gairrhydd
OCTOBER.06.2008 FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM .
HOT
!TELLY!
19
TELLY
NOT
We have a friend named Jesus.
A
nd so, with a song in our hearts and a grin on our faces, we get back to Never Mind The Buzzcocks. We never really seem to run out of panel shows - Mock The Week's only just finished, Would I Lie To You was before that, and I'm positive there's more of Have I Got News For You and QI just waiting around the corner. Buzzcocks is different, though. It's probably due to how young Simon Amstell seems - while you'd never imagine a guest simply getting up and walking out of any other panel show, on NMTB this is an occupational hazard. Preston walking out was one of the best moments on BBC2 that year, even if it was understandable. But despite Simon being the one quite easily in the wrong, it's always the offended guest who ends up looking like an idiot. See, that's part of the genius of NMTB. Simon Amstell is just so darned cuddly. He could sit at his desk throughout the show, making jokes about raping grannies and you'd still giggle at him. Or maybe that's just women - perhaps it's the
mothering instinct emerging. Simon just looks like a little boy, being cheeky to his mother, and you can't help but give him a piece of cake and a pat on the cheek. Still, sometimes the show misses its mark. And badly. For every Preston there's a Bill Oddie, sat cackling in the corner like an embarrasing slightly dodgy
SOAPS
SPORT The Formula 1 World Championship is reaching its climax and Lewis Hamilton holds a slender lead over Felipe Massa going into the final three grands prix of the year. The first of these races takes place in Japan, on the Fuji circuit where Hamilton triumphed last year. Fuji is more likely to provide more excitement and overtaking than Singapore last time out, where fans were treated to an aesthetically pleasing spectacle albeit on a track which might need some adjustments before next year. Its obviously great to see a Briton leading such a prestigious championship but in all honesty Hamilton is about as British as Shane Warne: He lives abroad (in the tax haven of Monaco, obviously), he’s good at his sport and, most importantly, he
uncle. Or there's an Amy Winehouse at the start of her extended overdose, where you can't help but watch and wonder exactly what the hell is going on. And what was that, last series, with Noel Fielding? I like the Mighty Boosh, I even have tickets to see them in a few weeks time. But that doesn't make him a
Bill Bailey replacement. It doesn't come close. The only link Fielding has with music is the fact he can sing a bit and his girlfriend's in a band. That's it. And, ok, so he's got the whole surrealist aspect to his comedy, just like Bill. But It's not as quick. Noel Fielding needs a run up to every decent joke. I know Bill Bailey's gone from NMTB now, gone to a better place where he can do more comedy and probably make more appearances on QI (I swear all panel shows just swap around panellists). But it's not going to be the same without him. I have yet to see the first episode, but apparently the guest captain is Mark Ronson. People in the future, was this as dire a mistake as I think it is? A producer whose sister is more famous than he is because she's dating a former train wreck (that'd be Lindsay Lohan, if you haven't been keeping up to date with OK magazine). I love NMTB. Or at least I did, when it was glorious and had Simon and Phill and Bill. Now, though? I'll reserve final judgement until the third episode.
has a media-friendly persona and comes across in interviews as a genuinely likeable guy – there’s no way he can be classed as a true British sportsman. Alternatively, if you don’t fancy watching the Formula 1 there’s always the snooker. Or, more likely, a few more hours trying to sleep off that hangover.
Well, I'm exhausted from the run of Soaps last week, but nevertheless we must continue with the deliverance of Soap news, because this section needs to be filled. So whether you can handle such excitement or not, here comes the gossip for the coming week..... Niall is as hot-blooded as ever in Hollyoaks, as this week he attempts to kill Myra - shock, horror! I don't understand how he has escaped prison for so long; he is a mentalist with his only cure being a stint behind the big grey bars. Elsewhere, Michaela's crush on Mike is brought to light when she manages to lure him into her teenage crush of a trap. I really can't see the appeal, being barely out of my teens
and all that, but I guess there is always something about an older man! In Walford this week, it's Jase's funeral and it's eventful to the say the least, when tensions run high between Dawn and Jay, whilst Gary leaves her with an ultimatum! Poor girl... probably the last thing she needs to console herself!
FILM
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN, CH4, MONDAY II Any film where we’re asked to support Josh Hartnett, and believe that he’s not the most wooden actor since Keanu Reeves, is never going to be the most riveting watch. This manages to rescue itself from dire failure by the use of Bruce Willis as a hitman, but it’s still not exactly essential viewing. STRAW DOGS, CH4, SATURDAY IIII Any film which inspires Hot Fuzz has to be a good one. And ok, so this is heavy on the gore, but surely that’s all you want from a late night film? But be careful who you watch with. The rape scene takes away a bit of the romance.
FUDGE TUNNEL
THE SWAN PRINCESS, FIVE, SATURDAY III A cartoon film based on a rather famous ballet doesn’t sound like a good idea, but take into account that John Cleese does the voice of a frog and the evil guy is more fun than Jafar and the Sheriff of Nottingham put together, and you’ve got the perfect hungover hazy film.