One Must Have One's BBC

If you haven't yet caught the BBC shows "Sherlock" and "Being Human", you're missing a couple of treats! I recommend you try them both; they're available on DVD.

"Sherlock" is a present-day take on the iconic detective. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Sherlock, a much younger, though still quirky character. Martin Freeman plays his faithful, hapless sidekick, Dr. Watson. As an aside, Freeman will take on the role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's film version of The Hobbit. Took me a while to connect the name with the actor, but I was thrilled to death when I did! Believe me, Martin Freeman will make the perfect Bilbo, better even than the incredible Ian Holm.

"Sherlock" is modern, funny, and fast-paced. The main character appears to be much more active, due to a more physical actor, than the usual media conception of Holmes, though I adored Jeremy Brett in the role. Cumberbatch brings much of the endearing qualities of Brett's Holmes.

The music for this show ( and I wish I could recall the name of the composer, dang it! ) is absolutely perfect, an upbeat, modern, toe-tapping theme that, oddly enough, reminds me of belly-dancing music.

"Being Human" is about a young woman's ghost who ends up living with a hot, young vampire full of angst and a young man who's a werewolf and still coming to terms with what he's become. It's a riot, but can also be chilling. All three principles are engaging, sympathetic characters. And by the by, Aidan Turner, who plays the vampire, Mitchell, will also play a role as one of the dwarves in The Hobbit movies!

I cannot wait to see The Hobbit, Parts 1&2. According to PJ, it's going to be a couple years at least! Ah, well---in the meantime I think you'll definitely find it worthwhile to check out "Sherlock" and "Being Human".

God bless the BBC!

MRTighe

A Weird Sense of Humor?

Currently on Twitter there's a game of sorts, started I believe by the SF writer Margaret Atwood. The idea is to drop one letter in the title of a book and make a funny new title, ie:
     Horton Hears A Ho
     The Handmaid's Ale
     Huckleberry Inn---the story of a Mississippi B and B
     Moby Ick---the messy business of whaling

This is what I came up with using titles from my own library:
     The Lord of the Ings---the history of a famous Chinese overlord
     Fellowship of the Rig---male bonding on deep-sea oil rigs
     The Two Owers--trials and tribulations of a couple deep in debt
     Return of the Kin---relatives who just won't leave
     Red Moo, Black Mountain---the adventures of a daring cow in an alternate reality
And one non-book: A Christmas Tory--- a man who sides with the redcoats seasonally

I know, I know, I have a weird sense of humor. To prove it, here's one of my all-time favorite jokes:
     Two British nuns were traveling by car one night. As they drove down a dark, deserted English lane, a hungry vampire jumped out into the road, blocking their car.
     The Sister who was driving told her companion, "Quick, Sister! Roll down the window and show 'im your cross!"
     So the other Sister rolled down the window, stuck her head out, and yelled at the vampire, " Get outa the road, you stupid git!"

That one is thanks to the BBC's Vicar of Dibley, a show I occasionally catch. ( We do love our BBC! )

Can't help it that I have a sense of humor that tends to make other people groan!

MRTighe