I’ve been working my way through all the seasons of The Great British Sewing Bee, another delightful “people doing crafts to a high level” show.
I am constantly twitching, however, at some of the UK pronunciations. Specifically, “appliqué” is pronounced “a-PLEE-kay” as opposed to “AP-lih-kay”, and “macrame” is “muh-CRAH-mee” instead of “MAC-ruh-may”.
Language is weird. But sewing is a fascinating combination of intuitive topology and artistic flair. Really interesting to watch.
The one playing on Apple +
The headline on Slate today for this says “One of the funniest documentaries of the year is streaming for free on YouTube”. I am intrigued. It’s a DIY effort by two brothers who spend a year on the road trying to identify as many bird species as they can. It is called “Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching”. I’m not even halfway through it and I’m totally charmed by the Reiser brothers and impressed by the quality of the filmmaking. I suppose I can declare that it’s an almost total hoot. Can’t wait to finish it. Here’s the link.
We just finished watching all 6 episodes of The Girlfriend on Amazon Prime. It is a real batshit crazy guilty pleasure, and much better than it should have been, thanks to excellent performances by Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke.
The second season premier of High Potential was off to a great start.
I need to catch up with this show. I really liked the pilot, and then I forgot all about it.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) - dir. Rob Reiner
The original This is Spinal Tap (1984) was huge surprise to audiences. The high-wire act of improvising an entire film, with only a rough story outline to go off, was thrilling to watch as a fact by itself. That it was being done so masterfully, to a result that is arguably one of the funniest movies ever (I put it up there with Young Frankenstein and Duck Soup, among others.) was kind of mind-blowing. This, of course, led to Guest, McKean, and Shearer launching a whole series of films (A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, et al) made with the same method.
To attempt a sequel to the film with that sort of lighting-in-a-bottle energy is risky. The danger is great of the entire thing turning into an exercise in nostalgia. “Hey! Remember all the weird ‘dead drummer’ stories? Let’s do a few of those!” I admit, I was dreading the moment when Nigel would announce that his new amplifier now goes to 12. Thankfully, that moment never came.
To be sure, there ARE some pure “hey, remember…” moments. There are more dead drummer stories, and they’re.. ok, but frankly, among the weaker jokes. But some of the gags are genuinely hilarious, like the stage crew putting up a video of the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, a reference to the original trailer for the movie, where Guest & Co. spoof it.
The premise of the film is that after the events captured in 1984 in Marty DiBergi’s documentary, the band continued to tour together until 2009, when the two core members, David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel, suddenly stopped speaking and abruptly ended the band, seemingly for good. But the daughter of their deceased manager, who inherited the band’s contract, found they owed her one final concert. So DiBergi has returned to document the band’s reunion and preparation for a big, star-studded final show in New Orleans.
Meeting the characters again is instantly funny, because in grand elder-rocker tradition, they have all maintained their terrible 80’s hairstyles, even as they have gone grey, paunchy and wrinkled, which they make absolutely no effort to hide. The chemistry between Guest, McKean, and Shearer is still there and still works, though, as you might expect, things have slowed down a bit with the passing of the years. These guys are still funnier than 99% of the people on the planet, but they’re all nearly 80. There are a number of fun cameos, both from folks reprising their roles from the first film and a number of real-life musicians playing themselves. In particular, we’re treated to Tap performing with Paul McCartney and Elton John.
Is this as funny as the original? No. Of course not. But then, almost nothing could be. However, it’s a lovely way to put a little bow around this world that doesn’t grate or make you angry the way, say, the last couple of chapters of Indiana Jones did. And, finally, we get to see the Stonehenge prop in all its glory.
3 out of 5 foil wrapped cucumbers.
Started watching it last night. Hysterical. The painter!!!
We’re also enjoying Fisk at our house, thanks to this thread.
Have you seen the older Australian show called Kath & Kim? The comedian who plays the painter on the first episode of Fisk, Glen Robbins, is hilarious on that show too. That one’s available on Netflix as well.
I’m excited, too! Wife and I are watching tonight.
Finished it last night. The cuntiness on both sides was very fun to watch.
Cringed my way through all episodes of Invasion, what a waste of time. 1/10, only because the invaders were kinda interesting. Doubt I’ll watch season 2 if there is one.
There are 3 
Ugh 
have you watched all 3? Does it get any better?
I have infinite tolerance for crap as long as there are extraterrestrials involved. I’m current on Season 3, with episodes released weekly. No, it doesn’t get any better.
I haven’t watched any of it 
The only slightly redeeming aspect of this show..
You dodged a bullet bruv..
Just a shoutout to the solid Dorothy Parker (of Algonquin Round table fame) jokes in last week’s Only Murders in the Building. It’s why I love that show.
Watched the first few episodes of The Paper and it’s decent. Looking forward to new season of Slow Horses next week.
Anyone watched the first episode of The Morning Show? Just read a not so flattering review and tbh the two main characters seem played out. Last season, I preferred the rest of the cast and their stories over the drama featuring Jennifer A and Reese W.
