I'm watching season 1 of An Idiot Abroad now and laughing my ass off! This would totally be me if I was sent off on holiday way out of my comfort zone. The China episode had me in tears I laughed so hard! Especially the part about eating insects: I hate Ricky Gervais but the show is funny. If you are into Brit comedy I also just watched Sightseer which is an excellent film if you're a misanthrope like me.
That was hilarious! Poor westerner. Although, I have to admit, I don't think I'd care to eat those either Bacon, anyone?
I really like the concept of the show. You know they have a million shows where people get all into the cultures and customs of foreign lands, trying everything, wanting to fit in with the locals. This one is the complete opposite! Ricky Gervais purposely puts Karl into situations he knows he'll be very uncomfortable in. 95% of the time he will do it too. Comedy gold.
Will have to check out a couple of those episodes . There was a great BBC series, "Globe Trekker", with the same concept of visiting far away places and trying to fit in and explore. Some episodes are quite fascinating . Great series, but I don't think PBS is carrying it anymore http://www.pilotguides.com/tv-shows/globe-trekker/
I enjoyed Globe Trekker but some of those hosts really annoyed me- especially that Justine. Bradley Cooper got his start there believe it or not.
P.S. I forgot to mention that I think it's totally odd that as westerners, we have an aversion to eating bugs and insects. But when you think about it, crabs, lobsters, prawns, all the yummy stuff, belong to the same family as those "appetizers" scorpions, centipedes, etc... Arthropoda! It's all about "packaging" P.P.S. I found that episode on DailyMotion! http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15aq9 ... -china_fun Thanks Chris!
The Battered Bastards of Baseball. Not a baseball fan at all (or any sport, really) but this is a riveting documentary about baseball's last independent team, the Portland Mavericks. 79 minutes, so it's a fast watch, and it's great.
We Are What We Are Pretty good throughout, but really liked the end. not sure if you're supposed to laugh, but I did.
Seriously! I watched the secret of eels or whatever, and it was soo boring! They didn even tell us any secrets. The narrator was some montone lame artist who sounded like tina from bobs burgers. It got a little more entertaining once I realized that and started making up my own narration about eel butts.
That was really good. I also watched Inequality For All, and the Big Star documentary. The Big Star one seemed very tedious to watch. They are an ok band (often over hyped IMO), not bad at all but I tend to like their influence on other bands rather than them, if that makes sense? The Chris Bell parts were sad.
Some docs: Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction - Sophie Huber Photographic Memory - Ross McElwee The Pervert's Guide to Ideology - Sophie Fiennes The Punk Singer - Sini Anderson Tabloid - Errol Morris Some fictions: Nymphomaniac - Lars von Tier Sightseers - Ben Whitley Upstream Color - Shane Carruth Lair of the White Worm - Ken Russell Your Sister's Sister - Lynn Shelton Some television: A Bit of Fry & Laurie The Fall Mission Impossible Peep Show Shameless
I highly recommend "The One I Love" on netflix streaming. Absolutely hysterical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCOvhojlZzQ
not sure if it has been mentioned yet, but Black Mirror is amazing. the first two seasons are up at 3 episodes each.
I just read a bunch about black mirror: very interested in checking it out. Also Jon Hamm starred in the new holiday special that just aired
Thanks to this thread I watched the first episode a few days ago. I was kind of disturbed which isn't an easy thing to accomplish. Undecided about going back for another episode. It was very well done but yeesh. Spoiler Basically a princess is taken hostage and the demand is for the prime minister to screw a pig live on tv. Yeah. Disturbed.
Just finished the new (third) season of Lillyhammer. Love this show. I was surprised by the guest star on the last episode - I did not realize who it was until I saw the credits (and then the final scene after them). So sad that I have to wait until a 4th season, if there is to be one.
Yeah same boat, didn't realize it was the Boss until credits rolled. Such a funny cameo. But Steven Van Zandt is and has been a part (guitar) of the Springstein band for a while now! Anyways just a fun and inventive show for sure. Also anyone catch any of the Springstein/ Brian Fallon (Gaslight Anthem) songs? Good stuff.
For those of you interested in documentaries and music, check out Beware of Mr. Baker. Ginger Baker, drummer for Cream and a ton of other stellar old acts. A phenomenal drummer, he can play any genre and probably has. He's also batshit crazy.