PREVIEW - advanced info on programmes about Liverpool

[Babaloo]

We already have a thread to talk about stuff we've seen on TV AFTER it has aired. This thread is to alert people to programmes before they air just in case someone might want to record/watch them.

Tonight on More4 @ 8.30pm

Taken for a Ride

For the first time ever, the Turner Prize is being held in Liverpool ... much to the amusement of life-long Liverpudlian, Brian. Plucky Brian (a taxi driver by profession) has agreed to attend a series of lectures at Tate, Liverpool, in what promises to be a fresh, funny take on contemporary art.

[liverpolitan]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

We already have a thread to talk about stuff we've seen on TV AFTER it has aired. This thread is to alert people to programmes before they air just in case someone might want to record/watch them.

Tonight on More4 @ 8.30pm

Taken for a Ride

I condemn it before it is aired. The premise of the programme is monstrously patronising.

Liverpool, according to the London/Manchester media, is a working class city of "scousers" who are funny (to laugh at and with).

My currently high anger levels mean I cannot watch this programme, as it might raise my blood pressure.

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by liverpolitan

I condemn it before it is aired. The premise of the programme is monstrously patronising.

Liverpool, according to the London/Manchester media, is a working class city of "scousers" who are funny (to laugh at and with).

My currently high anger levels mean I cannot watch this programme, as it might raise my blood pressure.

And, for the rest of us who aren't quite as fucked-up by class-related insecurites and hang-ups, i'm sure it'll be an interesting snapshot...

[JUXTAPOL]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

We already have a thread to talk about stuff we've seen on TV AFTER it has aired. This thread is to alert people to programmes before they air just in case someone might want to record/watch them.

Tonight on More4 @ 8.30pm

Taken for a Ride

Cheers for that...

I can't find the Turner prize announcement on C4 this Monday, it is probably on at the end of the 7pm news.

Edit:- Found this

Turner Prize 2007 on TV

Taken For a Ride

Taxi driver Brian Bretherton
© Tate 2007Saturday 1 December 2007, 20.30

Julie Moggan's documentary considers how life and art connect, as seen through the eyes of a Liverpudlian cab driver and his passengers. Taxi driver Brian Bretherton has lived in Liverpool all his life and every day, through the windscreen of his black cab, he sees the lurching cranes and changing skyline as the city transforms around him. In support of his hometown, Brian has volunteered to be an ambassador for Turner Prize 2007 and attended a series of seminars at Tate Liverpool on contemporary art. He is cynical and humorous about contemporary art while being intelligent, curious and keen to reassess his relationship with it. As we follow Brian in the gallery, in the cab with his passengers and with his family, the film builds a lyrical, affectionate portrait of a changing Liverpool and examines how the arrival of this controversial art prize impacts upon Brian and his fellow Liverpudlians. Taking Brian and his cab as a metaphor for the city as a whole, the film is an intelligent yet entertaining exploration of how art relates to life and how life relates back to art.

The above is shown in the Tate gallery, where a widescreen telly is installed in the back seat of the cab showing a film of people discussing art.

Turner Prize 2007 Winner Announcement
The winner of the Turner Prize 2007 will be announced live on Channel 4 news on 19.00 3 December 2007.

[Damon]

Yes, the taxi project is an integral part of the Turner Prize exhibition - anyone who has been down to the Tate will have seen the cab in the gallery with its integrated screen and frequently-changing projections. While I do accept that there could be seen to be something a little patronising about the premise, the actual 'piece' is extremely engaging, with very intelligent and perceptive comments from both the taxi driver and many of his passengers.

Having seen the piece a couple of times now in situ, I have to admit that it never crossed my mind that there might have been any intention to laugh at or with any of the people involved; it seems genuinely interested in both the city and its citizens' attitudes to contemporary art. The TV film may differ in this regard; we shall see, those of us who can be arsed to watch it.

I'm rather looking forward to seeing it.

[Damon]

BTW, the Turner Prize announcement is indeed at the end of the Channel 4 news on Monday - about 7.55pm I think.

Even if you hate everything about it, surely you've got to see the ACTUAL Dennis Hopper in ACTUAL Liverpool??

[liverpolitan]

As predicted, posh southerners civilising scouse plebs. Great.

[Babaloo]

I watched it this morning and thought it was fine. Brian came across as a great ambassador for the city - open, insightful and up for new experiences. The Tate people came across as shallow in comparison - rather as if they had swallowed the blurb but not processed anything or engaged in an open response to something set up as 'art'. A bit too cerebral but that's the danger of talking about it rather than doing it for a living.

