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.

Size Isn't Everything...

As 'thetvreviewguy' has written in posts passim, Ricky Gervais has become a hugely divisive figure. While some are more than happy to worship at the Gervais altar and believe he can do no wrong, others see a money-grabbing, one-trick pony enjoying his 15 minutes of fame for far too long. Gervais's conceit of comedy as self-awareness and smart-alecry can work extremely well (see most of 'The Office') or not (trying to 'reclaim' the word 'mong', for instance), yet he is a phenomenon (or, related to that, a muppet, in the eyes of many). 'Life's too Short' (BBC2) follows the travails of down on his luck dwarf actor Warwick Davis as he looks to make a buck in a cruel showbiz world ('LTS' has been described by Gervais himself as part -Office, part-Extras). In fairness, it's not a bad comedy at all. Gervais and Stephen Merchant avoid a lot of obvious height gags (but do have a lot thrown in as well) and have written a character-driven vehicle that allows Davis to show off his comedy bones. Merchant and Gervais appear in the background from time-to-time and there's already been a scene-stealing performance from Johnny Depp (yes, Gervais has a contact book and new friends list that 'thetvreviewguy' frankly doesn't). While Warwick Davis is the undoubted star, this has bloody Gervais written all over, the ubiquitous, annoying, comedy polymath that he is. You know what to expect from the writers and while this doesn't re-invent the wheel by any means, it is a funny show.

Faith in the City

When you have a soggy-liberal, agnostic, Church of England Vicar (the excellent Tom Hollander), in an inner-city London parish who's named after the first man, Adam, and shares many of his faults, a supportive and normal-ish wife (Olivia Colman), a waspish Arch-Deacon (Simon McBurney) and a sometimes profound, always intoxicated wino (hilariously played by Steve Evets), you come up with 'Rev' (BBC2), a comic gem shining out among the comedy trash. The humour of the show lies in never being cruel but always being sharp; it's like an eagerly anticipated favourite meal. Hollander never fails to give a brilliant 'pained' look on cue. The other recurring cast members, Miles Jupp as Adam's somewhat superior right-hand man Nigel and Adoha Anyeka as Ellen Thomas, Adam's overly familiar parishioner, perfectly compliment the tight ensemble.  'Rev' is a delight...charming, witty, and perfect fodder for any Guardian-reading, Radio 4-listening types out there.  The comedy touches on issues of faith, addiction, power politics and feminism in a seemingly very light-hearted way but it displays a keen intelligence more perceptive than most 'serious' views of such subjects; it preaches lightly but thoughtfully. While the 'comedy vicar' has been a figure of fun for centuries, 'Rev' has a nice contemporary feel to this most common of tropes. British comedy writing at its best and if you tune in, you, like 'thetvreviewguy', won't be agnostic about 'Rev'.

Who Do You Think You Are?

There's something very basic about impersonating someone; we grow up imitating others as we develop our own personalities, be it behaviour, opinions and beliefs. We  think we have at least one good impersonation in us. Bad impersonators are doubly unfunny - their impersonation sucks and the jokes aren't funny. Good mimicry, is like an elephant, something you know when you see but hard to describe. Both John Culshaw and Debra Stephenson are excellent mimics and 'The Impressions Show with Culshaw & Stephenson' (BBC1) hits the target more times than not. Stephenson is a fine comedienne and, 'thetvreviewguy' particularly enjoyed her take on Jennifer Anniston; Stephenson, like Ronnie D'Ancona, is a good looking woman who can assume most appearances really well. Her Katie Price, aka Jordan, was spot-on; preening, pneumatic and self-obsessed. John Culshaw has been doing impressions for years ('Dead Ringers' was a noteworthy calling card of his in the early Noughties) and he sparks off Stephenson extremely well. His Gordon Brown does, however, sound like his Tom Baker. He does an excellent Boris Johnson (Culshaw as Boris as Travis Bickle) and Ian Hislop (Hislop's fogey-dom perfectly captured). Watching the show, 'thetvreviewguy' noted how most of those impersonated were British celebrities; while this was a funny show, light and witty, it won't do any business for the BBC accross the Pond. An enjoyable half hour, worth it for the Robert Peston and Davina McCall impressions alone.

Welcome to the Jungle - 'Alone in the Wild'

'Alone in the Wild' (Discovery UK) is, in the humble opinion of 'thetvreviewguy', the best piece of 'reality tv' in the last year. Send a celeb or semi-celeb into the wild; in this case, soi-disant alpha-males undercover reporter Donal McIntyre and former SAS soldier Chris Ryan go into the jungle in Guyana and it just pisses rain for most of the week that they're there. They have to hunt or find their own food, forget 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here', this is the real deal. Being dumped in a rainforest in Guyana, the guys endure snakes, midges, hunger, thirst and, for a few days, solitude. Now, 'thetvreviewguy' will not be impressed if it turns out that McIntyre and Ryan had access to a local Hilton but Ryan seems a hardy sort who, as he noted, has never spent this long in the jungle before unarmed. Highly effective yet simple TV, this is quality stuff; the jungle is brought into the living room...Ryan, as is to be expected, has very little problem managing his stay but McIntyre finds it a little more difficult, admitting to camera that he hasn't spent much of his life alone and will find it an interesting psychological experiment. They both, unsurprisingly, survive and find it to be a worthwhile experience. Do all your extreme camping with your feet up by watching 'Alone in the Wild'... makes you feel alive again before switching on to news about the Euro crisis and impending end of the world economy as we know it.

Reading From The Book Of Guys

James May is, thankfully, not Jeremy Clarkson. If Clarkson is a one of the last people you'd like to meet for a drink, May, if not the first, would be high enough on 'thetvreviewguy's list. May's 'Man Lab' (BBC2) looks at stuff that us men have forgotten how to do and experience; plugs, shelves...being grown ups, the usual. Yet, there's an essential decency at the heart of May in contrast to Clarkson. May's 'bloke-ish' approach may not be to everyone's taste, but in taking us through the common trials in the everyday life of a man, we appreciate his amiable demeanour and self-deprecating humour. While 'Man Lab' is destined to be repeated on 'Dave' till eternity, it shouldn't be discounted on this basis (some of 'thetvreviewguy's favourite shows are on 'Dave'). May's always had a genuine interest in science and engineering and, unlike Clarkson, doesn't seem to get a puerile kick out of offending and annoying. 'Man Lab' may not be the most cutting-edge TV but it is watchable and, who knows, may help the modern, middle-aged male (an age which 'thetvreviewguy' is welcoming as much as the Captain of the Titanic welcomed the iceberg in his path). The item with May and producer in a 'haunted' house measuring responses to fear was one of the highlights so far; the presenter was spooked in the extreme. Men, do yourself a favour and 'man up' by tuning into 'Man Lab' - you never know when you might actually need to use all the blades on your Swiss Army knife...

