Programming Notes

[mtemplar_fic]

Per the BBC Press Office, highlights from this summer's Doctor Who At The Proms will accompany the Christmas Special, on BBC One. I'm guessing this is separate from the usual confidentials that usually follow DW on BBC Three. Does this mean there will be no confidential this year? *frets*

Link to the press release here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/11_november/24/christmas.shtml

Comments

[editrx.livejournal.com]

Dang, sure does look like it. Unless they broadcast one at another time, like the next day ::hopes::. But looks like they're just plain not doing one, which sucks.

Though, there is a new Blackadder and Top Gear Christmas Day, too, on BBC! Woohoo! (I'm high on tea and sugar-cakes from staying up all night working, never mind me.)

There's something I've been meaning to ask you: why "templar"? (Yeah, I know what your icon is... :) )

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

Maybe it will be somewhat like the confidential that accomanied 'The Runaway Bride'? Dunno.

Silly you - too many French Fancies! :P

The name comes from part fascination/part heavy family involvement, actually. The father is a Knight of St. Andrew.

I am known as one of sixty-three,
Who became the kilted fleur-de-lis,
I am led in battle by Holy Light,
I am led DeBruce's decree, I am a Knight,
of whom do I serve?

There's your puzzle for the day! *grins*

[editrx.livejournal.com]

I visited in Robert de Bruce's footsteps throughout Scotland one year with my husband and some friends from Ireland; I should dig out some photos someday, including some of Melrose Abbey. :)

We were also acquainted with the infamous Michel Lafosse, aka Prince Michael of Scotland, back when we were involved with the Scottish Knights Templar. It's all quite wild and woolly, those days. I rather miss them. I think all of them are a bit mad (well, Michel was more than mad, but he was a nice if completely insane young man back then), but the sort of mad we fit into. Fanboys with capes. Hah! (I hadn't thought of that before, but you know ... that's exactly what it is.)

ETA: I got so distracted with my own thoughts, I forgot to answer you. You reference, of course, the original medieval Knights of St. Andrew, named for the 63 knights who appeared on the field of battle at Bannockburn and helped Robert the Bruce win the field against the English. (Yes, seen Bannockburn, too, but alas that day didn't get to stop at Stirling Castle.) And of course it continues now as the Masonic Scottish Rite Order of the Knights of St. Andrew. :)

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

You know your stuff! *is duly impressed* I'm obviously going to have to pick your brain sometime... for research purposes, of course! ;) And fanboys with capes? *grins* Lucky you for getting to meet interesting people!

Yup, the Scottish Knights Templar is one of many pet research interests of mine, one of the few that's not biomedical in nature. Doesn't get funded, obviously, so I'm pretty much on my own.

[editrx.livejournal.com]

Oh Lord, I know more about the Scottish Knights Templar than I probably should admit publicly. ::grins wryly:: Pick my brains anytime. We started with them right before the flyup between them and the international order based in Portugal; we were inducted back in 1989 in St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. Now they do the inductions in Roslyn Chapel, of course (oh, those are lovely to see!).

Do you know the whole story of the Scottish Knights Templar and the Stone of Scone? The most recent story, that is. It involves Dull, Scotland (which is a fascinating little town in and of itself).

ETA: Changed my icon. There! (Sorry the motto is so tiny: Auxilio Dei. Your puzzle of the day.)

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

Clan Muirhead! *grins* What part of Scotland?

The best summary I've found regaring the stone is this piece, in .pdf format. http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_008/8_068_099.pdf

Takes a while to load, apologies.

As to whether the Stone currently resides in Dull, I'm not sure if anyone will ever know for sure. It'd make a nice, modern parallel, though - if the Knights Templar are indeed hiding guarding Jacob's pillow, which supposedly became the pedestal of the Ark in the Temple of Solomon. Regardless, the 'official' stone (if not the real one) is safely in Edinburgh Castle, to be returned to Westminster Abbey for future coronations.

