Wed
30
Apr
Preorder? I'll stick to the shop thanks...
Blogger: Geek Chic
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Is the Wii hype getting a bit much?
I only ask because after being sucked into the whole Chicken Little stylee 'they're going to sell out! They're going to sell out!' hysteria of the launch of Wii Fit on Friday and preordering mine, I ended up finding them available in a plethora of shops with none of the hassle I've gone through the last couple of days. And I'm still Wii Fitless.
I preordered mine early last week. Having heard the horror stories of companies taking preorders they had no hope of fulfilling I decided to go, for the first time ever, with Comet. They had a cunning system where they took £10 as an initial deposit and then only contacted you to pay the balance when they could guarantee the item was there and ready to ship. So I signed up, got my email confirming they had a Wii Fit for me on Wednesday, paid the balance and then waited for the delivery - handily I was told exactly the day it would be and the hours between which it would be delivered. Hoorah.
So I waited in. And waited. And waited.
In the middle of the day I had to duck to the post office for 20 minutes. I left a note on my letter box asking my potential deliverer to go to my neighbour's and went into town, where I could have picked up the aforementioned Wii Fit in Game, GameStation, Argos or Woolies, all for less than I'd paid, without the cost of postage and without a day of sitting in my house leaping up every ten minutes to check the window to see if a van had driven into my road.
I got back to my flat to find no Wii Fit had come. No one had knocked. So I resumed my waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Nothing.
By the time I had given up hope of any potential delivery the phone line for Comet customer services had closed so I sent them an email asking exactly what happened. I finally got a response this morning:
"Your order was not properly submitted to us, which caused cancellation of the delivery. This can happen for a number of reasons including network disruption. This can result in orders being lost in the system. I am sure you will appreciate that we would be unaware of this until the customer contacts us. I have asked for our internet department to rearrange the delivery and you will be contacted shortly to confirm the details."
So, to clarify my order worked well enough for them to take my money but the bit that organises the shipment of the item is the bit that fails. Hmmmm. A cynical person would wonder whether Comet had a Wii Fit in the system for me at all. Of course now I'm over a barrel as nowhere has any in stock. Do I cancel the item completely (let's face it, £75 including postage is steep - ok if you get it for launch day but not great for a week or so down the line, plus I don't have a day this week where I can take time off to be in to sign for the thing) and hope somewhere else gets stock soon? Or do I hold on in the hope Comet come through? Frankly my hopes aren't high and my phone remains resolutely silent.
The one thing I've learned from this whole debacle is next time I'm not going to get sucked into the Nintendo preorder hype - I'll head down to the shop on the day of release and just hope for the best.
In the meantime I suppose on the plus side I don't have to start my diet just yet...
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24
Apr
Being Human commissioned for full series. Finally!
Blogger: Geek Chic
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The nature of my job is such that I get a lot of press releases through every day. Depressingly most of them are dross. There are a shocking number that are misspelled, misaddressed (no, I'm not a man, or the Editor), or downright misguided (why would I care that it's national Alfalfa Sprout week?). Of course there are useful press releases that come through - well written ones that make your job easier but, alas, they are the minority.
But never before have I had a press release that made me squee sat at my desk. This one did. In fact it's such a beauty that I'm just going to reproduce it verbatim in its entirety:
BBC Three has ordered a six-part series of the popular one-off drama, Being Human from Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group.
The pilot transmitted in February 2008 as part of the channel’s drama pilot season and proved hugely popular with both viewers and critics peaking at nearly 450,000 viewers and gaining great reviews.
Starring Russell Tovey, Andrea Riseborough and Guy Flanaghan, the pilot of Being Human followed the lives of three flatmates; a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost in a witty, sexy and extraordinary look at the friendship between three, twenty-something outsiders trying to find their way in an enticing, yet complicated world.
Filming on the series, which will once again be written by Toby Whithouse, will start later this year for transmission in 2009.
Executive producer for Touchpaper Television, Rob Pursey, says: “The pilot of Being Human gave us the opportunity to try something really unusual, and we were quite overwhelmed by the positive public response. So we’re delighted that the BBC has given us the go-ahead for a full series.”
BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner says: “BBC Drama is always looking for diverse and surprising pieces, and Being Human hit the spot with its irreverence and wit.”
Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC Three says: “Of all our recent drama experiments on BBC Three, Being Human struck the most powerful chord with the audience. At its heart is a bold and adventurous concept and I'm looking forward to seeing how this is realised across a series.”
Being Human was commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction and Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC Three.
[and now back to me]
Six whole episodes filled with joyous Mitchell, George and Annie moments. I'm very chuffed indeed. Thanks to everyone who signed the petition - I'm sure the Beeb would never admit to having taken it into consideration, but I'm going to pretend it did some good.
