I thought this was a good bit to accompany the Mike Luckovich political cartoon in my previous post....what do you think?
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Monday, October 29, 2018
Sunday, February 8, 2015
(Heavenly) British Mysteries on PBS
Couldn't resist sharing this article from The Seattle Times online about two British mystery series on PBS from their book editor Mary Ann Gwinn. The subject is 'Grantchester' and 'Father Brown', two new(er) series that I've been watching and enjoy very much. If you haven't checked them out, I definitely recommend both. The mystery part of Father Brown is not too intricate, it's more the human nature of the characters that and the cast that make it so enjoyable. Father Brown is in a second season already to my understanding, episode 4 of Grathchester airs tonight. The mystery side of Grantchester is stronger, but like Father Brown, also what makes it so good is the cast and the human side of the story. And of course for both, it's the beautiful English countryside and the always impeccable production values for recreating the past that makes them so fun to watch!
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Mary Ann Gwinn, Seattle Times Book Editor
You may be forgiven if you are wondering why, in our trending-secular world, there are currently, not one, but TWO priests solving crimes on PBS, part of the post-”Downton Abbey” British invasion currently dominating the public TV airwaves.
Those would be Father Brown, Catholic priest, and Canon Sidney Chambers, Anglican clergyman.
I have followed this development with interest because ... yes, I have read all the books. As so often with PBS, first comes the book, then the TV version.
I was introduced to Father Brown years ago by a snobbish Devon bookseller. I had peeked into her bookshop with all the shy ardor of a Henry James debutante. I asked her for reading recommendations.
She looked over her half-moon glasses and down her patrician nose at me, all a-quiver with an American’s delight in being in an ENGLISH BOOKSTORE, and said. “Well (long pause). You might try Father Brown.”
Father Brown is the creation of a brilliant mind, the polymath English author G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). Chesterton wrote novels, plays, essays, journalism and eventually, the Father Brown series, dozens of books about a crime-solving Catholic priest.
Chesterton was known as the Prince of Paradox for his ability to look at questions from all sides, intellectual and spiritual. Father Brown, while a very deft reasoner, primarily relies on his understanding of the human heart to solve crimes. As he says in “The Blue Cross,” in answer to the question of how a priest could know the criminal mind so well: “Has it never struck you that a man who does next to nothing but hear men’s real sins is not likely to be wholly unaware of human evil?” Good point
.
Sidney Chambers is the direct heir of Father Brown, according to his creator, James Runcie. Runcie is a British novelist and filmmaker steeped in the Anglican faith by virtue of the fact that his father, Robert Runcie, was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Runcie acknowledges that Sidney is loosely based on his father — Robert Runcie, like Sidney, saw active service in World War II. As for the detective part ... Sidney Chambers is “an Anglican Father Brown, Morse with morals, or Barbara Pym with no clothes on,” he said in a Telegraph interview. (The no-clothes part: Sidney is an enthusiastic heterosexual, passionate about women, particularly the love of his life, Hildegard.) The author called the Grantchester Mysteries, six in all, “a moral history of postwar Britain.”
So, since Runcie has basically acknowledged his debt to Father Brown, what do these holy men have in common?
1. They are priests, preoccupied with problem of evil, and how it can coexist with a beneficent God. As Sidney says in the book “Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil,” eulogizing a murdered priest — “If there is a God, why is there evil? If there is not, why is there good?”
2. They both antagonize, then charm, the local police, who eventually turn to them for help in solving crimes. Father Brown has Inspector Sullivan, played in the PBS series by Tom Chambers. Sidney has Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Brit TV series superstar Robson Green, who does his best to tamp down his charismatic good looks in the service of portraying a harried family man, going gray fast and not happy about it.
3. They both have loquacious women assistants, either at the office or at home; Father Brown’s Mrs. McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) and Sidney’s Mrs. Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones). These women are Irish, outspoken, and in the case of Sidney’s Mrs. Maguire, quick on the draw with a Bible verse.
Differences? Sidney, as played by James Norton, is a dish — the women fall hard and fast for his chestnut hair and mobile mouth. Father Brown is played by Mark Williams, a comic character actor, and a great one. But since he’s chaste, any fires of attraction are thoroughly banked.
Sidney has a dog. Father Brown has an umbrella.
Bottom line: Both of these series are well worth the investment in time (let’s not forget that mythical English countryside I hope to ascend to when I die). Pure pleasure, with a dose of spirituality and ethics in the side.
