No big surprises there, really. Didn't agree with all of them, but none of them were totally outrageous. What was outrageous, however, was the terrible editing during the Fellowship award, and I really hope that the Beeb or the BAFTAs will be providing the great public with the whole acceptance speech.

I also learned that Claude Berri died sometime last year. There's always at least one "oh, is he dead?" and one "oh, I forgot he had died last year" and also at least one "I thought he died years ago" during the In Memoriam sequence.

Oh yes, and Mick Jagger turned out to be very funny! And it's good to know Robert Downey, jr. is in town at the moment.

Another thing that was proven once and for all, was the rather vast gap between trained stage actors and those who happened to find themselves in front of a camera in Hollywood at some point after someone shouted 'action!'; Jason Isaacs had clearly learnt the script and managed to actually look at people, not just the teleprompter, and also delivered it with feeling. Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen (yes, soon appearing in Waiting for Godot, which some of us knew very well before they mentioned it tonight) were of course equally well-versed at appearing in front of a large audience. Most of the others seemed nervous and wooden, really. Yes, I am probably picky. Or even an elitist when it comes to acting. Oh, no.

No Marton Csokas this year, though. Guess he's not "dating" anyone who was nominated...

Labels: film, jason isaacs, marton csokas, Monty Python, theatre

In case you didn't know.

It's been a year since I realised Greg Proops was the best thing since sliced bread, computers and Erasure mixed into one. Well, maybe I could do without the bread. And what a year it's been! My poor DVD recorder has been on constant daily timer in order for me to quickly accumulate most episodes of both version of Whose Line is it Anyway?, and in usual Ingaroo-fashion it didn't take me too long to see him live even though the odds were against me from the very start, his living and working in LA and all that crap.

Other things have happened this year, too, but since I can't remember much of it, I'd rather save that for 2008's This and That list, due sometime within the next few weeks on this very site, and instead concentrate on things I can remember, such as this past weekend.

I spent much of my time revisiting Bullworth Academy (it's a game) and watching films. I got some excellent films for Christmas, thanks to Aug and his good taste, and managed to see a few European flicks not touched by Hollywood: Auf der anderen Seite (The Edge of Heaven), La double vie de Véronique (The Double Life of Veronique) and the fabulous Vier Minuten (Four Minutes). I then quickly went on a mad shopping spree on Amazon and am expecting some nice additions to my film collection over the next few months (yes, some of them are not yet released).

Speaking of which; I decided I needed to do something about my film collection yesterday, and set about putting them in alphabetical order. I haven't done that since I moved here! It became quite clear to me that this was the only decent way to deal with the problem, after I nearly panicked on Christmas Eve when I couldn't find Love Actually anywhere. It took me about five hours to do it properly, but at least I got to listen to some music (The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, mostly) while doing so, and the end result was fantastic! Maybe it won't take me 15 minutes to find a certain DVD from now on!

I also finally bought the whole of Monty Python's Flying Circus on DVD! Yay me! This is quite extraordinary, but the thing is I've never actually owned all the episodes. For a through-and-through fanatic like me this is blasphemous, almost. I had the first series on VHS in different editions (two with Swedish subtitles, one with Dutch subtitles and one in the original version which cost me about three times as much as the others), but could never really afford buying the whole set when it was first released on DVD, and then after a while I sort of...forgot. But since I have so much of their other stuff (including just about anything remotely connected to any of the members, off telly and radio and so on), I felt it was about time I could finally access my favourite exploding Burmese penguin sketch(es) at any time (and in good viewing quality ;-) ). So what did I do when I gleefully got the boxset in the post? Why, put it on my shelf with all the other stuff I've been excited about buying and then never bothered to actually watch, of course!

Which reminds me I have promised myself to read a book today. Ta-ta!

Labels: comedy, film, gaming, greg proops, lists, Monty Python, music, online shopping, TV

...and not just any kind of hair. A pubic hair was waiting for me when I got back to work after my holiday; neatly placed on my keyboard. I choose not to think about how it got there.

I have to say, the thought of Jason Donovan in drag amuses me, and for some reason it makes perfect sense.

