Now Screening - What Are You Watching Right Now?

Why are people complaining about awful US TV series? If they were so bad, why did you watch them?

I have admit that I was not immune: there were a couple of series that were so absurd that I found them fascinating. I'm talking about 'Knight Rider', a man who doesn't exist fighting crime aided by a sentient self-driving car! And 'Nikita', about a clandestine crime fighting organisation staffed by convicts found guilty of murder but who have various specialist skills necessary to expedite the organisation's duties. Complete rubbish but addictive.

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Originally Posted by Barry

Why are people complaining about awful US TV series? If they were so bad, why did you watch them?

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Only 3 channels and nothing else on.

Of course if we'd known then just how bad TV was going to get in the future...

I think we've only been going on about Six Million Dollar Man. I've watched a lot of US TV shows over the years, most of them quite palatable. And some gems imo (The Wire, Treme, The Sopranos, True Detective). And quite a few comedy shows I got into (Scrubs, My Name is Earl, Big Bang Theory, Sarah Silverman, Silicon Valley, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy). I'm sure there will have been a few more.

Better than most of the cack made over here, where everything has to get the ok from the easily-offended first it seems.

Even back in the day for every crap show like 'Six Million Dollar Man' and 'Man From Atlantis' there was a quality show like 'Kojak' or 'Barney Miller.'

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

I think we've only been going on about Six Million Dollar Man. I've watched a lot of US TV shows over the years, most of them quite palatable. And some gems imo (The Wire, Treme, The Sopranos, True Detective). And quite a few comedy shows I got into (Scrubs, My Name is Earl, Big Bang Theory, Sarah Silverman, Silicon Valley, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy). I'm sure there will have been a few more.

Better than most of the cack made over here, where everything has to get the ok from the easily-offended first it seems.

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Big Bang Theory was OK to start but more or less got stuck in a rut. I can't remember how many series there were, but I think I got bored after the third.

The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park and American Dad, are good to see now and again. I have seen dozens of episodes. Are they still making new episodes? Every time I have a look it turns out to be a repeat.

You say we, and the BBC in particular don't show or commission good series. Well I would draw your attention to: Black Mirror; The Office; The Thick of It, etc.

And we have always had good music programmes: The Old Grey Whistle Test, Later with Jules Holland, as well as live performances filmed by the BBC.

I've just noticed Martin, that you have passed the 40,000 posts mark. Well done!

I'm still struggling to get to 35, 000.

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Originally Posted by Barry

I've just noticed Martin, that you have passed the 40,000 posts mark. Well done!

I'm still struggling to get to 35, 000.

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I didn't notice! It has taken more than 15 years though

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Originally Posted by Barry

Big Bang Theory was OK to start but more or less got stuck in a rut. I can't remember how many series there were, but I think I got bored after the third.

The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park and American Dad, are good to see now and again. I have seen dozens of episodes. Are they still making new episodes? Every time I have a look it turns out to be a repeat.

You say we, and the BBC in particular don't show or commission good series. Well I would draw your attention to: Black Mirror; The Office; The Thick of It, etc.

And we have always had good music programmes: The Old Grey Whistle Test, Later with Jules Holland, as well as live performances filmed by the BBC.

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I think last time I watched something that was both new and good on BBC it was a play about Tony Hancock. But that must be a decade ago. None of their output interests me at all. Their factual shows are done at the level of a Blue Peter Special and their drama is badly written, badly acted and dull.

They did do a lot of good stuff in the distant past.

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Originally Posted by Barry

I've just noticed Martin, that you have passed the 40,000 posts mark. Well done!

I'm still struggling to get to 35, 000.

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Well it's taken me seven and a half years to get up to 16k or so. I could have posted more had I any understanding of hifi and how it works :doh: But I am pretty good at making my posts rhyme... So have you and Mart been at AoS from the start?

I joined near the beginning of 2009. I know it should be quality over quantity, but with such little traffic here I'm desperately trying to make posts that will encourage replies.

The resurgence of The Album Club seems to gone down like a lead balloon!


Anyway your posts often make me laugh - you have a wicked sense of humour! :lol:

Thank you kind sir - I can see that increasing traffic on forums is not an easy task, and I'm sure AoS is not alone in this. Thing is, there are so many other things around these days competing for attention, social media, TV streaming, video games etc. I remain hopeful that AoS' USP - friendly, approachable and informal (and respecting others' opinions, even when they're dead wrong) :) - will be attractive to potential new members. It's what brought me here (and kept me here, so you have only yourselves to blame) :D

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Originally Posted by Barry

I joined near the beginning of 2009. I know it should be quality over quantity, but with such little traffic here I'm desperately trying to make posts that will encourage replies.

