There has been much talk on these thread about entertainment reflecting the culture of America, so I thought I’d post some of the films and TV shows that most accurately portray our true lives.

So my first pick of movies is
Blade
Blade II
Blade Trinity

Absolutely the best portrait I have ever seen.

I seem to sense a trend in your entertainment preferences.

While we're on the subject of sequels, I'm still waiting to find out why they made Sigourney Weaver look like Michael Jackson in the last Alien episode. Any anwers?

This is more accurate:cool:
Terminator
St Valentines Day massacre
Terminator 11
Gunfight at the OK Corral
Terminator 3
Hang 'em high
The Godfather
Streets of San Francisco
The Godfather 11
Pale Rider
The Godfather 111
Custers last stand

This is more accurate:cool:
Terminator
St Valentines Day massacre
Terminator 11
Gunfight at the OK Corral
Terminator 3
Hang 'em high
The Godfather
Streets of San Francisco
The Godfather 11
Pale Rider
The Godfather 111
Custers last stand

Have you seen the Blade trilogiy

There has been much talk on these thread about entertainment reflecting the culture of America, so I thought I’d post some of the films and TV shows that most accurately portray our true lives.

Interesting JJ, you seem to think opposite to Kraj on this (summary below) - so I'll ask again - is there any US TV show or US film that shows actual American life?:confused:

If not, then we basically have no idea what goes on in the USA because everything put out worldwide depicts a false picture (ref Kraj) - this is otherwise known as propoganda isn't it?





1) There is no TV show in the USA that reflects American life - so what we see on TV (via US programmes) is not American life

2) Reality USA police shows are not reality (scripted and edited) - so the US police TV reality shows are not reality.

3) We've already established ages ago your TV news is biased to only showing good things (not dead soldiers coffins coming back from Iraq)

Therefore, anything that comes from the USA on TV or film (fiction or reality) is nowhere near the truth. Hmmm . . . . . . interesting.

I can only say, what a sad society it must be in the USA knowing that all you see on TV is made-up, censored, untrue, biased TV programmes. Presumably the newspapers are the same.

Col

Rich, you have to see the metaphors in the Blade trilogy as being about leeches. ;)

Danish director, Lars von Trier, has made two movies, thus far, in his USA - Land of Opportunity trilogy. The first was Dogville; the second Manderley. The third, Wasington, won't be out for a few more years. :mad:

Interesting JJ, you seem to think opposite to Kraj on this (summary below) - so I'll ask again - is there any US TV show or US film that shows actual American life?:confused:

If not, then we basically have no idea what goes on in the USA because everything put out worldwide depicts a false picture (ref Kraj) - this is otherwise known as propoganda isn't it?





Col

It was a joke Col
Its a movie about a vampire hunter.

It was a joke Col
Its a movie about a vampire hunter.
You do know that repeating yourself is the first sign of madness, don't you?:p

TV shows that come close to depicting real life in America:

Seventh Heaven (my wife watches it)

TV shows that refelect my own life:

Seinfeld
Real Men (movie)
Predator
Shawn of the Dead

Predator

Preditor? :eek:

It was a joke Col
Its a movie about a vampire hunter.
er, yes I know:rolleyes: my answer was meant to perpetuate the conversation but I suppose the subtleties of British humour got lost mid-Atlantic:D ;)

So you don't have vampires in the USA?
you know, people slightly cross eyed, lusting after blood and power, sending people to their deaths so as to achieve world domination at any cost

Col

I would imagine TV shows dipicting life in the USA are about as good as Faulty Towers, Are You Being Served depicting life in the UK.

I would imagine TV shows dipicting life in the USA are about as good as Faulty Towers, Are You Being Served depicting life in the UK.
"Fawlty Towers" is based on an actual hotel and owner where John Cleese etc stayed near Torquay.

"Are you being served" does show the fairly true behind-the-scenes workings of large department stores. My sister-in-law worked in one and said many of the episodes sketches were fairly true to life.

Col

"Fawlty Towers" is based on an actual hotel and owner where John Cleese etc stayed near Torquay.

"Are you being served" does show the fairly true behind-the-scenes workings of large department stores. My sister-in-law worked in one and said many of the episodes sketches were fairly true to life.

Col
So we can then extrapolate that the average UK resident is a comedic, bumbling moron most of the time?

So we can then extrapolate that the average UK resident is a comedic, bumbling moron most of the time?

No, just Hotel Owners and Department Store workers.

No, just Hotel Owners and Department Store workers.
Well how does that explain (I forget the title) the ones with the BUCKET's (BooKays)? Do UK folks all try to be upper class with a lower class sister and trashy sister and dad who is nuts (unless they work in Hotel or Department store)?