Murder In A Middle Class Manner

'Midsomer Murders' (ITV) has been running for donkeys years; it's corn beyond belief. The plot, such as it is, is sub-Agatha Christie with extra-camp thrown in. There's a large amount of Home Counties smugness and a resultant nice warm glow of the English middle classes killing each other in the countryside. It must surely be a test of approaching middle age (knocking on thetvreviewguy's door like Beethoven's Fifth in a busy mood) as to whether one likes 'Midsomer' and why. Sure, the scenery is long and lovely and lush - always good for repeats and new episodes when the weather starts getting shitty in the Autumn. It could be the titillation of illicit affairs in the woods - last night's episode featured a nuns' cloisters (phew!) and some fruity goings on of the bourgeoisie (phwoar!) - that brings in the viewers by their millions. Would we all either consciously or subconsciously like to live in Midsomer? Would living somewhere with a higher murder rate than Compton, L.A., not be somewhat disconcerting? Is there anything to actually do, apart from kill or be killed? There's always been a hankering for the good life since, well, 'The Good Life' and when there's some extra-marital hanky panky thrown in, you'll always draw in the gawker, sorry, viewer. 'Midsomer' is like a nice, warm bottle of red plonk - offering nothing but a  guilty, fleeting, ephemeral experience with no zero hangover potential. Already amply parodied in 'Hot Fuzz', the programme doesn't take itself at all seriously and rarely transgresses onto 'Morse' or 'Taggart' 'proper' murder stuff (although the plot last night, quite unusually, did touch on some interesting political issues). 'Midsomer Murders' isn't quite worth dying for but...admit your age, give in to the dark side and watch.

Coming To An Airport Near You

Imagine actually looking forward to going to the airport, checking in, eating airline food and then the eager anticipation of six hours of Trans-Atlantic travel itself. For a brief period from the late 50s to the 1970s (when hijacking ended the fun), that was very much the case. Zoom forward to 2011 and this seems a quaint and ridiculous notion; passengers are treated as bombing suspects, frequently delayed, and having to endure the petty humiliations of the low cost airline and the 'pleasures' of airport shopping. Yes, it's much cheaper to fly now thank 50 years ago but it's still, by and large, an unwelcome experience. Which brings us to 'Pan Am' (RTE 2), set in a time when airports and flying were undeniably glamorous. It had 'thetvreviewguy' slightly underwhelmed but wanting more. Christina Ricci is great, the 'look and feel' of the time is almost spot-on, while the backstory is passable, if a little light. The air hostesses and pilots are reasonably skectched characters but we'd like to know more about what makes them tick. This could be down to the nature of a 'Pilot' (yes, the first episode of 'Pan Am' is called the 'Pilot') programme itself; try and cram as much establishing information as possible into your first view of a series. The spying angle didn't really work; 'thetvreviewguy' likes his espionage dark and murky.There'll be plenty of 'Mad Men' comparisons and there is something about that era that is compelling; it was a time of Post WWII swagger and optimism, pre-Vietnam and, for most viewers, a Camelot-type time that now seems a very long time ago, possibly before they were born. 'Pan Am' is a pleasant flight that will have the viewer looking forward to their next Martini at 30,000 feet.

Very Good, If Not Purrfect

Comedy panel gameshows have been a staple for 'thetvreviewguy' since he started the column; one mark of a half-decent show is longevity i.e. how long has it been running? While this can allow for the chaff (James Corden, seemingly great guy but...'A League of their Own' anyone?'), a certain amount of quality comedy wheat will be fit for harvest too, and despite running high on the irritability scale sometimes, '8 out of 10 Cats' (Channel 4), is doing something right. Jimmy Carr is the wise ass's, wise ass; rapid-fire one liners,
nasty/waspish turns of phrase (take your pick depending on your sense of humour) and, is a more than able ringmaster for team captains, professional curmudgeon Sean Locke and young pretender Jon Richardson. Add in some cracking guests like Sara Millican, and you've the makings for some excellent Friday night entertainment. Carr, once an aspirant to Enfant-Terrible of British Comedy, has mellowed in recent years; he's a generous host, allowing his team captains to shine. TV comedy relies a lot on predictibility; is that comedian likeable, is that format reassuring? While '8 Out of Ten Cats' doesn't score highly on the originality scale, it keeps 'thetvreviewguy' happy and is now main foundation stones of part of Friday night chill out TV. Jimmy Carr may be more acidic and edgy live but has found his niche as amiable and, occasionally, irritating, host.

Reviewer Knows Hollywood Star - Exclusive!

‘Terra Nova’ (Sky One) is of special interest to ‘thetvreviewguy’. Why? Not because it’s another Spielberg dinosaur/sci-fi venture. Nor because it’s soda pop TV. No, ‘thetvreviewguy’ is interested because as a baby and toddler, he used to hang out with the lead in the show, Jason O’Mara. He’s also chuffed to see that some of his early advice on acting to his fellow baby, particularly on how to cry more for milk and seek attention, has clearly paid off and led to his toddler buddy becoming a big star in the US. Jason’s acting CV is impressive – he’s done real theatre with lots of words and stuff – and while ‘Terra Nova’ ain’t Shakespeare, who’s the one leading the Hollywood lifestyle, huh, huh? And (thanks quick ‘google’ search) he’s married to a great looking actress. Jealous you might ask? Why, of course ‘thetvrevieweguy’ wouldn’t trade in his workaday career and negative equity for the thrills, spills and bellyaches of Hollywood, oh no. He’d much rather be working in as a 9-5, Joe Paycheque (‘check’ for his American Cousins), than living it up with Larry David and Co in LA. Anyhoo, back to ‘Terra Nova’; no surprises, it’s family-friendly entertainment and has so-so special effects on a medium screen TV. But there’s a crude equation that’s been around since the mid 90s that ‘Spielberg + Dinosaurs = Cash’ so this is bound to make money for the cast, producers and crew. Meanwhile, Jason will continue to live the dream while 'thetvreviewguy’, (thanks Henry Hill), gets ‘to live the rest of [his] life like a schnook’ (And cue Sid Vicious…)

You Calling Me A Liar?

Rob Brydon appears to have found his niche as a game show host or panellist. You see him here, you see him there, you see him everywhere. In ‘Would I Lie To You?’ (BBC1), a chop-shop gluing together of ‘What’s My Line?’ and ‘Call My Bluff’, he hosts the proceedings with a high degree of panache; he allows team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell to engage in entertaining and witty banter without trying to hog the limelight. Mack and Mitchell have well proven comedy bones; both are on-their-feet thinkers and able to, in the Irish phrase, ‘take a slagging’. Mack is great as the professional Northerner (and, for 'thetvreviewguy', can do very little wrong) while Mitchell is perfect at playing the nice posh fellow. BBC Comedy scores a lot of hits and this is definitely one of them; perfect Friday night entertainment with a glass of wine, or in ‘thetvreviewguy’s case, a can of Lidl special. Putting funny people together in the same room should produce good results and ‘Would I Lie To You?’ hits the right humour buttons; solid, really good, light entertainment. Laughter really is the best therapy so book yourself a free session and tune in.

