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VanderGraafKommandöh 
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372
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 Posted: February 07 2008 at 01:00 |
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I think poor old Clement Freud is losing his touch though, alas. Paul Merton is mercurial and brilliant as ever and some of the new people coming through are also very good (plus one mustn't forget Julian Clary) and strangely even Lisa Tarbuck isn't bad (I never thought I'd ever say that about her!).
That Scottish lass (Janie is it?) is great though, because she alway makes silly comments that just make me giggle.
Paul Merton is my favourite though and always will be.
Edited by Geck0 - February 07 2008 at 01:00
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Jim Garten
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin & Razor Guru
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
Status: Offline
Points: 14693
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 03:30 |
 Blacksword wrote:
The Mighty Boosh is pretty cool  |
muttermuttermutterAbsolutemuttermuttermuttergarbageladendrivelmuttermuttermutterofmutterthemuttermutterlowestmutterordermuttermuttermutter
hmph!
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Jared
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Hereford, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 19766
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 04:17 |
Jim Garten wrote:
AND ANOTHER THING -
"Panorama"
In olden days, this used to be cutting edge current affairs programming with (9 times out of 10) a Dimbleby fronting the show (FROM A STUDIO, NOT SOME  CRAPPY OUTSIDE BROADCAST OR BLUE SCREEN WITH BBC/BLAKES SEVEN QUALITY CGI GRAPHICS IN BOLD PRIMARY COLOURS TO KEEP THE WOBBLING CLASSES INTERESTED IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEIR OBLIGATORY McWITS CHICKEN ENTRAIL IN A BAP) dispensing information in a clear and concise manner being both truly informative and interesting, thereby maintaining the BBC's remit for public information broadcasting. Nowadays, it's been reduced from an hour to 30 minutes (BECAUSE THE AFOREMENTIONED WOBBLING CLASSES HAVE GOT THE ATTENTION SPAN OF A BRAIN DAMAGED GNAT), with "cutting edge" camera effects & snap cuts to talking heads who JUST IN CASE THE WOBBLING MASSES CAN'T TELL, ARE WEARING WHITE COATS & SITTING IN FRONT OF A TEST TUBE TO PROVE THEY'RE SCIENTISTS as a result of which by the end of the half hour they now devote to their subject matter, you know absolutely nothing other than the fact you WANT TO KILL THE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, AND ESPECIALLY THE SMUGLY GRINNING (unless it's a serious subject in which case he'll be wearing his  serious face) IDIOT THEY NOW HAVE FRONTING THE BLOODY SHOW! |
oh bugger...not only have you stolen my next rant....you've don't it far better than I would have...I don't know whether to applaud or cry... 
right...I want to get on the backs of the BBC over the general issue of news coverage... Radio 4 Today programme, it appears to me has also been dummed down....they now only give 2/3 minutes per topic before moving on to the next one.....  ...this means that John Humphreys is not given the time to nail our  incompetent politician's to the floorboards in the manner which Brian Redhead was able during the 10 minute interviews... R4 listeners by and large are intelligent people, who like to hear the flow of an important debate, AND KNOW WHEN THE POLITICIAN IS NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION....many of us are screaming at the Radio for the interviewer to bring them back on track, but they now don't have the time to do so....
...there was a time when politicians knew they would have to do their research before going before a 'Today' microphone, but now they just think they can get away with not directly answering four questions, and they are off the hook... this is compounded by the reduction in 1 on 1 interviewing. These days, in order to get a more 'rounded' view of an issue, the interviewer has to spend his precious 3 minutes talking to 3 people simultaneously, who inevitably end up in a mud fight half way through, with Humphreys being reduced to referee...why? because the BBC think the airwaves need to be filled with more than two voices to keep our attention....
and to answer Chris's initial question...where do you go to hear quality, in-depth news coverage of world affairs???
try the BBC World Service on R4 at 4am...it's marvellous.... 
my goodness, I feel cleansed.... 
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Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jim Garten
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin & Razor Guru
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
Status: Offline
Points: 14693
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 07:21 |
Absolutely Jared - the problem we now have with politicians is they are trained to avoid questions; you can tell every time one is being interviewed, the responses given all generally revolve around the phrases:
"What you have to understand is..."
"Well, of course, this is not the real issue..."
"It's all a matter of perception..."
