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Am I getting old, or is TV getting better?
A few months ago, I was just about ready to throw my remote control into the municipal dumpster. If you don’t believe me, read my column "Creeping up on the Kardashians".
Now, all of a sudden, I’m cruising the channels again. In spite of the sad and inexplicable demise of etv’s Naked News, things are looking up.
Of course, I still don’t like the Kardashians, and I have sworn a solemn oath, with my hand on the DSTV magazine, never to watch that ghastly family of bored and spoilt kugels ever again. But then again, who knows what might happen? If the producers can convince some of them to get divorced, they can be convinced of anything! A mass suicide would be nice! This might not be the end of reality TV as a genre after all! I heard, through the grapevine, that Black Sabbath is getting together again for a new album and a tour. I sincerely hope they film a new series of The Osbournes while that happens! I'd love to see what happens when Ozzy gets home from the studio very late, and very drunk, and gets on everybody's nerves. That’s what happens in our house when I stay at the studio too late, and I'd love to see other people experiencing the same trauma…
'Riveting stuff'
One of the recent highlights have undoubtedly been the new South African series of Come Dine With Me. Though I think there should have been more authentically local recipes in the shows – why are there not more bunny- chows? Where are the traditional recipes like half a loaf of bread with a litre of Coke? Why didn’t they think of calling this series Come BRAAI With Me? – the South African episodes so far have been every bit as entertaining as those done overseas. It sort of makes up for the fact that I missed that Houghton braai with Jacob Zuma, Steve Hofmeyr and the editor of De Kat all those years ago; the fact that I turned down the invitation haunts me to this day.
Then, of course, there was the Conrad Murray trial, which Sky News kindly broadcasted live every single night for as long as it went on. John Grisham would not have been able to write a script like that! It was riveting stuff, believe me. My wife and I were on the edge of our couch every night, tired eyes glued to the flatscreen. When we couldn’t stay awake late enough, we taped it! It was far more entertaining than the Frasier repeats! It was more bizarre than Phineas and Ferb! It made Boer Soek 'n Vrou look like… well, I can’t actually think of anything worse than Boer Soek 'n Vrou, but you know what I mean!
Getting old
If things continue in this vein, I might still turn into a proper couch potato, like I did during the last Desperate Housewives series!
I have developed a taste for the medium again. I am starting to get into that posture again. I am starting to slouch again. The tell-tale hard piece of skin on my thumb is starting to make a triumphant comeback. Well, as I said, it's either because I'm actually really getting old, or it's because there's more good stuff to watch than before…
Got to run! Swiss Railway Journeys just started!
A few months ago, I was just about ready to throw my remote control into the municipal dumpster. If you don’t believe me, read my column "Creeping up on the Kardashians".
Now, all of a sudden, I’m cruising the channels again. In spite of the sad and inexplicable demise of etv’s Naked News, things are looking up.
Of course, I still don’t like the Kardashians, and I have sworn a solemn oath, with my hand on the DSTV magazine, never to watch that ghastly family of bored and spoilt kugels ever again. But then again, who knows what might happen? If the producers can convince some of them to get divorced, they can be convinced of anything! A mass suicide would be nice! This might not be the end of reality TV as a genre after all! I heard, through the grapevine, that Black Sabbath is getting together again for a new album and a tour. I sincerely hope they film a new series of The Osbournes while that happens! I'd love to see what happens when Ozzy gets home from the studio very late, and very drunk, and gets on everybody's nerves. That’s what happens in our house when I stay at the studio too late, and I'd love to see other people experiencing the same trauma…
'Riveting stuff'
One of the recent highlights have undoubtedly been the new South African series of Come Dine With Me. Though I think there should have been more authentically local recipes in the shows – why are there not more bunny- chows? Where are the traditional recipes like half a loaf of bread with a litre of Coke? Why didn’t they think of calling this series Come BRAAI With Me? – the South African episodes so far have been every bit as entertaining as those done overseas. It sort of makes up for the fact that I missed that Houghton braai with Jacob Zuma, Steve Hofmeyr and the editor of De Kat all those years ago; the fact that I turned down the invitation haunts me to this day.
Then, of course, there was the Conrad Murray trial, which Sky News kindly broadcasted live every single night for as long as it went on. John Grisham would not have been able to write a script like that! It was riveting stuff, believe me. My wife and I were on the edge of our couch every night, tired eyes glued to the flatscreen. When we couldn’t stay awake late enough, we taped it! It was far more entertaining than the Frasier repeats! It was more bizarre than Phineas and Ferb! It made Boer Soek 'n Vrou look like… well, I can’t actually think of anything worse than Boer Soek 'n Vrou, but you know what I mean!
Getting old
If things continue in this vein, I might still turn into a proper couch potato, like I did during the last Desperate Housewives series!
I have developed a taste for the medium again. I am starting to get into that posture again. I am starting to slouch again. The tell-tale hard piece of skin on my thumb is starting to make a triumphant comeback. Well, as I said, it's either because I'm actually really getting old, or it's because there's more good stuff to watch than before…
Got to run! Swiss Railway Journeys just started!
