What's he on about now?

In case the articles, essays and opinions throughtout this site just weren't enough for you, here's my online diary (a.k.a. 'blog'). It's as close as you'll come to the inside of my head, so don't say I didn't warn you
(and remember, you can always e-mail me if you love or loathe anything you're about to read)...


   Saturday, November 17, 2007

   "YOU WERE MY DOCTOR"

Obviously, it's a big nostalgia kick for we fans to see Peter Davison step back into the role of Doctor Who after more than 20 years but, upon watching the sketch filmed for the BBC's annual charity telethon Children in Need, it's clear that new Doctor David Tennant is just as giddy as the rest of us:

Doctor Who: Time Crash

It's a terrible risk for any actor to step back into a role from long ago, especially one so identifiable (who can forget cringing through Sean Connery's ill-advised return as James Bond in Never Say Never Again?). Davison, however, manages to recapture his mix of older-brother grumpiness and breathless urgency from the early '80s and Tennant, for his part, doesn't have to work too hard to convey a sense of delight at seeing him again.

And I love how the ending suddenly stops being about the characters or the silly universe-in-peril 'plot' and becomes a dialogue between them as actors. Davison did inspire Tennant, just as he was a role model for little 13-year-old me (not to mention the trainers). The All Creatures Great and Small star had the unenviable task of following on from the bizarre and iconic Tom Baker (much like Roger Moore having to succeed Connery) but he made the part his own and is now being honoured for it while raising money for sick kids. Absolutely lovely to see.

Labels: back in the day, Doctor Who, England, TV

After it tidily yet completely skewered the excesses of Torchwood, the UK sketch comedy show Dead Ringers offers a unique escape clause for failed Prime Minister Tony Blair:

Labels: Doctor Who, England, silliness, TV

I absolutely LOVE Dead Ringers. It's too bad there's nothing really comparable in terms of quality and content here in Canada...

-- Reply posted by  The Guy in DKNY at April 06, 2007

 

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Oh, to be in England with my unrequited love, Alistair Appleton. We could listen to Talking Heads together (see question 11), cook up a paella for dinner (courtesy of the hilarious hosts of Posh Nosh -- thanks to Gil for the intro!) and perhaps stay at one of the charming seaside inns.

Then again, better not. I made this little video to show how frightening it can be:

Labels: England, friends, oh l'amour, silliness, TV

Since I posted my little "Cybermen/Pet Shop Boys" creation on YouTube, I've received a couple dozen positive comments and nearly 150 people have added it to their 'favourites' list, but nothing compares to yesterday's 'Pet Text' on the official Pet Shop Boys site:

20 February 2007
A friend has drawn our attention to two unofficial videos on YouTube for "Integral" and "I made my excuses and left". We quite like them.

I think that's the highest possible praise you can get from the British. I'm thrilled! I got my Nightlife CD signed by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe in 1999, amidst the usual throng of other people, but Neil took a minute to chat with me. This mention on their site is almost as exciting.

Labels: Doctor Who, England, MeTube, Pet Shop Boys, TV

Congrats!

-- Reply posted by  The Guy in DKNY at February 21, 2007

 

What a coup! Nicely done, Scott.

-- Reply posted by  Whisky Prajer at February 22, 2007

 

Heee heeee! Wondrous!
Good to see increasing public recognition of your lively personal genius. Haul out the tea!

-- Reply posted by  James at February 24, 2007

 

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But it's not all ranting -- I've been bopping around town to the debut album by 24-year-old Mika -- Lebanese-born, British-raised and Freddie-Mercury-inspired. Life in Cartoon Motion sounds like its title -- it's pure giddy dance-pop, with a dizzying mix of styles and influences. This lead-off single "Grace Kelly" is one of the less-catchy tunes sung by this kid with a golden voice:

Labels: England, music, silliness

In all my TV-party glee yesterday, I never stopped to consider the lives of those without high-speed Internet. For them, YouTube is a torture. Hell, even my "ultra high-speed" service chokes up on them from time to time.

With that in mind, here's the links to the stuff I've posted lately:

Videos I've created

Thursday, September 22, 2006
Me and my little dog hit the streets

Doctor Who: 43 years, 10 Doctors, 5-and-a-half minutes
The greatest TV show ever, in a nutshell

Integral: Pet Shop Boys vs. Cybermen
The British government's ID scheme gets a sci-fi disco takedown

Videos I've posted

Pet Shop Boys: It's a Sin
live from the Hummingbird Centre, October 11

Nina Simone: Feeling Good
The way-cool promo for Six Feet Under season four

Nina Simone: If You Knew
A beautiful little gem

Stephen Colbert: The Word
Republican scandals explained with Russian dolls

Lily Allen: LDN
A delightful-yet-grim ode to London

Dane Cook: What men really want
It makes a kind of sense

Dancing
Where the hell is Matt?

D'Agostino supermarkets
Move closer!

Russell T. Davies on Torchwood
Starts Sunday! Can't wait!

Torchwood BBC 3 promo
Have I mentioned this?

Philip Olivier on Hollyoaks: In the City
It's not a crush, it's true love!

South Park: Trapped in the Closet
The boys take down Tom Cruise and the 'Church'

Jesus Camp
This lady keeps me up at night

The Daily Show: Tangled Up in Bleu
Jason Jones discusses gays in the military

Scissor Sisters: I Don't Feel Like Dancing
The '70s in a blender -- gorgeous!

