Last week's TV - the inthenews.co.uk view
Last week's TV - the inthenews.co.uk view
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 25, Jan 2010 02:01
All the stars of British television came out in force last week for one of the biggest nights in the TV calendar, the National Television Awards.
Now in its 15h year, the awards now hosted by Dermot O'Leary appeared 'beefed' up having graduated from the Royal Albert Hall to the 02 arena. The show was a glittering affair and saw Ant and Dec take home two awards along with Stephen Fry who was awarded the Special Recognition award. Music was provided by X Factor twins Jedward featuring Vanilla Ice and show winner Joe McElderry. Aside from the award show, last week's television provided another batch of TV treats.
Is Bellamy's People the new Little Britain? Judging by the first episode it certainly looks promising, although it is definitely aimed at an older audience. The show is a TV adaptation of the Radio 4 spoof phone-in show, Down the Line, where the callers were actors and comedians Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson were behind the whole thing. Now the presenter, award-winning DJ Gary Bellamy (Rhys Thomas), is travelling the country meeting said callers.
There were some interesting characters on show here; the situations may not be that funny, but what they say certainly is, or at least most of the time. The bigoted Sun-reading white van driver may not be very original but the clashes between two old women, and their differing political views - one communist, the other fascist - are good fun. It's early days but there is definitely enough here to entertain for now, providing the characters develop and don't revert to stereotypes.
With Channel 4's Indian Winter season in full swing it was foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay's turn to head to India on a culinary journey of discovery to find out what a proper curry should taste like. Gordon's Great Escape was a different sort of Ramsay show. He appeared much more grounded than we have seen before. There was still quite a bit of swearing but it was nice to see him cooking again, interacting with locals and getting to grips with the heart of Indian cuisine. It felt more like watching Jamie Oliver than Ramsay, however, which perhaps suggest the latter is taking a change of direction after his "s***y year". The show had culture and heart and provided a lighter contrast to some of the grittier programs in the season.
Jack Bauer, meanwhile, is back once again to battle terrorism in the eighth and possibly last season of 24. Having been awake for a full week now you'd have thought Jack would be slowing down; he is after all a granddad now. Sadly though, terrorism doesn't stop, so Jack has to abandon those quite trips to the zoo. This time around there is a female president running the show - could this be another successful prediction by 24's producers after depicting a black president before the election of Barack Obama? The plot focuses on the president negotiating a deal with an Arab leader to abandon his nuclear programme. Throw in a lot of phone conversations, explosions and edge-of-your-seat drama and you have perfect Sunday night viewing for the next 24 weeks.
Finally, Glee. Last week's episode was another pure example of why this show has become so popular and influential on popular culture both here and in America. Glee club director William Schuester (Matthew Morrison), missing the old days of performing, set about creating his own musical group Acafellas in the latest instalment. However whilst their performance of I Wanna Sex You Up was priceless, the star of episode three was undoubtedly Mercedes (Amber Riley). You have to feel for Mercedes - she spends most of the episode in a deluded world where she believes she and the homosexual Kurt, who delightfully wears sweaters down to his knees, can be a couple. It all ends rather sweetly though with Kurt finally 'coming out' although not before she has smashed up his car and belted out Bust Your Windows.
Brilliantly funny and featuring some well-crafted performances, Glee is continuing to fire on all cylinders.
Matt Robinson