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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:31
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The WRC, of course, being meaningless alongside Leicester's travails. |
Well quite. Alongside a whole season of agony watching Tigers the World Cup is small beer indeed. 
Since leagues started we have never had such a poor run. In fact the first XV having already lost three league games and one Cup game at home makes it already our worst season ever for home results I believe. And still everyone in the club is walking around doing their ‘problem, what problem?’ routine.
Well lets see what happens when David Clayton (Managing Director – came from a Soccer background a few years back) puts season tickets up by four times inflation yet again next season. I suspect more room for me to breath on the terrace next year.
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I hereby offer you Graham Henry's services. Anything to keep him out of the ABs' chair! |
Thanks – but let him have that chair and we will take Mitchell instead. 
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Yes, the first three words constitute outrageous tautology, I'd've thought. |
I do have a talent for the tautological.
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Except mine, of course. The older I get, the angrier I get! |
Passion is proof of life. Too deep for me really.
I do know you are using Tamerlins trade marks freely.
He is very quiet as his boys are about to start the defence of their title isn’t he? I wonder if in his version of ‘Napoleon – The Undiscovered Truth’ he is using that old chestnut of Boney losing Waterloo because he had piles?
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Dear old Bob, who handed over the Waratahs' coaching reins to Ewen McKenzie yesterday, retiring to head the Waratahs' version of an Academy. Great move. |
As you have pointed out before his strength is spotting talent for others to mould. I would take him back at Tigers right now – he assembled a great team for us even if he couldn’t coach them for toffee – it’s clear looking back that Deano and Stransky took that raw material and made it gel.
It’s becoming clear that Tigers' problems are playing on my mind isn’t it?
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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Originally posted by Havak
Since leagues started we have never had such a poor run. In fact the first XV having already lost three league games and one Cup game at home makes it already our worst season ever for home results I believe. And still everyone in the club is walking around doing their ‘problem, what problem?’ routine. |
Odds on for a new coach next season. Or even this one. I read somewhere that Saracans were sniffing around Mr  's incumbent. You never know, Leicester might sneak in ahead of them.
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Thanks – but let him have that chair and we will take Mitchell instead. |
Strange report of a press conference Mitchell held. Confessed that maybe he didn't communicate with the media all that well, or anyone else, but he has a passion for the game, and he felt betrayed by the NZRFU with some of their comments. And he seems to be thinking of reapplying for the job. Bagging his employers is, I'd've thought, a dodgy job application. So he might be available to you after all. Though I did read somewhere that Les Grenouilles were sniffing around him. Someone for Tony Marsh to chat to. 
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I do know you are using Tamerlins trade marks freely. |
I took his crappy trademark claim to the European Court and won. And had costs awarded against him. 10,000,000 s. I'm enjoying spending the spoils. I'm down to 9,500,001 left. Make that 9,500,000.
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He is very quiet as his boys are about to start the defence of their title isn’t he? |
Wouldn't you be if you had 10,000,000 s awarded against you?
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I wonder if in his version of ‘Napoleon – The Undiscovered Truth’ he is using that old chestnut of Boney losing Waterloo because he had piles? |
No, in his version, Napoleon wins and Wellington develops piles as a result.
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As you have pointed out before his strength is spotting talent for others to mould. I would take him back at Tigers right now – he assembled a great team for us even if he couldn’t coach them for toffee – it’s clear looking back that Deano and Stransky took that raw material and made it gel. |
Yes, yes. When Deano has coached a WRC-winning team we'll discuss the comparison further.
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It’s becoming clear that Tigers' problems are playing on my mind isn’t it? |
I'm astonished to see you typing so fluently with that increasingly frenetic nervous tic.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:31
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Odds on for a new coach next season. Or even this one. |
Our coach has already felt the need to publicly refute rumours linking him to Stade Francais – our opponents this weekend.
Saracens is a poison chalice – no club has spent so much and achieved so little since 1995.
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Bagging his employers is, I'd've thought, a dodgy job application. |
Yes, I noticed that. If we want him we’ll get him – so lets hope the club has some ambition left.
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Wouldn't you be if you had 10,000,000 s awarded against you? |
Probably.
So am I in contempt of court if I use a ?
