Podcast recommendations

I occasionally like to mention the podcasts I'm listening to. Podcasts primarily rely on word-of-mouth, so hopefully these choices will influence a few people, one way or the other. In a slight change, they're in descending order (1-10):

1. Mark Kermode (Five Live) I love this podcast. It's become a sign that the working week is over for me. Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode make for an enjoyable double-act (Mayo pricking film critic Kermode's ego, elitism and pretentiousness) as they run through the box-office top 10 and review the week's new releases. The specials (interviews with directors, writers and actors) are also very good. Lots of quirkiness and injokes, such as the alternate names for bad actors (Ikea Knightley, etc.) Good fun, a popular film podcast, and listened to be celebs like Jason Isaacs ("hello!"), David Morrissey, Stephen Fry, and others. So good that Mayo and Kermode have recently started doing their shtick as a ten-minute segment on BBC's The Culture Show.

2. /Filmcast. I've only started downloading this in the past 5 months, or so, but it's definitely one of the best podcasts around for film fans. Every week, David Chen, Devindra Hardawar, Adam Quigley (and a different guest) discuss movie news, what they've been watching, and the week's big film release. It's an easy listen, pretty funny, quite informative at times, and the guest reviewers (other online critics or celebs) are good value. They also flag spoilers, helpfully. There's also a follow-up podcast called After Dark, which is arguably better because it's more freewheeling and includes television.

3. Adam & Joe (Six Music) Their '90s show was great fun, but this double-act never got the break they deserved. Their brand of homespun comedy is all the rage 10 years later, thanks to YouTube. On radio in the '00s, they're just as good, and put a phenomenal amount of work into each episode. The "Song Wars" feature alone must take days for them to compose and record, and they even accompany some of their spoof songs with animated videos. Check out the Quantum Of Solace and Australia ditties. Oh, and: Stephen!

4. Scene/Unseen Movie Reviews. I sometimes find myself irritated by this podcast, actually, because the American reviewers (Chris and Jimmy) have opinions and tastes I don't always agree with (both hate fantasy films, Jimmy won't watch animated "talking animal" movies). But, the concept of the podcast is very good: Chris watches a movie, Jimmy doesn't, and they create a film review based on their differing vantage points. L.A-based, it's also attracted a few celebs their way (David Lynch, David Fincher, Seth Rogen, Kevin Smith) and is always quite informative. Although I do kinda prefer it when Jimmy goes on holiday and they get some guests to replace him! Sorry, Jimmy.

5. Scott Mills Daily (Radio 1) This wouldn't be so high if I listened to Scott Mills' drive-time show, as it's just a highlights package, but it's one of the more enjoyable podcasts if you haven't heard the content. Scott, Chappers and Becky are the trio behind a mix of games, interviews, and banter. Typical Radio 1 fluff; good fun, hilarious at times, with plenty of recurring gags/catchphrases ("a horse for one bin!") and a few inventive ideas.

6. The Official Lost Podcast/The Lost Initiative. The oficial ABC podcast (presented by Lost execs Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof) is very good, but suffers slightly from the fact the creators are wary of revealing too much, and certainly won't go into speculation about the show (for obvious reasons!) The Lost Initiative is UK-based, presented by Iain Lee, and I find it more entertaining in many ways. Each episode is torn apart and picked over at the Sky1 pace, with interesting theories, enjoyable banter and phone calls. Both great podcasts for fans of the show -- although, technically, the Initiative is now a vodcast and only available through the Sky1 website.

7. Iain Lee (Absolute Radio) A two-hour phone-in show that takes awhile to get into, but can provide dumb, silly entertainment. It's mainly an outlet for oddball listeners to call up and spout inane nonsense; it's the audio equivalent of the X Factor auditions round, in that enjoyment comes from laughing at numbskulls. And there's not as much singing. It's so weird that even a fake regular (octogenarian Bob From Watford) fits in perfectly, and has become a cult character in his own right with stage appearances and an occasional slot on Radio 2's Steve Wright Show.

