Do we live in a golden age of television?

[Lewis]

Back to the basketballing. Given that his legal/personal problems didn't really emerge until the 2000s, was Dennis Rodman's 1990s the best decade anybody will ever have?

[John]

He almost did himself in in the early nineties so I'd say no.

[Giggles]

I’ve never heard as much about a sports doc in my life as I have this. It must be really good is it?

[John]

Just well timed.

[Alex]

I’ve never heard as much about a sports doc in my life as I have this. It must be really good is it?

If you're at all interested in basketball then you'll love it. If you're not, then I would say it's still at least still a very interesting character study on a very unique competitor.

[Giggles]

Just well timed.

Because of Bryant dying or something else?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's in the nostalgia go-zone of 22-26 years distance. The Class of 92 must be gutted they were too boring to get big Netflix money.

[John]

Because of Bryant dying or something else?

Lockdown meaning three quarters of the country is stuck at home binge watching whatever they can get their hands on.

[Shindig]

It's in the nostalgia go-zone of 22-26 years distance. The Class of 92 must be gutted they were too boring to get big Netflix money.

Now you've got me wanting one for Keegan's managerial career.

[Alex]

Now you've got me wanting one for Keegan's managerial career.

That would be ace. If they had cameras behind the scenes at the time or something. There was a BBC article a couple of weeks ago that was sort of a profile on that Keegan-era Newcastle side, and it really took me back to what an exciting time it was.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are all sorts of people from that time who would make / would have made an incredible documentary. John Daly, the golfer, springs to mind.

[Shindig]

The only job he really shat the bed in was the England one.

[Alex]

There are all sorts of people from that time who would make / would have made an incredible documentary. John Daly, the golfer, springs to mind.

Definitely. I won't claim to know a great deal about golf, but John Daly always struck me as the closest it ever got to having a real-life Happy Gilmore type.

[mugbull]

Maybe they mention this in the doc, but what had all this footage been used for prior to this release? So much of it is direct from the 90s, did they just sit on it or had it already been released in previous installments over the years?

[igor_balis]

Is it as good as hoop dreams

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maybe they mention this in the doc, but what had all this footage been used for prior to this release? So much of it is direct from the 90s, did they just sit on it or had it already been released in previous installments over the years?

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29044827/an-all-access-michael-jordan-documentary-how-last-dance-was-made-possible


"There was no negotiation whatsoever," Silver explained. "All I said was, 'I'm sure there'll maybe be a tough negotiation at some point, but we don't have to have it now.' Because first and foremost, we have to capture the footage."

Then he offered Jordan the one thing he couldn't turn down: control.

"Our agreement will be that neither one of us can use this footage without the other's permission," Silver told Jordan. "It will be kept -- I mean literally it was physical film -- as a separate part of our Secaucus [New Jersey] library. Our producers won't have access to it. It will only be used with your permission."

Basically it was all unreleased stuff as Jordan didn't want it aired.

Then The Last Dance guys came along and were allowed to use it.

[Don]

Is it as good as hoop dreams

Haven't committed the 134 hours to this yet but don't be fucking mental.

[Manc]

Unorthodox was meek.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finished The Last Dance tonight and I thought it was great if a little long.

You wonder how many they'd have won had Krause not pissed everyone off.

Also, I found it fascinating how much of a dick Jordan was at times but I'd imagine that all of the TOP tier guys in any sport (especially team ones) are much the same.

[Baz]

Can’t wait for the Ronaldo one in 20 years.

[Lewis]

Other than a couple of petty things like going after that lad in the Olympics, most of his supposed cuntiness just seems like somebody setting the standards. What I took from it is that, even by the standards of professional athletes, basketball players seem like a massive set of fannies and egomaniacs, so he just stands out as being the only person that nobody could question.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Other than a couple of petty things like going after that lad in the Olympics, most of his supposed cuntiness just seems like somebody setting the standards. What I took from it is that, even by the standards of professional athletes, basketball players seem like a massive set of fannies and egomaniacs, so he just stands out as being the only person that nobody could question.

I also lolled at him making things up to motivate him like crazy.

Like pretending some rookie said "nice game, Mike" to him after he scored 37 in a game and using that to demolish him the next week.

[Limoutsonik]

Finished The Last Dance tonight and I thought it was great if a little long.

You wonder how many they'd have won had Krause not pissed everyone off.

Also, I found it fascinating how much of a dick Jordan was at times but I'd imagine that all of the TOP tier guys in any sport (especially team ones) are much the same.

Krause did the right thing,the issue was the announcement at the start of the season. Pippen after his injury at the end of the season was not the same player after,Jordan was gonna quit if Phil Jackson left,Rodman would demand more money and wouldn't get it and only Kukoc would be the only elite-tier player left. He should have blown it up but not by saying he would do so at the very start of the season.

[mugbull]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29044827/an-all-access-michael-jordan-documentary-how-last-dance-was-made-possible



Basically it was all unreleased stuff as Jordan didn't want it aired.

Then The Last Dance guys came along and were allowed to use it.

Interesting, that's what I assumed had to have happened

[Lofty]

Just finished The Thick of It having watched half of it and then drifted away from it. Final two episodes are well done if not peak farce.

[Shindig]

Antiviral Wipe was fine but you can really tell Brooker didn't have much to work with. His yearly ones have more packed into them and I found the last Cunk bit to be drawn out and shite.

[Yevrah]

Some of the stuff he does is good still, but he's just not that funny any more.

Happens to the best of them after they make it and don't really have anything to be that bothered about.

[Ian]

Who else had been watching Glow? I think there were a few. Sir Andy Mahowry ?

