Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sex and politics joust the ticket
Originally published in The Age Green Guide, 21 February 2008.
The Tudors is magnificent fun. Blue-eyed loin-throb Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a young, hot and randy Henry VIII; loads of jousting, beheadings, naughty sex and frilly collars; and lines like, "it's decided. We shall go to war with France". How could it not be a saucy romp? It's everything you could expect from a big budget, high concept period drama.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Samantha Who Cares?
Originally published as my Telly Watch column in Crikey.com.au, 15 February 2008.
Comedy’s changed quite a lot in the last fifteen years or so. The shift started roughly when Seinfeld eschewed sentiment and happy endings, and through shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office, we’ve ended up in a place where good television comedy is no longer just wacky people firing zingers at unsuspecting straight men. But it appears no-one told the creators of Samantha Who? (8.00pm, Sundays on Seven).
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Hollywood's striking writers win the battle, lose the war
Originally published in Crikey.com.au, 14 February 2008.
Finally, it’s over. American film and television writers threw down their artfully-worded protest placards and went back to work yesterday as Guild members voted to approve a deal with the studios that officially brought the 100-day writers’ strike to an end.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Good TV is down to The Wire
Originally published as my Telly Watch column in Crikey.com.au, 31 January 2008.
"Go straight to JB Hi Fi and buy season one of The Wire . Trust me."
I received that email from a friend a few months ago. I trusted him. It was worth it.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Casey's nan - our latest tennis star
Originally published in The Sunday Age , 27 January 2008.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga might have stormed his way into the final of the Australian Open, but one of the biggest revelations of the tournament didn't even set foot on the court. The name Bev Kirwan-Ward may not ring any bells, but mention Casey Dellacqua's nanna, and people know who you're talking about.