Well, the last Proms concert was terrific, although I have to admit I could hardly choose between all the different parks, because there was a lot of salivating going on when I checked the different line-ups. I guess this digital telly revolution is giving me too much choice after all (even though there never seems to be anything on when you want to just spend the day on the sofa, glaring at the box) (that's the telly, not...something else) (perv!)

Not too sure about the Tess of the d'Urbevilles thingie; the only reason why I lasted beyond the first 20 minutes, was Ian Puleston-Davies (for any Norwegians out there, that's pronounced poll-stn. Perv!) After that, I pulled out my trusty RadioTimes and read up on the story, which proved to seem more interesting as it went along. No, I am not familiar with Hardy to begin with.

Yesterday, after work, I pulled out all my CDs and started sorting them into "have been ripped to mp3" and "have not yet been ripped" (AKA "may have been ripped earlier, but then deleted again from the hard drive for reasons unknown, or actually probably because I never listened to them anyway and needed the space"). And then, guess what? Well, I started ripping them, dumb-ass! Boy, there were a few CDs there that I had all but forgotten. Some of them I sort of wish I had forgotten, but no chance there. Still, to make my collection as complete as possible, plus taken into account the fact that the CDs aren't getting any younger and sturdier and I certainly won't buy any of them ever again, I need to rip them all (ok, with a few exceptions due to their being of too embarrassing a nature--the fact that I have them in the first place). There were quite a few I was surprised to see I hadn't already ripped, too. Like all of my Monty Python records. I mean, OMGWTF??? I love those guys! They're the reason for my anglophilia, nerdiness, sense of humour and accent! (OK, I can't blame them for my Norwegian accent; I mean the accent I try to emulate when speaking English.) They are, in effect, the real reason for my moving to the UK! It all started with poor, old Michael Palin (which means I am highly annoyed these days when the name Palin is mentioned everywhere and it always turns out to be someone else than him...but hopefully this will only last for a couple more months (fingers crossed for a sensible election this time--we've waited slack-jawed for too long now; we're developing nervous tics!))

Where was I? On my way down Politics Lane again? Sheesh...well, I'm not done yet. Still, concentrate on the CDs for now. Let's see...oh yeah, I found an old album by a Norwegian band calling themselves Innocent Look; it's even been signed by the guys. Oooh. The problem is that they're so unknown they don't even have a profile on Last.fm. I mean, I have a profile on Last.fm, and they don't. How sad is that? I also found quite a few compilation albums I had forgotten all about, but I used to listen to them a lot there for a while. They bring back memories. Good and bad, embarrassing and sad, fun and...something else rhyming with -ad, perhaps.

Anyway, back to watching The Daily Show. How tragic is the situation when you have to turn to Jon Stewart to get the latest news from the US?

Labels: comedy, current affairs, michael palin, Monty Python, music, musicals, personal, theatre, TV

Torill and Synnøve arrived in London on Thursday night and we met up on Friday at eleven. Dragged them around with me for hours, constantly trying to orientate myself, and we ended up having a lovely day. Ate well, drank well, chatted about lots of things, and ended the evening by going to see Spamalot. It's my second visit. This time Sanjeev Bhaskar was the "King of de Britons, innit", and everyone was very happy. I spotted someone on stage who looked very familiar indeed. As we were sitting in the Dress Circle and I seriously should buy a new pair of glasses, I wasn't entirely sure, but kept watching him throughout the whole performance...much like I did the last time I saw him, because I was right (and coming to think of it, I think I secretly knew he had joined the ensemble some time ago); it was my fave from La Cage last year, Spencer Stafford.

I was humming the Spamalot songs when I woke up this morning, even, so I definitely would like to see it again. Cato? :p

Well, I'm off to play Civilization IV. I just never tire of that game. As long as I'm winning, of course.

Labels: comedy, gaming, Monty Python, musicals, personal

Had a wonderful evening yesterday, as we went to see/hear the recording of two episodes of the new radio sitcom Cabin Pressure at the BBC. Now, the main reason for my going, was Roger Allam, who seemed to be in a great mood (despite what must be a stressful period, what with the first preview of Afterlife tomorrow and all), but I had a jolly time watching Stephanie Cole (I've been a Waiting for God fan for many years), Benedict Cumberbatch and Matilda Ziegler as well. The whole thing was actually very funny (even the second time around, when they had to do some retakes), and I will definitely listen to it on the radio whenever it premieres.