Conan the Harvardian

Conan O'Brien is still a very funny man. Anyone who’s been a writer and producer for the 'Simpsons' is okay by 'thetvreviewguy' and 'Conan' (TV3e) is worth some after pub/insomniac/project completion viewing. Now almost 50, Conan has been a late night TV fixture for much of the last twenty years. Along with amiable side-kick Andy Richter, the red-headed one manages to work well within the tired constraints of the US chat-show format i.e. bleeeped swearing and ads every five minutes. This format in general, however, is staid and dated (going back to Johnny Carson days) - initial monologue, funny items, pets doing tricks, an up-and-coming or well-established rock band, guests telling anecdotes in a limited amount of time and a tight house band. And, bizarrely to an Irish audience, the sidekick. It's usually impossible to see the sidekick as anything more then a pitiful figure, particularly in the wake of 'Hey Now' Hank from the 'Gary Shandling Show'. Yet Andy is likeable and Conan and he have a great on-air chemistry (they may despise each other off-screen, what does 'thetvreviewguy' know?). Much of the US chat-show format is stuck in a kind of 1950s time warp which is only occasionally subverted by the likes of John Stewart or the Colbert Report. 'Conan', however, is a host that wears his intelligence and quick-wittedness lightly. A Harvard grad, O'Brien is able to be both smart and a smart-alec without alienating his audience (who tune in for those very reasons). Funny, clever and Irish, O'Brien shows that you can be both dumb and smart at the same time.

A Big Toast for 'Coast '!

'Coast' (BBC2) is like an old friend at this stage, a great Open University produced programme that follows the ins and outs around the British and Irish coastlines. Main presenter Neil Oliver ably steers the viewer on one of the World's most fascinating voyages. Last night's epsiode was up to the usual high standard and, most enjoyably for 'thetvreviewguy', featured Baltimore, West Cork, one of the most beautiful places on this planet (what other planet have you been on 'tvreviewguy'?). We travelled to Valentia Island, previously an proto-world internet hub in the days of the telegraph. We went to the Cliffs fo Moher and visited the amazing beehive huts on the Skellig Islands; in short, if the Irish Tourist Board had sought to make a advertorial about the majestic beauty that there is in Ireland, they could not have done much better. The series photography is always lush and stunning and some of the views were just outstanding; Mt Brandon was a wonder to behold. 'Coast' is destined to be on Geography teacher playback for much of the next decade; a superb piece of television. As with most things, we never really appreciate what we have ready to hand and last night's episode would make your average Mick wax lyrical about the wonder of it all. We may be going through catacylsmic economic times but nature will always endure and programmes like 'Coast' will help us realise landsacapes shape lives and communities. Family viewing at its best.

It's (Not) Grim Up North

'Flying Wild Alaska' (Discovery) is a life affirming piece of tv following the adventures of the Tweto family who own and run 'Era Alaska' airline. The whole operation is 'Mom & Pop', small dual engine planes that deliver supplies and people through some of the World's most rugged, beautiful and desolate scenery. Real life tragedy mingles with spades of hood humour as we join the the charming Tweto family. 'Discovery', of course, would have been very aware of the 'babe potential' of Ariel and Ayla Tweto who add some great laughs to what could have turned out as another 'Deadliest Catch' with Planes. It's much more than that, it's about family and freedom; the trawlermen do make for good tv, but Jim and Ferno Tweto are such a, well, nice, couple that 'thetvreviewguy' prefers watching the more prosaic tales of family flying and snow jogging than the daring-do of Captain Ahabs cashing the big one. 'Flying Wild Alaska' is more light than shade and makes for a breezy bit of background viewing that won't have you switching over to the 'Hitler Channel' for a documentary fix. The Twetos have put Unalakleet on the map (easier said than done as Alaska gives new meaning to the word 'remote') and 'thetvreiewguy' will make sure to fly with the Twetos next time he's in the area. Give yourself a well deserved break from financial blues and have a look at how life can be and is for this amazing family and enjoy the real-life 'Norhern Exposure'. At least Business Class television.

Miranda's Right

She's big, she's funny, she's mainstream on BBC1, and, toottindarnit, she's only gone and got a show named after her! Yes, one of 'thetvreviewguy's favourite comediennes (okay, there aren't that many but this may or may not have anything to do with Christopher Hitchens’ points about women not being funny, don't have the time or space to go there right now) Miranda Hart, has hit the mega time with 'Miranda' (BBC1) now Saturday night fare. The shtick is that she's clumsy and witty and while there's not huge innovation compared to earlier 'funny girl' shows like Mary Tyler Moore, it is frequently a laugh riot; ‘Miranda’ makes you smile and appreciate how talented a performer and writer she is. Comedy is, as 'thetvreviewguy' never tires of saying, an entirely subjective matter. What's funny to a baffling amount of people, i.e. 'You've Been Framed', may not be funny to others. Then there's Lowest Common Denominator substandard US buttter-ball, moral message, boring, US comedy, which again, millions find very entertaining. 'Miranda' scores because she respects her audience's intelligence but doesn't try to be clever-clever or snide; she is a tv power player and one with many years of success undoubtedly ahead of her. Patricia Hodge is superb as Miranda's mother and the supporting cast (Sarah Hadland & Tom Ellis in particular) are excellent comedic actors. A third series is to follow the current one and with both a favourable critical and audience reception, 'Miranda' and 'thetvreviewguy' will be spending more quality time together. Another good reason for not going out.

The Way of the Dragon

‘Dragons Den’ (BBC2) can make ‘thetvreviewguy’ a) throw stuff at the box b) laugh uproariously and c) go, ‘wow, you know, that’s a really good idea!’. The concept; have you got a business idea or a company start up but don’t have the funding you need? Well, why not make your pitch in front of five savvy and sharp business people who may invest in your company. The producers' trick is not to have too many utterly ridiculous business proposals, have the odd gem and choose entrepreneur ‘business angels’ that like to have a good row. Well parodied by now, ‘Dragons Den’ appeals and repels in equal measure; appeals, because we all have ideas, maybe that one big idea, that will get us out of the rat-race, appals due to the naked greed of the Dragons (yes Duncan Bannatyne, ‘thetvreviewguy’ is talking about you) when they know they’ve seen a commercial winner. The new woman, Hilary Devey, has a bizarre dress-sense that can only be described as harking back to 1980s ‘Dynasty’ (perhaps her own tribute to Thatcherism?). But, like the other dragons, she’s a tough, no-nonsense business person (an industrial palette millionaire no less; boring in the eyes of ‘thetvreviewguy’? Yes, but sticking at it was the key). Not as cruel as the ‘X Factor’, ‘Dragons Den’ has a well-balanced panel (of egotists, greedy bastards and commonsense talkers) and is well worth a small investment of your time.

There's So Many Colours In The Rainbow

‘Horizon’ (BBC2) rarely fails to hit the mark. It’s no secret that ‘thetvreviewguy’ loves good science programmes even though he was hopeless at all his school science subjects; he suspects he isn’t the only one like this. Last Monday’s show was all about colour; how do we perceive it, what do different colours mean, can they make us feel powerful or powerless? As usual, there was some very interesting stuff discussed that only occasionally fell near pointyhead territory. Narrated mellifluously by Samantha Bond (she of ‘Moneypenny’ fame), we found out some fascinating facts about colours. Okay, so red is associated with danger and passion and if we ‘see red’ we get angry. But if we sit in a red painted room, time slows down rather than speeds up, unlike in a blue room where it seems to pass by more quickly. Reds and browns are also believed to make us hungry; all of these assertions are based on empirically established facts yet many of them can sound silly or made up. We see how the Namibian Himba tribe, in some amazing footage, are able to distinguish the subtlest blue, which jumps out at them in a visual test, but are unable to distinguish a clear blue (in our eyes) among a sea of greens. This is said to be due to there being fewer words in the Himba vocabulary to describe colour. ‘Horizon’ has been going since 1964 and has, despite some minor criticisms, always managed to provide entertaining educational television for the non-expert. While ‘thetvreviewguy’ may not be a fully fledged scientist, he knows what he likes and enjoyed this colourful dissertation on the visual world.

