I watched the BAFTA television awards on Sunday night and very good it was too. I was filled with a lovely fuzzy feeling (which may have had something to do with the fact that Sunday was the first time I’ve had Sherry, it’s yummy) because I think it was a proper celebration of talent.
So practise your best ‘loser face’ everyone because I’m going to run through some of the Winners and the ‘also rans’ (only the ones I’m interested in so don’t be thinking you’ll see anything about Soaps on here) because it threw up a few curveballs last night and my god do I love a good curveball (no, that’s not a euphemism you filthy minded buggers!).
Drama Series
Being Human (BBC Three)
Downton Abbey (ITV1)
Misfits (E4)
Sherlock (BBC One) - WINNER
I don’t know about you but I found this one really hard to call. For my money the last series of ‘Being Human’ was the best yet however I wax lyrical about ‘Sherlock’ seemingly every day but then ‘Misfits’ was the highlight of my televisual 2010 and ‘Downton Abbey’ isn’t my kind of thing but I know loads and loads of people watched and loved it. Ultimately though the award went to ‘Sherlock’ and I’m glad. I know I’ve gone on and on about it before but the writing is exceptional and the performances are all wonderful, it’s a well and truly deserved award.
Supporting Actress
Gillian Anderson - Any Human Heart (Channel 4)
Lynda Baron - The Road To Coronation Street (BBC Four)
Jessie Wallace - The Road To Coronation Street (BBC Four)
Lauren Socha - Misfits (E4) - WINNER
Granted Lauren was the only one I’d seen in this category and I’m really glad she won. I’m sure the rest of the nominees were all kinds of awesome but Misfits is superb and Kelly is a fantastic character. I was surprised BAFTA decided to go for such a comic creation, but really pleased.
Supporting Actor
Brendan Coyle - Downton Abbey (ITV1)
Johnny Harris - This Is
Robert Sheehan - Misfits (E4)
Martin Freeman - Sherlock (BBC One) – WINNER
For me there was only ever going to be one winner in this category. I watched a bit of ‘This is England ‘86’ and Johnny Harris was good in it, likewise I watched ‘Misfits’ and loved it and Robert Sheehan is great but Martin Freeman played a blinder in Sherlock. Just so you’re not reaching for the sick bucket with my incessant praise for Sherlock, I’ll stop there.
Single Drama
Eric and Ernie (BBC Two)
I Am Slave (Channel 4)
The Special Relationship (BBC Two)
The Road to
Not so pleased about this one. ‘Eric and Ernie’ aired at Christmas and I really liked it. I don’t know a great deal about Morecambe and Wise save for what I’ve seen on clips shows (the breakfast sketch and the “I’m playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order” one) so I went into this with no romanticised ideals about how it should be. I got properly into it. The music is gorgeous and the performances are so lovely. I’m a sucker for anything set in the 40’s and 50’s (when this is mainly set) and it was obviously all done with a great deal of love and admiration so I think ‘Eric and Ernie’ should have won. Boo Hiss BAFTA!
Male Performance In A Comedy Programme
James Buckley - The Inbetweeners (E4)
Tom Hollander - Rev. (BBC Two)
David Mitchell - Peep Show (Channel 4)
Steve Coogan - The Trip (BBC Two) – WINNER
I don’t really agree with this one either. I watched a bit of ‘The Trip’ and whilst it was funny Coogan basically played himself. I personally think it should have been James Buckley for ‘The Inbetweeners’. Say what you like about ‘The Inbetweeners’ it’s rude, it’s crude but it bears more a resemblance t0 my college experience than ‘Skins’ ever did. Jay is every stupid, show-off, arsehole you ever knew at school. It might not be as clever as ‘Rev’ or ‘Peep Show’ but ‘The Inbetweeners’ is proper belly laugh funny and it’s no small part to James Buckley.
Female Performance in A Comedy Programme
Dawn French - Roger and Val Have Just Got In (BBC Two)
Miranda Hart - Miranda (BBC Two)
Katherine Parkinson - The IT Crowd (Channel 4)
Jo Brand - Getting On (BBC Four) - WINNER
I’m so chuffed about this one. Everyone had their money on Miranda Hart to win but she’s won everything else so I’m glad someone else got it, especially Jo Brand because ‘Getting On’ is genius. It’s been quietly good for a while and it’s lovely to see it get some recognition.
