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Posted by: Bill1 May 27 2009, 01:24 PM

I asked my colleagues earlier today if anyone saw the superb David Attenborough documentary about the recently made public 47 million year old fossil found some 25 years ago in Germany that indicates a link between prehistoric creatures to humans.

They didn't seem to know what I was talking about and then carried on to discuss last night's Britains Got Talent.


Aaaaagggh!

Posted by: Andy May 27 2009, 02:43 PM

C'mon Bill......a man who arranges flowers whilst his wife sings opera?? Primetime telly doesn't get much better or more thought provocing than that!!!!

Posted by: GMR May 27 2009, 03:12 PM

I've taped it and am looking forward to watching it. I've read quite a bit the subject and it looks very interesting documentary. It is a shame more people don't go in for this sort of stuff; it is educational and very, very interesting.

Talking about documentaries there is an interesting one on BBC 4 on Mondays about how the Irish influenced us at the time of the Roman conquest of Britain.

Posted by: AmieB May 27 2009, 03:15 PM

BGT is great fun - you dont know what your missing!
I actually saw a bit about this on The One Show last night, it was interesting but not sure if i quite believe the theory.....

Posted by: TallDarkAndHandsome May 27 2009, 03:25 PM

Bill1 - I understand completly where you are coming from.
Cheap TV to make and a general dumbing down of the masses.
It's all a plot if you ask me. BB10 starts in 9 days...... OMG

Posted by: GMR May 27 2009, 06:45 PM

At least you are aware that BB is starting soon... I didn't even know that... but then I don't check out such programmes.

Posted by: Andrea May 28 2009, 07:27 AM

Nooooooo! I dread this time of year... the news is always covering the BB latest. So lame.

Posted by: J C May 28 2009, 09:18 AM

I feel a bit overexposed to BGT was quite glad the football was on last night just to get a break from it

Posted by: Bill1 May 28 2009, 11:25 AM

I was out in town watching the match. I think it was a good game but kept finding myself being distracted by "unhappy and emotional" United fans.

Barcelona shouldn't have been in the Final, but that's another story.

Posted by: GMR May 28 2009, 03:24 PM

I agree Barcelona shouldn't have been in the finals, but nor should United the way they played.

Posted by: J C May 28 2009, 03:32 PM

Very true! Blatter must be most pleased with the result

Posted by: Road User Jun 1 2009, 07:54 AM

I find the football players to be big girls blouses that should change carreers and go into acting for the hysterics they produce on the pitch and the amount of money wasted on them. I'll take rugby anytime. No drama queens and even when they have blood pouring down their faces they want back in the game. Real men playing a real game!

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 1 2009, 09:36 AM

Yawn.

Sorry started falling asleep at that point couldn't be bothered to read the rest.

One word .........Eduardo!


Fair play to rugger buggers though, you cant beat a bit of eye gouging, spearing, raking, full on fist fights etc, but apparently it's all ok because they shake hands and have a beer together afterwards

Posted by: Road User Jun 1 2009, 03:08 PM

Absolutely! They also have manly physiques! No Pretty boys in Rugby and if a fight does break out you know it's more then hand bags at dawn like you see on a football pitch! I recently saw a dive on the news and I don't know which team it was as I don't follow football but the camera angle quite clearly showed the two parties were not even within touching distance but the pretty boy still dove to the ground clutching his face like someone had thrown acid on him. The alleged offender was at least two feet away from him and had his hands clearly raised out of reach. Nothing like a drama queen!

Posted by: GMR Jun 1 2009, 03:46 PM

The best channel for good educational documentaries is BBC 4. They've had some brilliant programmes on recently.

Posted by: Road User Jun 3 2009, 06:37 AM

Have you seen the program on Beowulf? It was fantastic! I have seen the site at Sutton Hoo and the man who was reciting the poem was great! He really brought it to life.

I love BBC4 they have some wonderful music documentaries too! The latest poetry programs have been an eye opener. More of these programs please!

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 3 2009, 10:49 AM

I agree about the BBC4 music documentaries, they are extremely well made and detailed, probably not for the reality TV brigade though as it's all substance and no froth or gossip.

Posted by: GMR Jun 3 2009, 07:39 PM

unfortunately I missed it, but as BBC 4 always repeats things I should get to watch it at a later date. Also; there is iPlayer.

Posted by: GMR Jun 3 2009, 07:41 PM

I doubt if the reality brigade would understand it anyway; if it hasn't got sex, abuse or soap mentality then it would probably be beyond them.

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 4 2009, 09:00 AM

Quite.

Posted by: AmieB Jun 4 2009, 09:48 AM

Thats a bit rude. I watch soaps and some reality programmes, but also enjoy documentrys. So it wouldn't be beyond me as you state.

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 4 2009, 01:44 PM

I think GMR was being a bit over generalisational there too.

I hope my comment previous to that was more accurate.

Posted by: Simon Jun 4 2009, 02:37 PM

I agree with Amy, GMR's comment was rude and out of order. I enjoy watching a variety of programs on tv. I love Big Brother, and have been a fan since it started all those years ago. I find it facinating watching peoples personalities and what they think and do, and love it when BB humilate them in front of millions.

