three contestants, it seemed that only Josh or Matty could be the winner. And yes, there are guerilla knitters all over the world, as far as I know. Sometimes they're called "yard bombers". They would dress some trees around Oaxaca (there are pictures somewhere here) and I also posted pictures of a knitting adorned bridge in Amsterdam. Not yarn bombers?
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 12, 2023 16:36:48 GMT
Last in the series of Between the Covers last night on the BBC, 4 celebrity guests and the host (Sarah Cox) discuss books. The guests are given 2 novels to read, one a recent publication and one from the Booker bcklist. Each guest gets to bring a favourite book) to wax lyrical about too. I guess Book Clubs are fairly common but I've enjoyed watching and have bought a few of the books recommended.
This (7th) series the celebrities have included Sandi Toxvig, Ade Edmondson, Jo Brand and Rob Delaney amongst others. Fabulous.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 12, 2023 17:24:02 GMT
*sigh* Thanks, Mick -- I fixed it. Last in the series of Between the Covers last night on the BBC, 4 celebrity guests and the host (Sarah Cox) discuss books. The guests are given 2 novels to read, one a recent publication and one from the Booker bcklist. Each guest gets to bring a favourite book) to wax lyrical about too. I guess Book Clubs are fairly common but I've enjoyed watching and have bought a few of the books recommended. This (7th) series the celebrities have included Sandi Toxvig, Ade Edmondson, Jo Brand and Rob Delaney amongst others. Fabulous. Even though I would not want to be in an actual book club, I am extremely pleased to hear about this show & will seek it out posthaste. Thank you, Cheery!
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Post by lugg on Dec 12, 2023 20:34:28 GMT
Last in the series of Between the Covers last night on the BBC, 4 celebrity guests and the host (Sarah Cox) discuss books. Now that sounds right up by street , thanks Cheery
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 18, 2023 9:35:59 GMT
Last night we watched Leave the World Behind on Netflix. We quite enjoyed it, lots of very tense moments which I usually hate...but no zombies, vampires or axe murderers so I was fine. Julia Roberts was excellent. Looking forward to the Christmas specials of 'Ghosts' and 'Doctor Who' (both on 25th). There are some other 'specials' on over Xmas...'Call the Midwife' on 25th (doubt we'll watch that). OH will insist on watching' Death in Paradise' on 26th so I'll have to record the (much better) 'Vera' on ITV. On 29th there is 'Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Hogmanay Fishing' In the New Year there is a mini series 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office'... a drama telling the true story of what happened when the Post Office falsely accused hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters of stealing money (it was the PO's own computer system). Toby Jones is in that so it should be good. There's a new series of 'Father Brown' on BBC1 and we are also looking forward to 'Truelove' (Channel 4 on 3rd & 4th Jan) about a group of friends in their 70s who make a drunken pact to help one another have a dignified death if the time comes when its 'necessary' ....but then illness strikes.
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Post by lugg on Dec 18, 2023 20:11:10 GMT
ooh thanks Cheery will have a look through your suggestions.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 19, 2023 1:33:07 GMT
Yes, thank you, Cheery. I will look for Leave the World Behind. Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke pretty much guarantee a quality production & of course I value your recommendation.
I'm watching the final stretch of season six of The Crown, which is the final season. Good thing, too, as it is utter crap. I'm at the point of watching it only because I'm this far in. HOWEVER ~~ last night I watched the 8th episode and have to say Lesley Manville! Lesley Manville! Lesley Manville! Lesley Manville!
All of a sudden, a turgid lumpish, exploitive series with laughably bad dialogue was briefly transformed by a triumph of note-perfect, excellent acting which turned that episode into something truly moving. Damn, she's good!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 19, 2023 10:30:25 GMT
Lesley Manville is splendid...she was the narator on the first Richard Osman murder mystery audiobook (I know this isnt the book thread! ) Haven't watched The Crown since Olivia Coleman stopped playing Queenie.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 19, 2023 19:52:29 GMT
I was watching Maigret with Michael Gambon ( not literally) but at the end realised it was shot in Budapest not Paris.
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