"I didn't know he/she/it was underage..."
"Well, melons are cheap and where's the harm in using licorice...?"
Fandango wrote:
Radio 4 Today programme, it appears to me has also been dummed down |
Dumbed, surely... 
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Jared
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Hereford, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 19766
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 07:36 |
Jim Garten wrote:
Fandango wrote:
Radio 4 Today programme, it appears to me has also been dummed down |
Dumbed, surely... |
oh, wazzocks...  ...I'm feeling rather dumm, now...
yes, my main problem with the BBC is that they think we have the concentration spam of a lobotomised gnat...
recently, I watched all 13 episodes of Ken Clarke's 'Civilisation', which was originally aired in 1969 on Beeb 2... 50 mins, 1 man in front of a camera, with a collection of artistic exhibits, from buildings to paintings and sculptures...
while I didn't agree with everything, it was fascinating...certainly held my attention, but the beeb wouldn't dare put anything like that on now, because there's just not enough 'happening'... 
Beeb 2 also used to have some serious one-on-one interviews with politicians or others in authority which could last for up to an hour....they have long gone....  ...I just feel we are constantly being spoonfed soundbites these days.
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Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Dean
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout
Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 07:50 |
fandango wrote:
yes, my main problem with the BBC is that they think we have the concentration spam of a lobotomised gnat...
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now concentrate : 
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What?
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 07:52 |
Jim Garten wrote:
Absolutely Jared - the problem we now have with politicians is they are trained to avoid questions; you can tell every time one is being interviewed, the responses given all generally revolve around the phrases:
"What you have to understand is..."
"Well, of course, this is not the real issue..."
"It's all a matter of perception..."
"I didn't know he/she/it was underage..."
"Well, melons are cheap and where's the harm in using licorice...?"
Fandango wrote:
Radio 4 Today programme, it appears to me has also been dummed down |
Dumbed, surely... |
One of their favourote diversionary tactics is, when asked a question, to respond with something like..
"Well, it's not for me to say, at this juncture, but what I CAN tell you, is that.... Insert bullsh!t here"
I think there is a technical term, in psychology for this approach to answering questions (cant remember what it's called), wherby on the one hand you avoid answering the specific question, but proceeed to offer up something else as both compensation for not answering, and in an attempt to change the course of the questioning.
You'll no doubt recall Paxman asking the same question about 15 times to Michael Howard, and Howard not budging at all.
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Jared
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Hereford, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 19766
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 08:49 |
most famous interviewer's quotation in living memory??
Brian Redhead to Nigel Lawson....
"Do you think we should have a one minute silence now in this interview, one for you to apologise for daring to suggest that you know how I vote and secondly perhaps in memory of monetarism, which you have now discarded."
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Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Hereford, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 19766
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 08:51 |
darqDean wrote:
fandango wrote:
yes, my main problem with the BBC is that they think we have the concentration spam of a lobotomised gnat...
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now concentrate : |
me and my typos...
you'd think that I'd proof read my texts before posting, but sadly my concentration span is too short.... 
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Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Padraic
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 16 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Status: Offline
Points: 31169
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 09:55 |
fandango wrote:
most famous interviewer's quotation in living memory??
Brian Redhead to Nigel Lawson....
"Do you think we should have a one minute silence now in this interview, one for you to apologise for daring to suggest that you know how I vote and secondly perhaps in memory of monetarism, which you have now discarded."
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Oh man I would give anything for someone to speak to one of our politicians like that...
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Padraic
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 16 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Status: Offline
Points: 31169
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 09:58 |
fandango wrote:
try the BBC World Service on R4 at 4am...it's marvellous....
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We get that service here on our NPR (National Public Radio) stations and it is great. It's where I turn for more global news because the BBC, unlike any mainstream media in this country, realizes that there are actually people - billions of people - who just so happen to live outside the confines of the United States.
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Jared
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 06 2005
Location: Hereford, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 19766
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 10:31 |
NaturalScience wrote:
fandango wrote:
most famous interviewer's quotation in living memory??
Brian Redhead to Nigel Lawson....
"Do you think we should have a one minute silence now in this interview, one for you to apologise for daring to suggest that you know how I vote and secondly perhaps in memory of monetarism, which you have now discarded."
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Oh man I would give anything for someone to speak to one of our politicians like that...