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No, in his version, Napoleon wins and Wellington develops piles as a result. |
But on the plus side British cooking would be more favourably viewed I suspect.
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Yes, yes. When Deano has coached a WRC-winning team we'll discuss the comparison further. |
I thought you shared my view that Bob was a great talent spotter and poor man manager?
Regardless Dean’s club CV is far more impressive – and his playing career out of sight. There’s just a single line on Bob’s club coaching achievements. Pilkington Cup 1997. Aside form that he lost the league to Bath, Wasps and Newcastle in sequence – and got sacked due to that last one which was unforgivable.
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I'm astonished to see you typing so fluently with that increasingly frenetic nervous tic. |
Medicinal alcohol works wonders.
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Caligastia
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Originally posted by finbar
It's called "Believe Nothing". I haven't seen it yet. The reviews have been mixed, most saying it's just more of Rik Mayall's manic eye rolling and scenery chewing and bodily function humour. It's only a short series, I think the last ep is this week. I'll have a look. |
Did you ever see "The New Statesman"? A couple of those episodes were pretty good. Rik is capable of more than toilet humor it seems.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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Originally posted by Havak
So am I in contempt of court if I use a ? |
No, no. My European Court action broke his monopoly stranglehold on s. s have now been liberated from his Gates-like grasp and are now, as they were always meant to be, freely available for use by anyone and everyone.
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I thought you shared my view that Bob was a great talent spotter and poor man manager? |
Yes, but, funnily enough, he can also coach.
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Regardless Dean’s club CV is far more impressive – and his playing career out of sight. There’s just a single line on Bob’s club coaching achievements. Pilkington Cup 1997. Aside form that he lost the league to Bath, Wasps and Newcastle in sequence – and got sacked due to that last one which was unforgivable. |
As I say, when Mr Richards has a WRC trophy on his CV, we'll discuss the matter further.
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Medicinal alcohol works wonders. |
 
Last edited by finbar on 03-12-2003 at 03:19
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Caligastia
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Originally posted by finbar
Yes, I saw quite a bit of "New Statesman". He can do more than toilet humour, but his characters are all pretty much the same - oversized caricatures who mug a lot, as if saying, "look at me, I'm being excessive". I think the character wears thin very quickly because there's nothing else to it. Apart from his initial impact in "Young Ones", I think his best performance was in a cameo in the last series of "Blackadder", the series set in WW1. It was a very strong performance without the mugging. |
IIRC the character he played in Blackadder was a pilot with an oversized ego...it still had a "look at me" feel to it. Very funny though, I agree.
I just bought the DVD series of "Bottom", did you get to see much of that one? It's pretty good.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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Yes, he played the pilot. As you say, very "look at me", and very funny, but it didn't have the excess of his other characters. Probably because he was guesting in someone else's series rather than in charge of the operation.
"Bottom" is pretty indicative of his problem, I think. And Ade Edmonson's. Basically their characters from "Young Ones" with a couple of tweaks, a change of costume and location. The trouble with non-stop excess is the overload factor, IMHO. You can have too much of the same kind of anything.
That, I think, was one of the great successes of "The Office". It wasn't unrelentingly in one vein. A superb mix of characters all travelling the same road. Their challenge, of course, will come with their next project. To see if they can create another world rather than just revisit the same place in different clothes.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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Originally posted by Havak
Actually I can give you several tales of his total inability to do exactly that job for an English side if you have plenty of time for a rant. |
The point being that he has a WRC trophy on his CV.
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What Bob achieved with the Wallabies was great – but how much of it was luck at having that squad (as with Woodward now?) and it was rather a one off. He has since proved time and again at club level (Tiger, Bristol, NSW) that his temper prevents him being an effective coach. Oh yes and his shameful defence of Puncher McCrae in the O’Gara incident does him no favours either. |
Um. Let's see. How can I reply to this? Mmmmm. Ah! :inspiration strikes smilie: I'll copy and paste. Hang on ...
The point being that he has a WRC trophy on his CV.
There we go.
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And finally remember the guy who never paid up on that drink for you – he is a dead ringer for Bob and constantly mistaken for him on tour. |
Piker!
