What's currently good on the BBC iPlayer?

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

a fair criticism. I do wonder if the project would have worked better as a short series with a focussed one episode per band.

but not a fatal flaw. still an interesting doc to watch.

Just watched to the end.
The point of girl bands and babies was interesting, but they revisited it at least three separate times because they kept all the bands stories totally separate. This is one of the reasons it felt like it kept covering the same ground.
Many of the subjects/issues raised were bigger than groups specifically from Scotland or specifically for groups made exclusively up of women.
The preachy end cards over the kids was excruciating. There is a clear and definite message within the stories that is worth highlighting. Chucking that bit on the end (like a Live Aid plea after comedy sketch) was not the way to do it.
Overall it was pretty disappointing. A couple of interesting insights, but ultimately a lack of accuracy and depth as it struggles to circumvent parts of the story to fit the narrative. The individual segments are shot and recorded nicely but it's a disjointed and very armature in it's execution.

I think you are right that it might have made more sense as three grouped (time based?) episodes. Trouble is that I think it was originally made as an independent film. This is maybe why the wobbly narrative wasn't questioned and eradicated by a writer, edit producer, producer, exec producer, editor, or commissioner. It seems like a very obvious and jarring schoolboy (/schoolgirl) error.

 

[Kaka Tim]

I enjoyed the Loaded documentary - Loaded: Lads, Mags and Mayhem. It’s amazing how far away in time certain areas of 90s culture feel now.

Thought it was very interesting programme. An interesting arc where the magazine - and its staff - went from "ironic" "harmless" sexism to full on - coke fuelled - expoitation and mysogony to keep up with the Nuts and FHM shite theyd inspired. Gail Porters take on it was powerful - what was done to her was with the naked photo projected onto the houses of parliament was an apalling (and non-consensual) violation. I never had any time for the "new lad" stuff at the time - always seemd to be student posers being faux "lads" - a comic book , regressive, narrow version of working class macuslinity - (and of course exactly the audience Oasis courted) James Brown still refuses to engage with the dark side of his creation.
And yeah - its was such a different time - before social media and the interent started its cancerous erosion of cultural and social cohesion

 

[sparkybird]

Watched this last night and reccomend it.
Triangle of Sadness (crap name) dark dark humour.

Thanks so much for this recommendation kalidarkone
Highly enjoyable and completely unforgettable

 

[Nine Bob Note]

It's time for my annual rewatch of TTSS, and this year I think Aunty has added Smiley's People in HD

 

[stavros]

If anyone fancies an after-hours trip to Tandy in Norwich...

 

[T & P]

Cunk on Life. As great as the previous Cunk seasons if not better. Exceedingly funny, and you’d be mad to miss it

Philomena Cunk on Life review – Diane Morgan is absolutely peerless | Television | The Guardian

The comic actor returns as the worst-informed person on TV for a one-off that tackles the big issues – and quite possibly causes permanent damage to the baffled academics she interviews

amp.theguardian.com

 

[stavros]

I thought that boyband series was excellent. I'd forgotten all about 911 and Damage, but remembered quite a lot else. Cowell came across as a bit of a cunt, perhaps unsurprisingly, but not as much as that former NOTW hack.

 

[twistedAM]

S2 of Sherwood is up. I didn't remember watching the whole first season - the fella had to remind me Anyway, we've nearly finished S1 (again) now and even he'd forgotten loads about it. Last episode tonight and then on to S2.

Excellent writing and disclosure.

I enjoyed S1 and three episodes into S2 but with all the gang stuff, it's beginning to feel like it should be called Scabby Blinders

 

[nagapie]

Watched this last night and reccomend it.
Triangle of Sadness (crap name) dark dark humour.

I watched this last night and thanks for the recommendation. I really enjoyed watching it and even though it was two hours, it didn't trouble my ADHD concentration Spanish at all. Excellent film.

 

[what]

Cunk on Life. As great as the previous Cunk seasons if not better. Exceedingly funny, and you’d be mad to miss it

Philomena Cunk on Life review – Diane Morgan is absolutely peerless | Television | The Guardian

The comic actor returns as the worst-informed person on TV for a one-off that tackles the big issues – and quite possibly causes permanent damage to the baffled academics she interviews

amp.theguardian.com

Thanks for this, loved it

 

[8ball]

Just watched Master and Commander (blah blah blah) and it’s much better than I expected (I was put off it at the time, expecting Gladiator On Sea).

The title is a bit of a mouthful, though.

Should have been called Boaty McBoat Chase.

You’ve prob all seen it, but if not, worth a look for some pirateless swash and buckle.

 

[May Kasahara]

I thought that boyband series was excellent. I'd forgotten all about 911 and Damage, but remembered quite a lot else. Cowell came across as a bit of a cunt, perhaps unsurprisingly, but not as much as that former NOTW hack.

Yeah, I watched this over the last few days and completely agree.

 

[8ball]

Oops dp

 

[stavros]

Yeah, I watched this over the last few days and completely agree.

I wasn't really surprised by the racism thing, for Damage or Simon from Blue. I was more surprised about the staying-in-the-closet thing for Duncan from Blue. I'd always thought that, with the possible exception of East 17, boybands had always courted the gay market.

It'd be interesting to do a similar series for girl bands, and see if any of the same things rang true.