"Up the Women" BBC4 TV series Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 review

You think, O God, is this going to be a Frankie Howerd spinoff? No, it's a brave (could have been a train wreck) sitcom (1910 suffragettes) that is ten times better written and funnier than ITV's new sitcom "Vicious".
Don't forget the message, we seem to take this for granted these days, but feminism needs a kick in the pants after watching that reactionary 'sister' on "10 O'clock Live" last week.
After a rocky first scene, I settled back to enjoy this, as each character entered the Banbury Church Hall. The live audience is not as obtrusive after the first few minutes.
The lovable daffy nun (Judy Parfitt) from "Call the Midwife" has the best lines. I think I spied the sexy receptionist (Emma Pierson) from "Hotel Babylon" too. Adding to the fun, a very different Ryan Sampson (Grumio in Plebs). Boy, this guy is versatile.
Anyway I was won over by the end of the episode. This is Jessica Hynes's baby. Nice to see BBC has given bub a second series in 2014 (this time with 6 episodes). For good reason.

UPDATE: just watched this first episode again, few days later, this time with the wife....it's definitely a winner. Nicely written, sitcom with a heart. Episode 2 had more Ryan Sampson, too! Emma Pierson had a brilliant scene about her multitude of sprogs. It was as consistently funny as the first episode.

Third and final episode of the series featured a Monty Python-ish bit with the tiny Emmeline Pankhurst (Sandy Toksvig hiding under an enormous bonnet) portrayed as a school bully. This final half hour episode pulled out all the stops. I laughed out loud one moment, and was moved the next by the warm and well-drawn characters. Jessica Hynes's plaintive, tremulous voice is quite stirring.

"Call the Midwife" BBC TV series Series 2, Episode 8 final, review, no spoilers

Forget "Downton Abbey", this show is must-see TV.
Every character is beautifully developed. We know them all: the wise and nurturing head nun (Sister Julienne/Jenny Agutter), her no-nonsense off-sider (Sister Evangelina/Pam Ferris), the English Rose who is always one man behind (Jenny/Jessica Raine), the tortured, angelic Sister Bernadette (Laura Main), the good time girl with the heart of gold (Trixie/Helen George), the mouse that occasionally roars (Cynthia/Bryony Hannah), the part senile, part poetic philosopher (Sister Monica Joan/Judy Parfitt), the shy, gradually blooming Jane (Dorothy Atkinson). And of course Chummy/Camilla. It is not surprising that the author, Jennifer Worth, the real life Jenny, suggested Miranda Hart for the part. Ms Worth died in 2011.
The show effortlessly goes from harrowing to heartwarming to hilarious. I am not at all religious but this show does a lot for the cause (as did "The Vicar of Dibley").  It's the best TV series about nuns (Catholic or Anglican) since the Australian mini-series "Brides Of Christ" (1991).
I tear up on a regular basis during Vanessa Redgrave's (older Jenny) closing narration for each episode. And the last episode was no exception. What will happen to Nonnatus House? We shall have to wait until series 3. I'll like to see them move Sister Evangelina! Should be interesting.
Big thumbs up for series creator and writer of many episodes, Heidi Thomas. The production design/art direction capturing 1950's East London/docks is exceptional.
Big thumbs up for the postwar introduction of the N.H.S. in Britain!

Films that have made me cry

• The Grapes of Wrath Hank Fonda's "I'll be all around in the dark....I'll be everywhere" speech.

• To Kill A Mockingbird Just the opening titles/music have made me tear up, by the final scene with Boo Radley (Robert Duvall), I am a blubbering idiot.

• Silent Running I think this is brought on when Bruce Dern refers to Huey/Dewey "tending the forest"
• last 10 minutes of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, not the Director's Cut.

• They Might Be Giants - final scene, a little gem about a deranged "Sherlock" and his female doctor in New York. Sound familiar?  No, not Elementary, this was made in 1971.  Read my later post about this little wonder.

• Cider House Rules The final time you hear the classic line, "Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England". There wouldn't be a dry eye in the house.

• South Pacific (final scene when kids run in)

• E.T.  .... I think I am good now.

• Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I have blubbered with an in-flight showing, lucky it was dark. I blame the Alan Menken music ... it's a cartoon for God's sake!

• Seeing a live show (yes, I know I've gone off topic) is even worst - Sunday in the Park With George (scene at end of Act 1), Les Miserables (you can probably guess which scenes)
• Television: I get a lump in the throat listening to Vanessa Redgrave's concluding comments at the end of each beautifully written Call the Midwife episode. How could you not tear up?

I'll probably think of more later ... but I'll publish now anyway.

Teenage actors who have survived.... big time

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun, 1996)

Helen Mirren (Age of Consent, 1969, first boobs I saw on screen). I think she was in her early 20's but it's my blog - so stuff it.

Dame Judi Dench (Talking to a Stranger, 1966, had to study it in Year 11, for good reason)

Jenny Agutter (have you seen Call the Midwife? Remember Walkabout, 1971, especially the swimming/hunting scene? Go to Youtube. Wow)

Jodie Foster (miscellaneous TV and Disney, Taxi Driver, 1976)

Jason Bateman (Little House on the Prairie, 1981)

Drew Barrymore (television work, Altered States, 1980,  E.T. 1982)

Nicholas Hoult ( TV stuff before About a Boy,  2002)

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter from 2001, unless you have been living under a rock)

Emma Watson (ditto)

Nicole Kidman (BMX Bandits, 1983)

Lindsay Lohan

This is a work in progress....