8. Chris Moyles (Radio 1) Another highlights package of the week's morning shows, so it's rather tedious if you're a regular listener to BBC Radio 1 every day. But, as the flagship show, there are big-name guests and an enjoyable zoo-style from Chris and the gang. Interestingly, the intro and outro's for the podcast are the worst bit, and those are new content.

9. The Now Show / The News Quiz (Radio 4) Both shows are part of the "Friday Night Comedy" strand on R4, and can be pretty good. I'm not a big fan of The Now Show, really -- but The News Quiz is the audio equivalent of Have I Got News For You (not as funny, but more on-topic), so it's worth listening to.

10. Collings & Herrin. The least polished podcast on this chart (and perhaps anywhere in Podcastland?), writer/critic Andrew Collins and writer/comedian Richard Herring basically waffle on for 66 minutes about current affairs. It's uneven in quality, but that's part of its grubby charm. It's just two blokes, sat in an attic, putting the world to rights, taking the piss out of each other, venting their spleen, and occasionally delving into dark-but-cheeky territory. Infantile and increasingly meandering, but oddly compelling.

Interview: Glenn Close & Rose Byrne

So, did anyone catch the start of Damages' second season on BBC1 last Sunday? I reviewed the premiere here, but is anyone interested? Or is this show still under the radar here in the UK? Well, for anyone who's watching, here's an exclusive interview with Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, who talk about how their characters have changed since season 1. Incidentally, episodes can be downloaded on iTunes if you miss any. Enjoy!

Is everyone alive?

I only ask because there's been a strange lack of comments around here lately, despite a lot of new reviews going online (Conchords, Fringe, BSG, Lost, 24, Plus One, etc.) Everyone okay? January blues, is it? My stats are fairly stable, and I've actually increased "Followers" this week, so I know you're out there... lurking... Or, have I said something wrong? 3-stars too low for Being Human, was it?

Anyway, random irritation of the week: Sky have turned The Lost Initiative podcast into a vodcast. So you can't download it via iTunes now. I think the intention is to increase traffic to the Sky1 website, which is fine. Only... vodcasts aren't as good as podcasts, are they. Having a visual element means there's now a lot of clips from Lost, and everyone looks a bit too self-conscious. The first vodcast (covering the two-hour Lost premiere) was only 15 minutes long, too -- so it's shorter than the podcasts generally were? As much as I appreciate Sky throwing cash at TLI (check out their DHARMA-esque set), I kinda want the podcast back. Or an audio-only version at least.

Feel free to comment :)

Ross and Brand face the Sachs

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have been suspended from the BBC, after they made lewd comments on actor Andrew Sachs' voicemail during a radio show broadcast on 18 October. Oddly, there was only 2 complaints from Radio 2 listeners at the time, but after the story broke in the newspapers a few days ago, the complaints have rocketed to over 18,000. Funny that.

I hope the complainers bothered to listen to the incident themselves, instead of registering a knee-jerk complaint based on the second-hand assessments of tabloids. But is it a lot of fuss over nothing? Well, no. I heard the podcast before the story broke, and it was certainly in bad taste for Ross to blurt out "he's fucked your granddaughter!" when Brand got through to Sachs' voicemail. It had been a running joke for awhile that Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie had slept with Brand, but had asked the comedian not to tell her famous relative.

To book Sachs as a guest was clearly intended to mine comedy from "the elephant in the room" of Brand's antics with Sachs' granddaughter -- which is a bit distasteful alreay. I'm sure the interview would have taken a different path had Sachs answered his phone, but the naughty schoolboy temperaments of Brand and Ross (who are both immature in their own different ways) proved too much to resist when they clicked through to his voicemail.

What nobody's remarked on is how the situation would probably have been avoided if Brand's co-host Matt Morgan were present. He's the sensible one, who often reigns in Brand if he goes too far. But he's been on holiday for the past few weeks, necessitating the need for guest co-hosts like Ross. Sadly, Brand is very much a loose canon and easily led by someone like Ross.

