All a Bit Rich

Thomas Kochs is a precise man. Everything has an exact place and standards are always maintained. This is par for the course if you're General Manager of Claridge’s Hotel. Thomas was just one of the many real-life characters featured in the 'upstairs/mostly-downstairs' BBC2 Documentary 'Inside Claridge’s', a fly-on-the-wall feature on the Mayfair Hotel. While 'thetvreviewguy' found some of the guests to be as obnoxious as you'd expect (a Cuban Exile Sugar Magnate or the young arriviste American financier indulging in his plutocrat fantasies), he did enjoy looking at the sheer mouth-dropping luxury of the place. Last night's episode, set during the Olympics, featured the arrival of some delegations that frankly don't have the GDP to be living it up on their country's expense. But the staff treats old and new money alike, with obsequious deference and kindness where required too. The temporary installation of the utterly pretentious Noma Restaurant during the summer (200 Pounds per 'cover' where you can eat salad leaves and ants) made for enjoyable viewing; people with money will buy any old shit if everyone else is doing it. Perhaps Thomas put his finger on it when he said that what (rich) people are looking for now, is a series of special moments and events in their lives; while the levelling instincts of 'thetvreviewguy' were to the fore when viewing this, he would need all his strength to turn down a cup of tea in Claridge’s Hotel; he definitely doesn’t have the money to stay there.

The Pain in Spain

Paul Mason's 'The Great Spanish Crash' (BBC2) was an authoritative and depressing account of economic, banking and housing collapse in Spain over the last four years. The story is all too familiar yet this was an engaging and at times moving presentation of how one of the World's growing economies has slumped into the depths of depression. Spain had very poor banking regulation, a property boom fuelled by entry into the Euro and cheap interest rates and an economy overly dependent on construction for revenue income. Loans that municipalities could easily service in the good times became almost impossible to repay in the recession/depression. The psychic effect of the collapse has been devastating; between 40-50% of youth unemployment, forced graduate emigration, mass demonstrations where the familiar question being asked is 'why should austerity apply to those not responsible for the collapse of the financial system'? 'The Great Spanish Crash' was a professional and comprehensive documentary with access to policy makers and Prime Ministers; but it was Paul Mason's engagement with ordinary people that was the most effective as the viewer saw the scale of human suffering unleashed by the 'great unravelling'. While 'thetvreviewguy' admires Mason's skill and humanity in this compelling programme, he is depressed about where it's all going to end. A'' Triple A'' of a programme.

All Coola-Boola with Love/Hate

Were you late to the ‘Love/Hate’ (RTE1) party? Were you addicted to the Gangland mayhem, scheming and betrayal? The series has had the Irish public gripped for much of the last two months and Sunday’s finale pulled in over a million viewers. The featured world is, fortunately, an alien one to most viewers. However the geography will be all too familiar to most Dublin viewers and there are many ‘no-go’ areas where ‘thetvreviewguy’ would, er, not go. ‘Love/Hate’ has been praised for its gritty realism…we see the after-effects of a killing, the rat-like cunning of the main protagonists and how crime does pay for some ‘Crims’ but causes misery in their local communities and beyond. There’s big hope that the series will be adapted for the US market and while it has been remarked on that there aren't enough episodes – six, compared to 24 in a flagship American production – there is potential for a franchise across the Pond. Aiden Gillen and Robert Sheehan and Ruth Negga have been outstanding and Stuart Carolan’s writing has been from the top drawer throughout. The brutality of the criminal underworld should come as a surprise to nobody and Carolan shines a light onto all the dark and scummy areas of the subculture. Would make a nice box set as long as you’re not offended by the word ‘geebag’.

Essential Dining - 'Friday Night Dinner'

'Friday Night Dinner' (Channel 4/RTE 2) is one of the funnier comedies on the small screen right now. A mixture of Cast and Humour between 'Green Wing' and 'The Inbetweeners', it is also like a middle class, Jewish version of 'The Royal Family' and is an easy and charming comedy. There are also some excellently appropriate obscenities used to great effect. Simon Bird as Adam Goodmnan essentially reprises his role from ''The Inbetweeners'' as a gawky nerd - Tamsin Greig is superb as his mother and Paul Ritter perfect as his hapless father. Girls, angst and peer group status remain the perennial concern of the post-adolescent (and much older) male and 'Friday Night Dinner' hits on these familiar themes with some sharp writing and very funny dialogue. There's great chemistry between Bird and his annoying on-screen brother Jonny, played with aplomb by Tom Rosenthal. Throw in the brilliant Mark Heap as the dingbat neighbour and you have a cast that is a joy to watch. For anyone who says the Sit Com is dead, well, 'thetvreviewguy' says give this show a go. It's mundane yet smart. There's a Christmas Special coming up which 'thetvreviewguy' is really looking forward to; it's always refreshing to see good comedy being commissioned and 'Friday Night Dinner' adds to the canon. A tasty morsel.

The State We're In? Gabriel Byrne Convinces as PM

'Secret State' (Channel 4) is the best political thriller of the last ten years. Brilliant casting; Gabriel Byrne as a conscientious and progressive Prime Minister Tom Dawkins thrust into Office after the mysterious death of his predecessor in a plane crash, Gina McKee as the tenacious investigative journalist uncovering links to Big Oil and a chemical explosion that killed 19 in a Northern town, Rupert Graves as the duplicitous (or treasonous) Home Secretary, Charles Dance as the dependable Parliamentary ‘Chief Whip’ and Ireland's own Ruth Negga as an compassionate GCHQ 'listener'. This is tight, tense, bare-knuckle ride TV 'based on' (i.e. with Chris Mullin's permission) the incomparable 'A Very British Coup', itself one of the outstanding dramas of the (gulp!) 1980s which was a formative influence on 'thetvreviewguy's' political leanings. In 'Secret State', the 'conspiracy' has been updated and while various netpickers (a word this reviewer has just coined, hopefully) have pointed out that a Prime Minister and the Head of a Multinational Bank ('Royal Caledonian' - hmm, wonder who that could be?) would be unlikely to have a meeting in the middle of Downing Street, this is still fiction, albeit one that seems very close to the bone at times. Gabriel Byrne starred in another terrific conspiracy thriller as lead in 'Defence of the Realm', here he shows himself to be 'Primus Inter Pares' when it comes to playing the role of honourable man being pursued by dark forces. Channel 4 make a huge amount of terrible TV but sometimes they'll produce a gem like this; 'Secret State' is a shining jewel among a lot of trash.

Know Wot I Mean 'Arry?

