Inspector, Inspector, Come look at this.....

The fictional character Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse was created by Colin Dexter which first aired in 1987 lasting until 2000. Inspector Morse was played by John Thaw (who is still living) in the television series who cracked open complex crimes of the white collar variety as a senior Criminal Investigation Department officer who worked for the Thames Valley Police in Oxford England. who. The series lasted thirty three episodes, each lasting around two hours.

www.inspectormorse.co.uk/

Steve Davis Just Snookered You.... Pay Up Mutha @#%$!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Davis

Born in 1957, Steve Davis is a English Professional Snooker player who has won 6 Snooker world titles in the 1980, and has been playing the modified version of pool since 1978. Davis has won 79 professional titles, yet his total winnings are undisclosed. Davis has made an English mark on the game of pool.

Kiribati, also known as the Gilbert Islands

Located in the south Pacific Ocean, the Gilbert Islands became a British settlement in 1837 and became part of the British Crown in 1916, along with several other islands near by. The Gilbert Islands were practically ruling themselves by 1971 and was separated from the British government rule in 1975, finally gaining its independence in 1979. The transition was peaceful as of July 12, 1979 when their new constitution was ratified by their new democratic government similar to our own. Kiribati, as it is now called, did not remain a British Commonwealth, nor did it import or export goods from Great Britain, but did however import and export goods from its competitors such as the USA, Australian, France, Germany, and Hong Kong. The major export from Kiribati before gaining its independence was mainly fish and phosphate minerals, and after the transitional period or lack of phosphate deposits, fish remained as a leading export accompanied with Corpa, or the meat of a coconut.

Final Exam

You must answer both questions. No late exams will be accepted. Exams should be typed (single-spaced is fine) and the answer length should take into account that this is a take home exam. Please read each question carefully before you answer. You may use your notes and the assigned readings (which you should consult to flesh out any weak answers) to assist you with preparing for your own answers, but do not copy or plagiarize any material. If you do so, it will result in the automatic failure of the test. Good Luck!

The exam is due by noon, Friday, 12/14.

1. Compare and contrast the rise and decline of the Labour and Conservative parties in Britain between 1979 and 2007. How and why did both parties seen massive swings in popularity during the last three decades? Why did Labour lose in 1979 and Margaret Thatcher win? How and why was John Major important to British politics for much of the 1990s? Why can it be argued that Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister was really a Thatcherite in disguise? Gordon Brown, the current Labour PM, has been argued represents a part of the Labour party that may be a throwback to earlier Labour policies? Is this true? Explain.

2. We have discussed a great deal about what it means to be British, in politics, economics, and culture & society. The Labour party under Tony Blair said that this new millennia is an age of "Cool Britannia". In your essay, discuss what do you think that phrase means in regards to being "British" today in 2007. How that has changed since the end of World War Two in 1945. Touch on each of the three areas in your essay, and use references from the movies we saw in the second half of the class to help illuminate your answer.

One Foot in the Grave

One Foot in the Grave was a comedy series produced by BBC in 1990 and ran until 2000. The series was mainly about a couple that was struggling in life. The husband played by actor Richard Wilson was retired from his job to be replaced as a security guard by an automated machine. Even though the relationship between the two was settled, the wife played by Annette Crobie was always infuriated for her husband misfortunes. Other characters of the show were: the friend of the family played by Doreen Mantel, the next door neighbor played by Angus Deayton. One Foot in the Grave was on going for six series over the period of ten years. All the major characters of the show are still a life.

Blackadder

Blackadder was a British historical sit-com which aired on BBC One from 1983 to 1989. The series starred Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder, Hugh Laurie as his sidekick, and several other actors in historical roles. Each series had different charachters and different time periods covered. The first series called "The Black Adder" took place around the War of the Roses. The second series, "Blackadder II" took place in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The third series, "Blackadder the Third", occured in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The final full series, "Blackadder Goes Forth" took place in the first World War. The fourth series has been ranked number 16 in the top 100 Greatest British Television shows.

