83 posts tagged with UK.
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Faking It: All episodes Season 0, Ep 0
Faking It was an early British reality TV show. Its challenge was based on Shaw's Pygmalion: experts get a month to train a member of the public to the point where a panel of their peers would be unable to pick them from a group as an imposter. Often there might be a loose connection between the existing and new occupation of the candidate: "Sheep sheerer to hairdresser" or "Show girl to show jumper", for example. The trainee would live with the experts for the month and would usually undergo a makeover as well as training by actors. After their test - they would return home - either reluctantly or gratefully. [more inside]
Book: The Secret Hours
Two years ago, a hostile Prime Minister launched the Monochrome inquiry, investigating "historical over-reaching" by the British Secret Service. Monochrome’s mission was to ferret out any hint of misconduct by any MI5 officer—and allowed Griselda Fleet and Malcolm Kyle, the two civil servants seconded to the project, unfettered access to any and all confidential information in the Service archives in order to do so.
But MI5’s formidable First Desk did not become Britain’s top spy by accident, and she has successfully thwarted the inquiry at every turn. Now the administration that created Monochrome has been ousted, the investigation is a total bust—and Griselda and Malcolm are stuck watching as their career prospects are washed away by the pounding London rain.
Until the eve of Monochrome’s shuttering, when an MI5 case file appears without explanation. It is the buried history of a classified operation in 1994 Berlin—an operation that ended in tragedy and scandal, whose cover-up has rewritten thirty years of Service history. [more inside]
Blue Lights: Blue Lights Season One (full) Season 1, Ep 0
Blue Lights follows rookie police officers working in Belfast, a city in which being a frontline response cop comes with unique pressures and dangers. The city, nominally "post-conflict" still has sectarian divides, paramilitaries running drug operations and conditions which make police work difficult. The Guardian "Don’t sleep on this fantastically tense Belfast cop show". The Spectator "The BBC’s Blue Lights is a near-perfect cop drama"
First shown by the BBC March 2023 and currently available on iPlayer.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Biden's Border Policy Season 10, Ep 10
This week.... Matthew McConaughey's had a five-and-a-half-hour-long "The Art of Livin'" Virtual Live Event that was bonkers. In the UK, they prepare for Charles' coronation despite facing serious economic problems. And Now: Is Matthew McConaughey OK? Main story: Biden, and the ways in which he's failed to live up to his campaign rhetoric regarding immigration, like the continued abuse of Title 42, a public health law, which began under Trump as a way to prevent access to immigrants and asylum seekers was began under Trump policy golem Stephen Miller, and which Biden has notably failed to stamp out." And Now: Wait, Did Tucker Carlson Know This Was Coming? (Statements Carlson has said on Fox News that could be seen to refer to his recent resignation-probable-firing.) On Youtube. (20 minutes) Finally, an update over the ads fo Radiant Plumbing and Air Conditioning, who makes strange and wonderful toilet-themed parodies of big movies for commercials. Last month LWT challenged them to make a toilet-themed commercial parody based on a movie of their choosing. They accepted in brilliant fashion, and the movie choice was, of all things, Magnolia. What they produced, awesomely, was... Magtoiletolia.
Movie: All Night Long
British director Basil Dearden followed his gay blackmail thriller Victim with 1962’s All Night Long, which re-imagines Shakespeare's Othello at a late night London jazz jam. Patrick McGoohan is drummer Johnny Cousins, the scheming, pot-smoking Iago who prowls the party stirring up jealousy and fear to tear the interracial couple of bandleader Aurelius Rex and his wife Delia apart so Delia will sing with Johnny when he leaves Othello's band. An excellent score helps drive the tightening downward spiral, with Charles Mingus and Dave Brubeck showing up as themselves throughout the party. [more inside]
Movie: Victim
Basil Dearden's landmark 1961 noir about gay men in London victimized by a blackmail ring is credited with helping shift British attitudes about homosexuality. Closeted actor Dirk Bogarde plays the guilt-ridden lawyer who decides to fight back. Surprisingly thrilling, and sympathetic to a range of gay characters who are presented with minimal stereotyping (for the time). Banned from wide release in the US because Dearden refused to make concessions. 100/87 at Rotten Tomatoes, on HBO and the Criterion Channel. [more inside]
Stonehouse: Stonehouse (Full Season) Season 1, Ep 1
A bingeable three-episode series on Britbox/Amazon Prime about "the life and times of disgraced Labour politician John Stonehouse, a high-flying minister of Prime Minister Harold Wilson's government who vanished from the beach of a large luxury hotel in Florida in November 1974, leaving a neatly-folded pile of clothes as he swam into the sea, intent on faking his own death." (IMDB)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Bail Reform Season 9, Ep 27
This (well last) week.... Liz Truss resigns as UK Prime Minister after 45 days, to be replaced by Rishi Sunak. And Now: Unnecessary Full Disclosure. Main story: Bail reform, and how important it is despite it being used by right-wing attack ads to try to damage progressive, and, you know, just plain non-evil candidates. On Youtube (27 minutes) This is LWT's second report on bail; here is the first. (18 minutes) And Now: Unnecessary Full Disclosure All Tamron Hall Edition.