The resurgence of The Album Club seems to gone down like a lead balloon!


Anyway your posts often make me laugh - you have a wicked sense of humour! [emoji38]

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I made a flurry of posts to encourage traffic at the weekend but unfortunately I'm too busy to post in the week, or some weekends for that matter.

Of what I see as being the five core members, three are now gone (hopefully two will return soon). They made a huge difference to the quantity and diversity of subjects.

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

That was great viewing, and the quality of the BBC English top rate. Though some of their clambering and hanging on made me feel a bit queasy.

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More than queasy here, I simply couldn't do it without jelly legs and blancmange stomach...

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

Flange plates, gusset plates, I know, I'm so childish https://theartofsound.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

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Who doesn't love a good flange? Or an ample gusset? :lol:

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

So it took them 10 weeks to put up, today they'd need longer than that to prepare the risk assessment. And not a hi-vis in sight!

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You may (or may not! :) ) recall I am a Commercial Insurance Broker and Risk Manager, and I specialise in Construction risks. Truly astonishing to see the lack of care and haphazard protection, but at least we have moved on. Brave lads though, (safety) hats off to them!

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

More than queasy here, I simply couldn't do it without jelly legs and blancmange stomach...



Who doesn't love a good flange? Or an ample gusset? :lol:



You may (or may not! :) ) recall I am a Commercial Insurance Broker and Risk Manager, and I specialise in Construction risks. Truly astonishing to see the lack of care and haphazard protection, but at least we have moved on. Brave lads though, (safety) hats off to them!

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No, I did not know that. Where were you last week when I was using ladders with a missing rung :doh: Could have saved me a world of pain.

The Player 1992

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...layer_ver1.jpg

If you liked 'Short Cuts', then this film also directed by Robert Altman should interest you. It has a similar storyline involving several characters, as well as many, many cameo parts played by just about anyone who is anyone in Hollywood.

The Player is a 1992 American satirical black comedy mystery film directed by Robert Altman and written by Michael Tolkin, based on his 1988 novel.[2] The film stars Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher, Brion James and Cynthia Stevenson, and is the story of a Hollywood film studio executive who kills an aspiring screenwriter he believes is sending him death threats.

The Player has many film references and Hollywood in-jokes, with 65 celebrities making cameo appearances in the film. Altman once stated that the film "is a very mild satire," offending no one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pl...992_film)#Plot

The Man Who Fell to Earth

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...earth_ver1.jpg

I've watched this film several times. Always thought provoking and disturbing; the lead part would appear to have been made for David Bowie.

The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fantasy drama film directed by Nicolas Roeg and adapted by Paul Mayersberg. Based on Walter Tevis's 1963 novel of the same name, the film follows an extraterrestrial named Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie) who crash-lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, which is suffering from a severe drought, but finds himself at the mercy of human vices and corruption. It stars David Bowie, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, and Rip Torn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ma..._to_Earth#Plot

Just finished watching this. Most Liam Neeson films have him playing a tough guy battering folk, but this one was a little different - he plays an old man battering folk. Not awful, but like all films made this century it doesn't warrant repeated viewing.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ion_poster.jpg

You'd think he'd have got the battering people out of his system with all those 'Taken' films.


I suppose the problem now is that if he's not battering anyone in a film then people will want their money back.

https://i.ibb.co/Ld4vdGTz/40gunpos.jpg

'40 Guns To Apache Pass' (1967)

Audie Murphy has to get a shipment of new fangled repeating rifles to the settlers before an Apache attack wipes them out but ends up running into a lot of trouble instead.

Can always rely on his westerns to be a decent watch - lots of action and no long, dragged out 'romance' scenes. Murphy's last film before he died in a plane crash.

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Originally Posted by Macca

https://i.ibb.co/Ld4vdGTz/40gunpos.jpg

'40 Guns To Apache Pass' (1967)

Audie Murphy has to get a shipment of new fangled repeating rifles to the settlers before an Apache attack wipes them out but ends up running into a lot of trouble instead.

Can always rely on his westerns to be a decent watch - lots of action and no long, dragged out 'romance' scenes. Murphy's last film before he died in a plane crash.

