’Tis the season of finals
It is indeed the season of Christmas as the festive shows and feature films get unloaded off Santa’s sleigh and on to the screen. And, as has become another television tradition at this time of the year, ‘tis the season of the final.
The season of the farewell to many a series, which some might argue could be the signal of the season of the repeat as something has to step into their place through to the New Year.
Ahh yes, the New Year.
That’s traditionally the season of the new series . . . sort of.
The repeat season is already well upon us, however, although in many cases there’s nothing wrong with that, particularly when you receive (as a visual present) something like Walliams &
Friend Christmas Special which unwraps (as it did around this time last time) on
TV1 at 9.25 tonight.
Walliams is a class comedy act, and his teaming with Hugh Bonneville for this is at times priceless.
The ‘R’ for repeat pretty much runs the same tally as the ‘F’ for final at this stage of proceedings, so how it will all stand in a month’s time is anyone’s guess.
So then, calling it quits this week are the likes of Take Two and Project Runway New Zealand tonight, Outback Truckers, The Great Kiwi Bake Off and Hell’s Kitchen on Tuesday night, Queen Sugar on Wednesday, Homemade and Saving Lives at Sea on Thursday and Offspring and Blood and Oil on Friday.
As well, this is the season of calling time on the post-news chat gatherings with The Project having already dissolved from TV3’s weeknights at 7pm and TV1’s Seven Sharp taking the Christmas break from this Friday.
The season of the repeat indeed, as Modern Family has slipped into The Project slot.
So I guess it could also be noted that this is also the season of television uncertainty. One night it’s there, the next night it’s not.
One thing this time of trees and tinsel does not often produce is something with “New” attached to it.
That’s New Year material.
Oh, there’s another ingredient to Christmas I almost forgot.
The sound of music. Which is a sound which has followed a chap called Reg Dwight since he was a kid, and that was ● Elton John: I’m Still Standing — A Grammy Salute, TV1 at 7.30pm Wednesday: A very special gala occasion for an extraordinary sort of chap who, it could be said, wrote a few good tunes and played a few gigs. A few? Yep, around an estimated 3500 concerts since 1969 so he’ll have the timing pretty sharp by now.
many a decade ago now. Reg morphed into Elton John and Elton John took to the music charts and pretty well set up shop there.
I don’t think it would be taking things too far to suggest that everyone has heard and knows an Elton John song.
He recorded singles and albums and wrote songs as soundtracks for movies and toured and toured and toured.
And lots of people recorded songs he and lyricist Bernie Taupin rolled out over about five decades.
Fair to say he made his mark on the landscape of music. But like any musician or singer he will strike a chord with some but strike a bad note with others.
That’s the great thing about music.
It is diverse and selective so basically there has to be something for everyone.
The 71-year-old was awarded a knighthood so he is now officially known as Sir Elton John, and earlier this year he was awarded another title, of sorts, in being honoured by a legion of fellow musicians.
Musicians from later eras than those he rolled though, it should be said.
The result was Elton John: I’m Still Standing — A Grammy Salute staged at Madison Square Garden in New York and its first chords will sound at 7.30pm on TV1 this Wednesday.
Those who pay musical tribute fit well into the diversity of music bracket.
Performing Elton’s music are the likes of Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Chris Martin, Lady Gaga, John Legend and Sam Smith
. . . and about a dozen others.
Of course the lad himself also steps forward and he joins the festivities with a medley of his hits, wrapping it all up with the song embraced by the title and which he pretty well stands by . . . I’m Still Standing.
He’s still singing and playing too, and for a lad of that vintage it ain’t too bad.
The only fly in the musical ointment would be for anyone who also shares an equal love for the music of Johnny Cash, because over on Prime starting just an hour after the start of the two-hour Elton gig is an enlightening documentary called I Am Johnny Cash — another twohour tribute.
It’s like getting two different coloured shirts for Christmas.
Which one should I wear?