Category Archives: TV
What you didn’t see on NBC …
What did you think of the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday?
I loved it. I thought it was such an inspiring love letter both to the country of Great Britain and to the Olympic games themselves. Irreverent, cheekyl, thoughtful and moving, it was a joy to watch. I’m not a big sports watcher but I do love the spirit of the Olympics and am so happy that London is hosting!
I only wish that we could see the BBC’s full and commercial-free coverage. I wasn’t thrilled with NBC’s commercial breaks – or the fact that there were pieces that weren’t aired on American TV.
Thankfully YouTube has come to the rescue for some of what was missing!
Check out this smashing introduction featuring Benedict Cumberbatch (of “Sherlock” fame) that American audiences didn’t get to see, which kicked off the Olympic opening ceremony.
A great airport welcome
With the start of the London Olympics this week, you can bet the city and its airports are swelling with tourists and new visitors coming from all over the globe.
This week, I watched this T-Mobile ad, shot back in 2010 at London Heathrow Airport, and it felt appropriate to share. It’s a fantastic stunt with a huge feel-good factor – it reminded me of the end of “Love Actually” …
And I love the public reaction …
Wouldn’t you love to be greeted at an airport with a song? I know I would!
America does indeed have talent
Before this week began, I hadn’t seen “Britain’s Got Talent” or “America’s Got Talent.”
Sure, I’d seen the old Susan Boyle clips that have been kicking around the web, but that was the extent to it. I wasn’t interested in a talent show outside of the American Idol/X-Factor vein.
But what a difference a week makes!
I started watching “America’s Got Talent” on Monday when the new season premiered and now I get it. I get why people watch these non-singing, non-dancing talent acts. They’re fascinating. The judges, Howard Stern, Sharon Osborne and Howie Mandel, provide an honest (and often hilarious) critique. And Nick Cannon is absolutely fantastic as a host, in that very British style of Ant and Dec (talking to the camera, narrating behind the scenes).
If you haen’t seen it, and are wondering what the fuss is all about, you can watch the season premiere online.
Why Judy Dench loves her tea …
Hot, soothing, warming, nice … Tea is all of these things and no one understands that better than the Brits. Around 11 a.m. and then again at 3 p.m., I find that tea is the perfect companion. (By the way, I love this Tuffy tea steeper and steeping mug – perfect gifts for the tea lover on the go).
Watch Judy Dench as she reveals why she thinks Brits love their tea in a recent interview with Anderson Cooper.
HBO’s Girls
Despite our best intentions of unbundling our lives from the evils of Comcast, we have signed up for HBO.
I’m not proud of it. But I will say that the HBO programming is amazing.
Have you seen “Girls”? I was reluctant – after all of the hype. How great could it really be? Well, totes amaze. Last week’s episode entitled “Vagina Panic” had me LOL-ing and cringing at the same time.
I should add that while I love the characters of Hannah and Marnie most of all, I think it’s great that they’ve included a Brit in the mix in the form of Jessa – beautiful, distant and way too cool for her own good. Every show needs one of those.
And even if you have boycotted Comcast, you can watch the full first episode of “Girls,” thanks to the good people at YouTube.
PG Tips tea advert
My MIL sent me this link to the latest PG Tips advert (translation: commercial), starring Al and Monkey. So fresh and funny!
The next Susan Boyle
Let’s face it. The world is looking for the next Susan Boyle.
Enter Jonathan Antoine this week on “Britain’s Got Talent.”
(I love the judges’ over-the-top reactions and the background music that seems to rush in at just the right moment. Perfect orchestration for maximum cheese factor.)
Sacha Baron Cohen’s early years
Before there was Borat, Brüno or The Dictator, there was Ali G in “Da Ali G Show.”
Ali G just might be my favorite of Sacha Baron Cohen’s alteregos. He was amazing on “The 11 O’Clock Show” (Britain’s answer to “The Daily Show”) and was unstoppable in “Da Ali G Show.” He could get away with so much more since no one had a clue who he was.
If you’ve never seen the show, seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix (sadly, not instant view…).
Team Hollie
Have you been watching this season of “American Idol”?
Britrish.com is officially backing Liverpool-born Hollie Cavanagh for the win. She’s got an amazing voice, but I also am fascinated by her British upbringing and her British family, as well as her slightly British Americanized accent, after living in McKinney, Texas.
If you haven’t been watching, it’s a pretty solid line-up this year. Check it out tomorrow at 8 p.m. with the results show on Thursday at 8 p.m. on Fox.
The problem with 6’7″
Did you catch Stephen Merchant last week on “The Daily Show”?
I’ve always thought he was hilarious from his days writing for the UK version of “The Office” and “Extras” as well as his podcast with Ricky Gervais. He has a new project with Ricky Gervais called “Life’s Too Short,” which just started airing in the U.S. on HBO.
Check out his off-the-cuff interview with Jon Stewart, discussing the problem with being 6’7″. I love the back-and-forth and Stephen proves that he can definitely hold his own.
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