well, both really, although Mesure is a bit totty like

I was rather bemused that Mesure was apparently asked to put on a bit of weight and lose the gym-tone he'd laboriously put on for V, Heh...

So a TV remake of Sleeping Dogs?

I've got it! Sleeping Reservoir Dogs!

Ben W:

But it's entertaining to try to adapt models of how it happened elsewhere to how it could happen here.

Seriously though, here are just a few models to follow. Funnily enough, they're all from the 1980s...…

Dystopias: what do you think of "Erewhon"?

I find…

Dude is all over town in his undies.

Takes me back to Logan's Run. At the same time I'm of the mind of "Zero tolerance so we implant to control!" At the same time as "let's test it first on an unsuspecting community and if it works, the world is…

(Takapuna does have quite a few old cottages, Frank Sargeson's for one iirc)

Quite a few positions between us and full blown fascism.

I'd hoped that my comment implied that.

Yes, it is, if it's – for instance – a warning about where we might be headed if we were to adopt certain positions; "eternal vigilance" and all that.

Quite a few positions between us and full blown fascism. But it's entertaining to try to adapt models of how it…

Is it even the least bit plausible to depict fascism in NZ?

Yes, it is, if it's – for instance – a warning about where we might be headed if we were to adopt certain positions; "eternal vigilance" and all that.

I couldn't support the idea that it's only proper…

Is it even the least bit plausible to depict fascism in NZ? Doesn't mean it's not fun to depict.

Oh, enormous fun — girls, even if it's not that time of the month don't wear white to get beaten up by fascist Police goons — but it didn't actually make…

So a TV remake of Sleeping Dogs?

God no, because let's face it Smith's Dream was essentially bullshit back in the 70's and it's aged worse than my rapidly greying hair.

Or even, if anyone can grow a pair, V For Vendetta.

So a TV remake of Sleeping Dogs?

The doors use the kinetic energy of their own motion to charge themselves up for the next time they have to open.

but... but... but ain't that like a perpetual motion energy-loss-less device?

Then it hit me that there's no books, no newspapers or magazines, no paper files in the…

Lest I appear overly curmudgeonly, Outrageous Fortune & Go Girls are both eminently watchable, and there's no reason yet to think that TINML won't be too.

Indeed – Go Girls isn't my cup of tea, but it's well-executed entirely amiable fizzy pop. And there's nothing wrong with the idea that every…

Maybe it's fiction?

We're not allowed to be annoyed by fiction that doesn't make sense?

Of course. But your reasoning as to why it does not make sense requires some extrapolation not supplied by the show. You are then supplying your own reasoning in a way that annoys you.

I…

As others have pointed out, the blandness of the This Is Not My Life environment is explicitly intended to be creepy.

And what NZ TV needs next is something that'll make the establishment truly brown its pants. Like a Crash or The Wire with Kiwi accents. Or even, if anyone…

As others have pointed out, the blandness of the This Is Not My Life environment is explicitly intended to be creepy.

Yes. It took me a while, but – as mentioned above – that did eventually occur to me.

wouldn't electric opening doors be pretty much non-existant?

The doors use the kinetic energy of their own motion to charge themselves up for the next time they have to open.

But yes, what Ben said.

But if energy is so restricted that it effectively functions as money, wouldn't electric opening doors be pretty much non-existant?

On the contrary. Electricity company executives will have quietly suggested to all news media outlets that they might like to mention that opening doors by hand is 'anti-family'.

Yeah. But if energy is so restricted that it effectively functions as money, wouldn't electric opening doors be pretty much non-existant?

Ah yes but...
We were told by Bill Birch that our power would get cheaper when it was controlled by private enterprise, we were told we should use less…

Maybe it's fiction?

We're not allowed to be annoyed by fiction that doesn't make sense?

As for the tracking chip in his brain, how long until our hero thinks of a tin foil hat?

I was nonplussed by the hero wondering how they could track him – when he was carrying that whizzy little phone around all the time!!…

Transportation does use a lot more energy than lighting.

Yeah. But if energy is so restricted that it effectively functions as money, wouldn't electric opening doors be pretty much non-existant?

Maybe it's fiction?

Transportation does use a lot more energy than lighting.

Yeah. But if energy is so restricted that it effectively functions as money, wouldn't electric opening doors be pretty much non-existant?

It's a wee bit disappointing to see yet another show populated entirely by Ponsonby-type characters

Seemed a lot more like Takapuna to me. I didn't see anyone living in a tiny 100 year old cottage and thinking that was choice. Nor was anyone apparently gay or artistic.

I couldn't get…

And since there's something seriously wrong with this little town, don't you think that might well be the point?

The possibility did occur to me later. I guess I'm just unused to the portrayal of New Zealand as a land of shiny, happy people being a warning rather than an…

...weight and sea dept...
meanwhile in the Gulf of Mexico the
Loop Current has apparently stalled possibly…

Apparently, in the future we'll finally be rid of the working class, the non-upper middle class, fat people, bald people, old people, ugly people, disabled people, and ethnics who don't have the good taste to be exotically mixed enough to pass.