I would have liked to have heard more from the other taxi drivers - especially the one who was setting uo a discussion about why one thing should be seen as art and something else as a hammerblow to the head. This discussion was cut short by a tart remark about the intention of the artist or something. Great remark/illustration involving how watching Everton scoring was every bit as transcendental as art and therefore setting up an interesting discussion about the nature of aesthetics that wasn't had. This time.

The programme was made by the Tate so it ultimately reflected what they wanted it to reflect - (Go on, open yourself up, try it, you might like it. Go ooooooon). This is a bit patronising but it's also a necessary part of getting people to experiement.

Every Tate prize is accompanied by interviews with 'ordinary Londoners' who usually say what a load of shite everything is. I thought this was better than that. The English never tire of simultaneously lampooning and celebrating the elitist nature of art and this programme can be seen in that context, too.

Liverpool itself was presented fairly, the good and the tinned up.

[Toadboy]

"load of bollocks" was appropriate from one of the drivers.

Art can be invoking, inspiring, motivating, enjoyable, sociable etc. but some of that dirge was just self obsessed tat and fair play to the taxi man for pointing it out to the shallow art head, who held more store in the 'artists' notes of what the pieces are than the pieces themselves. The discussion about what was art was when the Tater said art was thought proovoking and that's how its different, the taxi driver said "if someone hit that fella over the head it would provoke thought as well; is that art?". "no that's crime" came the reply.

I shouted "GOAL!" at that point.

Art remains subjectective and culture reflects often the value we have on art and what we deem as art. As a nation we should remain open minded and allow the individual, the gallery, the artist to explore and decide what is and what isn't. Statist, authoritarian controls don't wash...

[JUXTAPOL]

They will have only shown the more outspoken taxi passengers, the ones who arent really into any form of art anyway, infact some of them didn't say whether they actually visited the Tate or any art gallery. Also most people dont think deep thought or analyse art when seeing it or know the hidden meanings, they just like how it looks. This modern art seems to be more about it's meaning, rather than how good it looks, so the taxi driver was right about hitting someone on the head with a hammer could be art, although the violent nature was probably not the best choice, therefore the negative response he got probably enforced his idea it was all a load of crap.

There were two real cringe moments in the programe.
1) The woman who said "it would be great if they could make Liverpool more like Manchester", i think she was referring to the shopping element though.

2) The taxi drivers wife saying "there was meant to be 100 Iron men on Crosby beach but one of them was stolen"

[liverpolitan]

The chose to show entertaining "scousers", people who will say "shite" and "bollocks" in front of a camera to strangers. Fine. Good on them. But a lot of people who use cabs in Liverpool are not like that, will know a bit more about art, and don't say "shite" to a camera or to strangers when discussing art. It is more of this attempt to stereotype Liverpool as a working class and querky city. It's not a working class city, it's multi-class like all the other big cities. The nationally controlled arts institutions in Liverpool (Tate and NML) are profoundly patronising in their approach to the city.

Babaloo is being exceptionally polite. Those hoity toity curatorial staff were insufferable. They were incapable of engaging with the taxi drivers, simply talking over them in an attempt to educate them.

[buggedboy]

i actually thought that the taxi "installation" was the best thing about the Turner prize. A taxi is something that we all use from time to time. As such, a driver gains access to opinions from everybody on the social spectrum. It wasnt patronising at all in my opinion, only using a focal point (the taxi) to engage with people in a really disarming environment (talking to a cabbie is like talking to a shrink sometimes..the amount of stresses I get off my chest just sitting there gabbing is untrue, knowing that they'll always chat back if they want their tip!).

Well done Mr Taximan.

[JUXTAPOL]

The Liverpool nativity to be held soon will be shown on BBC3, see link below.

Just caught an advert for it on BBC3, and before i knew what it was about, i knew what it was about, due to the fact all the tunes were Liverpool tunes.

http://www.liverpool08.com/events/ev...?dms_id=183421

Be part of a spectacular and unforgettable live music event and watch the Liverpool Nativity take place in the streets of Liverpool.



As part of the lead up to the European Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations, BBC Three will turn the city into a stage for the dramatic and contemporary re-telling of the Nativity this Christmas. Music from Liverpool’s rich legacy will provide the soundtrack to the production, with tracks from The Beatles, The La’s and The Zutons being performed with a fresh twist by the characters and live orchestra.