Well how does that explain (I forget the title) the ones with the BUCKET's (BooKays)? Do UK folks all try to be upper class with a lower class sister and trashy sister and dad who is nuts (unless they work in Hotel or Department store)?

No one said "Keeping Up Appearances" was based on a real character. It could be, but no one claimed it was. The point was that "Fawlty Towers" and "Are You Being Served" are based on real characters/experiences.

Funny how once people step into the Watercooler their brains suddenly desert them...

Incidently, its pronounced "BOUQUET" :-P

No one said "Keeping Up Appearances" was based on a real character. Incidently, its pronounced "BOUQUET" :-P
Bouqet, Bookay, sounds the same :rolleyes:
I didn't say any of those were real life, I was just stating that those (about the only ones I watch here) have about as much merit into the average UK'er as some of the ones quoted for US'ers. And yes, that was it "Keeping Up Appearances" one of my wifes favorites.
OK, OK I must admit my most favorite is "Red Dwarf". But I always thought "Are You Being Served" was close behind.
I had heard some where (might have been here) that they are going to redo/remake/rewhatever "Are You Being Served"? Is that true?

Bouqet, Bookay, sounds the same :rolleyes:

LOL I was replying in the style of Hyacinth; If you've seen the show I am sure you will understand. Guess my impressions don't work as well when typed out ;-)

OK, OK I must admit my most favorite is "Red Dwarf". But I always thought "Are You Being Served" was close behind.

I was quite a fan of Red Dwarf whilst it was on, but I watched a lot a friend of mine had downloaded and they weren't as good with repeated showing. Mind you, many of my favourite shows are American (Simpsons, Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, Fraiser)

I had heard some where (might have been here) that they are going to redo/remake/rewhatever "Are You Being Served"? Is that true?

I've not heard that... it could well be true. However, there is always talk of remaking British comedy/sitcoms from the "Golden Age" of television, but it just doesn't work any more. There weren't that many other distractions around then. Now, between consoles, computers and the internet, people just don't sit down together around the T.V. like they used to (IMHO). Also, you can never remake the classics. You only need to look at Paul Merton (whom I find hilarious) remaking Hancock's shows to see how awful it is. I'm not even going to mention the American remake of Fawlty Towers. I would be interested in the opinions of any Americans who have seen the UK "The Office" and the American one... I watched the American one for about five minutes but couldn't take any more than that.

LOL I was replying in the style of Hyacinth; If you've seen the show I am sure you will understand. Guess my impressions don't work as well when typed out ;-)
Oh, sorry, you are correct, Hyacinth would say that!
I'm not even going to mention the American remake of Fawlty Towers. I would be interested in the opinions of any Americans who have seen the UK "The Office" and the American one... I watched the American one for about five minutes but couldn't take any more than that.
American remake of Faulty Towers? Humm, didn't catch it or it is not ringing a bell.
Interesting on "The Office" my daughter asked for the DVD for christmas, "The American one, not the British one". We could find tons of copies of "The British" one, but were hard pressed to find a copy of "The American" one.

American remake of Faulty Towers? Humm, didn't catch it or it is not ringing a bell.

It did exist, albeit for one series. I say "remake"; they changed quite a bit...


Hmm, that Basil is quite a grumpy character, lets make him happier... and why can't he just get on with his wife?


I am in the middle of moving house at the moment, but when I get chance I will have a look for the name... it wasn't Fawlty Towers, or anything even close.

Interesting JJ, you seem to think opposite to Kraj on this (summary below) - so I'll ask again - is there any US TV show or US film that shows actual American life?:confused:
I'm dissappointed, Col. I thought you of all people would know a wind-up when you saw one. *tsk tsk* ;)

Shawn of the Dead

I fanstastic film that nearly got me kicked out of the Cinema for laughing so loudly. The scene with the lads throwing records at the zombies is a classic. :D

American remake of Faulty Towers? Humm, didn't catch it or it is not ringing a bell.

I hadn't heard of it either. It must have been a bomb, and really, who can compete with John Cleese? :D

Interesting on "The Office" my daughter asked for the DVD for christmas, "The American one, not the British one". We could find tons of copies of "The British" one, but were hard pressed to find a copy of "The American" one.

I've seen a couple of episodes of the American version but I don't really follow it. They say something funny once in a while but not enough to justify watching the whole episode, in my opinion. I haven't seen the British one, so I wouldn't be able to make a comparison. I used to watch "Are You Being Served?" too and thought it was funny.

I fanstastic film that nearly got me kicked out of the Cinema for laughing so loudly. The scene with the lads throwing records at the zombies is a classic. :D

I've been wanting to see that but haven't gotten to yet. :(

Shawn of the Dead
I am a "B" movie lover (for horror/sci-fi) but this one was even past me, just too stupid, but I guess to each his own.