Wating for God

This show began in 1990 and ran until 1994. This show had 47 episodes. The major actors/actresses in this show where : Sandra Payne, who played Marion, Graham Crowden, who played Tom, Stephanie Cole, who played Diana, and Daniel Hill who played Harvey. Surprisingly all actors/actresses are alive.
This tv show is about old people living in the Bayview Retirement Vilage. The two main characters are Tom Ballard and Diana Trent. Tom Ballard is a psychotic old man who lives in his own little world. He thinks that he is at different places and he is doing different jobs. Diana is a bitter old lady who complains about everything. They become friends and make the head of the retirement home, Harvey Baines, crazy, literally. In one episode she makes him go to a mental hospital. Tom has a son who is married to an drugged up alcoholic, Marion, who wants to off Tom so she can get his money. A worker at the home, Jane, is overly cheerful, grating on Diana’s nerves. The tv show is hilarious. In one episode Diana needs to take care of two children. She ties the kids together and walks them on a leash into town.

Episode can be watched: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb8A7mz1Fzc

Picture comes from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098945/

Gladiators - we salute you?

The show known to us as "American Gladiators" was soon becoming a British hit. Re-named Gladiators, it ran from 1992 - 2000. The show had regular people competeting in an event based arena, pitted against body builders with flashy names like 'laser' and 'lightning'. It was popular in both the US and UK, and boasted a cast of many well-known body builders and sometimes celebrity guests. The main cast include names like: Ulrika Jonsson, John Fashanu, John Sachs, and John Anderson - most still living today. In its entirety, their were 18 series and 132 episodes. It can still be seen on Challenge, which is the adult version of GAS for the UK.

Top picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Gladiators_logo.JPG
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxnniy-GiEQ

Are You Being Served?

Maybe you're like me and you've seen this show on public television late at night... maybe not. Either way, Are You Being Served? was a sitcom on the air in Britain from 1972 to 1985. It aired a total of 69 episodes, and it portrayed life in an upscale retail store (and the misadventures). It is run by two very old men who try to keep it very prim and proper, as if the year was 1922 instead of 1972. Although you may not recognize any of the actors on the show, you may have seen the face (or rather hair) above while flipping channels.

www.bbc.co.uk/.../images/mollie_sugden_270.jpg

Here's the main website, with some links to video clips: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/areyoubeingserved/index.shtml

Enjoy uniquely British 1970's humor! And that hair!!

And Now For Something Completely Different

Monty Python’s Flying Circus was a sketch comedy program that ran for a total of 45 episodes from 169-1974. It was conceived, produced, and performed by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Pallin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. While the program was at it’s core a sketch comedy, the Python’s made major innovations by employing a “stream of consciousness” style that saw skits not ending, running into other skits, recurring later in the program, and so forth, providing a stylistic sense that set them apart from British sketch comedies that had come before. The Python’s also used their platform to push the boundaries of what could be done on television – Terry Gilliam became the first person to say “Shit” on British TV, for instance.

The Python’s produced three movies in the same style as the “Flying Circus,” – Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Life of Brian, an irreverent take on the life of one man who is mistaken for the Messiah.

All of the Python’s survive save for Graham Chapman, who passed on Oct 4, 1989. In true Python style, John Cleese eulogized him by saying that, after becoming the first person to say “Shit” on British TV, Chapman would never forgive him if he didn’t take this chance to become the first person to say “Fuck” at a British memorial service!

Image Retrieved From:

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2006/0607/amworth0708.jpg

Pride and Prejudice

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/prideandprejudice/

Pride and Prejudice was a BBC/A&E television drama miniseries made in 1994 and released in 1995 based off the book by Jane Austin.

