Phonybrit

When I Got Choked Up

2011-04-29T14:00:00.004+01:00

Okay, I've been on hiatus, but it's Royal Wedding Day and I had to say something. Of course what else can be said when the anchors on the news channels had to vamp for vast amounts of time. You know what was missing? Any proper descriptions at all of the "flyover" -- they call it a "fly-past" over there.

They're going on about the dress, and the kiss and f-all when the three WWII era airplanes were flying over their heads making a rousing racket. Come on, people.

The planes were a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Lancaster in a memorial to the Battle of Britain. Now that was thrilling. They were followed by some modern planes (yawn), but those three heroes ...What a thrill. What those actual planes and ones like them did to save the world.

Well, that's the British monarchy for you. It's actually a great way to get into the history, but most people couldn't tell you about Oliver Cromwell, etc., -- but they could name Kate's designer.

Bravo to the RAF, Her Majesty's Air Force. Here's a YouTube clip I found of the same three planes at another event -- you can see them a little better than what CNN, et al. captured ...

From Bonnet to Boot

2010-12-30T04:18:00.005Z

Above you will see yours truly only a couple of decades ago pretending to get into the proper side of a Morris Minor, with the National Theatre in the background.

I post this now because I would like to acknowledge, in a year of dreadful anniversaries (I'm thinking, of course, mostly of the anniversary of John Lennon's murder and the melancholy 70th anniversary of his birth) ... in this year of difficult anniversaries, a happy one.

Forty years ago, the Morris company made their one millionth Minor. It was the first British motor company to make a million cars. They stopped production in the early 70s, which I guess makes this anniversary a tad melancholy as well. But for now, let us sing its glories. As they say, from bonnet to boot, there was nothing more British than a Morris Minor. Not flashy, somewhat dependable, made lots of noise, but got the job done -- with more soul than you'd expect at first blush.

I actually contemplated buying one about 16 or 17 years ago. My friend had found one for sale in Connecticut. Although the steering wheel had been changed for export, it was a Minor through and through. My father (may his memory be for a blessing) begged me not to get it. "Ronnie," he said, "The engine is the size of battery."

I didn't get it, as I'm not the best with a spanner and I couldn't trust it to do the hefty commute at the time. Ah, but what might have been ... Maybe it's not too late ...

Christmas Number One

2010-12-24T04:05:00.009Z

If you're reading this blog, this probably at least sounds familiar: the Christmas Number One.

It's the top single in the UK for the week before Christmas. They've been naming it since the 50s.

Yes, this is a thing. In fact, it's a major part of the plot of Love, Actually. You know, Bill Nighy plays and aging rocker who re-records his hit, "Love is All Around" as "Christmas is All Around" in the effort of getting the Christmas Number One. Fact is, that is the kind of fare you can expect for the Number One.

The list of winners is a strange, strange list. It can be Christmas song, but certainly doesn't have to be. Everyone from Al Martino to the Beatles have been on it. Of course, the Fab Four have been on it more than anyone (three years in a row during the mid-60s). For the last several years, it's been mostly X-Factor winners. Sometimes the song is a comment on a previous Number One: I think "Do They Know It's Christmas?" has won two or three times. Sometimes, there are exciting letter-writing campaigns (now Facebook campaigns) ... last year, fans made sure Rage Against the Machine won for "Killing in the Name," even though that song is nearly a decade old.

This year, the honor goes to Matt Cardle, a Factor alum, with "When We Collide." That song is taken from "Many a Horror" by Biffy Clyro.

You know, the UK really is another country (as evidenced by almost everything in that last paragraph), even though they import all kinds of stuff from here. The amazing thing is that Brits have these little things that bond them. Apparently, people around the country used to arrange their Christmas dinners around the Top of the Pops special that highlighted the Number One, which in turn, aired right before the Queen's Christmas message.

That the kind of thing that unites a people. I can't think of anything like that in America. The Super Bowl? Sport doesn't count. Elections? I really can't think of anything.

Now I just have to find somewhere to download Matt Cardle's song. Believe it or not, iTunes only had the karaoke version.

Smeg Me!!

2010-12-21T03:11:00.006Z

"This is too weird for words."

For the heck of it, I checked Netflix for Red Dwarf. It turns out that not only did they have it, but there was a whole series (read "season") that I didn't even know about! And it's in Haitch Dee!

For the uninitiated, Red Dwarf was -- is! -- a BBC science fiction/comedy series. The premise is this guy wakes up on a spaceship to find that the rest of the human race became extinct millions of years ago. He befriends an ancestor of his cat, who has evolved to become somewhat humanoid, although vain; an hologram of his best friend, who is irrationally arrogant; and sycophantic android. Oh, there's also a surly computer interface. It's actually very clever.

The new shows were produced in 2009 after a 10-year hiatus. Although there are just three episodes, Red Dwarf: Back to Earth is collectively considered Series 10. I'm sorry there were so few episodes, but it's good to see that the lads are back. I have read that they are making more in 2011. Who knows what (if any) channel they will play on in the U.S., but at least there's hope.

The Big Society

2010-11-18T21:13:00.006Z

The Torries' Big Society scheme has been all over the news. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first.

Sure, it seems like in any society, it would make sense that everyone pitch in during hard times. Pensioners are told to do more with less, they are re-examining the benefits for the handicapped ... There has even been talk of taking away the bus passes that are given to the elderly so they can visit the high-street shops each day.

Fair enough, I guess. Time to tighten the belt.

Bad time for the royals to be planning a royal wedding, however. I've never really had a strong opinion about the current monarchs. But the timing of this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Sure, I've heard all the arguments that the tens of millions of pounds that Prince William Wales and Kate Middelton's wedding will cost the British taxpayer will be more than returned in the form of tourism dollars. My answer? "Okay, but still ..."

Believe me, I wish the couple all health and happiness. And I'm not calling for the abolition of the monarchy. But come on. Financing a lavish wedding with the same money that's meant to pay for Aunt Penelope's bus pass? My message to the Windsors: "Sell something." They should pay for the whole thing, including security, themselves.

Bloody Fantastic

2010-10-03T17:38:00.011+01:00

I love folks who claim to be able to "do a British accent." Generally, they either adopt a posh accent or a lame cockney one. Some bust out a Ringo Starr circa 1963. As my linguistics professor pointed out to me so long ago, years ago, Londoners could peg what block in one lived on by the way one pronounced certain words. There are dozens of accents in the UK. And this kids pretty much nails them. In this little YouTube piece, he takes on 24 accents, about half of which are from the isles -- from different English ones (ranked by class, etc.) to Welch to Scottish.

I also recommend reading the comments about this on HuffPo. Very interesting theory put forward, claiming that it is exactly because Brits are exposed to so many accents, nearly from birth, that they are so good at imitations. I like the idea, but I'm not sure about it. Yes, they have Tilda Swinton, but the US have Meryl Streep, and nearly every Aussie actor I can think of can do a passable American. But the proportions do seem to be out of whack ... it seems like per capita, the UK wins the prize in this department. How many times have you heard an actor speaking in his or her own voice and said, "I had not idea they were British!"

