You missed a rather good documentary on the sculptor Anthony Gormley and a rather poor play about Daphne Du Maurier. They must have been better than Eurovision though - even Terry Wogan's sub-ironic commentary is now so overworn it must be time for the charity shop.
An item on the news today suggested that because of the obvious political voting, that the west may never win again, and why bother sending any entries again. And I'm appalled that Scooch got second bottom. They did that well? I watched seconds of it during ad. breaks on CSI and just cringed at the unremitting awfulness of it all. Time for us to draw a veil over the whole sorry shooting match.
Oh, I only watched the summaries of the performances, and that was enough to turn my stomach. I don't have the constitution to watch train wrecks!
CSI, on the other hand, gets better and better. At least the Las Vegas one does.
Couldn't agree more AG. About Eurovision and CSI LA. Next comes CSI New York then a very poor third CSI Miami. I've never been able to figure out why William Peterson never became an A list film star. Maybe he just didn't want it, he was absolutely superb in To Live And Die In LA. Maybe it's because he's bow-legged?
Take a look next time you see him walking. And why is Jorja Fox's mouth on upside down? She plays Sarah.
Oh, but Styx, Gil Grissom is my ideal man, bowlegs or not! I am especially excited about the developments between Gil and Sarah. I like Sarah. She and I are very similar in many respects.
Agree 100% re: your rankings of CSI. Miami is sooo naff. When did everyone in Miami become rich, white (or Latino) and beautiful? I dislike the NY one because of the preaching about the death penalty. What a turn-off.
Back to Eurovision: I suppose I overlook the tongue-in-cheekiness of it all, but WHY does it have to be so horridly tacky? And WHY do some of the non-English-speaking countries insist on singing in sometimes badly represented English? We might as well have Scooch or whoever, sing in Russian.
Although, having said that, maybe we'd stand a chance at winning...
AG, didn't you know that Grissom and Sarah have already
'known' one another, in the Biblical sense? There have been several references to a relationship in the past, and Sarah made a reference to it again the other night.
Grissom had gone around to see her while she was on leave for insubordination. He wanted to know why she was so angry, especially when dealing with a case of spousal abuse. Her past came pouring out and during that she said she always picks men who are emotionally unavailable, and gave him a very pointed look. I have the Five US channel and can watch 4 hours of it some evenings.
Why does it have to be so horribly tacky?
Can you suggest any other way it would be? It's rooted in an optimistic, light entertainment dream of a Europe that really never has been. It's all optimism and swinging sixties and beautiful new architecture made from concrete and glass...
It might seem very small and parochial, but I love seeing each country announce their vote, especially if they say the name of the city: 'This is Belgrade calling...' It makes Europe seem big and exotic and far away.
And I love it because it's live, and because it can be more or less well organised, and because there's a chance of stuff going wrong, which is a rarity in telly now.
And the songs are often really, really good.
Cheers,
Mark
I loved it too, I always do. I like Mark also loved the georgian entry but thought the singer didnt match the song, mainly because of her dress (if clothes can match a song?) Serbia was my choice but then it would be anyway I suppose.
I love love love the eurovision. It's so deliciously celebratory and funny and tacky and bright. There are always a flurry of texts coming and going in the house - Oooh look at THIS, and HAHAHAHAH mainly.
Long live it.
When I was a kid I was entranced by the hi-techyness of the voting results. All those countries talking to each other LIVE! It was genuinely exciting. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same effect in our digital age.
Styx, I've only recently 'discovered' CSI (I have Five US as well; brill!), so have missed a good deal of the Gil/Sarah bits. The only gleanings I've had was one episode when Sarah invited Gil out to dinner, and he said, "I don't know what to do with this,", and Sarah said something like, "By the time you figure it out, it'll be too late."
Eurovision:
"It's so deliciously celebratory and funny and tacky and bright." Indeed! What was it that happened last year that was so funny, one of the announcers making some dig (was it Ulrika Jonsson?) at some other overly-tanned/facelifted Euro-celeb? I guess laughs must be had from such things, but I find it too painfully cheesy, although I think there is something to be said for having some lighter 'Euro' entertainment than football championships! But god, the music is dire.
Then again, I get all crunched up from watching Trey on 'The Apprentice'. I think I take telly too seriously for my own good.