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You'll be excited to learn that next Saturday is a day of Audie Murphy films on 5 Action, with a load of John Wayne films on the Sunday. You're welcome :)

https://www.tvguide.co.uk/channel/5action

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Originally Posted by Barry

The Player 1992

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...layer_ver1.jpg

If you liked 'Short Cuts', then this film also directed by Robert Altman should interest you. It has a similar storyline involving several characters, as well as many, many cameo parts played by just about anyone who is anyone in Hollywood.

The Player is a 1992 American satirical black comedy mystery film directed by Robert Altman and written by Michael Tolkin, based on his 1988 novel.[2] The film stars Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher, Brion James and Cynthia Stevenson, and is the story of a Hollywood film studio executive who kills an aspiring screenwriter he believes is sending him death threats.

The Player has many film references and Hollywood in-jokes, with 65 celebrities making cameo appearances in the film. Altman once stated that the film "is a very mild satire," offending no one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pl...992_film)#Plot

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Classic! Indeed a bit lighter than his other films. Short cuts was great too, real biting drama. His earlier films are unforgettable, my fave being McCabe & mrs miller and The Long goodbye, both are comedies with really hard hitting moments of tragedy. I don't know how many times I've watched Long goodbye

Mad Men for the third or fourth time and still love it. When in doubt I ask myself 'What would Don do?'.

After listening to her albums, I watched the biopic.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...649fbe0361.jpg

Great film, but still a very sad story.

Inspired by our trip last week, it may be 25 years old now, but the CGI still stands up well.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._poster%29.png

One of my favourite films, Gladiator II tonight, which I've not yet seen.

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

After listening to her albums, I watched the biopic.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...649fbe0361.jpg

Great film, but still a very sad story.

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If you get a chance, try to see "The Day She Came to Dingle". A documentary film made by the BBC of a concert of hers, performed in the church at Dingle, Ireland.

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Originally Posted by Barry

If you get a chance, try to see "The Day She Came to Dingle". A documentary film made by the BBC of a concert of hers, performed in the church at Dingle, Ireland.

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Thanks Barry, I will look that one up.

Tonight, inspired by a European McDonalds visit (it was the kid’s idea, honest…)

I can’t believe this is over 30 years old!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...99a01da17c.jpg

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

Thanks Barry, I will look that one up.

Tonight, inspired by a European McDonalds visit (it was the kid’s idea, honest…)

I can’t believe this is over 30 years old!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...99a01da17c.jpg

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I used to detest that film - until it dawned on me that it is pure satire on the American way of life and it's culture. Now it is one of my favourite films.

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

You'll be excited to learn that next Saturday is a day of Audie Murphy films on 5 Action, with a load of John Wayne films on the Sunday. You're welcome :)

https://www.tvguide.co.uk/channel/5action

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Watched all those Audie Murphy films back to back - was only two I hadn't seen before though. 'Posse From Hell' (1961) and 'Destry'(1954) which were both good. 'Posse From Hell' is actually a pretty brutal story even by today's standards.

Just watched “The Terracotta Army with Dan Snow” on Channel 5. I was aware of the archaeological discovery, but this is a fascinating documentary and insight into what must surely be one of the most incredible tombs ever found, and the scale is just breathtaking. Well worth a view on catch-up if this is your kind of thing. Definitely on my bucket list to visit when I retire.

Yes, the Terracotta Army is a remarkable piece of work. I saw it in 1987 when only a fraction of the Army had been uncovered.

It is said that there is a scale facsimile of the Forbidden City buried there, complete with a mercury moat. The Emperor is said to buried within the City, but there is a curse that will befall anyone who disturbs his rest. Probes have detected mercury vapour, but the Chinese, as far as I know, haven't progressed any further with the excavation.

These kind of curses have been attached to other dead authoritarian despots such as Ivan the Terrible. I'm surprised the Chinese authorities are so superstitious.

Just checking out my new amp and happened across one of my favourite films ever. That’s the rest of the evening sorted, then…

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fd8a8124ec.jpg

Not a bad film. :)

Oh no, Devon Miles of The Foundation has been thrown in jail by some crooked cops working for a crooked judge... do they not know who they're messing with? Does anyone here know what I'm talking about?

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

Does anyone here know what I'm talking about?

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No. :scratch:

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

Oh no, Devon Miles of The Foundation has been thrown in jail by some crooked cops working for a crooked judge... do they not know who they're messing with? Does anyone here know what I'm talking about?