But why was the show even broadcast by the BBC? It was pre-recorded, so major damage could easily have been avoided. But the producer decided to let it air (slightly edited) without even asking for Andrew Sachs permission. Which would obviously not have been granted.

No, there's no excuse for what Brand and Ross did, even though this was a style of edgy, dangerous, controversial humour most people will have heard or even participated in. Let's get real: I've heard worse things down the pub in my time, quite regularly. You just don't broadcast that thing to the nation, on the BBC. And, while both have apologized to Sachs, they only did so when it all kicked-off in the papers.

I guess this means there'll be no Friday Night with Jonathan Ross for awhile?

More podcasts, for your consideration

Iain Lee's Sunday Night Show

My radio dial rarely leaves Radio 1, and certainly never visits Virgin's frequency. No, the only reason I gave this podcast a whirl was because of Iain Lee (one-time lanky TV host of The 11 O'Clock Show), who impressed me as presenter of the Lost Initiative podcast.

Lee's "Sunday Night Show" is a phone-in format, which immediately sets it apart from other radio podcasts I download. Now, the thing to make clear is how this podcast will make NO sense for the first few episodes. It's a show built around a niche listenership, populated by people who are awake and tuning into late-night radio on a Sunday before work. Simply put: the callers seem to be unemployed nutters.

It's full of in-jokes ("Ry-an Reynolds!"), catchphrases ("I've got a dirty..."), recurring feuds, and references to past events. It took me around 4 episodes (that's 8 hours of listening) to grasp all the callers' personalities and get a handle on the ramshackle format. Iain Lee's crafted something rather unique here -- genuine "so bad it's good" stuff. You know the answer-phone segment of Big Brother's Big Mouth, featuring dim and deluded fans? It's basically that, but with a live radio host.

As suspected, it does become tiresome and repetitive, while the lack of direction and reliance on callers to "create" the show means quality is erratic minute to minute, let alone episode to episode. But still, some of the callers are quite funny (intentionally or otherwise) and it definitely rewards a bit of perseverance. There's also a website, caller chat-room and Iain Lee's "spin-off" podcasts dotted around dark corners of the web, so it's like discovering a secret club. Love it or hate it, The Sunday Show's worth a trial run to see if any of it clicks with you. The comic value of elderly "Barry From Watford" is reason enough for ONE download, trust me...

Movies You Should See

This podcast was recommended to me in the comments section of a previous article about podcasts. See, I do listen! Movies You Should See (MYSS) is a collection of film reviews by Richard Smith, Allison Downing, Craig Bevan, Will Tristram and Tristan Ofield, who discuss classics like Superman, guilty pleasures like The 'Burbs, and fairly recent hits like Gladiator.

With most film-based podcasts focusing on things opening that weekend, there's an element of nostalgia with MYSS that's good fun -- because most people will have an opinion on the chosen films.

However, I was confused about who MYSS is aimed at. If you haven't seen the film under discussion, chances are you'll be very confused and have the film's plot and any twists spoiled! Therefore, it's safer to listen to reviews of films you've seen -- but doesn't that defeat the purpose of this podcast to recommend and champion films you must watch? I spy a Catch 22, don't you?

If you're savvy enough to be downloading this podcast, I doubt you're unfamiliar with Galaxy Quest or The Matrix, anyway. So where are the overlooked movie gems that would justify a bit of internet championing?

Episodes are obviously one-sided group banter, but the host website (Simply Syndicated) contains a forum where listeners can type their own thoughts. It might help if future episodes reflected on listener response to the previous podcast, though. Make it more "interactive" for podcast-only fans.

