John Lennon In T.V. Ad For ...Citroen? A Misatake on All Levels.

On the same day Abbey Road Studios is awarded listed building status, John Lennon is reduced to a badly made T.V. ad for Citroen cars. Meant to be a message of free choice and "do your own thing" the "retro" piece of marketing just looks awful.  The rumour mill suggests Yoko held out for the right deal but Lennon fans are angered by what is seen by many as pure greed. I hate these things where dead people are used to sell stuff on T.V.   As fans condemn Yoko Ono and call for a boycott of Citroen products it does make you wonder what Lennon himself would have said?  I guess his reaction would be unprintable ....and he wouldn't be seen in a Citroen either.

   Shame on you Yoko Ono.    Unforgivable.   

Pump Up The Volume. But Not On The Adverts.

It is one of those irritating & grump inducing things. Just as you are dozing off in front of the box.  ON COME THE ADVERTS AT ONE HUNDRED & PLENTY DECIBELS.     As it assaults your eardrums you vow never ever to buy the product and remember to switch to a non commercial station for your after dinner snooze tomorrow. I have known that they crank up the volume for the ads for a long time now but,  the t.v. companies have always denied it. Now the watchdog has warned them to stop the practice following complaints from viewers.   I happen to think it is counter productive as most people are just annoyed by it. But there is always the mute button to beat the volume increase.  Consumer revenge at the push of a button...sorted.   

Creepy Babies Yes Creepy Babies.The Latest Marketing Tool.

They really freak me out they are so CREEPY. I remember the first time I was spooked by the creepy baby syndrome. It was a movie with a talking baby,pre CGI it looked like they has super imposed an adult talking mouth onto the baby head and it just looked weird. Just like Mr Ed the talking horse it didn't quite work. The one I hate right now has babies in a sort of skate board skate off and they sing and dance through a routine selling us bottled water you know the one filtered for thousands of years.  What I really really hate though is the ones where you only hear the baby voice but it is delivering an adult message.  The one I heard is for Mile Ready for Sports Relief a worthy cause no doubt but the baby voice makes me cringe.  Lastly there is the one where the baby is the boss of a toilet tissue company it annoys me greatly. I am sure there are lots more out there so let us know your best or worst one? My money is on the skateboard kids,  they head the creep factor stakes so far.

  Unless you know better. 

3-D MOVIES AND THE COST OF POPCORN ?

We used to go to the movies at least once a week, often twice. Not so much recently, but we love the whole deal you get in new theaters: big comfy seats, full surround sound and ultra-modern facilities - fantastic.

Then...you decide to buy some snacks: pop-corn maybe, something to drink, a hot dog even.  Suddenly you realise what pays for the multi screen movie theater experience:  IT'S THE FOOD.   We had a couple of hot dogs a couple of small drinks and a thimble of ice cream  £17.95 ( $30).  This turns your movie experience into a slightly resentful one where you talk about a hot dog costing almost as much as your seat did rather than the movie. In old style cinemas they sold branded chocolate and sweets you could buy anywhere so the price was the same. It did not make any sense to bring your own,  but at these exorbitant prices it was not surprising to see people smuggling in their own sweets and cans of  soda.

The movie, Avatar,  was exceptional - a 3D  mind blower of a film and highly recommended. Just take your own sweets. 

Ross. Was he pushed or did he jump.

Here is how I see it. Brand did the right thing and resigned,Ross hedged his bets and hung on in there because the BBC gave him a face saving opportunity of a suspension, a return to the limelight and, after a "decent" time he leaves of his own accord.  In real terms he was booted out  and I think it is a good time for a real change  in the "chat show"  format.  Lets face it no one has ever been able to touch Parkinson and the likes of Graham Norton doesn't cut it either.  What would you like to see in the Friday Night Slot?   Whatever they come up with I am willing to bet that a few months from now we will be wondering why we thought we would miss him.  

The Great Xmas Dinner Mystery? What Could Possibly Go Wrong.?

