The first recording today starts with the end of Richard & Judy talking to Graham Norton.
Then, an episode of The Simpsons – Bart after Dark.
There’s a nice couch gag.
There’s a really time-specific joke at the start when Bart and Lisa are watching Itchy and Scratchy when the picture cuts out and they shout “V-Chip! V-Chip!” For those of you who are younger than me (which, I’d wager, is most of you) the V-Chip is a chip that lets viewers cut the picture and sound if the programme contains violence, bad language or sex. It was big news in the late 90s, but then, I’ve never heard it mentioned since, apart from this joke.
Bart is caught destroying a gargoyle on an old house when he tries to retrieve a remote control plane from its roof. The woman at the house, Belle, brings him home and demands that Homer punishes him.
Homer decides the most appropriate punishment is for Bart to do chores for Belle, at which point Bart discovers that the house is a Burlesque house – La Maison Derriere.
There’s a famous meme.
Marge incites an angry mob to destroy the house.
The angry mob is calmed by a big song and dance number, “We Put the Spring in Springfield”
Media Centre Description: While Marge and Lisa are out of town, Homer allows Bart to work at a burlesque theatre.
Recorded from Channel 4 on Friday 15th February 2008 17:58
This recording stops with the start of Hollyoaks.
The next recording is a new episode of Moving Wallpaper.
Jonathan has discovered YouTube and wonders how they can use it either to promote the show, or as a plot point. He’s particularly amused by “Star Wars Kid” although it’s never named in the show, and in trying to explain about it, he has a mishap with a lamp himself.
There is a brief shot of the video itself – except that’s not the original, so I suspect the programme either couldn’t clear the rights to show it, or to show YouTube, so it’s a recreation of the video, on a site called “Watchyou.co.uk” which doesn’t ever appear to have existed. Also, the comments to the side don’t appear to relate to the video, but they do look like comments from something.
Mel arrives with big news. She was with Martine at a nightclub. “Anyway, I am getting hammered on tequila when I suddenly spot Ewan McGregor. And I’m like, hi, Ewan. Remember me? He’s all over me, especially when I tell him I work on Echo Beach, which he loves. So I ask him if he fancies a cameo and he nearly bites my arm off.” This is greeted with much joy around the team.
Nancy comes to the set to see Jonathan, just after he’s announced the McGregor news to the crew. “I’ve just had Ewan’s agents on the phone, and they want to know why the hell everybody’s talking about him coming on the show.” “Well, I tell you, if his whiskey head’s ringing like mine this morning, probably hasn’t got round to telling his agents yet. That’s what happens when you go straight for the host, cut out the parasite.” “Well, the host has actually spoken to the parasite to say that he was very drunk last night, but he’s never seen the show. And if he did agree to go on it, he was probably taking the piss.” “Oh, fuck.” “Oh, fuck indeed.”
Jonathan discovers that the writers have put video of him messing up with the lamp onto YouTube. “How do I delete this? Look, someone’s written this. ‘It’s sick.'” “You can’t delete comments, but sick means good.”
I notice that the comments shares a few usernames from the ones on the Star Wars Kid video.
Nancy phones. She’s seen the video and she’s actually pleased. “Relax, Jonathan. I’m delighted for two reasons. One, you look like a dick, which gives me no end of pleasure. And two, you name check Echo Beach. Last time I looked, that clip had been watched by thousands of people around the globe. We are now a worldwide brand.”
Then there’s a phone call – it’s Ewan McGregor. He’s seen the video on YouTube, feels bad about letting everyone down, and wants to do the show. Jonathan wonders if it’s a wind-up. Sam writes “It’s Not a Wind-up” on a pad, Jonathan squints at it (the light in the office is really dark because Gillian has replaced all the lightbulbs with low energy bulbs) and then says “Yeah, well, why don’t my people talk to your people and then you can go and screw yourself, you donkey-cocked Scottish hack.” He slams down the phone. “God, that felt good.” He thought it was Tom on another line winding him up. But Tom was standing behind him the whole time. He says to Sam “It’s not that bad, is it? I mean, you know, Donkey-cock, that’s sort of a compliment, right?” Then Nancy calls. “Nance! Hi!”
Media Centre Description: Mel reveals that she’s swung it for Ewan McGregor to appear in Echo Beach, and the team are whipped into a frenzy of excitement as Jonathan orders rewrites to include the star. But while Jonathan takes the credit for the star casting, Nancy is furious with him for making rash decisions.
