What's your favorite TV show right now?

[MooseMom]

Patrick Melrose! I'd watch Benedict Cumberbatch read the phone book.

Oh, he's wonderful, isn't he!

I've just started the newest season of Peaky Blinders, so that's my favorite show right now.

We have the newest season of Westworld on our DVR; has anyone else seen it yet, and if so, is it any good?

[Paul]

Not so much "watching TV" as "listening to the radio". We still have a couple of radio stations that feature "proper" radio shows (drama, soaps, comedy, panel games, news, current affairs, etc.) and I was listening to a panel game show called "Just A Minute" where contestants have to speak for a minute on a subject without deviating from the subject, hesitating (pausing), or repeating any words except those in the subject. The show has run for over 50 years with the same presenter (Nicholas Parsons) who, in 50 years has never missed an episode. There have also been three attempts to run it on television, one running for several seasons, and he presented every single episode on television too. Today, for the first time in over fifty years, he missed an episode, one of the regular panelists stood in for him.

I am thinking that with 50+ years unbroken record, the producers would have rather skipped a recording or two instead of breaking that record, so I would guess Nicholas Parsons is considering retiring, which would pretty much be the end of an era, but he is 94 years old, so I guess he is overdue for a rest.

[kristina]

Not so much "watching TV" as "listening to the radio". We still have a couple of radio stations that feature "proper" radio shows (drama, soaps, comedy, panel games, news, current affairs, etc.) and I was listening to a panel game show called "Just A Minute" where contestants have to speak for a minute on a subject without deviating from the subject, hesitating (pausing), or repeating any words except those in the subject. The show has run for over 50 years with the same presenter (Nicholas Parsons) who, in 50 years has never missed an episode. There have also been three attempts to run it on television, one running for several seasons, and he presented every single episode on television too. Today, for the first time in over fifty years, he missed an episode, one of the regular panelists stood in for him.

I am thinking that with 50+ years unbroken record, the producers would have rather skipped a recording or two instead of breaking that record, so I would guess Nicholas Parsons is considering retiring, which would pretty much be the end of an era, but he is 94 years old, so I guess he is overdue for a rest.

Hello Paul,
thanks for the information about Nicholas Parsons. I have admired his wonderful acting skills for many years, especially in some of his films i.e. "Brothers in Law" together with some other favourites like Terry Thomas, Ian Carmichael and Richard Attenborough. .. and another favourite film comes to mind like "Too many Crooks", again with Terry Thomas and, not to forget one of the ultimate favourite films: "Carry On Regardless"...
... Did you know that at one time he held the Guinness World Record for the longest after-dinner speech (11 hours for charity) ...?
Thanks again for reminding me ... and ...  now ... have to look for those videos ....

[Paul]

After "Just A Minute" and "Sale Of The Century", the thing I most remember him for is Dr Who.

As to the films you mention: I used to love it when films of that era (both British and American) were shown on TV weekend afternoons. I miss the old stuff, but am too mean to pay £15.99 for the DVDs.

[kristina]

As to the films you mention: I used to love it when films of that era (both British and American) were shown on TV weekend afternoons. I miss the old stuff, but am too mean to pay £15.99 for the DVDs.

Hello Paul, I agree: £15.99 is a bit expensive for one DVD. But sometimes they are on offer and hopefully there is some luck coming along. Fingers crossed !
Many years ago I have taken some Videos of favourite films and all was well until the day when we needed a new Video-DVD-recorder and unfortunately this new Video-DVD-recorder does not "accept" the Videos I have recorded ages ago, it only "accepts" the bought Video-films.
So, with my old "self-made" Videos, it shows absolutely nothing on the screen, whereas with the bought Video-films it actually shows the film. I have been wondering whether that is a common problem with self-recorded Videos and what could be done about it?
Many thanks from Kristina.

