Reviews
DOCUMENTARY SERIES THE DARK SIDE OF MODERN LOVE Channel 4, Mon 28 Nov-Thu 1 Dec
For its latest series of voyeuristic social documentaries, Channel 4 takes a look at the boundaries of sexual liberation in ‘ordinary’ people’s lives, kicking off with one of our last sexual taboos: teachers bagging off with pupils. Taking a refreshingly sympathetic, adult stance on the phenomenon, Sleeping with the Teacher (Mon 28 Nov, 11pm, COO. ) peels back the reactionary tabloid headlines and delves into the factors that influence this prickly issue and our confused attitudes towards it.
Perhaps fittineg shallow in its attempt to highlight the more dramatic consequences of our current attitudes towards the one-night stand, Fatal Attraction (Tue 29 Nov, 11.05pm, O. ) simply treats us to horror stories of stalkers, unwanted pregnancies and wrongful accusations of rape. Of course, if you’re looking to expose the more extreme instances of troubling sexual quirks it’s always worth goggling at our cousins across the pond. In Sex Addict (Wed 30 Nov, 11.05pm, 0.0 ) one hapless couple deals with this affliction in a way only Americans can, through intense and often cringeworthy three-day treatment, while Death by Sex (Thu 1 Dec, 11.20pm, O. ) delves into the apparently commonplace practice of erotic asphyxiation as ‘popularised’ in the likes of Ai No Corrida. The message here being ‘it’s a world of hurt, so stop doing it' supported by increasingly troubling tales of accidental snuffing.
To call this series entirely exploitative would be unfair but, as ever, the viewer is left wondering who on earth these unfortunate people are and what possessed them to share their stories with the viewing public at large. Nevertheless, for once this is television of a sexual nature that makes you feel better about not getting any yourself. (Mark Edmundson)
SKETCH COMEDY LITTLE BRITAIN BBC1, Thu 17 Nov, 9pm coo
evrdence that comedy is once again the new rock'n'roll. But just as Oasis' third album was less thrilling than their first two. this masswely successful double act's third series — on the strength of the first
episode. at any rate — seems less lap- slappingly funny than what we've become used to.
It's a combination of established characters — Vicky Pollard's fabulous breakdance being a particular highlight — and some new ones such as Ting Tong. the mail order Thai bride (a Creation that is only slightly racist). the scandal-prone MP Sir Norman Fry and the deliciously l.>lack<~>d-up fatty Desire. who has married Bubbles de Vere's ex-husband (Rob Brydon). So far no new catchphrases, but a
The fact that DaVid Walliams now owns Liam Gallagher‘s old pad. Supernova Heights. seems like
92 THE LIST 17 Nov -1 Der: 2005i
whole bunch of fresh characters will be inhoducedin subsequent episodes so this is almost certainly worth sticking with. (Ashley Davies)
REALITY SERIES PIMP MY RIDE UK
Five, Fri 18 Nov, 7.30pm 00
There are certain things that Americans do better than anyone: addictive junk food. blockbuster movies. Middle Eastern invasions. Another is television: something they make the very best and the very werst of (often side by side). One true stroke of genius was MTV's idea of taking the Changing Rooms format. ditching Larry Llewelyn-Bowen in favour of stocky rap star Xzibit and a crew of lunatic mechanics getting medieval on some unfortunate teen's battered auto. The sheer stupidity and good feeling in this show made it nothing short of brilliant.
So bring it to the UK. sub Xzibit for our own cardboard hip hop don Tim Westwood and you've got a winner. no? NO! Instead of Puff Daddy we get Big Daddy. low rent and Without the bling or personality of the original. This is about the spotty Herberts reading Max Power and doing doughnuts in Tesco's car park on Friday night. Wack. (Mark Robertson)
SKETCH COMEDY MAN STROKE WOMAN
BBC3, Sun 20 Nov, 10.30pm 000
For those who wondered what Nathan Barley did next. here lsort of) is the answer. Previously untried comic actor Nicholas Burns sets aside the critical mauling and audience apathy of the Chris Morris/Charlie Brooker sitcom to find himself
sketch affair which lands somewhere between the over—familiar freaks of that channel's Little Britain and gruesome grotesques of Tittybangbang.
Though whether the show‘s catchphrases will be cracking up and down the c0untry in the coming weeks is doubtful: 'Where's Josh?', ‘You can never just say I look nice' and “Four. Four. Forty—four. Four. FOLir . . .' don't immediately have a 'Suits you. srr' feel ab0ut them. But who can resist the appeal of exploding animals. ditched lovers falling apart and make—up department girls mocking their customers?
(Brian Donaldson)
REGAL DRAMA THE QUEEN’S SISTER Channel 4, Sun 27 Nov, 9pm 00.
Just before she collapsed into a wrinkled shell of her former self, Princess Margaret was synonymous with gin- sodden excess and a potent symbol of the monarchy's shallower side. What comes across here is that in comparison With Anne or Diana. she truly was a complete waste of space and money as Labour's anti-royal rabble-rouser Willie Hamilton is seen
insisting thrOughout. dubbing her 'a gold- plated floosie'.
Kicking off with the disclaimer that ‘some of the events are based on fact: others are not'. it leaves you guessing where the line of truth is drawn. Did the lesbian kiss in front of a drooling journalist happen? Did she beat up louts in an East End pub? Did she hang out with hippies, swallowing hash cakes for supper? Lucy Cohu is dandy as the selfish princess who never saw her kids or spoke to her sister (it appears from this). while Shameless drunk David Threllall is spot- on as Prince Phillip. (Brian Donaldson)
The Pamela Anderson Roast E4, Thu 17Nov, 77pm A bunch of C-list Hollywood types have a right old go at the ex-Baywatch ‘bombshell'. Will her notorious skin be thick enough? I’m a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! Scottish, Sun 20 Nov. 9pm Help. Someone. please help. OFI Sunday Scott/sh, Sun 20 Nov. 10. 30pm Chris Evans is back, doing what he does best: insulting guests. the audience and his employers. lntriguingly, Billie Piper is among his opening night interviewees. Preachers To Be Channel 4, Sat 26 Nov, 7. 70pm What on God's earth would make y0ung people want to be religious leaders? Here we follow three practitioners of Hinduism. Islam and Christianity as they attempt to be just that. Shakespeare’s Happy Endings BBC4, Tue 29 Nov. 9pm Part of the Will revisited season is this mockumentary which envisages a musical version of Macbeth and an Othe/lo without sex and strangulation.