Robert

Matty was at Mardi Gras in Sydney this weekend. My friend got a photo with her as well (we where both marching and she was as well I guess) she was wandering all through the marshalling area. She actually was pretty chill :)

It is funny, I enjoyed 'Islands' but I was expecting more from it as well, namely around Minerva's reveal since we've waited 8 seasons for (prime universes') Finn's mother to be revealed. I guess the best way to explain it, after the punch-in-the-feefees heartbreaking backstory that was Simon/IceKing, the bittersweetness of Marcy & BMO backstories, the excitement of getting answers about Betty, and heck even the truly sad revelation that Marvin was a jerk with few redeemable features, I just expected a more emotional rollercoaster when the finally introduced us to Minerva. I guess you really are going to have trouble topping such episodes as "I'll Remember You", "Simon & Marcy" and "Betty". I'm not saying it wasn't bittersweet (it was), it was just... I dunno... can we say the bar was so high after all the other backstories, it was always going to be so difficult to top? I am surprised they didn't use the actress that voiced her in Farmworld, Ming-Na Wen (Mulan!!!) again. Saying that the new actress' Irish accent was adorable and charming!

I cannot be the only one that read the heading as Tuberculosis vs. Television? Anyway - in the comics I was TeamVeronica. I just felt her character was more exciting. (And being that little gay kid from rural Australia, I kinda wanted exciting, not next-door). In the series so far... neither... though I rather them pair together off then be with Archie only because I think the two actresses have amazing chemistry with each other.

Don't forget Saul also died (granted he was as tertiary as Darla was at that point) when the actor Michael Fox passed away (a bit of trivia - this actor was the reason Michael J. Fox had to use the J. in his stage name) though I remember the funeral they had for him on the show and the tears where real :( I want to say Sly died in a fire when the Bikini Bar burnt down. Granted this is a fuzzy 20 something year old memory.

I didn't know that about Victor (though looking back, I can see it). I do wonder, if Luke's brattiness is partly due to Margie's over mollycoddled him throughout his life due to his disability? Also I think the season, if the producers allowed more socializing between contestants in the down time, if it would've lessened any the issues that naturally occur when a young man naïve to the world and his overprotective mother a thrown into a chaotic situation that is the Race?

Giddy was the right word! I also think a lot of us gave TAR9 a BIG pass at the time because we kept chanting the mantra of 'At least it isn't TAR8'. Back onto TAR8 and the poor design leading to the impossibility of team placements changing - I think the Aiello family had one of the most unfair eliminations ever as it was basically determined by who grabbed a piece of paper fastest (the ticket for the space camp ride) as the ride was so long it was never going to allow for a change in order after that (and Space Camp just isn't big enough to cause a Debbie & Bianca or Victor & Tammy level getting totally lost in the wrong direction scenario). The only out I'll give them is I think Hurricane Dennis was bearing down at that point causing some last minute changes for the Alabama leg. Still no excuse for one of the poorest designed legs ever.

This was the last season I truly managed to watch in real time and get heavily invested in (darn you real life!). I loved it initially because all the married & dating couple went out first. It was just delicious and the colourfulness of the remaining cast was great. Sadly the route was hella boring and the biggest downside. Considering the production company went into it knowing it was going to be a cold race due to being filmed late in a Northern Hemisphere Autumn they should've thrown in a few more sunbelt or southern hemisphere destinations. There was a general white/beige feel to the entire season because of that. I recall hearing the entire show, cast and crew, where stuck on the Siberian train for a day or so because of a blizzard (not shown though on the tele) forcing the training to stop. I recall reading years ago that the main reasons the Margie vs Kisha/Jen occurred was because the producers didn't allow the team to interaction between rounds and in downtime like the did in previous seasons. Thus people not getting to know each other - and in turn allowing for those festering feelings to explode out like they did. As much as I still like the seasons, that entire bit was just plan uncomfortable and not something I should expect on a show about racing and travel. It was also one of the most gay friendly seasons having 4 GLBT contestants that I'm aware of (Mel, Mike, Luke & Kisha)

