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3月26日
1. You can never have too much Hugh Laurie. Never. I watched him in the new series of House (he blew me away - but he does that every week); I laughed at his befuddled Prince George in Blackadder The Third and I adore him alongside Stephen Fry in Jeeves And Wooster.
2. Nothing will erase the memory of Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus Of Nazareth (starring Robert Powell). I mentioned this production in an article looking back at TV In 1977 and for me, it remains the definitive portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ; visually stunning with a wonderful cast, who give excellent performances. The BBC gave it a fair go with The Passion but it was a case of close, but no cigar.
3. The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency was a fitting tribute to the  late Anthony Minghella. Directed by him, from a script he co-wrote with Richard Curtis, it's based on the first novel in the best-selling series by Alexander McCall Smith. R&B singer Jill Scott was a revelation in the lead role as Mma Ramotswe. Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) played her secretary Mma Makutsi and Lucian Msamati (Spooks) was first-class as Mma Ramotswe's suitor, JLB Matekoni. Special mention to David Oyelowo (The Last King Of Scotland, Spooks) as the sleazy Kremlin Busang; he made me laugh so hard, I got hiccups.
Some critics accused this production of being "rose-tinted" and "twee". OK fine. It did veer on that side a tad (Richard Curtis has a knack of doing that to every single thing he touches). However it was, without doubt, one of the funniest, most refreshing, poignant and life-affirming programmes I've seen on TV in a long while. And its massive 6 million showing in the ratings indicates that many more enjoyed it too.
African women in the lead roles would've made The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency perfect - but I guess this is a necessary concession in order to tap into that all-important American market. Look out for the series on BBC1 later this year. In the meantime, enjoy one of my favourite Jill Scott songs. It's called Family Reunion and it's about family get-togethers; y'all know the kinds I mean, right? Just picture a hot day, loadsa food and all your relatives popping round...including their kids.
4. There's no point screening Airplane!, and the like, in the daytime. My enjoyment of this classic movie was seriously ruined by Five who butchered it. I really wish broadcasters would desist from screening shows, sitcoms and films that are unsuitable pre-watershed if all they're going to do is cut them to pieces.
UKTV Gold? Stop showing Porridge and Only Fools And Horses if the political incorrectness or fruity language is not to your liking because the editing is not to ours! E4 and Channel 4? Forget about Friends in the daytime if the result is going to be cuts and chops so obvious, even a brain cell-challenged WAG wannabe can see it. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
5. I'm sick and tired of the long-running Sky/Virgin Media dispute. I was unable to see Terry Pratchett's The Colour Of Magic on Sky One due to the fact that I am a Virgin Media subscriber. Sky's basic channels have been unavailable to us for well over a year and it's time this dispute was resolved. Ultimately, it's customers that are losing out.
Today I am mostly lovin' - The Apprentice is back! I love this show. The first episode is a must-see so don't miss it.
Today I am mostly hatin' - The BBC should stop defending that buried alive/coffin EastEnders scene because they're starting to look stooooopid. It's indefensible. It's as simple as that. I'm no prude - I abhor censorship of all kinds, but there's a line...and EastEnders is one soap that persists in crossing it. Where is the common sense as far as pre-watershed content is concerned? UKTV Gold cuts out fruity (not profane) language from Only Fools And Horses in the afternoon and the BBC shows a man in a coffin because his wife intends to bury him alive before the 9pm mark. Hypocrites - the lot of 'em.
MSN Editor Coops
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3月21日
The thin line between comedy and tragedy; that's what classic sitcom Steptoe and Son always represented to me.
 As far as British situation comedy is concerned, you won't get much bigger or better than this tale of rag and bone men. It ran for eight series between 1962 and 1974, had massive viewing figures and made stars of Harry H Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell. The
often fraught, toxic relationship between Harold Steptoe and his father Albert never fails to raise a laugh. "You dir-----ty old man!" the son will often cry in utter revulsion at his father antics, including bathing in the living room. Y'see pater is uncouth, unkept and unrefined while poor Harold, with his delusions of grandeur, had ambitions and dreams beyond the claustrophobic confines of his wily old dad and the messy scrapyard. The show starts in the 1960s but there's no Swinging for Harold because the old man thwarts him at every turn. Deep down we know that he'll never leave his father and get out of the junkyard. The real tragedy is that Harold knows it too thus the despair and desperation jumps out of every single frame.
In a twist of fate that should redefine the concept of life imitating art, BBC Four's excellent dramatisation The Curse Of Steptoe scratched beneath the surface to bring us the pain of the pair that brought us the laughter. Starring Jason Isaacs as Harry H Corbett and Phil Davis as Wilfrid Brambell, both turn in absolutely superb performances as the chalk and cheese actors.