I hadn't heard of it either. It must have been a bomb, and really, who can compete with John Cleese? :D

There were two actually; Amanda's and Payne. Can't remember which one it was I saw. I think it was Payne...

Quite embarrassing really. I've seen more rubbish American TV than the Americans ;-)

I am a "B" movie lover (for horror/sci-fi) but this one was even past me, just too stupid, but I guess to each his own.

Anything with Zombies in is fine by me :-) Do you count Hammer movies in with this FoFa?

"The Office" and the American one... I watched the American one for about five minutes but couldn't take any more than that.
I couldn't stomach the British one for that long:rolleyes:
and what f...ing idiots decided that the Christmas special of the office was no.2 in the "all time chrismas specials"?:mad: :rolleyes:

I couldn't stomach the British one for that long:rolleyes:

I can't get enough of Ricky Gervais... I nearly literally split my sides listening to it the other day. I vote Karl Pilkington for Prime Minister.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/podcasts/rickygervais/mp3.xml

and what f...ing idiots decided that the Christmas special of the office was no.2 in the "all time chrismas specials"?:mad: :rolleyes:

Thats the trouble with these "100 Best..."; people have poor and subjective memories!

I can't get enough of Ricky Gervais... I nearly literally split my sides listening to it the other day. I vote Karl Pilkington for Prime Minister.


Which bit is funny?:confused:
at least there's some consolation tonight, the Catherine Tate Christmas special's on:cool:

Which bit is funny?:confused:

Its all funny to me Rich. I would of thought that was obvious from my post.

at least there's some consolation tonight, the Catherine Tate Christmas special's on:cool:

There you go, I think Catherine Tate is the most overated comedian on TV at the moment. Once you've seen one sketch show you've seen all the jokes. Very poor. Viva la difference eh?

I'm dissappointed, Col. I thought you of all people would know a wind-up when you saw one. *tsk tsk* ;)

A wind-up??? gosh! I'd never have known:rolleyes: :cool: ;)

It was a joke Col
Its a movie about a vampire hunter.

Had you read a few posts on you would have seen this:rolleyes:

er, yes I know, my answer was meant to perpetuate the conversation but I suppose the subtleties of British humour got lost mid-Atlantic

So you don't have vampires in the USA?
you know, people slightly cross eyed, lusting after blood and power, sending people to their deaths so as to achieve world domination at any cost

Col

Yes, Catherine Tate is an unfunny old sow. Her and that Little Britain tosh. The best sketch show the BBC has had for a while is Man Stroke Woman, on BBC3, and, going back a few years, Big Train.

Yes, Catherine Tate is an unfunny old sow. Her and that Little Britain tosh. The best sketch show the BBC has had for a while is Man Stroke Woman, on BBC3, and, going back a few years, Big Train.

I quite liked Little Britain when I first heard it on the radio (well internet - I went for a long time without a TV), but even then after the first few shows its become very repetitive. For me the best sketch show was always the Fast Show. Man Stroke Woman does look good - I'm hoping there may be a Freeview TV Card for my pvr from Santa somewhere under the tree...

However, radio producing the best comedy is still true now I think. You only need to go to the BBC Radio listen on demand and choose the comedy section; there's a much better selection than on TV.

I must be getting old... ;-)

However, radio producing the best comedy is still true now I think. You only need to go to the BBC Radio listen on demand and choose the comedy section; there's a much better selection than on TV.


Yes, I still love listening to I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue on BBC Radio 4.

Some classics:

Lionel Blair (re: Give Us A Clue)

The expert's expert in that game being of course Lionel Blair. Who can forget the sight of Una Stubbs sitting there open-mouthed as he tried to bring off Twelve Angry Men in under two minutes?

"Who will ever forget Lionel Blair, exhausted and on his knees, finishing off An Officer and a Gentleman in under two minutes?"

"None of us can forget the relish with which he once gave Melvyn Hayes and Christopher Biggins Yanks for two whole minutes."

Samantha

"She's become quite friendly with the two elderly archivists, Jack and Arthur. They've recently gone part time, so Samantha's come to a working arrangement. She does the paperwork, Arthur gets her forty-fives out, and Jack's off all afternoon."

"She's looking forward to going out for an ice cream with her Italian gentleman friend. She says she's looking forward to licking the nuts off a large Neapolitan."

Mrs Trellis

"A Mrs Trellis of North Wales has written in to complain that the show has "an enormous fistful of rampant innuendo rammed into every crack", but only a truly filthy-minded person would think such a thing."

"Dear Mr Titchmarsh: This morning I went out to dig up some dandelions and a giant hogweed on my lawn. The filthy beast! Yours faithfully, Mrs Trellis."

