So with Glastonbury behind us now, I didn’t go but I was assured it was an insane experience, my thoughts this weeks go to festivals and all round excitement about events.
First of all there’s the excitement for the smallest happenings, a party? Everyone prepare with military precision who, what, when where, and then get ready with the hilarious anecdotes about what the crazy guy did that night. There’s always one, and if you don’t know them, you probably are them. In fact it goes further than the preparation, some small events are so saturated with alcohol, flashing lights and squirrels, that it seem like the biggest party in history even if it is just a drink down the pub that went a bit far. Now speaking of a bit far, I’m a relatively calm guy, I’m not one for getting “wrecked” or snorting sherbet through a toilet roll tube (it’s all the rage apparently). But that’s not to mean I don’t enjoy a few glasses of pimms and watching my butler juggle the family cats. But there are some people I know, no names but a lot of respect to these crazy people, which will see my few pimms and a juggling butler and raise me a crate of absinthe and a butler with the hiccoughs swallowing swords. These people truly are insane. They make horrendous claims such as “it must have been a good night, I don’t remember a thing” that sounds rather inconvenient, especially since you can’t figure out how you lost a kidney and grew an extra toe. And my favourite, “F***, What A F***ing Awesome Weekend. Alcohol, Unknown Drunken Injuries, Drink Driving On Dodgems, Sickness, Studio Bar, Skinny Dipping.... F*** Glasto, The Party Is Right Here.” (edited for your young pretty little minds)
This guy is so excited about a small celebration that he said to Glastonbury; “No, screw you, and your atmosphere and music, I’m fine being inebriated at a fair ground”
Before this year Glastonbury never really appealed to me, bands who I most likely won’t like, mud everywhere and sleeping out in the cold? When you’re as picky with music as me you get hesitant about spending a lot of money to see a few bands, most of which you’re not sure of if you can even stand. Of course you say that to any music fanatic and they will assure you, with a lot of force, I mean a lot of insistence, non of which is violent, that it’s not just a “few” bands, and in fact the atmosphere is something not to be scoffed at, in fact some say it is to be gawped at, and that if you say this again they will shove a small, claustrophobic mammal down your throat so it can reside there until the fear gets too much and it claws it’s way out. Apparently. So I now I have been educated in the awesomeness that is Glastonbury and the music there, I still have to be persuaded that the mud, strangers, cold and over all socialising is all worth it. It’s apparent that it is, according to eye witness reports, it doesn’t always rain at “Glasto”, not every one is going to murder you and jumpers are on sale everywhere. Oh and socialising isn’t all that bad either.
And well, looking at the past line up, well the one that was this weekend, there are so many stages and acts I must like at least one of them right? Yeah I thought so. It may be because I’m only a country boy trying to live the city life (on the basis I know how a computer works) but previously I thought all people wanted to hurt me. Who wouldn’t, with all this scare mongering about killers and stuff? I was also under the impression that the cold would kill you and that the only good company to keep was tree’s, sheep, and people you’ve known ever since you learnt to judge character. But apparently my West Country teaching was all a lie, and the above facts aren’t even true!
So I’m sold, on Glastonbury.
This all came to me about 9 months ago (it was just under 9 months later that I realised Glastonbury might not be terrible) when I was at a BBQ on one of the sunny days in the abyss of terrible weather that was last years “Summer”. I was talking to a new “friend” about comedy (my go to conversation) when some drunk old man comes into the kitchen and leans over the counter to us and says in a gravelly yet wise voice. “I couldn’t help overhearing that you like comedy” yes I replied to the drunken mentor. “Well may I kindly suggest…” a very long pause. Yes I thought, you can suggest anything kindly, just don’t bring out a blade (I was still under the impression all people where out to get me by now) “… that you go to the Edinburgh festival, its full of comedy, and some gigs are free, and you can heckle at the crap ones” Great I thought, it had already crossed my mind. But my doubts about the huge venues and lack of funds had kept me back from seriously thinking about it until then, but this drunken guy had told me it wasn’t too much of a problem, and so far he hadn’t brought a knife to my throat so he also threw that “lie” out of the water.
So a year or so later, I have decided to get my act together and organise a trip to Edinburgh for the festival in august, 5 days of comedy and theatre shows, and so far, in the planning stages it hasn’t blown up too badly. In fact we are almost ready to go, just got to wait until the date and save up for what will most likely be the funniest, most expensive 5 days of my ever so short life thus far.