Movie: The Lost King
An amateur historian defies the academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III's remains, which were lost for over 500 years. [more inside]
Taskmaster: Series 14 Season 14, Ep 0
Little Alex Horne (6'2") kicks off Season 14 by posting his interview with/analysis of Dara Ó Briain. The other contestants vying for the Golden Noggin are Fern Brady, John Kearns, Munya Chawawa, and Sarah Millican. The fourteenth series airs Thursday, September 29 through December 1, 2022, on BBC 4 (never mind on their goofy-named streaming service, Taskmastersupermaxplus). There's another series preview on their twitter channel. Who will win? Hopefully, the audience.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Bolsonaro Season 9, Ep 23
This week... Biden declares the pandemic to be over, which it isn't. Florida governor Ron DeSantis flies migrants (from Texas, not Florida) to Martha's Vineyard at Florida taxpayer expense in a ridiculous stunt for the benefit of Fox News. Puerto Rico, hit by Hurricane Fiona, has power problems again, in large part due to the mismanagement of LUMA Energy. Puerto Rican rap artist Bad Bunny drew attention to the island's continuing electrical woes with a video that at first appears to be a music video, but then turns out to be a 22-minute documentary. And Now: The Queue to End All Queues (the one to pay respects to the deceased Queen of England). Main Story: A return to Jair Bolsonaro, the far right President of Brazil who is running for election. He seems likely to lose but may decide to refuse to leave office, following Trump's example and encouraging a riot. On Youtube (20 minutes). At the end, John Oliver wishes support for the people of Brazil, speaking Portuguese while swinging nunchaku around. There's a reason, kind of.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: GORGO Rewatch Season 9, Ep 9
Rewatch! It's Godzilla in the UK! A couple of guys capture a giant sea lizard and show it at a carnival, not realizing it's just a baby, and its mum is pissed. Leonard Maltin shows up in host segments. Previously.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: THE DEADLY BEES Rewatch Season 9, Ep 5
Rewatch! Bees are on the rampage in the UK, and a singer in the country for a rest cure tries to figure out why they're killing people, while the British bureaucracy churns away trying to send someone to investigate. An odd movie with a very weird moment right at the end. In subplot news, the other Observers show up and try to get Brain Guy to go off with them to observe things. Previously.
Book: Bad Actors
A governmental think-tank, whose remit is to curb the independence of the intelligence service, has lost one of its key members, and Claude Whelan—one-time head of MI5's Regent’s Park—is tasked with tracking her down. But the trail leads straight back to the Park itself, with Diana Taverner as chief suspect. Has Diana overplayed her hand at last? What’s her counterpart, Moscow’s First Desk, doing in London? And does Jackson Lamb know more than he’s telling?
Over at Slough House, with Shirley Dander in rehab, Roddy Ho in dress rehearsal, and new recruit Ashley Khan turning up the heat, the slow horses are doing what they do best, and adding a little bit of chaos to an already unstable situation… [more inside]
Taskmaster: Series 13: The whole thing, beginning with the preview. Season 13, Ep 0
Taskmaster: Series 13 [TRAILER] premieres Thursday 14 April 2022. A live studio audience will be in attendance for the first time since Series 9—Nov 2019! The lucky panelists whose personal items and egos will be on the line are Ardal O'Hanlon, Bridget Christie, Chris Ramsey, Judi Love and Sophie Duker. Their time ... starts ...
