2007 in review

I shall be seeing in 2008 sober, thanks to one drink too many on December 29th. Whoops. So just enough time for a brief look back to the year that was '007...

My own personal highlights would include going to the British Comedy Awards - didn't win but it was still great to go. Plus on the same note, hearing about the RTS award and the Rose d'Or for the same show, although I didn't get to go to those dos alas. Though to be fair to them, they had lots of ad execs and sponsors to fit in, some of whom may have at some point seen at least one of the shows nominated. Rant over. For this is about the positive...

Filming with the Delorean was an ace day - racing around all over St Alban's, filming stand-up bits with me dressed as Marty McFly, driving the Delorean, with flames coming out the back, smoke effects, dry ice, etc etc. Sounds great? Well the producer of Comedy Cuts didn't think so - so the show it was filmed for has cut it. You will never see it. But I had a great time doing it, so there.

A highlight I have to mention is the mere purchase of a DVR - basically Sky Plus for people without Sky. It's totally changed how I watch telly, and it's great.

And back on a professional note, my fave gig of the year was going the Genesis show at Greenbelt festival in Cheltenham - 500 people, I think, and they all got the jokes. Twas lovely. And in the realm of writing, it's been a great year for the fact that I've become a 5-day-a-week writer (much kudos to Not Going Out, After You've Gone, and a forthcoming as yet unnamed bbc1 comedy drama set in Africa).

And a sloppy mention to my other half Zoe, who has really been the highlight of my year! Bleurgh. Okay, enough of my personal highlights.

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS:
Rediscovering the art of a good cover version (ie. it doesn't have to be loud punk)
Michael Buble
Amy Macdonald
The Fratellis
begrudgingly acknowledging that both Amy Winehouse AND Girls Aloud have something to offer to both contemporary music AND my music collection
Apache by The Sugarhill Gang. Old but brilliant.

FILM HIGHLIGHTS (not necessarily all 2007, but most are):
Black Book
Tideland
Ocean's Thirteen
The Bourne Ultimatum
Atonement
The Lives of Others
Stardust
Beowulf 3D
Reign Over Me
Enchanted
Breaking The Waves
Mr Smith Goes To Washington
The Red Violin

FILM LOWLIGHTS:
American Pie Presents Another Bad Film To Sink Humanity Into The Ground
The Fountain
Captivity, Vacancy, and various other films that think torture is an acceptable film genre.
too many remakes/spin-offs/sequels - didn't rate Die Hard, The Simpsons, Shrek 3, Hostel 2, Harry Potter, Saw 4, Sleuth, The Golden Compass, Pirates 3...

TV HIGHLIGHTS:
Dr Who (the Blink episode - which was just the way a Dr Who episode should be. If you haven't seen it, see it.)
Heroes
Lost (yes, I'm sticking with it)
Prison Break
House
Jericho (while it lasted - one series, with maybe a reprieve for a few episodes of series 2 to follow)
Drive (while it lasted - 4 episodes - goes to show it's worth waiting for US shows to hit our UK schedules, rather than hastily download them as they air...)
Californication (filthy, but fantastic)
The Secret Millionaire (I think I cried one episode)
Cast Away (a guilty pleasure)
Live At The Apollo (a rare time that TV actually gets stand-up about right)

and finally a parting treat, cos there's bound to be one you haven't seen...

TOP 6 VIRALS:
In reverse order...
6. hallelujah chorus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D09DCZryG2U)
5. evolution of dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg)
4. will ferrell and baby landlord pearl (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/74)
3. sam veale's brylcreem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOYTQKoJ1N8)
2. dramatic chipmunk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw)
and at no.1...
1. kung fu baby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxAirY-5QCQ)

Happy New Year!