"Dear Mr Melly: Here's a great tip for removing any annoying little hairs that collect in the bath plughole: tempt them up with a carrot and pull them out by their long floppy ears."

"Dear Yoko Ono: Is it true that your name is Japanese for one egg?

A couple of my friends once met Lionel Blair at some function or other. They have a picture of both of them in a headlock either side of Lionel, its a belter! He seems a great character.

Its all funny to me Rich. I would of thought that was obvious from my post.



There you go, I think Catherine Tate is the most overated comedian on TV at the moment. Once you've seen one sketch show you've seen all the jokes. Very poor. Viva la difference eh?
There aren't any jokes in the Office, anyway I AINT BOVERRED

A couple of my friends once met Lionel Blair at some function or other. They have a picture of both of them in a headlock either side of Lionel, its a belter! He seems a great character.
I like old Lionel, he's been around forever - he was in A Hard Days Night

Col

So we can then extrapolate that the average UK resident is a comedic, bumbling moron most of the time?
No because viewing just three shows isn't enough to come to a just and fair conclusion:cool:

Lionel- he was in A Hard Days Night
It shows. :D

There aren't any jokes in the Office,

Setting in jelly the stapler of someone who has an unrational fear of jelly is a joke. Rich, you really need to learn the socratic method if you are going to develop any kind of debating skill. Its really not that hard.

anyway I AINT BOVERRED

Hilarious. A thirty year old woman repeating the obnoxious phrases of chavs... I guess its not what you know but who you know in TV...

Does anyone know (or is it possible) to get DVD's of "Not The Nine O'Clock News"

I think you can get selected sketches from BBC website, but I wondered if its possible to get like a series on DVD.

I've scouted around the net but no luck yet

Col

Setting in jelly the stapler of someone who has an unrational fear of jelly is a joke. Rich, you really need to learn the socratic method if you are going to develop any kind of debating skill. Its really not that hard.
...
That's your opinion and of course you're welcome to it

"Not The Nine O'Clock News"
Col
Now you're talking comedy;)

Setting in jelly the stapler of someone who has an unrational fear of jelly is a joke. .
I saw that bit and I admit I couldn't see what was supposed to be funny - I thought it was stupid.:rolleyes:

I prefer the "telling jokes" type British comics

like
Bob Hope
Peter Kay
Dave Allen
Jack Dee

I think the only American comic I like is Joan Rivers

Col

Now you're talking comedy;)
Do you remember the sketch where they were supposed to be digging the channel tunnel and were sat about "waiting for a skip"? . . . .priceless:D

or the copper who arrested people for "looking at me in a funny way"

Col

I think the only American comic I like is Joan Rivers

Col
Robin Williams is funny on a good day too:D

Robin Williams is funny on a good day too:D
agreed - I look on him more as a funny impressionist but he is good

Col

Does anyone know (or is it possible) to get DVD's of "Not The Nine O'Clock News"

I think you can get selected sketches from BBC website, but I wondered if its possible to get like a series on DVD.

I've scouted around the net but no luck yet

Col
You can get the Best of
http://www.bbcshop.com/icat/notthenineoclocknews?bklist=icat,5,,2,525,nottheni neoclocknews&

You can get the Best of
http://www.bbcshop.com/icat/notthenineoclocknews?bklist=icat,5,,2,525,nottheni neoclocknews&
Yes thanks Rich, those are selected sketches, I was just wondering if you can get complete episodes because Pam Stephensons news items were also very funny. There was actually 27 episodes from 1979 to 1982, I suppose its a bit much to do the whole lot on DVD:rolleyes:

Col

I saw that bit and I admit I couldn't see what was supposed to be funny - I thought it was stupid.:rolleyes:

That's as maybe, but it was a practical joke (which was my point). Depends how you feel about practical jokes I guess as to whether you find it funny. I find jelly in itself to be funny. There you go, guess I am easily amused ;-)


I prefer the "telling jokes" type British comics

like
Bob Hope
Peter Kay
Dave Allen
Jack Dee

I think the only American comic I like is Joan Rivers


I would say that Jimmy Carr is one of Britain's Best "Telling Jokes" comedian at the moment.

He's on TV too much.

He's on TV too much.

As I only record what I want to watch (the joys of a PVR), I only see what I want to watch. Its a shame he does present so much stuff, I guess it dillutes his effect. The only thing I have watched him on recently is his stand up show.

That's as maybe, but it was a practical joke (which was my point). Depends how you feel about practical jokes I guess as to whether you find it funny. I find jelly in itself to be funny. There you go, guess I am easily amused ;-)
I would say that Jimmy Carr is one of Britain's Best "Telling Jokes" comedian at the moment.
Yes I understand, peoples humour tastes are different and thats all for the good. For example, some of what we call "American humour" (this is not a dig:rolleyes: ) is often lost on the British as is alot of British humour lost on the Americans. I think British humour is more subtle whereas American humour is more visual (like Lucille Ball)

I can't stand silly type slapstick humour (Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy Lucy etc) I admire the technical ability of doing the stunts - particularly Keaton but its not funny to me, yet it is to others.

