Public Information Films

 

 

Some of the most traumatizing television in Britain came from Public Information Films. Throughout the 1960s, the films were usually gentle reminders to look both ways when crossing the road or take care when playing near water and encouraging children to learn to swim should they ever fall in. By the early 1970s, however, these films began to get more horrific in their themes and thus managed to remain in the minds of British children. Dominic talks Erica through some of the ones he watched in school and that remain with him to this day.

Have you ever seen a British Public Information Film?

Harry Potter Show on Max

 

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Harry Potter is coming to TV in the next couple of years. HBO's streaming service 'Max' is dedicated to making a series out of JK Rowling's books so they can deep dive into it. In this episode, we're discussing what they could be putting into this show and how much of the early books will be adapted, considering the first two movies were condensed to show the magic.

What do you hope for in this new Harry Potter show?

Ted Lasso Finale

 

Image: AppleTV+ (Public Domain)

Last week was the series finale of Ted Lasso, the mega hit AppleTV+ comedy drama starring Jason Sudeikis as the titular character. For 3 seasons, Lasso coached English football team Richmond AFC to success and almost won the whole league. Listen to our latest episode to find out our thoughts on the series finale.

What did you think of the Ted Lasso finale?

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die

 

Following on from our previous episode about The Last Kingdom, this weekend we watched the film 'The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die' on Netflix. Listen to the episode to hear our thoughts on how we think the series was wrapped up. Uhtred, Son of Uhtred, has had his last adventure for the unification of England, which was King Alfred's dream.

Are you a fan of the Last Kingdom?

Popular US Sitcoms An American Never Got Into - Episode 349

 

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America's biggest export has always been its pop culture. Well, apart from refined petroleum (Gasoline) but that's another story! No, American TV is shown all around the world and has had an influence on British culture. But has Erica ever gotten into any of these popular shows? Well, have a listen to this new episode to find out which ones she never got into!

What is an American sitcom that you never got into?

Popular British Sitcoms A Brit Never Really Got Into - Episode 348

 

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There are many sitcoms that have been produced in Britain to critical and public acclaim, classic and modern. But which of them does a British person like me not really care for? Well, I narrowed it down to ten of them which I reveal in this new episode of the podcast! I wait to reveal the best, or should that be worst, till last on this list. Here is the 2016 Sport Relief clip we mentioned in today's podcast.

What is one sitcom you could never get into?

Vanderpump Rules/Scandoval - Episode 347

 

Image: CNN (CC BY 4.0)

Earlier in March, news broke that superstars of reality television Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix were separating after 100 years together. The entire internet shut down over this news. Governments, financial institutions, NFT shillers and gamers who were just about to win but the cloud save didn't kick in were left without a means to cure their boredom. People kept in touch via carrying pigeon during this short time and when they found out that the reason for the split was Tom Sandoval carrying on an affair with not-so-superstar of reality television Rachel Leviss, known to herself as Raquel, the entire galaxy was on the brink of all out war with everyone on Team Ariana. In this episode, we're not talking about it. Not at all.

Are you a fan of Vanderpump Rules?

'You' on Netflix - Episode 343

 

Image: Netflix (CC BY SA 4.0)

Season four of the hit Netflix dramedy 'You' premiered recently. If you're not familiar, the show centers on Joe Goldberg, an obsessive psychopath who keeps falling for the wrong women. Season four manages to make things a little more interesting with Joe finding himself in England trying to catch another version of himself! A twist on the classic whodunit genre!

Have you been enjoying this season of You?

What We Are Watching These Days - Episode 300

 

Image: Public Domain.

Hello everybody! We are back after a three month hiatus! Did you miss us? Well, we missed you! We're glad to be back everybody and in this new episode, we update you with what's been going on in our lives and, more importantly, what we've been watching!

What have your favourite shows of this year been?

The Beatles Get Back Documentary (Part 2) - Episode 296

 

(CC BY 4.0)

So here it is! Our final part of our conversation about the Peter Jackson 'Get Back' documentary starring the Beatles. We cannot stress enough how utterly fantastic this documentary is and how it has changed a whole way of thinking about this period of Beatles history. To the casual fan who enjoys their music, this documentary may be too deep of a dive for them, but to the absolute hardcore fan, this is manna from heaven!

What would you like to see next from the Beatles archives?

The Beatles Get Back Documentary (Part 1) - Episode 295

The Beatles rehearse during the first part of the Get Back Documentary. (CC BY 4.0)

We are back after a month long hiatus and we really appreciate all of you sticking with us while we were gone! Thank you! This new episode is about the recently released Get Back Documentary chronicling the Beatles in the month of January 1969, which has been an early Christmas present for us Beatles fans. Spanning 9 hours across 3 parts, Peter Jackson has made an honest and heartfelt film out of 60 hours of footage of the band, telling the story of how it actually happened.

