Pleasing programmes

Pleasing programmes

MUSINGS
SONIA KELLY

I HAVE recently referred to strange addictions, like taking 48 Solpadine tablets in 24 hours and eating a whole box of chocolates in one go. An equally strange one is the addiction to television, when the afflicted will sit in front of a set for most of a day.
For me, this seems just as sickening, and I wouldn’t dream of switching mine on before evening – except in the case of something wild, like the destruction of the twin towers, or a must-see sporting event. Otherwise, it’s mostly tripe that’s shown before, say, 6pm, which is Irish news time, and also my supper time, so never seen. However, the ‘Channel 4 News’ follows, and this is acceptable. Also, chief reader Jon Snow’s spectacular ties provide additional interest.
I particularly like travel documentaries, especially ones that investigate remote tribes. The elder members of these often appear strangely wizened, with the faces of the women being more wrinkled than a dehydrated potato. Oddly enough, though, they possess a curious beauty, like some intricately carved antique treasure.
It’s amusing to imagine how the team of beauty experts in the series ‘Ten Years Younger’ would react if asked to transform one of these tribal women. They love to do face-lifts, for example, but there would be no wrinkle-free zone to drag upwards. In any case, it’s possible that these tribes have no problem with the march of time and regard the signs of its passing with respect.
No such respect is apparent in our society – we all want to be ten years younger (at least) and will go to extraordinary lengths to achieve this. The participants in the programme do achieve it, to the extent that all vestiges of their development have been removed and they are left with a personality-free veneer. But that’s what we want. So I like to watch it.
As for sport, tennis is my favourite. All the stars have such different backgrounds and personalities. Then, they are on stage for long periods at a time with frequent close-ups so that we can examine and criticise their features, plus, of course, marvelling at their skills. It’s essential to form favourites during the course of a tournament, so that each match can generate heart-stopping moments as your pet fluffs a shot, or thrills for winning ones.
I absolutely never watch soaps, or reality shows, and what I find most depressing is the way that the characters who feature in them are interviewed all the time on chat shows. These are usually totally boring people who have nothing whatsoever to contribute to an evening’s entertainment.
So, yes, I do yawn through ‘The Late Late Show’, wondering why more-interesting guests cannot be found or why the host couldn’t take an animation pill of some sort. The quality of interviewees on ‘The Tubridy Show’ is not much better, but, in this case, the host manages to imbue them with a sense of fun, which trickles out of the television set and enhances the evening.
There are some cookery programmes that can be pleasing – certainly not Gordon Ramsay’s, though. I quite like the ‘River Cottage’ ones, which have pleasant settings and are frenzy-free, although I wouldn’t exactly be in love with the presenter. Too much hair, perhaps? And I don’t want to see any more shots of battery chickens …
Above all, I like Dan Cruikshank, who gave us ‘Round the World in 80 Wonders’, the latest featuring amazing examples of architecture. He is no young hot shot, but is so charismatic that one longs to be with him – even in an Eskimo igloo.
Not forgetting Ray Mears and Bear Grylls, who teach us how to survive in the wilderness. However, while they are stimulating, they are not so delicious that one would wish to accompany them.