h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

re the W-word. Yes - pretty much BouncyDespot's explanation - except that I thing it usually has more perjorative connotations of sheltered white kids trying to be street. I did hesitate about using it, I have to say - I wouldn't use the n-word - and am happy to stand corrected.

>>I could not agree less with you, Edward! IMO, British drama *is* infinitely superior - and you couldn't have chosen a worse example of the American output! The Sopranos is very trendy - but that's about all it has going for it.

We must have been watching different programmes, I'm afraid. It's rich, multi-layered drama with some very fine acting. There have been moments when a slight change in James Gandolfini's expression tells you that all sorts of situations in various plot lines have suddnly been overturned. And its truly shocking use of casual violence whereby one is reminded that seemingly ordinary people with everyday problems are actually despicable thugs.

And not to mention the subtle comedy - e.g. in the last episode of the last series when Chrissie Moltosanto arrives late at a meeting with Tony Soprano and Silvio and gives the excuse 'The highway's clogged with broken heroes out on a last chance power dive'. This is a line from Bruse Springsteen's 'Born to Run'. Silvio is played by Miami Steve van Zandt from Springsteen's E. Street Band.

...or...when Chrissie (an aspiriring movie writer who is working on his big gangster script) spots Martin Scorsese in a bar and says to him 'Kundun! Great movie!'

Name something comparable from (recent) British TV output.

When it comes to Northern Exposure my argumentation gets irrational. I am a through-and-through fan of it. Especially now I've got myself some DVDs and can listen to the characters' real voices!

Messiah.(?) The thing about the second coming with Christopher Ecclestone. Outstanding in every respect.

Not sure that funy in-jokes about Little Stevie's membership of the E-Street Band is The Soprano's strongest point, either...

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I agree with Edward that the Sopranos is excellent on so many levels. I've only seen the first two series (on video) but plan to get the dvd set of the third series soon.


az

Alaskans and Canadians have a lot in common?

Like being the biggest Republican majority since statehood was granted?

I must say that Northern Exposure always struck me as a soft hearted, soft headed version of Twin Peaks.

OK. Messiah I'll grant you. A two-parter vs 3 series...

British tv drama has become moribund. Mostly because British tv is a completely schizophrenic mess atm.

But it is worth bearing in mind that we only get to see the cream of US television. Not the awful daytime soaps, the appalling reality tv, the drivel that passes for comedy.

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Fair enough, Blues, though I did say 'perhaps'. I don't know about the politics in Alaska. But it struck me that the characters in this fictional Alaskan town seemed very familiar to me - very similar to some of the people I knew in the northern Canadian mining town where I spent a large chunk of my childhood.


az

>>Name something comparable from (recent) British TV output.<<

State of Play was the best British TV I've seen in years.


I haven't watched a full episode of The Sopranos (the violence put me off). I always found it interesting that it became so huge in the US at the same time as terrorism (Sept 11 etc).

Oh, and North Square (although that was a few years ago now).



>>I must say that Northern Exposure always struck me as a soft hearted, soft headed version of Twin Peaks. <<

That would be one of it's appealing features, surely

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In fact, the Sopranos began in 1999. So it was 'huge' there long before Sept. 11th.

Also, none of the violence is gratuitous - it is shown to make a point, or several points. At no time did I ever feel that the violence portrayed was in any way condoned.


az

Hmm, I hazard a guess that it was a safer subject than terrorism - after all this weren't 'really' bad guys, they're wiseguys, Goodfellas, right?

There has always been a certain type of nostalgia for the good old days on both sides of the Pond. Sometimes that inclusdes romanticising previous criminal elements in the face of a new threat...

Which is to say that while I quite enjoyed Twin Peaks it did seem pretentious and full of itself. It's be interesting to watch again I suppose to see how it has aged.

az, do you remember when The Sopranos first starting winning Emmys? Was it after the first season?


>>Hmm, I hazard a guess that it was a safer subject than terrorism - after all this weren't 'really' bad guys, they're wiseguys, Goodfellas, right?
<< (Blues)

Yeah that was the impression I had (although as I said I've never watched it properly). It just seemed very American to be making that kind of TV at that time.

>>Mostly because British tv is a completely schizophrenic mess atm.

Since we've dealt with the w-word...can I just put in some gentle education about the perjorative mis-use of a word to describe a difficult illness which brings misery to sufferers, their family and friends?

For more information about this awful condition: http://www.sane.org.uk/public_html/About_Mental_Illness/Schizophrenia.htm

"I must say that Northern Exposure always struck me as a soft hearted, soft headed version of Twin Peaks"
A common comment on the programme it must be said, but one I think that is nonsensical.
Twin Peaks had a reason for it's weirdness. It meant something quite explicit to the theme of the show.
In Northern Exposure the weirdness is just all part of the scenery.
They are very different shows, but it is easy to lump them together into 'slightly oddball' and then try to draw comparisons. That's my feelings on that, anyway.

I agree with you, Ictoan, that Northern Exposure and Twin Peaks were miles apart - not the same thing at all.

I thought both were excellent, but for very different reasons.

az

I like the sopranos for being a prgrame about a man with troubles on several levels it works like Shakespeare in that it juxtaposes his business with his homelife, in much the same way that court life was compared to the fortunes of the nation and matters of state.

I especially like the excellent title music.

I dont think it glorifies violence it shows the pesonal consequences of what happens when people willfully detatch themselves from their sense of right and wrong for short term gain. It also says some important things about not letting go of fueds....

Speaking of which I shall NOT reply to Della's moronic bull___t about me here (to save clogging up the thread for those who arent interested) (and for those who are) I'll do it on her PS instead.

I was afraid to use the word 'Shakespearean' - but that's exactly what it is.

And even better than the title music...in Series 2 they used Johnny Thunders' 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory' for the end music.

And did you notice that Tony S once bought an ornamental garden water feature from a place called Wayne's Fountains?

Interesting link, Edward.

I take your point that this word is often bandied about - also to the extent that someone is called 'schizo' if they seem confused or show behaviour that exhibits contradictory elements to it.

I think until the sixties many people with mild or otherwise personality disorders were often labelled as being schizophrenic, but happily science and medicine has come a long way since then to realize that it is a very specific illness.

Meanwhile, humour tends to never hold anything 'sacrosanct', which I also agree with. We may find something in poor taste, but I think the humourists are also within their right to express their stuff.


az