The Apprentice's Tre, Jack Bauer, the whole cast of Heroes, Death Note and Tony Soprano are the only things between me and a life without TV.
And sometimes Diagnosis Murder.
Having said that, I did see quite a lot of Eurovision. I was alone and laughed out loud repeatedly. To my mind, that means it was a hit.
Enzo..
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We watched it with our traditional points-related drinking game. My teams were Georgia, Lithuania and Russia. "Sailing through my story!"
It's a shame the Swiss entry - 'Vampires are Alive' by DJ Bobo - didn't make it to the sem-final!
Eurovision crossed with CSi. That could make an interesting series.
E:That pink fairy woman who was the 'roaming' reporter MUST have done porn at some point. Its guranteed.
C:I love all CSI I have never seen before. NCSI is also good as are ALL the 'law an orders'. Hallmark, Living and FX keep me alive on the down days. Tuesdays is 'csi' day on five and no one can take it away from me. Mwa ha ha ha.
E: Even though it is a usual thing the Ukraine should have won. No doubt. I liked Bulgaria and Germany too.
E: Serbia was fronted by a fat lesbian japanese school boy. AND backed up by Cylons. !?!?! check it, its da troof!!
C: Grissom is a little too smug sometimes. BUT he is the best 'leader'. Even thougth Kaine should be king of all the cosmos.
Peace.
1. Horatio Kaine is 'smoooove' beyond belief. He hardly ever wears gloves; the powder might stain his suit or get on his sunglasses. It might even ruin the paint on his Hummer. Grissom may be smug and bowlegged, but he quotes Buddha and Julius Caesar and likes bugs. He's da bomb.
2. As one of those sad, Europhilic Yanks I have tended to look towards Europe as the pinnacle of all that is civilised and good about the world: beautiful old buildings; long turbulent political histories, mostly worked out; great food, coffee and wine; and a certain well-dressed self-assurance that, because it is European, it is worthy of note.
Eurovision makes me wonder whether we really ought to have sent troops to help out at Normandy.
You're not sad AG, in the sense of how the meaning of sad has changed over the years. (I suddenly feel ill)
Did you see how Carmella in The Sopranos swooned about Paris (no not that Paris) when she took a short holiday there? "Oh the history" she exclaimed, and she and her friend both agreed that the French language was just intrinsically gorgeous. When the waiter brought their food and spoke French to them Carmella said "I don't know what he just said, but I just came in my pants.) Actually she didn't but something like that. If there is a God she speaks French.
Eurovision and Lawn Order. I would rather skreek my fingernails down a blackboard than watch Eurovision, and I've not missed a progamme in 40 years. In a post-ironic sense of course. Either I've grown up (heaven forfend!) or it's regressed even further.
Vincent D'Onofrio from Lawn Order, Special Victims Unit was described by a TV critic as being annoying but hugely talented. I know what she means. But his character as written knows everything, from quantum physics to who played drums for James Brown on any given album.
Jerry Orbach in the other Lawn Order the grizzly hard nosed cop who sadly died a few years back, used to be a song and dance man. I kid you not. And isn't Sam Waterston brilliant?
David Caruso as Horatio Cain (?) oh where did you go wrong? In Homicide, Life On The Street you were brilliant. But why the mannerisms? The cocking of the head to one side when you're about to make some sort of profundity. The very decided way you put on your sunglasses (usually in a darkened room. I'm surprised you've not hurt yourself) before uttering some sort of profundity.
And don't get me started on the stupid blond chick who squeaks she doesn't speak. She makes Minnie Mouse sound like Paul Robeson.
Fwoar! Yes! I waited eagerly for the *entire* episode to see some action; it was worth it! I am *sure* Grissom is fabulous in bed.
I was sure there was something happening between Warrick and Katherine. What happened to that? Was that a teaser? And how come Stokes never has a girlfriend? Is he too earnest?
Are you referring to the scene where Katherine slid down the flood drain where she was caught by Warrick and they were just about to kiss, but were interrupted by a cop?
Yes! When I watched that I thought, wow. But nothing else seems to have come of it. Katherine's too busy accidentally blowing up labs and such.
I'd like to see Brass get some love action. He's too cynical and bitter for his own good.
The All New Pepsoid the Second!
The All New Pepsoid the Second!