The first recording today is missing the start. It’s another episode of Saxondale. They’re reading the papers together. The others are laughing about David Hasselhoff in leather trousers, while Tommy is more interested in the birthday of Owen McLaren, the World War 2 aircraft designer who invented the baby buggy. “You know, we’re living in a truly sick society when people are more interested in poking fun at the trouser choice of a vulnerable middle -aged man. And by the way, leather is actually incredibly durable. They’re more interested in that than the engineering brilliance of a man who took knowledge gleaned in a brutal conflict and used it to cradle an infant child.”
Incidentally, my dressing gown is very similar to Tommy’s, although I doubt his is a replica of Arthur Dent’s dressing gown in the 2005 Hitchhiker’s Guide movie
They go to a school which has reported a rat. Tommy has to borrow a key from the caretaker, and rather prejudges him. The caretaker suggests he drops the keys off at the pub. “They’ve got Sky Sports.” “Do they? Does this pub also have some half -forgotten St. George’s flag-bunting stapled to a mock wooden beam?” “Yeah. Pop over.” No thank you. I’ll politely decline.”
Tommy’s neighbour pops over for some banter. He’s just watched the DaVinci Code. He’s also having some friends over to organise a pub quiz team. “You know, some of those semi-skilled guys, they know a damn sight more than they think.” Tommy replies “Well, the flip side is that some of the suited and booted guys turn out to be thick as pig shit.”
After this conversation, Tommy goes to return the keys to the caretaker, and thinks he should apologise for being so judgy. He notices that he has Robert Altman’s Short Cuts on DVD. “And I thought perhaps we could sup and discuss the work of Altman.” “Oh, what, this? Oh, yes, cracking stuff. I like the ginger bird.” “Yeah, it’s Julianne Moore. Really good actress.” “Well, most of them, they take their bra off, but in that one, she takes her knickers off.” “Yeah, yeah, she’s very enigmatic, brave performer.” “No, you can see her fanny.”
Mags has been painting again. Mary Queen of Scots being executed. “I wanted to capture her defiance.” “Job done. I mean, she speaks to you. She sort of says, you know, this guy might be about to strike a blow for the Reformation, but I have still got butt cheeks you could bounce a pound coin off.”
Tommy is asked by the school to give a careers talk. Obviously, he jumps at the chance to impart his wisdom to the next generation. It doesn’t go as well as he’d like, until the bell rings, and one of the boys asks him if he really toured with Pink Floyd, so he sits with a few of them, telling his stories.
But when the boys leave, he realises they’ve glued his bum to the chair. Raymond says “I’ll get some scissors.” “I’m not cutting a hole out of a perfectly good pair of black wranglers. Those kids have got to realise actions have consequences. They’re messing with the wrong guy.”
He also gets annoyed that the teacher owns a cool sports car.
Back home, Mags finds the pages that Tommy asked the kids to write about what they’d learned. The first couple are promising. “‘I learned that you should think for yourself and not just believe what you were told.’ ‘Today, I learned to look at things in a different way.’ These are amazing.” But pretty soon they change. “‘What a dick.’ Oh, well. There’s always a couple. Uh, ‘dick’. ‘Dick.’ ‘Bit of a dick.’ ‘Total dick.’ Uh, ‘prick.'” And some of them drew pictures. But Tommy calls it a success. “I’ve tried to teach those kids to kick against the pricks. I’m just the first prick, if you like, of many that they’ll kick against. Those first two guys, they were just… arse lickers. It’s the others, the prick-kickers. It’s just one of them goes on to form some sort of guitar-based band that invents a whole new sound, even if it’s mildly derivative of certain progressive rock bands of the mid -70s. Then… Mags, my work here is done.”
The recording stops here – because I was recording something else on the other tuner.
Media Centre Description: Comedy series about an ex-roadie now running a pest control business. Tommy and Raymond visit a school where Tommy is determined to show that he’s not just a dumb rat-catcher. He decides to enlighten the school kids with his worldly wisdom but instead of being a standard fusty old teacher he decides to ‘blow their minds’.
Recorded from BBC TWO on Thursday 13th September 2007 21:35
BBC Genome: BBC TWO Thursday 13th September 2007 21:35
The next recording just catches the credits of Saxondale.
There’s a trail for Drop Dead Gorgeous and one for a catch-up run of Heroes. I don’t think I have any Heroes coming up this month, though.
There’s also a tease for Strictly Come Dancing.
Then, That Mitchell and Webb Look, although this one I did look at almost a year ago.
Media Centre Description: Comedy sketch show starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Includes a new government initiative to simplify asking for a chair in a pub; a clip from the first TV broadcast in history; and a green clarinet that makes you reveal embarrassing truths. With Olivia Colman, James Bachman, Paterson Joseph and Abigail Burdess.
Recorded from BBC TWO on Thursday 13th September 2007 22:00
BBC Genome: BBC TWO Thursday 13th September 2007 22:00
After this, there’s a trail for Stuart: A Life Backwards with Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy, although it’s blocked on YouTube because the BBC can’t trim their copyright samples properly.
There’s also a trail for Tribe. And one for The National Lottery Big 7.
Then the recording stops during Newsnight which leads on a pretty seismic news story – the collapse of the bank Northern Rock as a result of the crash in the financial markets. This is going to be news for the next couple of years.