Just wondering what people thought of season 3. I just finished it and I found it kinda odd because while I still think it's well acted and written and everything I kinda find that this season has been less about a wrestling show and more a drama that occasionally has bits about the show in it I'm less into it.

Probably also not helped by Sam being separate to the others for most of the last few episodes.

[mo]

Yeah GLOW definitely took that turn. Seems like the wrestling aspect wasn't enough of a vehicle to carry the story as it was relatively stable with the show in Vegas.

[Ian]

Also there are a few characters who're central to this series where I feel like we're supposed to sort of root for all of them but I just don't like. Debbie, Bash, Rhonda. All annoying or outright dickheads.

[mo]

Rhonda irritates me but I think that's more to do with the way she talks. And that thin Kate Nash is not very appealing. Debbie's a proper cunt.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I like Rhonda but Dash is an absolute cunt.

Debbie is also a twat but I like the character, I wouldn't root for her though.

[Don]

"Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics" is an unremarkable if mildly entertaining affair.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's interactive special is great and I loved it.

For anyone who has yet to watch it, skip the intro...

[John]

Something very special must happen to make it worth skipping that theme tune.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I only skipped it as I restarted it after going through to see the other options.

Normally I do not skip it as it's incredible but yeah, skipping is advised on this special episode.

[mo]

Re-watched series 1-4 of Prison Break and then watched the new series. I was had low expectations going in, but actually thought it was rather decent. Might just pretend series four didn't happen.

[-james-]

Does Alison Brie get her tits out at all in the new GLOW?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yes.

[-james-]

Cool.

Just finished sopranos. By far the best telly I've ever watched.

I'm mostly amazed I managed to watch it over the course of three months without ruining anything by googling random stuff I was curious about.


Christopher has the best arc. There weren't really many bad arcs. Artie maybe, they just turned him into an idiot half way through.

The ending is fine, he's neither dead nor not dead.

[Don]

Why is that and The Wires of this world held back from us whilst the mongs are fed with incessant new drug and gang shite cropping up every 2 days? Is HBO locking it all up or are they just afraid exposure to them might bring the masses to their senses and lead to mass cancellations of subscriptions?

[Giggles]

It’s soccer thing that’s on bbc2 during the week meant to be any good?

[Don]

Finished Normal People. Had watched two episodes before I decided to read the book and then continue the series straight after. Strange way to digest the two, would have found the series far more enjoyable had I not read the book tbf. Her writing lends itself to a TV adaptation and it was done well but equally, I got nothing more out of the TV series. Didn't find the book particularly memorable either but well-made fluff on both accounts.

Why the TV went so explicit I don't get. Are people even hungry to see that shit outside of their porn habits?

[Baz]

The book is underwhelming and I gave up after one episode of the show.

I really don’t get the hype.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Finished Normal People. Had watched two episodes before I decided to read the book and then continue the series straight after. Strange way to digest the two, would have found the series far more enjoyable had I not read the book tbf. Her writing lends itself to a TV adaptation and it was done well but equally, I got nothing more out of the TV series. Didn't find the book particularly memorable either but well-made fluff on both accounts.

Why the TV went so explicit I don't get. Are people even hungry to see that shit outside of their porn habits?

What I want to know is if they would have cast him if he was otherwise the same actor, but with a tiny cock (the same applies to women but casting people can see their tits more clearly from the outside).

[mo]

Halfway through Normal People. It’s compelling enough, but so far as I can tell it’s two emotionally stunted people who can’t communicate clearly with each other. Not quite convinced of the hype yet.

[Don]

Another strange creative decision was changing him from a football loving centre-forward who was watching Costa Rica-Netherlands to being some backwards GAA player watching Donegal vs some other shite. Militant nationalism to promote it as some sort of tourist marketing content harms the credibility of it. Pricks.

[Shindig]

It's probably more to do with what they can be bothered to film at. It's like when they filmed Our Kind of Traitor. In the book, they go to the French Open to watch some tennis. In the film, they just settle on an Arsenal match.

[Don]

Nah, he was just watching the thing on TV and theres a short clip of him playing GAA. Resources weren't the issue here.

[Shindig]

Might be licensing then. They don't want to pay Sky, basically.

[phonics]

The answer to this was in a Second Captains podcast but I was hungover when I listened so can’t remember the answer. The above are all wrong though.

[Giggles]

Didn’t BBC make it anyway?

[Don]

That fucking disgraceful post from phonics has me now caring about it enough to google it.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.ie/sport/gaa-football/5432430/normal-people-director-lenny-abrahamson-paul-mescals-gaa-rte/amp/

So yeah, fuck all reason. You can take your gay second captain podcast and you can shove it up your arse, you cunt.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The 'national game' reason is cringe, but I'm all for any depiction of sporting action in TV/film that isn't absolute dogshit edited together by a middle aged woman.

[Giggles]

It’s just better.

[The Merse]

This season of Killing Eve has been astonishingly good for me over the past 4 episodes. Quite amazed that Ep 6 in particular has a series-low rating on IMDB. I know there’ve been complaints that there’s not enough Eve, but that it’s move to more of an ensemble is a positive for me, and Villanelle has always been the actual entertainment anyway.

[SincereTheRebel]

*Little Boy Blue was a great story for just four episodes.

[phonics]

The 'national game' reason is cringe, but I'm all for any depiction of sporting action in TV/film that isn't absolute dogshit edited together by a middle aged woman.

Funny little anecdote from that was a GAA player saying that it was the most realistic depiction of sport he'd seen but took the keeper to task for his lack of effort in saving it.

Turns out that they'd run the same play already but the goalie pulled off an accidental worldie of a save the previous take. The guy was fuming with himself for doing his job too well so let the next one in easy.