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That character was actually a repeat performance – the assumed 'descendent' in fact of a character he played in Blackadder II (the Elizabethan one). The episode ‘Bob’ I think where he played Lord Flash-heart and stole Edmunds Bride (‘Bob’/Kate) from him at the alter. |
True? I'd forgotten. Well done. Good get, as they say.
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I shall now put my anorak away. |
No! You have previously unrealised depths!
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Blackadder remains both Elton’s and Curtis’s finest work for me. I don’t rate Curtis’s later sappy Hugh Grant comedies at all. |
It's actually Ben Elton's work. Have a look at the very first Blackadder series scripted by Curtis working solo. It's lame drivel. As soon as Elton joined the team, the series found its style. Which is pure Ben Elton. Curtis struck it very lucky with his films - Hugh Grant on the rise, a tone that was right for the times. Pure luck, as so many of the biggest hits - in any of the arts - are.
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Another huge favourite of mine was Red Dwarf – the first six seasons (where the original writing team Grant-Naylor could still stand the sight of each other) contain some of my all time favourite ‘sitcom’ episodes (all time favourite Season 3 Episode 3 – Polymorph). The 7th season suffered from only Doug Naylor helming it and a huge inter season delay – plus an ill considered attempt to leave Rimmer behind by Chris Barrie (given by then he was stereotyping himself as Gordon Brittas anyway) who took very little part in that season. The 8th season after another huge delay was more back to form as Doug brought in a new writing partner who helped return us to more traditional ground. |
I know a lot of people who are devoted to "Red Dwarf". For some reason, I'm not one of them. I've given it many tries ... and I have absolutely no idea why it doesn't appeal to me. Well, I think it could be that I'm allergic to SF in any way, shape or form, even of the "Red Dwarf" variety. I can't watch more than two seconds of "Star Trek" or any of those legendary vehicles.
Still, the most innovative television comedy continues to come out of England. "The Office", a lot of the "Kumars" episodes, and so on. More power to them all.
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Going since 1987 there have only been those 8 short seasons – and I believe the movie is due to film in Australia fairly soon. |
Mmmmm. Well, I suppose it will take up the studio space vacated by the Yanks who have ceased to use us as a backlot since our dollar rocketed up. Meaning the local crews, who were being paid US rates, miles higher than our domestic rates, will now have to resume earning what the rest of us have always been earning!
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Tamerlin
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Toulouse (South-western France)
Apr 2002
time: 06:31
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Originally posted by NeoStar
Excuse me, Tamerlin
That new mini series on Napoleon has got me back into that period with a vengence - I'm curious, how (as far as you know) do the French see him today? Is he treated in popular opinion and French history with reverence and respect for his laws/public works and greatness or like any dictator who led many soldiers to their death? |
Sorry to answer so lately but I have had big problems with my computers that took me five days to solve (a big and nasty Worm or Trojan difficult to get rid off).
About Napoleon, the question is indeed tricky and it can't be answered easily. First, Napoléon came as the right man at the right place. You should remember that his rise to power came after long years of war with the other European countries who were trying to crush the young republic born from the revolution.
In France, Napoléon is revered as a mythical character, a conqueror, a strategical genious, a benevolent leader that gave France its modern institutions and its famous "Code Napoléon", the ancestor of our current Code Civil. In the same spirit, I suppose that the English school books are far more accurate and are nor incensing nor abusing Napoléon.
But why is he revered in France? Because for many generations the history books have taught the French pupils an embellished version of his deeds and victories carefully avoiding to talk about the price paid by the European people.
True, Napoléon was a dictator (more in the Roman sense of the word IMO)...
True, he put Europe aflame and depleted the French male population that started the decline of France...
But as Neostar suggested it Napoléon fought because he wanted peace and IMO because he had a vision of France... I sincerely think he wanted peace and started many of its military campaigns because he was forced to by the Coalisés and their plots. Remember that the major powers of the time was plotting the downfall of France since 1789.
But Napoléon is also a great man for many reasons. He was a great leader and strategist who rose from officer to emperor through the Consulat, he gave France (and other countries) new institutions and furthered science, saved the Republic as a young general, conquered most of Europe and built a powerful army. You have here all the ingredients necessary to create a hero if you can embellish a few things here and then.