As Runcie said in the Telegraph interview:
“My editor once said to me: ‘These are disguised sermons, aren’t they?’ I am not ashamed of that and I am hopeful that the television series, as well as being dramatic, consists of thoughtful and moral meditations on subjects such as loyalty, friendship, deceit, cruelty and generosity ... Hate the sin, but love the sinner ... ”
Mary Ann Gwinn: 206-464-2357 or mgwinn@seattletimes.com. Gwinn appears every Tuesday on TVW's "Well Read," discussing books with host Terry Tazioli (go to tvw.org/shows/well-read for archived episodes). On Twitter @gwinnma.
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Mary Ann Gwinn, Seattle Times Book EditorYou may be forgiven if you are wondering why, in our trending-secular world, there are currently, not one, but TWO priests solving crimes on PBS, part of the post-”Downton Abbey” British invasion currently dominating the public TV airwaves.
Those would be Father Brown, Catholic priest, and Canon Sidney Chambers, Anglican clergyman.
I have followed this development with interest because ... yes, I have read all the books. As so often with PBS, first comes the book, then the TV version.
I was introduced to Father Brown years ago by a snobbish Devon bookseller. I had peeked into her bookshop with all the shy ardor of a Henry James debutante. I asked her for reading recommendations.
She looked over her half-moon glasses and down her patrician nose at me, all a-quiver with an American’s delight in being in an ENGLISH BOOKSTORE, and said. “Well (long pause). You might try Father Brown.”
Father Brown is the creation of a brilliant mind, the polymath English author G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). Chesterton wrote novels, plays, essays, journalism and eventually, the Father Brown series, dozens of books about a crime-solving Catholic priest.
Chesterton was known as the Prince of Paradox for his ability to look at questions from all sides, intellectual and spiritual. Father Brown, while a very deft reasoner, primarily relies on his understanding of the human heart to solve crimes. As he says in “The Blue Cross,” in answer to the question of how a priest could know the criminal mind so well: “Has it never struck you that a man who does next to nothing but hear men’s real sins is not likely to be wholly unaware of human evil?” Good point
.
Sidney Chambers is the direct heir of Father Brown, according to his creator, James Runcie. Runcie is a British novelist and filmmaker steeped in the Anglican faith by virtue of the fact that his father, Robert Runcie, was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Runcie acknowledges that Sidney is loosely based on his father — Robert Runcie, like Sidney, saw active service in World War II. As for the detective part ... Sidney Chambers is “an Anglican Father Brown, Morse with morals, or Barbara Pym with no clothes on,” he said in a Telegraph interview. (The no-clothes part: Sidney is an enthusiastic heterosexual, passionate about women, particularly the love of his life, Hildegard.) The author called the Grantchester Mysteries, six in all, “a moral history of postwar Britain.”
So, since Runcie has basically acknowledged his debt to Father Brown, what do these holy men have in common?
1. They are priests, preoccupied with problem of evil, and how it can coexist with a beneficent God. As Sidney says in the book “Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil,” eulogizing a murdered priest — “If there is a God, why is there evil? If there is not, why is there good?”
2. They both antagonize, then charm, the local police, who eventually turn to them for help in solving crimes. Father Brown has Inspector Sullivan, played in the PBS series by Tom Chambers. Sidney has Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Brit TV series superstar Robson Green, who does his best to tamp down his charismatic good looks in the service of portraying a harried family man, going gray fast and not happy about it.
3. They both have loquacious women assistants, either at the office or at home; Father Brown’s Mrs. McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) and Sidney’s Mrs. Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones). These women are Irish, outspoken, and in the case of Sidney’s Mrs. Maguire, quick on the draw with a Bible verse.
Differences? Sidney, as played by James Norton, is a dish — the women fall hard and fast for his chestnut hair and mobile mouth. Father Brown is played by Mark Williams, a comic character actor, and a great one. But since he’s chaste, any fires of attraction are thoroughly banked.
Sidney has a dog. Father Brown has an umbrella.
Bottom line: Both of these series are well worth the investment in time (let’s not forget that mythical English countryside I hope to ascend to when I die). Pure pleasure, with a dose of spirituality and ethics in the side.