Each to their own really.

Col

I can't stand silly type slapstick humour (Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy Lucy etc) I admire the technical ability of doing the stunts - particularly Keaton but its not funny to me, yet it is to others.

I know what you mean Col. It seems to be from a bygone era does slapstick. I'm trying to think if there is a modern equivalent? Would something like "Trigger Happy TV" be the modern version (a bit hit and miss, but very original)?

Personally I find the work of Chris Morris hilarious; lots of people simply find it offensive. I think that only drives him on more though...

I know what you mean Col. It seems to be from a bygone era does slapstick. I'm trying to think if there is a modern equivalent? Would something like "Trigger Happy TV" be the modern version (a bit hit and miss, but very original)?

Personally I find the work of Chris Morris hilarious; lots of people simply find it offensive. I think that only drives him on more though...
I suppose one of the most famous British visual slapstick type comic was Norman Wisdom, these days maybe Lee Evans? again I don't find Lee particularly funny but he's very successful, he's funny in interviews like with Parky the other day.

I used to like Jethro before he went "blue", he didn't need to bring "blue" into his act, he was brilliant before. I'm afraid I don't like "blue" comics, it to me seems a cheap way of getting laughs and its not clever. Many of the "greats" didn't need to revert to it.

I don't know Chris Morris.

Col

Chris Morris was responsible for The Day Today, Jam, Brasseye, and, with Charlie Brooker, Nathan Barley.

Brasseye was certainly controversial because of the investigative journalism spoof covering controversial topics as Animals, Drugs, Science, Sex, Crime, Decline, and, in 2001, Paedophilia. It faked all sorts of footage (Libyans blasting a cow from a cannon and beating the corpse, a school with the social experiment of using recreational drugs, and starting the Good AIDS/Bad AIDS controversy.) It was also well known for the way it outed a number of celebrities as a bunch of know-nothing idiots who are only to happy to promote themselves by jumping on the bandwagon of charities despite having no knowledge of what they were talking about. Paul Daniels, amongst others, appealing for your help to protest against the conditions of an elephant - and lack of action in helping her - in an East German zoo (this was 1996!) who had got her trunk stuck up her arse. Or Bernard Manning and Noel Edmonds talking about the horrors of a new drug, called Cake, from Czechozlovakia which had caused one girl to throw up her pelvic bone. Or, in the Paedophilia special, Phil Collins promoting awareness amongst children by wearing a T-shirt for fake child protection agency Nonce Sense and proudly proclaiming that he was talking "Nonce sense". And, in the same episode: Richard Blackwood talking about how a paedophile can smell a child through a computer keyboard; Phillipa Forrester talking about how a paedophile can touch a child through the computer screen; and DJ Dr Fox saying that, "genetically, paedophiles have more in common with crabs than with humans. Phillipa Forrester quit her role on science show Tomorrow's World the day after the episode was screened.

He's also behind the defunct site, The Smokehammer (http://www.thesmokehammer.com) which, as its legacy, just shows an excellent piece of footage of George W. Bush cut up to misrepresent his statements but to reinforce what he really means. Excellent stuff.

Another thing he did was a column (http://chilled.cream.org/forums/kb.php?mode=cat&cat=5) in The Observer where he posed as a columnist who reported things happening in his life and, after the fifth column, started a decline into depression which led to the promise to commit suicide after the tenth column. A commentary on the aftermath (http://chilled.cream.org/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=139) was published in The Times about how it was very funny but with a serious point.

Found an extract of some of the comments from the Drugs episode of Brasseye:

The episode opens with Morris as reporter Ted Maul explaining the evil threat of a new drug.

Maul: It's a new Czechoslovakian drug called Cake. And luckily the story involves these people: Free the United Kingdom from Drugs and British Opposition to Medically Bi-sterbile Drugs. [Morris holds up a T-shirt with the acronyms F.U.K.D and B.O.M.B.D and a series of interviews with concerned celebrities follows]:

Bernard Ingham: ...this is a piece of Cake [points to enormous yellow disk in his hand]

Bruno Brookes : ...we all like to party, right? Absolutely. But only the fool would say, 'Yeah, I'll enter the nightmare of Cake.' [points to large yellow disk in hand] And this is it.

Rolf Harris: This colour, that they thought would be a good selling point, is put in using an industrial dye which in itself is a pollutant and is causing in Czechslovakia something called 'Czech neck'. It causes enormous water retention so that the body swells up ... until the person that is on the trip dies from not being able to breathe at all.'