Pride and Prejudice is set in 19th century England and is based on a family consisting of all girls, the Bennets. The Bennets, being of not a very high class nor possessing any great deal of money, find themselves in a sticky situation. With no male heirs Mr. Bennet must give his estate to a distant male relative while Mrs. Bennet tries to marry off her five daughters to every man she can find with a cent in his pocket. The beautiful daughter, Jane, falls in love with a wealthy newcomer to town, Mr. Bingley, and though blocked by the cruel and powerful Mr. Darcy, pursues him throughout the series. The next pretty sister is Eliza, the main female character, who spends her time being annoyed and frustrated with Mr. Darcy and his ridiculous antics and notions. They find that though they are initially quite perturbed by the other, they are nonetheless intrigued as things progress. Things get complicated when one sister runs off, unmarried, with a man from the military, the relative to inherit the estate wants to marry Lizzy(Eliza), and both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are betrothed.

Pride and Prejudice is 6 episodes long, it was filmed over 100 days in 24 different locations. Currently there are no new episodes and there are no plans to continue filming at a later time. They did make a new adaptation in 2005 starring Keira Knightley, however, this adaptation was a Universal Pictures Film, not a television series, and is only 121 minutes long.

Famous actors featured in this miniseries were Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy), Jennifer Ehle (Eliza Bennet), Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet), and Susannah Harker (Jane Bennet), all of whom are alive today. Jennifer Ehle received the BAFTA TV award in 1996 for her role in Pride and Prejudice.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who is a show found on BBC America. It is about a quirky doctor who travels through time and space battling aliens and monsters. The show is a hit and is about to start its third season since it began in 2005. David Tennant is the star of the show, he plays the doctor and the show revolves around him. Billie Piper is his trusty sidekick. She will be playing a main role in the up coming season.

Call my Bluff

Is a game show hosted on BBC television. There are two teams of three usually made up of celebrities. How the game works is one teams is given a word and they come up with three different definitions. The other teams has to figure out which one is correct and which two are the bluffs. The show use to run in the US back in 1965 on NBC hosted by Bill Leyden. Show started in england in 1965 stopped in 1988 then was brought back in 1996. Some of the actors on the show: Robin Ray, Bob Holness, Rod Liddle, and Alan Coren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoiKoIZ7wwo

Bisping

Michael Bisping is a MMA fighter in the UFC. Michael is one of the best and most well know fighters from Britain. Bisping has helped the Ultimate Fighting Championship grow outside of the United States and he is helping the sport grow in England. In fact, UFC recently had its first fight live in London and Bisping was one of the main fights, winning his fight by decision. He is in his prime right now and is getting prepared for the next fight in London in 2008.

Top Gear

Top Gear is a car show shown on BBC Two and once this season finishes, it will have shown 92 episodes since its original debut in 2002. The show has three hosts, all of which with their own personal quirks. Jeremy Clarkson is a tall, old and satirical fellow. He never misses an opportunity to poke fun at society, nationalities or even people in the audience. James May has been dubbed captain slow, mainly because he constantly gets lost and never drives a fast car (excepted when forced to drive the Bugatti Veryon). He always insists on being 'proper' and always tries to one up the other two presenters. Richard Hammond, or hamster, is a short guy who is criticized by the presenters as being on day time television and having had his teeth whitened.

The show has tested the most expensive cars in the world and then gives them to an anonymous test driver, The Stig, to set lap times around Top Gear's personal race track. The crew has also conducted a few epic races. These include a race to the North Pole to see which was faster, a car or a bob sled team. They held a race from England to Verbier Switzerland between a plane and a car. But a more prevalent race was recently held from one side of London to the other to see which was the fastest way to cross a busy city (see clip below). Even though most of their races seem one sided, all of them have been extremely close.

The crew is given a special challenge every once in awhile to see "How hard could it be?" They have created amphibious cars to cross the English Channel, convertible minivans, a space shuttle, construction, and they even tried to grow their own bio-friendly petrol. All of these challenges usually end up in a disaster: two of the three amphibious cars sank, the minivan set a car wash on fire and the space shuttle exploded. The presenters take on the idea of Top Gear being "Ambitious but rubbish."

There are numerous celebrities on the show that partake in the Star in a Resably Priced Car segment. They place a celebrity in a Chevy Lacettie (not sold in America) and time them around the track and then place them against all other celebrities. Stars include Simon Cowell (current leader), Hugh Grant, and even Gordon Ramsey.

