Ben Kirkham

[Ben Kirkham]

Haha Huge Lorry fnar fnar!!

Ahem. This does sound quite surprising to me. I’d never have though Iannucci would be interested in writing a space sitcom. Intriguing.

[Ben Kirkham]

We are *so* lucky with the DVDs, aren’t we? Bloody hell. That mock-up cover above makes my skin crawl at the thought of what could have been.

[Ben Kirkham]

Ben Paddon- courtesy of a gentleman named Matthew Purchase

https://goo.gl/images/m94S8i

[Ben Kirkham]

How things change. Ross McGinley was in charge of the BBC DVD range back then, I believe, and it was a golden age for BBC DVDs. The League of Gentlemen DVDs (especially the Christmas Special) were exemplary. When the latest series was released, it was a vanilla release with no thought put into it. Just seems so slapdash and sloppy now, even down to the point of the Doctor Who Series 10 boxset not giving any indication whatsoever of what is on each disc, and fans having to create their own leaflet. Very sad.

What shines through from these articles is the craftsmanship and sheer enthusiasm for the project, particularly from Andrew Ellard, whose articles are entertaining and informative.

[Ben Kirkham]

Excellent, thank you!

[Ben Kirkham]

Aaargh! My PS3 Controller doesn’t work when I hook it up to the PC (downloaded all the appropriate software)! I can’t keep using the keyboard, it just isn’t the same.

Any help/ideas guys?

[Ben Kirkham]

Yes Dave, I’d love to see a remixed Scrap Brain Zone in a sequel.

I’m desperately trying to find a way for Sonic Mania to fit into Red Dwarf so I can justify asking Cappsy or Ian to do a playthrough?

Well, technically Sonic is a BLUE dwarf so…

[Ben Kirkham]

I’m incredibly frustrated that, at the age of 32, I am nowhere near as good at playing classic-style Sonic as I was at 7 and 8.

My 8-year-old self is roundly attacking me using a spin dash.

[Ben Kirkham]

It didn’t tackle or achieve anything, other than to prove that you are an absolute fucking idiot.

[Ben Kirkham]

I nominate “needlessly provocative and dickish” for the Recommendations section.

[Ben Kirkham]

Dave Wallace, completely agree. This feels like it should have been after S&K. I love the original spin they’ve put on some of the classic levels. Chemical Plant Zone Act 2 is wonderfully quirky, and there’s a richness to the level design that makes me want to go back and explore even more. Exactly what I want from a Sonic game. Never felt warmly to the more modern games like Generations.

I’m also surprised that it’s actually a good deal harder than I expected it to be. It’s a bit like a greatest hits in its game structure.

[Ben Kirkham]

Thanks so much for this, quinn_drummer, very helpful!

Still awaiting a commentary on Universe Challenge, though.

[Ben Kirkham]

“I’d rather see the money budgeted for Doctor Who put into something akin to a British Star Trek, rather than the misadventures of a hipster twat in a police box who appeals to the morbidly shite, faux-geeky and uninformed in life.
Or, or… abolish the licence fee, but we’ve had that discussion, haven’t we.”

Ludicrous.

[Ben Kirkham]

I like it! Interesting idea. A recent tribute sketch worth looking at

<i>Quantum Leap</i> Returns… To Stop a Trump Presidency on <i>The Late Show</i>

[Ben Kirkham]

Yeah there’s no way it would ever return as it was. Dean Stockwell is 81 and apparently in very poor health at the moment. It would probably get a reboot if it were to come back. But I’d rather it come back with a new cast related to the original series rather than a complete reboot.

It did break its own rules in its final season, and most of the time that was a mistake. But I quite like some of the bizarre stuff they tried in season 5. Better to end experimenting with new things than trying to repeat old successes.

[Ben Kirkham]

Update: the book WILL be published. Seen previews of various segments. It’s truly a labour of love, with the kind of attention to detail that any QL loving G&T crew will absolutely love, I have no doubt about that.

Pre-orders being taken until 31st August for a December release!

[Ben Kirkham]

Yep, the seasons 2-4 R1 DVDs are edited, and the season 4 R2 DVD is too. Music is such an important thing to QL, it helps to set the scene and the mood. The biggest casualty is ‘M.I.A’ in season 2, where the music is part of the story. And the pivotal ‘Georgia on My Mind’ by Ray Charles is omitted and neuters the scene of any emotion.