     We have become obsessed with cookery programs and follow all the tv chefs and we even try some of the recipes. Quite successfully I might add. This week we have been enthralled by Jamie's Xmas, Delia's Xmas,  Nigella's Xmas and,Xmas at River Cottage. You always pick up some good tips in these shows and I always think there is something to gain from any professional. Then it struck me,we have a cookery book from the 60's it has become a family friend.Looking through it it gives a detailed Xmas Dinner recipe not a million miles removed from....... all of the recent  T.V. chefs  recipes for the big feast.

  I mean if we do not know how to cook turkey by now we have a real problem. This makes me ponder exactly why we are all so hooked on these shows the basic methods are the same with a minor addition here or there. I think it is the simple fact that we can see them doing it in detail that makes it compulsive viewing.  It also makes you hungry and reach for the snacks.   

Maybe that';s what has us hooked?  Either way we love it all. Merry Xmas.    

Cheryl Cole's Big Night In . What a Load of *&%$£":~#

I caught the extravaganza that seemed more like an extended TV ad that was theCheryl Cole's Night In. Now credit where credit is due the miming was really first class.  The dancing was also of an extremely high caliber. Holly Whoever was more sickly and sweet than ever.  Then Snow Patrolspoiled the whole illusion by singing and playing live. Not only that they were note perfect and in tune. A bit unfair of them I thought  especially when Cheryl had just said how proud she was of Alexandra Burke's Miming And another thing ,there were nothing like enough costume changes and they should be made to wear dresses they can hardy l move or walk in. Oh and they should also mime the entire song none of this sing a verse mime a verse con trick  and there should be no lip sync for the choruses or they should at least move the mike away from their mouth so we can see and  hear them.  

X Factor Who Wins Who Cares & Is It Over For Mr Cowel?

Even as we write and the final show has not aired yet it looks like young Joe McElderry & Olly Murs will enjoy an audience of 20 million plus for the X Factor Final. However there does seem to be a bit of a backlash starting with the no karaoke Xmas Single campaign Noddy Holder and Johnny Rottenbeing a bit critical of the whole Cowel machine. For a machine is what it has become,as a talent show it did no harm was highly entertaining and turned up some quality singers. It has now become so repetitive over scripted and contrived it has ceased to be a contest more of a money spinner spread over two days of voting by phone which generates the cash which keeps the whole machine turning. Now whether you think Cowel is a genius or a villain he certainly seems to have so much clout that very few people will speak against him so maybe it is time to rethink  the whole format of the "Talent Show", lets have real bands,good singers only, even a musician or two,you know the kind that can play instruments(or is that taking it too far). 

As it is Cowel is the only winner,and music is the loser  but should we deny the hopefuls their 15 minutes of fame?  

Kymera Magic Wand. It is Magic You Must Get One of These.

Now this is Magic. The Gadget  of the Century  must beThe Kymera Wand. Who would not like one of these it is really clever remote control for all your infra red kit like TV Hi-Fi etc based on the same motion technology as the Wii.

So for around 50 pounds ($75) you too can be a wizard  and change channels  and mute the sound or pause a DVD with a flourish of the wrist.   As with all things Harry Potter this will  be a major seller, every kid will want one, every Dad will want one  and every Mum will pray for the Dad & Kid remote control to come along soon to stop the wand wars going on in every living room.  If you already have one we would love to hear what you think of it .......just for research purposes of course. 

Katie Price Insists "I'm Genuine" But Fails to say What Part of Her She Means?

Is anyone fooled by The Katie Price Show? Apart from looking a fright she seems to have forgotten that the public who made her can also destroy her and it looks like the viewers have taken against her. As she left the  Jungle  her TV company were waiting with full crew to film the Australian section of her "What Katie Did Next"  How lucky they just happened to be in town and right on time. The same bit of good fortune saw her boyfriend land in Australia to propose to her as soon as he could get to her only to be dumped on live T.V. What a load of old rubbish. How long can this go on, she may have made millions but you just sense disaster ahead for her, and as her kids become older does she really want them confronted with "thats your Mum on Tv" in the school yard.  Insisting she has proved herself and has no immediate plans Katie is fooling no one except maybe    Katie?