[Ian]

I've made a start on Rick and Morty this week and it's not doing a lot for me. I'll give it another couple of episodes because lots of people I know who like similar stuff to me have recommended it but I dunno, I'm just not really finding it especially funny.

[phonics]

I don't like it but skip the first season which is awful.

[mugbull]

Nah, first two seasons were great. Everything after that belongs in a Kierkegaard tome

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

False.

Meeseeks and Destroy (mainly for the secondary storyline) is a tremendous episode.

Edit: To Phonics.

[Ian]

So should I stick with it a bit longer or is three episodes enough for me to know if it's for me or not, do we think?

[phonics]

TBH I should have modified my sentence.

I didn't like it. It was just crap jokes and a guy burping. People seemed to like it several years later so I presume it got better.

[Baz]

If you don’t like the Meeseeks episode then it’s just not for you.

You should probably sell your telly and maybe say goodbye to your loved ones too, because there’s no hope for you.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Meeseeks is the 5th IIRC.

If you haven't "gotten it" by then, I don't think you will.

[Ian]

Cool, another couple won't hurt.

[Bernanke]

It's weird how I love Community so much but absolutely loathe Rick & Morty. I think it's the cynicism of it all, and Rick is just an awful, awful character.

[Foe]

I've made a start on Rick and Morty this week and it's not doing a lot for me. I'll give it another couple of episodes because lots of people I know who like similar stuff to me have recommended it but I dunno, I'm just not really finding it especially funny.

I really dislike most of season 1 and absolutely love series 2. Series 3 Is a sort of half way house.

Stick with it.

[Don]

BBC One have used their masterchef/bake-off identikit template to do some thing about sewing. I'm five minutes into it and if everyone associated with it in any way, including viewers (myself included) don't have all their loved ones perish to COVID-19 slowly then this world isn't just. Fuckin hell, the state of lives wasted watching shit like this is such a depressing thought.

[Giggles]

BBC One have used their masterchef/bake-off identikit template to do some thing about sewing. I'm five minutes into it and if everyone associated with it in any way, including viewers (myself included) don't have all their loved ones perish to COVID-19 slowly then this world isn't just. Fuckin hell, the state of lives wasted watching shit like this is such a depressing thought.

I think that shit has been on for a good few series now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Netflix put up a Bake-off style flower and plants thing (The Big Flower Fight) last week which I enjoyed.

The outfits worn by a Danish bloke and his Dutch friend were fucking mental though.

Edit: Here are a couple of special ones:

https://66.media.tumblr.com/58e5013a125489140a969032aadbed42/6519f0e2cec3f4cf-7e/s500x750/edd67d91c64d91d2e3d18a5a3129248ec54ded01.png

https://66.media.tumblr.com/d9954dd09eda324aa8aa7d37dd5df321/91357b7013023e83-7c/s500x750/7bae1575b347493c953addcc2f52ba20763eb103.png

[Don]

At least flowers aren't as toxic as promoting sugar and fashion but it's all so grim. I really need a missus soon before this sort of shit sends me on a Jihad.

[randomlegend]

This season of Killing Eve has been astonishingly good for me over the past 4 episodes. Quite amazed that Ep 6 in particular has a series-low rating on IMDB. I know there’ve been complaints that there’s not enough Eve, but that it’s move to more of an ensemble is a positive for me, and Villanelle has always been the actual entertainment anyway.

It's been amazing, best season they've done IMO.

Rick and Morty is absolutely shit.

[mugbull]

You all probably think Tim and Eric are shit too

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

No idea what "Tim and Eric" but I'm going to say shit.

I love Rick and Morty though although I think the latest season has been pretty weak thus far.

[Baz]

BBC One have used their masterchef/bake-off identikit template to do some thing about sewing. I'm five minutes into it and if everyone associated with it in any way, including viewers (myself included) don't have all their loved ones perish to COVID-19 slowly then this world isn't just. Fuckin hell, the state of lives wasted watching shit like this is such a depressing thought.

Juliet Uzor :chief:

[Disco]

BBC One have used their masterchef/bake-off identikit template to do some thing about sewing. I'm five minutes into it and if everyone associated with it in any way, including viewers (myself included) don't have all their loved ones perish to COVID-19 slowly then this world isn't just. Fuckin hell, the state of lives wasted watching shit like this is such a depressing thought.

The Sewing Bee? It's been around long enough for me to have seen it so it's certainly not new.

[Ian]

Another two episodes down, up to the Meeseeks episode, and still not really getting it. I don't actively dislike it like Bernanke and RL do but I think I've laughed about twice in five episodes so far.

[Disco]

I remember liking the flu episode and the one with the house party / parasites but a lot of the other stuff was very hit and miss. Meeseeks and pickle Rick (an episode people seem to have clearly missed the point of) very average to me.

Final episode of series 2 was the best one, then they immediately distance themselves from it in series 3 and I lost interest.

[Lofty]

Pickle Rick was definitely their version of Nirvana's In Bloom. Rick and Morty is fine, it can be hit and miss and the fanbase are idiots.

Started Ashes to Ashes today. Considering Money Heist.

[Ian]

I have watched the first episode of Money Heist and quite enjoyed it.

[Foe]

Just skip to the last episode of series 1 and then enjoy series 2.

Series 1 is a waste of time Ian. I don’t rewatch series 1 but I’ve watched series 2 and 3 a good few times. A bit like the American office, just pretend the first series doesn’t exist.

[Manc]

The Eddy is improving with each episode.

[mo]

Started Killing Eve the other night. Don't think I can say anything that hasn't already been said.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I must get onto that. The best thing about the first two series was something intangible, just the general sort of tone and creative sparkle of it.

[Kikó]

Jodie Comer is amazing as well.