The gang have a rapport, friendship and love of film, but don't expect much insight or clever perspectives. Anything of interest is usually cribbed from IMDb, begging the question: why not just chat about your favourite films with your own friends, instead of by podcast proxy? The MYSS team lack the depth of knowledge to make you want to hear their opinions. Indeed, I'm often rolling my eyes at the gaps in their movie knowledge and viewing habits (someone had never seen Monty Python & The Holy Grail). There's also a worrying dislike of films widely accepted as good, usually with no persuasive/intriguing reason for their opinion.

Each review lasts about 60-minutes, but usually struggles to justify that length -- so the chat goes off-topic a lot, for long periods, which can become irritating. I think a focused 30-minute of discussion would be a worthwhile change, as many episodes just start recapping the plot after awhile. Superficially, the opening/closing theme tune drags on for an eternity, too.

Big Brother's Big Ears

I know, I know; it's another Iain Lee hosted podcast. If you were ever wondering what happened to him, it's now abundantly clear! He's the John Barrowman of podcasting! Channel 4 likely heard Lee elsewhere and tapped him for their twice-weekly Big Brother internet-radio show, with newcomer Gemma Cairney.

It's basically an audio-version of Big Brother's Big Mouth, but better because BBBM only works with Russell Brand. Oddly, Iain Lee's not particularly interested in BB (he admits as much on his other shows), but he's still able to wrangle the callers to good effect and watches enough to have an opinion.

Surprisingly, BBBE also made me reconsider BB8 winner Brian Belo, who sometimes guests and comes across very well. It helps that he's a die-hard BB obsessive, with the kind of knowledge and first-hand experience a BB podcast needs. I mean, this guy downloads Aussie Big Brother, and his initials are BB! It's actually a shame Brian's not a permanent co-host, as he's the kind of oddball Iain's used to dealing with on his radio show, and has the knowledge and enthusiasm Lee admittedly lacks.

Podcasts worth a listen...

I'm still listening to the podcasts I reviewed here, but here are a few new ones you may want to consider yourself:

The Collings & Herrin Podcast

Writer/journalist/film critic Andrew Collins and comedian Richard Herring chew the fat over the week's big news stories, finding time to ridicule Sun columnist Jon Gaunt and reveal an appetite to climb the iTunes podcast chart in the process. It's intentionally low-tech (lurching into itself with no introduction, often with poor sound quality, before ending abruptly after an hour). Plus, as it's essentially just two mates venting their spleens, it can become a bit wearisome at times. But there are still amusing moments and a certain fly-on-the-wall vibe to "eavesdropping" on them both. It's worth a listen, but you have to persevere a bit.

Jonathan Ross

Love him or loathe him, you can't deny he's quick-witted and cheekily amusing -- most of the time. This podcast is a highlights package of Ross' Saturday morning Radio 2 show, uploaded in the afternoon. It's usually about 30-45 minutes long and involves Ross mulling over life with giggling cohort Andy, before some amusing interviews with celebrity guests.

The quality of the guests don't typically rival his TV chat show, but it's actually nice to hear from people who aren't as ubiquitous in the media. For example: he interviewed Marshall Lancaster and Dean Andrews (supporting players on Ashes To Ashes), which came as a breath of fresh air, as the show's stars Keeley Hawes and Philip Glenister just regurgitate the same old stories on TV. His good-natured, cheeky, sardonic interviewing technique is best-suited to radio. Likewise, his self-obsession is something you expect from radio D.Js, so it's easier to digest when compared to his TV series.

The Lost Initiative

Iain Lee hosts Sky One's weekly podcast, leading the ruminations and debate about every Sunday night's episode. He's joined by the editor of the UK Official Lost magazine Paul Terry and "Geeky Tom", for light-hearted and affectionate banter that often provides insights (often unintentionally). While I love the Official Lost podcast (hosted by head writers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof), the fact they make the show means it's a different listening experience and restricts what they can reveal. In contrast, the Lost Initiative is free to theorize and have fun nitpicking the show to death. You can sense the genuine adoration of the show from everyone involved. Calls from real viewers are also a nice touch at the end. It's finished now, but it's well worth downloading when it returns in 2009.

Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica podcasts

The whiskey-drinking showrunner of BSG gives a weekly DVD commentary-style podcast of every episode. Informative and candid, but aimed at die-hard fans. It's often illuminating about writing and TV production, if you're interested. However, the downside to RDM's frankness is how the podcasts reveal a lot of BSG's problems and avenues not explored. While it's interesting to hear about that stuff, it kind of ruins the mystique and fuels belief that the show is freewheeling. For e.g: I'm still irritated to hear RDM admit that a recent scene (of Baltar being lifted into the air by the ethereal Number Six) wasn't an intended reveal that Six has physical presence, but just a production goof. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but... BSG fans should find this essential listening straight from the horses mouth.

Kermode vs. Isaacs

I'm a big fan of the weekly film podcast from Five Live, where Simon Mayo chews the fat with film critic Mark Kermode about the week's new cinema releases. It really is a great listen, as I love Kermode's rants and passion... even when he's clearly wrong...

Anyway, this week's podcast is essential listening for fans, as actor Jason Isaacs (a "friend of the show" they say "hello" to each week) is actually in the studio with them... and amusingly rallies against Kermode's dislike for certain things, like: Johnny Depp's performances in the Pirates trilogy and the quality of Christopher Columbus' work (as Isaacs worked with him on Harry Potter.) It's great to hear someone actually involved in the making of films take an opposing view with M.K, and the good-natured back-and-forth between them is definitely worth a listen.

Isaacs' general viewpoint on the film industry is also illuminating, although it's a shame he spends a big chunk of the podcast plugging his work near the end. Oh, and he says he liked the first Alien Vs. Predator film (seemingly because he's a friend of director Paul W.S Anderson...), so that lost him some respect... but otherwise, what a great guest!

And there's a second podcast from Simon Mayo this week -- containing Kermode's review of Cloverfield, which includes a good interview with director Matt Reeves. I should be seeing Cloverfield early next week, so stay tuned for my own review very soon...

Both podcasts are highly recommended.

Everyone's a critic!

Isn't that the saying? Today, it's never been more true. Thanks to the internet, everyone can self-publish their thoughts to a worldwide audience. Indeed, this very blog is an outlet for my thoughts and opinions on the media -- primarily television and film.

But should people listen to reviewers? Do reviews serve a purpose?

I'm not a professional reviewer, but I've been writing critiques for well over a decade. I know what I like, I can organize my thoughts coherently (most of the time), and I like to think I publish readable, entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking stuff. It's not as slick or as insightful as some, but considering I have other things going on in my life, and a full-time job, I think I do a decent job for an amateur.

Just recently, I was reading Off The Telly's blog, where American actor Sean Power (who plays Marty in Jack Dee sitcom Lead Balloon) had an e-mail he sent to a reviewer published in the "Right To Reply" post. Power sounded quite upset about Lead Balloon's review and stuck the knife in about online reviewers.

I read the offending review of Lead Balloon (which wasn't that harsh, really), and the derogatory comments about the sitcom's supporting cast and its similarities to Curb Your Enthusiasm were argued quite well. I agreed with most of what the review said, actually.

It seems Mr Power got a bit irritable, though -- perhaps because his character's relevance on the show was ridiculed -- so he decided to write in about it. It's a shame he got a bit abusive, though. At the end of the day, a review is just one person's opinion...

Something Power mentions in his reply is how critics have no right to pick fault with things on television, because they can't do a better job. Yeah, that's an old argument, but it never fails to get me pondering it a bit...

I can't think of any reviewer (amateur or professional) who could clearly do a better job than the people they appraise. Could Jonathan Ross even remember to take the lens cap off a camera? And, for all his entertaining vitriol on the matter, I'd like to see Mark Kermode direct a multi-million dollar franchise like Pirates Of The Caribbean, and improve on Gore Verbinski's films.