'Harry & Paul' (BBC2), now in its fourth series, is an amiable low-key sketch show featuring two of the greatest mimics and character inventors from the last 25 years. Yes, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse are still making 'thetvreviewguy' chortle, snigger and occasionally keel over in admiration at their comedy/art. The ensemble cast goes over some of the older sketches - 'I Saw You Coming' is a Primrose Hill mark-up antique merchant that is all too common, the 'Dragons Den' parody is still really funny. Enfield and Whitehouse were never political comedians; they just want to make people laugh. Hat-tip to Laura Salon who has a face, if not quite a name you'll recognise (but you will shortly). There's an element of the two comics coasting it for some of the sketches but, in fairness, they're both coming from such a high level that 'thetvreviewguy' is prepared to indulge them; Harry and Paul have reached middle-age having accomplished so much that it would be churlish to expect 'zingers' with every joke and every sketch. On the downside, there's a bit of the worst of 'Private Eye' misanthropy about some of Enfield's humour - on the upside, his eye for eccentricity or the absurd is still pretty good. Definitely worth a look and you'll probably get a good laugh out of it too.

Celebrity Diversions

'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!' (ITV) is this Autumn's escapist trash and there's no point being too superior about it as 'thetvreviewguy' can't defend this rubbish intellectually; he will just agree with you. Whatever it is about IACGMOOH, the 2012 take are living up/down to most expectations. It's a total switch off from the cruddy news out there and while Ant N Dec (Caitlin Moran says that you can tell them apart because Ant is the one that looks like an Ant) show no sign of growing old gracefully, they do provide light relief in these dire times. Now 'thetvreviewguy' does not enjoy the Bush Tucker trials as much as some viewers and wouldn't keep voting that poor girl Helen in but he does enjoy the silliness of it all. As for the Nadine Dorries controversy, well as long as she's a good sport and plays the game, it's no skin off his nose that an MP from Westminster is far removed from her constituents. The 'celebrity' nature of IACGMOOH is always elastic; never heard of him, who is she? There's also a moral on the transitory nature of fame; Colin Baker was once 'Dr Who', for goodness sake and Limahl also used to be a massive star. But in the Jungle, you're brought back down to earth pretty damn quickly. Even winning the contest doesn't really kick-start or re-boot a career but it does provide the viewing public with some mindless entertainment. And it beats the Hell out of X Factor etc in being able to take the piss out of itself.

Force of Nature - Sandy's Devestation

'Hurricane Sandy; Anatomy of a Superstorm' (BBC2) hit nearly all of the marks that any summary-style documentary should. This was an excellent piece of work, made less than a month since a 'perfect storm' smashed into the US Eastern Seaboard. From the early warning from the weather guys, the preparedness of the men and women working on the Subway and transport system, to the response of the NYFD, the BBC2 programme covered nearly all the angles (just missing Mayor Bloomberg's endorsement of Obama as a significant after-effect of Sandy). There were the human tragedies, people being drowned in their own homes - there were tales of miraculous escapes, of how Breezy Point was utterly devastated by a firestorm caused by electrical faults yet, astonishingly, there were no fatalities there. Some of the images were remarkable; the flooded underground system submerged in flood water, electrical stations exploding spectacularly, boats launched onto railway lines. Wall Street closed down for the first time since 9-11 and if it hadn't been for the evacuation plans, the fatalities in New York alone could have been in the hundreds or thousands. The programme showed how a first world country can catch a break with these events when it has time to prepare for the gathering storm (proportionately, more people were killed and more damage caused in Caribbean). It reminded us all how vulnerable we all are to Mother Nature.

When the Killing (Mostly) Stopped - Reporters on 'The Troubles'

Soon, hopefully, 'The Troubles' will be a distant memory or history for the people of Britain and Ireland. But for almost thirty years, the slaughter or war or conflict or terrorism or whatever you wish to call it left thousands dead in Northern Ireland and probably destroyed interdenominational relations for at least two or three generations. 'The Troubles I've Seen' (UTV) interviews local Ulster Television reporters who covered that period (this is the second series, the first included bigger 'name' journalist like Trevor McDonald who cut their cloth in the 1970s and 80s). It brought back a lot of the distant, half-remembered atrocities and killings that 'thetvreviewguy' had forgotten. It must be a painful series for many to take part in and watch, where the reporters talk about the toll taken on their own resources; as one observed, 'there was no such thing as counselling in those days'. Anyone over 35 will have grown up with the, at time's daily death toll ringing on the News. The generation below 25 will barely remember the violence at all. What does remain is entrenched sectarianism, hatred and tribal allegiances. So much has changed though and many of these reporters could not have envisaged the Good Friday Agreement or Sinn Fein and the DUP sharing power. But the footage of Gordon Wilson after Enniskillen or the carnage of the Gibraltar spiral of violence serve as a reminder as to how dark things seemed at the time and how peace seemed little more than a pipe dream. An important series that reminds us of 'the hand of history'.

Trump - What a Joker.

'You've Been Trumped' (BBC2) was the sort of documentary that makes 'thetvreviewguy' angry. Anthony Baxter's film has already won plaudits from 'Local Hero' Director Bill Forsyth and the account of how Donald Trump has destroyed a beautiful, scenic site of special scientific interest near Aberdeen, Scotland, to build an exclusive golf course will make you angry too. Trump, never thought of as one of the World's 'Good Guys' comes out even worse than the common perception of him as we see how he see how this swaggering, money-obsessed, soi-disant Captain of Industry denigrates the local residents,  has his representatives cut off the local water supply of one of the protestors (presumably by accident, but shown to be tardy in making it good) and has a complete lack of self-awareness as the viewer sees a selfish tycoon wreak havoc on the local environment. Trump's bluster and crudeness are legendary; this is a man who made a complete fool of himself when running for President in 2011. This is a partly soul-destroying documentary in one-way; money talks and Trump's money or perception of unbridled wealth surely cows a lot of those wanting to oppose him and the activities of this loathsome man have never been better documented. Baxter is to be commended for putting this whole sorry affair on record; there may well be a deserved afterlife for 'You've Been Trumped' on-line. There will always be the likes of Donald Trump around and there will always be decent people not afraid to stand up to him. A great piece of film-making.

It's Not Brain Surgery (It Is Actually)

'Monroe', (ITV) a light-ish, medical drama starring James Nesbitt is very relaxing telly. Perfectly scheduled at 9pm  Monday (for that weary, first day back at work viewer), it won't challenge too much but this contrasts with putting the audience through an 'ER' wringer where the medical storylines got increasingly more bizarre or extreme. While 'thetvreviewguy' is no doctor, he does enjoy the medical mumbo-jumbo in this slightly sedate series along with the self-deprecating humour which Nesbitt is a natural at delivering. Now in its second series, 'Monroe' has a strong supporting cast and credits in particular must go to Neil Pearson (of 'Drop the Dead Donkey' fame) playing Monroe's much put-upon supervisor and younger cast members like the talented Michelle Asante. But it's Nesbitt who excels, coasting the 'regular bloke' stuff and convincing during the more stressful scenarios too. Neurosurgery is one of those 'wow' areas for most of us and 'Monroe' captures the emotions of patient and surgeon alike with a mostly light touch but sensitivity too. It hits all the slot formula requirements; a generally comforting post-return to work programme for a Monday night, with attendant humour, a little romance and story arcs that aren't too demanding. Particularly easygoing viewing, 'Monroe' hits the mark as autumn fare and confirms Nesbitt as the talented television character actor he is.