[Smjffy]

I've never watched it but Jamie Carragher has signed up for Strictly Come Dancing. :D

That's gonna be a must watch!

[Manc]

There goes his marriage.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He could always dance with a man if that were a concern.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wasn't there public OUTRAGE when they had two males dance just for one song?

[Spikey M]

Maybe in the Daily Mail comment section.

[Manc]

Space Force looks to have bombed.

[Giggles]

Had been looking forward to that too.

[-james-]

Caught up with Killing Eve. So good.

Fiona Shaw has properly stolen the show this season, and I think I agree it's the best one yet.

When does it come out? BBC One is showing episode 7 tonight, what's the deal with that?

[randomlegend]

It comes out six AM Mondays on iPlayer.

[Baz]

Randomly decided to read about Twin Peaks because I love it, but got mad that the internet seemed to actually like season 3. I feel like it’s one massive troll focused directly at me. Like when Derren Brown made that lad think zombies were coming by tapping his phone and feeding him fake news, or when Mike and I told all our friends that the movie Grown Ups was funny and made everyone watch it.

Has anyone here watched all of Twin Peaks?
Did you actually enjoy season three? :cab:

Also found this amusing infographic:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/69/66/44696666b5c3a02e5c03060f746a4902.jpg

Whoever made it presumably hates James. I mean I get it but c’mon, it’s fun.

I’m tempted to rewatch Workaholics and rate them all and make something similar, just because it makes me laugh so much, but ehhh it would mean taking time off WoW and that’s not happening any time soon.

[Shindig]

I haven't seen 3 yet. I feel like I should avoid it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52888484

Carole Baskin has been given Joe Exotic's old zoo. Shameful shit.

[Queenslander]

She is easily the best of and awful bunch.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

She's an absolute cunt (they all are) and only Joe comes out looking worse in my eyes.

[Giggles]

I know I’ve been chastised about Brooklyn Nine Nine before here, probably somewhat rightly so as it’s still not bad.

But, this series’ Heist :face:

[Ian]

Yeah it's probably the weakest Heist so far.

[John]

It was comfortably the weakest. They should probably just stop trying to find ways to have someone new unexpectedly win it because the show is weakest when it gets too plotty, and unless they want to go dark and kill someone off they've already used up the most significant possible story move.

That said, it was still good because it still has Boyle and Holt so there will always at the very least be a load of laughs in the margins.

[Ian]

I watched the first episode of season 2 earlier where Peralta's just back from undercover and he needs Boyle to hit him.

"I got a real wet mouth." :D

[Giggles]

Overall Boyle is the best thing in it. Holt got too cartoon over the years.

[-james-]

Overall Boyle is the best thing in it. Holt got too cartoon over the years.

They did the same thing to Ron Swanson in Park & Rec. They're basically the same character.

[Ian]

Has anybody been watching the documentary on Disney+ about the making of The Mandalorian? It's really good.

EDIT: Though I've just learned that Favreau pronounces Tunisia "toon-eezha." Is that an American thing?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

She is easily the best of and awful bunch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52920681

She's a real sweetheart...

[Bob Sacamano]

I've just started watching Justified, thoroughly enjoying it. Walton Goggins is great.

[phonics]

He just gets better and better throughout. Genuine character development.

[Queenslander]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52920681

She's a real sweetheart...

:D

But she treats the animals pretty good yeah?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, I mean look at that massive lion in a cage far too small for it. He's having a whale of a time.

Plus he loves the taste of ex-husbands.

[Queenslander]

Not paying her volunteers is a cunt move when she is loaded.

[Spoonsky]

Has anybody been watching the documentary on Disney+ about the making of The Mandalorian? It's really good.

EDIT: Though I've just learned that Favreau pronounces Tunisia "toon-eezha." Is that an American thing?

How do you pronounce amnesia?

[Foe]

Started watching space force on Netflix last night.

Jesus Christ it’s bad. Avoid.

[Ian]

If we're playing that game then just as I'm pronouncing the two 'sia' bits in different ways other people will be pronouncing 'esia' and 'isia' as if they didn't have a different letter. I'm really glad I don't have to learn English as a second language.

Anyway, back onto telly chat I watched the recent Cheddar-centric episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and it is shiiiiiiiiiiiit. It's a oerfect example of Holt being written as a characiture of his earlier character.


Started watching space force on Netflix last night.

Jesus Christ it’s bad. Avoid.

Yeah I heard that despite it having all the ingredients to be good it's a big steaming turd.

[John]

I thought Holt in that episode seemed like he'd been written by someone who'd never seen the show but had had the more cartoonish version of the character described to them.

[Ian]

You can do the "he cares more about Cheddar than anything else" thing without him literally going and kitting himself out with fucking grenades.

[Giggles]

Started watching space force on Netflix last night.

Jesus Christ it’s bad. Avoid.

Read the reviews, still gave it half an hour. Immediate regret.

[John]

You can do the "he cares more about Cheddar than anything else" thing without him literally going and kitting himself out with fucking grenades.

That stuff would have played better if he hadn't just been a bit miffed on the two or more previous occasions Cheddar has gone missing.

[Ian]

Yep.

Also the ending joke was fucking stupid too.

[Boydy]

I don't think Space Force is as bad as you lot made out.

[Don]

Episode 1 of I May Destroy You was watchable although I imagine largely due to being able to enjoy the London vibe of it. That and Michaela Coel obvs.

[Kikó]

We've been making our way through Scrubs and it's still great although it's a noticeable transition from pure slapstick to comedy-soap. The characters do evolve in some ways (Turk, Carla, JD and Elliot all come along) but then JD and Kelso become a bit more caricatures. Really noticeable token episode in the middle of season 6 as well where they throw in a greatest hits rack which was completely dire.