As Runcie said in the Telegraph interview:
“My editor once said to me: ‘These are disguised sermons, aren’t they?’ I am not ashamed of that and I am hopeful that the television series, as well as being dramatic, consists of thoughtful and moral meditations on subjects such as loyalty, friendship, deceit, cruelty and generosity ... Hate the sin, but love the sinner ... ”
Mary Ann Gwinn: 206-464-2357 or mgwinn@seattletimes.com. Gwinn appears every Tuesday on TVW's "Well Read," discussing books with host Terry Tazioli (go to tvw.org/shows/well-read for archived episodes). On Twitter @gwinnma.
Monday, June 30, 2014
The End of June
It's hard to believe it's the end of June already, this time of year is so slammed at work, and this year more so than usual. I have just a few things I found online today that made me smile and laugh that I wanted to share.
Last night I was feasting on PBS with the return of two really good series; Last Tango in Halifax with Derek Jacobi and Endeavor with Shaun Evans and Roger Allam on Masterpiece Mystery. Endeavor is the early days of Inspector Morse, both are excellent. Have a good week everyone!
Last night I was feasting on PBS with the return of two really good series; Last Tango in Halifax with Derek Jacobi and Endeavor with Shaun Evans and Roger Allam on Masterpiece Mystery. Endeavor is the early days of Inspector Morse, both are excellent. Have a good week everyone!
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| Uncle! |
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| How Did He DO That! |
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Doc Martin Series 6
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| Doc Martin |
Doc Martin Series 6 started on KCTS 9 last night, and it was definitely worth the wait. At the end of Series 5 I wasn't sure if there was going to be another season or not, and I was actually going to be okay if that was the ending, because it was so good. But the new season kicked off in grand style with the wedding and honeymoon of Doc and Louisa. And true to form for the show it mixed in hilarity, poignant moments and blood and guts all to great effect. I had to turn away during the blood and guts because, oh man, there was a lot of it. But thank goodness the episode ended with sweet hilarity! I loved the scene with Aunt Ruth trying to get little James Henry to eat - good stuff.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Wes Anderson Spoof on SNL
I caught this online from Saturday Night Live last night. It was hosted by Edward Norton who was in "Moonrise Kingdom" by West Anderson. If you are a fan of Anderson's, you'll get a kick out of it.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
This 'n That
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| He's Calling The Loch Ness Monster's Pager |
Today turned out beautiful and sunny, it's supposed to be like this all week through Saturday.
Tonight is the last episode of "Last Tango in Halifax" on PBS. I've really enjoyed it, but haven't found a single other person who has been watching it to swap stories with.
I'm excited, I was researching a little, and there will be a new season of "Doc Martin". It looks like it already aired in the U.K. so who knows how long it will take to reach us on this side of the pond.
A new season of "Republic of Doyle" started two weeks ago on CBC, so I'm happy. For the most part I only watch TV when there is something on I specifically want to watch, and I'm trying to be productive in the evenings, but it is harder for me when it's pitch black by 7 pm. I'm close to finishing the dress I started sewing a month ago, and not sure what I will work on next, but I want to keep the momentum going.....
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Dad and Mark
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| Big Sur - Monterey California |
The picture above is one that my dad took over 20 years ago on one of his trips out west from Michigan. He would have turned 80 yesterday. My oldest brother Mark would have turned 56 today.
I forgot about it until I saw today's birthdays on IMDb.com, but Mark had the same birthday as Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, one of this favorite bands. I saved the meme below several months ago, he would have liked it.
The music clip is from The Old Crow Medicine Show when they were on Conan O'Brien recently. My friend Steve from work told me about them, and when I watched this clip I could totally see my dad dancing along, he always said he was a hill-billy at heart ♥
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The Daily Show - April 2, 2013
The Daily Show from Tuesday April 2nd was a good one. It started with a two part segment on Kim Jong Un of North Korea and the second was on Pope Francis. I find it interesting that the new Pope is getting so much negative attention for showing himself to be a man of the people - isn't that really what it's all about?
Saturday, February 23, 2013
This 'n That
Just a quick post of this cool GIF I found on Cheezburger.
Nothing too exciting going on with me. I spent all last Sunday evening watching the last two episodes of Downton Abbey. I knew about the spoiler alert that Matthew was going to be killed off, I just didn't know how. It was still sad. I've really enjoyed this series, but I honestly think that probably the next season should be it's last.
The water department installed the new water meter for the house yesterday. They tore up the grass in the front strip in the process - really ticked me off. We had a downpour yesterday and the big truck they must have used left two big ruts. Their muddy track prints were all up on the sidewalk. That's going to be loads of fun to mow from now on. I felt like taking pictures and writing a letter to the city, but I know they wouldn't do anything about it.
