I’m looking forward to Holy Flying Circus tomorrow night, the documentary on the fight against the Python’s Life of Brian. I know I’ve likely seen a lot of the footage already, but I’m sure it will be enjoyable nonetheless. Good example of how bonkers people can get over something they assume will offend them. At…
Category: television
Tuesday’s Overlooked Media: Hancock’s Half Hour
I may well be cheating by having used Hancock’s Half Hour before (although if I weren’t too lazy to do a search myself, I suspect it may actually have been one of the films, either The Punch and Judy Man or The Rebel). However, as I’m without cable or internet at home, I have been…
Carrot & Stick
I have a favor to ask of you: it’s not really much and this time of year, you might be spending a lot of time in the particular location anyway. I have a birthday wish. I realise it’s a few weeks away yet, but you need some preparation time. The good news is that it…
BitchBuzz: Havin’ a Larf
My column this week at BitchBuzz delves into the particularly terrifying notion of… FUNNY WOMEN! Why is it that funny women are so intimidating? [waves hand in the air wildly, waiting to be called upon] Humour is a weapon as well as amusement. Angry women scare people (hence the inevitable “Come on, smile!” if you…
Had it with you, Simpsons
All right, it’s been bugging me for at least this whole season and maybe a little longer: the misogynous thread that’s crept into The Simpsons. Yeah, the show that once trumpeted stories like Lisa Lionheart and Marge going round the bend because of the stress of her family’s unreasonable demands, has not had a show…
Python Reunites!
The surviving Pythons will be reuniting in NYC on October 15th for the premiere of a new six-part doco series that will be airing on the IFC channel October 18th-23rd. In addition to the documentary and timed to 40th Anniversary of the creation of Monty Python, The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)…
UK Trip: Week Three (Part Two)
The next highlight of the week was seeing one of my comedy heroes, Vic Reeves, in a taping of the Vic and Bob show, Shooting Stars. The fabulous Matt Lucas returned as “the man with the scores, George Dawes” as did Ulrika(-ka-ka-ka) Johnsson as team B captain. Team A captain is now Jack Dee instead…
BitchBuzz: Repetition
My latest piece for BitchBuzz is all about repetition, i.e. our addiction to sequelitis. I manage to name check the Fall, Clive Barker and Doug Bradley. Pretty good record for this vicinity: “This is the three Rs, the three Rs,” Mark E. Smith sang back in the late seventies, “Repetition, repetition, repetition.” I think that’s…
On the Road Again
Yes, again! I’m off to North Carolina for the annual reunion of the Three Mothers, as we are known, my pals Susan and Mildred (and honorary Mother, Birdie) from the Horror List. This used to be centered around Trinoc*coN, but since its demise, we have carried on by just having a relaxing fun time together…
BitchBuzz: Terminated
Check out my latest piece over at BitchBuzz, about how the cancellation of the Friday night Fox double-header of Terminator and Dollhouse will doubtless be taken as more evidence that “chick shows don’t sell” rather than “not so good shows with little support or worthwhile writing don’t gain much of an audience.”