If Charlie Brookers newswipe gets any better I might just have to bloody well buy a TV license (and a TV as well). For years I’ve shunned television due to it’s lack of quality content and had to suffer sitting in the houses of people I don’t really like all that much just to catch QI or yet another one of Derren Browns TV appearances.
During the show he covers all the crappy aspects of British news reporting from the normal old school BBC news to the down right glitzy over blown crap-show on Sky, before heading over to the US and tearing Bill-fking-O’Reilly a new one. At this point I wet my knickers and wept with joy.
The last 15 minutes of the show is one long Adam-Curtis-porn-fest which had me bouncing about in the chair like a horny schoolgirl I almost cried and shouted down the empty hallways “there is intelligent life out there!”.
But no one was in and so I felt alone and have turned to you our faithful readers to express myself and say “WATCH THIS!!!” as it may just be the last breath of common sense out there before we’re all swallowed up by the giant 7 headed dragon of stupidity, shallowness and spin.
Missed the first one but really enjoyed the 2nd. The man’s amazing. Particularly liked his expose of the Press’ rank hypocrisy over their Jade u-turns. Some journos are simply execrable. Accidentally deleted tonight’s but look forwatd to tomorrow’s repeat.
I’ve watched it too tonight and I must say it was really funny and smart. I remember seeing an episode a while ago where Andy Nyman was commenting on a creepy Christian TV program from the US with singing hand puppets if I remember correctly – any chance you know how to find that video on youtube or somewhere else? It would probably make a great post on this blog too..
only available in the uk not overseas it says…i wanna see tooh
must be bad karma
@ RM Im sure someone will post a torrent or rapidshare link and I’ll get in trouble for not removing it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QN_hd9LeSs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gIH6Em-go0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4C1jxqDVYg&feature=related
Is it this episode? That is conveniently on YouTube, albeit split into 3 sections?
@RM
Andy Nyman’s piece is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LNJn0JI0oE
And someone has uploaded all of the series of Screenwipe / Newswipe: http://www.youtube.com/user/xthemusic
Charlie Brooker’s linked to it himself from his myspace so he must be happy with it all being up there!
There are two TV shows I have time for at the moment… This is one of them, the other is Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle. Both superb and worth a visit to auntie’s iplayer for!
@ davide:
That was one of my favorite moments screenwipe! It was called the junior christian science bible lesson …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LNJn0JI0oE
Enjoy!
Davide – I posted that link a while back, but just for you… here are those creepy puppets again with the delectable Andy Nyman!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulGXKULw_pk
Or if you want to see where it all started, here’s Charlie explaining his unique presentation style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSa3W06gQZk
I can’t get enough of Mr Brooker right now, the 6 days between episodes I feel like I’m going cold turkey!
I did watch it … I agree with your assertions … but I still think you need some kind of counselling for the over-sexualised metaphors.
Although I will say he missed the trick on Beck and the hypocrisy on the 9.12 campaign … Colbert picked it up and scored bigger points.
http://www.propeller.com/story/2009/04/03/colbert-report-project-1031-the-miseducation-of-glenn-beck/
Nevertheless, twas good.
Jon Stewart did a great piece on The Daily Show about how Fox News have gone totally INSANE only ten weeks into Obama’s Presidency. Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Shaun Hannity – they are all pathetic hypocrites and it’s both hilarious and terrifying to see what they spout to millions upon millions of Americans day in day out.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/catch-up#2871732
@Phillis …Thank you thank uu, i feel spoiled rotten now
@SGC and Lucy …tata 2!
SGC- That would be last week’s episode… this week’s may not have got on youtube yet.
Also, for further reading check out this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Screen-Burn-Charlie-Brooker/dp/0571227554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239273071&sr=8-1
Phillis already recommended Dawn of the Dumb, and this is the previous book… same format, equally funny.
Also you can find TV go home, his caustic spoof of the Radio Times TV listings on this site (parental advisory: naughty words!)
http://www.tvgohome.com/
@ SSJ – agreed – but remember the UK audience wont know who these guys are mostly – Stern rips on B O’R regularly for that rant from years ago and Stewart is the king of this.
I rarely bump in to people over here who have even heard of O’Reilly – yet every time he’s mentioned it’s followed by the word “douchebaaaaag!”. So I think Brookers approach was just enough – I was sitting watching this next to a woman (for the second time) who was open-mouth shocked at Beck whilst thinking “she doesn’t know the half of it…!”.
Okay. I found the wrong episode, but it’s still good.
When I think Bill O’Reilly, I think of doing it live.
For more on Bill O’Reilly’s interview style of not letting the other guy speak and displaying vast amounts of ignorance in the process here’s his head to head with Richard Dawkins…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UtwMczGKX8
Phillis you rhapsodise poetic and rightfully so
It’s not being aired here .. so it is not that smart and funny ….
It’s just an experiment with brittish humans .. we were not allowed to tell you over there on the isle …. dont watch too much … I mean .. horny and news .. does that not ring a bell Phillis …??
Thanks for posting the Andy Nyman bit! It was one of the strangest things I’ve seen on TV ever, finally I can share it with others and pass the curse..
That puppet show was pretty messed up. If you want super creepy religious kids’ shows, you want this segment of the Adventures of Mark Twain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak3z2Pm7Iwg
Your children will never sleep again.