The story begins as Harry H Corbett, winning rave reviews for his serious stage work, is dubbed Britain's Marlon Brando. Writers  Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are, therefore, astonished when he agrees to appear in their one-off comedy about a father and son who are rag and bone men. However, Corbett viewed it as a postmodern drama: "It's not a sitcom, it's more like Beckett," he says. When it's a huge success, they pen a series. And then another. And another. And another…Before long, the two actors are both typecast - forever cemented as "'Arrrold!" and "You dir-----ty old man!" Harry H Corbett's dazzling stage career is ruined, while closet homosexual and heavy drinker Wilfrid Brambell found his secret private life hitting the headlines in the worst possible way.
The sad truth is they created a monster from which there was no escape. Watching Steptoe and Son now, and hearing Harold moan about being trapped, is like a punch in the face. It truly adds to the poignancy, as if there wasn't enough already. "Actors - they're all poofs!" old man Steptoe sneers as his son prepares for a new career, his latest attempt to escape. The irony is painful given Brambell's sexuality, but the writers aren't finished: they pen Harold practicing Marlon Brando's "I coulda been a contender" speech from On The Waterfront. It's enough to make you weep.
Today I am mostly lovin' - House is back! My TV life has meaning again. And Hugh Laurie? Phwoar!
Today I am mostly hatin' - Broadcasters plan more TV commercial breaks. Yes, you read that right...
MSN Editor Coops
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3月11日
BBC News 24 is on all day in our office (for obvious reasons) and so it was impossible to miss the crowing as newsreader after newsreader announced that World War II sitcom 'Allo 'Allo has been sold to the Germans. Who said they don't have a sense of humour? No wonder the BBC was loving the irony.
 'Allo 'Allo ran on BBC1 from 1982-1991 and remains one of Britain's best-loved sitcoms. A massive hit, it was set in Nazi-occupied France, poking fun at the Gestapo, Hitler and just about everybody else. It will be broadcast in Germany for the first time and dubbed into German in its entirety. A shame in a way as some of the comedy accents will probably get lost in translation.
How funny will Officer Crabtree be in the new German version? He was the British spy posing unconvincingly as a Gendarme, often mangling the French language with his Inspector Clouseau-like diction. "Good Moaning," was his catchphrase (of course, he meant 'good morning') and it became one of the most famous associated with the show.
Other memorable characters included the put-upon Rene Artois (played by Gordon Kaye) who constantly faced drama in his home life due to the uneasy line he trod between appeasing the local Nazis and aiding the Resistance. A long-running joke had Renee hiding a painting, The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies, inside a garlic sausage (always got to get the phallic joke in there somewhere).
Herr Flick was the emotionless Gestapo officer with the exaggerated limp. Always dressed in a long leather trench coat and steel-rimmed glasses, his secret relationship with Nazi double agent Helga Geerhart provided an endless source of jokes.
Captain Bertorelli was the Italian stereotype; disorganised, flirtatious and in command of troops who were a shambles. Often uttering, "The beautiful lady, I kissa the hand!" in a heavy Italian accent, his other catchphrases included "What-a mistake-a to make-a!" and "Heil-a-Mussolini!"
Finally, who can forget Michelle Dubois? Leader of the local branch of the Resistance, Michelle is also the owner of one of the sitcom's most famous catchphrases - "Listen very carefully, I shall say zis only once" - uttered every time she explains the latest absurd plan.
BBC Worldwide struck the unlikely deal with broadcaster ProSiebenSat1, which will show all eight series (83 episodes). A BBC spokeswoman said: "Both BBC Worldwide and ProSiebenSat1 are very happy about the deal. 'Allo 'Allo is a high quality programme which had not been picked up in Germany until now due to the subject matter." Get a flavour of the show by watching the video...
'Allo 'Allo was written by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd, the duo also responsible for Are You Being Served? with its "I'm free!" John Inman catchphrase, a pre-EastEnders Wendy Richard as Miss Brahms and Mollie Sugden's Mrs Slocombe, always worrying about her "pussy" (a cat, of course). The fantastic thing about 'Allo 'Allo was that it sent everyone up: the English were befuddled twits with upper-class accents; the Nazis were ineffectual buffoons; the French were very 'ooh la la!' and the Italians were greasy-haired charmers. No one was spared - 'Allo 'Allo was a stickler for equal opportunities stereotyping. In addition, it made crude innuendoes and predictable gags an art form. All very Carry On Nazi. No wonder we Brits, for the most part, lapped it up. And now the Germans will. Somebody needs to tell Basil Fawlty that it's OK to mention the war now. 
Today I am mostly lovin' - The FA Cup! How brilliant to see Chelsea and Man U lose! Hahaha! Looking forward to the final now. Good luck to all the teams remaining.
Today I am mostly hatin' - That bleedin' Flake advert with Joss Stone. What a Jurrassic pile of codswallop. Dropping a sledgehammer on yer toe is probably less painful than sitting through that paean to pretentiousness. Bring back the proper Flake girl adverts!
MSN Editor Coops
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3月3日
The invitation said: 'Channel 4 invites you to join Professor Stephen Hawking for a special preview screening of Stephen Hawking: Master of the Universe at Channel 4...' No way was I saying no to that so off I went.