Mission Implausible

Oh Dear...'Strike Back - Vengeance' (SKY One) is a Chris Ryan SAS/Special Forces embarrassment of a programme that shows just how far Sky still have to go to make consistently decent stuff. Firstly, the dialogue, such as it is, is appalling and grossly insulting to the audience's intelligence; in one of the episodes, one of the characters asks of another 'Cui Bono?', to which the other cut-out instantly adds, for the benefit of us morons presumably, 'who benefits?'. 'Strike Back' operates in a universe where the only news channel on in the background is 'Sky News', where no cliche is left unused and where the explosions, shootings and fist fights add to the tedium of the proceedings. This isn't even switch the brain off TV, it made 'thetvreviewguy' want to switch the set off. The alpha male and female cast do their best with the ludicrous script and plot and Charles Dance must have been offered a large wodge of cash to appear in such nonsense. Of course there's a 'Ronseal' element to productions like this; no-one's expecting great innovation, wit or creativity and this won't disappoint. At least a Chris Ryan book will get you from one airport to another; 'Strike Back' just has 'thetvreviewguy' asking why they bothered. Watch this for a master class in bad drama and how not to write. Mission Fail.

Reconstructed Man

Dr Alice Roberts is a great find for the BBC - 'thetvreviewguy' has been a big fan of hers for years and she shines in the latest BBC2 Science venture, 'Prehistoric Autopsy', on five nights this week. Last night, together with Dr George McGavin and a team of scientists, specialists and other technicians, Roberts reconstructed a Neanderthal Man. It was a fascinating look at pre-history. Neanderthals, it turns out, shared many characteristics of Homo Sapiens, its one time rivals in the Human Race race. 'Ned' (as 'thetvreviewguy' is going to call him, without checking a search engine to see that this has been done before), enjoyed painting, both cave and primitive jewellery, probably used a basic form of language and also formed book clubs and met once a month for discussion (one of these statements isn't true). We know that 'Ned' may have had red hair and was an accomplished hunter, stabbing at the knees of large game to obtain food and skins for clothing. He was around only about 30,000 years ago which, in geological time, is a mere blink of an eye and it is both comforting and discomforting to think how close we are to are pre-historic ancestors. Drs Roberts and McGavin ably steered the viewer on this entertaining journey into the past, showing how serious television can be both an education and a joy to watch.

Oliver Offers Satisfying Norse Course

The 'Vikings' (BBC2), a great bunch of lads? Neil Oliver would seem to think so and in this episode in his series on the hairy marauders, he looked at their Western expeditions. They aren't just the, er, barbarians of lore - their culture and legacy is rich and varied. From the Norsemen sailing from Bergen to Shetland, their diet of rotten shark, the voyage of Erik the Red from Greenland to Newfoundland, the 'Thing' (an Icelandic forerunner of a Parliament) to their art, 'Vikings' explored the sophistication and civilizing aspects of this amazing group of travelling people. Oliver presented in his usual relaxed manner - anyone who knows him from 'Coast' will recognise his easygoing presentation style. The scenery and photography was stunning; what an awe-inspiring and pristine landscape these maritime pioneers must have surveyed. TV History isn't an easy gig but Oliver gets the balance between discourse and entertainment just right. There's a decent audienceship out there for mid-market, intelligent history programmes and this is one such programme. Already being favourably contrasted to Andrew Marr's disappointing 'History of the World' (see previous entry from 'thetvreviewguy'), 'Vikings' shows us how recent the past is, a mere 30-40 generations ago since Erik the Red and Co were on the rampage and settling down in Europe and beyond. A voyage worth joining.

The Ascent of Marr

The BBC isn't afraid to tackle the Big Issues and they don't come any bigger than 'Andrew Marr's History of the World' (BBC1). Marr is a great Generalist and often compelling presenter and 'thetvreviewguy' was looking forward to this ambitious series. What we got was good but not groundbreaking. An overview of 'Man' from 70,000 BC to the Egyptians looking at key points in human development. Thus we were told about our descent from 'Eve' or 'Mother' in Africa (how our genetic code relates back to a relatively small tribe that moved out of the Continent), our forrays into cave art, the foundation of agriculture, and the rise of civilization with the develpment of writing and a courts system.  None of this is new to BBC or Discovery viewers (the latter network, along with Open University, being one of the programme's three producers). The format, re-enactment, then Marr to camera, re-enactment etc has the feel of a Museum AV room film to it; where are the geologists, ethnographers, art historians, anthropologists? There's nothing wrong with explaining what most educated or self-taught people would know already but if this is intended for a school audience, it should be given that time slot. Marr is authorative but none of this research is his; he is standing on the shoulders of giants and this is where the concept of the Generalist falls through.While this should go on to do huge business for BBC Worldwide, it left 'thetvreviewguy' somewhat underwhelmed.

Oil's Well That Ends Well

If you grew up in the 1980s in Ireland, you'll remember 'Dallas' (TV3) as part of a modernising influence in the land thirty years ago. It was condemned from pulpits, complained about on the Gay Byrne Radio Show and spawned an appalling but emminently catchy 'Country N' Irish' hit, 'I Shot JR'. It got huge ratings; even allowing for the lack of channels, it brought in the viewers. How does it bear up to the original? The older cast members are mortal after all, and have noticeably aged; although Linda Gray, legs of Mrs Robinson in the 'Graduate' movie poster, still looks pretty good (however who knows what magical face stuff the some of the cast has been using to stay young)? There's still  the same story - the Ewings and their Oil, good and bad (Bobby and JR) and Larry Hagman still exudes baddy-ness, perfect as a the Miltonic Satan, a decent actor in his own right (remember his turn in 'Primary Colours?'). While 'thetvreviewguy' probably won't be following the series, it still has the iconic opening theme (with the Credit Montage updated) and while there's still lashings of sex (no nudity of course), and some nice bits in dialogue, the younger characters just ain't got the moxy of their 1980s predecessors. But as a nostalgia trip, and a smart take on the attractions of villains, it's still pretty good and reassuring, remnding us in the background that Rick Perry won't be President.

