TV but not TV

Notorious, the Eagle has Landed, Transformers, The Good German… yep it’s my impromptu festive film festival. Somehow long idle hours require more than 30 minute drama. So no TV yapping from me at present – anyway I’m psyching myself up to watch the entire West Wing season 1 to infinity that I was given for Christmas.

See you in 2009 folks for the long awaited comeback of:
Damages, Mad Men, Lost, Flight of the Conchords and more.

In the meantime, here’s a link for non-US readers who are partial to Flight of the Conchords – it’s the entire premiere episode of Season Two. For Americans – you can watch it on funnyordie.com.

As camp as Christmas

Ah Nigella. After the luke warm reception to Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen last year I was suprised to hear she was back with a Christmas book and more shows – but why was I worried? The trio of Nigella Christmas shows (~ to accompany the very nice book of course) are perfectly camp, cheery and properly jolly but not sentimental, and whilst Nigella gives tips it’s not in a military campaign vibe – for that see Delia or Fanny Craddock’s xmas shows. Funnily Nigella mentions Fanny’s tip for lighting with pudding with vodka, which flames for longer. If you’ve never seen Fanny’s set of Christmas recipe and green dyed piped mashed potatoes serving platter you need to immediately, here, or on UKFood on cable TV, which is currently repeating every Christmas cooking special on earth.

So Nigella has well and truly found a niche – where to from Christmas? In her blog Nigella recommends Outnumbered, I concurr.

In other TV? Desperate Housewives is still ridiculous and low maintenance enough to enjoy. Survivors is wooden and I can’t see how it’s going to end satisfactorily in two more episodes. Heroes I’m liking again – but now that Elle’s dead, I dunno.

Damages seems to be returning to our screens. Let me give you a run down of shows you should be watching this Christmas, on DVD. Californication, Damages, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, 30Rock (also being repeated on five late at night but best watched chronologically with a little patience for the Pilot and ep. 2) and the latest series of Lost.

Stars for the weak and unlucky: Christmas time

Sagittarius – A bottle of Advocat, for your inner snowball

Capricorn – The X Factor single

Aquarius – A Christmas jumper from GAP, handmade by children India, who (incase you’re wondering) know it’s Christmas, enough already

Pisces – Smoked Salmon

Aries – Mariah Carey, your fellow Arian is under the tree. All she wants for Christmas…

Taurus – A posh puppy

Gemini – A mini Baileys gift set

Cancer – A diamond ring – Elizabeth Duke’s finest

Leo – Happy Festivus, you get a steel pole and a Can’t-stand-ya complex

Virgo – Something that was featured on the Dragon’s Den

Libra – The Boots complimentary No.7 make up bag, lucky you

Scorpio – Billy Idol’s Happy Holidays LP, Johnny Rotten once dubbed him “the Perry Como of punk”