There are not enough hours in the day for watching all that and also be on the computer.  And when to do some reading?

Hi Everyone
I find I am using the computer more for keeping  up with UK and world news.  Television is more than ever 'reality' programme based and more about celebrities.

Kelly

I had to resort to Netflix last night.  How can mainstream TV be soooooo bad!  I watched (again) the first episode of Death Comes to Pemberley adapted from a book by P.D. James and continues on with Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.  Very enjoyable.

I'm sorry, Kelly, but I never cared for Lawrence Olivier.  I think Britain has other Shakespearian and classical actors that are, or were, much better than he was.

Hi Phyllis
I think we can agree to disagree about Lord Olivier

I saw a TV film about Henry the Eighth a few years ago. It was very good. 

Henry was played by Ray Winstone who most people would think cannot play Shakespeare because of his London 'Cockney'
accent.

But he was superb.

Kelly

Last night I watched a PBS program about an archealogist's (sp?) search for sites where Vikings lived - beginning with their first "forays" into Europe and ending with a site in Newfoundland. Very interesting!
I would have loved going on a "dig" in my younger days.

Hi CallieK
The Vikings occupied the Isle of Man for over four hundred years!

Kelly

Hi, Kelly,   The Isle of Man wasn't mentioned in the program - but, knowing how many places Vikings lived in the British Isles, I'm not surprised.  They were an amazing people.
This program emphasized their culture - particularly their skill at making iron tools - rather than all the cruelty. 

Do you know about the Jorvik museum in York?   I feel very fortunate to have seen that.

I agree with SCF Sue and phyllis, in that Olivier seemed to overact and become a bit "hammy" at times. (Wuthering Heights comes to mind). 
For me, the greatest British actor was Richard Burton! In both classical and modern, he was fabulous.

Hi CallieOK
I think the programme missed out on important history regarding the Isle of Man,  as their  'time' here was as long or longer than other countries they set foot in.

So much history of the Vikings.

Kelly

Hi Mrilyne
Looks like I am the only fan of Lord Olivier.

Makes me wonder why he is so revered here by countless people including those who visit the UK theatres.

I like Richard Burton, his voice is probably the best speaking voice I have heard.  However, most performances he gives are usually in a Shakespearian delivery.

Kelly

As I mentioned before, the PBS Saturday night movie last week was Sense and Sensibility, which I really enjoyed. Tonight, the movie is Sleepless in Seattle.  It was good, but I've seen it a couple of times, and have no desire to watch it once again.  Lots to choose from on Netflix, and all other channels On Demand, so I'm sure I'll find something.  If anyone has any suggestions, let me know?   

Sleepless in Seattle



Now kelly is being silly!

Kelly

I'll be glued to the public TV station tomorrow evening.  Starting at 8:00 with Home Fires; 9:00 Call the Midwife; 10:00 Grantchester.

Jeanne Lee, thanks for reminding me about Grantchester this evening.  I'm watching a Hallmark movie now, but it'll have its happy ending in time for the Granchester program.

Sue

They were showing the snow in Ohio at little while back today. Awful.  We are having the worse Rain storm but at least don't have to shovel it. Very cold though.

Had planned to go and see a movie on the big screen but not a chance of doing that. But anyway we do have some good TV to look forward to tonight.  Call the Midwife. so far it has been good . I also enjoying Grantchester.  Its not Chief Inspector Morse. (My favourite) but its good.
We don't seem to get Home Fires.  I think at 6pm something showing Father Brown but not his show.  Now I can't stand to watch 'Selfridges" We had one of their stores in My city of Manchester up until the Mid 1940. then it sold and became Lewis's. Along the way I believe even Sears of the US bought it.  I worked in one store that we competed with them for awhile in my teens.  Marshall and Snellgroves.  Nicer store.

I read the discussion in Norm's Bait and Tackle, this morning, on the HBO documentary/biography on the life of Gloria Vanderbilt.  It was made with, and partially narrated by her son, news anchor and reporter, Anderson Cooper.