[Ben Kirkham]

Bamber Gascoigne is my favourite.

[Ben Kirkham]

I love the new banners more than is probably healthy.

*Refresh*

[Ben Kirkham]

Crime Traveller was poor. Ill-conceived and poorly executed, contradicting its own science within its own episodes.

[Ben Kirkham]

Now we know there’ll also be a Red Dwarf XII, is it possible XI will end with a great big cliffhanger?

[Ben Kirkham]

There was initially a feeling of overkill with Spearhead from Space; it was released on DVD twice then BD. But the BD is meant as a companion to the second DVD release. There’s a superb Jon Pertwee documentary on the BD that I’d highly recommend.

[Ben Kirkham]

And, btw, Spearhead from Space looks STUNNING in HD.

[Ben Kirkham]

> “Has anyone experienced both audio only and reconstructions of the same episodes? I’ve always wondered if one format was more enjoyable than the other, or whether some stories worked better only as audio”

I have and I can say that it does make a difference to certain stories. Marco Polo is such a strong story that it’s fantastic either way, but there are loads of production photos and telesnaps that help the recon, particularly the colour recon. Stories such as The Celestial Toymaker greatly benefit from a reconstruction because it’s very visual in its storytelling; all the games work much better when enjoyed this way.

Most of the Troughton stuff is better through a reconstruction too, because there tends to be a bit more action and incident in Troughton’s era than Hartnell’s.

[Ben Kirkham]

Loose Cannon are fantastic! Particularly their Marco Polo recon. We’re so lucky that people recorded the soundtracks off-air all those years ago. There’s no way of experiencing series 1 episodes of The Avengers in its original form, for example.

One you get passed Episode 6 of The Space Pirates, you’re free of missing episodes! And every Pertwee episode is now watchable in colour too :)

[Ben Kirkham]

Troughton’s stuff is brilliant, such a fucking shame so much is missing. Are you filling in the missing episode gaps with soundtracks or reconstructions? The animated episodes and, obviously, the discovery of The Underwater Menace Episode 3, The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear massively help his era. Troughton could make the weakest script excellent. My three personal favourites are Power of the Daleks, The Mind Robber and The War Games.

I think you’ve set a good pace to watch them at. With Doctor Who, there’s loads of change just around the corner. Check this out:

Running Through Corridors: Rob and Toby’s Marathon Watch of Doctor Who (Vol. 1: The 60s)

Volume 2 and 3 seem to be taking near enough a decade to get released, but the first volume is a thoroughly engaging, funny and thought-provoking read (apart from the typos, unfortunately). Anything Rob Shearman is involved in is bound to be good.

[Ben Kirkham]

That’s a brave, bold undertaking. The amount of times I’ve considered doing this but chickened out. You have a huge advantage if you’re coming to a lot of it new. As you said, you’re unaware of a lot of fan opinion so you won’t ever dread what’s coming up next.

Which era are you on now, Ian?

I don’t want to spoil anything, just enjoy the ride. But I will just tell you in case you weren’t already aware that almost all of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith era strikes pure gold, particularly ‘The Seeds of Doom’.

[Ben Kirkham]

Wahey! Welcome back Arlene, you’ve been missed x

[Ben Kirkham]

And while you’re at it, check this brilliant and long-running blog out:

http://docohobigfinish.blogspot.co.uk/

[Ben Kirkham]

How dare you have lives of your own! I expect you all to spend every living hour obeying the whims of your fanbase, endlessly typing into a computer. But you all choose to have families, friends, lives, even jobs. Where are your priorities?

[Ben Kirkham]

*ahem* pirate bay *ahem* Don’t judge me!

I would always recommend that people buy legitimate material and abide by copyright laws. Do not fuel piracy. But it’s incredibly handy when you’re looking for something that just isn’t available anywhere else, particularly radio comedy. And I’m really not sure where the copyright lies with this. Is it in the public domain, like ‘Wrinkles’?

I’m interested in writing an article about the series. I haven’t listened to ‘Son of Cliche’ yet, but I want to wait until I’ve dissected this as much as possible. But the short version is:

Worst stuff = amusing
Best stuff= hilarious

There’s traces of stuff that made it into Red Dwarf, such as Holly’s gag about creating the decative scale. I firmly believe it is among the funniest and most sublime material that Rob and Doug ever wrote (Red Dwarf aside), performed by an exemplary cast. It was broadcast in 1981, but hasn’t aged a day in my opinion. Think ‘Absolutely’ on radio, written by Rob and Doug early on in their careers, unfiltered, and you’ll get the idea. A particular sketch referring to a condition called ‘Verbitis’ had me chuckling belly laughs.