2010-09-26T03:22:00.006+01:00

I've written before about the mirror effect of Anglophilia -- Brits who are obsessed with America. In just the last couple days, the media came out with two fascinating interviews touching on this. On NPR, Robert Plant spoke about his love of the American south, which he continues to explore. Like Jagger and so many others, they knew they owed everything to the geniuses in Memphis, the Delta, etc. and payed homage when they could. The fascinating part is that my generation heard their take, assumed they invented it and became obsessed with life in Manchester, Leeds, etc. And thought rock and roll had to be sung with an British accent. In thgis weekend's Times Mag, Deborah Solomon interviewed Phil Collins, who turns out to be Motown fanatic and a collector of objects from the American frontier, including stuff from the Alamo and Davy Crockett. Funny world.

Photo of Robert Plant from Ella Mullins

Screw the Phone Hacking Thing

2010-09-24T01:25:00.003+01:00

For weeks, I've been trying to compose a post about the phone hacking scandal, but I couldn't figure out a way to make it interesting. Yawn -- it has something to do with accessing people's voicemail and covering it up and then stopping and restarting and investigation about said offence. Yawn.

Then I saw this one Facebook. It depicts my friend, Billy Cometti, meeting Chuckie himself!!!!!!!!

Wow, Billy, wow. You've come a long way from the Cameron Diaz Biography we did together, my friend.

Russell Brand in the Chokie

2010-09-20T15:25:00.004+01:00

I was alerted to the tragic news after the Jewish holiday by a tweet from Wossie: "Good morning everyone. I am currently baking a cake with a file and hack saw in it for my dear friend Russell."

Seems the comic bad boy was involved with some typical celebrity bad-boy antics. While attempting to approach the terminal at LAX, he and domestic partner Katie Perry were completely surrounded and harrased by paparazzi (notice I didn't use the double plural ... that drive me crazy). I guess the yoga master suffered one humiliation too much -- according to Perry, the photog tried to shoot up her skirt. Well, I don't have to describe it to you. Here is it. These are paparazzi after all, so it was bound to get caught recorded for all to see.

Ill Papa!

2010-09-16T17:04:00.007+01:00

As everyone knows, the Catholic Church and the Church of England have been at odds for -- well, since King Henry VIII.

Thirty years ago JPII visited the the UK in a grand gesture of reconciliation, even as the Troubles continued in Ireland, and other disagreements brewed. Now, even with the RCs turning to the right and the Anglicans turning to the left, who knew that Rome's biggest bone to pick would not be with the Archbishop of Canterbury, but with the British people themselves!

The row escalated when one of the former German cardinal's top aides, another German cardinal (I point this out because it's not like the Germans and the Brits have had an easy time of it over the last 100 years or so) responded positively when asked if Christians were discriminated against in the country his boss was about to visit. He railed against the UK's "aggressive secularism," calling it [gasp] a "third-world country." Ouch. And quite pot-calling-the kettle. I mean, which one is more of a dictatorship?

Cardinal Kasper's comment comes as a letter signed by 50 top Britons -- people like Dawkins, Fry, and others -- hit the news. It says that the Pope is leader of a religion, not a head of state and is therefore not entitled to the "honour" of a state visit.

So, again: Interesting times -- the churches are playing nice but the people are snipping. Progress? I'm not sure but according to Guardian, the pontiff was barely off the plane when he started with the anti-secularism talk.

2010-09-01T14:39:00.006+01:00

BBC America have been maintaining a blog called Anglophenia, even longer -- and with far, far more regularity -- than Phonybrit.

I like it, I suppose. It does have excellent entertainment news, especially stuff related to TV content. And the clips are great -- all what you would expect from the Beeb. After all, their first priority is going to be making sure people watch BBCA.

I'm just starting to plow through stuff and I'm happy to say that you can still enjoy both this blog and theirs without too much overlap. I don't see much personal writing and almost no politics, for instance, in the cursory read I've given it so far.

But it is an excellent resource and I'm happy to tell you about it. No Britain-junkie should have to do without it.

Oh, Tony!

2010-09-01T14:13:00.003+01:00

I'm writing a longer post at the moment on a different topic, but in case you missed it, you must read about Tony Blair's new autobiography. It's just out now and near as I can tell, it is taking Britain by storm.

The Guardian is the best place to get the highlights.

They Had Me at Who

2010-08-17T14:33:00.005+01:00

As mentioned ad infinitum, my cable provider does not carry BBC America. There are a lot of reasons why this shows that they know f**k-all about what people want, and it causes me a lot of personal grief. It meant that I had no idea how the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, met his demise. And I had never seen anything other than stills of the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith,

But in celebration of my getting a brand new Roku box, I decided to download the final David Tennant specials and Series 5, the first featuring number 11.

The new Doctor Who does not disappoint. (BTW, be careful here -- when referring to this show, the character is called "The Doctor" and the show is referred to as Doctor Who. I slip up all the time, but that's the rule. I also think the Doctor's new companion, Amy Pond is brilliant. Amy is played by Karen Gillan and looks just like my friend Mariah Wilson. (That's neither here nor there, but I did want to sneak in a plug since her film, Revealing Hate, is now available on DVD.)

Matt Smith is great and although I've just seen the first episode and some coming attractions, I can report that he completely embodies the spirit of the Doctor. It is too bad that they didn't go with a Black Doctor, as was rumored, but again Smith does a fine job. And although I will miss the show's head writer, Russel T Davies, we are in good hands with Stephen Moffat, who many of you know from his show, Coupling. As you may remember, Coupling, had a lot of clever playing with time and space -- good practice for Doctor Who indeed.

Photos by alun.vega. Thank you!

@Wossy, i < 3 u

2010-08-13T04:34:00.005+01:00

While Phonybrit does have a Twitter account, I have not ramped up for tweeting. But thank goodness, Jonathan Ross has.

It kind of hit me like a ton of bricks when I was listening to the podcast of Wossy's Radio 2 show and he started saying his goodbyes. Somehow I missed his announcement earlier this year that he would be leaving the BBC entirely in July. Apparently, he was still a little irked by the Sachsgate business and there have been reports over negotiations over money not going well either. So no more Friday night chat show, no Saturday radio show, and no film round-ups on the Beeb.

Whatever the reasons were, I was happy to find out that he will be starting the chat show again on ITV ... but I'm not to optimistic about that being transferred to this side of the pond.

In the meantime, we will content ourselves with his very good Twitter stream, which he seems to update very regularly. It's no podcast, but it's something.

Guess WHO's back

2010-08-07T20:20:00.004+01:00

Due to some wonderful, encouraging folks at a bloggers dinner the other night, fine folks who claim to have been readers when I posted nearly daily, I have decided to revive Phonybrit.

But so many amazing things have happened since the apples fell off the cart. What to blog about first? The Lib Dem “win”? British Petroleum? The World Cup? Jonathan Ross retiring? The fact that I haven’t seen Get Him to the Greek?

Here’s one: My daughter’s at camp. During their “color wars,” they took the theme of classic rock bands (i.e., Red Rolling Stones, etc.) My daughter was on the Blue Who. When my wife and I were looking at the pictures of the opening exercises, she noticed the Who logo and said, “What’s that bullseye for?" Evidently, I looked at her like she just asked, “Was Paul McCartney in band before Wings?” Of course, I had my trusty DVD of Quadrophenia within arm’s reach and showed her, in seconds, the Who’s logo.

