Newest obsession: Callan

So the latest Netflix obession is "Callan", a UK TV show that is in the spy genre, during the cold war.  But the amazing performance by Edward Woodward and the anti-hero nature of the titular character Callan are what make the show.

This is the new thing.  I've been watching purposefully UK shows shot in the 70s.  Laughable production values: terrible sets shot on video, maybe a few minutes filmed inserts outside of the studio.  Started with Upstairs Downstairs, itself a period piece from a century before.  Then was "I, Claudius", which was also huge in both countries.  Then I got into "The Sweeney" due to some references in "Blacks Books" and other mentions.  Great show...a huge hit in its day.  Today it holds up a bit, and is being remade into a movie to be released in the UK shortly.  This lead to "Callan" as they were somewhat related.

"Callan" is complex and interesting. It apparently ran for about 4 years or so, and spawned a movie.  It's cult status was mentioned in a Telegraph article about the remakes for the 2012 TV season in the US, and what should have been remade.  Callan certainly could use a remake, TV in the US is perfect for it now in the post-Buffy-Galactica-reboot world where longer plot lines can continue along with the episodic nature of TV.

"Callan" is availabe on DVD via Netflix.  It's worth it.  One cannot live by "Game of Thrones" exclusively.  Nor "Mad Men".  But that's another story altogether.

Been a long time...

Wow...looking at the past few posts.  What a long time ago! And talking about Newt!  Hilarious.  I still don't get the Newt-hate.  But Romney is the guy...it will be interesting to see if he can surf the wave to the beach: plying through the tube of MSM bias, skirting the edge of gaffes.

Romney seems to have some extremely smooth operators on his staff--yet overall his nature and his campaign seem to always be saying the wrong thing.  (Michael Kinsley's definition of gaffe mostly.)