Television & The Movies:

(Note 'new' stuff in Italics)

Wow, ten months since I updated this page. Funnily enough most of it still holds true. I'm still a rare cinema-goer and end up catching most movies on Satellite or DVD. There were a lot of movies out during the year but I didn't get to see them in the cinema so it was on DVD that I saw Spider-Man (excellent), Star Wars II, (definitely better than the first), and a few others such as Harry Potter I. I will, however, be going to see The Two Towers! 

The TV season of course is constantly changing so you can skip down to there to see my thoughts on this.  

January 2002. 

It's time for an update of this page. 

I would consider myself a bit of a 'movie buff'. I love movies, from the big blockbusters right down to the cult 'art-house' types. Unfortunately I don't get to the cinema as much as I used to since giving up shift work. Working shift, the movies were a good way to spend your afternoons off. They were cheap and I often saw two or three movies a day.

A few years ago, it looked like videos were going to put paid to the old cinemas and a number of them did close down but they've been replaced by the multi-plexes which have  sprung up everywhere. Maybe it's a sign of the economic boom Ireland underwent, the so-called 'Celtic Tiger', but movies/cinemas are big business these days. 

From my own perspective I subscribe to the movie channels on Sky Digital, as well as the sports channels, via a satellite receiver. That way I can see most of the movies I want. 

I still like to see the 'biggies' in the cinema, you know the 'Star Wars' and 'Gladiator' epic-types. But with 10 Sky channels showing recent movies, two showing older ones, 4 x Film Four channels, and TCM, I can't help but look at movies quite a lot at home. If necessary, I can book an even more recent movie through Sky Box Office although I have yet to do so. I occasionally buy a video cassette but I mostly tape what I want to keep. Having recently acquired a DVD player, I'm more likely to purchase movies on this format from now on. The funny thing is that I never considered buying the DVD player but I was lucky enough to win one and now I'm buying DVDs more so than CDs.

Having said all that I still like going to the cinema occasionally, such as the latest Kevin Smith movie, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back & The  Lord of the Rings recently. Looking forward this year to Star Wars II, Spider-Man, X-Men II, LOTR II, etc.

As for TV, well with the satellite system, even the old analogue one before I got the digital, I had access to at least 40 channels. Now of course that's trebled with the digital service. There are 15 movie channels, at least a dozen music channels and the same again for basic entertainment channels. My favourite satellite channels are the Sci-Fi Channel, Bravo, Paramount Comedy and UK Living for the Jerry Springer show. Throw in the basic cable package and you get RTE1, Network2, TV3, TG4, BBC1 & 2, UTV and Channel 4 from the terrestrial players and Sky 1, Sky News, MTV, & Eurosport from the satellites (also on the digital). There's more than enough TV for anyone. Although sometimes Bruce Springsteen gets it right, you know, "57 Channels and nothing on".   

TV: 

I like sci-fi, action, good comedy or drama, news programmes, sports, current affairs. My favourite shows in recent times have been, in no particular order;

• any of the Star Trek franchise
• Babylon5 including the spin-off Crusade

• Buffy The Vampire Slayer & its spin-off Angel            

• Andromeda (the new " Star Trek"???)
• Frasier
• Ally McBeal
• Fr Ted
• The West Wing
• Stargate SG-1
• Xena & Hercules
• The X-Files
• Friends
• They Think It's All Over
• Have I Got News For You
• Farscape
• King Of The Hill
• South Park
• Dark Angel
• Roswell
• Smallville 

You've probably noticed a far bit of sci-fi in there with a smattering of comedy. That's probably par for the course. I tend towards, what is sometimes called Cult TV, there's even a monthly magazine, Cult TV Times, dedicated to the genre which I get every month, along with magazines like SFX. 

I also admit to watching the soaps, especially Coronation Street, I say I watch Coranation St. I do. (In joke for 'Corrie' Fans) and Dream Team on Sky. I'm not saying I'm a couch potato but I do like television....

I do also watch a lot of more upmarket TV as in the political programmes like Prime Time and Questions & Answers. I've even attended a few filmings of Q&A and got to ask the panel a question at my first show. I also like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (both UK and Irish versions) and other 'quality' quiz shows, e.g., University Challenge.  

You will note that I didn't include The Simpsons on that list. I used to be a big fan and I try to watch the new episodes, but I'm rapidly getting sick of the multitude of repeats. Don't get me wrong, I love Sky 1 as a channel. For a cult TV fan, they are by far and away the best there is, followed by TV3 and then Network 2 (both Irish channels). In comparison to the treatment the BBC and Channel 4 give their viewers with their chopping and changing of schedules, dropping the programs for sports coverage or ruthless editing, Sky show much more respect for the genre both with its scheduling and promotion of the show. Channel 4 have not figured out yet how to put these shows out. It got burned with Angel putting it on so early that it had to be savagely edited. When they figured that out, they put it out late at night and chopped & changed it in the schedule. Had that been their first experience of this, you could have had some sympathy for them but that's exactly what they had done with Babylon 5 years earlier.

