mrv3000 | (no subject)

This is a little late, but I suppose it'll be a bit before shows start up again. I thought I'd do a Summer Watching List for people who have no desire to start up with any new fandoms, but just want some light watching. Nothing that will try to hook you for 100 episodes or anything.

Spaced. Two 20-somethings pretend to be a couple so they can rent a flat. Yes it's 10 years old already so some of the (loads of) references are dated, but it's just so...so different. In a good way! You just can't help but like Tim and Daisy in spite of everything.
Slings and Arrows. As a theater puts on Shakespearean plays, its director is haunted by the ghost of his friend. If you have ever been involved with the theater, or have any love of the theater, you've really got to check this out. It starts out a bit slow, but quickly picks up and ranges wildly between comedy and drama. Also, it's a uniquely Canadian production: in one scene the main actress throws a diva fit and in the next second is apologizing profusely. :D
The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. A woman becomes the first female detective in Botswana. There's such a gentle way about the stories - it's completely unique to what I'm used to. With this and the books there's a word I keep coming back to: refreshing.
Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, and Gaudy Night. The sleuth Lord Peter first rescues writer Harriet, and then they solve crimes. Yes these were made in the 80s, and yes they veer from the books, and yes they kept the dreary judge's narration in Strong Poison, but Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter really do make a great Peter and Harriet! (I'm always sad they didn't get to make Busman's Honeymoon - it would have been adorable.)
Marple. New productions of Miss Marple mysteries, starring Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple. The best thing about it (aside from the good production value) is that sometimes they actually change the story! I'm sure some purists loathe it, but I love it! Probably because I know all these stories, and so change that actually works is a fun surprise. I haven't seen the latest ones that aired this past spring yet, but I'm looking forward to them! (Plus, talk about British actor bingo...)

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Just like I have trouble getting past Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes (though I didn't mind the movie with Robert Downey Jr, and thought the new BBC TV series Sherlock was great), I'll always see Joan Hickson as Miss Marple - not least because when she was younger Agatha Christie saw her in a stage play and said something along the lines of an older Hickson being exactly how Christie visualised Miss Marple.

That said, my parents have enjoyed the new productions, so they're obviously worth checking out.

Thanks for the other recs as well.

How very awesome that she said that! The new ones are a bit different, but it's all good as far as I'm concerned. :D

I love me some Spaced. I may have to go watch it again.

I did a rewatch not too long ago - I liked it even better the 2nd time!

Totally agree re: Slings & Arrows. I half-paid attention during S1 and half of S2. But S3? Had me bawling and laughing hysterically throughout. So, so good.

All the seasons have kind of blurred for me, so I can't remember exactly when I started loving it. I just remember it took a bit for me to get into it. :D

1. I recently watched through Spaced! So quirky and fun and funny and slightly... *tilts head* odd. Loved it.

I will have to check out some of the rest.

Very odd! I love stuff that's different. Well, most the time. Sometimes "different" just doesn't work for me.

Oooh, I just added SPACED to my netflix queue. Thanks! The rest, I've seen and enjoyed!

I hope you like it! It's very geeky. :D

Also fun, and fairly limited, all told, is Inspector Lewis. It's got Mr. Billie Piper! And a fantastic ensemble cast that makes me clap in delight. It's just kind of low key and awesome.

I might have to check that out!

It's a little more straight-edge than the stuff you've got listed (less straight-up fun) but very good nonetheless. Even if you weren't a Morse fan (I was hit or miss on that series), the Lewis stuff is very enjoyable.

Haven't watched any of the Morse stuff. I've seen it on Netflix but I just haven't felt compelled to take a look.

Morse is one of those things where I want to throw things at him a lot. He's... annoying, but not in the Sherlock Holmes way. I have this suspicion I enjoyed the series more because it was something my mother and I watched together than anything else.

I went to wiki and read up on the premise and...it really doesn't sound like something I'd be interested in.

Hulu has every episode of Spaced!

http://www.hulu.com/spaced

I watched them all over about a 36 hour period a couple of months back, and then went WHY IS THERE NO MORE?! and cried.

(When it's over, go find the epilogue on youtube!)

Oh awesome! Netflix had them as instant viewing for a while, but I'm not sure they're available anymore.

And that little epilogue is adorable. :D

I'm just here to throw my Spaced swag around.

XD XD XD

Oh Spaced!

Oh I keep meaning to watch the first two. And I loved Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency!

I'm not sure how into theater you are for S&A, but I have the feeling you'll really like Spaced. :D

\o/

Maybe I'll start on it now. My injured finger needs some TV therapy. XD XD

YES!!!

Hee! That's us Canuckians for you. :D Sorry about that.

:D :D

I take it you approve?

Oooh, there's an embedded vid there, isn't there? Didn't see that in gmail and I can't watch it at work...

There is, so remember to watch it when you get the chance. :D

Colin Mochrie amuses me muchly. This was hilarious. Oh, Canadians. I feel your pain. We Aussies don't even border the U.S., and still somehow they manage to do much the same things to us (except ice hockey, because ice? What ice? Australia's mainly a desert).

BCut you guys could probably smash 'em at summer sports like tennis or something...Somehow we've got good rowers and divers an everything else we just show up at and are pleased we finish? :D
Florida and Phoenix both have hockey teams, of course that offers me many opportunities to giggle, I imagine it would be like Montreal hosting a tennis tournam...ent. Huh, that's right- we have the Rogers Cup. :D