I don't particularly mind because, as my daughters frequently observe, I am a bit of a girl myself. However last night I felt I'd wandered into an area of the TV schedules that was designed exclusively with the female in mind.For a start there was Andrew Davies's adaptation of "Sense and Sensibility", which began with a whispery unlacing scene which could have wandered in from "Emmanuelle Goes Regency". (It certainly didn't wander in from Jane Austen.) What followed, a succession of indecently handsome men throwing themselves at demure-looking maids on wind-swept cliff tops, had obviously been honed in focus groups to which no man had been admitted.
This was pursued by "Jam and Jerusalem" which seems to feature every actress over the age of forty who has ever worked for the BBC and was moist with self-congratulation. Then there was a trail for the upcoming "Lark Rise To Candleford", which seems to use the same actresses who were recently seen in "Cranford" and "Jam.." in different costumes.
Then there's "Mistresses", "a sexy, sophisticated and bold take on the lives of four women" and "Honest", in which a clutch of brassy blondes attempt to make honest men of the criminals in their life.
I once read a study of TV viewing habits which came to the conclusion that the remote control always resided on the right hand chair arm of the senior male in the family (which, as I know, does not always mean the oldest one). If this schedule is anything to go by, all this must have changed.
Ah, but you boys have Nuts TV and Top Gear, don't you? But seriously; I can't abide stuff that's so self-consciously aimed at the lovely laydees in the audience. I'd rather watch...well, Top Gear, really, where a bunch of middle-aged men prat about, as opposed to all that costumed breast-beating. I get enough of that at home.
ReplyDeleteThe remote is well and truly on the right hand chair arm of my lady wife in our household - but in this case that means Top Gear (especially with that new freeview box which Santa brought, with amazing wall-to-wall Top Gear channel Dave).
ReplyDeleteI don't mind, gives me a chance to get a spot of Man Time with my luvverly new usb turntable.
Rules for a contented domestic life:
ReplyDeleteFor her - Let him have complete control over one small thing. It can be the TV remote or planning the family holiday, but it will allow to think that he's in charge.
For him - Whatever it is that you're supposed to have done (and it's usually best not to ask), you're sorry.
I followed your pre-Xmas tip David, and asked Santa Amazon for The Wire, and received the first three series.
ReplyDeleteWatched the last 4 episodes of Series 1 last night. Absolutely excellent.
Thank You.
I don't understand why programme makers & film studios feel compelled to remake Sense & Sensibility every hour on the hour when there are so many other Mills & Boon titles to choose from.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed Sense & Sensibility, with a couple of caveats (the unlacing scene you mention, and the fact that the girl who plays Marian has what can only be described as "a modern face"). I am a man.
ReplyDelete