But reviewers aren't there to do someone else's job, anyway. They're there to analyse final products with a discerning, informed, unbiased eye. Yes, they're glorified audience members (in a sense) --people who put into words what millions of people think when they see a bad, mediocre or wonderful piece of work.

Yes, some reviewers are better than others at writing, and only a few ever become recognized authorities or gain the respect from the creators they evaluate – but that's life. The vast majority of reviews, particularly these days, are from people just voicing an opinion – blogging to the breeze. If reviewer John Phillips at Off The Telly doesn't like Lead Balloon, he's allowed to voice his views – particularly in the case of BBC output, which we pay for...

Personally, I've always liked reading reviews. They've been my invaluable movie-going barometer for years now. Empire and Total Film magazines have save me from many bad film experiences. I particularly love well-argued reviews that I don't even agree with! I've even grown to like a few films because a well-written review made me see things at a deeper level.

Mark Kermode's Five Live podcast is also wonderful, particularly when he derides a perfectly acceptable piece of entertainment on quite high-brow grounds. Sometimes, even he sways me with his opinions on films and actors. I've recently begun to agree with the good doctor that, yes, Siiir Anthony Hopkins is... well, a bit flat, isn't he?

But do reviews, whatever their written quality, have an overall effect on things? People who don’t read reviews have still heard through "the grapevine" that Bionic Woman isn't very good, that Heroes' second season is a big disappointment, and that Battlestar Galactica is actually an excellent drama. A mix of reviews seem to accumulate online and a general consensus soaks through to wider audiences. Rotten Tomatoes turned that fact into an essential website!

For me, I've been persuaded to watch/avoid things based on reviews far too often to discount them as the burbling of embittered film school dropouts. Sure, people like that exist out there, but many reviewers deliver exactly what the industry needs to hear: plain-speaking, articulate, passionate audience feedback.

As a 28-year-old screenwriter trying to catch a break, raised on television, and nurturing a love pf film since I saw Snow White as a toddler, I think my opinions are just as valid as the next...

It's up to readers how much they choose to value them.

What podcasts are you listening to?

I subscribe to Russell Brand, whose schtick is getting a bit tired on TV but I like his podcast because he can interact with Matt Morgan, who's often funnier. Maybe that's where his TV stuff is going wrong; he needs a co-presenter of equal wit.

I also get the Best Of Moyles podcast, as I'm a fan of Chris Moyles' Radio 1 show. A lot of people like to diss him, but I think his stuff is entertaining and there's a good ensemble feel to the show. A great way to start the morning and the Best Of podcast allows me to catch-up on some bits I miss.

Also on Radio 1, the Scott Mills Daily is pretty good, although it's often frustratingly short sometimes, but still occassionally hilarious. I particularly like his phone pranks.

The Official Lost Podcast is great, once you get used to the oh-so-geeky Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, who are undoubtedly great writers, but often wander into unfunny digressions. But this is an invaluable resource for Lost fans, particularly the Q&A session.

Battlestar Galactica Podcast. I'm quite new to this, subscribing for some insider thoughts on the stunning season 3 finale. I downloaded some from the archive, but to be honest I found them a little dry. Ronald D. Moore's stuff is usually the best, while budding writers will love the Writer's Room special... which basically has the writing staff chewing the fat over some season 2 episodes. Very illuminating about the creative process.

Mark Kermode's Film Reviews. This is probably my favourite podcast, as Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode's chemistry is great fun and Kermode's infamous rants are brilliant. I sometimes don't agree with his thoughts and he's a little too high-brow at times, but he also knows his stuff and has changed my opinion on a few things.

Scene Unseen Movie Reviews. I've only been subscribed for a few weeks, but I'm quite enjoying this podcast. Chris and Jimmy are two American movie-lovers who review films, but the "twist" is that one will see the movie, the other won't. It's very American, but interesting to see the fan perspective on stuff from across the pond -- particularly when discussing British stuff like the Bonds, Hot Fuzz, Shaun Of The Dead and The Wicker Man, etc.