Bernard Manning: One little kiddie on cake cried all the water out of his body. Just imagine how his mother felt. It's a fucking disgrace.

Noel Edmunds: What is cake? Well, it has an active ingredient which is a dangerous psychoactive compound known as di-mesmeric ansonphosphate. It stimulates the part of the brain that deals with time perception so a second feels like a month. Almost sounds like fun, unless you're the Prague schoolboy who walked out into the street in front of a tram. He thought he'd got a month to cross the street.

Brookes: You know they've even tested this stuff on rats. Turned them into bloody Space Hoppers.

Manning: And if you're sick on this stuff, you can puke yourself to death. One girl threw up her own pelvis. What a fucking disgrace.

David Amess, then MP: You've heard what Bernard Manning's said: Cake's a Bi-sterbile Cradabolic Anphetamoid - which is a made up psycho-active chemical. It comes from Prague, with its own culture of Boon raves, where kids wolf down vast quantities... Look at that [gestures to huge yellow pill of Cake in his hand] £100,000 in the pocket of the filth that sells it, a big yellow bullet in the head of some user.

The best part was many people, like David Amees's quote, saying "Cake is a made-up drug".

Cake's a Bi-sterbile Cradabolic Anphetamoid - which is a made up psycho-active chemical.

Brilliant! The show was halted while investigations were underway because Amees brought it up in Parliament.

And, an extract from his radio show, Blue Jam:


Edited extract from Morris's Blue Jam 'interview' with Princess Diana biographer Andrew Morton

CM: OK, let's look at the book. New edition. Here it is. Em, first of all, its size; it looks bigger than it is, which is quite a crafty move. Was that the intention?

AM: Well it is a big book. It's a lot bigger than...

CM: Than it is...

AM: Than the original one.

CM: But it does look bigger than it is as well.

AM: Well, I'm glad, I'm glad, you think that_

CM: Let me give you an example... 'The tectonic plates which underpin society having shifted culturally, socially and politically in the previous few years.'

AM: Hmmm...

CM: Now that describes exactly what had happened after Diana's death, so many people struggled to put their finger on that. Was it something you worked hard on or did it just come out? I mean how on earth...

AM: Well, I, I... (sigh).

CM: What I want to know is how you feel about other people who are feeding off the same ... carcass. People who make computer games like 'The Last Chase' where you play a paparazzo chasing a car through a tunnel, subtitle of the game 'Snap The Dying Bitch'.

AM: Well, I find them very abhorrent because all you're doing is exploiting someone's death.

CM: Hmm...

Thanks for that Mile-O

I remember the reports on some of those shows being on the news and in the papers at the time, its not my thing but as I said, each to their own.

There were people that thought "Not The Nine O'Clock News" was to risky to show after the pilot was shown - but it went on to become one of the greats

Col

I remember the reports on some of those shows being on the news and in the papers at the time, its not my thing but as I said, each to their own.

Yes. There were times when you could switch on the telly and turn to Channel 4 and, if Brasseye was on, get sucked into believing it was real. The attention to detail was superb, right down to the carefully crafter phrases. If I remember correctly, Dr Fox also said "There's no proof but it's scientific fact."

Yes. There were times when you could switch on the telly and turn to Channel 4 and, if Brasseye was on, get sucked into believing it was real.

LOL Indeed, the opening sequence of Brasseye was superbly done. Quite a few people I know were completely fooled. Strangely enough most of these people were also fooled by Alan Partridge; one of my friends actually got through the whole series without realising and got genuinely upset at the last show (where Alan shoots dead one of his guests with one of Byron's dueling pistols).

I wouldn't know about Alan Partrdige; I never did like Steve Coogan.

I wouldn't know about Alan Partrdige; I never did like Steve Coogan.

I seem to remember him getting a lot of stick in the press, mostly for his sexual procilivities. Personally I think Alan Partridge is one of the best comedy character creations in many years. I haven't seen anything of Steve Coogan's other than Alan Partridge. Thankfully he was smart enough to draw a line under AP before it went too far.

I seem to remember him getting a lot of stick in the press, mostly for his sexual procilivities. Personally I think Alan Partridge is one of the best comedy character creations in many years. I haven't seen anything of Steve Coogan's other than Alan Partridge. Thankfully he was smart enough to draw a line under AP before it went too far.
Steve Coogan (as an impressionist back then) was one of the main voices for Spitting Image

Col

If you get a chance, check out Paul and Pauline Calf. Earlier creations, I believe. Very different to the Alan Partridge character, but equally well observed. The live concerts are a bit inconsistent, but the two TV specials 'Paul Calf's Video Diary' and (something like) 'Three fights, two weddings and a funeral' were great.