Joe strange
I’m taking a break from my usual comical quips to say that during my Edinburgh trip I will most likely be keeping a blog and will have a few videos of the trip. How I intend to keep the “real time” blog without a computer, I don’t know, I may do a retrospective blog on the Saturday when I get back to Cornwall. So stay tuned!
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
There's Been A Murder!
Call it what you want, it's man's greatest invention, it keeps us from going insane, it keeps us from hurting ourselves and overall progressing as a species.
I'm talking of course about procrastination. Dirty as that sounds, it's also none as "Time Wasting" "Killing the Clock" and "Doing it Dreckly" if your cornish, which is how we do everything we do ever. It's not "Tim's Special Time", "The Reasons Why Cornflakes Were Invented" or "The Reason Your Single"
(Second paragraph and the masturbation joke is in the bag. Brilliant.)
See now as a teenage Cornish Male I am a god when it comes to "putting off today what I can do tomorrow"; Piece of coursework to hand in? Its due on Monday, it'll be fine. Girl of your dreams to ask out? She'll still be single tomorrow! Handing in that witness report? He wont kill on a Sunday surely?
What I'm saying is that time isn't meant to be killed, but it is. It's like how we're suppose to have 5 fruit and veg a day, we say we do it, but we don't. We say we are working, but we're just watching people on youtube catch fire.
And don't say you don't cos just like with "Jim's Special Time", we know you do it, we all do it, and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
No today I want to advertise procrastination some of the best discoveries of mankind I'm sure are down to this wonderfully dirty sounding word, How else do you think scientists found about liquid you can punch, throw and run on, yes run on
The yo-yo, the football, the Wayne Rooney are all examples of when man had too much time on his hands and decided to screw mother nature and make fun with things that aren't twigs and berries. or rocks... unless cave-dude invented that cos he got tired of listening to his cave-wife's whining.
Even things that make up our diet are due to man's wandering brain and inquisitive (some may say creepy) tendencies. Think about milk, who saw a cow and thought, "Hey! that giant dog has four erect pink things I'm sure something lovely will happen if I tug them in sequence" I'm sure he was disappointed with the taste of the stuff that came out, but someone wasn't and look, we now have 3 types of cow juice, colour coordinated, hard cow juice to put on toast and crackers and slightly softer cow juice to spread on bread and to lube a fat kid with when he gets stuck in a slide. Now cast your mind to eggs. Where do they come from? Chickens, lovely animals to eat, but which sick SOB was sitting their eyeing up his dinner and thought "Im sure that hard white thing that the dinner crapped out will taste lovely with some pig and cow milk!" and that's when the omelette was born.
Procrastination also helped me get over the futility of my revision and exam period, psychology was just around the corner, and knowing I didn't have enough time to learn the entire syllabus I sat down, got my books out and of course, I learnt how to throw cards. Today whilst I'm sure I could have been working on research or something I found myself having a throwing card fight under some stairs. Am I a better person because of it? Hell yeah I have the mark on my face to prove I need to procrastinate more and learn how to dodge better.
My favourite example of procrastination I've ever committed was this time last year, my Science GCSE exam was coming up and, as much as I needed and wanted to revise for the modules on chemistry, biology and astrology or whatever it was, so i sat down at my computer, pulled up the internet and bitesize, realised that was useless, realised my books were in my locker and started to write a story, the story turned out to be a 5 chapter beginning and was never finished because it went missing. So I was putting off revising for one exam, by revising for another exam. Thats procrastination at it's best.
But unfortunately as much fun as time wasting is, it has got a bad reputation because of the fact teenagers do it, and in all fairness, it may help with many useless talents and fun new abilities, it doesn't help you progress with work, relationships or the ultimate goal of finding out what it was that was in starburst joosters which made them so delicious and so deadly.
Joe Strange
If you were effected by any issues in this weeks blogs send a formal letter of complaint to your nearest Tescos. Every Little Helps.
I'm talking of course about procrastination. Dirty as that sounds, it's also none as "Time Wasting" "Killing the Clock" and "Doing it Dreckly" if your cornish, which is how we do everything we do ever. It's not "Tim's Special Time", "The Reasons Why Cornflakes Were Invented" or "The Reason Your Single"
(Second paragraph and the masturbation joke is in the bag. Brilliant.)