Interestingly, we took a tour of Westminster Abbey when we were in London recently, and the Coronation Chair itself apparently sustained some damage while they were moving it about in storage? I imagine that was a big to-do.

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

Hrm. One can only hope that in lieu of a Confidential they'll have a proper Video Diary, kinda like they did for The Runaway Bride.

I mean, really, the only reason they had a Confidential for VotD is because they made a really long Kylie Minogue music video. *snerk*

The thing is, though, since the Confidential wouldn't a) normally pop up on One and b) very rarely gets referred to in press releases about Who, they might not be arsing with listing it. It doesn't seem like there's much else going on on Three.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

If I remember right, it was mentioned last year, something on the order of 'confidential to follow on BBC Three'. I'll have to look.

I have a feeling that there might not be much more coming in the Video Diaries dept. DT sounded a bit burnt out in the interview I read from last Saturday.

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw the interview: I think in some ways he's been more burnt out by being in Stratford than he was by being on Who. In Cardiff he got to be fairly protected from the fannish madness, but in SuA he really doesn't have any buffers between him and the inconsiderate masses... and pretty much anyone coming into town right now is there to see him.

Having to basically run out, grab comestibles, and come back and hide in the rehearsal space all day sucks, and it's exactly what I'd hoped he wouldn't have to do. Hell, if the RSC gave him a PA, he probably wouldn't even get to do that. Apparently I wasn't joking when I'd said repeatedly that he'd probably need a Popemobile to get around town unscathed. That article did make me grumbly on his behalf.

From the Series 4 boxset, he said the reason he didn't bother doing the diaries for Series 4 is because a lot of it would just be rehashing old stuff, so he did the one for the Blackpool Illuminations run, and then one for JE when the whole gang was back together.

Catherine Tate was apparently meant to do one, but she never even managed to figure out how to work the camera. *snerk*

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

The swearing is pretty much a dead give-away. It sounds like he needs a break, and doesn't have much luck in getting one. *is annoyed on DT's behalf also* Although, maybe with Julie Garnder moving to LA, maybe they will film some of the specials in the US? Depends on the finances, I suppose, but surely DT wouldn't get hassled as much over here?

And Catherine Tate... oh dear. *sniggers*

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

Depends on the finances, I suppose, but surely DT wouldn't get hassled as much over here?

Well, to be fair, it's hard to know whether he's normally edited for language or self-censors when he's talking to the usual suspects like DWM. But if he's gotten to the point of sheer exasperation that he's venting like that, oi. He seems to be a font of near-infinite patience, and if people are getting on his last nerve, that's really saying something.

Although, maybe with Julie Garnder moving to LA...

So Julie and Jane, the terrible twosome, will be working together again? Hee!

Depends on the finances, I suppose, but surely DT wouldn't get hassled as much over here?

When the exchange rate was better from pound-to-dollar, it might've actually been significantly cheaper to film here than in the UK. At $1.50ish rather than $2.00ish, I don't know that that so much applies anymore.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

Well, to be fair, it's hard to know whether he's normally edited for language or self-censors when he's talking to the usual suspects like DWM. But if he's gotten to the point of sheer exasperation that he's venting like that, oi. He seems to be a font of near-infinite patience, and if people are getting on his last nerve, that's really saying something.

True, that - but this is the first interview I've seen in which there were lots of little stars. I imagine there is a lot of self-censoring with the DW-related interviews, as there is always the possibility of a child reading them.

So Julie and Jane, the terrible twosome, will be working together again? Hee!

Interesting economic times for the BBC to be branching out in, so here's hoping they do ok.

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

I imagine there is a lot of self-censoring with the DW-related interviews, as there is always the possibility of a child reading them.

I've seen some other interviews in non-DW publications where he's been, shall we say, a touch freer with his word choices, but he just seemed exasperated in this one.

I mean they couldn't even go out to lunch somewhere for an interview... that's just ludicrous. It's like he's a prisoner at the RSC.

Interesting economic times for the BBC to be branching out in, so here's hoping they do ok.