If you get a chance, check out Paul and Pauline Calf.

Thanks Matt, I've added that to my selection on Screen Select :-)

I didn't like them either. Or Tony Ferrino.

So I'll have to exchange your Christmas gift?

Wish I'd known sooner.

I prefer the "telling jokes" type British comics

like
Bob Hope
Peter Kay
Dave Allen
Jack Dee

Col
Fortunately for us Christmas TV entertainment was rescued by repeating some of the all time classics.
The Dave Allen sketch of the two coffins racing to get to the burial ground first has to be one of the all time classics.

Fortunately for us Christmas TV entertainment was rescued by repeating some of the all time classics.
The Dave Allen sketch of the two coffins racing to get to the burial ground first has to be one of the all time classics.
yes, and the story of the young boy learning the word "fart":D ;)

Col

I saw that bit and I admit I couldn't see what was supposed to be funny - I thought it was stupid.:rolleyes:

I prefer the "telling jokes" type British comics

like
Bob Hope
Peter Kay
Dave Allen
Jack Dee

I think the only American comic I like is Joan Rivers

Col

You have a singular wit Colin,

But thank you for proving once and for all that Americas greatness comes from our immigration.

If a guy spends the first 4 years of his life as a Brit and the next 96 as an American, what does that make him?

Answer…Lucky

You have a singular wit Colin,

But thank you for proving once and for all that Americas greatness comes from our immigration.

If a guy spends the first 4 years of his life as a Brit and the next 96 as an American, what does that make him?

Answer…Lucky
Dave Allen American, I thought he was Irish?:confused:

Speaking of Bob Hope:

Greatest Movie Line Ever (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7342210206209696724)

:p :p

Dave Allen American, I thought he was Irish?:confused:


And I never heard of Bob Hope being British. Or is he being referred to as a British style of comic? :confused:

Speaking of Bob Hope:

Greatest Movie Line Ever (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7342210206209696724)

:p :p
And if it had been made today the punchline would be, you mean like Bush? :rolleyes:

And if it had been made today the punchline would be, you mean like Bush? :rolleyes:


Like Rich. :p

You have a singular wit Colin,
Cute eh?:rolleyes:

But thank you for proving once and for all that Americas greatness comes from our immigration.
I didn't say that:p

If a guy spends the first 4 years of his life as a Brit and the next 96 as an American, what does that make him?
British - its where one is born, not the purchase of another nationality.

Col

And I never heard of Bob Hope being British. Or is he being referred to as a British style of comic? :confused:
You guys are scary:confused:

http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/h/bobhope/bobhope.htm

Like Rich. :p
Even you know that not to be true Kenny :cool: :p

And I never heard of Bob Hope being British.
of course, Charlie Chaplin was also British

Col

Ahh, the sweet sound of words flying back and forth over the ocean blue. *ducks a low flying verb* :eek:


Loves that sound!! :rolleyes: :p :D

of course, Charlie Chaplin was also British

Col
As was Archie Leach :cool:

As was Archie Leach :cool:



One of the great transplants if you ask me.

What movie did he make a reference to Archie Leach

One of the great transplants if you ask me.



Like those of his ilk, he kept his Britishness to the end :cool:

As was Archie Leach :cool:
Born in Bristol no less:D ;)

Col

Born in Bristol no less:D ;)

Col
No wonder he left:D
wonder what happened to the accent:confused:

There has been much talk on these thread about entertainment reflecting the culture of America, so I thought I’d post some of the films and TV shows that most accurately portray our true lives.

So my first pick of movies is
Blade
Blade II
Blade Trinity

Absolutely the best portrait I have ever seen.

:p Don't forget the DIEHARD trilogy...

Bob Hope was born in the UK. He started his show biz career as a song and dance man. He learned comedy by watching others on the US vaudeville circuit.

:p Don't forget the DIEHARD trilogy...
The original post did say "entertainment that best depicts etc" :p

As much as I don't like the "yeaa haww" image and depiction of the West, especially in Colorado; much more appropriate for Wyoming but for this show...vacationing cop, low on smokes, trouble with the Mrs, bad headache, terrorists stealing Japanese bonds, gold, and seeking revenge, dealing with binary liquids, screaming kids, giant bombs, and having hung up on his wife for the second time...yippy kay yea!?#?$!?#

surely something like The Simpsons, or Malcolm in the Middle, is representative.

Otherwise, Deliverance, or indeed any other Burt Reynolds Good Old Boy movie.

Whereas in the UK, its Mastermind, or University Challenge obviously.

Dave Allen
How many different stories did he have for how he lost his finger? :D

If we are going by the original question "best depicts American life" - I've got a couple of candidates.