It's a Kind of Magic

Jonathan Ross is a very annoying and overpaid man, exceptionally overpaid. He took the BBC for a ride for years as a ‘contractor’ presenter, fleecing the licence fee payer and corporation for millions. His move to ITV was unlamented by ‘thetvreviewguy’ who thinks stars like Ross add little value for the viewer. And yet, ‘Fool Us’ (ITV), with Penn and Teller, is a great TV show, a return to Saturday night fare at its best and a magic programme that allows the real stars, i.e. the magicians, to take the limelight with Ross shutting his all too mouthy gob for most of the programme. The format sees amateur magicians try and fool Penn and Teller with the prize on offer being a slot in Vegas backed by P&T. The two guys are genuinely funny and always ‘big up’ their guests whether they manage to guess how the trick is done or not. Penn, the chatty one, is a good old-fashioned ‘roll-up, roll up’ showman and Teller is terrific as the silent partner; together they make for a really talented and hilarious double act. The beauty of good magic is in being totally baffled as to how something’s done; Penn is a noted rationalist and never claims what he does is more than an illusory. ‘Fool Us’ brings us Muggles into their world and allows us an insight into the ways and means of pro-magicians. Well worth tuning in for, despite Jonathan Ross.

Playing the Numbers Game

'The Code' (BBC2) looks at the role of numbers and numerical patterns in life, architecture, the Universe and everything. Ably presented by Macus du Sautoy (host of an excellent series about mathematicians on Radio 4), the programme considers the hidden patterns all around us that are either invisible or totally ignored. Now ‘thetvreviewguy’ is by no means a maths guru and likes his sums prepared and presented in a simple manner; du Sautoy tries his best to do just this. We are reintroduced to the wonders of Pi and how it can help us guess the weight of fish (something to do with standard deviation). Pi has some interesting qualities, which ‘thetvreviewguy’ can’t go into now for time reasons, but, needless to say, you can do stuff with it. Radar would not exist were it not for imaginary numbers; yes, we could fly without radar but we’d be crashing an awful lot more. Magical proportions in architecture have always been a staple for cod fiction but du Sautoy presents a mathematical dissection of Chartres Cathedral, where lines, triangles and squares underlie the whole shape and structure of the building. Musical chords and harmony were cited as another example of where 'The Code’ kicks in and anyone familiar with dissonant compositions will know how initially jarring they can sound. The BBC excels at this sort of TV – educational and entertaining fare, unembarrassed to undertake, in a previously much derided phrase, a ‘mission to explain’. Mathematics and numbers are everywhere and even if we don’t understand most of it, people like du Sautoy are there to help us try. For ‘thetvreviewguy’, ‘The Code’ is numero uno.

Dispatches from the Undergrowth

Monday's 'Dispatches' (Channel 4) presented by everyone's favourite One Nation Tory, Peter Oborne, looked at 'How Murdoch Ran Britain' and it didn't make for easy viewing. News International's unethical and allegedly criminal activities have been the subject of a torrent of revelations. Murdoch's grip on the English political establishment seems incredible now, only a few short weeks since the scandal started getting (for Murdoch) out of control. A by now familiar cast of commentators (including Lance Price, Michael Wolff, Alan Rusbridger, Claire Enders - a real heroine - Hugh Grant and - pantomime villain Paul McMullan) covered all the angles. The Dirty Digger's use intimidatory tactics to browbeat and bully politicians had been going on for decades; Tom Watson, Labour MP and phone-hacking campaigner, said that 'dozens' of MPs were intimidated and threatened over the years. The all-too-close relationship between the Met and the 'News of the World' was highlighted; there was a revolving door between News International and Scotland Yard ('thetvreviewguy ' will never tire of Andy Hayman's 'Good God No! Absolutely Not!' moment, which was given another welcome airing). John Major refused to 'cosy up' to Murdoch and he was lambasted with personal abuse throughout his, admittedly, calamitous premiership. Rebecca Brooks, Rupert and James Murdoch were bullies and like all bullies, their power crumbled once stood up to. The Murdoch family may well survive to fight another day; they are, after all, richer than Croesus and still big media players. But, as Oborne pointed out, instead of social, business and political lodestars for the British political class, they've become pariahs. 'Dispatches' was a superb piece of investigative reporting, editing, presentation and production. We all like a morality tale and 'thetvreviewguy' hopes, that in this one, the bad guys get their comeuppance in the end.

News on 'The Hour' from 1956

BBC2’s ‘The Hour’, set in a BBC newsroom in the pivotal year of 1956 (Suez, transition from post-war austerity into the 60s), looks great. The first episode had everything: shadowy ‘spooks’, raffish presenters (Dominic West’s going to storm this one), feisty female producers and journalists, police bribery, a sharp ‘look and feel’ of 1950s London and a large element of not knowing what’s going on (a seeming prerequisite for much of contemporary TV drama). The casting is superb: while the technology seems quaint, BBC managers may not have changed that much in 60 years; personality types endure and there’s some fine acting about in ‘The Hour’s portrayal of the BBC top brass. Ramola Garai and Ben Whishaw are outstanding as Bel and Freddie, a high flying producer and keen sleuth-hound respectively.  BBC television news, up to the mid 1950s, consisted of tales of debtante engagements and obsequious interviews with Prime Ministers. The cultural change that took place in a hugely class conscious society has been well documented, and ‘The Hour’ captures an era where the winds of change are soon to blow.  Who knows, and 'thetvreviewguy' certainly doesn't, where ‘The Hour’ will go? Light and shade are hard tones to carry separately, let alone together in a TV drama. But please let's have a stop to British critics saying that the only good shows are American; there's plenty of writing, acting, directing and production talent outside of the US, operating on a fraction of some of the budgets in the States. For 'thetvreviewguy', this was a most enjoyable 'Hour'.

Hacking Away To The Truth

Money and power have been dangerous bedfellows since time immemorial. Last night’s ‘Panorama’ (BBC1) on the Murdoch hacking scandal left ‘thetvreviewguy’ crying out for more. It was a superior summary of background and events so far and, at half an hour long, the viewer’s appetite could have easily managed another couple of courses. We’ve now had resignations, newspapers closing and, tragically, a death; one of those interviewed on the programme was Sean Hoare; the 'News of the World' whistleblower was found dead yesterday. Rupert Murdoch has been the dominant media mogul for much of the last forty years and his empire is now in freefall. It’s a credit to the BBC that they still have reporters ready to tell a story without fear or favour and ‘Panorama’ has a proud tradition. The hacking story would have remained dead and buried if it hadn’t been for the work of the ‘Guardian’ and ‘Private Eye’; the BBC’s coverage since the story broke has been exemplary. Both Labour and the Tories have bowed at the knee for Rupert and as was said it the ‘Guardian’, this story could go anywhere. ‘Panorama’ fulfilled its public service remit with aplomb and ‘thetvreviewguy’ felt it captured the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ nature of the scandal perfectly. This show will run and run.

