Random Media...

ULTIMATE BIG BROTHER, CHANNEL FOUR

7.30pm Friday 10th Sept, 2010
Don't pretend you don't watch it....The ultimate final. The very first of the series made television history, simply because it had never been done in the Uk. Big Brother was very much a social experiment, as well as an entertaining game show. Who could predict the impact it would have on the very ordinary housemates at the time. In this sense a truly unique event, that inspired a spate of reality shows.

Since then Big Brother has had it's savvy characters, shady moments, and dodgy events, yet survived with the highly entertaining and loveable Davina Mcall consistently hosting the entire 10 year series. Big Brother - RIP in style.

THIS IS ENGLAND '86, CHANNEL FOUR
00.00pm, 7th Sept 2010 series
Those who dig the original film version, are about to see it serialised as a four part drama. Our lad, and cheeky chappie, Joe Gilgun off soap' Emmerdale, stars in this. Not a bad idea, trailers look good...

MONGRELS, BBC3
10.30pm weekly
Funniest adult puppet show since Spitting Image! Puppetry, dialogue, in-jokes and topical subjects make the show a grand p*ss take on too many levels to explain. Voice over and characterisation are top notch inspite of an unauthentic sounding Kali, the pidgeon. Adore Marion, cat ( ex-catnip addict ) Nelson, fox (posh wimp) and Vince, fox (Nelson's relative and foul mouthed bruiser ).

Its dry pickin's this week...Enjoy the football!

DISPATCHES: UNDERCOVER SOCIAL WORKER, CHANNEL 4
8.00pm, 7th June, 2010
Exposes underfunding, bad practice, and poor attitude in the wake of Baby P scandal.

THE SKY AT NIGHT, BBC1
11.55pm, 6th June, 2010
Patrick Moore keeps his hand in, as he contentedly informs us of goings on in the atmosphere...

KUNG FU HUSTLE, CHANNEL 4
11.40pm, 6th June, 2010
The best film on this week. Stephen Chow directs and stars in a hilarious adventure about potential and spirituality. Cleverly shot with style and panache, with lots of action and laughs. The film has had strong influences on Quinten Tarrintino, and the makers of the Matrix.

CAMERON'S BLACK TORY, CHANNEL 4
7.00pm, 6th June, 2010
Wilfred Emmanuel Jones the man behind THE BLACK FARMER products (found in your local supermarket), runs as a Conservative Party MP in the midst of old fogey's, racism and resistance. A seeming nice bloke, ends up an unfortunate casualty of the election, and more brutally the Conservative party, in more ways than one. A telling lesson on why I'lll never empathise with the Tory's in my lifetime.

ARCHIVE ON ON 4: THE MARY WHITEHOUSE EFFECT RADIO 4
8.00pm, 6th June, 2010
Funny old bird. A woman remembered for her outspoken views on violence, vulgarity and sexuality on tv. Think about it, she may have been right - don't quote me....

ROUND THE HORNE, BBC7
7.00pm, 28th May, 2010
A BBC radio comedy show originally produced 1965 - 1968. Lots of dry humour. Enter double entendre city with... Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden.

LADY VENGENCE, FILM 4
1.25pm, 28th May, 2010
The last of a slick trilogy, this slow burning revenge drama takes the audience on a journey. Lee Young Ae keeps it wacko as, Lee Geum-ja is convicted of murder, sentenced to prison.

BACKSTAGE, BBC2
12.50am, 28th May, 2010
Hip-Hop documentary with Jay-Z, DMX and Method Man...

THE REPORT, BBC RADIO 4
8.00am, 27th May 2010
Could BP have done more to prevent the Deepwater Horizon ecological disaster?

ALL IN THE MIND, BBC RADIO 4
4.30pm, 26th May, 2010
Programme covering mental health...

LATCH-KEY KIDS, BBC RADIO 4
11.00am, 26th May, 2010
They're not kids anymore, they tell their stories...

THE GREED IMPERITIVE, BBC RADIO 4
1.30pm, 26th May, 2010
Dr Catherine Cowley investigates whether greed is a necessary and vital dynamic behind a successful economy.

SECTIONED, BBC2
11.20pm, 26th May, 2010
Three men's experience of the Mental Health System in Nottingham. Viewers are provided with an insight into the effect of mental illness in thier lives.  