The next recording starts during the Previously On for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – Nevada Day part 2. We’ve missed quite a few episodes because I guess I’m an idiot. Tom Jeter has been arrested in Nevada for not paying a speeding fine, and Simon Styles, who went there to help him, has been arrested for possession of cannabis.
Harry is under fire for a statement she made about gay marriage, so she’s being seen as a gay basher. Jordan asks her to not perform at concerts for a faith group known for their anti-gay stance.
In Perump, Nevada, Tom, Simon, Network Executive Jack Rudolph and Danny are there with Zhang Tao, a man who might invest $100m into the network, and his daughter Kim, who’s a huge fan of Tom. She wants a picture with him, but Jack takes her camera and drops it on the floor to prevent a picture of Tom in handcuffs getting out.
John Goodman is the judge in the case. He gets a call from the Governor, which Jack assumes (since he’s raised money for him in the past) will get Tom off the hook, but when the judge comes back he says “Yeah, the instructions were to be very careful not to show Mr. Jeter any special treatment. Apparently, Mr. Rudolph, you’re a big contributor and fundraiser for the governor, and he’s a little sensitive about that.”
Lucy Davis (playing a writer called Lucy) is in the writers room. Another new writer, Darius, is asking her why some people are called Sir and others aren’t. “Is this a white people thing?” “I’m not white, Darius. I’m English.”
Because Tom and Simon are not available, the sketches for the night’s shows have to be redistributed. Dylan is asked to do the news with Harriet, but he’s suffering a crisis of confidence, as it’s not the kind of thing he normally does on the show.
Back in Perump, Nevada, it’s not looking good for Tom. “Well, we got a reckless driving. Wilful wanton disregard for public safety, causing death, bodily injury, and harm.” But the Assistant District Attorney spots something on Tom’s wrist. “That prisoner guy’s got some kind of arm bracelet. It’s like a military thing. I don’t know what it means.” The Judge looks at the bracelet, asks a few questions, then explains. “Mr. Jeter’s younger brother is a staff sergeant with the 820th Red Horse Squadron deployed out of Nellis Air Force Base. You know what Red Horse does? they go into war zones and they build things incredibly fast. A hospital in three days, roads, bridges.” “Is it dangerous?” “You want to go to a Taliban-controlled region of Afghanistan right now with an American flag on your shoulder and build a school?” “Why didn’t he say anything?” “This isn’t his first tour, is it?” “It’s his third.” “You see, staff sergeant Jeter is just playing Russian Roulette at this point because you should see what happens to the casualty numbers with multiple tours. He didn’t want his little brother’s last act on this Earth to be getting him out of a speeding ticket. I’m right, right?” “Yes, sir.” “What do you know, I’m Agatha Christie.” The Judge lets them all go.
Writer Lucy pitches a sketch based on the game Operation where a group of men take turns removing parts of the woman, like self-esteem, her soul, etc. Matt asks if she’s just had a hard break-up and she starts crying on his shoulder.
Arriving back at Studio 60, Jack is saying goodbye to Mr Zhang when his daughter checks her Blackberry and sees the gossip news about Jordan and the others. Kim translates, saying her father thinks “This woman has brought shame to your company. I’m sorry for my father. He’s very much set in old and maybe cliched ways of honour.” Jack launches into a rather out of character defence of Tom, Simon and Jordan. I particularly liked the line “Jordan McDeere has been all over the gossip pages because when she was 25, she married a… fraction of a man.” He then tells him that he should take his business to Time Warner.
Kim translates all of that to her father, who thinks for a moment, then his demeanour changes and he says something else. Kim explains “This is my fault. I translated wrong. He said that it’s the ex-husband that brought dishonour upon himself by speaking. It’s a subtle grammatical nuance.”
Dylan is back doing his characters. Simon comes to see him. “I heard you were good.” Which gives him a confidence boost. I do like it when these shows are people helping each other, and not coming to blows all the time.
It’s looking like Matt and Harry might be drifting together.
Media Centre Description: Drama series about a late-night comedy sketch show. Jack pleads in front of a Nevada judge to try to get Tom released in time for the Friday night show. Tension grows between Matt and Harriet.
Recorded from More 4 on Thursday 13th September 2007 22:05
The last recording today starts with the end of The Man who Walked Across the World.
There’s a trail for Flight of the Conchords.
And a trail for Radio 3.
Then, Mark Lawson Talks to Stephen King.
Media Centre Description: Horror writer Stephen King talks to Mark Lawson about his life and work.
Recorded from BBC FOUR on Friday 14th September 2007 01:28
BBC Genome: BBC FOUR Friday 14th September 2007 01:30
After this, another trail for Flight of the Conchords.
Then the recording stops with the start of Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children.
Here’s the ad breaks in Studio 60.
Adverts:
- trail: Film 4
- Ocado
- Bran Flakes
- Marks & Spencer
- The Observer
- Mazda 2
- Phones 4U
- Tropicana
- trail: More 4
- trail: 28 Days Later
- Toblerone Fruit and Nut
- Asda – Ian Wright
- Innocent Smoothies
- Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training – Nicole Kidman
- Plax
- Mazda 2
- Nutella
- trail: The WIld Gourmets
- trail True Stories: Beyond Hatred
- Febreze
- Felix Roasted
- Garnier UltraLift
- Andrex
- Currys
- The Lives of Others on DVD
- Tesco
- Flora Pro-Activ
- Toyota Auris
- trail: Film 4
- trail: Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
- Marks & Spencer
- Dove Pro-Age
- Imigran Recovery
- trail: 28 Days Later