Three Blokes in a Car

'Top Gear' (BBC2)  is always on 'Dave' or some other channel somewhere. Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have serious road miles clocked up at this stage and the show has become an international franchise, toured, been a huge money spinner for the BBC and the presenters, and generally been omnipresent for much of the last decade. It has a simple formula of the three amigos getting lost, exchanging pub-style banter and delivering soliloquies on what it means to be a dude. Cars are incidental, a peg on which to hang the schtick; petrolheads enjoy the show but it's not pitched at them; 'Top Gear' is aimed at your average Joe, who sees his car as an extension of himself (at a deeper psychological level, not a dick thing).Throw in a celebrity guest/fan and you have a programme where the ordinary, the regular, get to feel extraordinary. Of course,  'thetvreviewguy' can understand why 'Top Gear' (TG) is so popular but for him, 'TG' is akin to bumping into that neighbour or acquaintance at an annual barbeque that you don't really dislike but just have no great desire to meet up with again in a hurry (nothing personal of course). There's a huge amount of Clarkson, May and Hammond playing at being kids; it's mildly amusing, occasionally irritating but mostly, a harmless hour of telly padded out with plenty of faux bufoonery and cod dialogue. Yes, Clarkson is a dolt when writing in the 'Sunday Times' where he espouses his tedious reactionary views (real and posed). And yet...'thetvreviewguy' still holds that 'Top Gear' has a certain amount of charm but becoming a regular viewer wouldn't be one of his driving ambitions.

University Challenge Still Hits the Button

Jeremy Paxman is a clever cloggs but doesn't quite know the answer to every or even most questions on 'University Challenge' (BBC2). As a host, he can be hectoring, boorish, patronising and a total pain in the arse. But he brings the best out of the real clever clogsses, who have been 'reading' English, Science and Law since 1962 and have been amazing viewers with their arcane and astonishing knowledge and memory. Quizzes are a dime a dozen but 'thetvreviewguy' has always had time for this particular programme ever since he made a couple of ill-fated appearances on the now discontinued Irish equivalent 'Challenging Times'. It's particularly impressive that students have a broad range of reading and knowledge in this 'google' age of transient news and information overload. For 'thetvreviewguy', original quizmaster Bamber Gascoigne will always be the 'Guvnor', one of the original 'telly dons' (even if Gazza wasn't a lecturer as such, he came across as one, and a brainy one to boot). Of course, 'University Challenge' flatters this viewer's ego whenever he answers a few questions during an episode - but unfortunately, barely any of the science ones; 'UC' shows the audience and critics alike that 'high-brow' and 'tv' don't have to be exclusive of each other. There are, in Donald Rumsfeld's phrase [former Chief of Staff in the Ford Administration, became associated with the strategy of 'shock and awe' and later 'extraordinary rendition'] lots of unknowns out there. A programme like 'University Challenge' reduces the unknowns for 'thetvreviewguy' somewhat; it still leaves him knowing how much he doesn't know. Who'd have thought something that makes us feel smart can make us feel dumb at the same time?

Return of the Mack

Lee Mack is one of the funniest British comics around at the moment. His timing, his wit, exuberance and Northerness make him an entertaining and personable guy. While 'thetvreviewguy' so wanted his flagship Saturday night vehicle to succeed, 'Lee Mack's All Star Cast' (BBC1) doesn't quite gel, despite Mack's winning personality. The show is an obvious mix of concepts from Graham Norton audience participation and web-cam links, to regular chat show and comedy stand-up. Mack seemed atypically hesitant on his first outing and this is probably down to the constant jumping in format that he has to somehow make seem as original and a draw for the fickle, flicking viewer. Fern Britton and Frank Skinner did their best as guests to keep the show moving along and their obvious respect for the host was evident but as a spectacle, it was just too messy and frenetic. Now 'thetvreviewguy' knows that if you're stuck watching TV on a Saturday night, you're either broke, married/partnered up or single but that's no excuse for watching any old iron. 'All Star Cast' deserves better production; Mack is fast on the way to becoming the thinking man's Michael McIntyre, i.e. funny as well as popular and the BBC should really be making better use of his talents. Now, if only they'd line up Tim Vine as part of a double header variety show; the BBC could have another Baddiel and Skinner hit on their hands. Instead, you can watch Áll Star Cast' safe in the knowledge that it's the best of a not-great bunch on a Saturday night.

New York's Finest?

There's no shortage of TV po-po shows these days and quality-control needs to be rigorously applied. 'Blue Bloods' (RTE2), a much-trailed NYPD cop drama, revolves around the Irish-American Reagan family, three generations of Poh-Lease, with Tom Selleck as the current Police Commissioner. Donnie Wahlberg plays a distinctly Republican Bull he is counter pointed by his liberal, college-man brother, also a cop. Throw in an Assistant DA sister and 'Cut-me-and-I-bleed-Blarney' ex-cop grandfather and you have the makings of an interesting family dynamic. Sadly, the family scenes are the only original and compelling parts of the programme. Otherwise, 'thetvreviewguy' finds it to be a mish-mash of 'The Wire' without the swearing and the realism and 'Law and Order', without the Order and with 'whodunit' scripts that are clichéd and pat. It's a pity because the family plot-line to 'Blue Bloods' looks like being a real grower (there's been a recent commissioning of a second series). Selleck is watchable and can really act; while 'Magnum' was fun, it could never be accused of gravitas and moral integrity, both of which the actor brings to his role in 'Blue Bloods'. Still, thankfully, it's not CSI - there's no techno or forensics BS. Instead, the writers try to meld to stories into one; the family tale and the shooty, crimey stuff; the joins are by no means seamless. Wahlberg may be role- limited but he does chippy Micks down to a t. 'Blue Bloods' is better than a lot of the garbage out there but it ain't no David Simon show; for 'thetvreviewguy', it ain't no thing.

Dinner, Dinner, Dinner, Dinner...

It had to happen. 'Come Dine with Me Ireland' (TV3) has arrived and it doesn't disappoint, whatever your expectations are. If you're looking for cringe-worthy, face-palm tv, then you've got it by the bucketful - it copies earlier versions, except, this being Ireland, the guests seem to drink even more ('thetvreviewguy' is Irish, he's allowed say things like that); and, if the indications of the first few programmes are correct, they don't mind making complete numpties of themselves either. 'Reality' TV has always been about the selection process; who the producers pick is essential to the ingredients of the show. Naturally, if for you have a dinner party with clashing personalities who all happen to be annoyingly 'me-pointing', you'll be hitting telly jackpot. Now ‘thetvreviewguy’ knows all about the fleeting moment of fame that comes with appearing on the box; he twice captained his college in the not-much lamented 'Challenging Times' (for his US friends that was an Irish version of 'College Quiz Bowl'). So he can understand why mass media exposure has appeal (okay, in the case of 'Challenging Times', a bit less of the 'mass'). But he really doesn't want or need to make a complete tool of himself on national television (having perhaps done so in the past ). 'Come Dine with Me Ireland' hits the high tide mark in reality telly but reaches down to the lows when it comes to LCD entertainment. Not that funny, not that charming, 'Dine with Me' is like a passable but ultimately fruitless first date which won't have you rushing back for a second; more in the 'just good friends' category.

