One thing that both the US and the UK have come to a consensus on in recent times is how funny Geeks are. In fact Geek humor is now one of the main categories of humor on both sides of the Atlantic. Being pretty much a total nerd myself a lot of things I find funny come from this rising wave including at the top of my list (now finally showing on US TV on IFC), British show "The IT Crowd."
I like the show for all kinds of reasons least of which is Moss played by Richard Ayoade (pictured) reminds me of what I looked and acted like at 14 (yep I really had hair just like that). Two seasons of the show have been broadcast in the UK and in my opinion the second season is far funnier than the first so if you're watching Stateside be patient - this is a show that gets better as it progresses.
Here's the first episode in three parts
And here's a brand new article on Richard from The Guardian today which reveals he's adapting the Welsh novel "Submarine" by Joe Dunthorne which amazon describes as a journey "into the mind of a troubled 14-year-old boy obsessed with his virginity, his parent's failing marriage and the dictionary." Sounds like perfect material if you ask me.
Last nights return of Anthony Bourdain's long running travel / food show "No Reservations" (my favorite foodie show) saw the man in Laos - a place I have to admit I knew little of before seeing the show. Without a doubt it was probably the most political show that Bourdain has done since he found himself in Beirut when the bombing started. It was also one of the most real pieces of television I've seen in recent times. Bourdain sitting down to dinner with a guy who got his legs blown off by a 30 year old US bomb in a countryside still littered with US bombs was intense and moving. To see Bourdain whose never short of a wisecrack utterly humbled was indeed captivating TV. Turns out he filmed the segment way back in January - you can read his blog entry about Laos here.
Upcoming in the series - next week Columbia, July 21st: Bourdain finally in Arabia - Saudi Arabia to be exact, July 28th: Uruguay, August 4th: US Southwest (2nd time), August 11th: Tokyo (his third show from there I think - he meets up with "Iron Chef" Masaharu Morimoto and tries a Kaiseki meal - preview video here , August 1st: Spain (he visits El Bulli again), August 25: Egypt (nice to see him doing two Arabic countries in this new season- when you going to Yemen Anthony ?).
Really feeling the re-runs of the Michael Mann produced series Robbery Homicide Division. If your a fan of Mann films like "Heat" or "Collateral" then you would probably enjoy this show which is somewhere between "The Shield," "The Wire" and a Mann movie. I remember enjoying the show when it originally aired but what's interesting looking back is how it's dark one minute, shining and gleaming the next. The show's super stylized look is very Mann-like though he isn't directing. It's a far more realistic LA than we are often shown. The show also makes clever use of music. Without a doubt a show above the normal cop genre. Oh and you wouldn't think Tom Sizemore could pull off a whole show as the lead character but he does well on RHD because the supporting cast is equally quirky, unique and ethnically diverse. One would think this would be the kind of show that HBO or Showtime would get behind but they turned it down ! Reruns are on the Sleuth network nightly until the 18th.
Some facts about the show * The show was originally broadcast in 2002 * Robbery Homicide Division was originally titled "Metro," then renamed "RHD/LA," then RHD * The show was partially created by Law & Order's Executive producer Barry Schindel who left the show after the first episode. * Here's a list of RHD cast members who worked for Michael Mann before or after the series (and what Mann film they appeared in) Tom Sizemore - Heat Michael Paul Chan - Thief, The Insider Barry Shabaka Henley - Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice Mario Van Peebles- Ali Klea Scott - Collateral David Cubitt - Ali Emilio Rivera - Collateral * The show featured a real life LAPD SWAT team negotiator as a frequent guest star and a LAPD detective as technical advisor. * Paul Michael Glaser (aka Starsky) directed three episodes, Michael Mann's daughter directed one. * The shows soundtrack theme was "Deltron 3030 (Instrumental)" by Deltron 3030 - the show also featured music from acts like DJ Shadow and Coldplay. * They originally broadcast 10 episodes - 3 additional episodes were shown later and are being shown in the current re-broadcast. * The show was one of the first shot on High definition video - often guerilla style. It owes at least part of it's look to the HDV medium. * Mann sold Sizemore on the show by telling him "I'm gonna make the greatest cop drama ever -wanna try with me?" * Describing the show to EW before it's first airing Mann said ''There's no dumbing down here. I'm not trying to tell stories on television cinematically -quite the opposite. I want to use the immediacy, the fluidity and quickness of television." * In December 2002, days after lead actor Tom Sizemore was arrested for battery the show was pulled from the TV schedule.