The one blot on the horizon, as broken by Media Guardian, is news that the three main cast haven't yet been signed, a fact confirmed by people in the know. This is a smidgen worrying - but for now at least let's celebrate the good news.
Hoorah for Being Human. And roll on 2009.
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Fri
7
Mar
More Humanity
Blogger: Geek Chic
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Blimey. As a geek I'm used to getting excited about the kind of random niche things that, when you try to explain them, involve long explanations, a fair amount of arm waving and usually end with a look of pity and a 'riiiiiiiiiight' from the other conversational participant.
Not so with Being Human.
My original post about this televisual gem ended up accounting for 4 per cent of all the traffic to this site last month after it was linked to and picked up from all over the web - which is pretty fab indeed bearing in mind the traffic this site gets is really not to be quibbled at.
Meanwhile, TV industry bible Broadcast Magazine ran a news in brief piece about the petition, which now is a sneeze away from getting 3,000 signatures.
3,000 signatures!
Wow.
What with that and the fact that the show was so popular on the BBC iPlayer that they extended the amount of time it was available - and at one point it was the most viewed thing on there barring Ashes to Ashes and Torchwood - all the signs are good. Right?
Well I thought I'd chase it up with the BBC Press Office to see if there was any news. It took a while, but a BBC Drama spokesperson was finally able to tell me that no decision had been taken yet, which is - of course - pretty much what we already knew. However she added: "We're delighted by how well the show has been received. A decision about a forthcoming series will be made in due course."
In comparison, Rob Pursey, Executive Producer of Touchpaper Television, Being Human's programme makers, sounded veritably cheery (and was eminently more easy to get hold of) when I chased him about what happens now.
Obviously he's waiting for a decision from the Beeb too and thus can't really add any information to that side of things. But he did say: 'It's wonderful that Being Human has taken on a life of its own through the petition and other online activities. And it's great that so many people were able to catch up with the show through the BBC iPlayer.'
So a decision 'in due course' eh? No idea how long that will be, but now is the time to cross your fingers. Alternatively, if you haven't signed it yet keep those digits firmly uncrossed and go and sign the petition.
It's been really nice to see people get behind this show - makes a change for something so ace to get some attention in amongst the dross hitting our screens at the minute (yes Rock Rivals, I'm looking at you). Here's hoping the news of it being picked up comes soon.
Oh, I was wrong about one thing. The vampire/werewolf fan fiction which I thought would herald a new series has in fact already started. So thanks to those of you who sent me links to it. I am awaiting both for the arrival of some mind bleach and quite possibly our IT department to come and frogmarch from the building for getting such things on email. I'll give you brownie points for being quick off the mark though...
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Thu
21
Feb
I'm happy Being Human!
Blogger: Geek Chic
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We live in the digital TV age. But it's not as shiny and wonderous as it sounds.
Think less Jetson's futuristic wonder, more Lily Allen getting a series about her Myspace mates despite having less TV presenting charisma than Gordon the Gopher.
And Lenny Henry spinning entire series out of all those You Tube videos you were sent a year ago and weren't actually that funny even then. And - ok, I'm ranting now. But there is a small glimmer of hope.
It's a sad fact of life that most of the quality genre TV I watch nowadays is American. From Battlestar Galactica to Lost, my new favourite Chuck to Pushing Daisies, most of the stuff that rocks my world in the way of original TV is from the other side of the Pond. The only two UK shows which I'll make an effort to catch are Torchwood and Life on Mars - although I will admit to a slightly guilty love of Hotel Babylon. I *know* it's gilted garbage, but it amuses me and at least it doesn't pretend it's anything else - yes, Primeval I'm looking at you.
But yesterday I saw a TV show that has stuck in my mind (I know, for a whole 18 hours so far - I am testament to the average attention span of the digital age!) and which has got me more excited than anything new I've seen for ages. Of course one of the other joys of the digital TV age is the plethora of new channels (and their +1 brethren) that mean keeping track of what you're watching needs an Excel spreadsheet. So if you don't watch BBC Three, like (alas) a lot of the population then you have missed out this gem of a new show - Being Human.
I too missed out on it (my neck of the woods doesn't get digital yet, no matter how often I forlornly post my postcode into the Freeview website) but was badgered by a friend who thought I would love it repeatedly until I had two options (a) watch it to shut him up or (b) drive to his house and kill him to shut him up. Never before have I been so thrilled to have restrained my murderous urges. Although it does pain me to admit he was right.
