A Bit of Brit

Hello children! Today's topic is on older British television, that's already off the air. No, I'm not talking about Monty Python, simply because it's one of the more popular in the States and doesn't need any more fan service.

But since we're on the subject, I want to take a quick minute and geek on a game called Fluxx. The rules are simple, because they change depending on the cards you play. I'm not going to explain it, but look into it, because it's a blast. The reason I bring it up is because they have a Monty Python version.

I haven't gotten a chance to play it yet, but check out the link to Looney Labs, the creators, for more information.

Okay, onto other shows. I recently found YouTube postings (yes, linked on the left) called "A Bit of Fry and Laurie." If that second name sounds familiar, yes, it's our lovable Dr. House, Hugh Laurie. (What do you mean you don't love Hugh Laurie?! Push off!) He's paired up with Stephen Fry, and they do sketch comedy a la Monty Python. BBC Comedy sponsors the YouTube clips, and the DVDs are available through normal shopping means (oh please, just type it in the Google toolbar, I know you have one).

When I was younger, my older brother was very much into British comedy at the time, and he got Fawlty Towers one year for Christmas. It was about John Cleese's character Basil Fawlty, and Basil's wife Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales) and they owned a hotel. Hilarity ensues. The episode that stands out the most (its been 10+ yrs since I've seen it) was when Basil sets up the most amazing surprise birthday party for his wife, but pretends all day that he's forgotten. Sybil drops hints the size of boulders, and just as Basil's about to unveil the surprise, she gets upset and storms out of the hotel and drives off. Too embarrassed to tell the guests what happened (her mother, after all, never quite approved of Basil). And then there was Basil the rat, but I forget what happens.

Check out link to Dr. Who Cakes

I just found a link to some great Dr. Who cakes, including a few tardis' (tardi?), a standing cyberman, and a gingerbread K-9. Just wanted to share with everyone.

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/08/sunday-sweets-doctor-who.html

Mandatory Viewing, or The Only Things on BBC America

No promises that I'm going to update every day, or even in any promised order. I want to beef up the blog for now, so in the future my posts might come a little more sporadic.

First of all, you must see Doctor Who. The show is about a Time Lord who travels through time and space and across the universe to save people/the universe/say witty things. When I say "Doctor Who," I'm referring to the new series that was restarted in 2005. Christopher Eccleston started as the 9th Doctor in 2005, but only stayed on for 13 episodes. He was succeeded by David Tennant, the 10th Doctor, who just recently stepped down. Some of my favorite episodes includes a generation of people trapped in a futuristic enclosed highway (for flying cars, of course); statues with malicious intent; ANY Christmas episode; World War I zombies; when they meet Madame d'Pompadour; and when they meet William Shakespeare. It's not all fun and games though. Early on the series explores the ramifications of changing the past. The writers pay attention to the space/time continuum "rules," but they keep them loose enough so it doesn't ruin the fun.

Next up, Top Gear is the funniest show about cars. At first I only watched it because my husband wanted to, but the more I watched the funnier it was. I have no idea how James May, Richard Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson convinces the BBC to give them money. At times it seems like they do nothing but bicker with each other and argue with anyone that doesn't agree, but if you look closely, you'll see that...uh....a lifelong friendship....on screen magic....okay, all they do is bicker and argue. But it's hilarious. The show never ceases to pull amazing races and stunts. In one of the latest episodes they raced the fastest recorded car in the world against a super-special fighter jet (I forget the details, just read: awesome). The car had to race ONE mile, turn around, and then race back to the start/finish, while the fighter jet had to go one mile UP, in the air, and then come back down and cross the start/finish. Another season Clarkson raced across Japan, trying to beat May and Hammond on the Japanese Bullet Train. This is not your average train. It's pretty much the same formula over and over. One of the hosts races against crazy triple black diamond skiers/Olympic Luge team/another absolutely ridiculous thing. They also have guests on the show, called the Star in a Reasonable Priced Car, so expect to see the only other 10 people in Britain on the show.

Finally, for comedy, check out Little Britain. It's a sketch comedy show that features Matt Lucas and David Williams dressing up, acting silly, and generally making a mockery of everyone and everything. You can feel the Monty Python influence, but the sketches and characters are original. However, we watched this on DVD, and noticed that watching episodes back to back saps it of some of its humor. Try spacing it out if you haven't caught this show yet.

One more thing. Dear BBC America, please broadcast in HD, plzkthxbai.

Welcome to the first posting of The Queen's Forgotten Children!

Welcome to the first posting of "The Queen's Forgotten Children!" Da da da dum! Okay, it's hard to be serious when I know the only people reading this (for now!) are people I already know and have heard my rants already. It's like being given the key to the city, except there's only a 100 people in the town and everyone remembers when you ran around naked when you were three.

For those of you that haven't been subject to my drunken questions after a night on the town, with equally drunken answers scribbled on soiled napkins, I've created this blog specifically to talk about British television. I've fallen in love with them in a very short amount of time, like, well, every other girl in the world who gets a bit "soft" around a man with an accent. (Did that sound British? At times I find I don't know if I sound British, normal American, or my usual crazy language).

Homework time! See where it says "children?" That's my way of making all of you help me write this blog. :) I want everyone to send me an email about their favorite British show, and why they like it. It doesn't have to be a long article, but please something more than "Monty Python." (If your answer *is* Monty Python, please tell me your favorite sketch or movie.)

This week in news (that I've
just made up.):

David Tennant's popularity has gone down for leaving Doctor Who, but really I can't stay mad at him. Lily Allen's popularity is up, due to some backing in America, though I like her better when she's fat.

Being Human is a great series to watch if you love the paranormal and think Stephanie Meyer's should go shoot herself. It's a show about (stick with me through this) a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost all live in the same "flat." I know it sounds like an episode of Friend's, but I promise it's an engaging show. You'll thank me after the first half of the first episode.

Warehouse 13, though not British, is another interesting paranormal series to look into. You know at the end of Indiana Jones, they say it's being taken care of by "top men," and there's that iconic scene with the warehouse full of god-knows-what? The show's kinda like that, about people having to take care of all the paranormal, wibbly wobbly timey-wimey stuff.