See now as a teenage Cornish Male I am a god when it comes to "putting off today what I can do tomorrow"; Piece of coursework to hand in? Its due on Monday, it'll be fine. Girl of your dreams to ask out? She'll still be single tomorrow! Handing in that witness report? He wont kill on a Sunday surely?
What I'm saying is that time isn't meant to be killed, but it is. It's like how we're suppose to have 5 fruit and veg a day, we say we do it, but we don't. We say we are working, but we're just watching people on youtube catch fire.
And don't say you don't cos just like with "Jim's Special Time", we know you do it, we all do it, and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
No today I want to advertise procrastination some of the best discoveries of mankind I'm sure are down to this wonderfully dirty sounding word, How else do you think scientists found about liquid you can punch, throw and run on, yes run on
The yo-yo, the football, the Wayne Rooney are all examples of when man had too much time on his hands and decided to screw mother nature and make fun with things that aren't twigs and berries. or rocks... unless cave-dude invented that cos he got tired of listening to his cave-wife's whining.
Even things that make up our diet are due to man's wandering brain and inquisitive (some may say creepy) tendencies. Think about milk, who saw a cow and thought, "Hey! that giant dog has four erect pink things I'm sure something lovely will happen if I tug them in sequence" I'm sure he was disappointed with the taste of the stuff that came out, but someone wasn't and look, we now have 3 types of cow juice, colour coordinated, hard cow juice to put on toast and crackers and slightly softer cow juice to spread on bread and to lube a fat kid with when he gets stuck in a slide. Now cast your mind to eggs. Where do they come from? Chickens, lovely animals to eat, but which sick SOB was sitting their eyeing up his dinner and thought "Im sure that hard white thing that the dinner crapped out will taste lovely with some pig and cow milk!" and that's when the omelette was born.
Procrastination also helped me get over the futility of my revision and exam period, psychology was just around the corner, and knowing I didn't have enough time to learn the entire syllabus I sat down, got my books out and of course, I learnt how to throw cards. Today whilst I'm sure I could have been working on research or something I found myself having a throwing card fight under some stairs. Am I a better person because of it? Hell yeah I have the mark on my face to prove I need to procrastinate more and learn how to dodge better.
My favourite example of procrastination I've ever committed was this time last year, my Science GCSE exam was coming up and, as much as I needed and wanted to revise for the modules on chemistry, biology and astrology or whatever it was, so i sat down at my computer, pulled up the internet and bitesize, realised that was useless, realised my books were in my locker and started to write a story, the story turned out to be a 5 chapter beginning and was never finished because it went missing. So I was putting off revising for one exam, by revising for another exam. Thats procrastination at it's best.
But unfortunately as much fun as time wasting is, it has got a bad reputation because of the fact teenagers do it, and in all fairness, it may help with many useless talents and fun new abilities, it doesn't help you progress with work, relationships or the ultimate goal of finding out what it was that was in starburst joosters which made them so delicious and so deadly.
Joe Strange
If you were effected by any issues in this weeks blogs send a formal letter of complaint to your nearest Tescos. Every Little Helps.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
I Need You Boots Your Clothes And You To Stop Poking Me.
This Week I want to talk about thresholds, and not the boundaries around your house, that'd be a boring subject. Well less boring than this one anyway.
So the idea for this one came from a pretty surreal source, and like most small thoughts they evolved into something that actually I thought I may be able to write about. How wrong was I? I was watching Terminator 2 a few nights ago and I don't know if you've seen it but there is a scene where a little kid pokes Arnie in the cheek about 4 times, and since he's a robot, he isn't allowed to show emotions. Now think how many takes that scene actually took? I know he's a great actor and all but I'd get ruddy peeved off if a kid kept jabbing me in the face, and since the first rule of showbiz is not to work with kids, we have to immediately assume that the reason behind this is because kids make everyone annoyed with their crying and whining and ballsing up, so if he add a fair 15 takes onto that and times the amount of times Arnie gets poked (4) we get 60 pokes in the face. I would not have the threshold for that much facepokery, so on that note I thought to myself as I lie in bed, "what is my threshold for annoyance, and anything else for that matter?"
