And Pete – it does matter. If Planet Earth fails to inspire thoughful people like youself – then it has indeed failed, at least in part.

I take it no-one else saw Everybody Hates Chris then?

The shark stuff in episode One was indeed phenomenal and quite frankly has put me off going even to within 10 feet above the ocean, let alone in it! And episode Two was pretty fine too – I mean getting the footage of snow leopards was stunning. There are only (about) 2,500 of them in existence (that’s just one tenth of the population of your beloved Bournville!). And they are found only where are there are damn big mountains, no roads and the words ‘armed-bandit’ are in all to regular usage! Quality.

Its the coffee-book explanation. The idea has to surely be that a new generation will watch glossy Planet Earth, then go and buy the back catalogue and learn something.

As for the BBC. I no longer watch broadcast TV and don’t pay a licence fee. The only time I get to see it is on a friday when I pop round to see my mum on the way home from work, and we watch the 6 o’clock news. WTF is with the camera man these days? Its all ‘arty’ camera shots and moving left and right and up and down whilst doing an interview or piece-to-camera. Also, why does it take two people to read out the news? And why so many outside broadcasts? A reporter standing outside in the cold, in front of a closed court building, telling us the result of a trial that finished at 1pm.

As for the ‘factual’ output from the BBC. Walking with Dinosaurs! That show put the nail in the coffin for serious BBC programming.

Re: Takeshi’s Castle, it’s about 4 hours long or something in its original form. Or at least twice the length of a Gladiators. The main thing I find funny about it (apart from people falling down, hard) is that it stars an internationally acclaimed film director, playing himself as an evil games-baron. I wish Ken Loach would present a new series of Knightmare.

(See also disclaimer in first paragraph!)

If you do this again can I vote for CSI, Boston Legal and Law and Order: Criminal Intent? They’re all shockingly mainstream, but I’m sure they won’t do you any harm.

TC was enjoyable purely because it’s mad Japanese TV which is always a good thing. It was nice to see something like this at length rather than the usual 30 second clips that crop up online which let the character of the piece really show, especially Mr Takeshi. However, after a few shows it all got a bit repetitive and I stopped bothering to watch.

The main problem was Craig Charles’ mildly xenophobic narration, not so much for the xenophobia but for the tedious mockery. There’s a line between finding Jap stuff fascinatingly odd and taking the piss and he crossed it big time. I’d have loved to see it presented “clean”.

Next?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Takeshi’s Castle, but I somehow doubt you can torrent that.

I’m enjoying Planet Earth though, purely for the spectacle and imagery though, the scene with the midge larva hatching in the lake in Africa was fascinating to see… nothing I’ll see in my lifetime (probably) so it’s good to have these things brought to you.

Admittedly the one you watched was probably, visually, the poorest yet. Dig out the first one and BE AMAZED.