Tag Archives: Doctor Who

Next Weeks TV Picks

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Monday 10th
Ah Mediums, in my humble opinion, people who profit from loss and sadness and should be banned. With this mindset I’m sure I shall enjoy Derren Brown Investigates: The Man Who Can Contacts the Dead on Channel 4 at 22:00. The first in a series in which self confessed non-magical magician Brown delves into the world of the supernatural and into the lives of the people who claim they can contact those who dwell within it. Expect annoyed mystics and pissed of psychics….will make me laugh anyway!

Tuesday 11th
As a child of the 80’s (‘83 represent) I have fond memories of our first Microwave Oven and the Soda Stream, these memories will be bought back to life at 21:00 on Channel 4 in Heston’ 80’s Feast. From the Yuppies choice of nouvelle cuisine to the kid’s favourite of the brain freezing Slush Puppy, Heston will once again be serving up an ever so slightly insane meal to his awaiting diners.

Wednesday 12th
Those who know will me would probably tell you that I’m bit of a geek, I am a big fan of Sci-Fi, even when its parodied, which is why Galaxy Quest is my selection for today. 21:45 on Sky Movies Family, Quest follows the mishaps, the degradation and eventual worship of the crew of a now defunct 70’s science fiction show in which a brave team of explorers trek through the stars and whose Captain has many amorous encounters with alien women (I’m sure you can guess who the film are ribbing on!). After meeting a band of actual aliens in need of help, the Captain (played superbly by Tim Allen) decides to take on their monstrous enemy in an attempt to heal old wounds with his now aging 70’s co-stars and give his life some validation. A very funny film for everyone, even if you don’t notice the nods and winks to that other show.

Thursday 13th
I am bit of a city dweller, I’ve spent most of life in London, and when not, I’ve been just a short train ride away. My knowledge of British wildlife is pretty much straggly foxes going through my bins and fat pigeons walking around like little lost commuters. This is why I’m planning on hearing the fantastic Mr Bill Oddie teach me about all things flora and fauna in Bill Oddies Top Ten Aliens at 20:00 on BBC2. However, this is not your usual ‘lets-look-at-badgers-in-the-night-time’ wildlife show; Oddie will be telling us about the plants and animals most of us believe are truly British and lets us know where they actually came from. Education and fun…..they can mix!

Friday 14th
Sam Raimi, creator of the cult classic Evil Dead series returns to his horror roots with Drag Me to Hell playing at 20:00 on Sky Movies Premier (and again an hour later on Sky Movies Premier +1). After the shiny Hollywood made Spider-Man films, we get a taste of Raimi’s first love. Jumpy, gross and scary, Drag Me to Hell is the story of Loan Officer Christine (Alison Lohman) who, after humiliating a gypsy in public, has a foul curse placed upon her. In one week she must change her beliefs, go up against a tormenting demon and lift the curse before, as the title states, she is dragged to hell. If I were the type of guy who would award stars, Drag Me to Hell would get 4…actually, that stars thing wouldn’t be a bad idea, I could make like I was a proper critic!

Saturday 15th
I think I might be told off by some folk if I don’t say ITV1, 13:10, Chelsea are playing football against Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final to see who wins a big shiny jug with ribbons on it or something…..so there’s that. But let’s have a look at what else is on shall we. BBC1 at 18:25 We find Doctor Who battling a man who calls himself the Dream Lord (a possible nod to next seasons Neil Gaimen written episode perhaps, for those in the comic book know) or Guitar Heroes at the BBC on BBC2 at 23:15 a show promising to bring us shredding and riffing and god like posturing galore from the 60’s onwards. But I’m suggesting what follows Guitar Heroes. The 80’s bought us so many fantastic film’s, there are few that define the 80’s and one that does it so much more than all the others. At 12:15 BBC2 brings us the brilliance of The Breakfast Club, its cheesy, it’s over the top, it’s on after everyone’s bedtime, but it is also stupendous. Watch as five teenagers; a brain, an athlete, a basketcase, a princess and a criminal, fill the time during detention by sharing their problems, their fears, their loves and all other aspects of their lives in this John Hughes classic. If you’re a true fan of cinema, you won’t be disappointed. Oh…..and 5 stars!

Sunday 16th
I’ve spoken before about my relatively newly acquired love for westerns, and today at 21:00 I’m reminded of that thanks to Channel Five. 3:10 To Yuma tells the tale of a Rancher named Dan Evans who agrees to escort the outlaw Ben Wade to a train that will send Wade off to the hangman in Yuma for a $200 reward. With Wades gang constantly on their tail, Evans’ job soon becomes less about the reward and more about winning the love of his sons. With outstanding performances by both Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, 3:10 to Yuma is not one to be missed….erm…a handful of stars for this one.

Next Weeks TV Picks: 26th Apr

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Monday 26 April 11:10pm Channel 4
Hello and good evening and welcome you lil’ ruffians, I feel as though a drastic change in my writin’ style is required to tell you about my marvellous decision of viewing on the tellybox on the 26thday of the month of April right, ten minutes passed the eleventh hour of the evening is a show entitled ‘Skinned’ where the cheeky northern monkey Frank Skinner has a lovely chin waggle with the beautifully faced Russell Brand. Things they talk about is Brands SachsGate debacle, his early career, his problems with his arm candy and showin’ him on stage andbehind it. (Note: as this is read, please flail arms about and switch speech patterns and accents between East London market trader and upper class Mayfair snob)

Tuesday 27 April 10:00pm More4
After Monday’s frivolities with Mr Brand, Tuesday’s selections are an altogether more sober and grown up affair. 22:00 on More4, True Stories: Vote Afghanistan. A documentary showing the read about but not often seen Afghan Presidential Elections of 2009, following the Campaign Trails of the challengers to President Karzai, and hearing from the people whose lives were put at risk for wanting a new Leader.