Here as a bonus is another bit of Michael Mann from 2002 - his high budget advert for Mercedes Benz starring Benicio Del Toro - don't you wish all advertising was this good ?
Very disappointing end to Top Chef on Wednesday. I didn't think any of the three finalists meals were that exciting. Also sad to see Richard tank it right at the end. He was clearly a shoe-in for winner from episode one. However it was a huge relief that moan of the season Lisa didn't win. Just speaking visually (since there's no way to taste or smell through the TV) the best looking dish for me came from the winner Stephanie Izard.
Sauteed Red Snapper Filet with Truffled White Asparagus and Clam Broth Prep Time: two hours / Serves: 4-5
1/2 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 lb clams Drizzle of white wine Water for simmering 1/2 bunch white asparagus A splash of cream Drizzle of truffle oil 1/2 lb fingerling potatoes 1 lb red snapper Drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
Garnishes: Salad of shaved green asparagus with salt, pepper, herbs and extra-virgin olive oil.
Saute onion, garlic and shallots. Add clams with white wine and steam until opened. Cover with water and simmer for 40 minutes. Saute white asparagus deglaze with white wine. Cover with strained clam broth and simmer until tender. Blend until smooth and add cream. Strain through chinois and drizzle with truffle oil before serving. Meanwhile, roast fingerling potatoes.
Saute snapper in olive oil until nicely browned. Serve over sauteed white asparagus and roasted fingerling potatoes. Pour clam broth and garnish with salad of shaved green asparagus.
The ever funny and smokingly hot Tina Fey returns with my favorite comedy show 30 ROCK on April 10th for a run of new episodes. The first one features her loser ex-boyfriend - the beeper salesman and the t****r we know in NYC as the Mayor. Personally I'm waiting for Tracy to get more therapy ... regular readers will know what I mean ...
John Simm may have run off but the show continues albeit with a new name and another culled from Bowie title too "Ashes To Ashes" the follow up (would be Season 3) to acclaimed BBC TV series "Life on Mars" starts tonight. This time the beeb are counting on former Spooks (MI5) actress Keeley Hawes and her posh southern dryness to bring the magic as the cop sent back in time. Personally one of the things I liked about "Life on Mars" was it's Northern character and I'd much rather hear a Northern actress in the lead role - especially someone with the smile and soft warm voice of Liz White who played the Simm confident cop in series one and two. Maybe I'm just homesick for Yorkshire but I do miss hearing ladies with accents like this.
No word yet on when BBC America will show "Ashes..." - probably in 2009 knowing how darn slow they are.
Great to see LOST back on the air this past week, the first episode of the new season (four) gave me hope that maybe it won't all turn out to be a pile of turd. Especially good to see actor Lance Reddick aka Colonel Cedric Daniels from my other favorite show The Wire make a guest appearance as a (possible) Oceanic Airlines attorney / (possible) evil man who visits Hurley in the mental hospital. Word is Reddick is also featured in next weeks episode.
Lost's producer's revealed to Entertainment Weekly "We had been interested in Lance back when we were casting the Mr. Eko part, but he was unavailable due to The Wire. That's how we started circling around Adewale [Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who ultimately took the role]. When a window of opportunity arose after the recent season of The Wire, we jumped on it, with a part that seemed right for his complete focus and intensity."
Rebel Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations show on TV last night saw him in Berlin. Wish I could say he changed my mind about the food there. He didn't - Currywurst, Head Cheese, Pork and Beer gardens are things that just don't cut it at all for me. The only place that looked edible to me was the Turkish restaurant (big surprise there then).
Read a recent in-depth interview with Bourdain from The Onion and see Bourdain answer Time magazine's Ten questions including why he hates Rachel Ray and what impact having a child has had on him.
Why do I LOVE this show so much? It shows us how Amerikkka really is. It gives us stories that we simply have not seen shown in this way on TV. Without a doubt one of the best portrayals of the American experience that has ever been put out there. And then there's the complex way it deals with race issues from all sides of the fence. This show isn't following some ABC line of BS we've heard before. It's aiming so much higher. Though that said it is also much more than just a sociopolitical lesson. The acting is top notch, the script is top notch, the cinematography is top notch. The Wire really does just beg the question - why can't more TV be this good? Sometimes I despair at TV and want to throw mine out on the street. It's this show that makes me keep my cathode ray emitter. I could post tons here about the show and add a zillion links but I'll just say this - if you haven't got HBO just type in the words "Rapidshare The Wire" and start downloading !! Watching it beats reading about it for sure.
Of course there's more info and goodies at the HBO site and for those with short attention spans here's four seasons of The Wire in four minutes.
