Check it out Day 5: Whose Line is it anyway?

Part five of this series returns to Television, in the form of improvisational show Whose Line is it Anyway. A relatively unknown show this began life as a British gameshow hosted by Clive Anderson, the main aim of the program being a series of 'games' and sketches made up on the spot by the cast of four comedians. As the formula became the established the series made it's way to the US where talkshow host Drew Carey took over the reigns until 2006 when the show finished. The biggest draw of the program has to the Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie, the permanent guests on both versions of the show they are both hilarious and have such good interplay and understanding between themselves (plus watching Colin struggle on the song-based games is always fantastic!). That really is all there is to the show but it remains painfully funny throughout, the addition of Wayne Brady to the US show was another stroke of genius, his musical improv is astounding and the energy and commitment all the contestants put into the ridiculous and silly sketches is really what makes the show. As wll as Wayne though there are a host of other comedians who step in and make up the show, Greg Proops is always funny and Brad Sherwood can more than hold his own with the regulars. In many ways the show has paved the way for elements of the comedy panel shows that now adorn the BBC and Channel 4 like Mock the Week. The show used to only be able to be seen late at night on Channel 4 but Five US now shows a couple of episodes every evening so if you have sky (channel 174) or Freeview (channel 35) and this sounds like your cup of tea then I highly recommend checking it out if you have time. I have included a few example sketches below through Youtube so enjoy:

Check it out Day 4: Primer

OK, busy-ness caught up with me but in the short time I have now I'm going to keep these articles going. Today we're looking at Primer, a low budget sci-fi film made a few years ago for just $7,000 in borrowed locations / houses and yet with enough invention, smarts and intrigue to put most multi-million dollar blockbusters to shame. Its fitting maybe that the film works best the less you know about it, it is relatively brief running at uner 80 minutes with credits but warrants re-watching for its complex plot may have your mind in stiches the first time through. Despite the low budget this is an expertly crafted film with a great soundtrack and visual style, Shane Carruth the guiding vocie behind the project not only directs and stars but has his hands in all functions of the film and is definitely a name to look out for. This was not a big film by any respect but won some festivals and is out on DVD now and I highly reccomend it if you have an interest in cerebral science fiction films. Its encouraging and reassuring to be reminded that at the end of the day a good film is not about budget or stars, but a good story expertly told, regardless of the circumstances.

Check it out Day 3: Portal

Day 3 of this Check it Out series sees the first foray into gaming with Valve’s wickedly entertaining and head-bending Portal. Released as part of The Orange Box gaming collection earlier this year (comprising of the also excellent Half Life 2, Episode packs and team Fortress) Portal became a bit of a cult hit within gaming circles but its wider popularity I’m unsure of. Now the game has been released on its own outside of the pack and is well worth playing if you haven’t heard of it yet.

Portal is essentially a first person puzzle game, using the Half Life 2 Source engine you start the game to find yourself in a test chamber, the objective is the game is simply to make your way through each of the levels (you go up a floor in a lift after each stage), in true puzzle game style though it’s the how that will keep you going. The main hook of Portal is the Portal gun, a stroke of genius it is a device that allows you to create a portal in a wall, then create another ‘exit’ portal on another wall, then simply walk through one portal and you will emerge from the other. From this mind-bending premise come some of the most ingenious and head-scratching designs put into a game.

That is basically all there is to the game but Valve superb design and the game world created keep it compelling and, thanks to the genius of GLaDOS the test chamber robot who guides you through the challenges, downright hilarious at times. Portal is a very funny game at times and feels like such a breath of fresh air compared to the other games out there that it is a constant joy to play. The game is short, and can be picked up for about £15 (though the all in one package of the Orange Box for £35 is much better value). The game also includes extra levels, developers commentary and achievement challenges which will keep you coming back long after the brilliant end credits. Basically portal is one of the most fun and surprising games of recent years and hopefully its popularity will lead to similarly creative and offbeat games being produced further down the line.

Check it out day 2: Sun Kil Moon

A little more obscure for day 2 of this feature is little known band Sun Kil Moon, though they are effectively another name under which Red House Painters singer Mark Kozelak presents himself rather than a distinct gathering of musicians. Formed a few years ago it was only with their second release, Ghosts of the Great Highway that I discovered them and was instantly drawn to the music style. Slow and haunting Kozalek’s music is pretty un-commercial, tracks often drift on for up to 10 minutes and the soothing and repetitive rhythms may bore some, but deep underneath there is an emotional core which reveals itself the more you listen. Ingrained with a sense of longing, regret and melancholy Kozalek is a reflective song-writer and his songs work as odes to people and places unknown, experiences lived and fulfilled, regrets harboured and chances missed. This year they released their third album entitled April and it is fantastic. If anything the album is more restrained than ‘Ghosts’, a tense and fragile affair with echoes of sadness but also great beauty and peace. The album, and band for that matter, won’t be for everyone, but for something more laidback and relaxed,as well as emotionally stirring and moving I highly recommend you check Sun Kil Moon out, these songs are special, like jewels cast out to sea waiting to be discovered. Check out one of my favourite songs from April below:

Check it out Day 1: House

So the month of obscure recommendations and picks starts with an internationally acclaimed TV series everyone will have heard of? Well yes it does, but for a reason. Just because everyone may be aware of the show doesn’t mean they ever watched it or enjoy it, I’ve known about the series for years but only recently with the latest series have I really gotten hooked on it. One of the great things about House is the fact that you can kind of dip in and out, it is much more self-contained than many other shows such as Heroes or Lost that you really need to have seen from the start. Each episode has its own story, pay-offs and whilst there are on-going character arc running in the background these are less prominent than on other shows. In case you’ve never heard of it House stars Hugh Laurie as the titular doctor who runs a team specialising in obscure diagnostics – they get the cases no-one else can figure out. From that simple premise comes one of the most involving, interesting and funny TV shows of recent years.

The writing on the show is uniformly superb, the dialogue is razor sharp and the cases each week compelling not just because of the mystery elements (which act as a sort of medical whodunit) but the attention that is given to the patients as characters. Each week is distinct and manages to pull together complex moral issues and situations whilst remaining entertaining and mixing things up. It’s like a ridiculously complicated balancing act that the show pulls off week after week. Laurie of course anchors the show, without House it would fall apart and his performance is magnificent, right from the start he inhabits the character in such a way that even though I know it’s him he dissolves in the role. His accent is flawless and the characters acidity and self-destructive sides help paint a very unusual TV star. He is rude, unemotional and addicted to pain killers (for a bum leg which causes him to walk with a cane) and yet Laurie still makes him likeable and empathetic. However able work is done by the whole cast, Robert Sean Leonard stands out in particular as Dr Wilson House’s friend and colleague, and maybe the only person who can truly stand House on his own terms.

There isn’t a lot more for me to say really, I’ve been devouring the DVD box-sets of this recently and encourage you that if you haven’t checked it out yet give House a try, be warned you may soon find yourself hooked.