[Paul]

My solution to the video problem was that when the popularity of videos died and you could pick up video recorders for £5 to £10 at boot fairs, I bought several to stock up, so that when one broke down I could throw it away and unpack the next one. Video recorders will play any type of tape, so no problem there. And it seems like a sound investment, because I have noticed that the price of second hand video recorders is shooting up, presumably because although demand is very low, supply has got even lower.

As to your problem that the DVD/video machine only plays pre-recorded videos, are your home recorded ones on a slow speed (e.g. six hours on a three hour tape)? Because that is the only way I can see that happening. A pre-recorded video tape has an identical signal to a home recorded one. There is no reason one should work and not the other. It is like saying "I have a car that works perfectly when blonde people drive it, but it refuses to start if redheads get behind the wheel."

[cassandra]

Just started watching 'Cloack and dagger' on Amazon Prime. After 4 episodes I still don't get it, but it's well made, and Now I need to know how it ends. But Hubby starts early tomorrow and than there's the World Cup too..............

[Paul]

Just started watching 'Cloack and dagger' on Amazon Prime. After 4 episodes I still don't get it, but it's well made, and Now I need to know how it ends.

I'm up to episode 3 of Cloak and Dagger, it is really, really, slow. Usually my complaint about modern movies is "too much action, not enough plot", but this show has no plot whatsoever. Three episodes in, and we are up to where they should have been ten to fifteen minutes into episode one. I'm guessing they are basing it on a short run comic series (six or eight issues) and trying to spread that over five seasons of twenty two episodes.

and than there's the World Cup too..............

Did you see today's match? (If not don't read on, spoiler alert.) I know England were playing at their best, but Panama stil have to be really, really bad to loose to us by six to one. And they played dirty, so to loose six to one while cheating - really really really bad players!

[MooseMom]

I'm watching the World Cup!  The England v Panama match started a bit too early for me, but I dragged myself out of bed to check the score in the second half.  When I saw it was already 5-0, I went back to bed.  I've seen the highlights, and yes, Panama did make a meal out of it.

It's too bad because all of the teams that have already been eliminated have been non-European.  That's kind of a shame, really.

I've been watching more football than regular TV!  Football all day long, and then the Match of the Day type programs in the evening.  Sporting heaven!

[cattlekid]

I am curious to see what will come of what happened during Serbia/Switzerland on Friday.  Apparently after two of the Swiss players tackled the Serbian player near the end of the game, they made hand gestures that approximated the eagle symbol on the Albanian flag.  Serbia is up in arms as the World Cup is supposed to be politically neutral AND they got fined 8500 euros for spectators waving a WWII flag during the match vs Costa Rica.

[MooseMom]

I saw that match.  Both goalscorers (Shaqiri and Xhaka) made the gesture when they scored, not during a tackle.  Shaqiri's goal was in the 90th minute!   I've seen both of those players play in the English Premier League, but I've never seen them use that gesture until the match against Serbia.  They may be banned for the final match of the group stage against Costa Rica if FIFA finds they've used "provocative" gestures.

On the other side, the entire Serbian FA is under investigation for their fans' behavior AND because of comments made by their manager, ie, that because the ref didn't award a penalty (and the ref should have, to be fair), he should be put on trial in The Hague for war crimes!

The World Cup IS supposed to be politically neutral (but it rarely is)!  That's why all of these people are under investigation! 

[kristina]

I am curious to see what will come of what happened during Serbia/Switzerland on Friday.  Apparently after two of the Swiss players tackled the Serbian player near the end of the game, they made hand gestures that approximated the eagle symbol on the Albanian flag.  Serbia is up in arms as the World Cup is supposed to be politically neutral AND they got fined 8500 euros for spectators waving a WWII flag during the match vs Costa Rica.

Hello cattlekid and MooseMom,
... in the "old days" I also watched football and especially the World Cup and I thought it very entertaining. But these days I am not too sure any more, because all professional players are multimillionaires many times over and because of that, they don't appear to really bother that much about playing good entertaining football any more. I haven't really been able to detect the "old" passion for football any longer ... and it seems, that the multi millions in players salaries have slowly taken away the real passionate love for football and the urgent "need to win this game"  ... what do you think?

