Watchable TV

While the rest of country have been wetting themselves over the latest series of Middle Class Big Brother The Apprentice, I've been finding better stuff to watch.

I'm fairly into my American drama, so when Five started showing The Mentalist (Thurs 9pm, catch up here) I finally found something (other than sport) on TV that I will make a point of watching.

I don't want to give away much of what its about but basically, the California Bureau of Investigation has a bit of help from a guy who is something of an expert on behavioural psychology (or something). With his help they tackle - and solve - a load of different murders. Think Bones but without the necessarily gruesome science bits.

Anyway, its well worth a look.

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Life imitating art

"Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." So said Oscar Wilde.

He might have a point.

When I read this story about a small town in Missouri electing a a new mayor a couple of weeks after he died, I couldn't help but think of this episode of The West Wing where Will Bailey guides a Democrat to victory in the notoriously Republican California 47th despite the candidate dying several weeks before the election.

Of course The West Wing is pretty accurate representation of real life prior to the event: The Season 7 Presidential Election bears an uncanny resemblance to the 2008 US Presidential election is a number of ways.

Maybe it's just good writing. Or maybe politics has become predictable.

Nah, must be the first one...

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Language and Oratory

I don't know if you caught "Yes We Can: The Lost Art of Oratory" on BBC2 last night (you can watch it here on BBC iPlayer if you missed it).

I'd suggest it as a must-watch for any politico (so, probably, you if you read this blog!) who is interested in how politicians shape their message. It's also probably pretty interesting for fans of The West Wing (oh, how I miss it!) with a couple of clips from the show used to illustrate points.

Here's one quote from President Bartlet on the show, used in the documentary to illustrate just how oratory works. I think it captures the point beautifully.

"Words, words, when spoken out loud for the sake of performance are music. They have rhythm and pitch and timbre and volume. These are the properties of music and music has the ability to find us and move us and lift us up in ways that literal meaning can't."

That, for me, is what a good speech does. It rises and falls with crescendo and diminuendo. It has a flowing melody and takes you on a journey from start to finish. And a good orator will use the same techniques that a musician will to maintain your attention.

Anyway, the point is, if you have a spare hour, watch the documentary. It is pretty good.

Alternatively, if you only have five minutes, you can watch this Fry and Laurie sketch with Stephen Fry using language to tie himself in knots. Kinda makes the same point (I think - if you look close enough!).

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Sex Ed was never like this when I was at school...

Now that the obligatory April 1st headlines are out of the way, I'll point you in the direction of some unmissable telly.

No, not the dull as ditchwater Apprentice (Big Brother for the middle class). I'm talking about sex. Well, sex ed to be more precise.

Channel 4 have a series running all this week called "The Sex Education Show versus Pornography" and it is delightfully direct. There has been no shortage of cringing, "ewwwwwing" and "I didn't know that" in our flat (as indeed, I expect, around the country).

If you're a bit prudish and don't think it's for you, I'll give you the gist. Presenter Anna Richardson takes some naked models into schools to show kids what normal (ie, non-pornstar) bodies look like; interviews some people about sex and chats to a porn actor who tells her it isn't as glamourous as it looks.

If nothing else, it's a pretty decent comment on how liberal society has become discussing sex. I can think of nothing worse than watching the show with my mum (perhaps watching it with my Gran) but there are kids on it as young as 12 and 13 talking candidly (in front of their parents at times) about watching porn.

You can catch the previous two episodes on 4oD. The next episode is on tonight at 9pm. Unfortunately for me, it clashes with the Scotland-Iceland match, and I'm heading out to the pub to watch it.

(Obligatory pun coming)

It's a shame really... there'll probably be more chat about "shooting" on the Sex Ed show than at the football...

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Strictly daft Question Time

One of these men is Secretary of State for Scotland. The other is "Lurch", the Butler from the Addams family films. For some reason, Jim Murphy's appearance on Question Time last night reminded me of the character... but I can't put my finger on why.

Speaking of Question Time, last night was the first time since it was held in Musselburgh (in July, I think) that I've actually had an opportunity to watch it. And to be honest, I know now understand why I don't bother. Ten minutes on John Sergeant's decision to quit Strictly Come Dancing was beyond a joke. First the UK Culture Secretary talks about the judging on the X Factor - in the House of Commons no less. Then 10 minutes on Question Time on the burning John Sergeant-Strictly Come Dancing issue in which our esteemed Scottish Secretary said (and I quote):

"The judges I think have totally misjudged what this programme is about. I watch this programme with my family, for family entertainment and good fun. John was emblematic of that. And rather than taking themselves so seriously, I think we should get rid of the judges rather than John."

Um... okay. I'd suggest that what the judges say is part of that entertainment Mr Secretary (not that I watch the show - I'm with Nicola Sturgeon, the X Factor is miles better). But my main concern is that the Secretary of State for Scotland is taking this too seriously. It's a reality TV show for goodness sake. There are bigger issues at stake in the UK at the moment.

On a lighter note, did everyone else watching cringe at Tavish Scott's attempt at humour? Something like "seeing as we're in Scotland, we should forget about the controversy and get going with a 'Dashing White Sergeant'". Oh dear...

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Stephen Fry's America

I've been thoroughly enjoying the excellent BBC series Stephen Fry in America which the great entertainer has also written a book about (which, incidentally, is on my Christmas list if anyone is interested!).

However, one thing that has been driving me nuts about this series is not so much that it is short (6 episodes of one hour each, Sundays at 9pm) but the fact that they cram so much into each one.

For example, yesterday's episode had Stephen Fry start of on the US-Canadian border in Montana. He's briefly (like, for less than 2 minutes) shown at the continental divide in Idaho before taking his taxi through Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma and finishing at the Rio Grande at El Paso, Texas. 10 states in one hour...

That, for me, was just too much to cram into such a short time. Why didn't they make it a 10-week run? Or, at the very least 8? There's so many interesting things about each state, especially at the present time, that the BBC could have shelled out a bit more for editing (I think they've got a bit of money spare at the moment) and let us see more of Stephen's adventures.

Anyway, it's well worth a look, if, like me you are interested in the USA. But you have to concentrate hard - there's a lot to take in.

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Joss Stone and the Queen

Nat readers (or perhaps, "fundamentalist" Nat readers) of this blog may not wish to play the following video - especially if they are in a public area.

It's not one of my favourite songs really - a certain verse and certain symbolism put paid to that - but I couldn't help but enjoy Joss Stone's version of the song, sung before a packed Wembley on Sunday as the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers in a sport somewhat unfamiliar to these shores.

I've always thought that, even though Scotland's national "song" - Flower of Scotland - is also a bit of a dirge, God Save the Queen was an anthem that not only failed to capture the spirit in rousing teams up for an international, it was also far removed from the principles that those singing held dear (arguably the monarchy is hardly something John Prescott's "working class" can relate to in many ways).

Anyway, I hope that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in England were watching on Sunday, as a wee bit of Joss Stone singing the anthem pre-Six Nations matches at Twickenham wouldn't go a miss. I mean, she's no Katherine Jenkings singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, but she's no bad!

Hope you enjoy music - it's only a minute long - and if you don't, please don't leave abusive comments! I'm just the messenger...

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Cringe Time #27

I wanted to bring this to the attention of more people so they could cringe their way through it as well.

"That's ma boy!"

Please bring back The West Wing - even if it is just so Martin Sheen has better things to do than "hang" with Paris Hilton!

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Aaron Sorkin - legend

This is tremendous. I probably agree with about 90% of it. Sorkin's writing is so so good.

And I miss the West Wing.

Hat-tip: Iain Dale

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