If I can make it there...'2 Broke Girls'

'2 Broke Girls' (RTE2) is not bad at all. A quirky, slightly bawdy slice of Recession Comedy, the series stars Kath Dennings and Beth Behrs as a poor and formerly rich girl respectively forced by circumstances to work a Diner to pay the bills. The first episode had some decent laughs; Behr's character, Caroline, plays the recently impoverished daughter of a millionaire conman (hmm, wonder who that's modelled on?). Every week, we get to see how close the two girls are to earning enough to start up their own business. Dennings and Behr are decent actors and while the script is never groundbreaking or particularly hilarious, it had 'thetvreviewguy' smiling through a good part of it. Mediocre sitcoms tend to be written production-line style and there are elements of 'a kooky character here, a zany one there' with '2 Broke Girls'. But it's worth a second viewing before filing it away with 'King of Queens' under 'New Yawk' disappointments. There is potential in the series and while 'thetvreviewguy's life is as short as the next guy's and hates watching time-wasting TV, this is definitely worthy of another go. Just funny enough to have you tune in, the girls are appealing enough to keep you tuned. 'Political' with a very small 'p', it will be interesting to look back on shows like this a few years from now, when, and more likely, if, we ever get out of what's euphemistically referred to as 'recession'.

Book Him Danno!

Ever dreamt of escaping a damp and dreary January to a distant, tropical island? Ever thought of fleeing the household bills at the start of the year and flying off to the Pacific? But, what's that, you're broke and can barely afford a holiday down the road? Then look no further than (and 'thetvreviewguy' did) 'Hawaii Five-O' (RTE2) for your dose of winter escapism. Forget the non-too original dialogue, the model cop casting, the high-tech gadgetry most police forces can only dream about and think instead of the mild winters and hot summers, the fantastic Morton Stevens opening theme, the oh-so sandy beaches and the reminders of the original, which if you're anything over 35, you'll remember with some affection. While there's little to differentiate this from the run-of-the-mill cop show, at least the pacing is effective and character relationships, while formulaic, keeps the viewer watching. There's a the usual array of car chases (which reminds 'thetvreviewguy' of the line about 'Bergerac' that there's not much point having car chases on an island) and shoot-outs, love interests and 'dirty' cops. This all makes 'Hawaii Five O' sound totally clichéd; it is, but only partially...it doesn't go down the easy 'CSI' route nor does it go for mortuary carve ups all too easily used in current cops shows. Worth the occasional viewing, if only to remind yourself of a time when opening themes were really rocking, you dig?

Paradise Postponed

Okay, angels who come down to Earth is as old as the, er, Bible, but angels that come mix with us mortals as lawyers? Now that's just crazy talk!!  'Eternal Law' has this very premis and, while it's far from heavenly, it's not quite hellish and gives us some cheery fare in the dark January days. But it's still not the most the original of angel-takes; perhaps we're going to soon have our TV sets festooned with the winged ones similar to the vampire takeover of recent years? 'Eternal Law' is like a not very good episode of 'Quantum Leap'...again, not exactly terrible but not classic telly or 9pm programming. It's more of a 5-7pm effort that's pleasant, insubstantial, glossily produced, yet ultimately, neither that spiritually or intellectaually filling. On the plus side, it is brave enough sticking this sort of stuff out on prime-time; give 'thetvreviewguy' something quirky over some Geezer Mockney prog any day. The writing, however, needs to get sharper, the third episode started well but just fizzled out before the end, which topped off the damp squib. The sort of TV show that's perfect if you're a) a Teacher correcting homework b) doing some form of 'blogging' c) half asleep d) hungover. While 'thetvreviewguy' might prefer Engels to Angels, he could do worse than tune in for another episode but then again he won't be knocking on Heaven's door to see it again. Hasn't quite earned its wings yet.

A Fine Endeavour

'Inspector Morse' hit a high quality threshold. It never underestimated audience intelligence, played for what was a gargantuan amount of screen time (two hours) and rarely went for the obvious or seemed plodding or pedestrian. The franchise of the younger Morse, 'Endeavour' (ITV), lives up to the very high standards set by the predecessor and, in common with the original, provides an oasis of class among all the reality show nonsense about these days. Shaun Evans plays the (then) young constable with considerable aplomb; not too much insider knowledge is required to appreciate the character and his motivations. As ever, Oxford looks stunning, and makes for a perfect setting as a place where problems are solved and life's mysteries are explained. There's a classic beginning, middle, end structure to 'Morse' and we get this with 'Endeavour' also; it's a satisfying piece of television that leaves us middle-brows looking forward to future episodes. When there's a successful TV series, a prequel can never be that far behind. 'Endeavour' hits the spot with quality acting and tight script; the 'Morse Franchise' looks like continuing for many years to come. Should the series last, Oxford may not be safe for some time. A strong cast, good plot and great pacing make this production a fine endeavour.  'Morse' has spawned a monster, an erudite and compelling beast.