Since then, we’ve asked a couple of very intelligent people about the logo and they claim not to have realized that the Who even had a logo, analogous to the Rolling Stones lips or the Grateful Dead skeleton.

So okay, here’s the thing about the “bullseye,” for those who are trying to gaslight me by still pleading ignorance. During World War II, the airforces of the various sides had logos that they would put on the wings of their aircraft, I guess so they wouldn’t get shot down by friendly fire. The USA’s Army Air Corps and Navy had the five-pointed star. The Luftwaffe had the twisted cross. The Japanese had the Rising Sun. And the Royal Air Force had concentric circles of (from outside in) blue, white and red -- the colours of the Union Jack. During the 60s, the Mods adopted the logo as their own. (I don’t think the Rockers had a logo, beside greasy hair.) As the mod-est of mod-dy bands, the Who took on the logo, along with an adaptation of the “male” symbol (same as the symbol for Mars in astrology) as their own.

Okay? So when you see the RAF/Mod/Who logo, please do not call it a bullseye. Unless it has yellow in it. Please?

If you enjoyed this post, visit hungrytravels.com and/or cookingwithrinku.blogspot.com.

Another One Bites the Dust

2010-01-28T15:13:00.003Z

Well, it's real and they're freaking out a bit on the other side of the pond. Cadbury, the inventor of the chocolate bar, the company that every British kids grows up loving is no longer British. The international mega-corp Kraft has bought Cadbury. Is this the final blow to the Empire?

Sir Jean-Luc?

2010-01-04T16:25:00.004Z

There's nothing like knighthood. It's an essential difference between America and Britain: no peerage. Nowadays that translates to Obama not being able to bestow the coolest honor on anyone. I mean really, the Kennedy Honors? Leave it to the U.S. to turn something that's cool into a TV special. And in the UK, you get to change your name.

But strange that an actor made famous for playing a Frenchman made the top of the list. But he did do a lot of plays by that English playwright from Stratford.

So, congrats to Sir Patrick Stewart. I wonder if it comes with land in Cardassia Prime or something.

All Bullocksed Up

2009-12-22T15:30:00.004Z

What's this then with the Chunnel?

Just sayin'. And during the Christmas rush too.

Thanks to "Mortadelo2005" for the use of the image.

Rock 'n Dole Will Never Die?

2009-12-21T15:06:00.006Z

I've pondered many times in this space why one little island has produced so many musical legends. It's a waste to start listing them ... I'd never stop ... but you have to admit that it's *way* out of proportion for their population.

One clue came in the form of something I had never heard of: the so-called Rock 'n Dole program, a part of the New Deal that Blair installed in 1998.

Apparently, if you did some sort of volunteer work or other service to the country, you were eligible for a handout. And if you could prove that you were working on a musical career, that counted. Nothing like that could ever happen in the U.S. I mean, it was an expressed goal of the program to create more rock bands. They actually saw that a scene like in the photo of Embrace in concert (above) was good for the economy. And you don't get there by logging time at the til in the local Tesco.

I'm not sure how many modern acts got their start this way. Naturally, this specific program came a little late for Zepplin and the Jam. But according to one article I read, Embrace were one and I have to assume that any act you could name now, from Arctic Monkey to Elbow dipped into the program at some point or another.

Now the program is coming to an end. Many a dissertation has been written about the racial attitudes and economic mixture that created the Stones and the Sex Pistols. But that they even had this program for a decade says a lot about that place. Historians will probably look back on this period with curiosity, just as they do the influx of R&B and Soul records into Liverpool in the late 50s and early 60s -- and into the hands of Lennon and McCartney and Harrison. Well, maybe Rock 'n Dole didn't have the same impact, but it's still pretty cool.

I am Howard

2009-12-21T04:43:00.004Z

In addition to loving the UK, I love Israel, Italy, France and Canada! Are we noticing a trend? Basically I love anywhere that's not here, I guess.

One of the best things to come from our neighbors to the north (members of the Commonwealth, BTW) is Jonathan Goldstein's Wiretap on CBC Radio. It's sort of hard to describe, so check out the podcast, especially, the recent on in which Howard Chackowicz returns from a four-day trip to England with a British accent.

I love this character. I guess I relate to him. But this last episode put it over the top. Of course, I fear that I am as needy and crazy as Howard. And I fear that my efforts to fit in with Brits are met with the same reaction as Howards: "A lot of people were laughing ... when I was making a joke, so ..."

Anyway, listen to Wiretap's Mysteries and tell me what you think.

Wiretap illustration/logo by artist Jack Dylan -- used for the purposes of promoting the show.

Boosh Boys do Python

2009-12-16T03:52:00.002Z

Even more than the TV shows on PBS, it was the Monty Python records that captivated a 12-year-old Phonybrit. Now the stars of Britain's newest comedy show have a radio documentary on BBC2. I missed the seven-day period when you can still hear BBC radio shows for part one. But part two has just been posted today!

The Beeb also made a video of The Boosh Boys talking about Python below:

Mummy and Papa are Fighting

2009-12-16T03:42:00.004Z

A UK magistrate has called for the arrest of Tzipi Livni and other Israeli politicians, accusing them of war crimes. What if Great Britain and Israel go to war? I wonder if there were some Anglo-maniacs in Argentina back in Falkland Island days who had their allegiances thusly torn assunder?

Here's to You, Mr. Robinson

2009-12-11T02:59:00.005Z

So I joined the Scooter Club on Facebook (naturally), and it's proved a treasure trove of inside baseball (or inside cricket as the case may be). The member offer each other tickets to great concerts, alert each other to scooter rallies and events -- and generally trade trivia about scooters.

Lately, most of the posts have been about the passing of one Pete Robinson, and Worchester artisan who made a name in the scooter community for his immaculate restorations ... but mostly for his elaborate chrome engravings. Google this guy and you'll find tricked out scooters that would put the American Chopper dudes to shame. Very interesting, and sad, to learn about such a talented artist this way. Pete Robinson, dead at age 48.

photos taken from Pete's websiste, customchrome.co.uk, and meant purely as a tribute to the man and his work.

What?!

2009-12-03T02:12:00.003Z

The Commonwealth Summit in Port-of-Spain, on Trinidad, is over a couple of days now and I just noticed one of the major resolutions was to accept Rwanda into the group. HUH?

I always thought that the Commonwealth was basically a confederation of nations made up of former colonies and other parts of the faded Empire. Now I learn that countries can join it like the EU, the G-whatever, and NATO? Rwanda was "owned" by Germany and then by Belgium. But several years ago and they became Anglophiles -- they even made cricket the national sport!

Rwanda is the second country with no ties to Britain to join the Commonwealth, which is presided over by the Queen. Mozambique is the other one.

Does it Get Cooler Than This?

2009-11-21T05:20:00.002Z

Oh My

2009-11-21T05:02:00.005Z

Of course, after buying the scooter, I had to watch Quadrophenia obsessively ...