I don't disagree TAR8 was bad in many... many ways, but I've always thought the casting was spot on and fantastic. I will go out on a limb to say all final 6 teams were genius. We had the downright loveability of the Gaghans, the OTT Paolos (Marion Paolo 4eva) and the best villains ever in the Weavers. I still wish Bill & Tammy or Marion & DJ ended up on an AllStars/Redemption season. Marion was that fan voice coming through saying 'Why you doing that? Don't be stupid!' I will defend the teams to my dying breathe. However I cannot defend much else. :/ The problem definitely was the US-centricism of the route. It isn't that nobody wanted to see a giant chair in Alabama...or New Jersey... (though I doubt either are high on anybodies lists). The major problem was that there was so much driving and nothing but driving. Especially in the Arizona-Utah-Wyoming-Montana legs. Doing nothing but driving as dull, and well frankly, we've all had to put up with those deathly boring road-trips at some point in our childhood, who wants to relive them on the tele? Plus the simplicity of the challenges at that point plus the driving - the positioning of the teams didn't change and never where. And since you knew they where not going to change (No was just no way of editing around that) thus making the dullness even worse. One unintentional highlight was during the Utah leg due to having previously lived there, I was able to yell at the TV that the teams where not taking the most optimal route or mispronouncing place names (its Hee-ber City, not Heb-er City if you're curious - yes I remember that 11 years after the fact!) However, the 2.5 episodes in outside of the US in Central America where genuinely up there as some of the best legs ever, over any season. Heck even the legs in Montréal & Toronto where okayish as well. Plus the Panama City leg also gave us our first Evil!Fern as well! (The lady who said she'd help the Godlewski Sisters only to use their bus as a means to get to work!) Pity the Belize leg was cancelled due to Hurricane Emily (it was unfortunately filmed during the shocking 2005 Hurricane Season) or we would've got another leg in the region at least. I've always wondered where there always going to be so many car racing themed challenges prior to the casting of the Weavers, or was this planned after? I mean that is seriously dark if it was planned after (I mean while nobody actually liked the Weavers but to have 3 challenges that related to a sport that killed their father/husband is still seriously morbid). Saying that... I can watch it as a kinda failed social/anthropological experiment (it is surprisingly less painful that way). And I can definitely watching the 2.5 Central American legs without issue. It is just frustrating seeing some of the best casting deal with the worst and most watered down route ever. And so much freaking driving... and nothing but driving. On the other hand... seeing the previews of Season 9 at the end... and the fact it was back to normal... goodness me that was just an awesome feeling!

Why would it be logical? Just because he is gay? That kinda is what I find (really) offensive sorry.

Will this season appears to be the biggest bunch of Z-Listers ever. Does anybody know what happened to the rumoured All-Stars season? Even I, who knows way to much pop-culture for my own good is struggling to know who half these folks are. You know it is pretty bad when Channel 7 couldn't even dredge up one Home & Away starlet. The only people I'd remotely call a star are Matthew Mitcham and Larry Emdur. Okay maybe I'll sort of count Ash Pollard's hair as well... ;) héhéhé. Hmmm... talking about hair Stefan would've been a good contestant (And even though he hasn't been relevant for 25 odd years, he still would be more famous then half these folk!) I think the SMH article title 'Who are these People?' says it all! I am slightly offended at these various people (on the web) making stupid comments about Matthew Mitcham dancing with a same-sex partner. I don't recall any of the other GLBT contestants (Ian Roberts, Tim Campbell, Molly Meldrum & David Graham) being subject to such tripe. If we where to do a same sex partnership in the future (which would be actually pretty intersting) - it shouldn't be based on the contestants sexuality! As somebody that use to love this show and once upon a time, would rearrange things around it so I wouldn't miss an episode... It I just feel really tired and needs either a change-up in concept or a long hiatus.

^I think Osgood ending up as a companion would face the same problems Liz Shaw did. To smart and to invested in UNIT. I wanted to like it, I really did, I even tried extra hard cherry on top, but once again Moffat lived up to his inability to writing endings (heck him still bitter about 'Press Gang' two decades later!) So to avoid getting miffed again, I'll just focus on the good stuff :) Michelle Gomez is/was excellent. I do hope we get to see her again. Jenna's acting was spot on, and I loved her Doctor fake out scene (so four wives...) I'm thinking Human!Osgood wears Four's scarf and the Zygon!Osgood chose to take on Eleven's Bow tie to distinguish herself. The Brig scene... Beautiful

Also IIRC, back in the 60s the first country to buy any BBC Serial was the ABC in Australia, and as a part of the agreement back then with the BBC, in purchasing those serials, it would take on the vast bulk of the overall cost of international distribution rights to televise it, thus making the costs for other, not so richer places (New Zealand, Singapore, Nigeria et cetera) more affordable. When the ABC in Australia past on a serial (like it did with the Daleks Master Plan) it just wasn't financial for other places to take the cost on themselves as they often didn't have the budget that Australia had. I wish 'Marco Polo' could be found as all the sets do appear vary luscious and beautiful. It is one of my favourite reconstructed episodes mainly because of the sheer amount of photos taken during that serial, it is the one reconstruction that feels the 'most complete' because of that (plus a lot of the reconstruction being very lovingly colour tinted).