Nothing too exciting going on with me. I spent all last Sunday evening watching the last two episodes of Downton Abbey. I knew about the spoiler alert that Matthew was going to be killed off, I just didn't know how. It was still sad. I've really enjoyed this series, but I honestly think that probably the next season should be it's last.
The water department installed the new water meter for the house yesterday. They tore up the grass in the front strip in the process - really ticked me off. We had a downpour yesterday and the big truck they must have used left two big ruts. Their muddy track prints were all up on the sidewalk. That's going to be loads of fun to mow from now on. I felt like taking pictures and writing a letter to the city, but I know they wouldn't do anything about it.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Post New Years
I'm glad this past week at work was a short one, because I have not been very successful at going to bed early, and was still staying up until midnight and even 1 am after having the last two weeks off.
I am looking forward to the new season of Republic of Doyle on CBC tonight, but am still bummed that they switched it to Sunday's from Wednesday, and now I have to postpone seeing Downton Abbey on PBS.
The cat's have really enjoyed the catnip mice I got from my Secret Pal at work, Eliza. I uploaded a very short video of Munchkin to my YouTube account, and hope to get one of Tom Cat loaded as well.
I am looking forward to the new season of Republic of Doyle on CBC tonight, but am still bummed that they switched it to Sunday's from Wednesday, and now I have to postpone seeing Downton Abbey on PBS.
The cat's have really enjoyed the catnip mice I got from my Secret Pal at work, Eliza. I uploaded a very short video of Munchkin to my YouTube account, and hope to get one of Tom Cat loaded as well.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Cory Booker - Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
I want to follow up to last week's post, but first, I wanted to post the link to an interview on The Daily Show with Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey from December 12th. It's the third part of a three part interview.
What he's talking about is not completely unknown, but needs to be better known. I've personally felt that government in partnership with business and schools could be leading our society, and in turn improving our economy. And it's not about hand-outs. What he is talking about is how we are not educating our young people to move into the 21st century job market. There are jobs that exist right now that are going unfilled, because of a lack of people with the training and skills to fill them. I've seen a few things on the news in relation to this as far back as two years ago, and it's still a problem today.
This interview reminds me of the interview that I posted about earlier this fall with Bill Clinton on The Daily Show. It's not just a cliche, we really do need to think outside the box and have a revolution of thought if we are going to fulfill our potential as a society and as human beings.
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| Cory Booker |
This interview reminds me of the interview that I posted about earlier this fall with Bill Clinton on The Daily Show. It's not just a cliche, we really do need to think outside the box and have a revolution of thought if we are going to fulfill our potential as a society and as human beings.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The Daily Show - December , 2012
If you watch the video, this will have even more meaning....
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday Night Live - November 17th
I was catching up on the news online today when I caught this clip on The Huffington Post of New Jersey governor Chris Christie on SNL last night. It's pretty good.
Then I came across this other clip with guest host Jeremy Renner. I need to make it a point to catch up to this online.....
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Catching Up
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| Boo, Sunday October 21st |
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| Woody, Saturday October 27th |
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| Tom Cat, Saturday October 27th |
Woody loves the quilt that Denise made for me, and he always cuddles up against the stuffed polar bear too. And surprise, surprise, he's sitting in the same spot today!
As usual I am playing catch-up on the weekend and trying to work in a fun project for work. I have to go get my mail at the post office and get my ballot, this is an election I obviously can't miss, and feel strongly about.
This is a good clip from The Daily Show from this past week. I had read a really good blog on Huffington Post towards the end of the week, but could not find it again today to link it here. It was about the reality of rape and statistics from around the globe, and the numbers were very sickening.
There were references to several stories that I was already familiar with. One of them had to do with the on-going civil war in The Congo in Africa, and a doctor who treats women who have been so brutally gang raped by soldiers that they require surgery. I was reading that article within a day or two of reading about how someone had tried to assassinate him in an attack that left his bodyguard dead.
Sometimes, I just can't take reading about this subject, because it makes me so sick at heart. Last month there was a girl about the age of my niece that was gang raped in an apartment 6-7 blocks from where I live. I sat and cried thinking about her, and hoping that something like that never happens to Jennifer. I was talking to my good friend Gerry yesterday, and I told her that sadly, I don't think that we will ever get to a place and time where women will be able to truly live free, even here in the US.
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