A Bit of a Domestic

'Life of  Riley'(BBC1) follows in the trail of 'Outnumbered' and other domestic, suburban, half-hour long, nuclear/step-family sit-coms.Of course, family life is mostly a round of domesticities, laundry baskets, dinners and humour but the tv portrayals of the family tend to concentrate on the first three items and are slim on the last. Caroline Quentin ('Men Behaving Badly') as the mother/wife 'Maddy Riley' is a fine comic actress and Neil Dudgeon ('A Touch of Frost', 'Midsomer Murders') plays a daft Dad deftly. You won't die laughing but you will smile; 'Life of Riley' never challenges the genre, preferring the comfort of a traditional sit-com structure. There's some good studio audience chuckles coming from intra-generational generated laughs. (Dad is rubbish with new technology, Mum unsuccessfully tries to use her kids argot). Sunday afternoon fare that has 'thetvreviewguy' thinking he could write this kind of stuff if he really wanted to and maybe he should. In the meantime, he'll have to be happy with a lot of mildly-amusing comedy shows and unearthing a few gems here and there. 'Life of Riley' is passable, and in someways, ideal viewing for overcast weather days. If  it gets stressed-out parents some peace for a while then that makes it even better.

It's a Fair Cop Gov

'Scott & Bailey' (ITV) is a passable female buddy-buddy cop show set in up North of Watford. Both characters are modern women who have lives outside of work and the programme jogs along at a medium pace ('Morse' being slow, any 'CSI' being quick).  Both Bailey (Susanne Jones) and Scott (Lesley Sharp) are played well and we have a rolling plot line with a one-off whodunit each week. The detective unit is run by the no-nonsense Inspector featuring a scene-stealing Amelia Bullmore. It's a demographic box ticker - single 30s woman? Check. Working mother? Check. And there's little of the mortuary chic that we get in most cop shows these days (although there is the obligatory post-mortem shot). Pluses: the characters are kind of convincing i.e. not totally incredible and the production values look good. Minuses; no one swears strongly and 48 minutes worth of telly detective investigation time barely opens a murder case book. Perhaps the biggest minus, and concessions being allowed for this being the scene-setting first episode, is that 'Scott & Bailey' is a character, not plot-driven story. And it's distinctly not cerebral, not the 'Wire', not even 'Cagney and Lacey' - which was one of 'thetvreviewguy's favourite eighties tv shows. 'Scott & Bailey' (the ampersand seems very important here) doesn't hit the Sunday night 'murther' vacuum left by 'Taggart'. May be a grower but 'thettvreviewguy' can take or leave it - cop show junkies wil get their fix though.

Miami Prison Blues - Louis Theroux Checks In

Louis Theroux, chronicler of the bizarre and outrageous, scores once again in 'Snitches Get Stitches' (BBC2), a fly on the wall, documentary in the savage hell that is Miami Mega Jail. Technically, all these prisoners are innocent; it's a remand prison. But there's little innocence in an environment where victimisation, stabbing and beatings are common and the guards look on and do little to intervene to prevent this feral culture from thriving. Theroux has matured over the years; previously, he may have once looked like a sensation-seeker, showing us freaks and misfits. But now, you really get the impression he cares. He cares about an obviously disturbed inmate accused of shooting his girlfriend; he never stops asking 'why?' though. The western world is by and large a civilised place; Theroux shows us places where the usual rules don't apply, where when someone asks you 'what shoe size are you?' (as these remand prisoners do), you know you're in for a vicious, senseless beating to take the shoes from your feet. 'Snitches Get Stitches' reminds 'thetvreviewguy' of how thin society's veneer of civilisation can be; how brutality can become common place; how prison, may work as punishment but not as rehabilitation. Most of the prisoners featured in 'Snitches Get Stitches' accept the twisted logic of the inmate code in Miami Mega Jail. Louis Theroux makes a great documentary and he is rapidly developing into an acute observer of society; 'thetvreviewguy' is happy watching Louis documentaries from the safety of his couch.

Not Doing the Business

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The 6 'P's. Know the Market. Watch trends. These somewhat pat phrases sum up 'Business Nightmares' BBC2, an entertaining overview, or re-hash, if you will,  of corporate marketing disasters and failure. The 'New Coke' fiasco? Hear more about it from embarrassed executives and talking head contributions from the likes of Richard Branson and James Dyson. Persil launch underpants-shredding washing powder? Too good to be true, but yes, it did happen. Polaroid not being able to handle to rise of Digital? A sad piece tempered by the fact that the company is making a comeback. Presented by Evan Davies in his usual amiable manner, 'thetvreviewguy' liked the editing and production values in 'Business Nightmares' and liked Davies' potted MBA Strategy module. However, an obvious question is how the BBC were allowed to essentially give free advertising time to mega-brands? Perhaps because the programme was a co-production with the excellent Open University television unit? There really wasn't any new information imparted; no great insights, no killer lines, no exclusives. 'Business Nightmares' is, of course, destined for extensive re-runs in Business Schools for the next couple of years. Essentially, we 'learn' that you have to speculate to accumulate and that successful entrepreneurs do their best to calculate and then minimise risk. The rise and rise of the 'Brand' continues unabated and until consumers learn or, more practically, have time to de-code a barrage of corporate messages and narratives, we will continue to buy brand over quality; most people blind testing the new Coke preferred it to the Old but when told how they would feel about it replacing their favourite sugar water, there was a resounding 'No!'. The next set of results from 'Business Nightmares' is out next week and 'thetvreviewguy' will be tuning in, if only to see how he's not the only one who makes mistakes.

Karl Pilkington - Philosopher for Our Times

Ricky Gervais - huge star. Stephen Merchant - movie career apace. Karl Pilkington? If you're to believe the first two, he's a blithering idiot, moron, twat, arsehole...and these people are his friends. Yet, as fans of Karl will know, he has a unique world-view; stunning in its banality, absurdness and naivety and a laugh-riot. In the animated 'Ricky Gervais Show' (HBO/Channel 4), Pilkington gets the almighty piss taken out of him by Gervais and Merchant, and truth be told, it can be hilarious. Yes Gervais overdoes it on the laughometer and yes the humour can appear cruel and mean...but if Karl's in on the joke, then it's better than 'The Office' for hee-haws and giggles. The thing about Gervais is this; he's creative, funny and smart but his callousness and cruelty grates with 'thetvreviewguy' - he frequently takes a joke too far. 'The Ricky Gervais Show' walks this particular tight-rope. Karl Pilkington wouldn't be the most well-read of blokes, if indeed, he's read any books at all, yet, despite this, he occasionally comes out with an absolute gem of wisdom amongst his moronic and bizarre and guffawable opinions on everything from evolution to philosophy. Ricky Gervais surely knows that Pilkington is the star of the show. While 'thetvreviewguy' won't't be lining up to worship at the 'Genius' Gervais Deity, he likes 'The Ricky Gervais Show' a lot and would particularly like to have a pint with Karl and ask him what's it all about?

