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.