Annoyance
As previously mentioned my threshold for annoyance doesn't succeed a few pokes in the face. Ever since i was a kid I had a short fuse, I suppose it comes with having such ammunition as a surname, I got tired of jokes easily and I still cant stand someone repeating themselves over again, so that scene in terminator would have been very different if I was the Austrian body builder. this also accounts for the reason my acting career will never take flight, since imagine if there was a job where you have to repeat yourself 100's of times? Devastating.
Pain
Now here's a fun one, my threshold for pain is the equivalent to that of a small child thrown against a wall by an Austrian body builder after 1 too many pokes to the face. I am truly terrible with pain, in fact I seem to be cursed with this since every time I say that sentence; "I Don't Like Pain" I seem to get into an accident which proves my point exactly, last year whilst on a bike ride I said to a friend, I don't like pain, and I fell down a "cliff" (See Big Hill) and couldn't move for 2 days. On the beach the other day, a mere hour after stating the claim I attempted a downhill cartwheel chain and buggered my wrist up royally. I say royally, most people could have shock it off, but not this small child thrown against a wall! So Expect me next week to be talking about an accident with a brick involving my head since I've said "the" phrase twice in the last paragraph
Bad Comedy
I'm willing to give anything a chance, a sitcom, a stand up, a whiny celebrity with some merit. But I find it hard to put up with things I feel so strongly about, like drugs, abortion and the over use of the word random in today's youth. For instance I am not the worlds biggest fan of Dane Cook. He's a terrible comedian who isn't funny and steals other peoples jokes, plus he just LOOKS like a douchebag, and I have attempted to give him a chance I have, I watched him kill a theatre full of peoples sense of humour for 10 minutes straight, I watched him ruin the great film "waiting" hell, I even sat through "my best friends wedding" but he just isn't funny, in fact, I'd go as far to say he is UN funny. and a douche, don't forget that.
Film
My threshold for Film is also controlled by a few ground rules: If there are more than 3 explosions, various one liners, a guy that looks like Ben Folds or robots in the trailer, i will most likely see it, if the title ends in "....Movie" I wont touch it, if it has Keanu Reeves, the acting will most likely be more like cardboard than a "Shreddies" box, for full frontal nudity of Jason Segal there must be at least 1 hot actress. per testicle. and finally when it comes to chick flicks, soppy stories, rom com's involving Colin Firth, or a film where the pet is the mian character, the rule all boyfriends and dating men should abide by to avoid disappointment, If It gets Me Laid, It Gets Played.
Joe Strange
Attempted to go an entire blog about poking faces without mentioning Pokerface.
So the idea for this one came from a pretty surreal source, and like most small thoughts they evolved into something that actually I thought I may be able to write about. How wrong was I? I was watching Terminator 2 a few nights ago and I don't know if you've seen it but there is a scene where a little kid pokes Arnie in the cheek about 4 times, and since he's a robot, he isn't allowed to show emotions. Now think how many takes that scene actually took? I know he's a great actor and all but I'd get ruddy peeved off if a kid kept jabbing me in the face, and since the first rule of showbiz is not to work with kids, we have to immediately assume that the reason behind this is because kids make everyone annoyed with their crying and whining and ballsing up, so if he add a fair 15 takes onto that and times the amount of times Arnie gets poked (4) we get 60 pokes in the face. I would not have the threshold for that much facepokery, so on that note I thought to myself as I lie in bed, "what is my threshold for annoyance, and anything else for that matter?"
Annoyance
As previously mentioned my threshold for annoyance doesn't succeed a few pokes in the face. Ever since i was a kid I had a short fuse, I suppose it comes with having such ammunition as a surname, I got tired of jokes easily and I still cant stand someone repeating themselves over again, so that scene in terminator would have been very different if I was the Austrian body builder. this also accounts for the reason my acting career will never take flight, since imagine if there was a job where you have to repeat yourself 100's of times? Devastating.
