FURTHER RUMINATIONS OF THE CAT SHADOW.
"Plenty of soccer on the box last week then," I said to the cat Shadow.
He remained curled up in the chair which he has discovered almost
hides him from the baby Ellis.
He ignored me.
"First it was Arsene Wenger's team," I persisted. "Good game that was."
"FA Cup, wasn't it?" he said suddenly.
I thought: gotcha!
"Think it was, yes," I murmured innocently.
"Yeah," he said, "The boot-kicking Scot's Manchester United played
in the evening. They drew with Steve Coppell's Reading."
I wondered again at his ability to dismiss the names of the football
club managers he does not like and instantly recall those he does.
"Sir Alex seemed quite cordial when they shook hands at the end of
the game," I ventured.
He grunted and gave me his stop being such a creep look.
"Following week United did well against Lille in the Champions'
League, too," I said boldly. "Chalk up another good week for the
boot-kicking Scot."
"Nothing to beat the punch up at the end of the Carling Cup Final,
though, when the unsmiling Frenchman's Gunners and the
Portuguese-in-the-posh-overcoat's Pensioners had their set-to,"
he said jubilantly. "Great start to a sporting week that was. Didn't
I tell you footballers were just a bunch of overpaid, warring buggers?"
"United will win the Reading replay, too," I continued doggedly, "and
the league. Just you see."
"No I won't bloody see," he retorted. "I've had enough mayhem for
this season. In future I'll be beating the bounds or sound asleep."
Don't know why I bother.
LEWIS. (ITV1)
Good old Lewis (Kevin Whately) was given the task of looking after
a best-selling author (Owen Teale) in this second of a three part
series based on the character created by Colin Dexter (who still
does the occasional Hitchcock-style background guest appearance).
I don't think I am spoiling anything by revealing that Lewis lost
his man in spectacular style.
It reminded me of the Morse episode "Twighlight of the Gods"
with John Gielgud, Robert Hardy and Sheila Gish as a singer
who was shot in the quad (not the most desirable spot to be shot).
The writer of this Lewis episode was Alan Plater.
Kevin Whately gave his usual sound performance. Laurence Fox
was the clever Det. Sgt. Hathaway, Clare Holman was back as
Dr. Laura Hobson. Rebecca Front has replaced James Grout as
the Chief Superintendant.
It ran for two hours and was easy viewing.
Lewis is Morseless Morse. And if good old Lewis should ever
decide to move on he could well be replaced by clever Hathaway.
Which will be much like watching good old Morse again.
KITCHEN. (Five)
Drama on Five and a welcome change from the customary diet
of American forensic experts, detectives, documentary dross
and second rate films.
Set in a swank Glasgow restaurant (eh?) this two part play
(a modern presentation so it contained not one really nice
character) was proof yet again that, while actors may not make
good stand-ups, stand-ups often make good actors.
A leading role in Kitchen was played by cross-dressing
stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard and, as a once famous but now
sadly drunken top chef, he was good.
Simon Ashdown's story of sex-obsessed, drug-snorting liars and
thieves was not for the faint-hearted.
Danny, a gifted young cook, was the central character. The main
story concerned whether he could complete his year on probation
for theft given the ill-will of his crooked probation officer, the
attentions of the probation officer's wife and the advances of the
viciously queer sous chef in the kitchen where he worked.
James Young as Danny and the rest of an excellent cast
(Stuart Bowman, Frank Gallagher, Charlene McKenna, Natalie
Robb et al.) made this a kitchen well worth the watching.
NCIS. (Five)
Back to the American forensic experts and detectives again.
But this one remains a cracking example of what television
should be. Entertainment.
Frame-Up had the dislikeable Anthony DiNozzo (Michael
Weatherley) being framed for murdering a couple of
female legs.
Well, not quite, but that's close enough.
The star of this episode was the delightful Abby Scluto
(Pauley Peretta), the team's forensic genius and a prize
cookie understandably cherished by team boss Jethro
Gibbs (Mark Harmon).
I'll not give anything away.
Suffice it to say we enjoyed every gloriously daft, funny,
unbelievable moment.
It even had a twist at the end.
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