Kitchen Garden Forum

Unfortunately we are a bread-and-circuses society, which means keeping the lowest common denominator happy. I think there are many things in common between our society and that of the 1st and 2nd centuries of the Roman Empire, so we may still have another century or two of this tripe until the next fundamentalist take-over and a new dark age.

Even so, there have been some good things on quite recently, such as the BBC2 programmes on suicide made by Michael Portillo and "How Mad Are You", which posed some interesting questions about how psychologists and psychiatrists diagnose mental illness or disturbance.

On the whole I agree with lizzie, and when I see and hear the dreadful garbage which passes for entertainment in aid of Children in Need I am utterly bewildered as to how on earth anybody could consider any of it at all entertaining, especially the crackpot moron-music which is simply "beat-beat-beat", "crash-crash-crash" and woe betide any performer who can either sing a tuneful note or articulate an audible or meaningful word. That's pop [or rock, or whatever you call it] for you. But then, I've always held that opinion.

If only it were interspersed with some classical or good traditional folk songs.
mike

Yes, you are quite right Mike.

Modern entertainment and music on the TV (and most of radio) is for morons.

I am of an age when variety programmes such as Sunday Night at the London Palladium were filled with quality performers, be they jugglers, singers or comedians.

The one thing they had to have was talent. These shows allowed people to be introduced to a variety of musical styles from quality performers that could sing live in front of a live band without all the electronic aids that they all rely on now.

Variety shows of the past had artists that ranged from traditional folk, flamenco, gospel, big band, classical etc etc.

How I yearn to hear and watch singers and entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jnr, Matt Monroe, Oscar Peterson and especially the Tiller Girls!!!

Bring back true variety and live performances with live musicians and the cream would rise to the top again.

Best wishes

Barney

I take your point, Mike and Cider Boys. However I don't think it fair to dismiss rock and/or anything more modern than Sammy davis Jnr et al.
There are many many talented composers, singers, songwriters and musicians producing a huge amount of top quality music. Most of it won't be heard on mainstream radio or TV because it isn't 'popular', ie commercial catchy stuff intended to make a lot of money in a short time.
Just because its new music and isn't necessarily to your taste, doesn't mean it isn't good music.
Lecture over!

T.V what is one of them,dont watch the thing,would much rather read a book,or listen to radio 4.Every one else in this family is addicted to T.V and i can walk into the room to find 5 zombies looking at it,who do not talk or interact with each other,how sad.
When we go on hols to cottage in Wales it is a different story,we do not have a T.V there.The family all talk to each other,play games,make things,listen to the radio,build dens,make up stories,put on shows,the list is endless,I love the closeness it brings to us all.Personally i think T.V is a waste of money,and if i had my way i would get rid of ours,but i am out numbered 5 to 1

Dear Grockie, i thought you might watch Songs of praise.

The only thing i like to watch is G.World,A.roadshow and country file.what do you like to watch?And half the time someone wants to watch sumit else so i give up

Three dreadful trends of recent years.

1/. All Channels - Squash / talk over the closing credits.
I don't know about the rest of you,but, sometimes I would like to be able to actually read the credits instead of them being squashed into a six inch column on the left with some numbskull telling me what's on next or next week instead of the music.

2/. Commercial channels - your memory has expired during the commercials.
So lets spnd a couple of minutes re-capping what we've already seen, so our ohne hour slot, 40 minute programme becomes about twenty minutes ACTUAL programme.

3/. BBC - lets try for 2/. above.
But as we do not have commercial breaks we'll intercut several threads in one programme and each time we rejoin a thread lets recap it. Again dragging our material from 20 minutes to 40 minutes.

I agree with all 3 - I call it the Channel 4 documentary style as i think that is where it started. There are still some good documentaries around, liked the first episode of Oceans and there was one a few weeks ago about the New Mexico Earthships.
My hearing is not what it was. I don't know if it is a common problem but I tend to hear all things at the same volume so,for example, in a crowded room I find it difficult to have a conversation as the voice near me is drowned out by the surrounding noises. This means I find background music very irritating as I can't always separate the commentary from it. So background music would be no. 4 on my list of pet hates, anybody with me?

When I think how much rubbish is on TV these days, I almost can't wait to be 75 when I'll no longer have to pay for a licence. Actually, I think there are far better quality programmes on radio where we're not subjected to "blonde babes" syndrome. Incidentally, does anybody know what the running cost per hour is for a TV? This might encourage us all to reach for the OFF button a little more quickly.

Primrose wrote: Incidentally, does anybody know what the running cost per hour is for a TV? This might encourage us all to reach for the OFF button a little more quickly.

Almost nothing according to HERE

Interesting site Alan. Thanks.
But it's taken away my last excuse to grumble at my OH whenever he's glued to the football. Alas I can no longer remind him that it's costing £5 an hour to watch that rubbish !!

Hi Alan, re running costs, is it true that Plasma TV's cost more to run than LCD TV's

Hi SM

I'm no expert, but the short answer is Yes - more size = more watts = more consumption.