TATE MODERN IS 10! A CULTURE SHOW SPECIAL, BBC2
12.20am, 25th May, 2010
The Tate is ten years old. A spectrum of events took place as a result. The Culture Show in cruising and schoomzing mode...

A BI-POLAR EXPEDITION, MORE 4
10pm 25th May, 2010
A man with a bi-polar mental health condition travels to America, to fulfill his manic fantasies. It will be interesting to see whether the subject is treated as a laugh, or a serious condition....

STEPHEN FRY ON WAGNER - TAINTED LOVE, BBC4
9.00pm, 25th May, 2010
Wagner's 'The Ring Cycle' are a series of opera's that explore the grand themes of life, which are universal. Stephen Fry presents a series on the life and work of Wagner, and the controversy over his Nazi associations.

LUTHER, BBC1
9.00pm, 25th May, 2010
Finally caught an episode of Luther expecting dissapointment and stereotypes. This drama's not plausable, however pleasantly surprised by actor, Idris Elba's attractive characterisation, and fresh tone as Black DCI, John Luther (he also produces). The cast has familiar top notch faces. Steven Mackintosh is Luther's loyal mate, Saskia Reeves keeps things in line as DSU Rose Teller, Paul McGann is Mark North, yuppy lover to Luther's ex wife and Ruth Wilson as Alice an academic genius and Luther's stalker. Perfomance's are subtle toned down and mature, yet the story too violent and psychologically intense. Try transporting this cast into something realistic...

THE SEVENTH DIMENSION: THE TWILIGHT ZONE, BBC7
6.00pm & 12.00am, 24th May, 2010
Hopefully an original....

THE LAZARUS EFFECT, CHANNEL 4
11.05pm, 24th May, 2010
How anti-retroviral drugs have effected the lives of four African people with HIV/AIDS.

STAR TREK: NEMESIS, E4
2.40pm, 23rd May, 2010
Actor, Tom Hardy sizzles as Praetor Shinzon, he meets his maker Captain Jean-Luc Picard, actor Patrick Stewart to confronts him with cloning issues.

THE DEATH OF MR LAZARESCU, CHANNEL 4
12.50am, 23rd May, 2010
Obviously a comment on life. The seriously ill, Mr Larzarescu is shunted around the health system. This Romanian film has the sense of being one continuous moment in time.

DISPATCHES: THE LOST GIRLS OF SOUTH AFRICA, CHANNEL 4
9.00pm, 23rd May, 2010
An intense and distressing portrayal of life for very young African girls living with abuse. Not for the faint hearted...

THE LAST EMPEROR OF CHINA, MORE 4
1.30am, 22nd May 2010
The last of China's emperor's. A historical look at the turbulent life of Puyi.

THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER, BBC2
3.50am, 22rd May, 2010
Kaspar Hauser chained in a cellar, with no human contact until seventeen years old. Based on a true story.

BRAZIL, BBC2
1.35am, 22nd May, 2010
A favourite, Terry Gilliam directs. The Atmosphere of Nineteen Eighty Four, but with the Monty Python sense of humour. Stars Jonathan Pryce.

CAPTALISM: A LOVE STORY, CHANNEL 4
10.15pm, 22nd May, 2010
Looking forward to the first time showing on terrestial tv. Micheal Moore takes a hammer to corporate America.

THE PIANST, ITV1
11.50pm, 18th May, 2010
Film buff's, something to look forward to, this is Roman Polanksi adaptation of memoirs telling the story of occuppied Warsaw and life in the Krakow ghetto.

THE SEVENTH DIMENSION, BBC7
6.00pm or 12.00am, Everyday
Every now and then they put a good programme on. Something vaguely creeply, mainly bizarre, currently J G Ballard's 'The Recognition''.

GARRISON KEILLOR'S RADIO SHOW, BBC7
5.00pm, Saturdays
He is cleverly funny. Wonderfully, whimsical, musical and magical. The man with the most (advertising voice-overs), soothing voice in the world..ahhh!

ELECTION 2O10, BBC1
9.55pm, 6th May, 2010
With David Dimbleby, he's likely to be quite dry and laid back, if you prefer calmer going's on...

ELECTION 2O10, ITV1
9.55pm, 6th May, 2010
With Alistair Stewart. I've monitored the news output between the BBC and ITV1 for a while. Surprisingly, although more hyped up and dramatic, ITV1 shows and tells more than the BBC do with the same news stories.

If you've had it, with 'live' journalists, yelling down their microphones at the camera, flip over to the the following while you wait for the sad/bad/glad or Mad......news!!

