(no subject)

[brightlywoven]

If anyone is not watching Stephen Fry in America, I heartily endorse. Enjoy such delights as Stephen tastes bourbon:

"Chris, don't think me pretentious, this smell (sniff) is an autumnal walk in the countryside, probably about seven miles from Aldershott, (sniffs glass) on the fringe of an old wood, a spinney or a (sniff) a copse possibly if not a spinney, it's a copse definitely (sniffs), yes it's a copse. And there's a labrador, a slightly wet labrador panting, and a little bit of that labrador's breath is in here. That sounds bad but it isn't. I think Stevie should have a little lie down."

So after my recent call for British Comedy (to which I already have a leaning of love), we have been thoroughly enjoying Mock the week (Frankie Boyle is awesome) and Never mind the Buzzcocks. Also Mitchell and Webb. I have been getting the news quiz on my ipod to listen to in the car, and am eagerly awaiting the return of The Now Show (and ISIHAC in June 2009!). Tonight I found out who Fern Brittan is.

So these news comedies are a gentle segue into the next gaping hole in my knowledge. Politics. So assume I'm basically competent at keeping up to date with current events, but have very little knowledge of the big figures prior to 2006. (Where prime ministers are big enough to make it onto the australian news radar, but cabinet ministers probably aren't.) Enough so that my reaction to the recent reshuffle was "Mandy who?"

I'd welcome nominations of figures it would be worth googling short bios of, as well as your favourite political anecdotes. (After all, I get to vote over here!)

Comments

[proskynesis]

Almost everything I know about Australian politics and culture I learned from The Chaser. :( trufax.

Tony Blair rescuing Gordon Brown from a toilet is one of my very favourite political anecdotes.

Also, wiki Robert Kilroy-Silk. He's an idiot. Someone threw a buket of slurry all over him once. Ooo, and George Galloway! His slanging match with Jeremy Paxman is awesome.

You've seen Have I Got News For You? Right?

[dr-biscuit.livejournal.com]

That Jeremy interview is the BEST THING EVER! Galloway clearly a prat, even if on the right side in war argument. I have been compulsively watching the awesome train-wrecky glory. Do you think Jeremy Paxman would mind terribly if I asked to have his bebbies?

What is wrong with Chaser? Is bonafide news program reporting important happenings! (But CNNN was better - same guys, funnier jokes). I am though a little amazed by how many people over here love it!

HIGNFY didn't thrill me as much as mock the week and news quiz. Can't really say why, maybe need to see more!

[proskynesis]

He's so snarky! And he asked Cameron in an interview once if he knew what a Slippery Nipple was. \o/

I am on a one-person campaign to convert everyone in the UK to The Chaser. I THINK IT'S WORKING. Plus it always amuses me when I meet Australian people and say 'hey, do you watch--' and EVERY TIME they think I'm going to say Neighbours. XDD

There's so little of CNNNN on the internet. :(( I so want to see it.

Watch the ones with Boris Johnson on! Or Ann Widdecombe.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

You've heard of the lunch between Blair and Brown at the smart restaurant Granita, before Labour came to power? Well, you might not have heard that afterwards, Gordon Brown had to go and have a proper lunch.

[shimgray.livejournal.com]

Ahahahahah. I like this man a little bit more.

[dr-biscuit.livejournal.com]

I *like* Gordon Brown (and in particular this story) because he seems so kind of huggable, and sad. This is different to thinking he should be PM. But I'd far rather have him than a self-satisfied git like Cameron.

[cealdis.livejournal.com]

Tony Benn = Awesome.

[dr-biscuit.livejournal.com]

ooh, bookmarks wiki

[shehasathree]

*g* sounds good.