Sport
6 Nations:
FA Cup Final:
Wimbledon 2010 (BBC One)
Formula 1: The
Despite my dislike of any kind of team sport (or indeed exercise in general) I found myself in the weird position of actually having watched and enjoyed 3 of the 4 nominees in this category. Formula 1 is a bit of a love of mine,
Leading Actor
Jim Broadbent - Any Human Heart (Channel 4)
Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock (BBC One)
Matt Smith - Doctor Who (BBC One)
Daniel Rigby - Eric and Ernie (BBC Two) – WINNER
I love Doctor Who and Sherlock with a passion, but I don’t mind that they didn’t win because Daniel Rigby was really really good in ‘Eric and Ernie’ and I think the award went to the right person. I feel bad for him because the legions of ‘Sherlock’ and ‘Who’ fans have taken to the internet and seem to have banded against him saying he doesn’t deserve it. I hate to make sweeping judgements but I’d be willing to bet money that most of the people having a go at him didn’t actually see ‘Eric and Ernie’. If they had they’d have seen a lovely performance by someone who (I’m not familiar with the mannerisms of the great man so I’m reliably told by my
YouTube Audience Award
Downton Abbey
Miranda
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
Sherlock
The Killing
The Only Way Is Essex - WINNER (TOWIE from this point on)
I thought I’d leave this one till last as there is much to say. I’d hope it’s apparent that the one I wanted to win did not take the prize, but to be honest I’m not too concerned. I understand the arguments, TOWIE isn’t the trussed up costume drama of Downton Abbey, it’s not the fizzing dialogue of Sherlock and it’s not the dark, gripping plot twists of ‘The Killing’, it’s big busted, perma-tanned faux-reality TV. It’s not clever and there are so many reasons why there’s outrage at it winning but let’s get a bit of perspective shall we, lest we lose our heads.
First off, it was the ‘YouTube audience’ award, it’s not like Mark Wright won best actor. This also means we only have ourselves to blame, if you didn’t vote, you let this happen and have lost all right to whinge (I exclude myself from this because I voted for ‘Sherlock’… quelle surprise).
Secondly TOWIE is transient. Proper TV Dramas like ‘Downton Abbey’ and well written comedy like ‘Miranda’ will always have solid viewing figures, stuff like TOWIE relies on the reality TV audience and bless ‘em, they’re a fickle bunch. Viewers are already tiring of the predictable Arg/Lydia and Mark/Lauren arguments and the actors/people/ejits involved have become so self-aware, playing up to their ridiculous personas that any shred of likeability these characters had has gone. With similar faux-reality offerings arriving in the shape of ‘Made in Chelsea’, ‘Geordie Shore’ (which looks set to be more shocking than TOWIE in every sense of the word) and the return of ‘Big Brother’ reality fans are going to be spoilt for choice.
Also, this might just be me but it is a little bit funny that they won. If only for the looks of bemusement on the faces of the people in attendance as these tangerine tinted fools went up to collect their award. I just found it hysterical that Oscar winning actor Jim Broadbent had to sit and clap at a clip of Joey Essex saying ‘reem’ and Amy Childs talking about ‘vajazzling’.
Ultimately the shelf life of shows like this is minimal so let’s pretend it’s like a hurricane and just hunker down until it blows over.
With all that out of the way let’s see what are my…
Reasons to be Cheerful
1. Continuing the ‘Hobbit’ based news more wonderful casting has been announced. BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH HAS BEEN CONFIRMED FOR ‘THE HOBBIT’!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL MY CHRISTMASSES HAVE COME AT ONCE! This following the news of Stephen Fry’s involvement in the project has led me to believe that Peter Jackson reads my blog and is making ‘The Hobbit’ purely to make me happy. It’s working Peter. I’m loving it and they haven’t even finished filming yet!
2. The first reviews for ‘X:Men First Class’ are coming in and they’re good. Really good. I’m glad because I adore X:Men, I used to watch the cartoon and I like the films (saying that the Wolverine film did try my patience) so I wanted this to be good. I’m excited!
3. Channel 4 has commissioned another mini series from the pen of Charlie Brooker. I’m super happy about this because the last thing he wrote was ‘Dead Set’ the Big Brother house based zombie horror drama that aired just before Halloween in 2008 which I really liked/scared me silly. This new series will be called ‘Black Mirror’ and each episode will be a standalone and it’s due to air later this year. I await it with great interest.
That’ll do for today.
Goodbye till next time
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