TALK TO HER, FILM 4
1.10am, 7th, May 2010
A tale about relationships. Two women, for difering reasons end up in coma, a female bullfighter and a dancer. They become the centre of curious and surprisingly linked events. Laid back performances. Don't miss a highlight of the film, as film Benigno recalls a visit to the cinema to see the tale of the shrinking man. Director, Pedro Almodvar's skillful imagination at it's best.

KINKY BOOTS, BBC2
10.pm, 6th May, 2010
The charming Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a transvestie who manages to transform the fortunes of a shoe shop 'up north'. Could be better, but the sentiment is there...

WALLANDER, BBC4
9.00pm, 6th May, 2010
Sadly the last of this Swedish, not Norwegian series. BBC4 please bring it back soon....

CHANNEL 4'S ALTERNATIVE ELECTION NIGHT, CHANNEL 4
9.00pm, 6th May, 2010
Jimmy Carr, he'll do, Charlie Brookner, definitely, David Mitchell maybe, Lauren Laverne we'll see....

PHONEBOOTH, E4
9.00pm, 5th May, 2010
Like suspense, like phone booth. Where Colin Farell first impressed, also stars Forrest Whittaker, Keifer Sutherland, and Katie Holmes. Smart, commercial psychological thrills, if you're up for it...

THE DANCER UPSTAIRS, FILM 4
12.55am, 4th May, 2010
An honest cop, the smouldering Javier Bardem attempts to track down the leader of a marxist terroist group. Nice twists and turns.

BREMNER, BIRD AND FORTUNE - DAILY WIND UP, CHANNEL 4
11.05pm, 3rd May, 2010 (everyday until the election)
Bremner's back, high-jacking the Mp's on the campain trail, he walks a tight rope as he attempts to keep up the comic pretence with real people on the street - it shows...

A WOMAN AMONG WARLORDS, MORE 4
11.40pm, 27th April, 2010
The first female to stand for election in Afghanistan.

WOMEN, WEDDINGS, WAR, AND ME, BBC3
3.10am, 27th April, 2010
A mordern teenage young woman travels back to Afghanistan to discover why her mother brought her to Britian. I was educated, again very moving and worth watching.

BLOOD, SWEAT AND LUXURIES, BBC3
9.00pm 27th April, 2010
Young Brits find out what it's like to work in an Ethoipian shoe factory. I watched the previous episode about 'blood diamonds' it's facinating to see how these young people respond to the unavoidable political dynamics. Very moving and worth watching.

VOTE AFGHANISTAN, MORE 4
10.00pm, 27th April, 2010
Journalists follow the three stongest canidates on their campaign trail, in the first Afghan presidential election takes place since the Taliban lost power.

LATER LIVE, BBC2
10.pm, 27th April, 2010
Gorillaz, Mos Def, Drive-By Truckers, and Bobby McFerrin.

SOUTH AFRICA IN PICTURES, BBC4
9.00pm, 27th April, 2010
Top fashion photographer Rankin eplores the 'Rainbow Nation' with photographs. I hope he captures some of those real snappy dressers out there.

THE STORY OF SCIENCE, BBC2
9.00pm, 27th April, 2010
A series looking at the link between science and the development of civilisation. Always interested in those themes.

KONTROLL, FILM 4
12.45am, 27th April, 2010
Comedy thriller set on the Budapest underground. About ticket inspectors, riders, and a mysterious killer. The diverse and humourous character portrayals make this film a winner. Love this film.

AFRICAN SCHOOL, BBC4
2.10am, 27th April, 2010
African School features two schools – Kamurasi Demonstration School, a primary school and Masindi Secondary School. An insight into the modern education system in Africa.

MOCK THE WEEK, DAVE
1.00pm. 26th April, 2010, constantly repeated.
The cutting humour is close to the bone and may cause offence, yet you can't help but laugh till it hurts. Put it back on prime time please....

THE WORLD'S RICHEST TEENAGER AND ME, CHANNEL 4
10.00pm, 26th April, 2010
Likely to be a tongue in cheek account, knowing Dolan - yet still very curious to know what that kinda life is like.

THE HISTORY OF SAFARI, BBC4
8.00pm, 26th April, 2010
Ultimate posh actor Richard E Grant recalls a childhood in Swaziland, and questions the ambivialent attitudes towards hunting wildlife.

