Stephen Fry on Wagner

I haven't watched X-Factor whatsoever this year, which I feel very blessed for.  However, whether you watch it or not, it's hard to escape the joke character on it this year, Wagner.  An old, long haired Brazilian, Wagner covers songs in horrible ways but still gets praise and is voted into the next round weekly by the viewing public of Britain.  Now, even Stephen Fry has endorsed his performances and gives his opinions on Wagner in this video.

ps. This is a parody but it very funny.  Well done to Darren Dutton.

Best television of the Naughties

In reply to Sam's post on her blog this evening, which was a reply to this article from The Guardian, here are my thoughts on the television of the last decade or so (my memories of the last decade?! That makes me feel old...). Like hers, it's a long-un (I could write a post on each of these!), but it's an interesting topic.

I think the first on this list has to be Lost (2004). Now, a lot of people don't like Lost but the reason? They lost interest after the second series and stopped watching. Admittedly, the second series was almost a copy of the first, with substituted characters, but after the events of the Season One finale, it was only a matter of time for Michael to come back and wreak havoc. For those who have no idea what I'm on about because they have never seen it, Lost has action, mystery, love, betrayal, time-travel, explosions, parallel dimensions and mostly based on one beautiful set on a Hawiian island. My other sci-fi favourite is Heroes (2006).

Heores was my favourite show around for most of the last year, although it has started to get a tiny bit farfetched. In a similar vein to X-Men, humans have evolved further and have begun to get super-powered abilities. Kidnapping, rivalries, romance, battles and multiple character story arcs makes Heroes so entertaining and really keeps you watching. A third drama which I will also try and catch is Hotel Babylon (2006).

The best British drama out there, in my opinion, about a Hotel and it's staff. It's hillarious, emotional and actually make me want to work in a hotel, no matter how horrendous the environment seems! Keeping with the Biritsh theme, Top Gear (1978) has to be one of the greatest shows in history, surely? It is a very funny show about cars which appeals to most men, those who like cars and those who don't. But somehow it appeals to the fairer sex also, who, at the risk of being labelled a downright horrendous sexist, aren't so interested in motors. I'm not entirely sure how it does it but it's almost the perfect show!

That's four down from the ten, they are the shows which I will endeavour to watch weekly without fail but that's really it. However, the six shows which will finish my list are also amazing,

Friends (1994) did indeed finish this decade and is still played at least twice daily across the channels which C4 own. And its still enjoyable, still funny and hasn't got old (yet). Similarly, The Simpsons (1989) and Family Guy (1999) are my favourites which may have been going for a while but haven't quite got old yet. Apart from those obvious, crowd pleasing examples, a less mainstream favourite is Frasier (1993). Funny but also cultured, it's a change to try and catch the classical music references in a comedy show. My final two (it's hard to pick just 10 after all!) are Dr Who (1963) and (don't judge me) Big Brother (2000).

Didn't quite know what to expect when Dr Who returned in 2005 and at times it is very cheesy but if you realise the BBC isn't Hollywood, it's amazing! Great story-writing and a bit of imagination makes a fantastic British sci-fi which is possibly just as good as in the original series. Big Brother is a strange one. I don't usually like reality TV (mainly becasue it's full of failing 'celerities' or talentless hillbillies) but Big Brother is the original, it's fascinating and as long as you don't get too invloved, is a great watch. I ealy have no idea what makes it as successful as it is but I do know that no matter how many times I say I'm not watching it, I always end up seeing the last 6 or 7 weeks of it. Be it boring summer holidays or not, it works!

Sorry this was such a long read, I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Please discuss!

Finales

A weekend of predictions is here: The FA Cup final and Britain's Got Talent.

So this is maybe Guus Hiddink's final game in charge...I somehow don't think he'll leave over the summer, he loves it here! Especially if Chelsea get the cup, too much of a good opportunity to give up in my opinion. I got 5/8 with my last weekend of predictions so we'll see how this one goes! Although I'd like Everton to win, just to trump their Merseyside rivals, I really don't think Chelsea will give up this match easily. I will go for 2-1 to Chelsea (Lampard, Malouda - Saha), although I'd like it if it were the other way round.

Next, Britain's Got Talent. This show is ridiculous; dancing dogs, skatting saxophonists (without a saxophone), opera singing flower arrangers and standing ovations. Makes me laugh and also cry at the same time but not for the same reasons! Of course there is also Susan Boyle.

Now I have nothing against the lady, she's a decent singer and no one expected it to come out of the Scottish lady who thrusted at Simon Cowell and said that she had a naughty side to her, but I really don't like the hype around her.

Every morning I'm told about different celebrities twittering about how they love her and want her to win but she's just not that special. Maybe I'm a bit biased due to the production of Les Mis I'm doing right now with SVMC where there is so much talent on show (and I mean SO much talent with so many cool people - you can buy tickets for it here); her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream just reminded me of all those guys. But then I look to the violinist, some of the dance acts (Flawless and Diversity being two of the best) and the soprano saxophonist who I think all should be ahead of The Boyle.

I'm pretty sure Susan Boyle will win but I hope that one of the two dance acts I mentioned before will.

In the meantime I'm going to enjoy this beautiful weather and look forwad to Les Mis in June!

The picture here is the view out my bedroom window onto the lovely and sunny north-east of Leicester today. The slight sparkle in the distance in the space centre and behind that is Bradgate Park.