Comments for Rhodders Rants http://blog.rhodders.com NOT Just another WordPress site Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:30:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 Comment on 10 o’clock Live, barely alive by Lain http://blog.rhodders.com/10-oclock-live-barely-alive/#comment-163 Lain Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:30:05 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=81#comment-163 I'm a PhD student studying political satire and active citizenship in the UK and I feel that despite its obvious teething problems, 10 o'clock Live is something that we have desperately needed in the UK for quite some time. The mixture of both comedy and serious news shows striking similarities to Jon Stewart's The Daily Show, which has a huge following in America, and added political influence, particularly during the 2004 and 2008 Presidential election. Of course when The Daily Show first launched it was also torn to shreds by journalists and critics and virtually ignored by academics, however after 5 years or so people started to take notice of the programme and realised its importance as an alternative form of news for the politically apathetic and people who have grown tired of conventional news formats. Hopefully 10 o'clock Live will be given a second chance, and people will actually warm to the programmes mixture of news and entertainment. If not, it looks like we'll be left with the safe and reliable formats of satire, like Have I got News for You and Mock the Week, which are great, but they are mainly watered down versions of what political satire should actually be. I’m a PhD student studying political satire and active citizenship in the UK and I feel that despite its obvious teething problems, 10 o’clock Live is something that we have desperately needed in the UK for quite some time. The mixture of both comedy and serious news shows striking similarities to Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show, which has a huge following in America, and added political influence, particularly during the 2004 and 2008 Presidential election. Of course when The Daily Show first launched it was also torn to shreds by journalists and critics and virtually ignored by academics, however after 5 years or so people started to take notice of the programme and realised its importance as an alternative form of news for the politically apathetic and people who have grown tired of conventional news formats. Hopefully 10 o’clock Live will be given a second chance, and people will actually warm to the programmes mixture of news and entertainment. If not, it looks like we’ll be left with the safe and reliable formats of satire, like Have I got News for You and Mock the Week, which are great, but they are mainly watered down versions of what political satire should actually be.

]]> Comment on Station mergers with a Capital M by Tom Berry http://blog.rhodders.com/station-mergers-with-a-capital-m/#comment-125 Tom Berry Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:22:30 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=21#comment-125 I knew heart weren't broadcasting locally all day but, sadly, having read these pages it is confirmation that local Hearts only broadcast for the morning and drivetime shows. What a con! It must be noted that for competitions or any phone-ins heart doesn't ask where the listener is from and I think tries to kid us that we are listening locally. In Bristol we lost GWR for Heart and I presume the studio in Bristol lies empty for most of the time. Sad! I knew heart weren’t broadcasting locally all day but, sadly, having read these pages it is confirmation that local Hearts only broadcast for the morning and drivetime shows. What a con! It must be noted that for competitions or any phone-ins heart doesn’t ask where the listener is from and I think tries to kid us that we are listening locally. In Bristol we lost GWR for Heart and I presume the studio in Bristol lies empty for most of the time. Sad!

]]> Comment on Onesies! by Rhodders http://blog.rhodders.com/onesies/#comment-91 Rhodders Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:08:01 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=117#comment-91 "students love to be individual" by wearing the same stupid jumpsuits? Surely a contradiction. I know students are meant to have a second childhood but a second babyhood is going a bit far. We would pay back their loans if only we could get jobs! “students love to be individual” by wearing the same stupid jumpsuits? Surely a contradiction. I know students are meant to have a second childhood but a second babyhood is going a bit far. We would pay back their loans if only we could get jobs!

]]> Comment on Onesies! by spike http://blog.rhodders.com/onesies/#comment-88 spike Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:20:32 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=117#comment-88 The Only thing wrong with these is the price! Students love to be individual, so at your next demonstration I think you should all wear these and scream at number 10. There you go problem solved , they surely would back down in sympathy. Have all the money you like for your education, don't worry about paying your way or paying the system back! So spend 100 quid out of your loans for something that might keep you warm, instead of spending 100 quid on your next night out! lol! The Only thing wrong with these is the price! Students love to be individual, so at your next demonstration I think you should all wear these and scream at number 10. There you go problem solved , they surely would back down in sympathy. Have all the money you like for your education, don’t worry about paying your way or paying the system back! So spend 100 quid out of your loans for something that might keep you warm, instead of spending 100 quid on your next night out!
lol!

]]> Comment on Onesies! by gazuky http://blog.rhodders.com/onesies/#comment-87 gazuky Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:31:14 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=117#comment-87 Forgot to ask: why is David Tennant's thinner, younger brother wearing a baby-grow? Forgot to ask: why is David Tennant’s thinner, younger brother wearing a baby-grow?

]]> Comment on Onesies! by gazuky http://blog.rhodders.com/onesies/#comment-86 gazuky Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:29:38 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=117#comment-86 There seems to be a trend towards 'comfort-clothes' that try to convince us everything's going to be OK, and that the world is snuggly and warm and completely devoid of twats. Except it's not, because you have to be a twat to wear them. These 'onesies' seem to come from the same family as those joined-together slippers that they sell in the back of the Daily M**l (I saw a friend's copy once,honest) and those snood thingies that footballers are so keen to wear to make them look sophisticated. I swear that in 10 years' time, senior executives in the city will be taking comfort-blankets to work, and that Rupert Bear pyjamas will be THE thing to be seen in down the nightclub. Of course, you students are totally responsible because you always start these things as an 'ironic statement'. Trouble is, the press then gets hold of it, they feature it on 'The One Show' and it goes mainstream. Where will it all end? There seems to be a trend towards ‘comfort-clothes’ that try to convince us everything’s going to be OK, and that the world is snuggly and warm and completely devoid of twats. Except it’s not, because you have to be a twat to wear them. These ‘onesies’ seem to come from the same family as those joined-together slippers that they sell in the back of the Daily M**l (I saw a friend’s copy once,honest) and those snood thingies that footballers are so keen to wear to make them look sophisticated. I swear that in 10 years’ time, senior executives in the city will be taking comfort-blankets to work, and that Rupert Bear pyjamas will be THE thing to be seen in down the nightclub. Of course, you students are totally responsible because you always start these things as an ‘ironic statement’. Trouble is, the press then gets hold of it, they feature it on ‘The One Show’ and it goes mainstream. Where will it all end?