2011 - Jon Snow's Year

2011 may well be seen as a year as pivotal as 1968 and 1989 when we look back in the coming decade. 'Jon Snow's 2011' (Channel 4) presented some amazing footage and interviews from an astonishing year; Snow has always been one of 'thetvreviewguy's favourite anchormen - conscientious, professional and impartial...a great hack. The 'Arab Spring' has to be an epochal occurrence; the Arab 'Street' took matters into their own hands in Tunisia...in Egypt, the revolution is ongoing while in Libya, Colonel Gaddafi was toppled and lynched. The changes were incredible; too long seen as immutable, despotic Arab leaders succumbed to the masses; the people were shown to be sovereign, overthrowing tyrants in their wake. 2011 was the year of Occupy and while the legacy and impact of the movement are hotly contested, the international movement raised one of the key questions for 2012 onwards; how do we make an unequal world, more equal? Then there was the horror of the Japanese Tsunami, some of the footage from which is still impossible to watch; human calamity on such a scale and devastation not witnessed for decades, if not centuries. England had her riots with Left & Right sharply divided on the causes of the events and solutions to future urban unrest. Snow let his hair down a bit when he covered the Royal Wedding in Britain and it was a year when Wendy Deng saved Rupert Murdoch from being pied but not from being disgraced. For anyone in their late thirties, it's hard to believe that it's 10 years since 9-11 and the World has surely not become a safer place since then. News and time rolls on...Snow ably corralled monumental global events into an hour...and 2012 will be momentous yet, for better or for worse. Let's hope it's a good one.

Let's Dignify HIGNFY

'Have I Got New For You' (BBC1) has been going since...well, five Prime Ministers (1990) and HIGNFY is still funny. A simple formula (look at the news, satirise it/take the piss with a bit of wit and some invective) has given viewers exactly what they want, i.e. Paul Merton pretending to be dumber than he is and Ian Hislop enjoying being the youngest old fogey in town. The series has had some grave lapses of taste in the past (Stephen Milligan's death funny anyone?) but usually hits most targets in the sweet spot. Guest-hosting, now the norm after Angus Deayton's forced departure (driven out partially by Merton and Hislop's moralising), was awkward at the start but just seems a good fit now. Satire, and 'thetvreviewguy' is a big 'Private Eye' fan/collector (nearly all issues since 1997), is hit-and-miss; it can be unfunny for several reasons, among which being a) too much for those 'in the know' b) needlessly cruel ('thetvreviewguy' prefers the ball, not the man to be played) c) too obvious and d) irrelevant. To be fair to HIGNFY, it usually avoids most of these pit-falls but Merton and Hislop, while both being very funny guys, do stray into unfunny territory now and again, particularly within the paramaters listed above. It is, of course, and this is dangerous territory for a topical new show, an institution. But HIGNIFY is sharp and able to cleave some worthy targets and despite younger, brasher imitators, is still the best in show. Scores highly with 'thetvreviewguy for never underestimating the intelligence of the audience, HIGNFY could well be with us in another 20 years, if, indeed, we all are in our current incorporation...

Peston on the West on Hard Times

Robert Peston knows his onions. In a two-parter, 'The Party's Over: How the West Went Bust' (BBC2), Peston displayed his considerable talents; he is a distinctive and distinguished broadcaster (albeit one with an eccentric vocal delivery unique to himself). Much of TPOHTWWB was a tour-de-force summary of the 2008-plus 'great correction' i.e. current World Recession/Depression. Some insightful interviews with market players and analysts helped explain the depth of the hole we're in and how we got into such a state. However, while most blame was rightly apportioned to 'the banks' and the financial sector, Peston is of the 'We all Partied' point of view when it comes to public/sovereign debt.whereas those who got us into this mess (the financial services sector) aren't paying for their vandalism, ordinary schmucks and the poor are. On the plus side, Peston emphasised the importance of education but failed to address the question of what those who don't qualify as scientists or engineers are supposed to do. His take on German corporatism was particularly good; workers councils, small-medium buisnesses, and links with local communites are an integral part of the German economic story. Like a lot of us, 'thetvreviewguy' is pretty much recessioned out, but TPOHTWWB was a welcome addition to Debt TV and left him a little wiser but, if not wealthier.