P.S. I do hope my comment does not come over as negative, but this are my honest feelings about the development of football these days and I do hope it is not as bad as I think it might be ...

[MooseMom]

Kristina, as someone who has loved all kinds of sports for decades, I certainly see your point.  I have grown weary of the multi-millionaire players and owners and how it is rare to find passion for the game where money is spent and earned so freely.

That said, this is exactly why I love the World Cup.  You have the huge stars who earn boatloads of cash with their club teams, yet here they are, representing their countries who are struggling on the world stage.  The World Cup showcases players we've never seen before playing for nations outside of the big European powerhouses.  There is a universal appeal for rooting for the underdog.  While I lived in England, there was of course loads of support for the England national team, but there was ALWAYS a great swell of support for a "Cinderella" team, usually from one of the African nations.

You get a superstar like Messi who has been a pillar for his club, Barcelona, but in the World Cup, he can't even hit a penalty kick.  Each year he has the opportunity to get Barcelona to the Champions' League, but he gets the chance to win the World Cup with Argentina only every four years.  He's never won it, and he probably never will.

While in many ways, it IS all about the money, it is still possible to find intriguing and bittersweet and heroic and controversial and just play inspiring story lines.  Despite the money, these are human beings playing the game, and those human beings all come with fascinating stories of their own.

[kristina]

Many thanks MooseMom for your thorough thoughts, I am so glad to read your opinion, which is so different from mine and it is quite true what you say!
It is most interesting to read your mentioning that all these football-stars are practically in the same boat, when they play for the World Cup and I like your way to watch the World Cup and see the human side of it and the great support for the "Cinderella" team... and I wish you great enjoyment and may your favourite team win ...
Thanks again and all the best wishes from Kristina...

[cassandra]

Seriously Kristina, what MM sais is so through! I discovered Columbia beating Poland the other day. They might not go much further in the Cup, but they made my evening. Thursday (I think) they'll play Senegal. Give it a go 

[cassandra]

And Germany is OUT!!!


  For the first time in 80 years. 2-0 for South Korea 


      

[MooseMom]

Two goals scored by S. Korea IN EXTRA TIME!

And THIS is why we watch!

Wow!

[cassandra]

               and Uruguay beats Portugal!!!!! 

[MooseMom]

And Russia beats Spain on penalties!!  OMG!

THIS is why we watch!!

And Denmark has just scored in only the second minute!  WOW!

I am really disappointed, tbough, that there are no African teams left.   

[cassandra]

O poor Japan, they played so well, till the end!! But lost from Belgium in the last minute.

[MooseMom]

As soon as Belgium's first goal went in, I suspected the outcome would not be kind to Japan.  To lose in stoppage time after being ahead by two goals is just soul-destroying.  I'm gutted.

[cassandra]

           Omg England won on penalties!!! From Colombia!

[MooseMom]

I had seen all of those disastrous missed penalties over the years, so my heart was in my throat (and one of those missed by Gareth Southgate!).  What a relief that history has not repeated itself!

[cassandra]

I had seen all of those disastrous missed penalties over the years, so my heart was in my throat (and one of those missed by Gareth Southgate!).  What a relief that history has not repeated itself!

Southgate (coach England) said before the championship started that that was the reason he would make sure that penalties would be the most focussed on in practise. Obviously paid of.


Tonight was France vs Belgium. Beautiful match, won by France.

[MooseMom]

And I should hope so, too!  Still, I don't want to see a penalty shootout tomorrow vs Croatia.

That WAS a good match today (or tonight, if you're in the UK).  Not much light between France and Belgium.  I suspected that the winner of that match will win the final, but gosh, you just never know.  That's why they play the game, right?

I'm also watching Wimbledon and am excited that Serena Williams has made the semifinals.  She has really been through the wars, and it has been nice to see her on court again.  Now, if only Andy Murray can recover in time for the US Open, I'll be happy.  I hear he's been joining Tim Henman in the BBC commentary booth.  That's hard for me to imagine.