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Mike Hunt sorry Knight a man of mystery with a talking car, not an Austin maestro

Gosh! - are the showing 'Knightrider' on some obscure channel?

It was entertaining 'tosh' of the '80s, along with the likes of 'The A - Team', and I quite liked it at the time, but I think it would come across as very silly now.

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Originally Posted by Roy S

Mike Hunt sorry Knight a man of mystery with a talking car, not an Austin maestro

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Aye, that's him - Michael Knight, a lone crusader in a dangerous world, the world of the Knight Rider. What a pile of crap, no more believable than Six Million Dollar Man, but slightly more entertaining.

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Originally Posted by Barry

Gosh! - are the showing 'Knightrider' on some obscure channel?

It was entertaining 'tosh' of the '80s, along with the likes of 'The A - Team', and I quite liked it at the time, but I think it would come across as very silly now.

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Yes it's very silly, but as I said there is some entertainment value. On "Legend" TV channel right now. I've just sat through two episodes, that'll hold me for another decade or so, time for some tunes :)

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

Aye, that's him - Michael Knight, a lone crusader in a dangerous world, the world of the Knight Rider. What a pile of crap, no more believable than Six Million Dollar Man, but slightly more entertaining.

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I will never tire of the little sketch they put in the middle of each episode where a drunk man or little boy or whoever starts looking around KITT and it tells them to go and do one and they jump out of their skin.

In the same way as I'll never tire of the sheriff character in Live and Let Die.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bf9a2d0690.jpg

Another one of my favourite films. Inspiring.

U & Eden channel showing proper Dr Who - 'Spearhead From Space.'

Was on BBC1, and although I have seen it before it is unmissable, really. Gary Oldman really is fantastic, if you haven’t seen it before an essential film in my opinion.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e65e23e2c2.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

First up on the Jumbotron...

https://i.imgur.com/gBVfeci.jpeg

Absolutely loved it, been 10ish years since I watched it.
Tarantino's 2nd best film

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

Was on BBC1, and although I have seen it before it is unmissable, really. Gary Oldman really is fantastic, if you haven’t seen it before an essential film in my opinion.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e65e23e2c2.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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It's a good film and, as you say, Gary Oldman plays the part of Churchill very well.

The scene in the London Underground is of course pure fantasy.

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Originally Posted by Gazjam

First up on the Jumbotron...

https://i.imgur.com/gBVfeci.jpeg

Absolutely loved it, been 10ish years since I watched it.
Tarantino's 2nd best film

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That Pussy Wagon needs a big screen :)

https://i.ibb.co/D6kyTvb/bullet.jpg

'Bullet Train' (2022)

Brad Pitt has to retrieve a briefcase from a Japanese bullet train but it turns out to be much harder to do than he expects.

Lots of sub-Tarantino characters and dialogue in this one but, despite that, for a modern film it's not too bad. Brad Pitt can usually be relied on to carry whatever he's in anyway. Lots and lots of twists and turns.

Well worth a watch if you like 'action comedy'.

Following a post by Roy and confirmed by Steve, I watched an episode of 'Knight Rider' on Legend TV. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I don't think I'll be watching any more episodes.

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be; save for M*A*S*H which I can always watch, and usually do.

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Originally Posted by Barry

Following a post by Roy and confirmed by Steve, I watched an episode of 'Knightrider' on Legend TV. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I don't think I'll watch any more.

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be; save for M*A*S*H which I can always watch, and usually do.

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These shows can be enjoyed, provided you're able to suspend your disbelief. It's always the shows with action scenes, such as Knight Rider, A Team, Incredible Hulk, Six Million Dollar Man - with scenes that defy the laws of physics. I don't know why we are so critical of it these days while it was accepted forty years ago (apart from Six Million Dollar Man, that was never believable).

Shows that are 'character led' stand the test of time so much better imo, MASH being a prime example.

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Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony

These shows can be enjoyed, provided you're able to suspend your disbelief. It's always the shows with action scenes, such as Knight Rider, A Team, Incredible Hulk, Six Million Dollar Man - with scenes that defy the laws of physics. I don't know why we are so critical of it these days while it was accepted forty years ago (apart from Six Million Dollar Man, that was never believable).

Shows that are 'character led' stand the test of time so much better imo, MASH being a prime example.

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True that but for some reason they don't put many of those on. MASH has been running pretty much continuously since I first got cable in 1997 but they never put on other character-led stuff I remember as being good - like Barney Miller, or Night Court.