Now, anyone who knows me really well knows that I am a bit of an anglophile, and that this could all be traced back to poor ol' Michael Palin. In my early teens, when I was at the height of my Monty Python obsession, I used to say that I would do anything to have a job at the BBC. Since then I have always had this awe for the channel (which is rather ridiculous, but there you go), and my road to a job there is very long, it appears. I once bought some 3.5" diskettes because they were made by the BBC (yes, an odd thing for a TV corporation to make, I know). I also saved last week's envelope in which the tickets for the show came. Yet, it didn't quite hit me until I had been there for about 15 minutes yesterday, that I was actually finally inside a BBC building, after having stared longingly at Broadcasting House in Shepherd's Bush on my way to and fro work these past few years. And then I forgot about it just as quickly, to be honest, so obviously not so remarkable after all, haha!

Anyway, look out for Cabin Pressure on Radio 4. Some time.

He-hey, seems I already have a tag for Roger Allam. The seriousness of my fandom is creeping up on me.

Labels: comedy, michael palin, Monty Python, radio, roger allam

We went to see Monty Python's Spamalot yesterday. I've only been wanting to see it since I heard about their plans back in...2004? Earlier? Anyway, a very long time. I always thought that if you were lucky enough to get tickets, they would be crap, but we were in row P (stalls), at the very end of the row, and could see everything very clearly. Unfortunately we were placed right in front of The Loudest And Most Frequently Laughing Person In The Auditorium. I'm serious, that's the worst laugh I have ever heard. It was piercing, and we missed about a third of all the puns and songs because she was laughing so hard. Luckily I know the story back to front and back again, and have owned and listened to the CD for a couple of years (not continuously, obviously), but it's still annoying when you've booked tickets months in advance and been looking forward to seeing it for so long and then someone like that ruins much of the experience.

Anyway, I would definitely recommend the show, in case you don't trust all the other thousands out there who say the exact same thing. At the moment the winner of that Swedish talent show à la How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, Nina Söderquist, is playing The Lady of the Lake in the show and we were very impressed! I was worried it was going to be embarrassing for all of Scandinavia, but she wasn't even close to ABBA (which is a good thing, accent-wise). And Alan Dale (anyone having watched Neighbours, The O.C., 24, Lost, The West Wing and Ugly Betty will/should know who he is) is playing King Arthur at the moment. Let's just say he probably wasn't hired for his amazing dancing and singing skills, but he was entertaining to watch and there's always that added "star quality" which counts for quite a lot. Plus, the addition of an Australian always ups the ante in my view. ;-)

Looking through the programme (oh, and you MUST buy the souvenir programme, it's the best and most content-filled programme I have ever seen), I finally discovered the name of that guy I saw playing Miles Gloriosus on my second visit to the NT in 2004 to see A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. At the time I was too upset over the fact that I wasn't going to see Philip Quast playing that part ever again, and so never really noticed his name (Graham MacDuff, by the way; he plays Sir Dennis here in London at the moment.)

Brain attack: Whatever happened to Scooch, those plucky flight attendant wannabes we sent to Helsinki last year to represent us (dismally) in the Eurovision Song Contest? Hmmm... (yes, I am listening through all the songs from last year's contest and am increasingly impressed with the tunes--2007 was a good Eurosong year in my opinion, even though I didn't agree with the winning song.)

After yesterday's Spamalot I realised it's been a long time since I last saw any Monty Python films. There was a time when I watched them every few weeks, then down to every few months, and now perhaps once every three years! Of course, I know them extremely well, since I not only watched them repeatedly when I was in my teens, but used to listen to them on my cassette player (great way to learn English, by the way.) Still, I must admit I had forgotten quite a few funny things about Monty Python and the Holy Grail and am "afraid" I shall have to re-watch it again in the very near future. Will probably also have to deal with the current influx of Marcello Mastroianni films into my collection (thanks, Aug!) during my next few days off. Better not make any plans; I'll just end up staring at the wall for three days instead.