Smooth Mitchell is a hospital porter. He is also a vampire. He has a dangerous sexy air and cheekbones sharp enough to slice garlic with and thus spends his time embarking on one night stands which inevitably end badly for the women he's sleeping with. Meanwhile his colleague, geeky werewolf George (Russell Tovey) has moved away from his friends and family rather than have them see him disappear into the woods once a month to come back naked and covered in the blood of animals he's spent the night goring. Both of them yearn for a normal life so when Mitchell decides he wants to go cold turkey from siring lady vamps for a bit to enjoy life as two 20 something blokes with a sofa, a fridge full of beer and pizza it's a match made in heaven. So far so faintly endearing odd couple.
But when they find their dream home is haunted by a depressed ghost (Andrea Riseborough who has the kind of eyes that make your heart ache at the sadness she's not sharing) they end up becoming, initially at least, an unwilling triumvirate of non-mortals trying to find their place in the world.
I'm not going to spoil what comes next but suffice to say it's 60 minutes of TV gold. A cracking, witty script, great acting - including Adrian Lester as head of the vampire cult angling to start a war elevating them back to their rightful status above mere mortals - and a soundtrack which sparkles. It's simply ace. And if you watched Spaced and felt like the pop culture references were describing your life then you'll love this, although quite possibly be frightened at the fact you're identifying with a werewolf.
It's still available on the BBC iPlayer for another six days, so go check it out. There are few things worth sitting at your monitor for an hour to watch but this is one of them.
But there's a problem. It's like being introduced to your dream date, heading out for a wonderful meal with lots of laughter and flirting, finding you have loads in common, and then at the end of the night when you're full of the possibilities of what to come they tell you they're moving tomorrow to Papua New Guinea. Forever. For Being Human remains - for now at least - a one off. The BBC are holding off on commissioning a new series. Never mind the row over TV phone voting or alleged news bias - the fact they haven't watched this first episode of this, seen how amazing it is and gone back to the programme makers to beg they immediately give them another six episodes makes me want to demand a refund on my TV licence.
So once you have watched, go sign the online petition lobbying BBC commissioning editors to give it a full series. If Lily gets air time and the (ok but not great) Phoo Action gets time to flourish then *surely* something of this calibre should get its chance? I should probably declare an interest - I actually set the petition up (yes, I like it *that* much, and that's with me being a cynical hack and all) but in the time I've taken writing this blog 15 people who aren't me have signed it so I'm obviously not alone. 15 people! Let's face it that's probably equivalent to the average audience of The Murder Mysteries and Quiz Shows of the 80s Channel + 1 or whatever right there.
So go. Watch. Sign. And in 18 months' time when TV critics across the land are saying they saw the brilliance of this before everyone else, when a full series is being shown on BBC Two and when fans (who will probably have labelled themselves Humanists) are writing erotic fiction to make your eyes bleed about vampire/werewolf fraternisation you will have that warm - and yes, faintly smug - glow that you were here at the beginning when something wonderful was formed.
I promise you it's the best thing you'll see on TV this week.
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You're absolutely right, it was a marvellous show and deserves to be made into a series. What bugs me is that the ludicrous, not-all-that-good guilty pleasure that was Phoo Action has already been picked up as a series. Why, when Being Human hasn't been? Why? WHY? (Apologies for the small rhetorical rant...)
Thu
14
Feb
Ways to say I love you...
Blogger: Geek Chic
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Valentine's Day is rubbish. Fact. While I love the idea of romantic gestures - even with my cynical exterior I'm a big sap underneath it all - the idea that there is one day of the year when you have to pay over the odds to go out and eat overpriced food sat elbow to elbow with dozens of other grumpy looking people doing the same leaves me cold. Cold.
I am pathologically against a day of the year that somehow to 99 per cent of the population seems to mean that you *don't* have to be thoughtful and occasionally romantic at any other point in the remaining 364 (or 365 this year!) days.
Valentine's Day? Pah.
Except someone has just drawn my attention to this.
What says 'I love you' better than a jar of Champagney Marmite?
I have tried to hunt down a jar or two (my supplies of Guinness Marmite, bought out for last St Patrick's Day are running dangerously low) but to no avail... yet.
Anyone know where you can get some?
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Thu
31
Jan
Living for the Wiikend!
Blogger: Geek Chic
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As a self-confessed geek with a penchant for gadgets my head is turned by pretty much anything with a shiny box. Except consoles. I had an XBox, but when it came time to upgrade to the 360 the initial problems with graphics on it meant I didn't bother. The PS3 was overpriced and looks like a George Foreman grill. All in all I was happy to stick with my PSP, DS and a gaming PC with the power of Guatamala. But not now.
I've had a mad few weeks at work and have decided that getting through them unscathed is the perfect excuse for a Wii.
Usually the kind of mainstream media hype garnered by the Wii over the last few months (parents paying over the odds on Ebay, queues like Soviet peasants waiting for bread etc) would leave me cold. And indeed I was a smidgen sneery. Until I actually played one.