Pain
Now here's a fun one, my threshold for pain is the equivalent to that of a small child thrown against a wall by an Austrian body builder after 1 too many pokes to the face. I am truly terrible with pain, in fact I seem to be cursed with this since every time I say that sentence; "I Don't Like Pain" I seem to get into an accident which proves my point exactly, last year whilst on a bike ride I said to a friend, I don't like pain, and I fell down a "cliff" (See Big Hill) and couldn't move for 2 days. On the beach the other day, a mere hour after stating the claim I attempted a downhill cartwheel chain and buggered my wrist up royally. I say royally, most people could have shock it off, but not this small child thrown against a wall! So Expect me next week to be talking about an accident with a brick involving my head since I've said "the" phrase twice in the last paragraph
Bad Comedy
I'm willing to give anything a chance, a sitcom, a stand up, a whiny celebrity with some merit. But I find it hard to put up with things I feel so strongly about, like drugs, abortion and the over use of the word random in today's youth. For instance I am not the worlds biggest fan of Dane Cook. He's a terrible comedian who isn't funny and steals other peoples jokes, plus he just LOOKS like a douchebag, and I have attempted to give him a chance I have, I watched him kill a theatre full of peoples sense of humour for 10 minutes straight, I watched him ruin the great film "waiting" hell, I even sat through "my best friends wedding" but he just isn't funny, in fact, I'd go as far to say he is UN funny. and a douche, don't forget that.
Film
My threshold for Film is also controlled by a few ground rules: If there are more than 3 explosions, various one liners, a guy that looks like Ben Folds or robots in the trailer, i will most likely see it, if the title ends in "....Movie" I wont touch it, if it has Keanu Reeves, the acting will most likely be more like cardboard than a "Shreddies" box, for full frontal nudity of Jason Segal there must be at least 1 hot actress. per testicle. and finally when it comes to chick flicks, soppy stories, rom com's involving Colin Firth, or a film where the pet is the mian character, the rule all boyfriends and dating men should abide by to avoid disappointment, If It gets Me Laid, It Gets Played.
Joe Strange
Attempted to go an entire blog about poking faces without mentioning Pokerface.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
The Television Graveyard
The television article saga is coming to an end, a joint cheer for some, a faint whisper for others. Me? I just thought I'd round the trilogy of TV off with something that can frustrate and delight so many people, Television Cancellations.
The TV graveyard has taken many a dear show of mine, and now, during the "current economical climate" as some people are calling it. I never really understood what happened, something about someone selling too much money or banks not making enough hedges, but anyway, it turns out it is important since it is effecting our television and enjoyment. Last week I mentioned how reality TV is cheap to make, whereas more in depth telly is more expensive, especially if you, like me, enjoy explosions and the special effects, I'm looking at you Heroes. So because of this, the networks have decided to cut some of our most loved shows, we had a prior warning when NBC dropped Scrubs, which was picked up majestically by ABC, who then realised they couldn't afford to pay the wages and had to finish it in a spectacular finale. (then realising they wanted it back with half the cast for at least another season)
But as we wave goodbye to another season of brilliant television (subjective of course, I'm looking at you Heroes), writers, directors, actors and viewers all wait biting their nails to see if their show will be the new headstone in the cemetery. One of my favourite shows; the demon filled Reaper was cancelled after a mid season start and poor viewings. well that's what the CW will tell you, why would they cancel a show with such a dedicated cult following (similar to my beloved Chuck)? The same reason I had to turn down that lovely lady in Vegas, cost. Reaper was full of effects, wit, groovy camera shots and a large cast, which made it a given to be cancelled.
so with the public's favourites like, Reaper, My Name Is Earl Pushing Daisies and The Sarah Conner Chronicles all taking the 6 foot Deep Sleep does that mean that all our shows are doomed? If the networks don't take notice of us, what's to stop them taking away our Big Bang Theory, our How I Met Your Mother our House? They don't listen so why should we even bother complaining?
My friends, enemies, and nay sayers I give you the golden boy of comebacks, the phoenix of the talky box *fan-fair*...Chuck.
WB's Chuck and the Air have been on and off more times than Ross and Rachel, and like Ross and Rachel they finally ended up together, that analogy worked surprisingly well actually. Thanks to endless campaigns, badges and a 300-esk march on a Birmingham subway chuck was renewed after a killer season finale, obviously learning from their writer strike scare last year to let their finale go of with a bang. people rejoiced and danced in the streets like we had seen Poland beat Germany in a game of squash to make up for all the crap they put them through. The underdog had won and we had another season to look forward to come autumn. We like that.
