What's so ironic about the above image, you may ask? Apart from the fact that it is taken from an episode of Friends that was shown on E4 tonight (nothing unusual about that!), there's the use of text underneath...
Posts from October 2008
Back from the dead
Woss gonna happen now?
And so the dust begins to settle on the lamentable Russell Brand / Johnathan Ross fiasco, about which far too many people have already have already had their say, so why not me? I believe only two listeners complained as...
I'm fed up of the news.
Over the last couple of years I have steadily watched the quality of the BBC's news offerings decline with worrying speed. Gone are the days when the winner of last night's Talent Show might find its way into an "and...
Suspension of judgement?
By suspending Ross and Brand, BBC boss Mark Thompson reveals himself a coward No matter what Mark Thompson and other BBC executives say or do from now onwards in relation to the ongoing 'Sachsgate' crisis, there will always be someone...
A harsh lesson
Brand quits BBC over prank calls The resignation of Russell Brand from the BBC can hardly be good for the Corporation. He is - I'll try not to choke on the words - a talented performer who reaches the sort...
OK, that's enough
Brand has resigned; Ross probably ought to consider doing something similar himself. The pre-recording of edgy comedy programmes is a great way to make sure that the wrong thing doesn't go out – but someone needs to keep an eye...
Christmas has been cancelled
There's no Christmas without TOTP Put away the tinsel and pack away the tree; Christmas 2008 has just been cancelled. And it's not because the TV shopping channels insisted on spoiling the festive feel much too early. Although reported by...
Mixed messages
I'm not a fan of either Ross or Brand; I have no comment on the question as to whether or not they are overpaid; and I certainly think that the messages on Mr Sachs's answering machine were ill-advised – and...
Why does the Guardian sell more copies at the BBC?
Stephen's post, They would say that, wouldn't they? mentions that the branch of WH Smiths in the BBC's Television Centre, sells, as a percentage of all papers sold, a disproportionate number of copies of The Guardian compared with the country overall.
The wrong message
Gordon Brown criticises Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's BBC phone prank The transcript of what was said What started out as a "schoolboy prank" (except of course neither participants are schoolboys; they just behave like schoolboys from time to time)...
Sexing up the schedule
The real money shot These days, television often seems to be far more obsessed with looking good than offering real factual content, and while there's an element of truth in the fact that people like to watch good-looking people on...
What is Fairness?
I've talked about this issue before, but as it keeps coming up, perhaps it's time to talk about it again. It is commonly assumed that for the media to be balanced, they must needs simply give equal time to the...
They would say that, wouldn't they?
The main story occupying the attentions of the Westminster village, if not the wider public, this week was that of George Osborne, and his escapades on the yacht of a Russian oligarch. Curiously, Lord Mandelson also features. Dear old Mandy;...
Response: Reports of capitalism's death are exaggerated
The Economist: Capitalism at bayRichard G Elen wrote recently on this blog about the financial crisis sweeping the world. The Thatcher/Reagan economic experiment was a disaster; it is time to sweep the existing consensus aside and revisit the period of...
Regionally yours
Joy of Six: ITV regional idents This "top six" list of regional ITV idents controversially puts TSW in the top position ahead of ATV (the heretics); TSW's second ident in particular is quite impressive from both visual and technical perspectives,...
The future according to ITV
ITV, Channel 4 and BBC to launch HD channels on Freeview next year We're told that the future of broadcasting is high definition, yet ITV's HD proposal for Freeview contains no regional content whatsoever apart from something that's entitled "programmes...
I didn't get where I am today by blindly making something that's anything like the original series
Another one from the "Eh, what? Why?" file is the news that the remake of The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin won't actually be a remake at all because most of the concepts and storylines will be got rid off.
On form
Global Radio to reduce local news output and outsource travel reports Why can't company PR press releases really say what they mean? Instead of "Global said the aim was to create a significant national news centre providing a more professional...
Future lessons from the past
As someone who remains of the opinion that what the British Government did in the years 1945-51 to establish major post-war institutions (despite the country being nearly bankrupt) was brilliant and that we should have the same approach to current...
Nothing but static
Channel 4 axes radio projects With hindsight this decision was fairly predictable - especially given the current economic situation - but Channel 4 deciding to axe its digital radio project was still a surprise given the previous and supposedly long...
Watch this man.
Despite the fact that Cory Ondrejka works for EMI, he knows more about what's really going on in the music industry than almost anyone else.
Searching back in time
For Google's 10th anniversary, you can search the web as it was in 2001.
"We're not YouTube. Honest."
'Hot dog' ad offers taste of new-look Channel Five Poor Channel Five is only really watched for a bit of sport, CSI, Neighbours and perhaps a bit of cheap TV if you're feeling desperate, so for Five's new identity they...
