Disqus - Latest Comments for Steve Bowbrick

Re: What Price ‘Info’

Steve Bowbrick — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:56:39 -0000

I won't be the first to point out that a 'conservative' encyclopaedia that explicitly excludes or depracates certain categories of thought, opinions, activities and so on can't be a very useful study resource. Although I suppose it's handy to have these people all in one place where we can keep an eye on them...

Re: This Is Not a Review of The Queen Either

Steve Bowbrick — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:12:43 -0000

Mirren is a card-carrying member of the Sixties and Seventies British lefty theatre establishment and a (small-r) republican by sentiment. I think she's made quite a journey in finding her empathy for HRH for this film. Of course, now she's also a global movie superstar so that'll change things too, I guess. She need never wear underwear again.

Re: Operator, Can You Help Me Place This Call: Great Telephone Songs

Steve Bowbrick — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:55:24 -0000

There's a really beautiful instrumental by Penguin Cafe Orchestra that's assembled from the sounds you hear on the phone: that plaintive, unanswered ringing tone and so on. It's called Telephone & Rubber Band. Then there's 634-5789 by about a dozen different artists: Eddie Floyd, Sam & Dave, Ry Cooder...

Re: Half-Way to a Year: A Quick Editor’s Note

Steve Bowbrick — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:22:58 -0000

Non-contributors will be aware of Tom's writing here and of the fact that the whole thing was his idea but they won't be aware of his behind-the-scenes diligence: tidying up entries, adding photos and links and correcting egregious HTML errors. He's like Tina Brown and the New Yorker's fact checking department all rolled into one!

Re: It’s a Week Since Glastonbury. Britain’s Hangover is Almost Better

Steve Bowbrick — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:55:38 -0000

Annoyingly, Neal, the Glastonbury film you link to is available only to Americans! Damn and blast...

Re: The Great American Rock and Roll Band

Steve Bowbrick — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 07:17:49 -0000

This is all very interesting. As you know, rock music was invented in Britain (as distinct from rock n roll, which was invented in Ghana) so I feel I can help you out here. The best American Rock band ever is Iggy & The Stooges. The second best The Band. The third best The Velvets (and, having listened to Icky Thump way too loud on the way to work this morning, I reckon The White Stripes might make it onto that list at some point). Do let me know if you need any more help in this area.

Re: A Short History of British Radio Comedy

Steve Bowbrick — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:01:36 -0000

Thanks for those worthy additions. I'd forgotten Count Arthur Strong. While I'm at it I'd add the pseudonymous Creighton Wheeler, sufferer from perhaps the most hilarious illness in human history: Splicer's Disease. Also wry standup Adam Bloom, weird Milton Jones, the late Linda Smith (and how could I have forgotten the News Quiz?). BTW, how does America receive the now legendary game of 'Mornington Crescent'? I'm gong to try to feed a few MP3s into this entry when I get a minute so people can sample more of the good stuff!

Re: The Comedy of The Office: Humor, Familiarity and Ambition

Steve Bowbrick — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:12:09 -0000

Excellent piece Tom. Right on the money about the contrast between the Brit version and the US. I was predictably sceptical about the transition: wondering how you could translate all that nuanced stuff. The genius of the US version is that it was able to stand alone from the beginning and dwell on the American workplace's own unique set of neuroses, dysfunctions and cruelties!

Re: Westminster Soap Operas: New Labour, Ancient Power

Steve Bowbrick — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:07:54 -0000

Have you guys had 'The Thick Of It' yet? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thick_of_It The darkest, nastiest political comedy in history: kind of like The West Wing with humiliation, duplicity, fear and lots of swearing. Absolutely brilliant. It went out in two series and one special over the last two years. Well worth picking up a torrent if you can.