Faced with such an embarassment of riches, the choice is difficult. It reminds me of an old TV commercial for a Butlins-type holiday camp: "The choice is yours - Blackpool or Morecombe." But the thinking man will probably go for the World Snooker Championships, although they've got a nerve calling it "World". All the competitors come from Doncaster, Sheffield or Leeds.
Snooker has gone the same way as golf in the sense that at "international" level contestants have got to be fighting fit. There is no room nowadays for "portly" players like Bobby Locke (golf). It helps to understand the rules, of course, but I am gradually beginning to see what they're driving at. It helps, too, to have a favourite. Mine is Ronnie O'Sullivan because he doesn't mess around. I hope he wins.
Could the choice be Morecambe and Wise?
ReplyDeleteBut seriously: I must understand life over there better than I thought. Your quoted question about Blackpool and Morecombe (Morecambe?) made me laugh out loud. I hope that’s warranted.
I thought I left a comment earlier — I guess not. But what I thought I said:
ReplyDeleteCould the choice be Morecambe and Wise?
And I added that the choice of "Blackpool or Morecombe" made me laugh. I must understand life over there better than I knew. I hope I was supposed to laugh.
Hello, Michael. Wonderful to hear from you and sorry for my "absence" in recent weeks.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that the post made you laugh, though I'm not sure that I deserve your laughter. Not only did I mispell Morecambe (the town and the comedian), but I was also referring to the holiday resort rather than Eric and Ernie.
Blackpool and Morecambe are popular vacation destinations in the north of England equated in the minds of us effete southerners, no doubt quite unfairly, with days spent in the pouring rain disconsolately eating fish and chips.
I wonder what you think of Morecambe and Wise? They weren't really my cup of tea when I was a young man but now I can see all their good qualities.
Greetings Barnaby
ReplyDeleteMichael Portillo's Great Railway Journeys programme quite interests me though the other programmes on TV you mention especially snooker, are real turn offs.
On balance though I would say that British TV programming has improved over past months.
ITV for example has I think stated in its financial results statement that drama and the like are the way forward for them.
The BBC also has better drama these days - eg The Crimson Field (BBC1 tonight) which although probably geared more to female viewers is IMHO not bad viewing even for the male of the species..
Thanks very much for the tip, Jerry. I like the look of The Crimson Field and will se if I can somehow get it on my dubiously legal iPlayer!
ReplyDeleteYou're a bit late for The Crimson Field - last epi next w/e. But looking at these matters from a different point of view might I suggest Generation War: Our Mothers, Our Fathers which is a genuine attempt on the part of the Germans to get to grips with how is was. Though not in fact the first, as the Radio Times tells us. What about Heimat and Das Boot?
ReplyDeleteAnyway: For the rest =
Michael Portillo and his amazing technicoloured jackets are repeat programmes. And not even just second time round either.
And yer akshull snooker players are not quite all from Yorkshire. Ronnie's an Essex Boy.
As for 'World' sporting events, what about America's form?
I know you want to know these things!
Re being a bit late for The Crimson Field, have you heard of something called iPlayer? Anyway is it any good? Did you see Jamaica Inn? Apparently it was spoiled by bad elocution on the part of the actors!
DeleteOh all this modern stuff ............ but yes, very good I think.
DeleteYes I did see Jamaica Inn and I gather was one of the few who wasn't upset by the elocution. Indeed didn't even notice it on account of wearing hearing aids.
But it was certainly very grim - I think deliberately so as the producers of the programme were, apparently, very mindful of how much Daphne du Maurier had hated the filmed saccharine version.
Barnaby, I knew you meant the vacation spots. That's what made me laugh: it doesn't seem like much of a choice.
ReplyDeleteWhat I've seen of Morecambe and Wise I find hilarious. I love the clip from their show with the Beatles.
I wonder what the American equivalent of Morecambe and Blackpool would be, Michael?
ReplyDelete