SKID MARKING TIME

I'm pathetically off pace here, but I have to agree with Steve, Paul and Wog, and pretty much anyone else out here in the real world.

I caught about half an hour of Marking Time. Three of us were watching and each of us almost simultaneously vented; "this is awful". Then we switched to Miwyonaire. Speaks volumes, that. That young guy was stiff. Eddie gave him no chance. Fishy?

There's no need to review Marking Time here except to say I knew it must be bad for two reasons. One, The Age talked it up. That's as rancid a set of entrails as was ever extracted from a Roman pullet. And two, Doyle's got form. Changi turned golden source material into an over-modulated snore-fest. I guess it's his style that bites me hardest, but his content's pretty foul too.

No harsh treatment from the ABC/Fairfaxis of Evil, though. How on earth could the pundits there ever resist the idea of roguish, rough hewn Doyle going against character and penning a paean to their prejudices?

And while on Doyle. The Carnival and The Rugby Show - whatever it's called - are struggling. Sunday night's show was about the only good one. That in spite of George Negus smarming that we'd all come to love Muslims if only we'd just listen to wise Unca George. Did I mention he had a book to sell.

This latest spring twincarnation of Roy & HG's Dream and Ice Dream is definitely a case of "twice too often to the well".

Comments

[Carrot]

Point of interest; was going to leave a comment at Wogblog but... couldn't quite work out how to do it... (am I stoopid? probably). Anyway. Bojana Navacovic (the girl who plays the Afghan) ISN'T Serb, she's Australian of Yugoslavian descent. I know this because I went to school with her. Along with numerous other semi-famous actors and singers, nearly all of whom have been on Home And Away or Neighbours, those great yardsticks of acting talent.... Anyway, when I knew her seven years ago she was quite a nice girl for what it's worth.

[wen]

How come roman pullets have rancid entrails, Tony. Is this some weird breeding thing? Sounds horrible, anyway. And very effective. Will try to use it in casual conversation:)

[Tony.T]

The Wog doesn't have comments, Carrot.

I know it's a mortal sin to confuse Croatians with Serbians, and Croatia broke away from Yugoslavia, but aren't Serbians and Yugoslavians pretty much the same thing? With Serbs happy enough to be called Yugoslavian. Just not Croatian.

How was school in Summer Bay, Carrot? I remember you making some comment once about "going off to rehearsal". Am I to take it you are a thesp? For some reason I thought orchestras and Locatelli's Opus No.5 for Violins.

Or a TV chef. Heaps more openings there.

[Tony.T]

I was referring to sacrificial chooks, Wen. The Romans used to sacrifice animals to their gods and then read the entrails to discern the omens for coming seasons.

If the entrails were fresh then the fields would be full of wheat, olives, cheese filled goats and other Latin snacky treats. If the poor wee beastie was sick it would show up in the gizzards and the crops would fail and the rag-tag mob would get hungry.

All that to say a good review in The Age is a bad omen for Marking Time. IMO.

[Carrot]

Yep, you're probably right Tone. I remember her saying that her mother is Yugoslavian; didn't actually make a connection the former Yugoslavia and the Serbs.

I'm not a thesp as such although I have dabbled (do you remember the Foxtel ad when a bunch of proles morphed one by one into actors? My bit was "...today he's an everyday clerk, but tonight..." and then I turned into Russell Crowe in Gladiator). I'm a singer; a classical/operatic tenor, which really means that I'm a full-time office worker with aspirations. Kind've like the actor/waiter thing. BUT if you're in North London on the 22nd of November you'll be able to hear me giving the tenor solo in The Messiah....

[Tony.T]

I have a vague recollection, Carrot, but sadly not in detail. I wonder if I can hunt it down.

And sadly I won't be in London on the 22nd. Best of luck on the night. Hopefully a successful step along the road to Covent Garden.