Then I got curious about what became of "Jimmy," Philip Daniels. Seems he was a major part of Eastenders at some point. I don't know why I would assume he'd be frozen in time ... but here is a little before and after:

Poor Tony

2009-11-21T04:53:00.002Z

Blair didn't make it.

He has been trying to become the next president of Europe for ages. But that Iraq business will follow him to his grave. Some bloke from Belgium or something got it.

Photo by Andy Mettler

For Queen and Country

2009-11-11T12:54:00.012Z

It's called Veterans Day here. It's Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom and many parts of the Commonwealth.

Harry Patch died in July at age 111. He was Britain's last World War One Veteran. So 2009 is the first year he will not be marching in the parade. We won't have that continuity. Within many of our lifetimes, the same will be true of World War Two vets.

What would Harry think of Gordon Brown's latest dustup?

For those who haven't been following, a grieving mum of a soldier killed in Afghanistan and he have been at loggerheads.

It seems that Brown writes handwritten condolence notes to the families of the fallen. When the mother of Jamie Janes, Jacqui Janes, received hers, she blanched at the 25 spelling errors -- including both her name and her son's. Brown called to apologize, a call Janes recorded and later released in which she suggested to the PM that her sons death could have been prevented if the forces were better supplied and supported.

Now, so many years into that conflict, we wonder what can be done to find "peace in our time." Many people didn't know that the visually impaired politician even wrote these notes (he lost much of his sight in a rugby accident) -- and the spelling errors prove that they are personal.

Meanwhile, mothers continue to grieve.

Photo by Jim Ross

Hammer: Another Uncovered World

2009-11-09T16:35:00.008Z

As I've said before, one of the great things about being an Anglo-fan is discovering a whole amazing parallel universe -- one that speaks English! I remember Mike Starr, now a well-known TV critic and still a Peter Sellers fanatic telling me about Sellers's early films, including a classic in which he plays a prison inmate. Who knew?

Just last week I heard Madeline Smith and Valerie Leon, queens of the Hammer Films being interviewed on Radio 2. Hammer Studios was the prime B-movie factory in the 50s and 60s. It's a whole world of previously unknown (to me) shlock and the training ground for just greats at Roger Moore.

The movies weren't always top shelf, but the women [insert gesture of a stereotypical Italian chef with his fingers to his lips: "Delicious!"]

I guess I'll have to find some free YouTube and Roku time to mine this new vein.

A Thousand Days Until the London Olympics

2009-11-09T16:23:00.001Z

Just worth noting.

Britannia Rules the (Air)waves.

2009-11-01T15:22:00.003Z

Just got around to watching Away We Go. Of course, I thought the soundtrack was some newly discovered Nick Drake sprinkled with some Stranglers. But the original music was actually relative newcomer Alexi Murdoch, born in London, raised largely in Scotland.

Talk about a monoploy. It seems as though the British are still to music what Koreans used to be to grocers and what many people thing Jews are to banking.

Did those feet in ancient times ....

2009-11-01T15:17:00.002Z

Nice article in the Times on a trailway I never knew about.

Such a surprising island. Last week, Radio 4 did a show about the geological history of Britain. Reminded me of seeing the dinosour fossils in Lyme Regis.

Look, North America is very varied too. But it's so huge. On this mini-continent, there's so much.

What I Wish I Had

2009-10-31T03:41:00.003Z

Still loving the Chinese scooter, but look at the beauty of the above.

Doctor Ronnie and Mr. Ron

2009-10-29T03:09:00.003Z

When I posted this shot of my new scooter on Facebook, an old friend wrote, "Quadrophenia nostalgia?"

Well, duh.

Too bad I can't afford a Vespa right now and had to get this Chinese one which is more "motorcycle-y" than those used by the Mods. Still, it's a lot of fun ... when it's working.

"Different to" Americans

2009-10-07T02:47:00.002+01:00

I've long been intrigued not only by the different vocab and spellings that they have in England and the Commonwealth, but also the different grammar. They'll say, "NatWest apologize for the inconvenience" as if all the people at the bank were sorry, while we say "Chase apologizes."

One grammatical quirk that really charms me is the when they say, "This is different *to* that" instead of "This is different from that." I really can't make a strong argument about which is more correct. I just love the way do it more.

Oh You, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

2009-10-06T01:18:00.004+01:00

Just minutes ago, finished watching a film with Lexi: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I had literally not seen a frame of it since I was a tiny kid. What I didn't remember is except for Dick Van Dyke, it's an almost 100 percent British enterprise, shot mostly at Pinewood Studios. Unlike Mary Poppins, Dick does not trot out his much-criticized cockney accent.

Very surreal. The 60s were indeed a strange time.

And of all people, who should pop up? Benny Hill.

Lots for an anglophile and nostalgic to sink his teeth into.

Finally ... MARMITE

2009-10-01T04:00:00.005+01:00

I've always heard of it, never tasted it.

So when I was breaking the fast from Yom Kippur, and my new friend Charlie from London brought a jar of Marmite for his kids to eat (they can't get enough of the stuff), I jumped at the chance. Brits grow up with this gooey concoction, and it's next to impossible to get here. Most Americans think it's vile, but if you grow up with anything ... most people around the world don't care for our peanut butter, for instance.

What did I think? I liked it. Probably too intense of a taste to break a fast with -- it's a byproduct of beermaking: yeasty and salty, a bit like a spreadable bullion cube. But that's making it sound bad, which it isn't.

Goes great with bagels.

Radio 4 Update

2009-09-27T05:38:00.004+01:00

I blogged about BBC Radio 4's panel shows. This week's Midweek is a great example:

* Lenny Henry, Chef! himself -- now playing the Moor
* The film legend Leslie Caron
* Sarah Butler, a writer who just did a "residency" in the Underground
* and Clarissa Dickson Wright, who writes about traveling through Britain.

Atlantic's Brit Wit

2009-09-25T18:52:00.002+01:00

The Atlantic has a great article about British humour this month, with Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand being the prime examples.

It would take more than article to get to the bottom of it, but someday, someone will come up with a theory on why this island nation has produced so many intelligently daft idiot-geniuses.

Parkour Mania

2009-09-20T02:45:00.002+01:00

Now that it's been featured on the US version of The Office, everyone knows what parkour is.

Of course, they've known about it in the UK for years. Check out this 2004 video, with some great London sites in the background ...

Only in UK

2009-09-20T01:13:00.006+01:00

I'm a big Radio 4 fan. Start stereotyping ... here I listen to NPR, drive a Prius, vote Democratic ... it's pretty easy to extrapolate what I'd do if I was a subject of the crown.

One thing Radio 4 has mastered that really doesn't exist here is the panel discussion. Sure, there are politics shows that have a couple of liberals and a couple of conservatives in the studio and they let them go at each other. I'm not talking about that. I'm thinking of specifically, Start the Week (STW) and Midweek: Diverse Conversation.

These shows are fantastic. Midweek, hosted by Libby Purves and STW, with Andrew Marr, both round up a random group ... say a novelist, an actor, a natural scientist and an NGO official recently back from some wartorn country. All four participants read the writer's book, go see the actor's play, learn about the scientist's achievements and read the memoirs of the NGO person.

