Another big night in the giant light-covered dome that is the Crystal Hall in Baku. While the spectre of each country’s flag being realised as a series of coloured stripes on the impressive shell of the stadium had worn off a little, what hadn’t dimmed for one minute was the Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision: Review of semi final 1
What a magnificent eyeball-searing night. The stage was a brilliant mix of autumnal reds, oranges and yellows, bright enough to rip your retina to shreds if you stared at it too long, the hosts were ridiculously perky with an interactive patter written by the same person who scripts Oscars telecasts, Continue Reading
And douze-point goes to… Eurovision?
There is nothing perfect in this scratched and bruised world of ours. No one knew that better than the founders of Eurovision who, faced with a Europe divided as never before after the horrors of World War Two, decided that what the fractured continent needed was a bright shiny singing Continue Reading
Book review: The Planets by Dava Sobel
A former New York Times science reporter, Dava Sobel has become well known for her popular expositions on a range of scientific topics. She has a rare gift for taking complex issues and making them accessible to those without a physics or astronomy-friendly bone in their body. The Planets reflects Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision: Semi final 2
Ah the relief of not being the ones packing your bags for the far flung climes of home! The 18 countries picked for semi final two no doubt watched the losers of semi final one shuffling off into the cold dark night of Eurovision oblivion, where not even a candle, Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision: Semi final 1
So at last we can stand close and gaze upon the vast and glittering edifice that is Eurovision towering above us! What was once a far off promise of possible pyrotechnics, would-be Russian grandmothers, and the possibility of pop so fantastic it would make custard congeal with joy (I Continue Reading
There’s nowhere safe for “Sanctuary” anymore
The news I had been expecting but hoped would never be announced, has lobbed its most unwelcome way into my despairing inbox. (After the renewal of Community was almost fatally tarnished by the removal of Mark Harmon as show runner.) Sanctuary, one of the most imaginative, clever and well-realised shows Continue Reading
Who ripped out the beating heart of “Community”?
Alas I celebrated a little to prematurely about Community being renewed for a 13 episode fourth season. For while one of the most innovative and clever sitcoms on television is back for another season, it will be without it’s creative heart and soul, Dan Harmon, who created the hilarious boundary-pushing Continue Reading
Eurovision 2012: All the world is a (very brightly lit) stage
So no doubt it’s been keeping you up at night wondering how awesome the stage will be upon which the countries of Eurovision will strut their talented stuff? Well fret in sleepless ignorance no more. For behold, I bring you glad tidings of great Eurovision joy – yes I know Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision: Opening party fun! (Saturday 19 May)
If you wandering the streets of Baku right now, anticipation welling up inside of you like day old dogs you really shouldn’t have eaten, you’ll know it’s less than 24 hours till the first semi-final takes place at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. But as the rehearsals have shown, the Continue Reading