Just Another Robot's TV shows > TV reviews by Just Another Robot

Pimp My Ride - is it over?

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 15 August 2007 04:49 (A review of "Pimp My Ride")

Have just heard that this show is coming to an end which is a shame because it’s one of my favourites. The format is straight forward – owner of rundown car tries to convince the team why his/her car needs to be ‘pimped’, the host – usually Xzibit, pops round and gives the car a thorough dis, and then drives it away to get it a much needed make-over. The make-over edits are fast and chirpy, and the garage team have great fun turning the rust-buckets they get into groovy little numbers. Am not a driver and wasn’t bothered either way until I got sucked into the enthusiasm for rims, and the whole ‘customize your ride’ situation. Hope the show gets the chance of a comeback.

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Heaven and Earth

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 13 August 2007 06:28 (A review of "The Heaven and Earth Show")

Sunday mornings would not be the same without this eclectic show. Hindus, Taoists, Pagans, Zoroastrians, Jainists, Mormons, Sikhs... Every faith, religion and spiritual path gets a look in, and the show's format is a colourful magazine of news, interviews, arts/culture and live music. Best bits for me are the live and often heated panel debates usually with three or four guests - experts and prominent religious figures who change from week to week. The subjects under discussion are as varied as the world’s religions, but the focus is generally on headlines or the big religious issues of the moment. The debates run in small nuggets throughout the show and Gloria Hunniford does a smart job of controlling the panelists – their views can be quite tough and sometimes alarming, and viewers can chip by supplying their own contributions via email which Gloria reads out. Am not religious but love this show because of its variety and passion.

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Celebrity Big Brother - UK version

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago on 25 July 2007 03:43 (A review of Big Brother US)

Oh dear :)
Whatever you might think of 'Reality TV' in general, you have to admit that when Big Brother first came out in July 2000 (UK), it was quite an innovation. 24-7 cameras on a willing group of unknowns who had to pull together to gain food or favours from BB, and survive a weekly round of voting to rid them from the house...

The first series was required viewing for a huge section of the UK audience, and the initial BB winners along with the likeable losers (including 'Nasty Nick') became tabloid sensations... for while. By the third series 'celebrities' were getting in on the act, initially for charity. But as the shows continue, the 'celebrity' arm has become a vehicle for 'forgotten faces' to re-vitalise their careers.

And yes, there's plenty you can say about the controversies that surround BB, from misleading edits to exploiting the vulnerable in order to gain higher ratings - like BB's treatment of Pete, the guy with Tourette's syndrome. But set aside those issues, and BB is great 'switch-off your brain' entertainment, especially the celebrity version - there are genuine laughs to be had, and you can er... catch-up on the stars of yester-year and act like you know your TV trivia. Top marks to BB for experimental programme-making.

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The Water Margin

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago on 23 July 2007 01:39 (A review of "The Water Margin")

Watched this series on TV as a kid along with my brothers, and we loved it. Even though I didn't know what was going on exactly, it felt powerful, and in my tiny-young mind, all the characters were superheroes... Returned to the series as an adult and felt uplifted. Tapped into the deep and mystical meanings I missed as a kid, and can see how influential the narrative and battle sequences have been on recent action epics. Seminal. x

On BBC 2 1976-78. Got the image from amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Water-Margin-Ku-Feng/dp/B000I2J6VY


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