I just found out that Andy Hallett, known as Lorne in Angel, died in March of heart problems, aged 33.

As one of my favourite shows he brought me much laughter and it wouldn't have been as good without him. Here is a video of his fantastic talent...



RIP

No more David tennant after 2009 on Dr Who. It breaks your heart really. I bet I won't like who they get to replace him. Then we'll only have Captain Jack. Time for a picture to cheer me up.

We are probably going to have to wait years for the show, but I am pretty impressed with the advertising so far....

Tru Beverage website: http://www.trubeverage.com/

Vampire Blog: http://bloodcopy.com/?page_id=224

If tv was more interesting, reality shows would feature zombies!

How about:

Zombies of the Playboy Mansion
Strictly Come Shambling
The Z Factor
Unliving Lohan
Zombie Idol
Unlife in the Fab Lane
America's Next Top Zombie
I'm Not A Zombie Get Me Out of Here
One Man and his Shotgun
Zombie Hunt

(thanks to Neil for the last 3)

Any other suggestions out there?

As if I needed another reason to dislike football (or am I being too blinkered, is it really the writer's strike I should be aiming my vitriol at? However, writers do far more to enhance my life so I pick the sport).

"ITV drops Pushing Daisies episode

Pushing Daisies was nominated for three Golden Globes in the US
The second episode of Anna Friel's hit US drama Pushing Daisies will not be screened by ITV, it has emerged. The UK broadcaster bought the rights to the entire nine-part series, but only has space in its schedule to show eight programmes before Euro 2008 begins."

I enjoyed the show last Saturday and I was going to continue to watch it (a big reason is because Saturday night tv is pretty rubbish) but I hate missing out episodes. I need to watch something from the beginning and not miss an episode, or it will continue to bug me.

ITV should put the second episode up for download to appease its audience, but then maybe it doesn't care about people like me. Bet it wouldn't dare miss out a football game....

I appreciate that I am stealing this from Neil Gaiman's blog, but it made me laugh out loud... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/customer-reviews/0306804379/sr=8-1/qid=1205532258/ref=cm_rev_sort?customer-reviews.sort_by=-OverallRating&x=15&y=10&s=books&colid=&coliid

Also, how much are you looking forward to new Battlestar Galactica? If it is anything like me it is a whole frakkin' lot. Just watched some promo shows for it and I forgot how good it was. Who do you think the 5th one is?

How many people do you think will be blogging about the series 4 dr who episode? I promise I won't do it every week unless there is something really noteworthy to say.



I was always against Catherine Tate. I wasn't happy about her in the christmas special and I was really unhappy about her being the new companion. Why? I don't find her brand of comedy very funny I guess (there is also the fact that she isn't me, but that's a whole other world of therapy there). Also Donna just seemed to be annoyingly argumentative. Also there was much said about the love aspect. As David Tennant (nee Macdonald) said, there's been the love story, the unrequited love story, now there is going to be the no love story. Well where is the fun in that? It's not like she's got that many other offers to be so blindly against him. It was all over protested in that last scene. Why do you have to go and say all that stuff out loud? Why not let their behaviour speak for itself.

There was the annoying contradictions - I didn't travel the world but I have been to all these UFO and monster sightings looking for you - over use of the sonic screwdriver again. However, I did find myself laughing at the window scene, and who couldn't love her grandpa? The new funky music is great. And wasn't seeing Rose just the best bit? Though I feel a lot of the episode was ruined by the long trailer at the cinema which has been running for months and last night's episode of Jonathon Ross, the cute little babies was rather given away.

Do I feel any different about Cathering/Donna now? I can see they are going for that 'equal companion' thing, which is interesting, but how could she be? I will have to reserve judgement for a few episodes, see how it pans out.

p.s. why is it, when Torchwood is great, Dr Who is crap and vice versa? Last nights TW, just like most of the series, was terrible. Why can't they both be great?