In my Humble Opinion

'Opionated' (BBC2) is not a new format; it's a vehicle for Frank Skinner to ramble on and as such is watchable but not compelling. Like a lot of topical/news chat/quiz shows, the envelope has been pushed years ago. So, if you're prepared to watch a format that's been varied to death over the years, you may take your entertainment from the added value from the guests and host but not the structure. Skinner is old by tv standards but can still coin a good phrase and poke at some good targets; he has a genuinely thoughtful relationship with his studio audience, and, with his age and experience, knows not to act the diva. For 'thetvreviewguy', Skinner can still come up with a killer line in his clever monologue. He has become a witty, after-dinner speaker-type comic (on telly anyway), rather than a grenade-throwing provocateur and perhaps, for Skinner, this is no bad thing; it's very hard to maintain an 'Enfant Terrible' persona into middle and later age without seeming tiresome. A master of timing and an intelligent man, Skinner seems like a man at peace with himeslf; he makes presenting look easy and is relaxed enough not to let much bother him. And he has easily out-lived his former comedy partner David Baddiel as 'Talent' on network television. 'Opinionated' may not have a mean and hungry look but it makes 'thetvreviewguy' laugh. Chortle TV.

Modern Times

Take a Colombian babe, Al Bundy from 'Married with Children', his gay son, his high-maintenance  'Soccer Mom' daughter, the three family units they're part of and you have the nuts and bolts of a 'Modern Family' (SKY One), an eponymous tale of family life told with affection, humour and sharp observation. It's a cosy, relaxing evening's viewing and always leaves 'thetvreviewguy' comfortable in the knowledge that all families are dysfunctional, especially the ones on television. 'Modern Family' is a move away from 'Blue Collar ' Comedy at a time when recession/depression is making a thematic return to the mainstream; the three families are well-off by Irish standards; indeed, they're positively Cosby-esque in their lifestyles. But 'thetvreviewguy' isn't judging them on their household income but on the quality of the writing and 'Modern Family' doesn't disappoint. Characterisation is key and the writers don't invent zany, ludicrous behaviours out of character with the dramatis personae; every plot line has a reason and the lack of a studio audience makes this feel very un-sit com like. And, if like 'thetvreviewguy', you're reaching mid-life, well, it provides a wry view on life's quirks and mishaps. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, Modern Family is an excellent portrait of 'whatever year it is we're in now'. It's also effortless comedy and is another welcome addition to 'thetvreviewguy's' increasingly long list of Sunday evening wind-down TV.

How to Get Ahead in Advertising

Is it the era when men wore hats and women wore skirts, the often excoriating view of consumer capitalism, the brilliance of the writing or the quality of the acting the makes 'Mad Men' a leading brand in in modern televison? Who wouldn't want to start drinking in the office at 11 in the morning and smoke their lungs out all day while working? 'Mad Men' works brilliantly as satire, entertainment and, more profoundly, as a mirror to corporate and real life asking us to question what is real and what is appearance. Don Draper is highly sucessful and creative at the same time as he is miserable and conventional; as an ad man on Madison Avenue his job is to both bend reality by selling an illusory view of the world and to make the his target market feel comfortable and secure in a familiar milieu. 'Sterling Cooper' is about making money, not art; sure, Don gets to be more creative in a single week then most of us manage in a year but it's always with a view to the bottom line - there's no room for luxuries such as 'Art for Art's sake when promoting Lucky Strike. The characters are all too human: petty at work and at home, ethically compromised status obsessed and superficial in many aspects. However, it's also fair to say that the 'Mad Men' are funny, generous, considerate and admirable when they want to be. The series explains more, amuses more and moves more than most other tv dramas. A complete box set is essential to prepare for the coming fifth series; 'thetvreviewguy' suggests if you want to know how the mythmakers are the hidden persuaders in selling us all our daily bread, watch 'Mad Men'.

You're Nicked!

 'Law and Order UK (ITV) ' is yet another variation of the seemingly endless franchise that has grown hydra-like from the original US series going back over 20 years now. While 'thetvreviewguy' hankers after phrases like 'has she been mirandised?' or 'he's gonna lawyer up', he enjoys the new version where 'guv' has replaced 'loot' and a D.A. is a barrister and other localisation phrases (in the London edition, 'Man One' and 'Man Two' are more likely to be stage/character directions than statutory charges). The British and American legal systems are very different and it would be great for DPP lawyers if they got to act like detectives tracking down and questioning a witness. But the adherence to the structure of dividing the episode between 'Law' - the cops - and 'Order' - the court advocates - makes for easy and entertaining comparisons with their US counterpart. Programmes like 'Law and Order' go as far as they can in the hour-long, one-off, no-swearing formats that they have. Serious issues, moral dilemmas if you like, get a brief but often serious examination in the limited time available. Bradley Walsh, sans silly glasses, is a good little actor, and the cast is always loyal to the ensemble nature of the script; no grandstanding here. And the verdict from 'thetvreviewguy'? To the charge of fast-moving, watchable crime drama; guilty.

Hope and some Joy

Did you like ‘Raising Arizona’, the Eighties Coen Brothers flick? Did you think ‘this is a very funny movie’? Did you also think; ‘hmm, this is so good, I’d like to see it turned into a tv series’? Probably not.Yet this is precisely what has been done with ‘Raising Hope’ (SKY 1). They’ve even taken the first part of the movie title, spot what they’ve done there? Alright, maybe ‘thetvreviewguy’ is being too critical; it’s a not too bad, nowhere near ‘The Simpsons’; it's trailer-park comedy that has endearing characters and some excellent lines. However, homage, imitation and plagiarism are all related concepts and it can be hard to know where one flows into the other. ‘Raising Hope’ is funny and reflects the down-turn zeitgeist; money is too tight to mention for this amiable family of eccentrics and the humour is affectionate and not mocking. Slices of Americana have always appealed to ‘thetvreviewguy’ and this is no different; not, as stated, highly original but nevertheless and good take on the American white working class (more likely now, sadly, to be working part-time or being unemployed). ‘Raising Hope’ is perfectly acceptable as Sunday evening fare; it should raise a few laughs too.

In the Great Scheme of the Universe Can Things Only Get Better?

Brian Cox is one of the new generation of science presenters that don’t look like crazy scientists should. Young and hip, these new sciensters are media savvy and tv friendly. Professor Cox, formerly a member of ‘D-Ream’, is the latest in a long line of rock star astronomers and physicists spanning that universe from Brian May to, er, Brian Cox.‘Wonders of the Universe’ (BBC2) takes us out of the Solar System and asks the really big questions that ‘thetvrevieguy’ likes to have explained for him in…really…simple…terms and on this front, Cox doesn’t disappoint. That’s not to say Cox talks down to his audience; this is really complicated stuff, and as Cox himself said, some of the material is barely skating undergraduate physics let alone heavy duty equations (thank God) and jargon-filled discussions. Instead (and this is something the BBC has good form on) graphics and narration tell the story of how and why we’re all here. He addresses the really big questions; what happened before the big bang? How will it all end? Do aliens roam our planet in disguise? (ok, ‘thetvreviewguy’ made up the last one but you get the picture).  Light years ahead of other tv space/science programmes.