And since there's something seriously wrong with this little…

And wellness ain't really a word

In the future we'll have touch-screen phones, digital photo frames, and grey, modernist Wellness centres?? ;)

She looked like too well known an actor just to be given one line for the series, so I wondered if she might have more…

We don't really know what kind of person Alec (or whatever his name is) is yet, he could be working class after all? Maybe that's the whole premise – it's a re-education camp!

Apparently, in the future we'll finally be rid of the working class,

Maybe in the future that's what working class people are like.....
who knows?
But despite video sanitisation of the human race I predict people will still come in fat, bald, old, disabled, exotically mixed or not, and a…

TINML

Glad to see that, in the future, we'll have made huge advances in hubcap technology.

It's a wee bit disappointing to see yet another show populated entirely by Ponsonby-type characters. Apparently, in the future we'll finally be rid of the working class, the non-upper middle class, fat people, bald…

What the hell, there'll be an encore screening of TINML sooner or later

Good call – tonight, tv1, 9.25pm

Not only do TV3 replace Top Chef with bloody Grand Designs at the last minute

Jackie, I only just realised that this was not a programming blip but an actual *permanent change*. To which I say: fuckery fucksticks, that is *infuriating*. I mean, I know everyone here at PAS apart…

You must watch Knowing then. Fast forward to the last 2 minutes, the scenes of total world destruction are visually appealing. The story is ridiculous, don't bother with it.

I actually sat through all of 2012. It was shite, but at least stuff blowing up was pretty. Should have fastforwarded…

Grrrr!!! Want…

Apparently TINML rated very well. Although interesting to note they lost around a quarter of the audience in the second half...

It would only make sense if we knew what the raw numbers were ie how many bodies in the Peoplemeter panel. Could have been as low as 6 or…

(No, actually, it's because I cannot resist a good apocalypse, even if it's bizarrely tidy.)

You must watch Knowing then. Fast forward to the last 2 minutes, the scenes of total world destruction are visually appealing. The story is ridiculous, don't bother with it.

Misfits is hilarious.

..and the sequence when the tall prat asked the chav girl whether her loss of hair extended to all parts of her body!

I really like the first ep of TINML, especially the sly comments on recycling, carbon credits and community spirit. Beautifully designed too-minimalism has never…

Apparently TINML rated very well. Although interesting to note they lost around a quarter of the audience in the second half...

I wonder if an hour is about where most people's attention spans just give out where continuing dramas are concerned. They've been burning off V over on Two, and…

Apparently TINML rated very well. Although interesting to note they lost around a quarter of the audience in the second half...

I watched Survivors instead, on the grounds that I stand a shot of getting it in the US whereas I'd have to illegally aquire TINML to keep up with…

Although interesting to note they lost around a quarter of the audience in the second half...

that'd be the Twins doco on 3 maybe...

And although I am a sweet, mild mannered person, I have been known to shout at automated voices.

So yeah. It's a good'un.

I'm going to give TINML a couple more weeks to see if it picks up, but I wasn't impressed by last night.

Ditto, and did they base the entire design colour
palette on pastels from Charles Mesure's eyes?
I'm heading back to Alphaville...

Unless it was from JB, cause then you're anti-union :-)

Oh, bite me. Seriously – a few weeks ago I had a rather terse (but basically civil) exchange with a young woman outside the Queen Street store that I fully respected her freedom of assembly and protest but getting out…

Oh do tell where you got the DVDs Craig!

Whitcoulls clearance table — and, yes, I'm very sorry about the depressed retail environment but I do avoid paying full list wherever possible.

Oh do tell where you got the DVDs Craig!

Unless it was from JB, cause then you're anti-union :-)

Did you catch the episode where Craig Parker got to play Darken Rahl's comedic double? That was good.

LMAO. The accents throughout have been ... curious, but I've loved the way actors haven't really taken the whole thing too seriously ... Mr Parker being an excellent case-in-point. Actually ... the…

And the…

It was also incredibly derivative of The Prisoner, and that's fine by me cos I was a big fan of that show. Omaha is no Portmeirion though ;-)

Much as I love The Prisoner (and I just picked up the DVDs for twenty bucks), that show was itself "incredibly derivative"…

It was also incredibly…

For about thirty seconds there that was really fucking confusing.

Oy, and what have I learned from this — stay off the internet after a heavy night on the PVR. :)

I have a funny feeling Spartacus quite deliberately front-loaded the first couple of episodes with, as you say, a…

And just because I love community so much, heres one of the many great moments.

Abed as Don Draper totally melted my panties, and it must have been hella weird for Alison Brie given that she's Pete Campbell's wife as well...

Oh! And in other shows that I'm loving that…

Indeed — but if you're reading this Lucy your tits should be given Schedule 4 protection.