Although I fully support the recent writer's strike (oh to be a card carrying writer and affected, if you know what I mean) I am glad it is over and that good tv is coming back. For months now we have been left with the dregs of shows like Big Brother, Flash Gordon and Army Wives (don't ask). Tonight we have a return of The Apprentice, for me more exciting not for the actual show than the headlines it generates afterwards. What I would really like to see is a behind the scenes look at the winner in their 100k job, what they are asked to do and see why none of them stick it out for very long.

It always amazes me the politics that insinuates itself into any work situation. I'm having 'interesting' and 'emotional' discussions with my line manager because of the daft performance rating system. My score (and therefore my pay increase) is calculated from a complicated equation made up of 26 seperate scores, yet there are only 4 categories of pay increases. You can probably see where this is going. For the second year going I am on the borderline of the highest pay score. Last year I missed out, this year I am not letting go without a fight. However I have been informed the decision is not about myself or my performance but more about what the department manager thinks about me, his ethos for handing out pay increases and how deciding either way will reflect on him. Just like internal recruitment, it is all about personality, no matter what the corporate blurb tries to tell you.

OK today I was going to write about either the a) stupid cost of glasses or b) the stupid allure of 'I'm A Celebrity'... but instead I spent hours (while watching the tv natch) adding tags to all my post on here.

I hope you 4 people that read it appreciate it, and normal service will resume tomorrow, where I may go with one of those topics or something else entirely.

I know, I know, I have been away for a while. It has been one crazy summer. However there is good news, there is so much crap on television that I should get a lot of posting done now. You know what I mean, shows that you hope are going to be better and you continue to watch them in the hope that they do. Of course until they do you can be on your laptop typing away, with one eye and two ears with the show. Like I'm doing right now with Robin Hood. Is it the plot, the script, the modern costumes? It should be good with that acting talent, but instead it stinks. It is only the need for background information for larping and my novel (don't ask, one day it will be finished) that keeps me barely interested.

With the decline in actual talent writing television (apart from Studio 60, which is the best thing on atm) expect to be hearing from me soon.

Sitting here watching Smallville I remember how good it is and how much I have missed it. Great characters (Clark, Lex), great plotlines (Zod, Jor-El), it's not afraid to kill off major players (Jonathon?) and the script is far better than a lot of tv programs. OK I agree there have been a few turkeys here and there (the freak of the week got a bit much in the early years and the lana thing is pretty boring now but over 6 seasons of 24 episodes what woulnd't?) I can admit that in the beginning I was reluctant to watch since I couldn't believe that any show about teenagers could do justice to the quintessential christmas movies of Superman. After I was persuaded I was instantly hooked, and it had nothing to do with the size of Tom Welling's arms (magnificent though they are). For me is stands up strongly besides the likes of Buffy, which is supposed to be for kids, but actually is an alternative tv show worth watching by adults. The only thing that annoys me is that we are a year behind the states and that some of the people playing teenagers are 30 irl (damn www.imdb.com say the actors). Anyway, thank goodness the superboy is back, and long may his trials and tribulations in small town kansas continue (and for those in the know, I'm personally hoping for some more red kryponite episodes this season.)

*Warning, Spoilers of Dr Who Season 3 Finale*

I cannot underestimate how excited I was by epsidoe 12 of dr who and the upcoming 13. I emitted a high pitched squeal whenever anything remotely related was mentioned, I downloaded the 'drums' song, I watched back episodes and started an online dr who comic (www.bbc.co.uk/drwho). 

Now, after watching it, I am angry than ever. I have these questions, some for which I am seeking legitimate answers, others that are rhetorical in the, what were they thinking? sense. In no particular order:

1. What was Mrs Saxon's story? Why was she so happy to marry an obvious loon? (though, his kissing style was H O T).
2. If Jack is the Face Of Bo, where did his body go and how did his head get so big? And why didn't he tell the doctor who he was?
3. If time went back to just after the president was killed then there are still 6 toclaphane running around killing people?
4. If Martha loved the doctor so much she would stick with him knowing that he might not return her love but it would be better than being without him. Surely? And she still has a tardis key.
5. Isn't killing the prime minister, no matter how evil he is, still a major crime and someone is going down for it? And you can't just burn the body of a premier.
6. How on earth did a telepathic network become capable of changing matter?
7. How did the master regenerate the first time when the council at gallifrey took them all away?
8. Does Martha think she can make a random real doctor interested in her? 
9. What's he going to do with that old hand? Wouldn't he destroy it after that dna nonsense?
10. Where did the far more useful laser screwdriver go?

