Watchdog Posted Fri Dec 15 23:02:36 GMT 2000 by 'tim_e'

Okay, it's a bit bloodless and an easy target, but it really is shite. The half of tonight's episode that I saw included:

Wharfedale DVD players which don't play the bonus disc of Gladiator. This included Anne Robinson interviewing a bloke from Tesco, and showing her ignorance of the subject, when he tried to explain that it is because the disc does not meet the standard she just cut rudely across him.

A holiday brochure which seemed to commit the sin of describing the accomodation accurately.

An item about Virgin holidays weather guarantee, the problem with which semeed to be that Richard Branson wasn't handing out fifty pund notes in the street.

Woolworths and Our Price disgracefully deciding for themselves which records they want to stock in their shops.

A reasonable complaint about a ticket agency taking the money and not supplying the goods, but more appropriate to tell the police than to tell Watchdog I'd have thought. Even then, they have to cover the story in their usual nobby style, ie bloke who didn't get a ticket for a football match sitting in front of telly watching game wearing scarf and holding rattle.

I dunno what I missed in the first half, it was probably someone complaing about the magic beans they swapped their cow for.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Joe4SOTCAA on Fri Dec 15 23:40:30 GMT 2000:

Their finest hour was when somebody sent in a letter moaning that a 'Best 60s Compilation Ever...'-type CD didn't feature any Beatles. Cue a vaguely researched but quite interesting item on PRS fees, slapped right down to pleb level at the end with the ultimate in Watchdog parting shots:

'So...our advice to you is, if you're going to buy a 60s compilation CD, always read the cover first to see who's on it...'


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 00:51:12 GMT 2000:

Oh for the good old days of Watchdog, with Lynn Faulds-Wood and John Stapleton covering issues that matter eh?

Robinson was well out of order with the bloke from Tesco, it's hard his fault that Columbia TriStar (was it?) manufactured a disc that doesn't work in some bog standard DVD players. Surely the people she should have been taking issue with were those who produced the disc?

Watchdog? More like a dribbly old cocker spaniel bitch who reeks of piss.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:00:43 GMT 2000:

I also saw Watchdog today, and commented what a bag of old cunts Anne "I'm an ignorant bitch" Robinson was to Tesco man.

Meanwhile, does anyone else commit the cardinal sin of watcing Dial-a-Date (as I am now)? Did you ever notice how the "dates" they go on are 100% free? Got forbid they spring the ££s for a restaurant.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'tim_e' on Sat Dec 16 01:04:51 GMT 2000:

>Meanwhile, does anyone else commit the cardinal sin of watcing Dial-a-Date (as I am now)? Did you ever notice how the "dates" they go on are 100% free? Got forbid they spring the ££s for a restaurant.

Is that the after the pub thing on C4? I once saw that by mistake. None of the people on it seemed even vaguely likeable, I wouldn't have wanted a date with any of them and I'm desperate.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 01:06:36 GMT 2000:

Oh yes, Dial-a-Date, The Prezzie Show and Young Gifted and Broke. The absolute delights of late night ITV. Have you seen 'Big Screen X-Certificate'?? Part porn, part movie review, and part ...er....God knows what. Always loads of women with their jugs out, writhing around in oil.


















I'm not complaining!


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:08:15 GMT 2000:

My friend Hairy Pat is really freaked out by the bits on That Prezzie Show where women in tights are running around dressed as presents. It really, genuinely scares him.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 01:08:29 GMT 2000:

Tim, imagine if you can a *very* low budget version of the thing on C4, add a lot of ugly students and scary people, and a camcorder. Et Voila! Dial-A-Date!


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 01:10:14 GMT 2000:

The Prezzie Show is quite possibly *the* scariest thing ever on TV. Even more so than a naked Keith Chegwin. I wonder if taking drugs would make it easier to watch?