Cloth; Wiping the Face of Crime

'Touch of Cloth' (Sky 1) is fairly funny stuff as is to be expected from anything written by Charlie Brooker (Daniel Maier is the writing partner on this one). The TV Cop Show is an easily satrised format but Brooker has some nice lines that any fans of his would have recognised instantly as his rapid wit and snark. The cast is superb, playing every gag line with a set-in-stone straight face delivery.Why Charlie Brooker feels the need to work for a Murdoch channel is anybody's guess but this is funny, if not quite ground-breaking ('Police Squad' anyone?). John Hannah (who once played Ian Rankin's Rebus, and not for laughs) is Jack Cloth, a troubled, stubbled, quasi washed-up Copper. He is joined by the excellent Suranne Jones ('Coronation Street', 'Scott & Bailey'), playing, in the best pun and funniest joke in Episode One, Detective Constable Anne Oldman. Julian-Rhind Tutt ('Green Wing') does his usual stuff as Cloth's Boss, who is called, er, Boss. Throw in a couple of cast members that were in 'Teachers' over a decade ago and you have a great mix of acting talent, good writing and decent production values. While 'thetvreviewguy' wasn't totally in awe, he enjoyed the hour; Charlie Brooker is not God (!) but he is one of the more original and witty writers around today. And he's married to Konnie Huq. Bastard.

London's Burning; 2011 Riots

The 2011 Riots in London and other parts of Britain defy easy categorisation. 'The Riots - In Their Own Words' (BBC2) looked at the events of last August through the eyes of rioters, police and some clergy. The programme was a result of a joint research project between the LSE and The Guardian and the rigour behind the investigation was evident from the start. The two-parter started with the rioters; what happened, what was their motivation and what were the consequences. The motivations were several; some saw this as 'political' - wanting to protest after the death of Mark Duggan, others saw an opportunity for looting while another group just got caught up in the madness of crowds. The scale of the rioting was astonishing and for a few days in August 2011, law and order appeared to have collapsed in many parts of London. The consequences for many were severe - the courts handed down exemplary custodial sentences 'pour encourager les autres'. All the rioters were played by actors, who were so convincing that 'thetvreviewguy' thought he was looking at the real people. The testimonies from the Police were no less dramatic; all had never faced public disorder on such a scale before and many expressed fear for their safety. The decision not to deploy rubber bullets was probably the right one; Northern Ireland residents may have looked at this ironically, to say the least (alright for one part of the UK, not for another). 'The Riots - In Their Own Words' never sought to give pat answers or take a particular slant; it was an intelligent, thoughtful and important piece of work that left the viewer either confirmed in their prejudices or asking themselves more questions about what happened in August 2011.

Hoop Dreamers

Well, that was different. Normally, 'thetvreviewguy' has very little interest in elite sports and likes the odd football game (that's soccer to his American friends), a little bit of jogging and playing (and generally not watching) tennis. So what is he to make of the Olympics (BBC/RTE) coverage? Well, perhaps it's best to acknowledge that there were lots of Olympics going on, including: the corporate takeover of the five rings, the honest efforts of 'clean' athletes, the expectation/media event and the marketing and character of London itself. Overall, the professionalism of the BBC was superb and conveyed the enthusiasm for the tournament while, understandably but hardly commendably, in a way true to most nationalities, moving into hyperbole overdrive very quickly once the medals started coming in. RTE, for a 'small country' broadcaster covered the Irish athletes and events with just the right mix of objectivity and excitement as they did in their coverage of athletes from the bigger nations. Going on past years, the Olympics never make any money for the host country, are forgotten about by those of us, i.e. the majority, who only watch athletics once every four years, and suck out all other television programmes like a Black Hole for the three weeks they are on. So, in non-ranking order, the highlights for 'thetvreviewguy' include parts of Danny Boyle's opening ceremony, London as the star of the show, some great sporting achievements and Boris Johnson getting stuck on a zip-chord.

Briefs Encounter

Criminal lawyers don't really enjoy the best of reps among most of the general public and 'The Briefs' (ITV) will have confirmed their many prejudices about the field; an industry in itself, slightly 'tricky' and enabling the 'revolving door' system of charge/release/charge. This fly-on-the-wall doc followed Manchester criminal law firm Tuckers as they met their clients and the series producers sure picked some real oddballs (not just the lawyers) to feature, some of whom seemed to be serial repeat offenders well savvy about their rights. However...the 'Briefs' appeared conscientious and to be doing the best for their hapless clients (there, that should be enough not to get 'thetvreviewguy' sued). In one instance,Tuckers succeeded in getting the charges dropped against a possible murder suspect who, to this reviewer anyway, really did appear to have been wrongly charged in the first place. And...if, you were to end up in a prison cell being charged with a crime you didn't commit, or were looking for mitigation, you'd want the best, sneakiest, smartest, most devious lawyer on your side. For many, there's an instinctive reaction to regard the field as a bit spivvy but the presumption of innocence is really important in any well functioning democracy. Defence lawyers will always seek new lines of attack when it comes to winning their case. 'The Briefs' had some good access and was never patronising but left the viewer slightly in despair about the universal theme of Crime and Punishment. While not discussing into the socio-economic casues of crime, 'The Briefs' was a very good insight into the human face of the wrong end of the law; worth more than a 'brief' look.

Betting on Reform? Wouldn't Bank on it.

Jon Snow, the veteran news anchor, presented Monday's 'Dispatches' (Channel 4) and asked one of the most rhetorical questions ever; 'Can you trust your Bank?'. The answer, of course, is an overwhelming 'No!'. Much of Snow's territory had been well covered before: the move of the local bank from a pillar of respectability to a mad gambler playing with billions in casino capitalism, the LIBOR scandal and the rigging of the inter-lending rules, the neglect of the New Labour years and attempt by all to (mixing of metaphors here by 'thetvreviewguy') jump on the bandwagon after the horse has bolted (actually, as mixed metaphors go, that's not too bad). Snow has a nice line in interview patter, dubbing Ed Balls 'Lightouch Ed' during a face-to-face (the Conservatives were asking for less regulation at the time).There's little cause for optimism; banks and the financial sector ('Big' City Accountants and Law) live to subvert and defeat the Regulator; read Nicholas Shaxson on global tax avoidance and evasion and you'll appreciate how rotten the sector has become. There are good and fine people still in Banking but it has become such an ungovernable monster that it is increasingly becoming impossible to manage and regulate; the Vickers Report, a sort of Glass-Steagall Act for the UK, is not due to be fully implemented until 2019; we'll see how many of the recommendations come into law. Jon Snow's 'Dispatches' demonstrated just how far the sector has sunk in the public mind and how far it has to go to regain even a modicum of respect.