The country was Cyprus :)

When David Graham scored a 4/40 (the only other person on the Australian version to score the minimum) he was doing the Paso Doble (is it just me, but Paso Doble is the one name I am CONSTANTLY having to recheck to see if I spelt it right!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOyk7NEWHDw here it is for those that are interested. The thing is it was bad, no question about it, but 4/40 worthy? Possibly.. as David really didn't actually dance (at all) as more then flex his muscles and pose for the entire routine while Eliza danced around him - and while I can see why they where scored that, the one benefit I've always thought with the Paso Doble, compared to other dances at any rate (correct me if I am wrong), is the man can get away with so much more (i.e. being a weaker dancer) because the man being the 'bull fighter' can be the strong and stoic and not doing a whole heap because it 'fits the story' (this is not to say this is a great excuse and they score good, it just is not 4/40), I have seen a few weaker male celebrities over the many seasons of DwtS get a free pass so to speak with the Paso Doble and have a 'mediocre' week instead of a 'bad' week! But that is getting a bit of topic, so back on it... Compared to David who really didn't do any dancing at all, Mark Holden did actually do a few moves (as awkward as they where and often getting overwhelmed by the clown suit).

Love this show, though it did feel it got kind of wonky at the latter stages of Season 3. For reasons I won't reveal due to spoilers. The first two seasons are definitely the best. I know it is bad and maybe it is because I am Australian, there are several moments in the show where the characters are in the middle of serious discussion I howl in laughter at some New Zealand accent cliché that come out of their mouths. Granted it is something Americans wouldn't get as it is really an Aus/NZ thing. Jared Turner (Ty/Höðr) was the only one that never did that, but having grown up in Sydney I guess he developed more of an Australian accent anyway then a Kiwi one. The first season was readily available on DVD in Australia but annoyingly I couldn't find the second or third. Luckily I was in Auckland earlier this year and was able to buy both at the same time.

If you somehow can bypass the zonal thing, the official Channel 7 website does have the full episodes on its catch-up page. You'll just be subjected to ads like it was on the tele and it is buggy as all heck. What is the lowest the US version has scored? I just cannot imagine Carrie Ann or Bruno being that mean! LOL! Carrie Ann plays the Paula-nice card way to much sometimes. Kym was a little bit of the mean judge herself tonight! It was pretty cool! Granted it was Kym-mean which isn't that bad and she was still a sweatheart. I am not sure of there is enough traffic here to justify a DWTS In the Media fora, but I found this article interesting: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/mark-holden-a-clowning-disaster-on-dancing-with-the-stars-20141015-1165cl.html I'm surprised he is a barrister these days!

Interestingly I mentioned that both Ashley Hart and April Rose Pingelly where the two complete unknowns in the comp and they where the first two out. I am mildly surprised they had an elimination tonight since we had an injury elimination. Lynne McGranger is now my favourite! Mark Holden's clown costume... yeah... just not right.

I wasn't too shocked with Anya dying as I recall Emma Caulfield was so vocal about wanting to leave the show. Remember up into the middle of season 7, the chance of a season 8 was still decent, with most core stakeholders being interested. It was only when SMG told the world (and Joss) via Entertainment Weekly did the idea get truly staked. Anyway, with Emma Caulfied leaving, I figured the writers would use it as an opportunity to kill a Scooby. Which they did. I was only mildly suprised they didn't do it a couple of episodes prior (I'm thinking the one where Anya and Andrew had the wheelchair fight after going on s mission to the abandoned hospital). The biggest thing that annoyed me was killing Amanda, the one potential I liked! Why couldn't they get rid of Rona or Kennedy instead? Those girls were annoying. The rest of the episode to me was just a big 'meh' (similar to a few other peoples). It just wasn't the same show I was deeply into only a few years prior and I just struggled to connect to the characters and give a damn.

Oh my gosh! They killed Francie! The B****ards! ;-) Actually as callous as it sounds (as I liked the character), it made sense as the show had turned into a workplace drama and there was simply no room for a Rhoda anymore. I'm a little suprised how fast the SD-6 storyline has wrapped up however, but maybe that is a by-product of the binge watching. Still here one episode, gone the next... My housemate has said the show has peaked at this point, buy I'm willing to at least keep watching it into the third season just to see if my Rimbaldi theories are correct.