BBC 2, while they also insist on using the 18.45 slot for their 'genre' TV, at least have a bit more consistency. By now we know if a major snooker or tennis championship is on, forget about your fav. sci-fi show. Strangely enough, they will leave on repeats in the 18.00 slot and drop new shows in the 18.45 slot to show highlights of the days play at the Crucible or Wimbledon. Surely it would be easier to drop the repeats?

Anyway that's enough ranting about the Beeb & C4. Closer to home, Network2 & TV3 are the homes of genre TV. Thankfully they use the 20.00 & 21.00 slots, meaning we don't have to rush home to get them. They are also quite consistent in their programming and generally run a series to completion.       

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has probably been the most successful 'cult TV' show in years, at least since the X-Files. Considering it spun off from a less than resoundingly successful movie, its success is amazing. But then again when you consider the cast, the scripts  and the care that producer Joss Wheadon takes with the project, it all makes for a great TV show.      

Season 7 of "Buffy" has just started in the USA and we expect to see it in the new year on Sky 1. It's rmoured to be the last one but spin-off possibilities exist.

BBC2 & TV3 also show this series but generally a season behind Sky..

Seasons 1 to 5 boxsets are also available on DVD.

Angel

Coming in behind Buffy is its spin-off, Angel. Season 3 is was shown on Sky a while back and season 4 is just starting in the USA. Reports are that it's doing well despite a slot change and tough competition. Again expect to see it on Sky in the new year.

TV3 and Channel 4 are the terrestrial carriers but forget C4 who still have not figured out how to schedule it.  

Seasons 1 & 2 DVD boxsets are available with season 3 imminent in this format.

The West Wing

Not quite 'genre' TV but the excellent West Wing is a must watch. If Martin Sheen ever runs for President, he'll walk it. Interesting to see he actually got involved in politics in California where he had adverts for a campaign against a proposition changing how drug users are penalised. He even looks and sounds presidential on the ads. 

RTE are the leading channel here having just completed season 3. E4 are a few weeks behind and should conclude the run soon. E4's 'terrestrial brother', Channel 4 should then begun to rerun it. Interestingly Sky 1 are showing late night reruns of series 1. This series is also available on DVD in 2 box sets.

Farscape

Currently the best sci-fi show on Television is the one with the 'puppets'. For those who call Farscape "Muppets In Space", shame on you. Drop your prejudices and watch the best sci-fi TV show possibly ever made.

On the surface, this show seems to borrow from everything, Trek, Lost In Space, Buck Rogers, you name it you can point out similarities. So what makes it so good?

I can't point out one single thing. Plot, acting, dialogue, set-up? All of these and probably none of them. It is THE 'Must See' show on TV at the moment and BBC2 are showing Season 4 it in the 'can be dropped for the least thing' slot 18:45 on Monday evening. While the Sci-Fi are currently just concluding Season 3. Expect them to run Season 4 there shortly. 

DVDs  covering Seasons 1, 2 & 3 are available as well as VHS. A boxed set of Season 1 is just out as season 1 of that other great sci-fi show, Babylon 5.

The word is that the show has been cancelled after Season 4 but Internet protests are up & running. Find them and sign up;

http://www.farscapeworld.com/helpfarscape.shtml

http://www.savefarscape.net/news.html

Enterprise

So with the praise for Joss Wheadon's shows, Farscape and West Wing out of the way it's time for some rotten eggs. I'm sorry to say but Voyager season 7 was a let down. In comparison to its counterparts on Next Gen. and DS9, the final season of this Trek spin-off has generally sucked. Critics slated season 6 for over-reliance on the 7 of 9 and Doctor characters. The last season they have tried to move away from that. Bad idea! The best episodes are the ones featuring those 2 characters. As for the finale episode? S-U-C-K-S!!!

Thank God for Enterprise, AKA Star Trek: The First Generation. I had to admit to being sceptical about this and was in the camp that thought the franchise could have done with a rest. But three episodes into Season 1, I was a believer. Once again Sky 1 leads the way. 

With Season 2 under way in the US, rumours are spreading, the numbers aren't good... A new series with Riker & Troi following up the next movie, Nemesis... 

It's just wait & see but Enterprise's chances of making it to season 7 does not look good.

The X-Files

 I enjoyed season 8 of the X-Files. It was amusing to see the role-reversals with Scully and Skinner being the believers and the 'main man', Agent Doggett, being the sceptic. Scully's reaction to his scepticism is good, conveniently forgetting her 7 years of similiar beliefs. When Mulder came back, it didn't work and I think it ended up a bit whimperish. 

Season 9 disappointed a lot of fans but I thought it had its moments and Doggett & Reyes were starting to really click. A nice goodbye to The Lone Gunmen, whose short-lived spin-off was only seen over here on Sci-Fi Channel. RTE & BBC1 have yet to show season 9 which Sky 1 recently completed.  

In all genre TV has its good moments and its bad. Somehow Andromeda managed to survive an iffy first season and is now in its third season both here on Sky 1 and in the US. A definitely improved show. Mutant X is currently running season 2 on Sky as well but despite losing the Andy Warhol lookalike villain is not much better than last year. New this season is Odyssey 5, so far it's Ok and at least it aims for a more adult audience with its language content.

Coming soon from the States will be Smallville season 2, Birds of Prey season 1 (hopefully).