SOUTH AFRICA WALKS, BBC4
8.30pm, 26th April, 2010
First of four treking across South African landscape.

The BBC have produced a series of programmes across television and radio and online under the theme 'Africa Lives'. Enjoy!

THE REPORT, RADIO 4
8.30pm, 26th April, 2010
At look at Pope Benedict XVI's record in dealing with paedophile priests.

YOUNG, AUTISTIC AND STAGESTRUCK, CHANNEL 4
8.00pm, Monday 26 April, 2010
Insight into young people in the performing arts.

MY NAME IS EARL, E4
7.30pm, 26th April, 2010 constantly repeated.
Constantly repeated. The scripts are sharp enough to give you a paper cut. Superb take on political correctness.

EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, FIVER
6.00pm, 26th April, 2010 constantly repeated.
I laugh at Chris Rock's uncanny spot on portrayal of the attitude and dynamics of a struggling black family. (I was, that gangly bean headed boy, that was my mum..)

THE TIME MACHINE, CHANNEL 4
1.35pm, Friday 26th March, 2010
1960's Science fiction film, based on the story by H.G. Wells. Always facinating to see how the past, attempts to capture the future. Equally facinating to see how filmmaking has changed.

28 DAYS LATER, CHANNEL 4
10.50pm, 26th March, 2010
Yucky horror, talented bright young things, Naomie Harris and Cillian Murphy play lead characters.

NEXT FRIDAY, CHANNEL 4
1.20am, Friday 26th March, 2010
Do you remember the time, when you put the word out to your posse, that a black film would be on...? Ice Cube brings back memories...

CHOCOLATE: THE BITTER TRUTH, BBC1
9pm, Wednesday 24th March, 2010
Undercover investigation into cocoa industry in West Africa.

STICKS AND STONES, MORE 4
8.30pm, Wednesday 24 March, 2010
The subject disability, the issue predjudice and discrimination. What the F#@K is goin' on...

EDWARD VII: PRINCE OF PLEASURE, BBC2
9pm, Tuesday 23rd March, 2010
Revealing new info, on this royal figure.

THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD, MORE 4
10pm, Tuesday 23 March, 2010
Daft stunts, show up corporate irresponisbility. Bound to be funny.

SHAMELESS, CHANNEL 4
11pm, Wednesday 23rd March, 2010
Script writers what are you thinking! With the level of gratuitous sex scenes up, we are distracted from the 'message', we've seen it all before...

THE BERLUSCONI SHOW, BBC2
12.10am, Tuesday 23rd March, 2010
A portrait of the Italian Prime Minister.

DISPATCHES: MP'S FOR HIRE, CHANNEL 4
8pm, 22nd March, 2010
Political lobbying - how some MPs take advantage of the system. The tip of the iceberg folks...

THE LIBERTINE, FILM 4,
11.10pm, Sunday 21st March, 2010
Portrait of the raunchy and scandalous second Earl of Rochester, poet and sex fiend. Johnny Depp plays a grand caricature of the man.

DON'T SAY A WORD, FILM 4
9pm, Sunday 21st March, 2010
It's not reality, yet a facinating portrayal by the late Brittany Murphy, as a mentally disturbed young woman, with a twist...

THE DRUM, FILM 4
5pm, Sunday 21st March, 2010
Classic film, get past the colonial references, to catch 'Sabu's' adventures during the days of the British Raj. The adorable and underated Sabu, (yet to be recognised for his contribution to british film.) a muse to the classic film directors, Pressburger and Powell who also brought you 'The Black Narcisscus' and 'Rebecca'.

ON TOUR WITH THE QUEEN, CHANNEL 4
5.15am, Saturday 20th March, 2010
Looking back at the Queens 1953 Commonwealth Tour, negotiating with the Colonies to remain a part of the Commonwealth.

DISPATCHES: CHILDREN OF GAZA, CHANNEL 4
8pm, Monday 15th March, 2010
Insight into the reality for these children, with a touching maturity beyond their years.

TSOTSI, BBC2
Beautifully shot, refreshing, emotional contemporary drama from South Africa. Ace performance from Presley Chweneyagae. Includes Kenneth Nkosi from 'The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency'.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, CHANNEL 4
Ingenious, highly creative, touching and personal. A frank spiritual avant garde journey, into gender issues. One courageously beautiful man, so much talent...

