Telly Addict

I hardly watch TV but found myself slumped in front of it today and got some good value out of it. The first show I watched was called Total Wipeout, where members of the public try to complete a treacherous but heavily-padded assault course for a cash prize. I laughed all the way through it. They've managed to design the obstacles in such a way that the wipeouts have high comic value. You can see the balls on the left, no-one managed those and misjudgements led to all kind of hilarious face plants and other tumbles. I have to give a special mention to Geo Gemma, the cutest female contestant, who showed a heroic commitment to the game. All-in-all a funny show, good use of music and presented well by Hammond and Amanda, who compliment the uncoordinated antics on the assualt course with a string of terrible jokes and awkward interviews. L.M.A.O.

The next surprise was the film Watchmen, shown later that evening. I listen to Kermode's reviews on Radio 5 and he has a very low opinion of the director ('un film de Zack Snyder') and didn't like Watchmen either. But I enjoyed it. Maybe it was the low expectations I had going in, but I thought it was stylish and good fun. I really liked Rorschach's mask and Dr Manhatten was well depicted too, just to pick out a few little things.

Kermode isn't always on my wavelength when it comes to films. He can be deliberately contrary at times, at least in my opinion. Just look at the great review he gave the awful Star Trek. He doesn't really get comedies and holds too many films to the kind of intellectual standard that most of us couldn't care less about. Still, he's entertaining in his own way.