Random and amazing.

The Delicious Miss Dahl

A new cookery program with Sophie Dahl, who on the evidence of this clip has the world's sexiest voice. An utterly mesmerising minute of television.

I appear to be juggling multiple box sets at the moment as 'normal' TV seems to have reached a new low.

The Wire Season 3: not loving it as much as the first two. Doesn't seem to be an amazing storyline this time? Although 'Hamsterdam' is quite an interesting experiment. I shall persevere.

Damages Season 2: First series was ace. Jonnyboy has forewarned me Season 2 may not live up to it. Liking so far though (only 2 in)

Mad Men Series 1: Just started this (finally!). Liking. A lot.

Arrested Development Series 3: Just because I can.

Thats enough for now

Hmm this was OK as I was feeling particularly somnolent at the time...not sure I'd make a point of watching it regularly though.

Pause for thought moment: "I can't remember the first time I had Arnold Bennet..."

It's waiting on Sky+ but only for the voice, not the recipes. I borrowed her recipe book from a friend and it's crap.

I was thinking of reviewing Sherlock Holmes but Empire said everything I wanted to say, first.

This is what Empire is saying to me:

Server Error

500 - Internal server error.
There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed.

I had to back track as well. Try this one: http://www.empireonline.com/empireblogs/sm...creen/post/p881

That said, I was also rolling my eyes at Holmes not figuring out the killer before me, no matter how clever that made me feel. Still enjoyed it though.

Yes it appears they had a bug in the blog...thanks for the corrective measures.

Having refreshed my memory, the whole 'two pills' plotline is in A Study in Scarlet so the Princess Bride comparisons may well have been coincidental...

Um, yes and the 'it was the cabby wot done it' storyline is also from A Study In Scarlet. Not that impressed with this article, what was the writer expecting given that the episode was called A Study In Pink?

On a lighter note, I saw a comment online which said that Holmes was 'The Saturdays' to Doctor Who's 'Girls Aloud'.

Oh, yes, whole lines of dialogue were pretty much lifted from a "'Scarlet"' (Watson needing a room after returning from a war....etc). Still, even in the context of the show, Holmes should have figured it out way, way earlier. Hmmm, although it somehow worked in the original, so maybe it was the visual of the cab (instead of reading about it?) that made it seem so obvious. Again, still liked it though. Glad to hear there will be two more.

Well yes; I think it's a little unfair (only a little) on Helen O'Hara to expect her to have read the source material and (as I agreed with her words) a little unfair on me to expect me to not be stupid and forget the entire plot of 'Scarlet' except for 'Rache' and the whole "your brother's a drunk 'cos your pocket watch is scratched" bit. (Oh and I came in after the title sequence...) ;-)

I think the problem was that they were sat in a restaurant watching cabs go by whilst Holmes was talking about hunting in a crowd and being trusted. I'm not sure that bit was in the book. As Jennie says it was out of character for the Holmes of the previous hour or so.

Still really enjoyed it though.

I totally agree that it is unfair to expect any viewer to remember the plotline to the original. However I do think that as soon as you decide to write a blog entry on the subject that you have a responsibility to at least check Wikipedia to ensure that you aren't going to say something silly.

Has anyone watched Vexed (BBC 2 Sundays 9pm)?

It's a comedy (drama) with Toby Stephens as a police detective who can't really be arsed with all this work business and his only slightly more balanced new partner played by Lucy Punch. I highly recommend it on the strength of the first episode - it's very amusing.

Sample dialogue: (On seeing a woman with no hair jogging past)

"Is that a fashion statement or do you think she's having chemo?"

I've seen it, it was very good. I smiled.

Toby stephens' character got some excellent lines to say.

I saw it after having one too many beers after the cricket saturday before last, and i thoroughly enjoyed it.

i'm sure i would still enjoy it without the beers...

Running Wilde

Effectively this is Arrested Development with different plot/family.

Starring/written by Will Arnet(Gob), David Cross (Tobias), Peter Serafinowicz

First 4 episodes are out to download in the usual places. Worth a watch

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10 O'Clock live anyone? Thursday 10 pm C4 looks interesting.

I agree, looks good. The lovely Lauren Laverne is an added bonus.

Well it was promising but a bit sketchy - looks like they tried to jam too much in the first time round but I think they can optimise performance.

BBC4 to screen TOTP weekly starting from 1976

This could be genitastic or risiful - I'm not sure yet.

Anyone seen any of the Netflix-exclusive House Of Cards yet?

I have been watching the original BBC version which is exquisite television. It's everything you want from a political thriller: tense, witty, perfectly paced and timelessly relevant. Everyone should watch it.

"You may think that. I couldn't possibly comment."

In other words no: I'm still working through Battlestar Galactica.

Pete and I have. It made me want to watch the original. The new version is very well done (Kevin Spacey is especially compelling), but sometimes the dialogue didn't live up to the acting happening on screen.

You can borrow the original from me once I am done (if you can persuade Pete to hold his nose long enough to put a DVD in the Xbox). There are actually three separate series, and I am midway through the second. I wanted to watch them before trying the US version - glad to hear you enjoyed it.

oh yes,

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I am excited. I very nearly posted that video myself.