So similar to a family pet, if you take care of TV, make sure you keep watch over it, feed it with viewing figures and brush it free of the mediocre crap, ur I mean fleas, then it'll be loving in return, and if it doesn't do what you want make a big enough noise and it'll be your bitch.
Joe Strange
67% of his analogies actually make some coherent sense.
The TV graveyard has taken many a dear show of mine, and now, during the "current economical climate" as some people are calling it. I never really understood what happened, something about someone selling too much money or banks not making enough hedges, but anyway, it turns out it is important since it is effecting our television and enjoyment. Last week I mentioned how reality TV is cheap to make, whereas more in depth telly is more expensive, especially if you, like me, enjoy explosions and the special effects, I'm looking at you Heroes. So because of this, the networks have decided to cut some of our most loved shows, we had a prior warning when NBC dropped Scrubs, which was picked up majestically by ABC, who then realised they couldn't afford to pay the wages and had to finish it in a spectacular finale. (then realising they wanted it back with half the cast for at least another season)
But as we wave goodbye to another season of brilliant television (subjective of course, I'm looking at you Heroes), writers, directors, actors and viewers all wait biting their nails to see if their show will be the new headstone in the cemetery. One of my favourite shows; the demon filled Reaper was cancelled after a mid season start and poor viewings. well that's what the CW will tell you, why would they cancel a show with such a dedicated cult following (similar to my beloved Chuck)? The same reason I had to turn down that lovely lady in Vegas, cost. Reaper was full of effects, wit, groovy camera shots and a large cast, which made it a given to be cancelled.
so with the public's favourites like, Reaper, My Name Is Earl Pushing Daisies and The Sarah Conner Chronicles all taking the 6 foot Deep Sleep does that mean that all our shows are doomed? If the networks don't take notice of us, what's to stop them taking away our Big Bang Theory, our How I Met Your Mother our House? They don't listen so why should we even bother complaining?
My friends, enemies, and nay sayers I give you the golden boy of comebacks, the phoenix of the talky box *fan-fair*...Chuck.
WB's Chuck and the Air have been on and off more times than Ross and Rachel, and like Ross and Rachel they finally ended up together, that analogy worked surprisingly well actually. Thanks to endless campaigns, badges and a 300-esk march on a Birmingham subway chuck was renewed after a killer season finale, obviously learning from their writer strike scare last year to let their finale go of with a bang. people rejoiced and danced in the streets like we had seen Poland beat Germany in a game of squash to make up for all the crap they put them through. The underdog had won and we had another season to look forward to come autumn. We like that.
So similar to a family pet, if you take care of TV, make sure you keep watch over it, feed it with viewing figures and brush it free of the mediocre crap, ur I mean fleas, then it'll be loving in return, and if it doesn't do what you want make a big enough noise and it'll be your bitch.
Joe Strange
67% of his analogies actually make some coherent sense.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Britain's Got Empathy
Considering last week I talked about secondary characters in TV and the media, today I'm going to continue that streak of media, mainly television.
Well, as most of you will have heard "Britain's got the X factor" finished on Friday night and whether you watch it or not, you must of heard some of the crazy stories coming from it, the main reason for this being that the news is talking about it more than Clarkson talks about foxes, which is a lot. With a lot of these reality tv programs I tend to steer clear, who's coming out of the jungle? I don't care, but if it's mentioned that some deadbeat celeb' got jiggly with a banana tree or an ex footballer got attacked by an alligator, you can bet your house that I'll know all about it. but when it comes to these talent shows, the only reason I tune in at all is to watch the auditions, cos who doesn't love a crazed sith lord dancing to Michael Jackson? just a little note, he made it to the semi finals, you can see it here, give it a go, it's hilarious.
So, back to Fridays final. I always thought that like me, people tuned into watch idiots in fancy dress be torn down by Simon Cowell, or to see some surprisingly good dance by some kids or something, you know to have a good laugh at people a million times braver than us, apparently not, 19 million people tuned in on Friday to watch the final, the highest viewing figures ever since the dawn of time, and by the dawn of time I mean 2003, OK, so it isn't a huge deal, but it's something that got me thinking.
