Mind Your Language With Mr. Jeremy Brown

Does anyone remember this show? That old British politically-incorrect comedy about a bunch of international students taking English classes in a night school.

We were all young then, loved the slapstick humour, didn’t really see the mildly offensive national stereotypes that people get so worked up over these days. There were the bickering Pakistani and Indian guys (Ali Nadim and Ranjit Singh) the girl-crazy Italian and Greek (Giovanni and Max), and many others. A quick look at youtube and you can see lots of the episodes resurrected there.

Then there was Ms. Courtney, the strict headmistress who never seemed to like anybody.

But the star of the show was of course the teacher, Mr. Brown. Naive and unassuming, always trying to fight off the amourous moves by the French babe (Danielle).

Looking back at that era, there were many late night English comedies on our telly from the UK, like Yes Minister, Allo Allo and the sort. I guess I owe to them in part my fascination with the British and English.

Quick Hits on TV Drama Series

I usually don’t watch much TV much less on weekends (when I’ve got to compete for the remote), but it seems to me that TV, especially on the drama shows on the Astro English channels, seem to be getting more and more generic. Some random thoughts.

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There’s a new NCIS series called NCIS:LA. How is NCIS different from CSI? Or Law & Order: SVU? And what is with all these acronyms? There’s also a new Law and Order spin off in the US now called Law & Order: Los Angeles, or LOLA for short. What does the show do when ratings are poor? Run, LOLA, RUN!

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Speaking of Law & Order, I don’t watch it now but I used to watch the very first season shown here back in the early 90′s, with actors like Michael Moriarty, Chris Noth, Dann Florek and the excellent Dan Hill as the District Attorney.

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So You Think You Can Dance? has been around many years, but most people still see it as a more boring, dancing version of American Idol. I used to watch it a bit, its interesting during the open audition stages (much like American Idol) but when it comes to the final stages it gets really boring with the same dance styles.

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Is Lost and Heroes still around? I get bored just watching the preview ads.

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Watched an episode of Mercy last month. Wow that Michelle Tractenberg seems to be everywhere these days.

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Talking of medical dramas, why do have an inordinate high number of good-looking people on their payroll? Like on Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs. Have they seen our local hospitals?

Winged Victory of Samothrace

One of the 3 famous ladies of the Louvre in Paris, the Winged Victory of Samothrace pictures the Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory descending the heavens and landing on a prow of a ship.

One of the wings is a replica of the other, made from plaster as it had been broken off.

Perhaps with the original arms and head attached, we can see the sculpture in its in its full glory, but alas, they are lost. But without it, it lends an air of mystery to it. Carved in white marble, it is one of the most famous sculptures in the world.

Looking at it, it reminds me of an angel, although I’m not sure the ancient Greeks believed in angels. But it is more likely Christians sculptors and artists in later centuries were influenced to model angels after this image.

Will be seeing you soon…