Another gap :)

Hello again internetz

Been busy watching stuff on the tellybox and I’ve also been sucked back in to World of Warcraft so this poor blog has suffered. I apologise to my readers, both of you.

Also had to bugger about with my PC – not easy with one hand! Firstly, the unbranded RAM that came with my motherboard/CPU bundle failed – had to buy more (8gb ftw!) then my HDD started with the SMART errors – I did the sensible thing – disabled SMART monitoring. Finally got it all backed up on a eSATA device and installed a SSD.

Let me say this – SSD is the way forward. Windows 7 in 30 seconds from cold, about 15 or so is the BIOS detecting stuff. The only drawback is price – being a poor disabled cripple on benefits, there’s no way I could afford a decent sized one – I had to opt for a tiny one – big enough to hold Windows, Office, Kaspersky and my browser, Chrome – anything that gives the option to customise install goes on my D drive. I’d love to run WoW off a SSD, man that would fly!

All this results in my PC now having a Windows Experience Index of 7.4 – quite a jump from 5.9 prior to the SSD. I also added up my total storage – internal and external – 6TB. Blimey! That’s a hell of a lot of porn TV episodes and music

Speaking of TV, I seem to be enjoying the old favourites more than the new stuff. Bones, CSI (all), Criminal Minds, Fringe, House & Supernatural.

Fox’s Lone Star was binned after TWO episodes, so another of my favourites, Lie To Me, was bumped to fill it’s gaping hole. This makes me happy, as Lie To Me has been used as mid-season and hiatus filler for the last 2 seasons, hopefully the increased exposure will increase it’s popularity and hence it’s longevity.

On the UK scene, Sky broke with tradition and made something worth watching – Thorne, based on Mark Billingham’s books. So far his first 2 books have been adapted – 3 episodes each. as of August this year, there’s another 7 books to cover – I do hope Sky continues with them and does as good a job. The first 3 – Sleepyhead, also starred Natascha McElhone, of Californication fame. The director was Stephen Hopkins, who directed Californication (as well as 24 and other stuff) – coinkydink?

Also on the UK scene, the 9th series of BBC’s Spooks recently finished – I recorded them all and had a Spooks day – yes, I really am that sad. One refreshing trait of Spooks is their bloodthirsty treatment of leading characters – only 2 remain from the first series – the majority being killed off in one way or another – though a few have left the service.

One of the best things I’ve seen on TV has got to be Fry & Laurie Reunited on GOLD the other night. Granted I am a fan of them, and have fond memories of watching the series “A Bit of Fry & Laurie” in the 90’s, but it was well made, and the only fault was too many clips not enough banter. Also they didn’t include 2 of my my favourite sketches – Hugh singing Hey Jude in a high pitched helium like voice, and the shoe shop/brothels sketch. Apparently Hugh’s role in House has made him a household name in the US – Stephen less so – though he did/does have a recurring role on Bones, and starred in the fantastic film Wilde. I think, though, that Stephen’s fame is firmly rooted in Britain – I don’t think the kind of Americans that mass media is aimed at are intelligent enough to “get” his humour. I’m not saying all Americans are thick – not at all, but the main demographics are watching Idol and other reality shite every week – they are the thick ones

OK – enough rambling – my migraine is getting worse – ttfn.

FML

Lack of updates reflects the activity in my life right now.

Going through one of the troughs in a life of troughs and peaks, sitting on my arse watching TV. World Cup is a nice highlight – of course, not the England games. USA vs. Algeria was a good match – and Spain vs. Chile was good, if dirty.

Summer always presents a lull in good TV – all the decent US shows have ended, and the TV bosses expect everyone to be on holiday, so they just dump shit on. Worthy exceptions to this rule are Lie To Me and Leverage, both of which I feel are worthy of proper seasons, not the annoying mid season spot. Lie To Me viewers are treated especially bad – the show started with a short run, January to May 2009, then reappeared in September with a promised 2nd full season, then it was whipped off the air for 6 months. Still, you come to expect this sort of shit from Fox, just look at Family Guy’s treatment.