Whatever the opinion you have about Napoléon, his achievements were great and the way he proceeded shows the man was clever... IMO, his only failure lies in the fact he was unable to secure the peace he fought for including in the last moments of the Empire when the Coalisés were still ready to sign an advantageous peace. 
IMO, Napoléon's greatness is very difficult to evaluate if you forget the era in which his reign took place, and it was already a very cruel one with or without Napoleon.
To sum up all this, most of the people (those "unable to see beyond their nose" as we say in France) think that Napoléon was a great leader and general because they were taught this at school. Some others hate him and only see the bloodbath while some others are at the same time fascinated by the man, his destiny and his achievements, and are horrified by the consequences of his reign.
ON TOPPIC NOW: Don't expect me to catch up with the thread before tomorrow...
Sorry for the Tigers Havak, the Stade Toulousain won at home against the Racing Club de Narbonne 25 - 5, the return of the international players brought some freshness and we have seen some beautiful attacks though the overall game was rather dull under the rain and the direction of one of the worst referees of the French Championship, Mr Didier Méné himself. This umpire has a "gift", everytime he is in office the players fight each others (there is at least what we call "une générale" on the field after a scrum or ruck) and the last twenty minutes are a kind of stodgy gruel.
Frédéric Michalack played very well and Finbar's favorite blonde gave the Narbonnais some concern...
Last edited by Tamerlin on 03-12-2003 at 23:20
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Caligastia
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quote:
Originally posted by finbar
Yes, he played the pilot. As you say, very "look at me", and very funny, but it didn't have the excess of his other characters. Probably because he was guesting in someone else's series rather than in charge of the operation.
"Bottom" is pretty indicative of his problem, I think. And Ade Edmonson's. Basically their characters from "Young Ones" with a couple of tweaks, a change of costume and location. The trouble with non-stop excess is the overload factor, IMHO. You can have too much of the same kind of anything. |
Yeah, definitely. There are a few episodes of 'Bottom' that I really like, but the rest are pretty average.
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That, I think, was one of the great successes of "The Office". It wasn't unrelentingly in one vein. A superb mix of characters all travelling the same road. Their challenge, of course, will come with their next project. To see if they can create another world rather than just revisit the same place in different clothes. |
Ah yes, "The Office" Definitely the best thing going at the moment in British TV. It's pretty popular over here in the states at the moment. I have the first series on DVD. The second series finished airing here about a month ago, but I still haven't seen the last episode. The last one I saw was when the boss, David, got let go. How are they going to work him back into the story?
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Caligastia
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Another huge favourite of mine was Red Dwarf – the first six seasons (where the original writing team Grant-Naylor could still stand the sight of each other) contain some of my all time favourite ‘sitcom’ episodes (all time favourite Season 3 Episode 3 – Polymorph). The 7th season suffered from only Doug Naylor helming it and a huge inter season delay – plus an ill considered attempt to leave Rimmer behind by Chris Barrie (given by then he was stereotyping himself as Gordon Brittas anyway) |
Brittas Empire was a goodie. I haven't seen that one in ages though. When did they stop making them?
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
He is not the only poor coach ever to win a big prize like that. You opinion of Clive Woodward would be pertinent here maybe? |
I've never called Clive a poor coach. The overwhelming evidence is that he's a very fine coach. That he's psychotic is an entirely different matter.
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Deano remains the man who won things with the team that Bob built (and couldn’t win a crossword puzzle with). There’s something in that whatever else Bob’s CV says. |
Presumably, therefore, there's also something in the fact that, as age, et al, catches up with the team that Bob built, Deano is found wanting when it comes to arresting the decline? Deano - good coach of readymade teams? And without a WRC trophy on his CV?
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But I find my veneer of shallowness quite useful. |
I'm hoping that's Tamerlin's excuse too!
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Yes you are right of course – although I think Atkinson himself was a co-writer on the original series and I seem to recall him coughing to that possibly being a problem in hindsight. |
Yes, you're right, he was involved. So he's equally to blame for the lameness. I recall watching the first episode way back when. I couldn't believe how dreadful it was. Suddenly, come the second series, and Ben Elton's arrival, it took off. The later series remain, IMHO, some of the best television comedy ever produced.
