Off topic - what do you watch

Yes, radio. When listening to a play on the wireless I find that the scenery is MUCH better. And you can multi-task, something virtually impossible with the Idiot's Lantern.

Shark? Numbers?

Idiot's Lantern ~ I like that one lol Yes, that is true about radio, I have different radios on in different rooms and can move back and forth without missing a word.

Apart from inventing better scenery, I find serious interviews much better because one is only hearing what the person being interviewed is actually saying. I have subsequently seen an interviewee on television and known that I would have perhaps considered what they said very differently, if I had seen them first. In particular there was a man who look terribly unkempt and I would have downgraded what he had to say if I had seen him first.

I actually leave my radio on all night (or the mp3 player) as it is the best line of defence against tinnitis.

Napoleon's Battle Plan.

The pilot was brilliant, too. Especially the opening sequence where the crew is trying to figure out where Helsinki is because they don't quite believe the anchors that it could be in Finland.

I don 't know of a show with so many quotable lines each episode.

Which is why I watch mostly CNN and PBS (with occasional infusions of History Channel or Home & Garden). I'd rather be left out of the water cooler discussions than waste my time on the garbahj that I hear people discussing.

Unfortunately, the US has essentially no plays on radio. Even our most erudite stations stick to news/talk. Though we do get the Metropolitan Opera every Saturday during the season.

Oh, I think you should introduct DS to the joy of Numbers. It's about an FBI agent and his math wizard brother and using mathematics to solve crime and put the bad guys away. It's really smart and I love it to death. Friday nights at 10, but we often tape it.

Shark is about a defense lawyer turned prosecutor played by James Woods and I'm finding it quite smart as well. Thursdays at 10.

Elizabeth

We just caught this last night on PBS, and quite enjoyed it. It was the episodes about "furnace cottage: ironworks.

Are they all like this? or vary the type/genre?

Tara

We liked Cold Squad (a Canadian version that started years earlier). CTV dropped it to carry Cold Case. It just never seemed an apt replacement. Now that it's been a few years, we can enjoy Cold Case; except we saw Season one of Cold Squad on DVD, and we are back to not quite enjoying it as much.

Tara

This one I can answer. Remember Dr. Joel from Northern Exposure?

He plays an FBI agent, his younger brother is a math genius (Uni professor at age 20something); and helps out by applying mathematical logic to locate/determine/help.

Cast is rounded out with Judd Hirsch as the father; quirky professor friend (played by the quirky lawyer from Ally McBean).

By weird tangents, that reminds me that Sue Thomas, FBEye is pretty good as well. Not a regular hit list for us, but manages to stay on when we catch it.

Tara

PBS, Globe Trekker

On her trip to Venice, Justine visits some Italian ladies making some sort of needle lace. She notices that the oldest of them is working very quickly, and the old gal explains that she has practiced for many years.

Justine then attempts to learn to do this herself, with the predictable results. However, this was a very good close-up of the process, and I think I've figured out what she was supposed to be doing.

All the Time Team programmes are of a similar construction. The main characters remain fairly constant and they always have just three days to complete the excavation. See the Time Team website at

You can listen to the BBC broadcasts via your computer, either in "real time" or up to 7 days or so after the broadcast. Radio 4 is a good starting place, for a list of plays etc see

If you want something more highbrow try Radio 3 (which used to be called "The Third Programme")

First choice - craft shows excepting anything on scrap booking. I'll include any antique shows with this (Antiques Roadshow, Cash in the Attic...) and things like Mission Organization or neat Second choice - science and nature shows ( I love Mythbusters, Nova, anything with David Attenbourgh, National Geographic). Third choice - history, but nothing past the (US) Colonial era Fourth - John Ratzenburg, Dirty Jobs (I think I love Mike Rowe) and similar quirky things Fifth - certain reruns - As Time Goes By, Star Trek (most of the range of the different series), Avengers, The Saint, Stargate, McGyver

Who's next

Cheryl

I am always in awe of the range of TV available via cable etc.

Australia has not embraced the concept of Pay TV - not that most Free to Air is all that fantastic!

We have our 'national broadcaster' which is taxpayer funded and ad free - this is where my TV stays most of the time. The usual fare is Australian and English. (Anyone seen the British show "Bodies" with Max Beesley as Rob Lake????)

Our 3 commercial channels have little to offer except for the occasional show like "House" and a couple of other, equally unbelieveable, shows.

Our PBS equivalent has some interesting viewing, and I confess to habitually watching the "Lehrer Newshour" (and apologies for the spelling).

I keep meaning to go and buy the DVDs of some of the old series of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister etc to enjoy in the dull viewing days.

Joanne

Thanks Bruce! I love the show and wish it was on again on History! C

Geeze - those are both after our bedtimes!

Yes - I wonder if any of my local PBS stations will carry them.

Must be your local stations. One of the PBS stations here has the "old radio" night, and broadcasts old radio dramas, even some comedies. I think a lot of these shows are out there- it's just what the locals choose to pick up.

ellice

I don't think one gets PBS in the Orkneys.