Here's Johnny!!!

I notice today that Airplane is among the films that have been enlisted in the National Film Registry in the US today.  A worthy honour, coming so soon after the death of star Leslie Neilsen, though I must say that it's a shame it has taken so long.

I'm an Airplane fan - it's the best comedy ever - and it's character Johnny, played by Stephen Stucker, is, for me, it's highlight.  Enjoy the compilation below.

Stubborn

stub·born 

adj. stub·born·er, stub·born·est

1.

a. Unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; bullheaded.

b. Firmly resolved or determined; resolute. See Synonyms at obstinate.

2. Characterized by perseverance; persistent.

3. Difficult to treat or deal with; resistant to treatment or effort: stubborn soil; stubborn stains.

4. A quality which is questionable, at best, and distasteful at it's worst.

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[Middle English stuborn.]

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stubborn·ly adv.

stubborn·ness n.

Beware of The Danger That Is Christmas

It's a good job that Christmas is drawing to a close because, as this video shows, it's dangerous.  Until the decorations are taken down, wherever you are, be careful!!

More details on the story available here.

Well I Never...

Anyone doubting the increasing global reach of the Premier League need only see this.  A screen capture of the frontpage of ESPN.com (the American version) taken in the last few minutes.

I know that ESPN show some Premier League football in the US, and thus have a vested interest in promoting the match, but on a night in which the 'World Wide Leader In Sports' will be showing a key NFL encounter on Monday Night Football, it is Fabregas and Drogba which adorn their home page.  Progress such as this makes a development like the so-called '39th game' even more likely in years to come, trust me. 

Shame about the heroin-esque headline mind...

Viewers Deserve Better Than Mattie Muck

There's always been a routine to Sunday nights in the winter in my house. El Familia watch whatever they want on the TV as I log online on the laptop to watch the Chiefs. So right now, we're doing very well against the Titans while t'others watch Mattie on RTE 1. Awful doesn't cover it.

RTE comedies have generally been poor in recent years. The Panel and Podge and Rodge have had their moments, but I struggle to think of a decent RTE scripted comedy...ever. Mattie is no different. Don't just take my word for it; as a show Mattie is full of idiotic, flat, scarcely believable characters in constructed and unrealistic situations.

As if that wasn't bad enough, RTE are now advertising Mrs. Brown's Boys, made by Brendan O'Carroll. The ad looks awful, though that's hardly surprising given the type of material spewed out by O'Carroll in recent years. In many ways, this is comedy for the populace - Shortt and O'Carroll do well when it comes to drawing in punters, even if their works are largely shunned by the critics.

However, the best comedies of recent years, The Office and Extras, The Royle Family, Alan Partridge, Father Ted and (to a lesser extent) Phoenix Nights are completely different to this and offer a more critical, introspective show which we don't get from RTE. How a station which can give us The Panel and the Rubberbandits on Republic of Telly, can at the same time shove such shite (a term often used in Mattie tonight) I shall never know. Instead, we're set for offerings like this:

Oh look, Winning Streak is on now. Merry Christmas indeed.