I also love certain soaps, I find them a great way to relax after a hard days work as they dont tax your brain or make you think.

And then I watch channels such as discovery and history, which I find interesting and love learning from them.

I think you will find the reason there are soo many channels on TV is so that everyone can watch what they enjoy and shouldnt be mocked for it because you think you are all high and mighty because you like documentries.

Posted by: Road User Jun 4 2009, 02:53 PM

Well actually Beowulf has all three in spades! Grendal the abused outcast seeking revenge on those who cast him out. He is particularly violent and nasty dismembering his enemies. Beowulf the hero arrives to dispatch the evil Grendal but is seduced by Grendal's mother and is doomed to repeat the fate of Grendal's father. Depending on the version you watch or read it is quite a violent epic! I have seen a few different film versions and they all had their good and bad points.



So you don't have to trawl the bottom with Big Brother or what ever tacky celebrity promotional show is on. Just look up a classic film or read a classic book they are dirt cheap in chairty shops! I wonder how many Big Brother fans actually understand who Big Brother is or have ever read 1984.....

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 4 2009, 03:23 PM

My must watch TV at present is The Wire, Springwatch, Later With Jools, Question Time, Football & any other major sporting events, Have I Got News For You, Question Of Sport and The Bill.

Along with any one off dramas or documentaries that catch my eye.

Varied enough?

Posted by: GMR Jun 4 2009, 03:34 PM

I apologise if it was rude; however, soaps are not the most intellectual programmes on TV.

By the way; what sort of documentaries do you enjoy watching?

Posted by: GMR Jun 4 2009, 03:36 PM

you are correct, I was generalising. Not everybody who watches soaps are stupid. Some people just like to dumb down just to relax

Posted by: GMR Jun 4 2009, 03:37 PM

1984 is a brilliant book. I've read a few Orwell books and he is a very observant writer. Still relevant today.

Posted by: AmieB Jun 4 2009, 04:04 PM

I am a massive Big Brother fan so looking forward to trawling to it tonight, tell me more of who Big Brother is and what 1984 is.....

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 4 2009, 04:32 PM

AmieB, if you are joking, which I suspect you are, then fair play to you.

If not you really should read 1984 in which you will find out about Big Brother it is scarily prophetic.

If I may I'd also recommend Animal Farm. (The classic film not the dodgy 80's porn flick ).

Posted by: GMR Jun 4 2009, 06:11 PM

BB is a system/ or a dictatorship in the story of control in the 1984 book by George Orwell. The book was first published in 1949.

You can read more about it here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_(book)

Posted by: Road User Jun 5 2009, 07:01 AM

In the novel 1984, Big Brother is what the government evolves into, telling people what they will believe and watching their every move so they can't break the law. If they show any sign of individuality or the ability to think for themselves they are re-educated to align with the rest of the population. China, North Korea, the Khmer Rouge and the former Soviet Union all used similar techniques. (There are many more governments including ours and the USA and too many more to list.) The big brother theme is repeated in many films and novels even things like Dr Who.
They use the rat tank from Big Brother in that celebrity jungle thing. But those rats have are not been starved like they were in the novel so they aren’t likely to chew the faces off the celebrities but the idea comes from 1984.

Animal farm is another brilliant book along with a Brave New World by Aldus Huxley.

Posted by: AmieB Jun 5 2009, 08:02 AM

Yes you were rude and continue to do so on your other posts.
I love David Attenborough programmes, I think they are fantastic. Mega Movers, Axe Men, Ice Road Truckers, Bodyshock, some of channel 4 documentaries. But im sure they are not good enough for you......
As for watching soaps, so what? Its fun, sad, entertaining, amusing - i love them. After working my **** off all day in between caring for my son i love to sit and have a laugh and watch something light hearted. I do not dumb down just to relax and find you being very offensive.

Posted by: GMR Jun 5 2009, 12:34 PM

I don't think I was rude... I just said things as I saw them.

If you love soaps then enjoy them. It was nothing personal. I shall be very careful what I say in future.... my intentions weren't to be rude. Again I apologise.

Posted by: GMR Jun 5 2009, 12:35 PM

I also agree about Animal farm. Also Wigan pier is another good book.

Posted by: Simon Jun 5 2009, 12:36 PM

Anyway isn't Big Brother another form of documentary TV. 16 strangers put into a house to see how they react with each others views, politics, sexuality and personalities.

The original series should go down in history as one of the greatest TV experiments ever, admittedly each series after that started putting freaks, uniques and fame hungry wannabe's into the house but i have to admit.....I love it

The main problem with Big Brother is the media attention it gets and mags like heat that build these people up into 'celebrities' and then forget them after a week or so.

In all honesty I wish they would select a better bunch of housemates to make it more interesting again, but because of the money and instant fame, they will only ever get the wannabe's.


Its harmless fun, and if you like it watch it, if you don't then turn it over. I have known people to slate the program who have never given it a chance and watched it for long enough to see what's good (and bad) about the show.

I bet if BBC 4 showed a documentary about a houseful of strangers in the 1800's and how they got along and the problems they had you would enjoy it.

Those of you slating these types of shows, i am interested to know if you like any of the reality TV shows? (and yes I also wish they would invest some of the money into some decent drama's, films, documentaries etc)