So I’ve spent the last few weeks watching what the various channels are offering online. 4OD has a nice collection of documentaries, Unreported World in particular. I don’t watch much TV on the actual TV – I can never remember what’s on and when. I do have a Virgin+ box with a HDD to record stuff, but always forget to use it, or indeed forget that I’ve set it. That can be quite a nice experience, finding I’ve recorded a whole series of something, and forgotten about it.

I’m currently watching The Professionals – from 1977. I remember watching these as a kid, but it’s great looking back now at the famous faces whilst they were young, the terrible over-acting, and the crappy not-so-special effects. I used to think it was brilliant, still do, but not for the same reasons, lol.

It’s all coming to an end

By which I mean TV shows.

Just watched the season Finale of CSI: Miami – another season, another cliff-hanger. To be honest, it’s lacking in originality. Last season on CSI:NY they had the drive-by on the bar which the entire team was inside of. I can’t recall exactly but I’m sure it’s happened more than once on Miami too. C’mon – we all read TV Rage/Futon Critic/TV Guide et al – by now we know if a show is returning or not, and it’s hardly likely to come back with just Eric and Horatio is it?

And this morning finds me mourning the passing of an old friend. Yes, 24 has finally finished after 8 glorious seasons (or days). I was surprised they didn’t kill Bauer off – I suppose Fox is thinking Films, just as they did with The X-Files.

You won’t find me mourning the ending of Lost though – ‘cos I don’t watch the piece of shit – but I believe that’s another show that’s ended it’s run (far outliving my expectations).

Last week saw the season finale of one of my favourite shows, Fringe, with a real treat in store for season three. I was also dismayed by news that 2 new medical shows which started this year will not be returning: Miami Medical (for
UK viewers think Casualty on crack!) and Trauma (Casualty on crack driving a helicopter). Trauma was good, well, kinda OK – watchable, but very samey. Miami Medical, however, will be missed. It’s got some great characters, fast paced and lots of shouting “Stat!”, just what every medical drama needs. I wish it could have stayed around but it’s viewing figures have been dropping lower and lower each week. I suppose they’re lining up another reality show or a sitcom about a cat to replace it. Or maybe a loop of a coin on the end of a chain spinning with the voice-over saying “Look” Shiny!!” Anything to keep the US audience watching.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. The end of the season means the start of mid-season shows Lie To Me and Leverage – both top quality shows which I’ve been looking forward too for a long time. Lie To Me is especially good, just because Tim Roth is in it – genius casting. Oh and USA network are having another season of White Collar – quite an interesting departure from the usual FBI drama.

So tonight both flavours of NCIS finish. Both the veteran and it’s sibling are scheduled to return (thanks CBS). Wednesday sees the season finales of both Criminal Minds and CSI:NY, both of which are coming back too, only Criminal Minds is expecting! Yes the show being (crappily) called Criminal Minds 2 has been green-lighted – it is due to star Forrest Whittaker, who was in a previous episode of Criminal Minds with his high-tech team, tracking down a serial kidnapper/murderer. I’m quite looking forward to that.

And finally, FlasForward will end on Thursday … for good! ABC – what the f..? Apparently cancelled after the final episode was shot, so there’s little chance of any real tying up of the storyline.

OK, I'll direct you here for a full update of the status of TV. Looking at the list it seems ITV have cancelled The Bill – I’ve not watched it since June and Carver (before he got fat and booze ridden) so no loss for me, I was just surprised it was still running after 26 series. They probably had it tucked away on ITV3 or 4 :P I only watch 2 shows on ITV – Lewis and Midsomer Murders (though with John Nettles set to leave Midsomer, I don’t know if I’ll still be watching).

I just looked at how much I’ve just written, and realised I watch too much TV. Bah, impossible. There’s no such thing