Road to Heaven

Take two comedians, put them on one of the ‘World’s Most Dangerous Roads’ (BBC2) and what could possibly go wrong? Well, not a lot did actually and David Baddiel and Hugh Dennis’ Four Wheel Drive through Ethiopia gave the viewer some amazing scenery to enjoy and gave ‘thetvreviewguy’ a new perspective on Baddiel, someone he had always dismissed on the ’smug’ side of the character spectrum. The presenters had been friends since university days, and it showed as Dennis and Baddiel shared an fun trip together (the former being the responsible one, the latter being the khat smoking chilled out dude). The roads were dangerous, strewn with wrecks and unlit (and night, as narrator Aidan Dunbar said, comes quickly near the Equator). The scenery was astonishing, encompassing  mountainous passes with precipitous ravines and amazing panoramic views. David Baddiel, a well-known atheist, was moved by the piety of the mostly Orthodox Christian Ethiopian people and both he and Dennis seemed almost reverential at the pilgrim site Axum, supposed resting site of the Ark of the Covenant, where the Ark remains hidden from all but the site guardians (of course it’s there, although Steven Spielberg would say otherwise). The ‘journey’ or ‘road movie’ has been a staple of narratives since Homer’s time and this engaging series lets us travel with our hosts and wanting to see more. And as for the Khat? It seems to give the chewer a light-headed high and Baddiel was of the view that, sure it’d be rude not to;‘thetvreviewguy’ agrees with this point of view.

Nice Parking

 'Parks and Recreation' (RTE2) resembles 'The Office' but isn't as cruel as the ground-breaking Gervais launch vehicle and as a result, is perhaps more likeable. Amy Poehler (remember her fiesty Hilary Clinton on 'Saturday Night Live' up against Tina Fey's Sarah Palin?) plays the government official/middle manager Leslie Knope working in the Pawnee Parks and Wildlife Department. She is one of nature's triers; keen, usually enthusiastic but ultimately, not quite reaching her career goals. Yes, there's a bit of 'Everyperson' in her characterisation and the comedy is a gentle roll of a programme that will never be a trendsetter or a huge audience draw but it is ideal passive TV. The writing is witty enough and Poehler is an amiable bumbler, realistic and to be found in more Offices than the David Brents of this World. The cast is very good (Rob Lowe is one of the better kown actors in the latest series). Nothing much happens in 'Parks and Recreation' but that nothing makes for a very relaxing evening ('thetvreviewguy' really is getting older if he thinks this is the scoring criteria for decent TV, but hey, there you go, he is). Look out for the lugubrious Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman is particularly good here) as the perfect counterpoint to Leslie's go-get-it earnestness.This is television for the weary viewer; get youreslf down to 'Parks and Recreation' for some face-time with this entertaining crew.

(Near) Stockholm Syndrome

Now, 'thetvreviewguy' has always been partial to a bit if Scandinavian crime-fic gloom and 'Wallander' (BBC1) lives up/down to all his expectations. Henning Mankell is one of the better exponents of the genre and the casting of Kenneth Branagh as the eponymous down-trodden, depressed detective with a penchant for taking on all the woes of the World (and this being Sweden, there are a lot of woes) is perfect. Branagh's journey from wunderkind to knight of the realm has been seamless; he was an established Shakespearean actor going back to the 1980s. This adaptation hits all the right marks; it's not gloom for the sake of it, instead 'Wallander' matches the subject and psychological subject matter of the books - the 'look and feel' is totally appropriate. If you like Mankell, and if you're into Crime Fiction as 'thetvreviewguy' is, then you'll see Branagh as the natural fit for Kurt Wallander, an emotionally scarred, all too human, cerebral copper. This is about as far as you can get from the CSIs as possible - it's a grown-up series that once again shows the BBC, despite many rightful criticisms, to still be one of the best broadcasters and producers of quality dramas anywhere. 'Wallander' is a must see plasma fare...watch even if afflicted with 'Sunday Night Blues'.

A Day In the Lifer

'Lifers' (Channel 4) was grim viewing. The programme makers spent time with some of the prisoners in for 'Life' in Gartree Prison; most were in for murder and all of the crimes described were disturbing and shocking; it made the abstract very real. Yet this 'Cutting Edge' documentary was quite dispassionate when it came to the offenders who didn't appear to feel remorse and compassionate towards those who did. There was a particularly bleak outlook for the inmates sentenced to die in prison; of course most of them have committed terrible crimes but for there to be no prospect of rehabilitation made for depressing telly. One of the contributors (yes, they had a choice on whether to participate or not) wryly observed that his stodgy Christmas Dinner was not what the 'Daily Mail' would have referred to as a 'slap-up meal'. We saw the Probation Board at work and the sterling work of the prison psychologists; a prisoner rightly called the latter the 'gatekeepers' in the system, with the power to recommend that a person be let go to an open prison, set free or kept in jail. There were lighter moments, the production and confiscation of 'hooch' (illegally brewed alcohol, more like rocket fuel) for example, but these were few and far between. Yes these men have done appalling things, but 'Lifers' never lost sight of their humanity and eschewed the 'zoo-like' angle of many American prison progs (which 'thetvreviewguy' will admit to watching also). Chilling but informative; worth doing time with.

Duty Bound To Watch This

'Line of Duty' (BBC2) is one of the best things 'thetvreviewguy' has seen all year. Set in a Police Force which is obviously the Met, the plot is compelling.  The opening almost explicitly mirrors the de Menezes shooting and sets up the premise of the series; DS Steve Arnott, (Martin Compston shining as the naive young copper) alienated from his colleagues after telling the truth, gets re-assigned to fight police corruption with AC-1. They target a charismatic black police officer, Tony Gates (played brilliantly by Lennie James) who they suspect of doctoring his clear -up rate. His mistress, (Gina McKee, superb in the role) is responsible for a fatal hit-and-run which Gates gets sucked into. There's an undercover operation directed by a Superintendent Ted Hastings, a figure whom Gates calls a 'zealot' (Adrian Dunbar has rarely been better, with his character bearing all the scars one would expect from a Catholic, ex-RUC Officer). 'Line of Duty' has a remarkable ensemble cast; from Vicky McClure as DC Kate Fleming (ambitious and highly-motivated) to Neil Morrissey. The dialogue is crisp, the pacing is spot-on and Jed Mercurio has produced an excellent piece of scriptwriting which had 'thetvreviewguy' rhooked after five minutes of the first episode. BBC 'score', this TV Cop Drama at its best; 'Line of Duty' is a short, sharp, shock of a series that promises much for the remaining episodes.