Recorded from ITV1 on Friday 15th February 2008 21:00
The next recording is our first visit to the Dave channel, and it’s for an episode of Big Train.
Among the sketches are the Men’s Room fragrance tester.
Steptoe on the Catwalk
The mixed up hospital results.
There’s a running gag, with Kevin Eldon as a fat-handed twat.
Primal Scream Therapy.
The editor who makes terrible choices.
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Working Class.
A French drama featuring Mrs Potato Head.
The fat-handed twat has a redemption arc.
Mark Heap does some Derren Brown-style thumb magic.
Apocalypse Now, if Colonel Kurtz did some magic.
The violent dinner party
A long sketch about hiring a production secretary played as a horror film.
Media Centre Description: Second series of the award-winning surreal sketch show. This edition includes a cautionary tale of love involving a large potato, and the first television screening of the 60s classic ‘Alfred Hitchcock’s The Working Class’. Starring Kevin Eldon, Rebecca Front, Mark Heap, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Simon Pegg and Catherine Tate.
Recorded from Dave on Friday 15th February 2008 22:18
This recording ends with the start of Mock The Week.
The next recording starts with the end of Later… with Jools Holland.
There’s a promo for BBC Asian Network and a trail for FA Cup Football.
Then It’s a repeat of Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Host.
Media Centre Description: Sci-fi drama series set aboard the USS Enterprise. Beverly Crusher makes an astonishing discovery when the handsome Trillian ambassador with whom she is in love is badly injured.
Recorded from BBC TWO on Saturday 16th February 2008 00:33
BBC Genome: BBC TWO Saturday 16th February 2008 00:35
After this there’s a trail for Torchwood.
Then the recording stops as the next episode starts.
The next episode overlaps with the previous recording. It’s another repeat showing of Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Mind’s Eye.
Media Centre Description: Sci-fi drama series set aboard the USS Enterprise. Geordi is kidnapped by Romulan forces and, with days of brainwashing, is programmed to act on their orders and sent back to the Enterprise.
Recorded from BBC TWO on Saturday 16th February 2008 01:18
BBC Genome: BBC TWO Saturday 16th February 2008 01:20
There’s the Torchwood trail again, plus the Asian Network promo.
Then the recording ends with the start of Phantasm III.
Here’s the ad breaks in The Simpsons.
Here’s the Moving Wallpaper ad breaks.
Here’s the Big Train ad breaks.
Adverts:
- trail: Cutting Edge: My Street
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- MFI
- Herbal Essences
- Gillette Fusion Power – Thierry Henry, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer
- Stop Smoking
- Egg Card
- Army
- Stop Smoking
- Penelope in cinemas
- Gucci by Gucci
- Homebase
- trail: Rude Tube
- trail: 4Music Sundays
- BT Free Weekend Calls – Kris Marshall
- Tesco
- Johnson’s 24 hour moisture
- Tefal
- Colgate MaxFresh
- Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition
- trail: T4
- Walker’s Crisps – Gary Lineker
- Neutrogena Visibly Clear – Kristin Kreuk
- McCain Home Fries
- Daily Mail
- Apple MacBook Air
- Dreams
- DVLA Car Tax Rules
- trail: Lewis
- trail: Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
- Crunchy Nut Cornflakes
- Sun Bites
- Michael Jackson – Thriller 25
- B&Q
- Royal Air Force
- Purina Gourmet
- Heinz Beanz Snap Pots
- trail: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- trail: Red Dwarf 20th Anniversary Weekend
- trail: Medical Emergency
- Cadbury Digestives
- Special K Mini Breaks
- Cravendale
- The Accidental Husband in cinemas
- The Sun
- Muller Rice low fat
- Nutella
- Huggies DryNites
- Andrex
- Philadelphia Splendips
- trail: Murdoch Mysteries
- trail: Robin Hood
- trail: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- Homebase
- L’Oreal Recital Preference – Linda Evangelista
- Jaffa Cakes
- Crunchy Nut Cornflakes
- Lemsip Max
- National Lottery
- Lancome Virtuose
- Abbey
- Asda
- Daddy Day Camp on DVD
- Rimmel Renew & Lift
- Johnson’s 24 hour moisture
- trail: Masterchef Goes Large