1. The old cop show Adam-12 was supposedly taken from real police files. Jack Webb was SUCH a stickler for that sort of thing that I tend to believe it. The unreality here is that they crammed a week of typical calls into a single episode to keep up action levels. But there were many cases where you saw ordinary folks with strange issues. OK, it focused on crime, but more often than not, they dealt with the aftermath. Yes, they had a few shoot-outs and more than a little violence, but they also showed officers scrambling to find lost kids. They showed officers crying when they found kids dead or hurt. They showed officers with private lives - Jim Reed's wife was a recurring if not weekly character.

2. Everybody Loves Raymond is a comedy that again stretches reality by cramming a lot more into an episode than would happen in a single day. But it deals with a semi-disfunctional family that copes with the imperfections of each member. It shows that despite the craziness, there is a lot of tolerance and more than a little love between the characters. Therefore it has a respectable amount of verisimilitude.

3. Driving Miss Daisy shows a very GOOD slice of American life regarding not only the shabby way that Miss Daisy treats Hoke in the beginning - but how they become friends as time passes because each sees the other as no more and no less than another HUMAN person. It shows that people CAN change in our society. They CAN overcome prejudice. They CAN grow out of blind neglect.

I cried my eyes out at the end when Miss Daisy is in a home and she doesn't want to see Booley - she wants to see Hoke. She reminded me too much of my own mother in the last couple of years of her life.

Jessica Tandy got an academy award for this performance. To my way of thinking, there was no competition that year. She was ahead of the other four combined.

4. Steel Magnolias - again another good depiction of friends who are slightly off-center individuals but who treasure each other. And who come together when one of their friends experiences a deep, personal tragedy. Not to mention that Weezer makes such a PERFECT comic foil.

In closing, I'll point out that NO depiction is perfect and many are not even close to a depiction of American life. But the ones I named above each have FACETS of truth in them. Just remember that sex and violence sell. Peaceful resolution with no strife involved DOESN'T sell. So take that into consideration when trying to guage the accuracy of anything you see. The more sex and violence you see, the more like it is to be totally untrue.

Peaceful resolution with no strife involved DOESN'T sell. .

I don't know, On Golden Pond did very well;)

I don't know, On Golden Pond did very well;)

I think the kid was a bit of strife for the old man in that movie wasn't he...:confused:

(Not to mention Hanoi Jane :cool: )

(Not to mention Hanoi Jane :cool: )

Odd how she's still hated in America for trying to bring an end to death and destruction:confused:

(Not to mention Hanoi Jane :cool: )
The big joke here in the UK is the current Loreal (because you're worth it) advert for anti-wrinkle cream featuring Jane Fonda. She's trying to make out its the cream that "keeps her young looking" and not the extensive plastic surgery she's had.:rolleyes: ref (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=385061&in_page_id=1773&in_a_source=)
Loreal must think people in the UK are stupid to think a tired 68 year old D list actress like her hasn't had help from a knife.:rolleyes: Only Americans would believe that rubbish.;)

Col

D list actress like her

Col
Thought she was A rated in Barbarella, myself:cool: ;)

In her youth, Jane Fonda was a "knockout babe" with misguided politics. She came out against the Vietnam war in a way that some folks COULD have construed as aiding and abeting enemies of the USA. Bordering on treason, to some eyes. Had she stated her views in some other way, she might not have been so maligned. But she chose an extreme way to call attention to her position and so got treated with considerable disrespect.

I'll accept On Golden Pond as a decent depiction of family interactions with a generation gap and multi-generational issues. I would concur that it should be added to the list of reasonable views of relatively modern Americana. Henry Fonda showed us many times in the past that he was a talented actor. That was a good "crown" to his career. And of course he is not totally responsible for the way his kids turned out. Like all parents, he did his best, but you know how it is... kids want to go out and save the world, each in their own way. Jane and Peter each took different paths.

In her youth, Jane Fonda was a "knockout babe" with misguided politics. She came out against the Vietnam war in a way that some folks COULD have construed as aiding and abeting enemies of the USA. Bordering on treason, to some eyes. Had she stated her views in some other way, she might not have been so maligned. But she chose an extreme way to call attention to her position and so got treated with considerable disrespect.

I'll accept On Golden Pond as a decent depiction of family interactions with a generation gap and multi-generational issues. I would concur that it should be added to the list of reasonable views of relatively modern Americana. Henry Fonda showed us many times in the past that he was a talented actor. That was a good "crown" to his career. And of course he is not totally responsible for the way his kids turned out. Like all parents, he did his best, but you know how it is... kids want to go out and save the world, each in their own way. Jane and Peter each took different paths.

I had the honor of meeting and talking with Bridget back in 1994 when she was supporting "Point of No Return" in L.A....now there's a super babe!?#$?$?!