Anyway, that is all.

[Baz]

I never got beyond the musical episode.

[Kikó]

Yeah was a bit of a tough twenty but it grew on me (and guy love is a great song).

[Mike]

JD remains the most unpleasant character in anything I've ever watched. I love scrubs, but I can not stand JD at all. He's an awful human.

[Manc]

I've been slowly working my way through The Office (US) and it remains gold.

Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown is also taking my fancy.

[Kikó]

JD remains the most unpleasant character in anything I've ever watched. I love scrubs, but I can not stand JD at all. He's an awful human.

Didn't realise until the rewatch how selfish and twatty he is especially to Elliot. He's basically a dorky "LAD".

The US Office is so bloody good.

[Ian]

Similarly I've realised with rewatches of Brooklyn Nine Nine that I hate Gina. I probably realised this on first watch but watching most of it back to back has driven it home.

[wullie]

There's the one bit where JD relentlessly pursues Elliott and then as soon as she's up for it he immediately goes off her, what a twat.

[Giggles]

Similarly I've realised with rewatches of Brooklyn Nine Nine that I hate Gina. I probably realised this on first watch but watching most of it back to back has driven it home.

She was always easily the worst in it.

[John]

Michael Scott is orders of magnitude worse than JD and actively destroys long stretches of The Office US.

[Ian]

She was always easily the worst in it.

Yeah I'd agree with that but I think it's only on repeat viewing I've realised that I actively dislike her because she's just a horrible person.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm alright with Gina but only in small doses.

[Ian]

Yeah when she's just chipping in the odd joke she's pretty good. But here are the stages of any Gina-centric story:

1) Gina is a cunt about something
2) Gina continues to be a cunt
3) She doubles-down on the cuntishness
4) Somebody goes, "Awwwwww she was right to be a massive obnoxious cunt all along! Lol!"

[Kikó]

I'm going to be honest now, and it might be I have no humour, but I've found Archer and Brooklyn Nine Nine a bit shite at times. I'd much rather watch Parks and Rec or first Arrested Development.

I really want to like both as well.

[Manc]

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is background TV and nothing more.

[Disco]

Archer is really hit and miss for me too, the early ones plus the Noir series they did I liked more than the rest. Brooklyn Nine Nine I don't get at all, decidedly average everytime I've seen it.

[Foe]

Michael Scott is orders of magnitude worse than JD and actively destroys long stretches of The Office US.

Just fuck off. :(

Dwight schrute is just the best character in anything though.

[Giggles]

Brooklyn Nine Nine is the only one I’d watch of that lot. I could never see anything in the latter two (AD and P&R).

I did come round to the US Office though despite disliking it early on and hating the UK one.

[John]

Just fuck off. :(

Dwight schrute is just the best character in anything though.

Not only did he actively ruin the show itself at times, but within the show he actively ruined loads of lives. Just deeply unpleasant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Archer is really hit and miss for me too, the early ones plus the Noir series they did I liked more than the rest. Brooklyn Nine Nine I don't get at all, decidedly average everytime I've seen it.

Seasons 1-4 were brilliant.

Vice onwards has been a struggle and I couldn't even finish the 10th season (1999 or something).

[Baz]

Main characters it’s hard to like?

Vince Chase from Entourage.

[phonics]

Isn't the whole point of entourage that they're awful human beings?

It's like when anyone says they like any of the main 'Its Always Sunny' characters, dead giveaway of a psychopath.

[phonics]

Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown is also taking my fancy.

Read 'Kitchen Confidential', even if you're not a reader you'll be done within a couple of days and it's fantastic.

No Reservations is far superior to Parts Unknown imo.

[mugbull]

Isn't the whole point of entourage that they're awful human beings?

It's like when anyone says they like any of the main 'Its Always Sunny' characters, dead giveaway of a psychopath.

Charlie's great

[Manc]

Peggy Olsen. Baz

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Main characters it’s hard to like?

Vince Chase from Entourage.
Piper in Orange is the New Black is a massive cunt.

The show is actively better in scenes she is not in.

[Baz]

Isn't the whole point of entourage that they're awful human beings?

It's like when anyone says they like any of the main 'Its Always Sunny' characters, dead giveaway of a psychopath.

If you don’t love Johnny Drama you’re dead inside.

[Alex]

Piper in Orange is the New Black is a massive cunt.

The show is actively better in scenes she is not in.

I stopped watched this a few episodes into the second season for this exact reason. The rest of it was quite good, but she's fucking insufferable.

[Alex]

I agree with Baz that Vince Chase was a wanker. E can get fucked too. Turtle was alright, especially a bit later on when he wasn't such a drip all the time. Drama was great.

On the subject, I watched Big Love earlier that year an the main character in that, Bill Hendrickson, was mostly a sanctimonious dickhead. I enjoyed the show though. I think that might have sort of been the intention.

I didn't like Jack on Lost either, the surly prick. He was a terrible main character. I don't think the bloke playing him had the range for anything else to be honest, it's no surprise he managed to helm the biggest show on TV and go on to do almost nothing of note afterwards. Although to be fair to him, almost everything about Lost was shite, in retrospect.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I stopped watched this a few episodes into the second season for this exact reason. The rest of it was quite good, but she's fucking insufferable.

She got a lot worse.

[Lewis]

Main characters it’s hard to like?

Vince Chase from Entourage.

Karl Kennedy has always annoyed me.

[Alex]

Get out.

[John]

I didn't like Jack on Lost either, the surly prick. He was a terrible main character. I don't think the bloke playing him had the range for anything else to be honest, it's no surprise he managed to helm the biggest show on TV and go on to do almost nothing of note afterwards. Although to be fair to him, almost everything about Lost was shite, in retrospect.

