Best Show on TV? Mos Def!

BBC 2 have confirmed that they will be airing The Wire in its entirety as of 30th March (albeit at the ridiculous time of 11.20pm) as blogged by the Guardian. Great news! Not that it makes much difference to me since I have already purchased all 5 series box sets. This critically acclaimed drama, revolving around the drug culture in western Baltimore but also encompassing social, political and educational dimensions, is quite simply the finest television series I have ever watched. It perhaps even surpasses The Sopranos in terms of the quality and sophistication of the writing, which i did not think possible. If you only watch one TV show again, make sure it is The Wire.

Shooting Stars

One of the best offerings on TV over the Christmas period was the Shooting Stars documentary. What a great show this was!

The One Show

Does anyone watch The One Show (shown at 7-7.30pm on BBC 1 funnily enough)? Normally I would only have this on in the background whilst waiting for something decent, like football, to come on or whilst clearing up the dishes. Christine Bleakley is as bland as a damp teabag, but recently they have had as guests two of the greatest rock GODS of all time in Robert Plant and Roger Daltrey! I never though I'd hear the legendary Led Zeppelin frontman talking about the declining sparrow population on a sofa with the amiable MOTD 2 presenter Adrian Chiles. Fair play to them for pulling in the big names when it really matters. Makes my weekday evening housework all the more enjoyable. Of course, I'm absolutely positive that his appearance on the show had nothing whatsoever to do with the recent release of his album, Raising Sands, in which he duets with Alison Krauss.

Brit Awards Sham

I inadvertently caught part of the Brit Awards last night on ITV, with the whole event appearing to be nothing more than an Amy Winehouse love-in. Obviously these awards are fixed but what disturbed me most was the sheer unprofessionalism of the whole thing. It seemed that everyone, including the award winners, award givers, guests and even the presenters (the Osbourne Family) were absolutely inebriated! Now I realise that this is the entertainment industry and those taking part are not expected to conduct themselves like respectable politicians, but the lack of respect shown to the viewer disgusted me. One award giver literally stumbled on stage, clumsily grabbing the microphone and attempted to describe the nominees. He failed miserably, missed his cue and simply growled "ahhnnd the winner is...." The abhorrent Winehouse herself, obviously ravaged by self pity, could barely stand and her singing was mumbled and incomprehensible. At the end she eventually dedicated her 'performance' to her darling (incarcerated) husband Blake (who was recently rushed to prison hospital having overdosed on heroin). But apparently, I am reliably informed, she is a tortured genuis. The one notable exception was Kylie Minogue who in fairness looked stunning and brought a modicum of gracefulness to the ceremony. But as a whole it was, in my opinion, a glaring reflection of the current state of British society - totally lacking in self confidence.