Autographs

Until a couple of years ago, I was really into collecting autographs. I wrote to celebrities via agencies and movie sets and got a decent haul of successes. Fatherhood has curtained my letter writing severely but my website housing scans of all my autographs is still online. There is a large assortment of actors and actresses and a few authors, including the likes of Clint Eastwood, Bill Murray, James Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Ewan McGregor, Wilbur Smith, Sir Alec Guinness, Kevin Spacey, Sir Ian McKellen, Peter O'Toole, Chow Yun Fat, Jet Li, Lauren Bacall, to name but a few.

I concentrated on a couple of shows and movies at different times and have themed sections on the website devoted to the tv shows Star Trek, Deadwood and Rome, and also to actors who starred in the Coen Brothers' films.

I'd like to get back into it at some point and some of the website content is a little out of date, but for now the autograph scans are all there so you may like to check out my collection by clicking here.

Gareth's Waste of Time Podcast Episode 2

Episode 2 of the Waste of Time podcast is now online. In this episode I take a look at Californication, Dexter at the Golden Globes and chat a little Lost. Oh yes, we also have a laugh at Channing Tatum and Samuel's Movie Quote returns - turns out he only wants a packet of Milky Chocolate Buttons in return for his services.

Grab the new podcast episode here

Michael C Hall and John Lithgow winning their Golden Globes

Congratulations Dexter!

I am so happy for Michael C Hall today. We just heard recently he was winning a battle against cancer and last night won the Golden Globe award for best actor in a television drama for his role in Dexter. Thoroughly deserved, his performance over the last four seasons, slowly bringing more humanity into Dexter's character while still maintaining that dangerous killer edge, has been great to watch.

Not only does MCH deserve his award, but John Lithgow won Best Supporting Actor in a television drama for Dexter. In season 4, Lithgow played the Trinity killer, who became Dexter's nemesis for the season. His performance really elevated the show and forced Hall to raise his own acting game.

Congratulations to both Michael C Hall and John Lithgow.

Can't wait for season 5 later this year and best wishes to Hall for a continued recovery from his illness.

Californication Season 3 finale

(SPOILER ALERT for those who haven't yet seen this episode)

What a dramatic, heartbreaking end to the third season! There was nothing to be happy about as the show ended, except to take solace in the news that Showtime has greenlit a fourth season to air later in 2010.

Just when we thought Hank Moody had sorted things out with long time love Karen and they were looking set to head to New York with their daughter. But of course he had to go and screw things up didn't he, and he doesn't do things by halves. He made a proper job of it, hitting a policeman in the process.

Just when we thought everyone's favourite self-abuser, Charlie Runkle, was getting back with his wife Marcy, something went pear shaped while he was asleep and he finds she's signed the divorce papers, taking the wind out of his sails.

The final few minutes of this episode were really well done and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to Hank and Charlie in season 4.

I'll be talking a lot more about this show in my next podcast.

Waste of Time Podcast Episode 1

I've gone and done it! After months of toying with the idea of doing my own podcast and being able to talk about the things that I want to talk about, I've spent some time this week putting one together. It's a first attempt, please go easy on me :-)

It will surely take a little time for me to find a good focus for the show but it's likely to concentrate on chat about tv shows and films. I've already had one offer from a possible guest (thanks Tom!) so the future looks promising!

This first podcast talks about the Golden Globe nominations and discusses a glaring omission from the nominated tv shows. I also look at the return of two very significant tv shows, 24 and Lost, chat about some of the other tv shows I've been enjoying lately and review a couple of films I've seen this week. There is also the debut of Samuel's Movie Quote.

You can download this first episode by clicking the link:
Gareth's Waste of Time Episode 1

Enjoy!

Bill Bailey's Bird Watching Bonanza

Twitchers of the world unite! ...And watch Sky One at 9pm on Thursday 7th January.

As a birder myself, this is up my alley and it's great when there is a programme that can show the fun side of birdwatching. Cos it really can be - honest! Obviously not when you're standing in a crowd of grumpy twitchers in the pouring rain for hours waiting in vain for a small brown bird to show itself.

Bill Bailey hosts this show with a selection of "celebrity" birdwatchers in a challenge to complete various birdy tasks.

Check out the preview clip here in which our heroes have to build a hide out on the breezy Solway Firth to accurately count Oystercatchers (see the photo above; credit: M Holderness)