Edit: OK, it seems Alan Dale may be a New Zealander. Still an antipodean, though.

Labels: comedy, film, Monty Python, music, musicals, philip quast, theatre, TV

Some people may have a hard time believing this...but then I don't know why they're in here reading my blog...I simply love the music of Tim McGraw. Not all of it, mind, but quite a lot of his songs are really good. Just to See You Smile is quite possibly my number one favourite among his many hits. Those who aren't surprised, know that my music taste is quite eclectic. :-) My mum is actually still surprised about my favourites. Then again, I just think she's forgetting it's all her fault. After all, she listens to music all the time, so I grew up to their (now) old cassettes and the radio. Let me tell you, it's amazing I enjoy death metal and progressive techno at all. One should rather think I was a huge fan of Elvis Presley. Mind you, I *did* inherit my mum's fascination with The Beatles, although her favourite period is their earlier years, whereas I like the albums from 1966 onwards more. I also inherited my parents' interest in opera, a natural progression from my very early contact with (the popular term) classical music.

Of course, I'm also a snob about it and feel I have little in common with people who just like one genre of music. Tsk, tsk.

And now I just have to mention that The Internet is for Porn from Avenue Q and The Song That Goes Like This from Spamalot are two gems that are difficult to listen to while on the tube since I always start laughing out loud.

*puts on old top favourite Comedy Tonight from Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum instead*

Labels: Monty Python, music, musicals

I found this email to be rather funny:

Dear All,

The guillotine has been removed from the post room on the first floor. If you have removed the guillotine could you please return it as soon as possible as several people need to use it.

Also, read more about the opening of Monty Python's Spamalot in the West End here.

Labels: humour, Monty Python, theatre

I'm sorry, but I may have to sound a little bit condescending right now. The Brits are cute. Really. The main news today is that there has been a snowfall this morning, even reaching six inches in places! The best comment came on the ITV News when they said they were working "day and night to keep the roads open". I'm seriously laughing my head off.

On the other hand, today may be a rollercoaster ride of emotions as I was watching the "Best Eurosong Ever" show earlier and basically had tears in my eyes through most of the show. I'm way too emotional. Early menopause? I'm beginning to wonder... Anyway, the winner (no one beats ABBA) was the right one, and I'm celebrating by playing all their songs in one go (well, those I have, that is). My neighbours may start complaining soon.

I had a very nice yuletide celebration; good food, nice presents (I got both of the Norwegian "family" films Kamilla & Tyven and no one asked me why I wanted them), and I got to see large parts of my family, so I'm very satisfied. It's good to back in London, though. Apparently, I entertained my whole family, especially two of my cousins, with stories about this wretched country, and possibly made them into more of a patriot than they already are.

Telly over there leaves quite a lot to be desired, though, when you are getting used to the (rather annoyingly) enormous supply from the British channels. To think that Christmas used to be my favourite telly time of the year! Of course, back then we didn't even have a VCR, so the films they used to show were awesome (one year they showed Monty Python's The Meaning of Life and I was in heaven). However, they started showing Bleak House, one week after it completed on BBC1, the day before I left, and this is very good news, especially for my parents who are great fans of everything related to BBC drama. "Shake me up, Judy!" Eww...

I have to come back to the Eurosong programme I watched earlier today. I have to comment on the fact that I think the Brits, who are so bloody cynical and think Eurosong is a great laugh and yet compete every year, should look upon Norway as they big heroes. After all, Norway has come last more than any country and that's probably something the Brits should be aiming for, since they always claim to hate the show so much (yet they have become number two 15 times out of 50 and won five times...who's fooling whom? Bad losers, I say. And Terry Wogan, bless him, may have something to do with it.)

Current track: ABBA - Chiquitita (told you I was listening through their songs)

Labels: Christmas, dennis storhøi, film, Monty Python, music, Norway, party, TV

(Ten points to those who know from which film I've taken that quote.)

