5778/18798
I did some prep work for the podcast tomorrow. First of all I watched the first two episodes of the new series of Taskmaster, which is as ever, pointless and stupid, but excellent. The best thing about it though was that I was essentially working whilst I watched it. As a child it was my dream to have a job where I watched TV or tested video games. And here, for an hour or so, may dream had come true. And it’s only taken thirty years of employment to get to this position.
Despite knowing the Jonathan Ames interview has been coming for months, I have failed to reread his excellent book “The Extra Man” which he is coming on to promote. Even on holiday there was no time. Well there was time, but no inclination due to my clouded brain. I have got about 50 pages in, and realise I don’t remember too much about it. Not because it isn’t good - it’s a great read - just because my old brain seems to push out plots of films and books within a couple of months these days. Which is OK, cos I get to enjoy things again. I was excited to find that there had been a film version of ”The Extra Man” with Kevin Kline and Katie Holmes, which I had failed to notice at the time (I presume it got no UK release) and thought if I could watch that then that would give me enough information to bluff my way through claiming to have read the book (even though I had read the book), but Netflix and Amazon drew a blank for downloadable versions and I somehow got sucked into watching a couple of episodes of “The Purge” instead. I was back to just watching telly as part of my life, rather than making a living from it. But boy, that Taskmaster high was something.
The Purge is pretty bad. But I still watched. Rather than do my research.
The Purge is just a stupid premise, which is expertly hacked apart in Rick and Morty. But imagine if, for some reason, everyone went along with it…. It would be stupid.
But even in my TV watching my brain had contracted so far that when it comes to a dystopian vision of our near future I’d rather watch poorly formed characters have to cope with 12 hours of crime being unpunishable, than something a bit cleverer like the Handmaid’s Tale (though I did read the book, back in the days when my brain could cope with reading).
I am not even sure that most people would take advantage of the freedom to commit crime. Maybe we’re all capable of murder if the circumstances are right, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to hack someone apart with an axe, just for the fun of it. Even if I didn’t care for them. Maybe an opt-in purge for all people who want to commit murders or terrorist atrocities could be set up, where they’re all put in a football stadium and allowed to get on with it. But so far the show hasn’t convinced me that enough people would go along with the idea of a Purge for the Purge ever to happen.
Apologies if you are reading this in the future whilst you hide from the Purge.
But this TV show isn’t really exploring this poor premise very artfully. Which probably makes it better show than one that attempted to do it properly.
I for one will be watching the whole series.
Thanks to everyone who donated to the kickstarter. We got the amount we’re looking for and a bit more for either the next series and/or to pay the expenses of the Manchester jaunt, so the project carries on. As always massively appreciate your enduring support for this podcast. And it starts up again on Monday 24th, so why not come down to the Leicester Square Theatre for 7.30pm and see Alex Horne and Jonathan Ames. It’s sold well, but you should be able to get tickets on the door.
Or buy here.