The result is the opposite of what you get when you have an actor spouting off about hunger in Africa or something. They sort of interview each other, with the host acting as the guide -- and the segues and connections can often be stunning.

I urge you to podcast these two shows immediately.

My Favorite Torry

2009-09-11T13:59:00.005+01:00

The British Parliament is coming up a lot in conversation lately. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's address to Congress is being seen, even by some who disagree with him, as being firmly in the vain of the "Questions for the Prime Minister" sessions popularized here on C-SPAN. (Of course, even MPs don't call each other liars, but that's hair splitting.)

Then just yesterday, I heard London's mayor, Boris Johnson, on BBC4's Great Lives talking about Samuel Johnson. We just don't have politicians like that. I can't really imagine a Republican going on some radio show and talking about a non-political topic besides sport. Yet, this Oxford grad seemed very well at home talking about 18th century intellectuals.

And since all but the most extreme Conservative members actually believe in making sure that an illness shouldn't wipe out a family financially, I'd be proud to have him as my mayor. Something tells me that he's not going to stop with being mayor though. He's only 45 years old.

Adam Knows

2009-09-10T13:59:00.006+01:00

Even the ultra-manly Adam Corolla (The Man Show, etc.) is apparently a little bit of Anglophile. His podcast, which is almost always in the top 10, is a riot. Here's a quote from yesterday's edition:

I love the English. [The] English, they're so much f**king better than that we are. Because for years, I was always like, "Ginger Baker, why is he called 'Ginger,' and Ginger Spice?" Well, when you have red hair and you're from England, they call it ginger. We call it "rusty." They call it ginger. It's so much better. Wouldn't you rather be called Ginger than Rusty?

When He's Right, He's Right

2009-09-10T00:07:00.002+01:00

A couple of weeks ago, Richard Bradley blogged about Elbow's performance at Glastonbury. Good on him. I may not go as far as he does in his post about the general beauty of British Pop. But there's no denying it: That band is fantastic. And that song -- "One Day Like This" -- is a towering achievement. Please click below. I'll be shocked if it doesn't stay with you for a long, long time.

Well Done, Lads

2009-09-09T16:43:00.002+01:00

This post in memorium to the British soldier who gave his life in the successful pre-dawn raid which freed the journalist Stephen Farrell from his Taliban captors in Afghanistan.

They Keep Pulling Me Back In

2009-09-08T13:59:00.002+01:00

I was really contemplating stopping to watch Doctor Who with the new cast change -- there's already so much on queued on my new Roku.

But now I see that Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually) is writing an episode. So, they've got me back.

Any Day Now

2009-09-08T13:43:00.004+01:00

It's World Cup time again ... and it's looking like David Beckham may not be included on the squad going to South Africa.

There are milestones in life: When you are older than Playboy centerfold models, when you are older than the President of the US, and when sport stars have entire careers while you are paying attention.

Well, Becks can't carry on forever ... his not playing for England just seems wrong.

The Real Heroes

2009-09-07T01:41:00.007+01:00

September 3rd marked the beginning of World War II.

Neville Chamberlin delivered the news in his famous stiff-upper-lip manner:

"I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10, Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 0'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany."

Plain words that made history. And it set in motion an effort that's beyond words. Sure the soldiers and sailors and airmen made history, but the Germans would have never been defeated if it wasn't for the average British subject. America would have never entered the war if it wasn't for the bravery of those people through the Blitz.

There's a great podcast featuring some of the speeches that motivated these remarkable people.

But my favorite came later, from the Bulldog, and is worth remembering every day:

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

Not Quite Cricket or "Putting Some English On It."

2009-09-03T20:55:00.004+01:00

Not that I've tried that hard, but I still still find cricket a sticky wicket. I do know enough to be aware that England have won some big contest recently (I think against the Aussies?) and that they now have something called "the Ashes."

One thing that really surprised me: Apparently, Lilly Allen is a mad for the game. She's even been known to hire helicopters to get her to games so she won't be late -- and I don't think they are any cheaper there than here. Lilly says that in her hectic life, cricket is a moment of calm. I get that ... with those five-day contests, it must be like playing our (yawn) baseball in a vat of treacle. Baseball's my favorite sport, so count me in!

Other news in sport: Footie started on the 15th of August and Chelsea is out front. Of course, Man U won again last year, so it's going to be another interesting season ... If I can manage to keep on top of it.

Had to Laugh

2009-09-01T17:17:00.003+01:00

I'm still furious about the Lockerbie thing, but here's a zinger from Andy Parsons on BBC Radio's I Guess That's Why They Call It the News:

"The Americans are furious, they say there's going to be less American tourism. But surely, that's good for actual Scotish tourism. Less American tourists means that tourists from every other part of the world will be thinking, "Brilliant! This the time to go to Scotland."

Badly Done

2009-08-30T23:37:00.005+01:00

I don't like to get political, but news that Downing Street approved the release of the monster partly responsible for blowing up the plane over Lockerbie has me pretty cross.

I'm not going to get cute with this post. I just want to say that although I wasn't directly affected, one thing stays with me about this act of terrorism: So many of the victims were returning from their overseas studies in London. I can't say how many people I know who went through that program. Of course, every tragedy like this has its victims and none are more special than any other.

But those students returning from the semester abroad, that's what gets me.

Skype, I Love You

2009-08-25T13:35:00.002+01:00

Wow. I just looked at the date of the last post. No excuses ... I just took a break and I'm sure I alienated my wonderful audience. Let's see how this goes.

I had a great experience in the interim, doing business with some great friends in the UK. Most of it was email, but a lot of it was done via Skype. These guys had Skype enabled on their phone -- in their words, the equipment was "nothing as posh as an iPhone." It just came on their regular handset. Now that is civilized. Of course, they had to know I was calling and have it turned on, so I mostly did "Skype Out," but that's still only 5 cents a minute or something. So much better than the bad old days.

We even did something very revolutionary: I needed to do a video shoot there, and my thought was to have a Skype video conference so I could see and hear the interview subject. That didn't happen due to the lack of WiFi in the the remote Western pub we were shooting in, but they were able to SMS ("text") some photos, which helped a great deal.

We are getting closer. There's only one final frontier that no one seems to be even willing to discuss: the time difference. No matter what you do, the sun is going to rise there at a different time that it does here. If the world were to switch over to Universal Time (UT), then someone would have to start getting used to waking up at 03:00.

And guess what, UT is just another way of saying Greenwich Mean Time. With the way the metric system went over here, good luck. And having London be the de facto center of everything (in that the sun will rise at 06:00 and set at 19:00, depending on the season)? This might take a while.

My Wife Went to London and All I Got was this Lousy T-shirt (Really!)

2009-06-02T02:16:00.002+01:00

She assures me that everyone is wearing this Saatchi Gallery souvenir ... but I mean, come on ... so cliche.

Uncanny

2009-05-26T23:28:00.001+01:00

Don't forget to look at the video replies; they're pretty funny too. Here's just one:

Joanna Lumley is Absolutely Fabulous Pt. 2

2009-05-19T14:34:00.004+01:00

Joanna.

I never thought I'd say this, but Joanna Lumley for PM.

The Bond Girl and New Avenger and Patsy from AbFab has now become a major activist on the political scene.