Well, I could hardly wait to turn on my TV, which I did, and went directly to HBO On Demand.  It was there, and I sat right down and watched the entire show.  I cannot RAVE enough about this program!  I was so impressed with Gloria herself, (now 92 years old), and also impressed with her loving son, Anderson.  Gloria, is soft spoken, intelligent, and articulate - besides being still beautiful, and busy with her art projects. 

What an incredible life she has led, with four marriages, four sons, and of course her chaotic childhood, when she was dubbed, "The Poor Little Rich Girl".
It was especially moving at the end of the show, when they talked about the suicide of Carter, her third son and Anderson's brother.  The entire show is a good example of top quality television programming.  I wish you could all see it. 

Marilyne,  I saw the documentary on HBO this afternoon - thanks to MaryPage, who mentioned that it was being rebroadcast.  I agree with everything you said.  Outstanding program.

How did you like Call the midwife last night? Was a time there where I got a few tears dropping.

I forgot to watch Call the Midwife.  I'll have to pick it up on Demand, if I can.

I watched the first Outlander of the season.  I liked it but was confused about some of it and her jumping back to the 20th century.  I'll have to watch it again to see if I missed something.

Yesterday, DH and I watched "The Spy Who Came in From The Cold" with Richard Burton.
The movie, IMHO, was like most all of LeCarre's books, so confusing, you don't know who's who and who isn't, (which spy novels use a lot) But his are simply confusing.  I had read The Spy Who...many years ago, and can't say I understood it then!  Went to the movies last year and saw a remake of one of LeCarre's books, and was confused right up to/through the end.  Forget which one it was.  May post title later.
It was "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy".  Good acting.

I've watched Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy several times.  I like it.  I forgot all about Grantchester.  Maybe I can find it on PBS on Apple TV.  They are usually available for about a week, I think.

Tome - Same problem here with The Spy Who Came in From Cold.  I read the book when it was a best seller, and was totally confused as to agents, double agents - bad guys, good guys, etc.  So when the movie came out, I thought that would clear things up for me. Not!  I spent the whole two hours trying to figure out what was happening and why?  Then came that ending!    Oh well, it was nice looking at Richard Burton - one of my all time favorite actors!  I've never seen or read Tinker, Tailor, etc. I may add it to my library reading list.   

We lost another great person Sunday.  Doris Roberts passed away.  Remember her well from
"Everybody loves Raymond" so good it it.

November 4, 1925  d. April 17, 2016
Actress. Often cast in roles of motherly figures, notably of Italian origin, she will be fondly remembered for playing 'Marie Barone' in the TV series "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996 to 2005). Born Doris May Green, to a Russian-Jewish mother, Doris caught the acting bug at an early age and first performed during a production while in kindergarden. Her father abandoned her family prior to her teenage years and following her mother's remarrying, she took her stepfather's last name Roberts. A

JeanneP - Thank you for posting about the passing of Doris Roberts.  She was a versatile character actress, and appeared in hundreds of TV shows, starting in the 1950's.  She had parts in all types of shows, from comedy sit-coms, to police, courtroom and family dramas. When you look at the list of her credits on IMDb, it is remarkable to see how much she has worked over such a long span of time. 

Hi Everyone
Not sure whether it was mentioned here, but not long ago one half of a UK comedy double act passed away.

He was Ronnie Corbett of the Two Ronnies, the other Ronnie was Ronnie Barker who passed away 2005.

Kell

Never heard of them but then I am not a big fan of TV except for those wonderful British period series such us Upstairs Downstairs, or The Forsyte Saga.

Great comedians and sadly missed

Here the new generation does not seem to be as good or as convincing

For a small monthy fee,  I just
subscribe to  Acorn TV 
https://www.acorn.tv  <---- Click here to see it
Which is all British TV...
 
Very exciting ..  Check it out!
Sandy

Hi Everyone
Sad news from the UK as one of the great comedians of the past thirty to forty years 'Victoria Wood' has died aged sixty two years.

She will be sadly missed RIP Victoria.

Kevin