TV
Reviews
coMi [W si llli s NATHAN BARLEY
Channel 4, Fri 11 Feb, 10pm O...
So, who should feel most threatened by Chris Morris with his latest media
onslaught? Well, it’s not the paedophiles. It’s not the celebrities who feel so
feverishly starved of publicity oxygen that they’ll do anything to get their mug shot on the box. And it’s not the source of a fair whack of Morris’ fear and loathing, the medical profession. No, it’s those who say ‘cool’ a bit too much and end sentences with ‘yeah’ either in statement or question form; the style media sluts who tell us what we should be thinking/wearing/
plugging into.
All of which is perfectly laudable though it may feel at first glance that this is the kind of thing which would have worked more beautifully when ID and Dazed and Confused were at their peak. Somewhere in the mid-19405. Sugar Ape is the name of the glossy life bible which Dan Ashcroft (Julian Barratt) writes lascerating articles on the ‘rise of the idiots’ for and Nathan Barley (Nicholas Burns) reads as his gospel. And that, despite the fact that Nathan is the kind of ‘self—facilitating media-node’ whom Ashcroft
despises.
Among Barley’s catchphrases are ‘keep it dusty’ and ‘that’s my creedos’; all told, he comes across as a younger mix of a (crueller) David Brent and (apolitical) Alan B’stard who thinks that Freddie Starr was an inspiration to Bill Hicks. Ashcroft could be read as the Chris Morris of the piece; a man trapped in a world he hates but somehow has to survive and thrive in. Nathan Barley looks like it has much life in it. (Brian Donaldson)
POI |(il DRAMA CSI: NY Five, Sat 5 Feb, 9.05pm .00
Those of you who have been happily residing in a well-stocked cupboard for the last couple of years wrll have missed out on the American police drama phenomenon that is (38/ iC/ime Scene i’rrvestigationi. The original series focused
96 THE LIST 3» ' T Fet‘ £30"
on the doings of an elite team of police forensics experts in Las Vegas. To date the hugely Successful series has spawned spin-offs set in Miami and now. inevitably, the Big Apple. The show continues to provide a haven of meaty roles for actors whose star is somewhat on the wane. Here. the velvet-veiced tough~but- vulnerable investigator is
Gary Sinise. erstwhile paraplegic buddy to Forrest Gump. Otherwrse its business usual for this series. which is fast becoming a Sub-genre in its own right. The opener features an investigation into the brutal homiCide of a yOLing girl, mostly Stylisth shot in dingy interiors. Is the light in New York really that brown? (Allan Radcliffei
CRIME DRAMA E
TH STEPFATHER Scottish, Sun 6 & Mon 7 Feb, 9pm 0000
As an lTV drama this comes as something of a shock. because The Stepfather is actually a superbly Judged. wonderfully tense and very dark piece of quality drama. DOugie is
Maggie: rug-t .. ii in.
life. her teerrale daudhter Siicwt a" 2 ex 'iusl‘ahzl (“ilrr‘sto'lw-v fll?$ét{l()'f?‘.f,‘ ‘.'."re" Scarlet disappear» shortly after Dangle an t Maggie's wedding. The eye of siispirion naturally falls on the stepfather.
This Till sounds Like a sirriple cr'irrie diarita. but the moral corriplexity is exaiirined with ()lll()()llll accuracy in a perfectly balanced script. while lllCl'f‘dllfl‘,‘ effective and understated performances lrorr‘ all four of the main cast iespecially Philip Glenister as the hangdog Dougiei add to the nervous tension. With twists and turns like you wouldn't believe and a great cliffhanging end to the first half, this is surprisingly superior dramatic stuff.
(Doug Johnstonei
SEX DOCUMENTARY BODYSHOCK: ORGASMATRON Channel 4, Mon 7 Feb. 9pm .00
From the title you'd be forgiven for thinking yOu're about to tune into some lurid futuristic fantasy rather than a documentary about female sexuality. The programme explores the claim by an American doctor that it's possible to Cure ‘sexual dysfunction in women uSing an electronic implant originally intended to Suppress pain in the spinal chord. We follow three female volunteers and their partners who have agreed to trial the good doctor's invention. Two of them. Jackie and Mary. have never experienced Orgasm
° l ’ 79' ' " ‘ R y\.' } a, ,' It 0 ._ ' T'Wl' \ ll \ (:l ' l a t i K 1 A l ‘J t I’ .
"‘ii'i" :‘(ltl'iliflt‘ Therapeutic tirirxr ‘il' r‘ '.‘.'ciilrf be more tierieficiai.
[Allan il(irlt:lifft:i
)(_ )Hl ): )t :It DU {‘7 GRAEME OBREE: FULL CYCLE
BBC1, Tue 8 Feb, 10.35pm .0.
This look at the extraordinary life of acclairried Scottish cyclist Graeme ()bree iriakes a decent stab at exariiiriing one of llll'i country 's oddest sporting heroes. There is no sensationalisirr here. the bare facts speak for therriselves: urrrpteeii world records. several world chain;iionships. three suicide attempts, one botched insurance ltll). manic depression, a horriemade bike constructed frorrr ‘.'.'ashing machine parts. two revolutionary ll(:.'.' riding positions.
Obree was the classic sporting outsider, taking the authorities of cycling on and manning time and time again, something the sport didn't like and kept banning llill‘ as a reSult. After turning down a lucrative profeSSiorral contract filth a Tour de France team because he refused their illegal drug programme «"rredir;ai back-up they called it.
The Friday Night Project Channe/ 4, Fri 4 Feb, 70pm. At last. a pubby CA t—zr'itertarnment show for Friday nights to match The Word. Maybe. Jimmy Carr is inevitably involved and there's a quality item called the Abi Titmuss Mystery Sex Tape Challenge.
100 Greatest Pop Videos Channel 4, Sun 6 Feb. 80m. More Mr Carr as he drives us all crazy while chatting about the toppermost mUSIC promos in the world. Ever.
Super Bowl XXXIX Live Scottish, Sun 6 Feb, IO.40pm If you're a fan of American Footie. tune in. For non- devotees of the less than beautiful game. there's always a ‘wardrobe malfunction' to pray for.
The Brit Awards 2005 Scottish, Thu IO Feb. 8pm. Chris Evans returns to our screens to help hand out a few gongs to Franz Ferdinand. Only one hour before the watershed. Can he keep it clean till then?
Joey Five, Sun 73 Feb. Bprn. The first (and last?) Friends spin-off has the dumb hunk relocating to California. Drea de Matteo (AKA Adriana from The SopranOS) brings some trashy glam to proceedings.