Nearly Everything Else is Funnier

'A Short History of Everything Else' (Channel 4) is yet another comedy quiz show; 'thetvreviewguy' can barely turn on the telly without seeing a bunch of celebs/comedians sparring in a panel game. The criteria for success, apart from viewership, aren't that many; can you be vaguely original and make the audience laugh? Despite the efforts of host Griff Rhys Jones, warhorse of the British Comedy scene, the prog fails to present any sort of unique selling point apart from a look back at old news clips instead of contemporary ones. Marcus Brigstocke and Charlie Baker make decent efforts but the show just looks messy; a 'What's My Line?' mystery guest who had news value once only adds to the, er, high concept nature of the programme. Now it doesn't completely suck; it's not a Mrs B****'s B*** or the (un) like. It just never takes off and is like an awkward first meeting up of a Stag Weekend Party; awkward, testing the waters, with the promise of more humour down the road. Channel 4 commissioning editors take note; TV doesn't always have to re-invent the wheel but comedy shouldn't be production line either - just re-design the wheel now and again. 'A short History of Everything Else' is a good gig for those taking part but not such a good one for the viewers; a distinct 'meh' with a shoulder shrug thrown in.

London, You're a Lady

 

 

Charles Booth knew his London. The 19th Century social reformer colour-coded this great city by wealth and then, as now, there were striking contrasts. The Caledonian Road and surrounding streets were described as a 'depressing district' and for much of the last century, it remained this. But in the excellent 'Secret History of our Streets' (BBC2), we saw how a community fought off British Rail's attempts to bulldoze their homes into rubble and successfully reclaimed their neighbourhood. We enjoyed hearing from Eileen, of Irish-Jamaican descent, and how she dismissed a couple of hoodies that tried to hijack her film ('twats' she called them) and also the way she ran the 'Prince' pub with a great sense of style. Less likeable was Andrew Panayi, a Cypriot landlord with an, er, imaginative view to local planning laws; 'as long as the cow has milk, milk it' and we got a glimpse of how he'd built underground flats that even the local carefree Anzac travellers seemed embarrassed to be living in. Much of the seediness is gone from the Kings Cross end and Caledonian Road still has some Two Million Pound houses nearby. But for 'thetvreviewguy', what was particularly interesting about this programme was the way it showed all human life, from the hangman in Pentonville Prison to spivs in the Caledonian Market, to neighbours, well, being good neighbours. Produced by the Open University, ‘Secret History of our Streets’ is well worth walking down.

Peake Performance

'Silk' (BBC1), portraying life at a fictional criminal chambers, presents 'thetvreviewguy' with a slight conundrum. Should he enjoy the plot twists and characterisations, even though both of which veer on, and on many occasions, teeter over the ludicrous? Should he switch off and appreciate the fine acting from the likes of Maxine Peake (formerly 'Shameless' and cornering the market in brassy and sassy Northern Lasses), Neil Stuke as the Chief Clerk Billy, who wields an amount of power most Senior Partners could only dream of and the ever-appealing Frances Barber? Does it behove 'thetvreviewguy' be critical of the bonkers glamourisation of the legal world (it really isn't THAT interesting)? In answer to these rhetorical questions, M'Lud, the answer is 'Yes' and 'No'. While undoubtedly, 'Silk' features some fine pacing and enjoyable plot twists, there just wasn't enough to to make it any better than what it is; a passable effort at Barrister drama (written by a former lawyer, Peter Moffatt). Indeed, the series author has some fine writing credits, including Kavanagh QC, but this particular series struggles to reach the standard of proof required by this reviewer. However, in interests the impartial administration of justice, and the public need for greater escapist programming during a recession, he is prepared to suspend his judgment pending the viewing of further episodes; he accordingly orders that the matter be sent for re-trial and a repeated viewing is called for. The court will rise.

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.

Roman All Over Town

'Meet the Romans with Mary Beard' (BBC2) is presented by the enthusiastic and extremely  knowledgeable Mary Beard, Cambridge Professor of Classics, and has already been marked by too much discussion about her appearance which, 'thetvreviewguy' isn't going to discuss. What he is more than happy to look at is Rome and how Professor Beard conveys classical history with panache, vigour and, perhaps most importantly to the non-expert viewer, humour. Augustan Rome, far from being the 'civilised' centre of Empire (where, of course, slaves and women were second hand citizens), was a a brutal, dangerous place where living in the suburbs meant residing with cut-throats and vagabonds in an unpoliced, cheek-by-jowl existence. Beard's history was fascinating because she looked at tombs, dwellings and shops of ordinary Romans - the middle class, for want of a better word, between slaves and Senators. Thus, when looking at the Forum, she referred to Plautus' guide to the seedy side of the historical complex. We were taken underground to see how Rome was built upon narrow streets, where according to a contemporary account, you could shake hands from one opposing window to the other. This was a city of around one million people, a total that would not be surpassed until London in the 19th Century; this was truly a city on an epic scale. Professor Beard should be commended for making the past come to light and by showing us, like any good historian does, how we differ to and what we have in common with, the Romans.

Grim (Reaper) Up North

Take a middle-aged, dowdily made-up detective M'am played superbly by Brenda Blethyn, set it up North where Geordie is the lingua franca, add in some nice back stories about her colleagues and personal life and you have 'Vera', ITV's latest top-cop-one-stop Sunday evening doorstopper. Criticised for being slow-moving, 'thetvreviewguy' quite likes the sedate pace interjected with the odd moments of action; no ultra-violence here or CSI-style trickery but the simple devices of plot and character. The extra presence in the series is the beauty and isolation of the North-East; Newcastle and Gateshead look great while the local countryside gets a full showcasing. Now 'thetvreviewguy' enjoys his crime fiction and Vera hits a lot of 'like' buttons; credible characterisation, believable plotting and some good use of humour. While the Scandinavian detective with his/her earnest dourness maybe the stock copper du jour, there's always room for a throwback to the more traditional poh-lease i.e. old fashioned is welcome in going against the grain in this instance. There are very few absolute truths in life; one of them is probably that detective fiction will always be popular as we like to uncover the who, what, why, wheres and hows behind any good story. 'Vera' should get a good run and Brenda Blethyn is already well on the way to becoming a British, gulp, 'National Treasure'.