Good on ya.

If You're Easily Offended, P**s Off

2009-05-08T20:57:00.002+01:00

A submission by reader Chris ... Good stuff, but grotie in parts. The parody of the Eastenders theme is worth price of admission!

You're What?!

2009-05-06T23:55:00.006+01:00

Get this: The trouble and strife is going to London on business in few weeks and not taking me!

Worst part -- I can't even show a picture of her here because she's a restaurant reviewer. Okay, that's not the worst part. The worst part is that we had planned to go there for our anniversary in a few months, a plan derailed by the economy. And now, I'm out of the picture!

Harrumph!

Come on, FB!

2009-05-01T17:09:00.003+01:00

So, I when given an option I always tick "English (UK)" just for the fun of it. I have British English on my GPS, as you can see here.

But come on, Facebook lads and lassies ... is this all you can come up with as being different to Americans? Mobile vs. cellphone? Neighbourhood vs. Neighborhood?

Good Stuff

2009-04-28T15:27:00.003+01:00

In case you aren't on Facebook, or none of you friends have put this on their profile:

Actually, these guys, Idiots of Ants are pretty good. I believe they appear on BBC Three's The Wall.

The Other Talented Briton

2009-04-27T04:23:00.004+01:00

So everyone knows who Susan Boyle is by now. But Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent has another sensation, Shaheen Jafargholi from Wales. I can't embed the clip unfortunately, but click ...

here.

We Need More of This

2009-04-26T01:35:00.001+01:00

I love this idea:

http://slowdownlondon.co.uk

"Festivities" continue through May the 9th.

Do You Need More Proof?

2009-04-22T13:56:00.003+01:00

This webcast happened about six months ago, I think, but I just can't get it out of my head.

Radiohead. The Smiths. Was there ever a more amazing convergence of gear-ness? So British, so awesome. It's motivation for keeping the blog up for another several months, I'll tell you that much.

The Funniest Memorial in History

2009-04-21T14:47:00.003+01:00

So last week, my favourite Beatle was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Eric Idle said a few words, including praise for Paul McCartney's relationship with George in his final days. Few people know this, but Harrison actually died in Macca's house. According to Idle, "... it's one of the reasons I won't go and stay with John Cleese."

I will definitely pay homage next time in Cali.

Disturbing News from Across the Pond

2009-04-13T17:26:00.008+01:00

The trouble and strife has submitted the following link to Phonybrit: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e3d8e9b1-8caa-4290-b566-2aff2216016e.

It's an amazingly constructed piece by Howard Jacobson from The New Republic on the rise of antisemitism in England. Of course, the English aren't famous for being big fans of MOT's. Just Wikipedia
Photo: © Jonathan Cape "York Castle" for proof. And from time to time, this kind of thing flairs up, particularly during rough economic times (hmmm).

One reason I've heard is that, like the South Asians, Jews (at least the ones who are not "Jews by Choice") are not *ethnically* English. But Jacobson points to something else at work ... the only standby that it's not antisemitic to criticize Israel (which of course we all agree with, otherwise most of the Knesset would be keen bigots) is falling a bit flat lately. Jacobson's primary example, Carol Churchill's play, "Seven Jewish Children." Why not "Seven Israeli Children"? We'd have to ask Churchill.

Anyway, interesting piece in TNR that you should at least scan when you get a chance.

He Even Makes Our Flanimals Laugh

2009-04-06T20:25:00.003+01:00

Sesame Street, our Blue Peter, turns 40 in November and they've already started to make their anniversary show. Unfortunately, the producer lost control of the shoot when she invited Ricky Gervais to appear with Elmo.

I truly believe that that is puppeteer Kevin Clash actually laughing, just trying to keep in character.

Another Special SNAFU

2009-04-04T21:17:00.002+01:00

You'd think the Obamas would be on their best behaviour with in the UK, what with their poor performance when the Brown visited Washington. (For those who don't recall, beyond a White-House-gift-shop gift to the Brown boys, it turns out that the 25 DVDs that they gave the PM were all region one and unplayable on British DVD players).

Now this: Michelle broke protocol and put her arm around the Queen.

I don't get it ... they're so cool, so elegant ... you'd think they'd be getting on like a house on fire in UK and Europe.

What a Rip Off

2009-03-10T14:43:00.003Z

Anyone else getting a kick about of the British press kicking and screaming about the Obama's poor choice of presents for Brownie's boys? A guess a model of Marine One really doesn't stand up to all those dresses and things from London's Top Shops. Still it's hardly an international incident.

Also, is there a difference between a "special relationship" and a "special partnership"?

Does Obama's English roots enter into this special partnership somehow?

Snow Again?

2009-02-09T20:15:00.002Z

What is going on. Of course, it's always snowed in the UK -- but two blizzards in one season?

They're calling for another 8 inches, with major disruptions ...

What the heck is going on?

This Actually Warrants a Post

2009-02-05T15:04:00.003Z

Nothing's seemed too post-worthy lately. The snow storm in London? Kind of interesting.

I meant to share this, because it's brilliant: The Guardian have arranged for a joint podcast, bringing together Islamophonic and Sounds Jewish. Very good stuff. Don't know why I forgot to let everyone know, but it's still current.

But this I couldn't resist. Ricky Gervais did the Actor's Studio show at Pace University? That's in my neighborhood! Ah well, since I'm not an acting student, I couldn't be there, but here's the YouTube version below:

Big Day for Me

2009-01-22T18:41:00.005Z

Not only did I Skype the UK (not the whole nation, just my new colleague Lou Clarke at Watchmore TV in London) but I got this pretty pic from my old colleague Mame McCutchin. Hey, I'm not saying it takes much to make my day.

Mame's an Anglofan from way back, solidified when she traveled America looking for art with a UK-based crew.

Check out Mame's blogs (where does she find the time?):
This Idiot
Found Money
and The Daily Draw

The Prisoner

2009-01-15T14:48:00.003Z

Number 6 is dead.

Well, the Prisoner was never my cup of tea, but so many Anglophiles have used it as their entry point to British culture that I had to mark Patrick McGoohan's passing somehow.

In spite of my feelings about the show itself, I do love this opening sequence. Something tells me that this clip is going to get a lot of viewings on YouTube today.

The Funniest DVD Menu in History

2009-01-14T23:07:00.005Z

Well, beside being super busy with work, Battlestar Galactica, 24, and Lost are all starting up again -- not to mention the Simon Cowell Show, which I will try to avoid but will fail.

And with all of that going on, I just couldn't resist the I'm Alan Partridge Series 1 DVD when I saw it in the library. Steve Coogan for free? Count me in.

I haven't seen much of this show which stars Coogan as a washed up TV presenter, but I have noticed one thing: The menu is the most inspired bit of madness since the CD, "Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time."

I won't spoil it for you, but suffice to say that you won't see the word, "Play" anywhere and if you want to see the show, you'll want to clear the room of children.

Oh, Harry

2009-01-13T14:24:00.005Z

Here's the quick version: Prince Harry (that's the one who was photographed wearing a Nazi uniform a couple of years ago). Made a little tape during his army training. In it, he refers to a fellow soldier as a "little Paki," tells another that he looks like a raghead, he makes a mock phone call to his grandmother ("Love to the Corgis!"), and confirms that his pubes are ginger.