Keith Olbermann: September 11th commentary
The man's on fire, and so very necessary

Labels: Doctor Who, England, MeTube, music, Pet Shop Boys, silliness, TV

Now if there was just some way to mash-up Tegan footage with the good Doctor...

BTW, I think I recognize the look on your face as you answer the phone (heh heh).

-- Reply posted by  Darrell Reimer at October 20, 2006

 

Cybermen and Pet Shop Boys! Simply delicious, Scott!

-- Reply posted by  Christos Tsirbas at October 20, 2006

 

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I fear YouTube is making me soft.

For a man who calls himself a writer, there's been precious little writing lately! While I love my new job, I also worry that most of my energy has been going into improving the work of others rather than my own. I get home and there's nothing left. Plus, like I said, making these little YouTube clips has been great fun, a terrific distraction. It had to stop. So I decided to hold a little TV party here, showing you the stuff I've loved lately, before I hunker down and start working on the next article.

First up, I was blue for a day because a perfect storm of work, schedule and money conflicts kept me from catching the Pet Shop Boys' visit to Toronto last week. Having seen them twice now soothed the sting, but along comes a YouTuber named uccbob who apparently recorded the entire show in little 2:57 bursts. Shame about the sound but hey, look at that stage set...



The link I'd posted to a Six Feet Under promo a couple years back is long gone, so coming across it again feels like a little present. It's the only ad not included on the DVDs but, more importantly, it's a cool blast of Nina Simone...



This of course left me wanting more, and this one's a tiny gem...



I adored Stephen Colbert's brilliant visual aid explaining the media's coverage of Republican political scandals (Josh Marshall has been keeping a list of indictments and wow, it's even bigger than I thought!)...



Pixieish singer Lily Allen's new ode to London is utterly delightful and completely depressing at the same time -- just like the city itself...



There are smarter, funnier comics than fratboy Dane Cook but do they fight monkeys? I didn't think so...



I think everyone on Earth has now seen Matt dancing everywhere on it but, in case you haven't, give the guy a cheer...



I'll never travel that much, sadly, but my name is well-known in New York City, thanks to the D'Agostino supermarket chain. Move closer!



In a follow-up to my last post, here's Russell T. Davies talking about Torchwood -- I love that a guy writing a sci-fi show is so set on telling stories about ordinary people. I find his enthusiasm endearing and infectious...



And finally, my own little creation. I actually got an e-mail from someone who loved my Doctor Who video and asked me to make more! Flattered, I began thinking of a stream of Who videos I could craft but reason thankfully kicked in. While I would've absolutely adored and exhausted all this YouTube video editing stuff when I was a repressed and dorky teen, these days, I do have a life (okay, sort of). I just don't have the time.

So I decided to take everything I love about Doctor Who -- the character, the show, the institution -- and cram it all into one clip. Whether you love it, laugh at it or don't have a clue, consider this a tribute, a warning or a primer. I called it 43 years, 10 Doctors, 5-and-a-half minutes and it does what it says on the tin:



That's it! I'm spent! No more TV!
Well, except for Heroes, which Josh tells me I should be watching.
Oh, and Dexter, which looks nastily funny.
Oh, and Lost Of course.

Sigh.

Stephen King says that people are always asking him where he gets his ideas. I want to know how he writes 1400-word novels every month and still finds time to write essays on Veronica Mars!

Labels: Doctor Who, England, MeTube, music, Pet Shop Boys, Trawna, tributes, TV, writing

British writer Russell T. Davies is one of my pop-culture heroes.

First, he creates the original (and still superior) version of Queer as Folk.
Then, he upsets his new gay fans with Bob and Rose, a comedy-drama about a gay man and a straight woman who fall in love.
Next, he scandalizes England with Christopher Eccleston as the reincarnation of Christ in The Second Coming.
Then, just to finish up, he transforms the entire UK TV industry by not only deciding to revive BBC's silly relic Doctor Who but making it a massive success, proving that Saturday night family viewing is still possible (or Monday on CBC, hint hint).

Now, he's throwing his whole career into a blender (along with a splash of The X-Files) as he debuts his sci-fi/horror cop show Torchwood, with John Barrowman reprising his instantly-beloved role of Captain Jack Harkness from the first season of Who. When I mentioned the proposed show in an article a few months back, I quoted Davies promising a "dark, wild and sexy" series and now, as BBC 3 starts its promos, we can judge for ourselves:

Labels: Doctor Who, England, evolution, tributes, TV, war - what is it good for?

Goosebumps!

(Let's just hope it doesn't take the CBC another year before they air it...)

-- Reply posted by  The Guy in DKNY at October 13, 2006

 

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Now that's eerie:

Tony Blair, May 5 2005:

"The great thing about an election is that you get out and talk to people for week upon week and I have listened and I have learned. I think I have a very clear idea of what the British people now expect from this government for a third term."

Paul Martin, June 29 2004:

"Canadians expected and expect more from us, and as a party and as a government, we must do better and we will."

Let's hope Mr. Blair has better luck than the hapless Martin, who also said, "We will work hard as a government... while demonstrating honesty, integrity and a deep respect for taxpayers' money."

Following an awkward silence, let's just say the jury's still out on that one!

Labels: Canada, England, politics