I could go on. The only thing that can save me is another 5 seasons of David Tennant. 

(BTW if anyone knows how I can apply to be the next companion?)

Happy Browncoat Day

(special edition dvd coming soon)

Why I love Wimbledon (in no particular order)

1. The rules and and scores in tennis are easy to understand
2. You get close up of fit boys' arms
3. It is all very polite
4. The British enthusiasm in the face of obvious defeat
5. The funny noises they make when they hit the ball hard
6. You get to eat strawberries and cream guilt free while watching
7. It always rains but the crowd doesn't care
8. It's really hard to get tickets
9. Despite the massive number of grand slams around the world, Wimbledon is the one to win.
10. 30 is good but 40 i better.
11. When it hits the net but still goes in.
12. John Macenroe's devil may care commentary
13. Wombles come from there

Due to an over indulgence of alcohol on Friday night I have been recovering all weekend and watching way too much tv. I thought I would give you a sentence review of everything that I've watched (or can remember watching). You are allowed of course to ridicule me on my choices, just please, do it behind my back.

For Your Consideration (movie) - Not as funny as Best in Show, but the hollywood transformation of the lead actress has to be seen to be believed. Christopher Guest is still amusing.
Dr Who (tv) - I've just downloaded the drums song from this episode (voodoo child by rogue traders) as it got into my head and woulnd't leave. Did you see Saxon slip his wife some tongue? Nice. The early epsiodes in this series were a bit guff but they have upped their game.
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire (tv) - I watched this in prep for the new movie and couldn't help but be surprised for all the things they don't use magic for. Thought, if Harry hadn't saved Cedric from the plants instead of going for the cup, Cedric would still be alive! Have that on your conscience! The next film looks great too, the darker the better.
Miss Match (tv) - I am unhappy that this show was cancelled after one season. I like all the romantic triangles, though everyone is a bit too perfect. Also it has got even better now that Nathan Fillion is guest starring.
Will & Grace S6 (tv) - I admit to owning 7 of the 8 series of this, I still laugh at episodes I have seen tons of times. They are the funniest dysfunctional couple on tv, and Karen kicks ass. I quote them all the time.
Shark (tv) - Today's episode was ok, I find this series hit and miss. I love shark but the detective work can get boring. The relationships are far more interesting than the crimes.
Babel (movie) - I didn't get past the first 10 minutes. I am sure there is a wonderful oscar worthy film in there, but it was so slow I wanted to go and do something else rather than watch it, which is pretty bad.
Barbarella (movie) - I remember watching this as a kid and obviously did not get all the references. I think she is pretty funny for a space bimbo with some great one liners, and the creativity behind this film was pretty good, shame about the dodgy sets. I love her outfits!
Dungeons & Dragons II (movie) - Surprisingly this actually followed on from the first one. This was more heavily into the game, but the characters were boring and you wanted the dragon to win,
E! news (tv) - I love getting my fix and calling all the hot, rich film stars names. Who said hatred isn't theraputic?
Futurama (tv) - It was a zoidberg episode. My favourite character is Bender, of course. The one with the orphans is fantastic.
Rome (tv) - You just know that Marc Anthony is going to get it soon, pride before a fall and all that. Pullo is the heart and soul and I hope he is in for a long time.
Supernatural (tv) - Just finished watching this and it is clearly a 2 parter. I hate it when you need to wait a week to get the next part. It would drive you to download tv, which I am utterly against. It was also a bit slow, I'm hoping it was setting big things up for the season finale. I think it is a great show though.