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:11:09 GMT 2000:

Hang on, what x-rated thing? I'm not familiar with that? Is it on ITV? I've never seen anything vaguely porny at night. And I've looked.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:13:23 GMT 2000:

Drugs don't help the entertainment value of That Prezzie Show, I'm afraid. It's still low quality.

Is it on tonight? The repeat of Big Brother is on behind me, I'm afraid. Hang on, I'm turning it off...


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 01:19:13 GMT 2000:

Big Screen X-Certificate is on Thursday nights, usually at about 1am. Dunno if it's just a Tyne Tees thing but it's extremely hardcore compared to ITVs usual output! Last night they featured a woman who was having her tits and ass (among other things!) moulded in plaster for posterity, and triplet sisters shagging each other! The first time I saw it I thought it was Channel 5, but no, there in b&w in the TV Times. Very odd programme indeed. They also review the latest Hollywood films, they had Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu on last week, so I don't think it can be a TT only show, 'cos there's no way they could afford that!


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:23:43 GMT 2000:

Well, I'm pretty sure thay don't have it on Ulster TV (I live in Dublin - so that's what we get).
We don't get Channel 5 either, so it really annoys me when I look at the TV guide in the Guardian, and it says the Karate Kid 2 is on, and I'm really happy, and then I realise it's Channel 5 and not a channel I have. Is C5 ever worth watching (apart from films like KK2)?


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 01:30:42 GMT 2000:

Channel 5 is really a complete waste of airspace. The only thing worth watching is Prisoner (sad I know, but it's force of habit now!) and the odd film like KK, The Goonies, or Short Circuit 2. Apart from that it's bloody diabolical, and you should thank your lucky stars that you can't get it!


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:34:20 GMT 2000:

I was in County Waterford once, where the cable system is different, (they get Welsh BBC etc.), and I saw this really boring quiz show, with one wide camera angle, with 3 contestants, and a voiceover asking questions. After a while, someone was the winner. It was completely uncompelling. So I watched the whole thing.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Suiii on Sat Dec 16 01:37:36 GMT 2000:

By that description you can only mean the enigma that is '100%'. I say it is an enigma because it is utterly uncompelling and the questions are extremely simply, yet it has an addictive quality to it. By far the best thing about the show are it's themed quizzes. A few months ago they screened an edition where all the contestants were dressed in bondage gear and had to answer questions about sex!


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Caroline' on Sat Dec 16 01:42:59 GMT 2000:

Saucy!
So Channel 5 sux, then.
Speaking of other TV regions, I've always found it really strange being in Wales, London, or other bits of Britain, because the news is really different. People die every day on Ulster news, but, from what I remember of Welsh news, they were actually interviewing a farmer who has trouble with crusties on his farm! Quite a change from people being kneecapped every other second. A refreshing change, mind. Shame people aren't kneecapping crusties, though.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Arma on Sat Dec 16 10:36:50 GMT 2000:

We get BS-XC here in London.
(Not that I've seen it that is!)


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Mon Dec 18 11:38:15 GMT 2000:

100% is brilliant. Did anyone see the 100% ABBA show? Three people dressed vaguely as members of ABBA answering questions about ABBA. They were real ABBA experts and everything. Ah Channel 5, if only my reception of it were better...


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Richard' on Mon Dec 18 13:26:36 GMT 2000:

>People die every day on Ulster news... ...people being kneecapped every other second.

Not quite. Okay, Northern Ireland isn't without problems but the news isn't all shootings and the like. When it happens, they report it, as do regional news progs everywhere, but it isn't particularly bad at the mo.


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Anonymous' on Tue Dec 19 00:23:55 GMT 2000:

> When it happens, they report it, as do regional news progs everywhere, but it isn't particularly bad at the mo

(Last word left unfinished due to sudden kneecapping)


Subject: Re: Watchdog [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'rICHARD' on Tue Dec 19 13:10:21 GMT 2000:


>(Last word left unfinished due to sudden kneecap

Hmmm.


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