BBC RADIO 1XTRA
"Love Black Music? Love 1Xtra..." High quality top notch stuff. Impressed with the live gigs, roadshows, and links on a national and international scale that takes these programmes to another level. Reaches out to young people across the spectrum. Creates a dialogue about topical issues through music to bring people together. You're never too old to learn...

'THE MATRIX RELOADED' ITV2
9.00pm, Saturday, 15th March, 2010
'The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth - it is the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true.' - Jean Baudrillard. A world of theories, surround the Matrix trilogy...'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'Day Watch', spoilt for choice.

'HORIZON: TO INFINITY AND BEYOND', BBC2
Repeated series.
Love this stuff...

'DAY WATCH', FILM FOUR
11.00pm Saturday, 14th March, 2010
Quality production, in the second of this film tirlogy. If you can get past the violence, you'll find a meaningful story there about the good and the bad...

'THE MIGHTY BOOSH', DAVE
Repeated series.
Comedy series for arty dude's, pure pop culture, the characters are ace! Richard Ayoade, plays 'Saboo' classy, superfly, mystic shaman, but is also known as nerdy 'Maurice Moss' in 'The IT Crowd'. Enjoy his work...

'SIR TREVOR MACDONALD MEETS DAVID CAMERON', ITV1
9.00pm, Sunday 14th March, 2010
We are reminded that, an election is coming up...

'THE CULTURE SHOW' BBC1
7.00pm Thursday 1th March, 2010
Weekly Arts show, this week featuring director Marin Scorsese, and birds making music on electric guitars. Worked for me - genius.

'PANORAMA', BBC1
0.25am, Thursday 11th March, 2010
A look at how hospitals failing the public, assess themselves as good...in times like these - value for money required...

'WOMEN', BBC4
22.45pm, Wednesday 10th March 2010
Documentary series on feminism, memorable look back at the history of feminism...

'NEWSWIPE WITH CHARLIE BROOKNER', BBC2
Series.
Journalist, Charlie Brookner, started with his column, 'Screen Burn' in the 'The Guardian's Guide'. His quick wit and effortess humour have him calling the comical news media to account in a comic way. He deserves more.

CHRIS PETIT'S 'CONTENT', MORE FOUR
2.20am,Wednesday 10th March, 2010
A philsophical and experimental, European road movie...

'DISPATCHES: CAMERON UNCUT', CHANNEL 4
8th March, 2010
Portrait of David Cameron. We briefly hear from Black and Asian admirer's. Everyone is invited to the Conservative party...

'THE LURE OF LAS VEGAS', BBC2
9.00pm, Saturday 6th March 2010
Alan Yentob, broadcaster, former BBC Chief Executive, presents a facinating essay on Las Vegas, the gambling town, and it's history. Includes footage and comment from Sammie Davis Junior, Singer, Brandon Flowers of the rock pop group 'The Killers'.

CUTTING EDGE: 'TOO POOR FOR POSH SCHOOL', CHANNEL FOUR
9.00pm, Monday 8th March, 2010
At look at the aspirations of us po' folks...

'WALLANDER', BBC4
9.00pm, Saturday 6th March, 2010
British cast, act out Norways best detective series...

'TREVOR MACDONALD'S SECRET CARRIBEAN', ITV3
9.00pm, Monday 8th March, 2010
Missed some of this series first time around. A re-run on ITV3 is coming up, touched by the young British women convicted for drug smuggling, talking about their experience in a West Indian jail, watch out for carribeans named Hitler, and Elvis...

'QUESTION TIME', BBC1
10.35pm, Thursday 11th March, 2010
Less bickering among the panel, direct answers required...
(an all women's audience, for International Womens Day, followed the week after by an all male audience)

'THE CANTERBURY TALES', ITV3
9.00pm, Wednesday10th March, 2010
Contemporary onscreen re-telling of Chaucer's medieval book 'The Canterbury Tales' - keen on this one...and it's up to date casting.

'BEING HUMAN', BBC3
9.00pm, 28th February 2010
The scary series finale...

'RISE UP REGGAE STAR: STORYVILLE', BBC4
10.30pm, 1st March, 2010
Wicked documentary on the rise of Turbulence single 'Notorious', an insight into Reggae music in Jamaica. Well done BBC.

'THE VIRTUAL REVOLUTION', BBC2
Sunday,1st March, 2010
How the internet changes the world dramatically. Frighteningly clear and classy series.

(Some of the dates mentioned will pass, catch them again on iplayer, freeview etc)