The most annoying thing about Jack was that any time he got a chance to get some answers about what the fuck was going on he would either say nothing at all or ask the single most stupid question available at the time

Obviously that had to be the case for what wound up actually being a rather thin mystery to sustain six seasons, but it's still hugely annoying in the moment.

Hardly any of the Lost main cast have gone on to do much of note, but that does tend to happen with the main players in massive, long running hits, presumably because they make fortunes so can afford to be choosy about what they do afterwards.

[Lewis]

Get out.

He remains a no-mark hospital doctor despite performing medical miracles when necessary, and he's a drudge to Susan, going along with her adopting every loser and shithead they can find, in case she throws his shagging about in his face. The man has wasted his potential.

[Alex]

I have't tuned in in going on ten years, to be fair. I always loved him though. Is he still shagging around? The man had a phenomenal record when it came to punching above his weight. :cool:

[Raoul Duke]

Been on a sci-fi kick recently and watched:

- The Mandolorian - good overall but a bit plodding in places. Ties itself up neatly at the end but never felt particularly exhilarating throughout the show. Immense main tune though and definitely captured a vibe

- Picard - ended up only getting a few episodes in then returning to it months later, but picked up nicely after a slow 2nd quarter. Loads of cameos but used pretty thoughtfully and came to a satisfying conclusion. Felt it got the balance between gravitas and slightly ridiculousness and humour that makes ST what it is. Rios :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lost was an absolutely brilliant premise with a great knack for genuinely absorbing mysteries, let down by a whole slate of terrible actors (apols to Michael Emerson who was class) and the writers' total inability to come up with a satisying central explanation that wasn't total wank. If you gave me five hours and their storyboards I'm 100% sure I could do better.

[Boydy]

Lost was an absolutely brilliant premise with a great knack for genuinely absorbing mysteries, let down by a whole slate of terrible actors (apols to Michael Emerson who was class) and the writers' total inability to come up with a satisying central explanation that wasn't total wank. If you gave me five hours and their storyboards I'm 100% sure I could do better.

Watch Person of Interest if you want some Michael Emerson goodness.

[Disco]

Lost lost me in series 2 when it became apparent that the only answer for any of the mysteries was yet more layers of mystery.

[Manc]

It never should have gotten near 121 episodes.

[Lewis]

I have't tuned in in going on ten years, to be fair. I always loved him though. Is he still shagging around? The man had a phenomenal record when it came to punching above his weight. :cool:

Not anymore, although he's got some skirt sniffing around his marital problems. He's currently in the doghouse because he thinks Susan dropped a bollock letting an amnesiac psychopath move in, only for him to regain his memory and attempt to kill half the street. Well, yeah.

[John]

Michael Schur has a show in development about an entitled white man whose entire identity is based around the town his family built, using slavery on stolen Native land, and his opposition to a proposal to remove a statue of his grandfather. Nothing like capturing the moment.

The main character will be played by Ed Helms, which suggests it'll just be Andy Barnard with the volume up.

Might be the first Schur project I don't watch a single second of.

[wullie]

I've got back into Neighbours due to working at home, I only recognised Karl, Susan and bizarrely thin Toadie but it's nice how quickly you can catch up. I like the fat lad whose nan thinks a pigeon is her dead son reincarnated and the fact that Dee is not just alive but also playing her street tough evil twin in prison.

[phonics]

Watch Person of Interest if you want some Michael Emerson goodness.

Did you finish it? Genuinely one of the best endings to a show imo.

[Boydy]

Did you finish it? Genuinely one of the best endings to a show imo.

Yeah, ages ago. Loved it.

[Lewis]

I've got back into Neighbours due to working at home, I only recognised Karl, Susan and bizarrely thin Toadie but it's nice how quickly you can catch up. I like the fat lad whose nan thinks a pigeon is her dead son reincarnated and the fact that Dee is not just alive but also playing her street tough evil twin in prison.

The amnesia thread has been sucking the life out it for about a year now, and it also killed off the toppest lad on the street Gary Canning (reincarnated as the pigeon), whose short-lived fiance Denise van Outen was in a cult led by Richard Arnold. Now there's a sentence.

[wullie]

To think all this time I've been wasting on Emmerdale. I love that Paul Robinson's still exactly the same but allegedly older, swanning about scheming against everyone he makes eye contact with.

[Shindig]

I stopped watching Coronation Street once they ran out of ways to ruin Gail Platt's life.

[Disco]

To think all this time I've been wasting on Emmerdale. I love that Paul Robinson's still exactly the same but allegedly older, swanning about scheming against everyone he makes eye contact with.

Has his leg grown back yet?

[wullie]

What the hell, he lost a leg? Oh I've got so much catching up to do.

[Lewis]

Neighbours has a great record of people overcoming serious ailments when writing around them becomes a ballache. Susan Kennedy having MS that only flares up when they need it to compound some other aggro is typical, but Bridget Parker literally snapping out of being a cripple leaning to catch a cricket ball set the standard (although to be fair, it did come back and kill her not long after). I wonder whether Liam Hemsworth regrets playing that disabled lad she met in physical therapy.

[Mike]

Has Paul grown his leg back yet?

[Lewis]

No, but his limp gets worse the angrier he is about something.

[Spikey M]

Has he decided which leg it was yet?

[Baz]

Has it grown back tho

[Alex]

Not anymore, although he's got some skirt sniffing around his marital problems. He's currently in the doghouse because he thinks Susan dropped a bollock letting an amnesiac psychopath move in, only for him to regain his memory and attempt to kill half the street. Well, yeah.