Going Ape - Evolution

Are we still evolving? Well, that all depends on who you're talking too. Steve Jones, leading boffin, reckons we've stopped and took a graveyard walk with host Alice Roberts to show how mortality rates have improved through natural selection and, of course, modern medicine. Meanwhile, another White Coat reckons we're still changing and, surprisingly, we're getting shorter and fatter. Either way, BBC2's 'Horizon' hit the nail on the head again for the non-technical viewer, i.e. 'thetvreviewguy' who tries to make a date with this enjoyable and informative programme whenever he can. Alright, he may not fully understand the quantum mechanics stuff and the multi-universe theories (indeed, being honest, hardly at all), but at least he feels a but cleverer after tuning in. Dr Alice Roberts, a foxy egghead if ever there was one, is never less than a likeable and learned host as she steers us. It's less than 100 years since the Scopes Trial and vast swathes of the American South believe in the literal truth of Genesis; even the 'tvreviewguy' knows that fossils are more than 4000 years old. Science on TV doesn't have to dumb down to be watchable and 'Horizon' has kept pretty high standards since first being on air in 1964. As MTV used to say, 'Feed Your Mind'.

Riddle Me This...Great Unanswered Questions

Who is the best person to have on a quiz team? A generalist? A specialist? Or, in the case of 'Great Unanswered Questions' (BBC2); how about someone who knows everything? Dr David Booth, in the eyes of 'thetvreviewguy', seems to be (and emphasis on the words seems); one of the smartest people on the telly. Booth is amiably accompanied by comedian host Colin Murphy, bearded nerd Matthew Collins and a different celebrity guest each week. The Science Doctor answers questions on everything, without apparently goggling, being wired for sound or reading from cog notes on every subject from archery to zoology. Smart TV is in short supply and 'Great Unanswered Questions' treats their viewers as smart too. We live in a paradoxical world where instead of handling a surplus of information through specialisaton, we do process information by knowing some things about many things; the ubiquity of information resources means that we can get legitimately tell ourself that learning is so analogue. 'Great Unanswered Questions' takes trivia and expands it; we get the factoid but also the reason behind it. Most appealingly, it feels like fun and the conversation is kept on a smiley keel by Murphy who is often gobsmacked by what his panellists know about 'stuff'. There are Known Knowns, Unknown Knowns and what Booth and Collins know; 'thetvreviewguy' knows he likes this, but knows he has lot more to know after each viewing.

Easy like Sunday Evening

‘The Sunday Night Show’ (ITV) is, shock horror, surprisingly good. ITV has produced a ton of rubbish over the last few years. Since the breaking up of the franchise, it has nearly always chased ratings over quality. So what does ‘thetvreviewguy’ like about ‘The Sunday Night Show’? Adrian Chiles, Brummie Everyman, chairs a panel for a half hour of chat looking back on the week. There are ultra quick ‘celebrity’ interviews (uhm ‘Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow and charlatan health doctor – she of the fake MD – Gillian McKeith were on last Sunday). There’s still some unfortunate ‘and now for something completely different’ links from trying a break a silly world record to the Egyptian revolt.  Chiles, however, is perfect in the role; he has a lightness of touch and proves he’s no dummy when it comes to current affairs. And it has a great slot; 10pm on a Sunday night is usually when ‘the fear’ of the working week hits home. This show lightens your mood and allows you to put of the inevitable ensuing depression that comes when the thought of re-boarding the day ship enters the mind. Give yourself a well earned break and go with ‘thetvreviewguy’s recommendation to tune into ‘The Sunday Night Show’.

They Shall Not Pass

The catchphrase 'I've started so I'll finish' will have a certain resonance for the over 30s viewer by instantly reminding them of 'Mastermind' (BBC2) and the magnificent Magnus Magnusson. In the multi-channel, multi-platform world of today, we might consider the universal appeal of a high-brow quiz show to be quaint and strange. When a taxi driver took on and beat University lecturers and professionals it was remarkable; you could have easily renamed the show 'Battle of the Classes'. The downside for many, but not in the opinion of 'thetvreviewguy', is that 'Mastermind' heralded the way for a generation of pale imitations and mountebanks to the world of knowledge and, yes, they're probabl thinking of the egregious Anne Robinson. The question writers never set out to embarrass; this is solely done achieved by the poor contestants themselves who crash and burn under fire. It's a contest of wits and a clean fight to boot; there's no room for strategizing or tactics, your score depends on how well you know your specialist subject and how you stand up against the pressure of being on TV. It's a family favourite too and demonstrates that the pursuit and expression of knowledge can make for excellent viewing. Although 'thetvreviewguy' doesn't warm as much to the present host John Humphreys as to his predecessor, he still enjoys watching one of the smarter programmes on the box.

Look Into My Eyes! Look Into My Eyes!

We all love a bit of magic, don't we? Well no. But uber-nerd, David Meade, in BBC2 Northern Ireland's 'The David Meade Project', follows in the post-David Copperfield/David Blaine generation (who could do us all a favour and disappear, geddit?!), of likeable magicians using smarts and humour rather than smarm and slickness to appeal to the audience. A softly spoken Northern Irish man, Meade isn't entirely original; Derren Brown's been there before with a lot of the hypnosis and implanted imagery but Meade gets away with it by being so low key. He is a talented conference speaker as well as a master of psychological manipulation and tv magician.And he doesn't try to tell us any rubbish about this being supernatural or spooky - he is a self-confessed 'mentalist' (!) and plays some great tricks on the mind that are based on trickery, not spookery. That's not to say he doesn't occasionally suceed in scareing the bejaysus out of the viewer; and 'thetvreviewguy' doesn't scare easily (actually he does but won't admit it here). Smarter than Paul Daniels, not as funny as Penn and Teller but ultimately a very engaging personable entertainer, Meade will go far - and why shouldn't he, he has powers...

Staying In Is The New Going Out

Lee Mack and Tim Vine are two of the funniest comedians around today. The fact that they both star in 'Not Going Out' (BBC1) makes for an hilarious, genuinely witty half hour of entertainment. Mack and Vine are superb one-line deliverers - they remind 'thetvreviewguy' of the power of the joke over the situation; their characters are vehicles for excellent gag delivery and no harm there. It's a warm programme, full of great puns, sideways jokes and clever remarks. Add Miranda Hart (who appeared in previous shows before moving on to her own series) another great comedic talent, to the mix, and you have a top-class comedy that bears repeat viewing. Imagine 'Friends' meets 'Cold Feet' with lots of invention, wit and originality and you have 'Not Going Out'. Quotes such  this 'You know what they say. No man is an island.What about the Isle of Man?' make 'thetvreviewguy' chortle and guffaw with the best of them. There are literally dozens of lines like that that will have you appreciate quality writing and superb timing. Give yourself a laugh and get this out from the DVD store now; 'thetvreviewguys' hot tip for beating those New Year blues.