Entertainment Etcetera: Short Rounds vol. 18

Planet Earth

Our planet is a beautiful and miraculous thing, and never has there been a series like this one that endures such hardships to capture the nuances, the idiosyncrasies, the bizarre, the surreal, the real and the glory that occurs all over the face of the planet. Commissioned by the BBC and produced over a 3-year span (broadcasted in 2005) Planet Earth consists of ten 45 minute episodes, each highlighting a different aspect of our planet, from the wintery poles to the arid deserts, the mighty rivers and the vast cave systems. Shot with (very expensive) high-def cameras with an unprecedented zoom capability, each episode contains something that's never previously been captured on film or, in some cases, observed by human eyes. The DVD provides 10-minute behind-the-scenes documentaries on some of the many ordeals the programme's cameramen had to endure in order to capture such fantastic footage of nature in action. At times the majesty of some of the shots can prove overwhelming... the natural beauty of a waterfall or the delicate crystal structures in the Lechuguilla cave system can bring tears to your eyes. Utterly fascinating and has my highest recommendation.

-5/5-

QI: Quite Interesting vol. 1

Last year, while on vacation in London, I found a book called "QI: The Book of General Ignorance". It was basically a trivia book that informed you that much of what you learned in school or from popular culture is wrong, mostly by way of semantics. But it was presented in an entertaining manner and, yes, quite interesting, that I took a shining too it, eventually just referring to it as "The Book". I learned later that it was derived from a British "quiz show" hosted by comedian/author Stephen Fry. An appreciator of Fry's work, I decided to order a copy of the show's first season (of 26, unofficially, each season loosely themed around a letter of the alphabet) via Amazon UK. The show is critically praised by snooty journalists in Britain, and I can see why. It's not a "quiz show" of any financial value, but instead, Fry hosting a rotating cast of four British notables (comedians or witty scholars) in a round of "what's interesting about x", with entertaining replies or right answers receiving points, obvious (but wrong) answers deducting points. It's all in the name of fun and entertainment, with perpetual whipping boy Alan Davies taking the "obvious" hits for the team. Charming, fun, smart, but in the end somewhat pointless, as any actual educational value gets lost amidst the jokes.

-3.5/5-

Heroes Season 1

Heroes is a show that uses comic books and their conventions in such a manner that rather than being insightful or metatextual about them, it instead plays right into their pulpy, disposable history and is rewarded for it. Eschewing modern superhero comics' tendency to be somewhat logical, striving for maturity and intelligence as well as fun, Heroes hearkens back to Stan Lee's heyday in the 1960's where characters exist to serve the plot and the drama is dialed up to the melo- level, and therein lies the entertainment. There's very little subtlety in Season 1, but it's multiple origin stories, it's interwoven story threads, and silly, totally unrealistic characters who don't ever do things the easy way somehow make for seriously addictive viewing. When viewed piecemeal the show doesn't work, as the snippets of each storyline an episode presents are never satisfying on their own, nor is the fact that some storylines are dropped and picked up throughout the season, meaning only in larger doeses does one get any fulfillment. Though stepping on some well-known comic book superhero toes (X-Men, Watchmen), the overall story arc and its characters do add something new to the pantheon and even though it looks like season 2 can't repeat the magic, the first volume is a pretty decent arc all on its own.

-3.5/5-

Robot Chicken Season 2

The action-figure sketch comedy show keeps rolling, with a mixed-bag second season that sees a lot of laughs and an equal number of punchlines that just don't work. The thing about Robot Chicken is it's pretty one-note. There's a juvenile sense of humour that sees a lot of poop and vomit jokes, a healthy dose of violence-for-comedy's-sake and a lot of yelling. The bulk of the show works by satirizing popular culture (most of it 1980's-era but updated to modern day to really highlight the differences between eras), sometimes going for obvious jokes, other times venturing into the truly bizarre. The problems I have with the show are many, chief amongst them the fact that the figures are no longer action figures, for the most part, but specially molded and created figures which can move and bend like no real action figures can. I think modifying and creating action figures diminishes the inventiveness, even though the potential for comedy is increased by making their own figures. Since the show is so one-note in its level of comedy, it's difficult to process more than two episodes at a time, as the repetition in themes tend tire themselves out. The voice talent is always surprising, with more famous people taking a role in the show than the previous season, and that's part of the fun. The audio commentaries are for the most part interesting (because the conversation has to keep going rapidly for a 12-minute sketch comedy program) and it would seem the creative talent is quite aware of what does and doesn't work (and yet, they still air some of it anyway). It's a toss up... hard to dislike, but also hard to recommend.

-3/5-

Sesame Street Old School Vol.1: 1969-1974

This is a true gem, a glorious revelation for parents with small children. Most North Americans between the age of 12 and 40 grew up watching Sesame Street, and the very nature of the show - new sequences featuring humans and muppets on the eponymous street frame a mish-mash of historical sketches, songs, cartoons and educational films - meant that we were exposed to most of these bits over and over again. These things - from songs like the Ladybug's Picnic or Rubber Duckie to sketches such as Grover the Waiter or Ernie being solicited in the park to buy a letter - stick with us, and seeing them again, collected here in a charming 3-disc volume, is more than enough to bring a smile to one's face. But even more, being able to present these to a child, and participate in their first viewing of Big Bird meeting Mr. Snuffleupagus or playing "One of these things..." is so very rewarding. This package presents the first episode from the first five seasons of Sesame Street, and the special features have a dozen or more sketches/songs that debuted each season. From strictly a curiosity standpoint, it's fascinating just to see the first episode, to note the differences from later years (such as Oscar being orange!) instantly and to see how much of the show, it's structure, and it's sensibilities were in place from day one. Enough credit cannot be given to Jim Henson and the Children's Television Workshop for the creation of this program, because as engaging as it is for children, it's so very entertaining for adults. Personal note: my wife, her mother, her brother, her son and myself all sat, enraptured by the pilot episode, and not only did Aden remember so many of the skits that had likely been shelved in later years for new materials, but her mother did as well... this show penetrates all audiences, no matter age, race or religion. It's brightly coloured characters with their affable demeanors, their charming, multicultural hosts provide a welcoming atmosphere, and overall the show accomplishes expertly its goal of entertaining while educating. Brilliant stuff.