Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Wendy's Week of TV: Part 29

Normal programming for Wendy's Week of TV will resume "after the tennis" (a phrase incidentally which Wendy will be happy never to hear again after Sunday's dream Federer v Nadal men's final).

This week,however Wendy's Week of TV has defaulted in lieu of her tennis watching obsession which included being swept up in the Jelena Dokic dream return and re-establishment as an "Australian Tennis Player". Isn't it wonderful how we embrace sportspeople when they're winning but could care less about them when they aren't. Seriously, Australia is fantastic like that, what with it's one-eyed, jingoistic nationalistic, patriotic bias when it comes to sport. Lleyton who?

Wendy also spent much of the week wondering why Nadal has ditched the long shorts and sleeveless tops which were previously his signature "look". She had an actual conversation about why tennis dresses were made of synthetic material when surely cotton would be much cooler. (But then she remembered George's disastrous attempt to institute new uniforms along the same lines for the Yankees in Seinfeld).

She also marvelled at everyone in Melbourne's ability to run around in the stinking heat for such long periods. Use the roof people!! Finally some sense prevailed later in the week.

But what she enjoyed most was Channel 7's shameless use of its tennis coverage to promote it's new year line up of what are apparently the most fantastic television programs you have ever seen in your television viewing life. Who's idea was it to put the names on tennis balls? Genius. No, really, I mean it.

Here's a list of programs Wendy won't be watching.

Desperate Housewives - you've had you're day ladies. It was a good run. And ripping off Ugly Betty by giving the short housewife ( I forget her name) fat, ugly children isn't a good look.

All Saints - "like you've never seen it before". Well actually I did watch quite a lot of Police Rescue with Sonia Todd and Gary Sweet, so I don't feel the need to watch it again but with John Waters instead of Gary.

Triple Zero Heroes - at least I think is a Channel 7 show. Sure the title rhymes but that's about as far as my interest goes.

Grey's Anatomy - Never watched it. Well that's a lie...I watched it a couple of times. Just annoyed me. Stop moping around Meredith, cut your fringe and get on with your medical work.

City Homicide - or whatever that show is with Nadine Garner and Daniel McPherson. I liked NYPD Blue, The Bill (in it's heyday), even Blue Heelers was watchable at some points. And Noni Hazlehurst is a class act, but I do not feel drawn to this program at all. Don't we have enough gritty police dramas already. Although thumbs up for Australian production I guess.

Packed to the Rafters - Well points for using Pat Rafter's name in the title. But it all looks just a bit too jolly and heart-warming for me. Even the promos are fingernails down the blackboard material. Perhaps I shouldn't judge before I've given it a chance. But it looks like they've blended Seachange, Always Greener with just a tinge of Neighbours and hoped for the best. If there is nothing else remotely watchable on any other channel maybe I'll try it out.

Sunday Night: I'm guessing this is going to screen on Sunday nights? No? What an imaginative title.

Shows I might be watching:
RSPCA animal rescue: Because puppies and kittens are cute.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

too much triple j was clearly enough

Methinks this is not so good. I will be happy to be proven wrong.
Was it the money?

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Wendy's Week of TV Part 5

Well of course all week it's been Olympics.
Saturday and Sunday: Two days of rather boring telecasts. Beach volleyball has a real lack of energy. I think it's because once the ball hits the sand it's dead, no bouncing, no nothing. Similarly dull viewing with badminton (same problem as beach volleyball) and soccer - so frustrating with the lack of scoring. However, the gymnastics and the diving are real delights - a combination of technique and artistry. And the swimming is always exciting as well (except this year it's on in the day when I am at work so I'm mainly watching it in replay).


Sunday: Doctor Who
I thought it was because I was really tired that I was struggling to stay awake that the plot seemed underdeveloped and confusing. In spite of the interesting story of the Doctor having a daughter I didn't enjoy much in this episode. I wanted some backstory to explain the Hath (the fish people with the bubbling test tube mouths). And I didn't understand why the Hath and humans were even trying to settle the planet, or why they were fighting. While I enjoyed a little bit of dramatic acting from David Tennant when Jenny was dying, and the little jokes about lots of running, I thought the whole "numbers counting down" was a little convenient and too quickly worked out by Donna. And why if Jenny has some of the Doctor in her genetic makeup after all and she regenerated didn't she change appearance as the Doctor usually does - or is this optional?? Have I misunderstood somewhere? This was a difficult one. So many questions.....

Wednesday: The Hollowmen: WASN'T ON....grrrrrr...
Thursday: Lunchtime: Swimming finals
I decided I would eat lunch at home so I could actually catch some of the swimming finals. Such jingoistic one-eyed commentary! It's gold or you're an un-Australian loser apparently....You could just feel the disappointment from the commentators when Leisel Jones won silver not gold.
However the highlight of Bruce McAvaney's commentary so far was his description of Michael Phelps trying to "climb Mt Spitz". Are Roy and HG ghostwriting for the seven commentary team now?

Thursday: Afternoon: Weightlifting and Table Tennis
Yes I know it seems unlikely but weightlifting is a great sport for TV. It's quick and to the point, as well as being full of drama. Similarly, after about two minutes of watching table tennis I could really see the appeal of this game (when it's played at a high level). It's fast and furious stuff. In the words of the man in the hat, do yourselves a favour people and watch it if there's any more in the broadcast.
Friday: Father Ted
Thank you thank you thank you ABC 2 for the reruns of Father Ted on Friday nights. Technically, I didn't actually watch it because I went out, but I would have. Father Dougall is so endearingly moronic.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

a little concerned

Ok...so I'm a little concerned now that Cadel Evans isn't going to win the Tour de France. The commentary keeps telling us he's still in contention due to his superior skills as a time trialler - as he slips further back through the field. That's going to be one heck of time trial....
And why does he always sound like he's about to burst into tears in the post race interviews?

Perhaps the fact that I'm even worrying slightly about this indicates I haven't got enough worry in my life already?