Life Is Better with Pineapple

Let’s turn the block back to April… Hmm. Hawaiian spaghetti, made with cream cheese, ham, and pineapple. I thought that sounded fab! The reaction online, however, was less than enthusiastic. Well, I’ve made it. It’s fine. It could be better. But it’s fine. It is not “a hate crime.” If I make it again, I’dContinue reading “Life Is Better with Pineapple”

Steven Moffat, Leaving Doctor Who in 2017

Steven Moffat is leaving Doctor Who. A Doctor Who Christmas Special, starring Peter Capaldi, will air in December 2016, followed by Moffat’s final series as producer, also starring Capaldi, in the spring of 2017. Then, Chris Chibnall, formerly of Law & Order UK, Torchwood, and Broadchurch, will take over for Steven Moffat for 2018. MyContinue reading “Steven Moffat, Leaving Doctor Who in 2017”

The Once and Future King: The Candle in the Wind

At long last, we return to the series on Brian Sibley’s adaptation of T.H. White’s The Once and Future King for BBC Radio 4. Deadlines, Christmas, and deadlines compressed by Christmas conspired against me to write this on a timelier basis, and by this point I suspect that most listener’s attentions have turned to BBCContinue reading “The Once and Future King: The Candle in the Wind”

The Once and Future King: The Lengthening Shadow

Enter Mordred. For the first four hours of Brian Sibley’s adaptation of T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, Mordred, Arthur’s bastard and incestuous son, has loomed over the proceedings as, on the night before the battle of Camlann, Arthur reminisces with Merlyn about his reign. He has always been an off-stage presence while ArthurContinue reading “The Once and Future King: The Lengthening Shadow”

The Once and Future King: The Ill-Made Knight

ARTHUR So… you’re saying you can’t escape what’s going to happen to you when you meet Nimue. MERLYN There’s a thing about time and space which the philosopher Einstein is going to find out about. Some people call it destiny. ARTHUR Then if everything that happens is preordained, what is the point in trying toContinue reading “The Once and Future King: The Ill-Made Knight”

The Once and Future King: The Queen of Air and Darkness

While listening to “The Queen of Air and Darkness,” the third episode of Brian Sibley’s adaptation of T.H. White’s The Once and Future King for BBC Radio 4 for a third time, something I had overlooked or had passed over me came to the fore and I had an unexpected insight. Am I an atheistContinue reading “The Once and Future King: The Queen of Air and Darkness”

The Once and Future King: The Coming of Merlyn

Last weekend, BBC Radio 4 began a six-part adaptation of T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, his famous Arthurian novel quartet. A few years ago, I wrote about Disney’s adaptation of The Sword in the Stone, a film I loved as a child and wasn’t quite as enchanted by as an adult. The newContinue reading “The Once and Future King: The Coming of Merlyn”

The Uselessness of Fan Rage Over Doctor Who’s “Time of the Doctor”

A few days ago, the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who ended in “The Time of the Doctor.” Some people loved it. Some people hated it. And some people responded by calling for producer Steven Moffat’s head on a pike on Traitor’s Row. I had no expectations for it, but that’s because I ceased expectingContinue reading “The Uselessness of Fan Rage Over Doctor Who’s “Time of the Doctor””

The Philosopher’s Arms

A few days ago I discovered a new BBC podcast, The Philosopher’s Arms. “Podcast” is, I should say, a misnomer. The Philosopher’s Arms is a BBC Radio 4 series, just finished with its third run of episodes, that the BBC has made available as a podcast download. And just what is The Philosopher’s Arms? ThisContinue reading “The Philosopher’s Arms”

On Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut)

The past few days I’ve been living in a Monty Python world. Edward R. Hamilton, a remaindered books seller. They also sell DVDs, and in a recent catalog I noticed they were offering Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut), a six-hour documentary that was shown on IFC several years ago that I’d neverContinue reading “On Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut)”