Wednesday 28 April 6:50pm Film4
Dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna dunna BATMAN…That’s right kids, Bat-time 18:50 Bat-channel Film4, see the original televised Batman Adam West (‘Family Guy’s’ Mayor of Quahog for our younger readers) in a feature length episode of the much loved, more parodied 1960’s show, expect more POW’S and KAZAAMS than you can chuck a Battarang at. And for those not feeling nostalgic, people kick a football about on ITV at 19:30.

Thursday 29th April 9.45pm Sky Movies Showcase
Last weeks ‘Picks’ told of Charlie Brookers ‘You Have Been Watching’ (ch4 22:00) and Psychoville (Dave 22:20) andI struggled to findsomething worth watching other than these again this week, but fortunately at 21:45 Sky Movies Showcase is showing Watchmen (18), the story of an outlawed Masked Adventurer group having to get back into their costumes and resume their world saving roles once again. Taken from the award winning comic book, Watchmen not only has the obligatory superhero action but also delves into the psyche of those who would want to dress in tights an fight crime (just watch out for the awful love-making scene to the tune of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’).

Friday 30 April 10:35pm Channel 4
It is very difficult not say Army Of Darkness (TCM 21:00), Sam Raimi’s brilliant sequel to the equally brilliant Evil Dead films, but I know that Bruce Campbell as store clerk Ash running aroundthe 1300’s with a chainsaw for an arm an a sawn-off shotgun killing the undead is not everyone’s cup of tea, so instead I shall recommend tuning into channel 4 at 22:35 for The Ricky Gervais Show, an animated version of his podcasts featuring Stephan Merchant and Karl Pilkington, expect much hilarity to ensue. Straight after on the same channel is Heroes of Comedy detailing Ricky Gervias’ rise to fame. So basically….a night in with Ricky.

Saturday 01 May 6:25pm BBC1
Dave, the whole day, QI.
Who can resist spending a whole day awash with knowledge delivered via the dulcet tones of Mr Stephan Fry, until of course 18:25 when its over to BBC 1 for the second part of last weeks Doctor Who, will he be able to escape an army of The Weeping Angels? My guess is yes, I mean…he’s the Doctor.

Sunday 02 May 10:20pm Five
I think its safe to say that most of us have had it up to the jugular with Vampires, they are taking up too much screen time in their films and TV shows, I feel its time we gave some other monsters a chance, and that’s exactly what FIVE are doing at 22:20. The Highlands of Scotland are the setting for the movie Dog Soldiers, a gory comedic tale of a small squad of British army men on a training mission coming face to face with a pack of werewolves and are forced to fight when the full moon rises.

Next Week's TV Choices

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Seven days of mental cooks, singing and dancing high schoolers and thousands of runners awaits as I take a look at what is worth tuning in for next week.

Monday 19th – One of my favourite shows…of course this is mainly due to the competitions they have every week, The Gadget Show (ch5 20.00) will be keeping us all up to date in the world of tech and presenter Jon Bentley will be seeing what all the fuss is about with the new Apple iPad.

Tuesday 20th – you know that old Homerism ‘a hundred channels and theres nothing on’ never a truer word was spoken about Tuesday’s TV, unless your able to fill your day with music channels (Scuzz, my personal favourite) tune into Channel 4 at 21:00 for Heston’s Titanic Feast, a cookery show that doesn’t try to teach us anything or tell what we should be eating. This week, nutjob Blumenthal will be serving up Antarctic Roll, Camel Burger and a flambéed Iceberg.

Wednesday 21st – Three words…Planes, Trains and Automobiles, if you haven’t seen this I pity you, 20:00 on SkyMovies Comedy this film follows two men trying to get home for Thanksgiving an stars the greatly missed John Candy and Steve Martin when he was still funny.

Thursday 22nd – Now when writing this I planned on giving all you lovely readers one programme per day that you should see, Thursday threw up a conundrum, ‘You Have Been Watching’, channel 4 22:00, presented by the outstandingly cynical Charlie Brooker with a panel including Robert Webb, Jason Manford and Sharon Horgan review the highs and lows of the tellybox whereas over on channel Dave at 22.20 we find episode 6 of the excellent Psychoville….but I suppose theres always Dave ja vu!

Friday 23rd – 20:00…channel 4…GLEE….that’s all you need to know about Friday.

Saturday 24th – To all those who are fans of the Doctor (which I include myself one of) the answer as to whether Matt Smith is as good or better than David Tennant as Doctor Who is still unanswered, although at 18:20 on BBC1 we may find out as the Doctor once again meets the too-scary-for-a-kids-show Weeping Angels, and if your not as much of a geek as me then head over to SkyMovies Showcase at 20:00 for Jack Nicolson’s brilliant performance (and the sinister Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched) in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.

Sunday 25th – Ahh The London Marathon, an epic event pushing people to the limits of fitness, reaching their goals and achieving their dreams, London will be awash with runners, cameras, spectators and discarded water bottles and thanks to BBC1 from 10:00 onwards we can have the best seats in the house, presented by the delightful Sue Barker it gives another chance to play Marathon bingo, man dressed as Nun (tick), three people running as a boat (tick) a Rhino(…)

By Stefan Gerrish.