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Very true. The man of course never needs to work again. Did you ever catch the Vicar of Dibley – Curtis had his hands in that too along with another Comic strip veteran in Dawn French. |
Yes, I watched a few of them. I don't think Curtis has an original bone in his body. "Four Weddings", for example, was a stringing together of some of the hoariest old movie romance clichés and caricatures, and he has basically recycled them in most of his films since. Still, they make money, so what do I know? "Dibley" was another stringing together of village television caricatures. Me? Bitterly jealous? Never!
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Oh yes and the latest series of Ab Fab is airing here right now. It may well be a season too far for it although last Friday’s episode with Robert Lindsay and Elton John (classic line where he asks Joanna Lumley’s Patsy “Didn’t I know you when you were a man?") and a plot around the Beatles and Abbey Road was funny I will admit. |
Is it a new series? The last new "Ab Fab" we had was a 90-minute thing a year or so ago. I thought the first series exhausted the concept's potential. Or, probably more likely, it exhausted Jennifer Saunders' work (writing) ethic. To be fair, it's very difficult to continue to find new levels working within a heightened concept like "Ab Fab".
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Have you noticed I wonder that none of those innovative comedy series are made by or for ITV? Auntie beeb serves a very valuable function here in that she can afford to take ‘risks’. |
That's the almighty advertising dollar (or pound)/ratings nexus again. It's also one of the fundamental reasons why Auntie - and the ABC here - exist. To provide the alternative. Unfortunately, the ABC here, persecuted - strangled financially - by governments of all political persuasions for perceived anti-government bias, is a fiscal basketcase. (Auntie's recent sh*tfight over the Blair/WMD/suicide matter is only a more public and spectacular version of what goes on endlessly here) Each party, while in opposition, blathers about the importance of the independence of the ABC. Each party, in government, murders the ABC because it's the only part of the electronic media over which they have direct - fiscal - control, and, by cutting its resouces, they seek to minimise the possibility of any negative reporting of the government.
The current government's phobia about the ABC reached Pythonesque proportions recently. The (now, thankfully, former) Minister for Communications, under whose jurisdiction the ABC falls, became obsessed with the ABC's reporting of the Iraq war, convinced that the ABC journos opposed the American invasion. Of course, as you'd be aware, any criticism of the American invasion of Iraq is deemed "anti-American". Thus the Minister was accusing the ABC of being anti-American. He produced a log of 87 complaints, mainly involving ABC radio's premier morning current affairs programme. He had transcripts of the host's introductions of the war reports, transcripts of the journo-on-the-spot's reports, et al. He'd had their words analysed, their syntax analysed, and even their (verbal) emphasis on particular words analysed. All of which, he claimed, proved that the ABC was "anti-American".
Lo and behold, an independent body found a handful of the complaints had a degree of merit, in that the reports were, at worst, "sceptical" of the reasons behind the attack on Iraq.
Such is what passes for government in this country.
The further problem with the ABC here is that, while a fiscal basketcase, they have also succumbed to the government's economic rationalist view that any public money spent on broadcasting should be spent as "commercially" as possible, meaning, ultimately, that they're simply competing with the commercial networks for ratings. Or trying to, and failing, because they don't have the commercial networks' massive resources. Thus the meagre resources they have are p*ssed against the wall. Tragically, risk and innovation went out the ABC window quite a few years ago.
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Is this affecting Mrs Finbar? I’m not clear what area she works in. |
She's a versatile lass. She's been a writer, script editor, producer and executive producer. She has just left the 9 Network after 4 years as Network Script Executive, meaning she oversaw the development of all new drama projects and supervised the ongoing drama productions. It was a killer workload.
Now, she's returning to producing. She has developed a telemovie that is doubling as a pilot for a TV series which is set, of all places, in Alice Springs. The Alice Springs component will be shot in January. The temperatures will be a killer, and, she has discovered from other producers who have filmed there in summer, the flies are actually more of a problem than the heat. Standard procedure, apparently, is to set up a big fan very close to the camera gate in order to blow the flies out of the gate in order to avoid shots in which massive flies fill the frame. The trouble with that, of course, is that having a big fan running so close to the action makes sound recording a nightmare.