Check it out if you wish. I won't comment here as I know little about how soldiers need to set their heads. All I will say is that this is how the man behaves while he knows he is being recorded.

Things I Missed on Holiday

2009-01-09T17:42:00.003Z

If you've every been on a cruise, you know it takes ages to find out what you've missed.

In this case, I missed both happy and sad news while I was away (I'm not counting the Gaza Crisis ... that was on every telly on the ship).

I have learned that there's a new Doctor: Matt Smith will play the 11th Doctor Who. I'll analyze the choice of an actor who was born after I finished high school another time.

Also Harold Pinter, a towering figure, is gone.

I hope this is all I missed.

Tastes a Bit Squirrely

2009-01-08T15:20:00.004Z

Saw a piece in the New York Times the other day: Brits are going in for squirrel meat. Well, it's not exactly an fad, but since the population is out of control, the eco-friendly thing to do is to tuck into a nice squirrel pie.

But what interested me was that their squirrels, the red squirrels with the fluffy ears (you know them from the Beatrix Potter drawings) are getting pushed out by those tough-as-nails gray squirrels we have here in New York. It seems the louts carry a disease against which reds have little or no resistance.

It's like:

Gray: Yo, can you tell me (cough, cough) the way to "Lie-chester" Square?
Red: It's pronounced "Lester."
Gray: (cough, cough) Whatever, fuggedaboudit.

So tuck in, Britian, and enjoy our squirrels! Grays for tea is a point of national pride.

Norwegian Wood

2009-01-07T23:10:00.004Z

Norwegian Wood -- that's what I got when I found out that the Norwegian Broadcasting Company, NRK, had started a free podcast in which they were going to make the entire Fab Four catalog (which they put at 212 songs) downloadable as a free podcast. All you had to do was listen to Norwegian musicologist analyze the song for several minutes prior.

But alas, I got there long after the Apple Corps's lawyers .... the podcasts have been pulled for the time being.

Apple Corp: I have deal for you ... start making your music available online some other way, and I will be happy to pay shell out a few quid for it.

England is Mine, Owes Me a Living

2009-01-06T18:21:00.002Z

The Smith are available from the Guardian for free.

For a limited time, go here and get the video for Panic.

Ah, the Smiths. Have I ever told you that I was at their American premier? It was at Danceteria in New York. As Morissey once said, "Tell the truth, it really, really helped you."

This photo taken in Her Majesty's realm

2009-01-04T20:33:00.004Z

Sorry my holiday in the Bahamas put a stop to posting for a while. However, it was a thrill to be in country that drives on the "right" side of the road and has a proper monarch.

Didn't get much of a feel for the country as it was a cruise and I mostly saw other holidaymakers also doing their side trips planned by the ships extortion er- excursion desk.

Not to Miss

2008-12-23T18:43:00.003Z

Guardianistas have already seen this, but in case you don't check the site daily, the Guardian have a blog post with their picks for the Top 5 TV opens.

There's one American pick: Hawaii 5-0 (which is hard to beat).

But it's very interesting for someone standing on the sidelines (someone like me) to learn about Dee Time, etc.

Bend It Like Pasta

2008-12-21T02:40:00.003Z

Becks just started a two-month loan from the Galaxy to AC Milan.

Of course, that team is kind of like the Yankees of Europe, and I can see why the world's most famous footballer wants a crack at it, but it does seem weird. First Real Madrid and then this? Plus, I'm sure he's going to play for England in the FA Cup.

I mean what team is Posh's husband on?

Yo' -- It's Hannukka Time -- Booyashaka

2008-12-19T02:57:00.003Z

Erran Baron Cohen (who's the brother of the super-famous-actor Baron Cohen and the cousin of the fairly-famous-professor Baron Cohen) is a pretty fantastic musician in his own right. His band, Zohar, is amazing.

This season, he presents Songs in the Key of Hannukka. And you have to hear it to believe how hip it is. Also, listen to his interview of Fresh Air from today.

I Think I'm in Love

2008-12-18T04:07:00.004Z

It's not tough to guess, but yes, I'm a Zadie Smith fan.

Now in the New Yorker, I learn that she loves all the same comedy that I do? She understands the Kabbalah, can write in almost any dialect ... and now I'm meant to believe that she's got a proper sense of humour?

Maybe there are three of her churning out work under the same name.

Here she is on the New Yorker's podcast, talking about why the Parrot Sketch and the scene where Basil Fawlty beats up his car are so funny.

The Subjects to the North

2008-12-11T15:25:00.003Z

You, know when you look at the money in Canada and see the Queen, it seems like a quaint vestige ... but it turns out QEII of the UK is really is the head of the governments up there!

In fact, she just (through her governor general) closed down parliament to give the PM time to get his ducks in a row. Seems the Quebec bloc, Liberals and some other parties had enough votes to oust the Conservatives, who have been running the place for quite a while now.

Isn't that how parliamentary democracy is supposed to work?

Ah well, even though I've written in this space about my jealousy of not being included in the Commonwealth so we can play cricket, non-membership has some privileges. But to put it more bluntly even England has an advantage that Canada does not:

The Queen never interferes with the government there!!

It Had to Happen

2008-12-09T19:44:00.004Z

He was the only one of us who could pull off the 80s look during the 1980s ... He had a Jam striped shirt, bought on a trip to London circa 1983 ... He has been a fixture of New York and L.A. nightlife for years.

Now my best friend is into golf.

At least he has a penchant for *real* links, in the Scottish style. No cushy Florida country clubs for him. I believe he's even going to make a pilgrimage to the so-called "home of golf," St. Andrews. But if he wants to see the British Open there, he'll have to wait until 2010 -- just a year and a half. They only there on the 5's and 0's (1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, etc.) Other times, it could be anywhere in the United Kingdom.

I never got golf (Tiger Woods always seems to win at St. Andrews), but I may just join him on that trip. July in Scotland? I may just get to take the train up from London, which I've been wanting to do since I did a piece for National Geographic on those amazing brick viaducts they have on that line.

Thank you to Paul Birrell for the snap of the 18th hole at S.A.

The Vicar of Hymie Town

2008-12-09T15:44:00.003Z

Apparently buses and cabs are festooned with big-nosed Jews this season. It's the ethnically sensitive logo of the revival of Oliver!

Oliver! is opening on the West End -- starring one of my favs, Rowan Atkinson. Well done with the casting.

But ... as pointed out in the Sounds Jewish podcast, quite odd that a man who made his name playing vicars (famously, this hilarious turn on Four Weddings and Funeral) is playing Dickenson's most-remembered Yid.

There's a What?!!

2008-12-09T01:43:00.007Z

Okay, this is too good to be true. Phonybrit readers already know I'm obsessed by that crazy island nation and super-obsessed by the point where British culture and Jewish culture meet (look at the archives ... you'll see).

I've just learned that there's a podcast run by the Jewish Community Centre for London and the Guardian called Sounds Jewish. This is dangerous.