I've dug out a few reviews on the WayBack machine (and their good) but sadly the WayBack website can be hit and miss, especially with the later pages of reviews. I'd love to also read the various threads for the episodes as well and people's opinions at the time.

I am watching the show for the first time, having just started bingeing on my housemates DVDs. I am currently a few episodes into the second season. I am trying to remain relatively spoiler free (for as much as you can with a show that is 13 years old). The funny thing is a year or so back I randomly watched the fifth season premiere (in one of those too lazy to change the channel moments) only to realise now that it contains some pretty heavyrific character spoilers! LOL, I guess you cannot win them all! I gotta confess I am so far fairly ambivalent. Don't get me wrong, it isn't like I hate it. I just am unsure about it if that makes sense. I realise one of my problems is that I am looking at the show through 2014 eyes instead of 2001 eyes and by that I mean in a way I am comparing it to the era of 'Homeland' and 'Covert Affairs' when I shouldn't be. I guess I should be looking more say "Millennium" or "Relic Hunter" or heck, even "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". However, reading and talking with people about it, and finding people who share my views (especially with all the WTF? moments I have seen so far) will make the watching that much more fun!

I have just started to watch this show after borrowing my housemates DVDS. *waves* I am now hungry for snarking. Can anybody recommend some good snarky reviews of it? I tried looking at TWoP, but unfortunately doesn't like to come up even in an archived format anymore :( I know finding recent discussion on a 13 year old series is going to be slim chances, but I live in hope! (I'm current a few episodes into season 2 for those interested)

One of my (granted, never to happen) wishes for NuWho is to have Peri come walking along one day, see the Doctor, slap him square across the face and walk off again. As much as she could be an annoying character (albeit one that grew on me) and she had such a shoddy and awful ending that just wasn't fair and more importantly the Doctor never bothered to try and find her. Like many people of my age, Baker was my Doctor and his and Davidsons eras where the ones I loved best and I use to think nothing could top it, However having watched a tonne of Classic Who lately, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I am digging the Pertwee Doctor and his era so much (which I hadn't seen much of previously). To the point it is now equal with Baker. I think it is funny that the BBC decided to make the Doctor Earth bound to save money, but in doing so, it made things looked 'less cheap' in the long run! Why? Mainly with the Beeb able to film episodes that where actually suppose to be set and located in 70s Britain instead of Space Ships, underground lairs, fantastic planets, ancient histories and distant futures, we were not subjected to as many wobbly sets made of balsawood and quarry after quarry after blooming quarry representing all manner of things in the universe (except quarries?). ;) Aesthetics aside, The Pertwee Doctor has some of the greatest companions ever and even more so, it has a depth of supporting characters that the rest of Classic Who never had (though RTD did achieve it somewhat in NuWho). Characters we learnt to care about and root for. People like the Brigadier, Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton wouldn't of been more then a one shot guest role in any other era, but in the Pertwee's time they helped create a fleshed out world for the Doctor to live and play around in. And this isn't going into the actual companions - Liz was smart and snarky, Jo was spunky and sweet and Sarah Jane was all smart, snarky and spunky (not really sweet however)! Not to mention Delgado's Master, while occasionally chewing the scenery worthy of a Soap Opera, had great dynamics with Pertwee and both played well off each other. Also as an actual recurring villain, even if he did occasionally got foiled in somewhat Scooby Doo fashions, also helped with that fully fleshed out world. The only issue I have ever had with the Pertwee era is the quality of some episodes isn't that great (I recall 'The Claws of Axos' almost unwatchable in parts) though to be fair that is no fault of the team that created it and knowing what we know now about the junking of episodes at the time, I guess we should be thankful all Pertwee era episode exist in some format. I loved Baker and Davidson and all their companions, but there was something just really cohesive and neat about the Pertwee era.

Yes you are correct, I have never seen 'Strictly Come Dancing' but now I have to YouTube some of Craig's critiques. I have always found it interesting that meanness and nastiness in reality television judging in the UK has always been looked on more favourably where as in Australia it will go down like a lead balloon no matter how much the contestant deserves it or will learn from it.

Half-sister I believe. So I believe there is another Forrester kidlet running out there as Maggie had two children, Jessica and another unseen, unnamed one (which isn't Ivy). It is funny to think there use to be a rather large independent teen-set pre-Amber but once she came she basically dominated everything and sucked up all the teen/youngin' story lines until the SORASing of Thomas/Steffy/Phoebe a few years later.