Reality shows are cheap to make, they cost hardly anything really, compared to hugely awesome shows such as the American "heroes" or our "Dr Who" and as we can see, people now are taking interest in the stories as oppose to just laughing when some old guy with his trousers too high say that a 60 year old puppy juggler has no chance. That's right, Britain has empathy. If you don't believe me then look at all this uproar about this Susan Boyle character (just one story of the millions.) Now I wont pretend to care what went wrong in the final, but apparently she is suffering exhaustion, and a child involved with the show also is in trauma or dead or something bad because Simon said some nasty things.
So Reality shows dominate the airwaves because they are cheap and now people of Britain actually care, they are getting brilliant viewing figures. so does this mean the end for brilliant dramas or comedies like "How I met your mother" "Dr Who" "House" "Heroes" and all the other well thought out, well acted (occasionally) and well loved shows? No, it doesn't, and Ill tell you one reason why, well I could give you a million reasons why. Ill ask you, does anyone remember Steve Brookstein? What about Brian Dowling? Or even Racheal Rice? Any one remember? No, well they are all winners of reality shows of television past. What about "Martin Hoberg Hedegaard" well you shouldn't really, he's the 2008 winner of Denmark's Xfactor. The reason these shows just wont succeed is simple, they are like the television version of milk, really good for bringing in the money, but have a shelf life as long as Tom Cruise is tall. they're not like shows such as "vicar of Dibley", or "only fools and horses", real British comedy which people still remember today people forget about them as soon as the next one comes along. which is why proper television will always prevail, because people can remember more than one sitcom at a time.
Joe Strange
I say we'll forget them all, but I will NEVER forget Darth Jackson. Ever.
Well, as most of you will have heard "Britain's got the X factor" finished on Friday night and whether you watch it or not, you must of heard some of the crazy stories coming from it, the main reason for this being that the news is talking about it more than Clarkson talks about foxes, which is a lot. With a lot of these reality tv programs I tend to steer clear, who's coming out of the jungle? I don't care, but if it's mentioned that some deadbeat celeb' got jiggly with a banana tree or an ex footballer got attacked by an alligator, you can bet your house that I'll know all about it. but when it comes to these talent shows, the only reason I tune in at all is to watch the auditions, cos who doesn't love a crazed sith lord dancing to Michael Jackson? just a little note, he made it to the semi finals, you can see it here, give it a go, it's hilarious.
So, back to Fridays final. I always thought that like me, people tuned into watch idiots in fancy dress be torn down by Simon Cowell, or to see some surprisingly good dance by some kids or something, you know to have a good laugh at people a million times braver than us, apparently not, 19 million people tuned in on Friday to watch the final, the highest viewing figures ever since the dawn of time, and by the dawn of time I mean 2003, OK, so it isn't a huge deal, but it's something that got me thinking.
Reality shows are cheap to make, they cost hardly anything really, compared to hugely awesome shows such as the American "heroes" or our "Dr Who" and as we can see, people now are taking interest in the stories as oppose to just laughing when some old guy with his trousers too high say that a 60 year old puppy juggler has no chance. That's right, Britain has empathy. If you don't believe me then look at all this uproar about this Susan Boyle character (just one story of the millions.) Now I wont pretend to care what went wrong in the final, but apparently she is suffering exhaustion, and a child involved with the show also is in trauma or dead or something bad because Simon said some nasty things.
So Reality shows dominate the airwaves because they are cheap and now people of Britain actually care, they are getting brilliant viewing figures. so does this mean the end for brilliant dramas or comedies like "How I met your mother" "Dr Who" "House" "Heroes" and all the other well thought out, well acted (occasionally) and well loved shows? No, it doesn't, and Ill tell you one reason why, well I could give you a million reasons why. Ill ask you, does anyone remember Steve Brookstein? What about Brian Dowling? Or even Racheal Rice? Any one remember? No, well they are all winners of reality shows of television past. What about "Martin Hoberg Hedegaard" well you shouldn't really, he's the 2008 winner of Denmark's Xfactor. The reason these shows just wont succeed is simple, they are like the television version of milk, really good for bringing in the money, but have a shelf life as long as Tom Cruise is tall. they're not like shows such as "vicar of Dibley", or "only fools and horses", real British comedy which people still remember today people forget about them as soon as the next one comes along. which is why proper television will always prevail, because people can remember more than one sitcom at a time.
Joe Strange
I say we'll forget them all, but I will NEVER forget Darth Jackson. Ever.
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