For about thirty seconds there that was really fucking confusing.

They had names? I really should have listened to the dialogue. Or should I?

Probably not.

Who knew that I live in the sterile heart of darkness?

Oh, Craig...Wait, actually, that's too easy.

Sure, the first couple of episodes are ludicrous, and the amount of blood and tit and cock is slightly over the top

Indeed — but if you're reading this Lucy your tits should be given Schedule 4 protection.

And I just had the weirdest suspension of disbelief fail watching __This…

That was Kahlan (the one who can't act). Cara's the sarcastic, ex-evil blonde (the type without which no genre show is really complete.)

They had names? I really should have listened to the dialogue. Or should I?

A chance to see Craig Parker without watching Shortland Street. Awesome.

If you'd like to see a lot more of Craig Parker (as in, his willy) get your aunt to send you Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Sure, the first couple of episodes are ludicrous, and the amount of blood and…

I couldn't help but to find her "blood rage" awfully arousing. The idea that she couldn't shag guys because she might have that happen seemed extremely pervy, in a good way.

That was Kahlan (the one who can't act). Cara's the sarcastic, ex-evil blonde (the type without which no genre…

I think I'll just follow the newsreaders' and reporters' Twitter feeds instead

Find I'm skimming their bulletins *more* because of that, myself. The tv3 crew are hilarious.

it is a pain in the arse when networks are determined to counter-schedule their only interesting shows against each other.

Like 8.30 tonight. Bastards

(Not that the show was, generally, but as you say; plenty of eye candy and plenty of humour, sometimes intentionally. And Cara. I liked Cara.)

I couldn't help but to find her "blood rage" awfully arousing. The idea that she couldn't shag guys because she might have that happen seemed…

Why are road accidents news?

I'll take the silence on this question to affirm my instinct that driving fatalities possess little, if any, newsworthy content.

Ok, ok, ok – so my wife an I were the only ones who like season 2 of Legend of the Seeker. At least they could have warned us they were giving…

+1

+2.

Eastbound and Down

+1. Kenny Fuckin' Powers: sometimes when you bring the thunder, you get lost in the storm.

I'm really looking forward to eventually seeing Louie. When my aunt gets her VCR organised.

Anyone else got anything similar to recommend?

How to make it in America – It's the Entourage of the East Coast. It just makes you want to be a cliquey hipster douchebag in NYC.

And of course Treme. Good enough to watch just for the soundtrack.

Anyone else got anything similar to recommend?

Eastbound and Down about a baseball player's attempts to return to glory after disgrace is hilarious, and I'm also enjoying Louie staring Louis CK (he played the cop in Parks and Rec) which is incredibly bleak and different every week, but funny.

I…

I need my Landry fix!

You'll be liking season 4 then.

I think Stephen Bowie entirely missed the point of that abortion plot line on Friday Night Lights ... And I'm pretty sure the out-atheist Ron Moore would love to know what "surreptitious" Christian dogma he was pushing in BSG

It's a blog ... feel free to let him know =)

And to the original post – yes to the criticism of the news – it's appalling on both channels, to the point where if I can I'm either going to start watching Prime at 5.30 (at least it's only 1/2 hour) or just leaving it to the internet.

ABC Australia…

I'm sick…

Anyone know if we're going to get Community and Parks and Recreation? I'm dying to see those.

I gave up on Friday Night Lights on NZ tv. They showed series 1 at 11pm or something, but I think they showed series 2 at... 1am or something?

It was on after a *fishing show*, which our MySky always caught the last few minutes of. FFS, indeed. I suppose…

I assume that's short for "preview" or whatever it's called ?

A digital video recorder — or, in our case, one of those set top Freeview boxes that replaced the VCR with no regret. (A hard drive that can record up to a hundred hours vs. a poxy three hour…

Also, I have just ordered my…

Fire up the PVR

I assume that's short for "preview" or whatever it's called ? I would if I actually had it and seeing as I don't that's precisely why I was complaining about the scheduling.

And the Classic TV History Blog has this, which y'all should read.

*sigh* That was depressing — and I think Stephen Bowie enitrely missed the point of that abortion plot line on Friday Night Lights which I found rather refreshing because it was about a human being not a straw…

shows that we’re really behind on: Friday Night Lights...

I've been meaning to watch that... I suppose I should?

It's one of the shows that Region 4 gets squelched on with DVD special features – and I imagine deleted scenes can be pretty good for a show like I understand…

Funnily enough, I find myself missing episodic sci-fi; there is something to be said for not having to catch every single episode to watch a show.

I thought this season of Doctor Who saw Moffat work in the 'arc' more subtly than RTD (not that I want to get into…

I've just taken up…

I downloaded all four series once Patrick Kane scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for…

Looks nice in the undies, though. Any chance of him getting out of them? Ahem.

If he ends up joining Grant Bowler on True Blood, I'd say it's a dead certainty. :)

This Is Not My Life looks like it could be a good show, but it annoys the hell…