The star studied cast includes Geoffrey Hughes (The Royle Family, Keeping Up Appearances) as the Angel Gabriel,Jennifer Ellison (Brookside) as an Angel, Cathy Tyson (Band of Gold) as the villainous Herodia and Paul Barber (The Full Monty, Only Fools and Horses) playing the landlord. This wonderful evening’s entertainment is a perfect way to celebrate the Christmas period.



You can play your part by coming along to William Brown Street on Sunday 16th December at 8.00pm. Don’t forget to bring a torch to illuminate the night sky, making the night even more magical

[Portobello Red]

The Royal Variety Performance

Sunday
09 December
8:00pm - 10:30pm
ITV1

From the Liverpool Empire

[Paul D]

Tune in to see live nativity
Dec 14 2007 by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

MILLIONS of people are expected to tune in to see the Liverpool Nativity broadcast this weekend.

Organisers hope thousands more will gather in William Brown Street for the hour-long extravaganza.

It will see the story of the nativity reworked in a modern setting and set to Liverpool music.

The BBC production – the largest televised music drama ever attempted live on any city’s streets – will be broadcast live on BBC3 at 8pm on Sunday.

BBC1 viewers can see it on December 23.

Spectators can either watch the actors in person or spread across city centre locations.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will play live.

Young Liverpool actors Jodie McNee and Kenny Thompson, both 23, play the roles of Mary and Joseph.

Jodie said: “It’s just a new experience. I don’t know when I’ll ever get to do something like this again.

“It makes me proud and excited and it’s brilliant to be singing Liverpool songs on the streets of Liverpool.”

Geoffrey Hughes plays the Angel Gabriel as a CCTV operator in black bomber jacket complete with silver wings.

He said: “It’s a lovely production and has real heart.”

Jennifer Ellison is an angel, Andrew Schofield plays a shepherd, Full Monty star Paul Barber is the innkeeper and Joe McGann, David Yip and Louis Emerick are the Three Kings.

Executive producer Sue Judd said: “Rehearsals are going scarily well.”

Liverpool Nativity starts at 8pm on Sunday on BBC1.

Lady Madonna – The Beatles

Across the Universe – The Beatles

Love is a Wonderful Colour – Icicle Works/Ian McNabb

Reward – Teardrop Explodes

You Will You Won’t – The Zutons

My Sweet Lord – George Harrison

There She Goes – The La’s

Seven Minutes to Midnight – Wah! Heat

Liverpool Girl – Ian McNabb

The Back of Love – Echo and the Bunnymen

Instant Karma – John Lennon

Bouncing Baby – Teardrop Explodes

Comedy – Shack

Get Back – The Beatles

All You Need is Love – The Beatles

You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes Than You Deserve – Johnny Boy

Imagine – John Lennon

Guiding Star – Cast

All Things Must Pass – George Harrison

Round and Round – Dead or Alive

Let It Be – The Beatles

Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles

Beautiful Boy – John Lennon

[Damon]

Anyone going down to see the Nativity in the flesh? Thought I might take the kids down - seems like the kind of suitably bonkers thing that they'll be puzzling over for years to come.

Like my first memory of Bonfire Night. "Why am I sitting on the back step in my jamas eating a gingerbread man?"

[Awayo]

Where's "God Gave us Life" by HMHB or "Lazarus" by the Boo Rads. Etc.

The list isn't awful but could have been a bit more imaginative.

[Damon]

Or indeed 'All I want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague away kit'.

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by Damon

Or indeed 'All I want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague away kit'.

Because like the Poo Radleys they were bad Wirral wools maybe?

It should've been "Stars Are Stars", "Going Up", "Rescue", "A Promise", "No Dark Things", "Heaven Up Here", "Gods Will Be Gods", "Silver", "Thorn Of Crowns", "My Kingdom", or "Bring On The New Messiah"(ok, 'Dancing Horses') by the Bunnymen.

9 songs by the shaggin Beatles (or related)! Why don't they just stick on of their interminable fucking albums, stick adverts in the middle, include one or two 'funny' hand-gestures by Ringo or something, stick it on (sh)ITV just after Heartbeat and be done with it?

[Villiers Terrace]

I'm sort of joking. Should be an interesting night.

...and...as much as I prefer other stuff (including Echo), The Beatles were pretty great.