I feel bad. I've bought my first pair of Levi's ever. Then I bought another pair of Nike shoes. Have I become obsessed by brands all of a sudden, I ask myself, and the reply I get is this: "They actually DO last a lot longer." So I guess it's ok after all.

I wish the drivers of the tube trains would stop giving us vital information in the middle of a tunnel - people hardly understand what they're saying when the trains have stopped, let alone when they're in motion! I fart in their general direction.

Ooh, that reminds me. I've got this mental list of expressions (most of them derived from Monty Python) that I use frequently. I fart in their/your general direction is one of those. Others include I can't believe it's not butter! Tastes just like a dead crab! and Ya-dee-bucket-y, ram-dim-dooh, ni-ni-ni, aroo! and Now don't do it again! (one of the Roman soldiers said that in Life of Brian) and He has a wife, you know. Do you know what she's called? Incontinentia. Incontinentia Buttocks. and Well, aren't we a little teapot. (from In & Out) and Look at my hand! (also from In & Out) and Start again! (followed by an impersonation of a clown waving his hand - from an obscure episode of Flying Circus) and Oh, darn. (Tim Allen says that at one point in Galaxy Quest) and Play nicely! (Jason Isaacs in the second Harry Potter film) and lots of others.

I was considering asking for the huge sign for La Cage as I went past the theatre earlier today, but then I got a grip and realised it would have looked really silly (and big) hanging from my balcony, AND the board probably wouldn't approve of my putting it there anyway. Bugger.

Current track: Listening to Le Placard on telly. Can't say I understand much of it.

Labels: comedy, film, jason isaacs, Monty Python, musicals, theatre, tube

I have come to realise that much of my English derives from watching (too much?) Monty Python during my teens. I was crazy about them - I still love them to bits, but I've stopped wearing my MP-trousers and watching Life of Brian every six weeks. Yes, there was a time where I used to watch Life of Brian every six and Tootsie every five weeks. Let's just say I know them both back to front and diagonally. Anyway, I recently watched Monty Python's The Meaning of Life and was rather surprised to find that I am using many of the expressions from that film in my daily life. In my little world it is perfectly natural to suddenly say "A tiger? In Africa?" out of the blue, and I especially love saying "Bon appétite!" before running away in my best John Cleese-fashion. Luckily, I have eventually gathered real-life friends that understand why I must do this. :-)

It's a bit worrying that the expression "real-life friends" has become perfectly natural to utter in these Internet-times.

Speaking of The Meaning of Life (or "Liff", as I like to call it) - I wonder what the children in the Catholic sketch is doing today? And did their parents allow them to sing about sperm? LOL! AND: How many people had to leave for the toilets when the sketch featuring Mr. Creosote (the enormous man) popped up on the big screen? These are things I need to know.

OK, a few notes about the Golden Globes now.

First of all, Americans have this amazing ability to pronounce ANY (originally) foreign-sounding name in such a fashion that it sounds like it's always been a truly American name. I must say it's quite stunning.

Do you think the auditorium is cold? Because they keep applauding all sorts of people without even knowing who 50% of them are. Hmm...

Is the red ribbon - the one that shows that you sympathise with victims of HIV/AIDS - disappeared into oblivion? I noticed this especially during one of the awards that Angels in America - a drama about HIV - got, when the whole cast went up on stage and not one of them was wearing such a ribbon. I may be out of sync.

I'd love to meet Meryl Streep one day. She seems tipsier than most people I know. During last year's BAFTA Awards she was nervous enough to say "I'd like to spank..." instead of "I'd like to thank..." and this time she managed to return to stage to receive her individual award after having just been there with the whole cast of Angels in America and state that "I just realized* you can see right through my dress. So now I'm standing with them together." (* The American spelling due to her nationality.)

And then... Mr. Ricky Gervais. I have to salute him. The probability of breaking through with a British sitcom in the US is minimal. But The Office did it and I felt a little bit British when he went up there to receive the awards, as if I had anything to do with it whatsoever. And cheers to him for making the best acceptance speech that evening: "I'm not from these parts. I'm from a little place called England. We used to rule the world before you."

Current track: Madness - Promises, Promises

Labels: award shows, comedy, film, linguistics, Monty Python, TV