Classic Susan, that. Loves taking in waifs and strays. The more disreputable the better. Not everybody is going to follow the Toadfish Rebecchi "tearaway with a heart of gold" model, love. The man was a one-off. Most of them are just bad news.

Maybe I should start watching again. We could resurrect the Neighbours thread. Get Baz and Spikey involved, track down Fandan. All the old gang.

[Baz]

I could get back into it.

[Mike]

It did used to be amazing

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Decided to start re-watching Community, I had forgotten how good this end credit scene was:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j25tkxg5Vws

[Spikey M]

Classic Susan, that. Loves taking in waifs and strays. The more disreputable the better. Not everybody is going to follow the Toadfish Rebecchi "tearaway with a heart of gold" model, love. The man was a one-off. Most of them are just bad news.

Maybe I should start watching again. We could resurrect the Neighbours thread. Get Baz and Spikey involved, track down Fandan. All the old gang.

I think Zeke and Bree killed it forever for me. Big props to LouBear for powering through.

[mugbull]

Got wisdom teeth out so I’ve been powering through Peep Show the last few days. God I hate every character. Especially David Mitchell’s one.

[Spikey M]

I hope you've PM'd Magic to tell him about your trip to the dentist.

[John]

The war episode of Fawlty Towers is the latest thing to go in the bin, apparently.

[mugbull]

I hope you've PM'd Magic to tall him about your trip to the dentist.

Explain

[Spikey M]

Explain

It's one of his kinks. Send him a quick message.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The war episode of Fawlty Towers is the latest thing to go in the bin, apparently.

I swear Fawlty Towers is mocking Basil for his ridiculous views/actions, not siding with him?

Most comedy will have to go probably on this basis.

[Spikey M]

The war episode of Fawlty Towers is the latest thing to go in the bin, apparently.

They're coming for Only Fools and Horses apparently. Which is probably enough to have me standing in front of the East India Tea Company HQ, flaming pitchfork in hand, screaming about Lefty Snowbrexits.

[Ian]

I love Only Fools and Horses but it could probably do with its first episode not ending with an "all black people look the same" joke.

[thommo]

Got wisdom teeth out so I’ve been powering through Peep Show the last few days. God I hate every character. Especially David Mitchell’s one.

Probably my favourite British comedy of the past 15 years. I might have to go back and rewatch that now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mark Corrigan is a brilliant character but his complete lack of conviction, and several instances of just being a prick, also make him fairly dislikeable.

Pretty much everyone in it is a knobhead of some kind.

[Kikó]

I swear Fawlty Towers is mocking Basil for his ridiculous views/actions, not siding with him?

Most comedy will have to go probably on this basis.

Isn't it specific to the episode where the Colonel (?) uses N-word / W** that's being reviewed?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53020335


'Audience expectations'
UKTV also operates channels including Gold, and a spokesman said: "UKTV has temporarily removed an episode of Fawlty Towers The Germans from Gold's Box Set.

"The episode contains racial slurs so we are taking the episode down while we review it. We regularly review older content to ensure it meets audience expectations and are particularly aware of the impact of outdated language.

"Some shows carry warnings and others are edited. We want to take time to consider our options for this episode."

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought they edited that out years ago. Even then, it would be well within the Major's character (clearly defined as an absurd old man in the 70s) for him to say that.

[Yevrah]

I love Only Fools and Horses but it could probably do with its first episode not ending with an "all black people look the same" joke.

On OFAH, I thought they'd already been through it with a fine tooth comb and removed all references to things like "just popping down the paki shop".

Whoever was responsible for that review was ahead of their time.

[niko_cee]

Is this ongoing purge of content really any different from burning books? And don't most sane people think that's generally a bad thing?

Speaking of which, there must be a shit load of books that need burning. I'll nominate The Human Stain as the most likely to be inexplicably and completely nonsensically decried due to racist content.

[Lewis]

The monuments stuff, whilst I don't agree with it, at least has an intellectual case you can engage with around commemoration. This is just totalitarian shite, taking us back to the religious impulse.

[Ian]

On OFAH, I thought they'd already been through it with a fine tooth comb and removed all references to things like "just popping down the paki shop".

Whoever was responsible for that review was ahead of their time.

I think the joke I referenced was left in when I saw the episode recently but maybe they were riding it out as "Granddad is senile."

But yeah you're right that I think a lot of iffy stuff got pulled.

I wonder if the scene where Del is terrified a gay man is going to bum him has been left in, you'd be cutting the episode by about 10 minutes if not.

[SvN]

"Are they a couple of ravers?"

"No, they're a couple of geezers"

I'm surprised they still air it.

[Giggles]

Is there going to be anything left by the time these nutjobs are done?

[Spikey M]

Miranda.

[Manc]

It's all very small time. If the movement had anything about it they'd be dragging Boris out of No 10.

[Foe]

The key to good tv comedy is being PC. Surely that’s obvious.

At least gossip girl is safe.

[Baz]

I’m completely against all this censorship bollocks.

And +1 for the gossip girl fans

[Adamski]

Picked up Ray Donovan season 6 after a year or three break from when I finished 5. Surprisingly good.

[Yevrah]

I'm 6 episodes into The Man in the High Castle and after a reasonably good start it's veered off into absolute shite over the last 2/3 episodes.

[mo]

Newest series of Goliath is fucking weird. Sticking with it in the hope of a payoff.

[SvN]

I'm 6 episodes into The Man in the High Castle and after a reasonably good start it's veered off into absolute shite over the last 2/3 episodes.

I think that's around the time I lost interest. I still want to pick it back up at some point, but it's been years now, so I'd probably need to start again.

[Yevrah]

Into episode 7 and it's basically Lost with A-Levels by this point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't remember what happens when so no idea where you are, but there are definitely points when it veers into the absurd and then points when it picks up again. Overall I certainly enjoyed the four series.

