It is a strategy of which, I’m sure, even the legendary Picard himself would approve. A man who happily mixed calculated insight and intuition, compassion and tenacity, whit and whimsy and steely-eyed resolved, Picard, as played by Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation, subsequent movies and recently to Continue Reading
TV
Love, death and the sins of the past: Thoughts on Carnival Row (season 1)
For all of its rich promise and bright, shining possibility, humanity is, by and large, a very dark and unenvious proposition as a species. While it is tempting to think of us in glowingly positive terms, something that the likes of Disney, Hallmark and just about every romantic genre would Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2020: Week 3 – Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine
This is normally how I begin these review posts … What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is Continue Reading
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is coming back to Netflix in all-new special
SNAPSHOT“The story follows the show’s star, plus Burgess’ Titus, Jane Krakowski’s Jacqueline, and Carol Kane’s Lillian, on their quest to track and take down the man who held Kimmy captive in a bunker for 15 years (played by returning guest star Jon Hamm). ‘Kimmy always wants to right a wrong, Continue Reading
It’s okay to cry Marge and Tina: Tim Brooke-Taylor (The Goodies) dies of COVID-19
It is always desperately sad to learn of the death of a performer who formed such an essential part of your childhood. The death of Tim Brooke-Taylor, one third of the legendary 1970s British comedy act The Goodies, from COVID-19 is a body blow, coming far too close to that Continue Reading
Easter festival 2020: Bugs Bunny’s Easter Funnies
SNAPSHOTThe Easter bunny is ill, Granny needs to find a replacement for him and suggests Bugs Bunny. When she reaches the Warner Bros. lot, she finds to her disappointment that Bugs is tied up in filming Knighty Knight Bugs but offers to work out a solution after filming wraps up. Meanwhile, Daffy Duck, partially overhearing the Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2020: Week 2 – Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Norway
This is normally how I begin these review posts … What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is Continue Reading
Easter festival 2020: Vicar of Dibley’s “The Easter Bunny”
One thing that British sitcoms have always excelled at is mixing serious moments into their usually buoyant silly comedy. It’s not easy to do; when you’re cracking jokes at a million miles an hour, whether verbally or visually, misplaced moments of serious emotion can arrive like hard-slammed brakes, stopping the Continue Reading
The challenges of love and sobriety: Thoughts on Feel Good
“And they all lived happily ever after” would have to be the most loaded phrases ever attached to any story ever. It’s a lovely idea and one we clearly want to embrace since everything from the fairytales to romantic comedies to Hallmark cards like lovestruck limpets to the idea that Continue Reading
Our COVID-19 addled world may be grim right now but John Krasinki has Some Good News for you!
SNAPSHOTThe Quiet Place writer and director recently asked his Twitter followers for uplifting stories that might be getting lost in the deluge of bad news. Their responses inspired him to make his own new show, filmed safely from his home. And the stories he shares genuinely made us feel better. They Continue Reading