Were you surprised by the Get Back Documentary?

Ted Lasso - Episode 283

 

Image: Screenrant.com (CC BY 4.0)

 

As the subject of this podcast episode said, "If the Internet has taught us anything, it's that sometimes it's easier to speak our minds anonymously."and that is the truth! Ted Lasso, AppleTV+ newest Emmy winner, is one of those shows that's a heartwarming folksy comedy about an American Football coach who finds himself coaching a London Premiership team and adapting to the British way of life as well as the sport.

Would you be interested in getting a streaming service?

William Shakespeare - Episode 274

Image: TNTdrama.com (CC BY 2.0)

 

Drama shows about William Shakespeare aren't too common, considering he is one of the foremost playwrights in the world, you'd imagine there'd be more out there. We recently discovered TNT's mini-series 'Will' from 2017 and, though it is a fictional account of Shakespeare's early years, we enjoyed it. In this podcast episode, we let you know our thoughts on it and if it is to be, or not to be.

What is your favourite Shakespeare production?

American TV A Brit Had Never Heard Of - Episode 260

 

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 With how much TV the US makes and exports, it's highly unlikely there isn't a part of the world that hasn't seen an episode of a show that's popular in the USA. Britain is no exception and in some cases, it's gotten more obscure shows from the American market too, that may not have done well in the USA but found more of an audience overseas. In this new episode, Dominic gives his rundown of shows he'd never seen before coming to the USA.

What show on this list have you never heard of?

British TV Shows That An American Hates - Episode 243

 

Image: IMDb.com (CC BY 2.0)

Erica has been vocal in the past about British TV she doesn't care for and in this podcast episode, we are finally going through a list of them! Upon recording this episode, we were worried there wasn't many she didn't outright care for but we managed to remember a few to make a big enough list! Some of which I (Dominic) think are just brilliant! But I am biased, after all...


What British TV do you not care for?

British Celebrities Unknown In The USA - Episode 240

 

Image: RadioTimes.com (CC-BY 2.0)

British celebrities. You might think, if you're an anglophile who watches British TV, that you know a lot of them but why aren't they a household name in the USA? Being a Brit in the USA, you expect people to know who William Roache, Philip Schofield, Gemma Collins, Joey Essex or Ant and Dec (above) are, but they don't. Never heard of them except for a scant few!

Who's your favourite British celebrity America has never heard of?

All Creatures Great and Small - Episode 234

 

Image: PBS (CC BY 2.0)

British television is littered with programs reflecting a simpler time. Gentle, non-offensive and beguiling and set in the Yorkshire Dales, All Creatures Great and Small is based on the books by James Herriot and was a very popular BBC series in the late 1970s. Recently, Channel 5 have re-made it with a new cast which includes Samuel West and Nicolas Ralph and today, we discuss it on our episode!


Have you seen All Creatures Great and Small?

Emily In Paris... But Set In London? - Episode 217

 

Public Domain

So, if you haven't been watching Emily in Paris on Amazon Prime, then you haven't been missing too much. It's from the people that brought you Sex and the City and lets be real here, it shows. The whole show relies heavily on stereotypes of the French that are pretty eye-rolling to anyone who has been to France or is actually French. So, this new podcast episode, we decided to think about what stereotypes would be employed if Emily moved to the UK? America has many British stereotypes which would no doubt be employed in a British version of the show.

What are some stereotypes that you would think would be employed of Emily were in London?

The Last Kingdom - Episode 198

 

Netflix/CC BY 2.0

For many of us, our favourite shows are our comfort zone and in these trying times, we look to them to escape in. One of our favourites at the moment is 'The Last Kingdom' starring Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred (Son of Uhtred) as the Saxon born-Dane raised warrior who walks a fine line between his birthright and culture and is used by Alfred the Great as a means to bring about his dream of a unified England under one King. In this episode, we discuss the books behind the series, written by Bernard Cornwell and eagerly await the show's 5th season.

What are some of your favourite shows at the moment?

Star Trek: Discovery - Episode 193

 

CBS (CC BY 4.0)

 

Fans of Star Trek, in particular, will have already seen the exciting season 3 opener of Discovery and are patiently awaiting the rest of the season. After a couple of seasons, DISCO is really starting to set phasers to kill with the setting of its third season.

Are you a Star Trek fan? Who are your favourite characters on Discovery?