I intend to do as much research as I can into Rob and Doug’s radio years, and I hope that (if G&T allow it) this article could be a companion piece to Cappsy’s wonderful ‘Wrinkles’ features.

[Ben Kirkham]

Capps,
I’ve got 5 episodes and all the episodes of son of cliche, which I haven’t listened to yet.

Anniescribe,
I’ll see if I can find out.

[Ben Kirkham]

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-06-10/rik-mayalls-bottom-helped-me-survive-my-troubled-teenage-years

Bravo. :)

[Ben Kirkham]

Gutted. A true, true comedy maverick, and one of my favourite comedians of all time. He was truly unique and his energy was extraordinary. RIP

[Ben Kirkham]

Absolutely delighted with this news.

Peter Capaldi is an actor that I’ve always loved, and I think he’s an inspired choice and will be an excellent Doctor.

I’m going to miss Matt Smith. He’s beguiled me with his Doctor.

Doctor Who is in good hands.

[Ben Kirkham]

200.

[Ben Kirkham]

Thanks Jonsmad :)

[Ben Kirkham]

Oops, sorry guys. Don’t know what the fuck that one was, must have clicked on something else.

I find Craig Bierko’s comments refreshingly honest. At least he wasn’t trying to make it out as something it’s not.

[Ben Kirkham]

Wonderful video, happy (belated) birthday Danny!

[Ben Kirkham]

>A Stop at Willoughby. I used to watch these as a child with my father, and while some were spooky and some were silly and some were off-the-wall crazy, this one dug itself in deep. Such a quiet and unassuming little vignette, but it’s stayed with me and is still one of the most affecting things I’ve ever seen on television. There’s a personal aspect to my love for it…but with a show that dug as deeply as Twilight Zone did into the human mind and heart, I think that’s fitting.

Well said, Phil. I used to watch ‘A Stop At Willoughby’ an awful lot when I was having a really bad time at work. I think we’ve all wanted to escape like that at some point. The ambiguous ending is the icing on the cake for me. The gorgeous ‘Walking Distance’ has a similar effect on me.

[Ben Kirkham]

Haha, I don’t think you need one, you seem happy enough.

[Ben Kirkham]

You know, PecosPete, I am bloody envious of your boundless enthusiasm and humour! It always brightens things up. :)

[Ben Kirkham]

That’s brilliant to hear! I’m still in early days with my job but I’ve done a couple of days now. I’m working in a care home and I’m hoping that it will lead on to my chosen profession as a psychotherapist. It can be very challenging, but every day is different and I’ll always leave the day knowing I’ve made a difference to someone, and that’s very important to me.

Spent eleven years working in a supermarket and it was frustrating and stagnating – running round and round with no real result, and, as you, I didn’t give a shit about it anymore. But now I do. It’s a good feeling.

I’m sure if you’re loving it as much as you say and working hard, six months will fly by and you’ll be there for as long as you want to be. :)

[Ben Kirkham]

>The Shatner ep is the only one I’ve ever seen. I plan to rectify this some day.

Start here:

or see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere. You’d love it, Ben. The blu rays are just stunning.

[Ben Kirkham]

> I only like it when they are racist.

me two, thats th only time i’d wacth it LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO!!!!!!!!!!!11

[Ben Kirkham]

The Hitch Hiker is brilliant, and has one of the greatest endings of any story ever.

“I believe you’re going… my way?”

[Ben Kirkham]

I can’t stand Red Dwarf, personally. That’s the one with the vampire, the gay robot and the bloke with the dreadlocks and H tattooed on his head isn’t it? All they do is say ‘smeg’ all the time.

[Ben Kirkham]

Very tough question to answer, such is the quality. At the moment, I’d say ‘The Midnight Sun’.

[Ben Kirkham]

I should mention for those that have not seen it, ‘The Twilight Zone’ is (next to ‘Doctor Who’) the best television series ever made, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in well-written television drama.

[Ben Kirkham]

You’re fired.

[Author]

Replies