Turn and Face the Strain; Britain in the '70s'

The 1970s were the growing years for 'thetvreviewguy'. Now a long time ago, some of the momentous social changes in Britain that took place in that decade were well-covered in Dominic Sandbrook's entertaining retrospective, 'The 70s' (BBC2). In what should be seen as a comparison piece to Francis Wheen's excellent book 'Strange Days Indeed', Sandbrook recaps some of the main seismic shifts that took place from 1970-1979. Even pre-Thatcher, there was a move towards house ownership as the mortgage market was loosened up. Foreign holidays became more affordable and served as a companion status symbol to owning your own home. Britain went onto 'Europe', that strange, exotic continent that began beyond Dover and Edward Heath sought to be a One Nation Tory. But, Sandbrook argues, while the 70s is cited as the zenith of left-wing trade union power, the most militant group of all, the miners, had a materialistic outlook to wage improvement. Personal mores changed as Britain finally moved into Larkin's post-1963 world. Sandbrook makes some interesting observations; the growth of wine purchases in the decade reflected greater disposable income and aspiration. Age is a funny thing; for this reviewer, it does not seem odd to have to wait months for a phone to be installed, have the national TV station close down at 4pm everyday 'for a break' and pile into a car boot on the way to a beach to get sunburnt. Ah yes, they were the days my friend.

Horror in Paradise; 'Norway's Massacre'

The Breivik killing spree is one of those moments in life where reality resembles a horror movie. 'This World - Norway's Massacre' (BBC2) was a sombre, reflective look at one of the biggest non-war time spree-killings in Modern Europe. Narrated with care and compassion, the documentary interviewed parents and friends of many of the victims; it is still hard to believe that such murderous actions took place. At time of writing, Breivik's trial is underway; the only question to be determined is if he was really insane or not. The horrifically meticulous planning for his 'operations' would suggest that he knew only too well what he was doing; this whole process is a huge test for the decency of Norwegian society as they seek to combat 'hate with love'.  Special legislation will probably have to be enacted to keep Breivik off the streets; his likely sentence of 21 years would see him released as a middle-aged man. Norway is a small society and was deeply traumatised last year. 'Norway's Massacre' talked to the Police and Emergency Response teams; blame can not be put on them for any delay in reacting even though they have apologised already. This was essential viewing and reminded the viewer that sometimes, documentaries do not have a happy ending and we're left with more questions than answers; this is one of those instances.

Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy

Peter Taylor is, to use that often ascribed but frequently falsely attributed phrase, a Reporter's Reporter. Now a globally renowned intelligence expert and a distinguished Northern Ireland correspondent with an outstanding rolodex of contacts, a Taylor documentary has something most hacks can only aspire to; instant credibility. 'Modern Spies' (BBC2) is a showcase for Taylor's considerable skills; his quiet, persistent, understated form of reporting, his forensic skills in building up a case with facts, his respect for good sources (both on and off-record) and above all, a true impartiality which lets the viewer make up their mind based on the objective evidence presented before them. Taylor interviews Foreign Secretaries and Spooks, ‘Curveball’ and former Spy Chiefs; he looks at 'honeytraps' and tradecraft...he addresses rendition and human rights and he does so with considerable care to let the story build from the foundation of its own facts. 'Modern Spies' will interest anyone mildly diverted by the Spooks World; but this is a milieu more John Le Carre than James Bond, it is a universe of greys and increasingly, an I.T. one, dependent on data mining and electronic espionage to defeat whatever the 'enemy' now is. Taylor's 'Modern Spies' raises questions of quis custodiet ipsos custodies which have always been with us and probably always will be. ‘Modern Spies’ tells it as it probably is rather than how Cubby Broccoli would have us see this shadowy world of intelligence and counter-intelligence.

We Go Down to the River

Trevor McDonald is an English institution; a distinguished reporter and a newsreader famous for the phrase 'and finally'. 'Mighty Mississippi' (ITV) is the perfect vehicle for McDonald as he travels across the vast river, sharing the journey with an envious 'thetvreviewguy. It is an awesome feat of nature with both a shameful and glorious history. The contrast between the plantation mansions and slave huts where the former inhabitants were chained to the land is still deeply moving, 150 years after the end of slavery. That's how close and relevant slavery is to US history, about five generations ago; it has left a searing scar on the US body politic and McDonald was clearly moved in particular by the inhumanity of slaves being counted and valued as chattel in a ledger book from before the Civil War. Yet from the depths of slavery came hope in the form of music and specifically Gospel Music; McDonald brought us to a church that rocked, where the congregation rejoiced in harmonies developed on the plantation fields. You can't tour the Mississippi either without visiting New Orleans and remembering Hurricane Katrina, another time in American history when being black and poor could have cost you your life; the criminal tardiness of the Katrina aftermath would not have been allowed to happen in New Hampshire or Orange County. 'Thetvreviewguy' looks forward to the next instalment of 'Mighty Mississippi', escorted by the ever-affable Trevor McDonald.

Minute Observations

BBC Radio 4 is a testament to civilisation and you can be no more civilised than by tuning into 'Just a Minute', the panel game show running for aeons. Now why are you writing about a radio programme 'thetvreviewguy' I hear you asking? Well the format has been replicated on BBC2 and, despite fears that yet another radio migration would backfire, 'Just a Minute' is proving to be a great success. Hosted by the ever living Nicholas Parsons, the show is the eptimome of wit and wordplay. How difficult can it really be to speak for a minute without hesitation, deviation and repetition? Extremely difficult if the experience of the guests (usually comics) is anything to go by. The fun is in avoiding the interruptions and sabotage from the other contestants. It would be wrong to say 'Just a Minute' has a cult following; it has a select listnership and these same listeners should give the TV version a go. Tick, tock, tick, tock...a minute can be a very long time indeed and this format has proved timeless. There's so much dross out there and it's nice to find a Sea of Tranquility of sophistication in a barren Moon of grey lifeless crud. Definitely worth a least a minute of your time if not more, 'Just a Minute' will keep 'thetvreviewguy' clock watching for the forseeable future.

Notes from the Underground

Fly-on-the wall (FOTW) documentaries are such a staple of TV now that a new doc has to really be outstanding to grab a viewers attention. Not necessarily in-your-face, or wacky and not even that clever-clever, simple stories told without artifice and without gimmicks can often make the best pieces of informative TV. 'The Tube' (BBC2) is no exception to this maxim. The London Underground is such an obvious terrain for the documentary maker and this doesn't fail to deliver. We meet the staff, management and drivers and, after seeing the amount of variables and problems they deal with on a daily basis, are simply amazed that they manage to keep the thing running at all. From the tragic and gruesome task of scoping up suicides from the tracks - dealt with great compassion by both programme makers and the staff concerned - to the humour and frustrations of the ticket counter sellers, 'The Tube' made 'thetvreviewguy' think twice about what it takes to carry one BILLION people underground every year. The FOTW doc has been satarised to the nth degree but can still occasionally enlighten and educate. 'The Tube' was an example of BBC production values at their best; a throwback to to the days when television wasn't about laughing at people but had more parts of their output seeking to explain the hidden and make things interesting. It was the unpretentiousness of it all that made the programme a great and moving documentary; 'thetvreviewguy' suggests you catch this train now leaving.