 I've interviewed some top Hollywood stars in my time - I'm talking Big Kahunas here. However, I have never felt so humbled and awed as I was when Professor Hawking's chair was wheeled in. "Hello. How are you?" he said to members of the press via his electronic voice synthesizer.
As far as I'm concerned, that should be officially listed as an eighth Wonder of the World. It was absolutely incredible to be in the presence of such a great man.
You'll have to excuse my inability to find the words to express the feeling that came over me. Suffice it to say, I had goose bumps.
We were all there to watch the first instalment of a two-part series which examines some of the very biggest, mind-blowing posers of them all - and more astonishingly, tries to find answers. Presented by Professor Stephen Hawking, arguably the most famous scientist of our age, it lifts the lid on what we know about the universe, and how much more is still to be gleaned. The results will probably surprise even the most ardent armchair boffin. Among the posers featured here are: how did the universe begin, how will it end and what was there before it?
On starry, starry, nights - when looking up at the sky makes me breathless at the beauty of it all - I've pondered these very things. Who? What? When? Why? How? Watching this programme will make you realise just how insignificant our planet really is in the grand scheme of things - how petty are all the things we find to fight over (religion? Pah). The man himself says: "…my need to find answers to the fundamental questions about our existence is undiminished." Now that's what I call music to my ears. The series starts on Channel 4 tonight, and concludes next week, at 9pm. Watch and prepare to be astounded…
Channel 4 clip: Stephen Hawking introduces Master Of The Universe
Today I am mostly lovin' - Mad Men. Make a date to watch every Sunday on BBC Four (or catch up every Tuesday night on BBC2) because this is quality must-see television. Another fab US import.
Today I am mostly hatin' - Am I the only person creeped out by that Foxy Bingo TV advert? It's that bloomin' man-fox!
MSN Editor Coops
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3月2日
Regular readers of this blog will know that the first entry of the new month is about looking back. I've perused all the feedback and mail sent in during February. Here's what you've been saying...
Marie asked: "Can anybody tell me if Virgin TV is getting Lost back as I miss it - great show."
I'm assuming that Marie is, like me, a Virgin Media subscriber. For anyone who doesn't know, thanks to a bitter dispute between Sky and Virgin, for over a year now we Virgin Media subscribers have been without Sky's basic channels, including the likes of Sky One and Sky News. Marie, this acrimonious disagreement is heading for court. If you're really desperate to see Lost in the short term, get someone to record it for you (or switch to Sky).
I've had a response from a satisfied customer: "Hi madam editor. Many thanks for my Greggs scrumptious man's name. It's a pity u can't do any thing about Miss Phillips on GMTV. Can u do anything about those Loose Women? Enjoy your page - keep up the good work. Talk to you soon byeee."
Lawdy Miss Clawdy (one for Elvis fans), there just isn't time to tackle all that's so wrong with the Loose Women crew. They're the kind of females men run a million miles away from...
I wrote an article entitled Ashes To Anachronisms detailing some of the bloopers and goofs in the BBC's Ashes To Ashes. Some MSN users were not impressed: maygo wrote: "First of all I think Lorna Cooper needs to get out a bit more, so what if some of the content was too early, or not at the correct time period, why don't people just sit back and enjoy the programme for what it is: an entertainment programme, not a 1981 TV documentary." And JonJon1962 wrote: "If Lorna Cooper and Ambika Behal want a 'bona fide slice of 1981' I suggest they go watch a documentary. This is ENTERTAINMENT... Suspend your disbelief (and petty nit-picking) and BE entertained!"
Well, well, well. I have stirred a hornet's nest, haven't I? However, I stand by my article with regard to the anachronisms in Ashes. I took pains to point out the convenient excuse the people behind the show have for their various boobs and believe it or not, it doesn't always spoil my enjoyment. However, I feel it's pertinent to point out the reality for people who weren't around back then. Like I said in the article; it's 1981, Jim but not as I know it. By the way JonJon1962, our assistant Ambika wasn't even born back in 1981. And she's from America to boot...
Last word to my Spurs-supporting mate famouseccles: "Lo Coops. got a question for you. Is there any way to find out what the presenters think on Flog It, Cash In The Attic, Car Booty, and all, about the people on the show who do not seem to listen to the experts? You know what I mean: the expert says £200-£300 so they slap their own reserve on it of £400! If they don't want to sell it, why put it up for auction in the first place? They come across as very avaricious and me and her indoors are happy sometimes if the items don't sell (serves 'em right)."
Mate, next time I'm interviewing anyone from those shows, I shall ask for you, I promise. Maybe it's human nature famouseccles? After all, I bet you've screamed at someone to settle on Deal Or No Deal only to watch them go home with a measly tenner? It makes good telly though...
Thanks for all your comments and messages guys. Keep them coming in. That's it for this month as far as the mailbag is concerned.
MSN Editor Coops
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