It started with, inevitably, Wii Sports and then degenerated into Guitar Hero III. When first coerced into giving it a go I was perched on the arm of a sofa with the guitar on my knee like Karen Carpenter. Two hours in I was pogo-ing in the middle of the living room like Slash from Guns and Roses. Oh yes.
And then I saw this attachment. And, like a moth to a flame, an obsession was born. What's that you say? I can play The Force Unleashed with a big huge lightsabre? Please take my money. Now.
Saturday morning I shall be wandering through the nearest shopping centre waving my Switch card at anyone who will accept it.
It brings a whole new dimension to living for the Wiikend...
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Thu
24
Jan
Preparation, preparation, preparation
Blogger: The Running Man
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Preparation is everything. You’d think that the day before my first training run I’d have prepared properly. Unfortunately not.
Firstly, I’d taken the family to see the Christmas Panto (ten days after Christmas – let’s call it the New Year Panto) and what an experience that was! My 3 year old daughter shouted her first “he’s behind you” approximately 30 seconds into the show when Jan Leeming was giving her very wooden opening monologue – I’ve paid £25 for this ticket get me out of here! Wayne Sleep looked like he was going to burst into tears at any moment or cry out “I danced with Diana you know” reminiscent of the Les Dennis breakdown in Extras. New Year pantos – painful!
Secondly, we had a family get together during which I over indulged. I blame the fact that I drank far to much wine on the experience of the panto - I had to numb the pain!
So then I had to run ten miles in the morning.
I started slowly - and carried on even slower – but managed to run the entire distance in relatively minor discomfort. Maybe my preparation was perfect after all. All I thought about was the pain of sitting through the hour and a half of the lacklustre amateur dramatics that was the panto – making the hour and a half run absolutely fine.
One thing’s for sure – they won’t be shouting at Paula Radcliffe on the way round the London Marathon “he’s behind you”!
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Fri
4
Jan
Christmas training - who needs it?
Blogger: The Running Man
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Ok, no one 'wants' to train over the festive period – do they? We want to drink (lots), eat (lots), sleep (lots), drink (lots – again!) – you get the general idea. However, not being able to train is very different.
It was Christmas morning; the kids had come into the bedroom to wake us up with the usual cries of “he’s been, he’s been!” and i was as excited as everyone else. But then I realised Santa had left me something I didn’t want – man flu!
The snivels, a cough, weak limbs, the inability to smile, depression, and looking extremely sorry for ones self – these are all classic symptoms of the dreaded ‘man flu’! I had it and I was gutted.
I had entered the Clivedon 10k – a great race which takes place every year in the grounds of Clivedon between Christmas and New Year – but, alas, I was unable to compete. Instead I was in bed with snivels, cough etc.
So now I’m behind the game line but once the last remains of my man flu have departed I shall be making up for lost time. I’ve decided on a ‘one long run per week’ policy - based on my experience last time. I need to get a 10 mile run done this weekend (next week 11 miles, then 12 etc etc) – not feeling entirely confident.
I’ve still not found a charity yet so if anyone reading wants to nominate one please do.
I think I can still do this...
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Thu
29
Nov
I must be mad!
Blogger: The Running Man
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I was so excited when the magazine dropped through the letterbox.
“It’s here, it’s here,” I yelped, like a five year old welcoming Christmas Day. I looked at the magazine wrapped up in cellophane and tried to see if I had been accepted or not – but I couldn’t tell. I’d have to rip it open. I did. I was in.
Then it hit me – I’m going to have to run 26.2 miles around London and in just over four months' time. I’m not sure I can do it. I can barely run 10k right now. I’ve even got slightly out of breath ripping off the cellophane wrapper from this stupid magazine!
But wait. I’ve done this before – I can do it again.
I’ve applied to run the marathon four times and this is the first time I have been lucky enough to be accepted through the standard ballot.
After being declined four years ago I decided to run it for a charity – I had to raise £2k (not easy) for a children’s charity called ‘Wellchild’. I ran the first 18 miles in 2hrs 30mins – which is very respectable; unfortunately, I hit the wall (and a very uncomfortable, big, ugly, horrible wall it was) and I staggered over the line in 4hrs 15mins.
I’m determined to do two things this time around and could do with some help with both.
Firstly, run the 26.2 miles in under four hours (maybe, just maybe, do it in 3hrs 45mins) and secondly, run for a local charity.
I’d be extremely happy to receive any details from a local worthwhile cause or anyone who knows of one that would appreciate some help – I’d hope to reach around £2k again (who knows, maybe more).
I’d also be happy to receive some advice from anyone who thinks they could help me around this monster of a course…please!
Just post me a comment and I'll get back to you...
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Man shot in Caversham