Anyway, to answer your question - while she was at 9, the crew situation wasn't a problem for her, directly. But it was a problem for various local producers who struggled to get crews together. In the past, producing telemovies and the like, she ran into the same problem. Things should settle down now that we will see fewer American productions here. Thus, the American utterances about how much they loved working here, how great the country was, et al, will be proved to be exactly what they were - code for, "we're here because your dollar's f*cked and it costs us less to come all this way to shoot here than it would cost us to shoot in our own backyard".
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NeoStar
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Sydney
Jul 2002
time: 15:31
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Cheers Tamerlin , that was the sort of answer I was looking for. I'm afraid I find present day European attitudes much a mystery having never been there.
I agree with you when you say when looking at his cruelty one must look at the period he lived in. I'm also glad that French history is favourable towards him, he is comparable to the likes of Caesar and Alexander the Great in many ways, and you see many instances (a small example - a comment in Seinfeld about him being a 'ruthless warmonger') that are from the assumption he was another dictator - I think the difference was he had intent for good to come to France and Europe. England was indeed, quite aggressive in constantly trying to incite war with bribes and lies in order to stop a potential competitor to their superiority emerging from the continent. And also as you stated, his story is in part mythical for his rise and importance as an individual (even the age is often called 'Napoleonic') and can be easily embellished. It is ironic such a man simply withered away in isolation and obscurity - no great betrayel, death in battle, suicide - simply stomach cancer. I can't help wonder whether they would have been a World War I or II had he succeded in uniting Europe, maybe as it is today.
BTW - I was amazed at the anti-French sentiment in the US over Iraq - it almost tells you they have little comprehension of their own history with the French essential for their victory in the Revolution and Napoleon's sale of the Louisiana territory (for a tiny price) which doubled their size - without which they'd be no America as we know today.
And Tamerlin, if you play Civ3 (which I just picked up again after a year and a half) their is a Napoleon scn in the new expansion - very easy but a nice portrayel nevertheless.
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I've never called Clive a poor coach. The overwhelming evidence is that he's a very fine coach. That he's psychotic is an entirely different matter. |
He is a good coach, but Finbar, perhaps any coach with the amount of money he had...?  The England team have a vast, top class support group, I think in this case more than others the power of the English team is reliant on more than the head coach.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by NeoStar
He is a good coach, but Finbar, perhaps any coach with the amount of money he had...? The England team have a vast, top class support group, I think in this case more than others the power of the English team is reliant on more than the head coach. |
Yes, there was a huge budget and a massive back-up staff, but the dollars - or, in this case, pounds - don't coach the players, nor does the back-up staff. It could also be argued that Clive had the will and energy and intelligence to put the support base in place. Clive, BTW, I think, has studied Rod Macqueen's methods and philosophies pretty closely.
It should also be borne in mind that the Wallabies weren't far behind England in the fiscal and physical resources departments. We just didn't have the onfield quality in certain key areas. What Clive had at his disposal, of course, were two absolutely outstanding players amongst a group of good players, all coached to play their part.
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Havak
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.
Aug 1999
time: 05:31
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Brittas Empire – Finbar beat me to it! And I knew the answer too (except for the ep numbers)
Chris Barie’s follow up – A Prince Amongst Men – sank without race as it featured a super rich but low IQ soccer player with a huge ego. Presumably people just thought it was a documentary.
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The overwhelming evidence is that he's a very fine coach. That he's psychotic is an entirely different matter. |
I can never successfully twist your words can I?
In reality I have to admit he is a better coach than I thought he was four years ago.
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Deano is found wanting when it comes to arresting the decline? Deano - good coach of readymade teams? |
Absolutely spot on Finbar. I actually discussed it last night with the seniors of my touring party. Deano is now under the spotlight for his signings and his tactical decisions. He can no longer trade on his name as a player (and he was hugely famous here) and when his senior players went AWOL with England his tactical nounce seemed to fail with him players players out of position in a desperate hope something might work. His post match comments have been laughable (‘we would have won but for conceding more points than the opposition’). It’s a shame because he is such a nice guy – but one has to think of the club
I am worried he is burnt out and that both he and the club would benefit from a change. It’s a shame because he is such a nice guy – but one has to think of the club after all.
And he should have had an RWC win on his CV as a player – damn that Campo and Bob!!!