This month, one of the guests was a school chum of one of my dearest friends when they both were at Oxford. This is the guy who first taught me Cockney rhyming slang. I can still remember it, we were walking from the National, after seeing a show, with the Thames so close you could smell it (this was the late 80s). To tell you the truth, at first I thought he was winding me up -- and then my eyes glazed over as if he were explaining quantum physics.

Monty Python's Flying Time Machine

2008-12-08T01:26:00.008Z

You gotta see this. (This link will lead you to an iTunes clip that you can download for free. It's perfectly safe, if not entirely intuitive.)

One of the podcasts I subscribe to somehow unearthed (with the help of a PBS engineer in Dallas) a 1975 pledge-drive interview with four of those merry band of idiots, the Pythons: Michael Palin (he's the one above with the armadillo on his lap, if you must know), Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Graham Chapman. In the interview they're talking about how they just finished a film called Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Of course, this is exactly when that show was blowing my own mind in the suburbs of Jersey. The fashion in the clip is almost as wonderful as seeing Pythons be Pythons among Dallas's best and brightest.

Kudos to Jesse Thorne, America's Radio Sweetheart, for finding this and getting it out there. Subscribe to his show, The Sound of Young America.

Man City vs. Man U

2008-12-01T13:53:00.003Z

It was the Mets vs the Yankees of the UK ...

The underdogs lost again. Manchester United prevailed 1 nil. Even with lots of yellow cards handed out.

In Praise of British Music Shows

2008-11-29T19:58:00.002Z

It's PBS pledge time again. Last time, we saw rare a rare Who concert.

This time, it's Billy Joel on the Old Grey Whistle Test circa 1978. I haven't thought of the OGWT since my good friends did a film about Lynyrd Skynard ages ago. They found amazing early footage of the band from that show; OGWT was famous for having the rarest early footage of some of the greatest bands in pop history.

With Top of the Pops in the news lately and my eternal admiration of Later with Jools Holland, it seems that the UK has the advantage when it comes to classic (not classical) music shows. I hear The Tube, which ran in the 80s was pretty amazing as well.

I guess we had Don Kirshner's Rock Concert stateside. But aside from that, we had to wait for some of our heroes to lip sync on the Merv Douglas Show.

Maybe that's why my head exploded when I saw Elvis Costello on Saturday Night Live ... In the UK, they actually had a tradition of showing bands in a natural setting and they'd do things like Elvis: start a song, then stop, then trash the drum kit.

Gorgeous stuff.

Manuel's Granddaughter Speaks

2008-11-27T02:41:00.002Z

Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross are still off the air due to that rediculous kerfuffle over Ross saying a nasty word on Andrew Sach's answerphone -- a nasty word for what Brand and Sach's granddaughter, Georgina, did together.

Now, we get a chance to see the real Georgina ....

Top of the Pops

2008-11-26T01:55:00.004Z

The show that invented the music video back in the 1960s -- giving rise to MTV and the phenomenon of creating little films to go with each single on an album -- was given the axe after decades on the air a couple of years ago. But the Christmas special remained, in which the best-selling singles of the year were shown in one go. Then even that was sacked.

It's good to hear the BBC have reversed their decision and the show is back on.

Some wonder whether Simon Cowell's offer to buy the show from the Beeb and put it on ITV had anything to do with it.

The Bank Job

2008-11-25T14:11:00.004Z

The last several days, I've been full-tilt into a new project ... a British topic, in point of fact ... No, not the one from which I was hoping to be paid in pounds sterling. But it just got killed (it happens to us writers from time to time as producers and publisher's plans change) so I can talk about it just a little.

Don't want to say too much about it, but suffice it to say that it forced me to finally rent The Bank Job. If you missed it too, you've got to see it -- it's a cracker. It's based on 1971's "walkie talkie robbery" in which a bunch of Eastenders tunneled underneath a Lloyd's safe deposit vault and made away with millions of pounds. The case was busted because a radio ham tuned into their two-way communications and alerted the constables and Scotland Yard.

It stars Lock, Stock and Barrel's Jason Stratham.

Good fun.

Thank you to Maura Ortega for the snap.

We Wish You All Happiness

2008-11-14T07:24:00.003Z

It's finally happening. The creator of Lord Foppington (or the other way round) and the lovely Lady Monica are getting married this weekend.

We truly wish you the best.

The Once and Future King -- Well, the Future King

2008-11-14T06:38:00.002Z

Charles, the Prince of Wales, turns 60 today. I'm not much of a royalist, but it seems worth mentioning.

Many happy returns of the day.

Nextbook is Back in the UK

2008-11-13T19:23:00.003Z

I know it seems like I'm addicted to Nextbook.org, but in case you don't subscribe, you have to hear Hugh Levinson's latest dispatch from London. This time, it's a very thought provoking tour of London's shuls.

Joanna Lumley is Absolutely Fabulous

2008-11-12T01:06:00.003Z

Blimey.

It turns out that Joanna Lumley has done more than AbFab and The New Avengers. Loads more. Check out this piece from the Guardian, where they hail the career of this 62-year-old bombshell (oh, behave!) Seriously, she looks great and good on her!

And to add to the list of TV shows, the Guardian don't even mention film triumphs like her two Pink Panther films.

Mod. Gear. Fab.

Absolutely Fabulous.

I Don't Agree With This

2008-11-11T02:31:00.002Z

Hey, I think she's great ... but this was too funny not to share.

Remembrance Day

2008-11-10T02:26:00.004Z

Remembrance Day (as it is called in the Commonwealth -- observed on a Sunday) had me more moved that usual. Tuesday is Veterans Day here in the US. Both commemorate November 11, 90 years ago, when the madness briefly came to an end.

Below, please find a link one of the best pieces of art on the topic, Blackadder Goes Forth. Actually, you can find probably the best bit of that show, the best four or five minutes in comedy history here. But I didn't want to make it too easy for those who haven't seen the whole series to watch this by accident. (I reckon the spoiler alert still applies even when your talking about a comedy in which the main character is reincarnated into a new person each season, innit?)

So put a poppy on your lapel and enjoy the best opening credits in comedy history -- how they explained the entire dynamic of the show with only the words "Eyes Right!" is a thing of beauty.

The Times Aren't A-Changin'

2008-11-09T21:32:00.006Z

Things have been pretty stagnant the last several days.

Ross and Brand are still in trouble, and heads are rolling at the BBC just because Ross said a naughty word to Andrew Sach's (pictured left) answerphone.

Chelsea are back on top of the football tables, as it has been most of the time for the past couple of years.

And the UK are trying to cope with America's winning the Black-leader sweepstakes. Including a furor over a BBC presenter asking rapper Dizee Rascal if he "feels British."
Thank you to:

phil chappell from Crowthorne, U.K. for the snap.

A Parliament That Looks Like Britain

2008-11-06T17:53:00.004Z

Interesting column in the Guardian entitled "When Will We See a British Obama?"

As noted before, things are so different there ... after all, if your Asian or Jewish or Black, you're not ethnically "English" or "Scottish" or "Welch." But the face of Britain is getting more and more brown.

According to the piece, it will take 75 years to get a completely representative Parliament. But with their lead in the female- and Jewish-leader races, maybe it isn't so long until there is a PM with African or Asian roots.