It is a lot better with answers than Lost is.

[Giggles]

Into episode 7 and it's basically Lost with A-Levels by this point.

What’s it at now?

[Giggles]

Is the 4k Netflix then worth the extra or is it one of those setups where there’s only about 3 things on it in the resolution?

[Yevrah]

Finished season 1 of Castle Man and it's now gone a bit Fringe.

It's not bad Giggles, most if not all of their stuff is in 4k, but I say that not having checked what the difference in cost between the packages is since I signed up for it.

[Giggles]

€4 a month here.

[Spikey M]

Gimmick

[Yevrah]

€4 a month here.

I probably would then, but I suppose it depends how much of a shit you give about that stuff.

[Giggles]

Just into my second episode of Drive to Survive (skipped series 1). Haas are some comedy act.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Decided to start re-watching Community, I had forgotten how good this end credit scene was:


Time for the dreaded Gas Leak season...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just finished season 4 and honestly, it wasn't as bad as I remembered it.

There were a couple of shitters (German War one, Puppets and the "Whale" episode) but there were still some good episodes in there.

[Bernanke]

Aside from Herstory of Dance and the Freaky Friday episode, season 4 can go die in a fire.

[Don]

I saw on TV that they'd made My Family available on iplayer. Had completely forgot about it but I used to enjoy it as a kid. Watched episode 1 and it's solid, I may try stick with it for a nice innocent walk down memory lane. 11 series though? I recall the older son leaving and me losing interest so hopefully that occurs soon.

[mo]

Wow that loss of taste symptom is far-reaching.

[Spikey M]

:D

[Don]

I'm absolutely willing to take the stick, the nostalgia is peak.

[Kikó]

Not sure why I've never watched them before but 30 for 30 is brilliant. Watching the holyfield Tyson one now after the USC Trojans one. Great stories.

[Foe]

Agree.


Where are you watching them from?

[Kikó]

IPTV on demand.

[phonics]

The Deion Sanders one is great. If you don't know the story, try go in blind.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Netflix have removed the first Dungeons & Dragons episode (season 2) of Community for Ken Jeong's blackface/Dark Elf.

Had a feeling that would happen when episodes of other shows started getting pulled which is what sparked my re-watch.

[Queenslander]

Doesnt the CEO of Netflix fund charter schools that fuck over teachers pay?

[Baz]

Netflix have removed the first Dungeons & Dragons episode (season 2) of Community for Ken Jeong's blackface/Dark Elf.

Had a feeling that would happen when episodes of other shows started getting pulled which is what sparked my re-watch.
Ridiculous.

Do they let viewers know there’s an episode missing?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ridiculous.

Do they let viewers know there’s an episode missing?

No. They just changed the numbers of the following episodes so everything looks "normal".

[mugbull]

What other shows have they censored?

[John Arne]

I don't want to sound all #WhiteLivesMatter- but how does this censorship work for sketches like Key & Peele - who spend a lot of time imitating Mexican and Indians, for example.

[Giggles]

You can’t be racist if you’re black.

[Manc]

:D

[Disco]

Would it not be better to solve the whole police/murder problem before moving onto stuff like this?

[Giggles]

Would it not be better to solve the whole police/murder problem before moving onto stuff like this?

It’s far easier to just press a few buttons and do a bit of posturing on Twitter.

[John]

You can’t be racist if you’re black.

That can't be true, since racism is a crime and crime is for blacks.

I think you'll want to be avoiding the new series of Brooklyn Nine Nine, by the way. They've apparently completely binned the four episodes they'd managed to complete prior to lockdown and will be starting afresh, presumably because they want to address the BLM stuff. They did a good job with the episode where Terry got stopped for being black so they get the benefit of the doubt from me.

[Baz]

I actively prefer black people. Is that racist of me?

[Giggles]

That can't be true, since racism is a crime and crime is for blacks.

I think you'll want to be avoiding the new series of Brooklyn Nine Nine, by the way. They've apparently completely binned the four episodes they'd managed to complete prior to lockdown and will be starting afresh, presumably because they want to address the BLM stuff. They did a good job with the episode where Terry got stopped for being black so they get the benefit of the doubt from me.

I’d be of the same thinking about that episode too but 4+ episodes of it will be a bit of a chore.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What other shows have they censored?

The Office has had a scene removed, 30 Rock has had episodes removed as has Scrubs and then a couple of British shows have had episodes removed.

[Lewis]

I actively prefer black people. Is that racist of me?

All three of them round your area.

[Spikey M]

That can't be true, since racism is a crime and crime is for blacks.

I think you'll want to be avoiding the new series of Brooklyn Nine Nine, by the way. They've apparently completely binned the four episodes they'd managed to complete prior to lockdown and will be starting afresh, presumably because they want to address the BLM stuff. They did a good job with the episode where Terry got stopped for being black so they get the benefit of the doubt from me.

It's to do with BLM but from what I read they're redoing it because whatever they filmed doesn't feel right anymore.

[Boydy]

The Office has had a scene removed, 30 Rock has had episodes removed as has Scrubs and then a couple of British shows have had episodes removed.

I read about that scene in The Office because I didn't remember it and it seems like it was removed even though the point of it was that black face isn't okay.

[Boydy]

I actively prefer black people. Is that racist of me?

Sounds like you're fetishizing them so yes.

[Lewis]

I posted before about a lad I know who only goes out with dark-skinned black women, which is clearly a fetish; but he's the nerdiest Star Trek glasses cunt ever, and his black wife cheated on him with an even bigger soy boy, so seemingly black people have similar fetishes for white people as colossal nerds.