Taskmaster: The Entirety of Series 12 Season 12, Ep 0
Alan Davies, Desiree Burch, Guz Khan, Morgana Robinson and Victoria Coren Mitchell all vie for the Golden Head of the Taskmaster—and to eventually advance to the Champion of Champions III! But first they have to elbow their way through the ten-episode labyrinth of odd tasks overseen by Little Alex Horne... and then convince Greg Davies—the Taskmaster—that they actually performed said tasks, nevermind whether they may have done well. See the astonished looks on everyone's faces when Greg totally mishandles the doling out of precious points. [more inside]
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Housing Discrimination Season 8, Ep 18
This week: another show from the void, but maybe not for much longer! The Tokyo Olympics proceed despite a spike in COVID cases, and the UK prepares to lift nearly all restrictions despite an uptick in cases over there. And Now: People On TV Mean "Fucking" (Olympics Edition). Main story (32 minutes): Housing Discrimination, its legacy in the US, how its effects are felt today, and what can be done to rectify it. [more inside]
Small Axe: Lovers Rock Season 1, Ep 2
Lovers Rock is a 2020 romance film directed by Steve McQueen and co-written by McQueen and Courttia Newland. It stars Micheal Ward and Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn as two lovers who meet at a reggae house party in 1980 in West London. The film was released as part of the anthology series Small Axe.
The Great British Bake Off: Week 1: Cake Season 11, Ep 1
IT'S HERE! After six weeks in a bubble the beloved baking show is back with a brand new batch of bakers. Week 1 brings Battenbergs, Bromeliaceae, and . . . busts? Airs on Channel 4 in the UK on Tuesdays and on Netflix in the US on Fridays. [more inside]
Movie: Sorry We Missed You
Hoping that self-employment through the gig economy can solve their financial woes, a hard-up UK delivery driver and his wife struggling to raise a family end up trapped in the vicious circle of this modern-day form of labour exploitation. The newest film from Ken Loach. [more inside]
Gangs of London: Season 1 Season 1, Ep 0
The city of London is being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it and the sudden power vacuum that's created when the head of London's most powerful crime family is assassinated. [more inside]
The Crown: Cri de Coeur Season 3, Ep 10
As her marriage falls apart, Princess Margaret finds solace in the arms of a much younger landscape gardener. The Queen and the nation celebrate Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. (Season finale)
The Crown: Imbroglio Season 3, Ep 9
While Princess Anne dates her elder brother's polo rival, Andrew Parker Bowles, Prince Charles falls deeply in love with Camilla Shand, causing the Queen Mother and Lord Mountbatten to interfere.
The Crown: Dangling Man Season 3, Ep 8
Charles visits the exiled Duke of Windsor in his Paris chateau, only to find him very ill. But will the Queen make peace with her uncle before he dies?
The Crown: Moondust Season 3, Ep 7
The 1969 moon landing occasions a mid-life crisis in Prince Philip, who thinks of the adventures he has missed as the Queen's consort.
The Crown: Tywysog Cymru Season 3, Ep 6
Prince Charles is sent to Aberystwyth to learn Welsh from an ardent nationalist in preparation for the ceremony for his investiture as Prince of Wales.
The Crown: Bubbikins Season 3, Ep 4
Left without a home by a political coup in Athens, Philip's eccentric mother, Princess Alice of Greece, is invited to live in Buckingham Palace by the Queen. [more inside]
The Crown: Aberfan Season 3, Ep 3
A horrible disaster in the Welsh town of Aberfan leaves scores of children dead, but when the Queen takes a week to decide to visit the town to offer solace to its people, she must confront her reasons for postponing the trip.
The Crown: Margaretology Season 3, Ep 2
While Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon visit the USA, the queen, at the bidding of Harold Wilson, asks them to make a side trip to Washington, D.C. to ask President Johnson for financial assistance for the United Kingdom.
The Crown: Olding Season 3, Ep 1
The royal family mourns the passing of Winston Churchill. The United Kingdom ushers in a new prime minister, the Labour Party's Harold Wilson, whom Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth hear might be a Soviet spy.