Well, one possibility is this: instead of having third-party American groups license BBC programs for remakes in the US which they subsequently completely f*** up, why not just contract with BBC Worldwide to do the US version themselves?

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

I've seen some other interviews in non-DW publications where he's been, shall we say, a touch freer with his word choices, but he just seemed exasperated in this one.

I mean they couldn't even go out to lunch somewhere for an interview... that's just ludicrous. It's like he's a prisoner at the RSC.

*nods* The price of fame, I suppose. I really hope he takes some time off after he's done filming the specials. He sounds like he could use it.

Well, one possibility is this: instead of having third-party American groups license BBC programs for remakes in the US which they subsequently completely f*** up, why not just contract with BBC Worldwide to do the US version themselves?

OMG YAIS. I'm cringing at the thought of the American version of Top Gear that's coming soon.

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

I really hope he takes some time off after he's done filming the specials. He sounds like he could use it.

It sounds like he might be getting some house-setting-up Zen on, from what the article says. Whatever the case, I hope he gets some peace and quiet and some doing whatever the hell he feels like without being pestered time in.

I'm cringing at the thought of the American version of Top Gear that's coming soon.

I would be happier if Jay Leno were one of the hosts. Seriously. I don't watch The Tonight Show, but the man knows his s*** when it comes to cars.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

I'll probably watch the first ep to see how badly they skewer it.

[melnay13.livejournal.com]

Hope they still do it, but seeing as I'll be relying on youtube for both the special and confidential, it's up in the air if I'll get to view either.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

Me too. Plus, my parents who live out in boondock central have DSL now! Is it sad that I'm so excited possibly be able to watch the Christmas Special ON Christmas and not have to avoid my friends list for days? Here's hoping you'll be able to watch. *crosses fingers*

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

I'll be able to watch by dint of the fact I couldn't get any leave this year, so I'll be home instead of off with family.

One bright spot (and no, I'm not kidding) is that this will be only the second Christmas I've gotten to spend with my cats. We did their first Christmas with us, because they were so tiny at the time, and then every other time we've been at one family house or another and they've been catsat.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

I've been in the same house for ten years now, and I've only spent one Christmas here. And that was only because I was due to spawn any day and was forbidden to travel. That was the most awesome Christmas ever. Now we pack up our house every year and spend equal time at both sets of families, making a mad dash across the countryside on Christmas Day to change houses. It's complete chaos. *grimaces* Ah well, it's only once a year.

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

byronczimmer's side is not so bad (well, at least his parental arm), as that's just up by Philly, but my side is on the Gulf Coast of Florida. And his sister is in Portland. Not that I've made that trek yet.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

My in-laws live 2 hours from my parents' house. It's an 8-hour drive for us to either house, interestingly. It was ok when we lived there, but 2 hours of driving on Christmas Day sort of stinks.

Philly, FL and Portland might be hard to do in a day, though. *grins*

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we normally alternate from year to year, although that varies depending pretty regularly depending on how folks are doing healthwise and when people are travelling to elsewhere themselves.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

That must be fun to plan. I suppose I should be thankful that we've got one-stop shopping, in essence.

[littlebatti.livejournal.com]

*headslap*
This has just made me realise that I'll be most likely at in-laws and Boxing day. So likely no Christmas Special watching for me. Unless I can download it at my mother-in-law's. Possible. Hubby likes DW too.

My mum has dial-up so no chance there :(
On the up side of things, I found out that I can not haz DT but I can haz Peter Davidson. He's coming in March. Never been to a proper convention before (never had the opportunity before) so I think I should get my fangirl pants on and get a ticket.

[mtemplar-fic.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! You can not has Christmas Special? Hopefully you can get it at the MIL's. *crosses fingers for you*

And oooh - you can has Peter Davison? Yay! You must get a ticket! Don't laugh, but when I was a pre-teen, I had my mom make me cricket pants just like Five's. *demonstrates all-new levels of lameness*