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The later series remain, IMHO, some of the best television comedy ever produced. |
The mistake in the original series was making Edmund slimy and fawning. The later characters worked for their more Machiavellian qualities?
Atkinson walked too early – the series skipped some very promising periods that could have been mined and the fact that he left the series to pursue the totally lame Mr Bean concept – well what more can I say…it all reinforces that Elton was the main talent.
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"Dibley" was another stringing together of village television caricatures. Me? Bitterly jealous? Never! |
As if.
He has been very lucky with the casting for his projects – it has normally been the supporting cast that has made them shine. It’s certainly true of Dibley and Four weddings (Simon Callow steals it if I recall) and Notting Hill (the support turn by the mad Welshman).
What you need is a strng script and a superb casting director?
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Is it a new series? |
It is – brand new episodes – and they all seem to be credited to Jenifer.
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by cutting its resouces, they seek to minimise the possibility of any negative reporting of the government. |
Very democratic is it not?
The BBC effectively won the WMD/suicide issue. Campbell went. Blair is on the ropes for his ridiculous foundation (aka private) hospital and student fees proposals (I am strongly opposed to both).
I never thought I would see the day where the Labour party is helmed by a Public School boy whilst the Tory leader (much as I detest him) went to a state Grammar school.
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Lo and behold, an independent body found a handful of the complaints had a degree of merit, in that the reports were, at worst, "sceptical" of the reasons behind the attack on Iraq.
Such is what passes for government in this country. |
That is actually truly staggering stuff. It makes out lot look almost Professional!
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that they're simply competing with the commercial networks for ratings |
It’s a hiding to nothing.
It gives me a better idea of the climate you are selling into though.
I truly wish I could say the BBC did not take part in this – but BBC 1 exists to go head to head with ITV in the ratings war. They are also far more successful at it than they have historically been. I think it helps that ITV is run by huge egos AND that Sky erodes ITV viewing far more than it does BBC.
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Tragically, risk and innovation went out the ABC window quite a few years ago. |
By which I assume they too have a five nights week silly soap?
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She has just left the 9 Network after 4 years as Network Script Executive, meaning she oversaw the development of all new drama projects and supervised the ongoing drama productions. It was a killer workload. |
I don’t doubt it! Life is all about a healthy balance between work and social life. You know where I fall on the question – it seems the good lady got trapped the other side!?
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Standard procedure, apparently, is to set up a big fan very close to the camera gate in order to blow the flies out of the gate in order to avoid shots in which massive flies fill the frame. The trouble with that, of course, is that having a big fan running so close to the action makes sound recording a nightmare. |
I love it. As we watch these things and suspend our disbelief we hardly ever ask ourselves the question “how did they keep them big ass flies out of the frame?”. And do we ever empathise with the Producers?
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"we're here because your dollar's f*cked and it costs us less to come all this way to shoot here than it would cost us to shoot in our own backyard". |
In 2001 I got $2.90 to the pound – it made the holiday very reasonable in terms of spending money. It’s now around $2.35 but I suspect that is still attractive to UK investment – we may take up some of the slack – though we are of course notoriously stingier productions that US ones. Ask Mrs Finbar to work in on the Dwarf movie. Then again don’t – otherwise you might be descended upon by a retired rugby team.
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The England team have a vast, top class support group, I think in this case more than others the power of the English team is reliant on more than the head coach. |
That’s a good point. Except NZ are certainly exactly the same – and if you look at the Aussie setup they match other squads post for post (fitness, nutrition, medical etc) More than anything though England are reliant on the Captain of the squad. I think this will be rapidly proved when he goes.
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What Clive had at his disposal, of course, were two absolutely outstanding players amongst a group of good players, all coached to play their part. |
Ask him for the names someone!
I must read back over Tamerlin’s Napoleon post later on. I must admit my opinion of him has always been coloured by his comparison to Wellesley as a General – where the Duke was by far the better of the two and has never really been properly credited for that. But I don’t for a minute believe the Duke was the better MAN of the two – has a dig around and find some of the quotes from Wellington about his birth in Dublin (“Because one is born in stable it does not make one a horse” which provoked one of the best Political putdowns ever IMO “No sir, but it does make one an Ass”).
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02-12-2003 04:09
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