This Way Up: Season One (All Episodes) Season 1, Ep 0
A young woman puts her life back together after suffering from a nervous breakdown.
Book: The Rook
"The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her. [more inside]
Movie: The Party
Janet hosts a party to celebrate her new promotion, but once the guests arrive it becomes clear that not everything is going to go down as smoothly as the red wine. [more inside]
Special Event: The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2019: Documentary
ShortsTV presents a theatrical release of the five Oscar nominees for Best Documentary, Short Subject [more inside]
Humans: All Episodes Season 3, Ep 0
A year has passed since the synths gained consciousness, but they're fighting to survive in a world that hates and fears them.
Movie: After The Screaming Stops
In the 1980s, "Bros" were one of the biggest bands in the world - for 15 minutes. [more inside]
There She Goes - BBC4
This looks really interesting - "A young girl with a learning disability makes her way through life. " ... stars David Tennant (Doctor Who etc) and Jessica Hynes (Spaced, W1A). Anyone interested in a fanfare post for it?
Bodyguard: Episode 4 Season 1, Ep 4
Struggling to come to terms with the traumatic events of the last 24 hours, the home secretary's bodyguard David Budd himself falls under suspicion. [more inside]
Bodyguard: Episode 3 Season 1, Ep 3
As the terrorist threat increases, PS David Budd strives to prevent the home secretary Julia Montague from falling victim to an assassination plot. [more inside]
Bodyguard: Episode 2 Season 1, Ep 2
Home secretary Julia Montague's controversial policies make her a terrorist target and test the loyalty of specialist protection officer David Budd. [more inside]
Bodyguard: Episode 1 Season 1, Ep 1
A troubled war veteran, PS David Budd, is assigned to protect a controversial politician who may be the target of a terror plot. [more inside]
Movie: King Ralph
As the only relative to take over the Royal throne, a down on his luck American slob must learn the ways of the English. [more inside]
Secret Agent Selection: WW2: aka Churchill’s Secret Agents: The New Recruits Season 1, Ep 0
Fourteen recruits go through the selection process for the United Kingdom’s Special Operations Executive, a secret army of illegal officers drawn from ordinary people, created during the second world war to go behind enemy lines and bring down the Nazis.
Movie: Apostasy
Jehovah's Witnesses, Alex, Luisa, and their mother, are united in their devotion. But as Luisa starts to question the advice of the elders, she makes a transgression that leaves the whole family in fear of God's wrath. [more inside]
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Stupid Watergate II: Fox News' Cries Of "Witch Hunt" Season 5, Ep 14
This week:
- Trump prepares for the (then) upcoming North Korea summit, of course, by not preparing.
- Philippine President and strongman Rodrigo Duterte very uncomfortably kisses a young woman before a crowd.
- And Now: Julie Chen Has A Few Questions For The Audience of "The Talk."
- Main Story: More on Stupid Watergate, this time about Fox News' efforts to normalize the idea that the Mueller investigation is a "witch hunt" by calling that through every channel available to them, in an desperate (yet somewhat effective) effort to get ordinary Americans thinking it must be one, despite the fact that they've already charged 20 people and three companies, and gotten five guilty pleas. Watch it on YouTube (18m).
- And Now: The Entire Seventeen-Minute Piece You Just Saw, Boiled Down To Eight Seconds.
- Finally, a bit about the UK. Last week's episode had a segment about the putdowns of House of Commons speaker John Bercow that could not air in the UK, because of a stupid law saying footage of the chamber could not be used in "light entertainment" or "political satire." Because they used such footage this week and thus UK viewers again cannot be shown the whole program, LWT offers five minutes of replacement content: Gilbert Gottfried reading Yelp reviews.
Misfits UK?
Anyone here a fan? [more inside]
Movie: Threads
Documentary-style account of a nuclear holocaust and its effect on the working class city of Sheffield, England, and the eventual long-term effects of nuclear war on civilization. [more inside]
Movie: The Innocents
A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted. [more inside]
Movie: Darkest Hour
During the early days of World War II, the fate of Western Europe hangs in the balance. The newly-appointed British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or to fight on against incredible odds. [more inside]
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams: Human Is Season 1, Ep 6
Vera is overjoyed when her husband returns from a dangerous mission, but is he the same man?
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