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Brian Redhead was a national treasure and institution....he died too young... 
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Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Neil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 04 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1497
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Posted: February 07 2008 at 12:41 |
Blacksword wrote:
One of their favourote diversionary tactics is, when asked a question, to respond with something like..
"Well, it's not for me to say, at this juncture, but what I CAN tell you, is that....Insert bullsh!t here"
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Yes, but George Bush's problem was that he read that out verbatim
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When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory.
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Jim Garten
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin & Razor Guru
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
Status: Offline
Points: 14693
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Posted: February 08 2008 at 03:47 |
Blacksword wrote:
I think there is a technical term, in psychology for this approach to answering questions (cant remember what it's called), whereby on the one hand you avoid answering the specific question, but proceeed to offer up something else as both compensation for not answering, and in an attempt to change the course of the questioning. |
I think it's technically known as Blair Syndrome.
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130
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Posted: February 08 2008 at 08:02 |
Jim Garten wrote:
Blacksword wrote:
I think there is a technical term, in psychology for this approach to answering questions (cant remember what it's called), whereby on the one hand you avoid answering the specific question, but proceeed to offer up something else as both compensation for not answering, and in an attempt to change the course of the questioning. |
I think it's technically known as Blair Syndrome. |
It's a syndrome I've been accused of having, whilst answering questions at the end of presentations at work. That's come about through watching too much TV during the Blair years. 
I'm not prepared to say more on that, but what I CAN tell you, is that I would not be the man I am if I didn't believe with absolute certainty and sincerity from the bottom of my pure Chruistian heart, that this means of communicating bogsh!te, is the most effective for convincing people you know about everything, without actually saying anything constructive at all.. 
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Neil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 04 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1497
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Posted: February 08 2008 at 11:33 |
Dear Mr Blacksword,
I'm pleased to inform you that you have passed the interview for Labour Party press officer and can take up your post immediately. Try not to kick the boring, fat, scotch git hiding behind the door as you enter.
Regards,
P. Mandeldaughter.
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When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory.
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Jim Garten
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin & Razor Guru
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
Status: Offline
Points: 14693
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Posted: February 08 2008 at 11:39 |
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+++Later+++
Dear Mr Blacksword,
Unfortunately due to the Labour Party's membership secretary's laptop being left on the bus at Cricklewood, your personal details, bank account details, and breakdown of the £15,000 secretly donated to ***name deleted in order not to incriminate fat balding Scotsmen*** leadership campaign have been somewhat mislaid.
Given the above, therefore, it is not possible at this time to proceed with your membership application.
Yours sincerely,
General Sir Marmaduke Pokethrottle (Mrs)
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130
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Posted: February 08 2008 at 13:05 |
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Dear General Sir Marmaduke Pokethrottle (Mrs)
Cc: P.Mandeldaughter
Thankyou for your letter, regarding the 'alleged' donation to the 'portly' Scottish gentlemen, to which you refer, but I feel I should just clarify a few points.
There was indeed a donation made, but it was made THROUGH the Scottish gentlemen, NOT as a donation to his leadership campaign, but to the national 'Dogging society' of which myself and a number of fellow constituents are members. As far as I'm aware 'dogging' is not a serious crime as such, and while some may argue it's not the sort of behaviour a press officer for the Labour Party should indulge in, I have to confess that I believed it to be a 'pre-requisite'to accepting the role.
If it's any help, I'm close friends with Rupert Murdoch, and have a track record of fraud, bribery, corruption and sexual deviance.
With this in mind, I sincerely hope you'll reconsider my application.
With very sincere furrowed brow and hand gestures:
Andreas Blacksword
PS, The cheque is in the post.
Edited by Blacksword - February 08 2008 at 13:08
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the_id
Forum Groupie
Joined: December 11 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 47
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Posted: February 08 2008 at 19:45 |
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Firstly Scotch is old hat, to describe the Scots, secondly, there are more dodgy goings on down south, thirdly, how good would it be if the houses of parliament was built on a flood plain. Last but not least, does anyone like that spewbag David (up his own @ss) Cameron? and why?????
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Neil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 04 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1497
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Posted: February 09 2008 at 03:15 |
the_id wrote:
Firstly Scotch is old hat, to describe the Scots |
Say's who?
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When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory.
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