Seven Ages of Man

'Give me the Child till Seven and I will Give you the Man' intones the original 'Seven Up!' programme, following the lives of children through life up to the present. '56 Up' is an incredible, awesome (in the original meaning of that word) series that renews faith in television as a serious medium. Director Michael Apted has mapped the lives of 20 children in their journey through life and it has been a deeply moving experience for the viewer to see how life has developed for the participants. Life is all too short and it takes a project like this to remind us that we are not trapped by destiny but that class is still a major determination of wealth, status, health and ultimately length of life; however, as we can see from the families that have grown up around the subjects of the show, wealth isn't required to be happy (although, it sure can help). There were many amazing stories, John, now a wealthy, highly privileged Barrister, who reflected on how fortunate he'd been in life, and he has what most would say, lived up to his destiny to be a comfortable member of the Upper Middle Class. Then there was Bruce, shy, and very English, a father in his forties and a Maths teacher who represented the best of Englishness; wry, likeable, dependable. Apted finished his review with Tony, the working class boy made good, who has a holiday home in Spain and, curiously, predicted the Economic Crash in '49Up'. Participants have dropped in and out of the series over the last 49 years, but it is a tribute to them, to Apted and to the power of an astonishing documentary project that will never be topped that the viewer is so compelled and moved by the lives of others. Stunning 'Reality' TV.

Better Late Than Never

'The Late Review' (BBC2) has been knocking around in various forms for over two decades. It's one of 'thetvreviewguy's favourite, if not regrettably oft-watched programmes, as it makes him feel smart. A mixum-gatherum arts review show, ably alternately hosted by the multi-talented Kirsty Wark and Martha Kearney - Current Affairs and Arty, 'thetvreviewguy''s kinda gals, it chugs along nicely and does exactly what it says on the tin. Last night's discussion covered the worlds of film, literature, museums, live music, drama and, ahem, television all over 45 minutes and we got the some insightful contributions, particular from Economist columnist Anne McElvoy. 'The Late Review' may not have the stand up arguers that were a feature of the show's predecessor, 'The Late Show,' like Tom Paulin or Tony Parsons (contributors in the 1990s version) but the successor has critics that allow for constructive and excoriating criticism where and when required. The most in depth, and for 'thetvreviewguy', the best part of last night's programme was the overview of '56 Up', which has followed the lives of its participants since they were 7...now that's documentary making. The panellists observed that in today's age of looking for the instant pay-off and pat story line, such a series is unlikely to have been commissioned if we were starting from today's viewpoint. 'The Late Review' has still got it.

That Guy Off 'Friends'

Matt LeBlanc can act, shocker! 'Episodes' (BBC2), where he stars as himself in a US Sitcom written by Limey exiles Sean and Beverly Lincoln, played by the ever-excellent Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, is a sharp, 'Curb'-like take on an actor playing himself, being, in this case, a bit of a prick. LeBlanc's is a likeable but totally amoral shagmeister (eh, this does get different to Joey, honestly) who is far more calculating and basically obnoxious than his 'Friends' alter ego. Mangan and Greig try to manage their pants-dropping star who proves an exceedingly difficult  'talent' to oversee. This is a very likeable comedy, with more heart to it than a Gervais naval-gazing vehicle; it's got some great comic timing and, of course, funny lines too. Series One didn't get great viewing figures and the cast and producers will be looking for a better hearing second time round. And it's in that perfect slot, Friday at 10pm so if you're around and about and want a good chuckle, give 'Episodes' a go. Okay, Larry David does this kind of stuff best but this is easily the best of the imitators - has 'thetvrviewguy' waiting for the next episode of 'Episodes'. Besides, if you just want to see sunny California and dream of, er, California, why not turn on, tune in and drop out. Worth a watch.