Millican Tendency

Sarah Millican must have arrived as the backlash has started already. While definitely not everyone's cup of tea (who is?), 'thetvreviewguy' has always found the Northern lass t'be a foony gal (apologies for the Geordie there). 'The Sarah Millican Television Show' (BBC2) is extremely chortle-worthy. Nothing new in the format here; comedy, chat, comedy, chat. Even the act isn't hugely original; think Mrs Merton as a thirty-something. But it is good and Millican is perfect for this persona; the look-at-me- me, I Can't Believe I'm on Telly school of comedy. Her first show featured Chris Packham, a BBC wildlife presenter, Australian Sexpert Tracey Cox (cue obvious but funny pun about her surname) and, er, Sarah Millican's Dad. The banter was good and Millican, despite having what could be a really annoying habit of laughing heartily at her own jokes, is a natural in the role. Recently monstered in the Guardian as having been sanatised, Millican is only following the long trodden path from accomplished stand up to TV presenter. The audience participation worked and while there's nothing groundbreaking here, it is funny. On at a ridiculously late hour, 'The Sarah Millican Show' is worth staying up for and certainly worth recording. Now, in good time, let the backlash to the backlash commence.

Top of the Hill - TV Burp

'Harry Hill's TV Burp' is something 'thetvreviewguy' finally gets. For years, he used to think it was just a clips show with mildly amusing links. But in this age of austerity, where everyone owes everyone else Gazillions (yes, that is a number), there's an incredible amount to be said for absurd humour and ridiculousity (yes, also a word). Hill, a former Medical Doctor, knows just the right doses of comedy medicine to prescribe. With his over-sized shirt and cheesy grin, he plays the clown role extremely well and his TV Burp makes for some nice going-out telly on a Saturday night. Ok, he is daft and quite possibly very annoying but whatever it is about 'getting' him, maybe 'thetvreviewguy' is mellowing as he approaches his fifth decade. While still raging against the machine, he's realising that machine is very rarely changed by his rage, let alone revolutionised. Of course, while 'thetvreviewguy' has always been suspicious and dismissive of the popularity of popular comedians - Michael McIntyre or Brendan O'Carroll anyone? - he's happy to admit where his tastes are in tune with his fellow TV viewers. Harry Hill is a funny guy and while being foolish may not always appear that sophisticated, playing the clown (in the Shakespearean sense) takes no mean talent. Just silly enough to have even the curmudgeoniest of curmudgeons laugh, 'Harry Hill's TV Burp' is worth your once over, at least.

Class Act - Melyvyn Bragg on Culture

Melvyn Bragg is one of the foremost Arts & Cultural Broadcaster/Writers over the last 40 years. His 'South Bank Show' was groundbreaking in its subject choices; everything from Mozart to Ken Russell to the Smiths. His latest outing, 'Melvyn Bragg on Class and Culture' (BBC2) is an enormous overview of working, middle and upper class contributions to 20th Century British cultural life. The span of the short series (3 episodes) is ridiculously brief; how can you possibly do justice to such a huge topic? However, Melvyn gives it his best shot and 'thetvreviewguy' was impressed by the programme makers brilliant use of archive footage and assiduous use of apt quotations; Bragg is the perfect presenter for such a series having made the class journey himself; if ever the role of education in life's progress were to be doubted, look at the post-WW2 'Redbrick' university intake. A perfect contrast between society's different stations was the treatment of trauma in World War 1; if you were an Officer, you could be treated for 'shell-shock', if you were one of the 'men', i.e., working class, you could be shot for cowardice. Class is obviously not just an English issue, but they don't half think about it a lot. Bragg's contention appears to be that there's been an irreverisible drift towards middle class aspiration for much of the last 60 years - again, this is a broad statement; are we all middle class now (clearly not) and what does that even mean? While you could look back on the early BBC as an attempt to impose high or middle culture from above, Lord Reith seems like a pretty stand up guy  'thetvreviewguy' and infinitely preferable to Peter Bazalgette. Every documentary on class and culture has to feature George Orwell somewhere and sure enough, Eric Blair pops up on the Road to Wigan Pier. 'Thetvreviewguy' looks forward to the next two episodes; Bragg will take us through the 60s; expect more great footage down the line.

Room with No View

What do you find particularly irksome or annoying and would like to exorcise from TVland or real life? The relaunched 'Room 101' (BBC), now with a panel rather than an individual interviewee, is another neat vehicle for Frank Skinner's wisecracking 'Uncle Frank' character and allows the guests (in this instance, Josh Grobin, Alistair McGowan and frightening 'Dragon' lady Hilary Devey) to discuss their 'pet hates' in an entertaining manner before the worst/best of the bunch gets consigned to Room 101. While the new format is somewhat confusing to 'thetvreviewguy', he enjoyed the lively dispute on the pros and cons of Valentines Day - which Hilary Devey hated, (in fairness to her) and the interchange on the smoking ban, which he supports as he enjoys a passive smoke with the street outcasts. Josh Grobin seems an amusing sort and there was a good sense of interaction between the panellists. Devey was witty on the night, if painfully namedroppy about her wealth, while McGowan did some decent, if seen before, impressions. Skinner is a consummate presenter these days, not too cruel, still pretty quick-witted and never afraid to tell the odd self-deprecating joke; 'thetvreviewguy' thought Skinner's patter on his drink issues particularly funny. 'Room 101' makes for perfectly acceptable TV fare; not overly challenging and pretty amusing all round.

Murder - Past and Present

'Whitechapel' (ITV) blends the supernatural and the creepy with the downright ludicrous. But, it's good TV. This week's episodes had buckets of blood as the current day cops - lead by 'Spooks' star Rupert Penry-Jones (nice touch giving him OCD; wanting to establish order from chaos) and 'League of Gentleman' actor Steve Pemberton (a local historian with a keen interest in the Ripper era and before), tried to tack down a serial killer. Now, 'thetvreviewguy' has been in Whitechapel and it's still a very interesting part of London, steeped in lore (and gore). 'Whitechapel' mixes suspense and 'slasher'-cuts with a dash of comedy thrown in. By picking a real-life event (the Ratcliff Highway murders) from 200 years ago, we get a strong dose of 'faction' with a bit of the 'McGuffin' in evidence too. If you could throw in some hokum about Jack London or Lenin, both of whom are reputed to have been residents in Whitechapel, you have the makings for loads more daft plots. Quick note to the scriptwriters; there was some resemblance, most probably unintended, to a the 'X Files' episode, 'Tooms'...but, having said that, the show helped 'thetvreviewguy' forget about going back to work on Monday, and this, surely is a major scoring points for a Sunday night programme. And the best thing about 'Whitechapel' ?...No vampires! Yes, a gothic, blood-soaked, piece of television and not a fang in site! This is really raising the stakes!

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?