While the show pokes fun at cultures and specific groups of people, it is estimated to have over 300 million people tune in world wide each week. It is also one of the most pirated television shows today. You Tube has almost every episode before and after it stopped being broadcast in America. The busy city skit is 23 minutes long but has a good, funny depiction of London today.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Top Gears Website
http://www.topgear.com/

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

The British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway started as a BBC radio show in 1987 and soon after went to television. The early TV series was mostly done in London and had a total of 137 episodes over 10 series. Later the show was adopted to an American version which is very similar to the British version.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? is an improv show where a variety of comedic actors act out scenes suggested by the host and audience. Clive Anderson is the host of the British version and even part of the radio show. The actors featured on the show include Tony Slattery, Stephen Fry, John Sessions, and Josie Lawrence. Later Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles join as two main actors.

[img src=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whose_Line_Is_It_Anyway%3F]

Abfab!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Ab_Fab_series_5_title_card.jpg

Absolutley Fabulous was a TV show that aired on the BBC that was made in 1992. The show was mainly sketch comedy. Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone are two substance-abusing fashion and fad-obsessed Britons who value fame and style over substance. They live in a house in Holland Park, with Patsy spending most of her time there as well. The program focuses on Eddy's ongoing struggle to achieve fame, success and her super thin figure, the disapproval of her daughter and the constant presence of her increasingly senile mother. Throughout, Patsy is at her side being an instigator. Much of the comedy of the show is physical, usually derived from Edina and Patsy's drunken and/or stoned states, with their favourite drinks being "Bolli Stoli" and later "Veuve & Bourb". There were 36 episodes and the show ended in March of 2005.

I don't think the main stars are really famous, however they had *a lot* of guest stars like Naomi Campbell, Elton John, and Twiggy. This show used to come on BBC America but it's on the Oxygen Channel now after Bliss which is...erm...yeah, it's on Oxygen.

Skins

Skins premiered on January 25, 2007. The program is aimed at young adults on Channel 4. The show is based on a young group of Britain teenagers and their personal struggles in Bristol. The program contains adult contents with some strong language, drug references and highly charged issues of race, religion, sexuality, and food disorders. The premier season contains 9 episodes with an incoming season next year. The show introduced Tony—a young 17 years old who is trying to deal with his best friend (Sid) and his little sister. The casts include Nicholas Hoult as Tony—he is known for playing as a young boy in the film About a Boy with Hugh Grant; and Mike Bailey (Sid). As of now, Skins is not schedule on any US cable network, but you may watch every episode of Skins via Youtube.

Picture Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skins_%28TV_series%29

The Avengers

Airing in January 1961 and running until September 1969 The Avengers has been dubbed one of the most popular spy television series of all time with 161 episodes. The series, although produced in Britain by the Associated British Corporation, was adored by viewers in a record 120 countries. However, a few of these countries only received the show as a radio series. The show endeared its viewers to two secret agents in Great Britain trained to rid the world of enemy spies and fiendish mad scientists. Actor Patrick Macnee, played agent John Steed and Diana Rigg played agent Emma Peel. Agent John Steed was ever the sophisticated British gentleman working with his beautiful, yet strong and capable counterpart agent Emma Peel. Together they squashed the greedy plots by sinister bad guys to take over the world. Patrick Macnee was not in the first few episodes, but as the series progressed he became a mainstay with his trademark umbrella and bowler hat. He had six different partners during the series run, but none produced as much chemistry as his partnership with Diana Rigg, the beautiful leather clad agent Emma Peel. Her name was derived from the tongue-in-cheek ‘man appeal’. Today Patrick Macnee is 85 years old and living with his wife, Baba Majos in southern California. Diana Rigg at age 69 has enjoyed hosting PBS television series and still performs on stage in London in musicals as well as comedies and dramas. Interestingly, The Avengers were pushed out of the US market by the increasing popularity of Rowan and Martin’s ‘Laugh-In’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gMewkX0-aw&feature=related

http://www.londonpostcard.co.uk/images/lu/lu615.jpg