The TV Listings (3)

I seem to have been posting quite a lot of YouTube recently, and it is now six months since I last did a 'TV listings' roundup, so I think we're about due again. More than due! This threatens to become a bit cumbersome. I think I'd better aim to update every three months from now on.

The Comedy/Movie Channel

Once Upon A Time In The West - a clip from the celebrated opening sequence, rounding off my list of the 'Greatest Film Openings'.

Total Perspective Vortex - an animated tour of the Universe, highlighting the amazing 'Deep Field' photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Brother of the more famous.... - remembering the great J.R. Hartley.

Ultimate Daily Llama - the Monty Pythons give a lecture on llamas in Spanish (also, A Man With A Tape Recorder Up His Nose).

Farewell to Barry - the beginning and end of the last-ever 'Film 98' review programme with Barry Norman, the end of an era (also, a superb performance of the theme song by Nina Simone - see below).

Maintaining one's 'essence' - a discussion of the sexual practices of Chairman Mao reminds me of General Jack D. Ripper's views on "precious bodily fluids" in Dr Strangelove.

Full of Eastern Promise - a classic 1970s TV ad for Fry's Turkish Delight (prompted by The Barstool reaching its 1,001st post!).

Beijing firework mayhem - some clips of the celebrations on this year's Chinese New Year's Eve.

A Christmas treat - the classic 'André Preview' skit from The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show where Eric tries to play Grieg's Piano Concerto (with possibly the best punchline in history).

Guy Ritchie interview - one of the great Adam & Joe skits featuring stuffed toy animals.

More Adam & Joe highlights - links to classic spoofs of Saving Private Ryan, Trainspotting, The Crystal Maze, and The Jerry Springer Show (embedding disabled, unfortunately).

Return of The Shat - William Shatner gives an idiosyncratic rendition of Elton John's Rocket Man (I think I have to file this under 'Comedy' rather than 'Music'!).

The birth of a nation - a Chinese propaganda film from the 1960s re-enacting Mao's proclamation of the People's Republic from Tiananmen Gate on October 1st 1949.

Thunderbirds are GO! - the launch of the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.

Fingerlickin' good! - "Redneck Art": a rather fine finger-painting of a deer... executed on the tablecloth of a diner with rib sauce.

The Music Channel

Nighthawks at the Diner - Tom Waits sings Eggs and Sausage (in a diner!).

Ride On - a tribute to the late Bon Scott of AC/DC, featuring this great slow blues tune.

His Father Never Liked Me Anyway - Eleanor McEvoy sings a gender-inverted version of Gerry Rafferty's great breakup song on an Irish radio show.

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Nina Simone rips it up at the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival.

Happy Birthday, Bob - I commemorate Bob Marley's birthday on February 6th with live performance videos of Stir It Up and Redemption Song.

See What The Boys In The Backroom Will Have - Marlene Dietrich as the archetypal Western saloon singer 'Frenchy' in Destry Rides Again.

It's Only A Paper Moon - no Ella, alas, but Natalie Cole does a decent enough job of it.

Messin' with my head - one night, all the music in the Pool Bar had speeded-up lyrics: it sounded like this (Bohemian Rhapsody "on helium").

Bright College Days - recent reminiscences about my student days prompt me to post this Tom Lehrer classic.

I Wish I knew How It would Feel To Be Free - pianist Billy Taylor plays his own composition, famous as the theme music to the BBC's long-running 'Film' review series (see also the storming performance of this song by Nina Simone, above).

Heart of Glass - my 'Fantasy Girlfriend' of the month is Debbie Harry, so of course I have to include her classic hit.

The best of bah-humbuggery - a Tom Lehrer double-header: A Christmas Carol and Hanukkah in Santa Monica.

Getting soppy at Christmas - Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl (the original video; also links to a recent TV performance with Katie Melua, and a 20th anniversary concert in Dublin with Sinead O'Connor); how could I resist?

You Made Me Love You - Helen Forrest with the Harry James Orchestra (also, links to other Harry James classics: I've Heard That Song Before, It's Been A Long, Long Time, and Trumpet Blues & Cantabile).

What Happened To You? - the great theme song from 70s sitcom Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? (the leading character Terry Collier being the latest of my 'Unsuitable Role Models'). [This post was subsequently reprinted here, in Froogville's Review of the Year series.]

I Ain't Drunk (I'm Just Drinking) - Beijing's beloved laowai blues crew Black Cat Bone in action (marking the launch of their first CD, Drinkin' Alone).

Jamming on a rooftop - American folkster Abby Washburn and her Sparrow Quartet interviewed on a hutong roof terrace during their Beijing visit a few years ago, and playing some tunes with local Mongolian band Hanggai.

Baby, Can I Hold You? - the wonderful Tracy Chapman.

Happy Birthday To Me! - Who's The Lucky Birthday Boy? by John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett, and Happy Birthday, Mr President by Marilyn Monroe.

Highway To Hell - the ultimate drunken singalong number from AC/DC.

Wo Men Ai Ni, Avril! - since Avril Lavigne is playing a gig in Beijing, I post a link to her singing her hit Girlfriend with Chinese lyrics.

That's what Brian Boitano'd do! - What Would Brian Boitano Do? from the South Park movie; a link to the video of the song by Matt and Trey's band, DVDA; and, best of all, a live video of a DVDA performance intercut with footage of Boitano skating.

Friday I'm In Love - possibly my favourite song by The Cure.

Belle of Belfast City - the irresistibly catchy Northern Irish nursery rhyme performed by Kirsty MacColl (no video, unfortunately); also a great but incomplete rendition by The Clancy Brothers, and a link to a version by The Dubliners.

Am I just an 'Inbetweenie'?? - Inbetweenies, performed by The Goodies, accompanied by a montage of mini-clips of Graeme Garden, the 'boffin' member of the trio in the classic 1970s BBC comedy show.

The Sports Channel

"Coast to coast" - George Weah's famous end-to-end goal for AC Milan against Verona.

Beijing Marathon - I am overcome with guilt at having failed to get in shape to take part in this year's race, so I post a brief clip of it.