]]> Comment on 10 o’clock Live, barely alive by Niall Norbury http://blog.rhodders.com/10-oclock-live-barely-alive/#comment-59 Niall Norbury Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:15:55 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=81#comment-59 I wouldn't call him a sellout, and I'm a huge fan of his too, but I think he is just running low on ideas: How TV ruined your life often replays Screenwipe sketches and ideas word for word I wouldn’t call him a sellout, and I’m a huge fan of his too, but I think he is just running low on ideas: How TV ruined your life often replays Screenwipe sketches and ideas word for word

]]> Comment on 10 o’clock Live, barely alive by Rhodders http://blog.rhodders.com/10-oclock-live-barely-alive/#comment-53 Rhodders Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:44:29 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=81#comment-53 I am one of Brooker's, word hanging, disciples yet even I can see the strangeness of his involvement with 10 O'clock Live. I understand why he have done it, he wants to raise his media profile. It has worked as his new screen wipe style show "How TV ruined your life" is on BBC two, where as he used to be on BBC Three. I think he's becoming a victim of its own success. I enjoyed it when he was a sort of bad television vigilante shouting at us from his sofa on BBC Three. I hesitate to use the phrase "sell-out" as this term is used so much it has become almost meaningless. Let's just hope he does a screen wipe segment on himself and all will be forgiven! I am one of Brooker’s, word hanging, disciples yet even I can see the strangeness of his involvement with 10 O’clock Live. I understand why he have done it, he wants to raise his media profile. It has worked as his new screen wipe style show “How TV ruined your life” is on BBC two, where as he used to be on BBC Three. I think he’s becoming a victim of its own success. I enjoyed it when he was a sort of bad television vigilante shouting at us from his sofa on BBC Three. I hesitate to use the phrase “sell-out” as this term is used so much it has become almost meaningless. Let’s just hope he does a screen wipe segment on himself and all will be forgiven!

]]> Comment on 10 o’clock Live, barely alive by Rhodders http://blog.rhodders.com/10-oclock-live-barely-alive/#comment-52 Rhodders Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:38:25 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=81#comment-52 I mostly agree with you. The interview seemed to be conducted on the assumption the audience knows absolutely nothing. They are not so much debates/interviews as a roundabout patronising way of explaining some political issues. There needs to be a balance between explaining issues and exploring them. They're being cautious as the program won't attract the most politically engaged viewers as they will be watching question Time. I think the viewers know more than Jimmy Carr's huge mock quizzical face implies! They're trying to present politics to an age group generally thought to be disengaged with politics. They're trying to keep things fun and entertaining but with a few bits of serious thought. It's not quite working but I commend their bravery. I really don't think Lauren Laverne would be much use on Buzzcocks. She is a fun and energetic presenter who can speak with poise and clarity. However she just isn't funny! I mostly agree with you. The interview seemed to be conducted on the assumption the audience knows absolutely nothing. They are not so much debates/interviews as a roundabout patronising way of explaining some political issues. There needs to be a balance between explaining issues and exploring them. They’re being cautious as the program won’t attract the most politically engaged viewers as they will be watching question Time. I think the viewers know more than Jimmy Carr’s huge mock quizzical face implies! They’re trying to present politics to an age group generally thought to be disengaged with politics. They’re trying to keep things fun and entertaining but with a few bits of serious thought. It’s not quite working but I commend their bravery. I really don’t think Lauren Laverne would be much use on Buzzcocks. She is a fun and energetic presenter who can speak with poise and clarity. However she just isn’t funny!

]]> Comment on 10 o’clock Live, barely alive by Niall Norbury http://blog.rhodders.com/10-oclock-live-barely-alive/#comment-51 Niall Norbury Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:18:26 +0000 http://blog.rhodders.com/?p=81#comment-51 My main complaint of the show is actually Charlie Brooker. I do admire the man somewhat, despite many people thinking whatever he says is gospel, yet I find he has been very hypocritical in agreeing to take part in this show. If you've seen Newswipe, as I assume you have, you will have noticed Brooker's big complaint of the increasing focus on entertainment and lighter topics rather than actual presentation of news. Yet isn't 10-O'clock Live guilty of this? It is not purely a satire of news such as The Day Today or the Onion but actually tries to properly present news too. Mitchell interviews senior politicians briefly and then it cuts to a funny gag from Jimmy Carr. I do not understand how Brooker fails to see that this is just another way in which news is diluted into entertainment. My main complaint of the show is actually Charlie Brooker. I do admire the man somewhat, despite many people thinking whatever he says is gospel, yet I find he has been very hypocritical in agreeing to take part in this show.

If you’ve seen Newswipe, as I assume you have, you will have noticed Brooker’s big complaint of the increasing focus on entertainment and lighter topics rather than actual presentation of news. Yet isn’t 10-O’clock Live guilty of this? It is not purely a satire of news such as The Day Today or the Onion but actually tries to properly present news too. Mitchell interviews senior politicians briefly and then it cuts to a funny gag from Jimmy Carr. I do not understand how Brooker fails to see that this is just another way in which news is diluted into entertainment.

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