Irish TV get a pat on the back

It may have attracted 6.2million in viewers across the water but I remain unconvinced by ITV’s new attempt at Cold Feet.
Cold Feet was witty, on trend and dramatic. You cared what happened to the characters and after a run from 1998 to 2003 you were genuinely sorry to see them go.
Married Single Other is a new comedy drama that started on ITV on Monday night. It stars a host of well-known faces. The main characters are all proven actors in both the dramatic and comedic scenes. However, the quality of their skills was definitely not showcased in the first episode. I will not overly judge the show because first episodes are usually quite weak. Although the characters by themselves are mildly interesting as a unit it is hard, at this point, to see how they will all fit together.
The show centres around six people (script writers just love the number six) three men and three women. A married couple who are not enjoying wedded bliss, a co-habitating couple with two children who are very happy although not married and a younger couple who are not a couple yet.
Keeping up? They are all pretty clichéd characters that are looking for happiness in today’s world. The married couple have great sex but no financial security – something which is causing the female character at least great distress. The unmarried couple although very happy are distressed because the man wants to get married and the woman does not. Finally, the younger couple – the male is a known womaniser and the woman is a model. On waking up with this girl lying on a sofa after a wild night, the man decides to cast aside his womanising ways and chase this new beauty in the hope of ‘loving her’. Puke!
I apologise to those who enjoyed this show but basically I thought that it was boring, bland and overly sentimental. The general idea is quite promising but I was not hugely impressed. As I said, I don’t want to judge it too harshly but I think I might just have to.
Ralf Little, who plays Clint the womanising advertising executive, is a good actor. I love Two Pints of Lager and A Packet of Crisps. He was great as Johnny Kehoe and his performaces in The Royal Family are brilliant. I have watched his journey to become a professional footballer, I have watched his attempts at the more serious content but I am just not buying into Clint. Not because of Little’s inability to act but rather the fact that his character just jars.
It is hard to like him, care about him or even want to get to know him. The opening scene is interesting. There he sits in bed, a naked girl crouched above him on all fours. He motions to the girl to join him in bed like she were a dog he was calling to his side. This seems promising, I thought. This is a character we could knock some enjoyment out of. However, next thing just because she declines his offer, he is all about going out with her and finding someone to love.
Blah, blah, blah! Does the whole world have to couple up? I mean isn’t it more realistic to keep a few characters in television-land single? It’s unrealistic to have everyone going out with people all the time. That is not how real life is, if the statistics that were released on relationships on Monday are to be believed. Also, it is poor dramatic judgement to set a character up as a being a womanising swine only to have him to a complete 180° in less than five minutes. It just doesn’t work.
As for the other characters, they are not particularly interesting either. A lot of soppy, smug nonsense.
The Irish Film and Television Awards were on last weekend along with the BAFTAs and the Meteors. This year I felt that the quality of Irish television was reflected in the winners. I was glad to see that TG4’s Rásaí na Gaillimhe won the special Irish language award although, in truth, I think that it could have held its own in some of the other categories.
The Clinic, of course, was another big winner but, to be honest, it was the only option in a category that also included Fair City and The Tudors. Although, it is clear that Fair City is trying a little harder these days. Thaddeus O’Sullivan got the nod for Into The Storm, as did Brendan Gleeson.  It was, of course, one of the finest pieces of television created last year and well deserving of the award.
Another fine piece of television and also well worth its accolade was Blood of the Irish which won in the documentary series category against stiff competition presented by Bóthar go dtí an White House.
All in all, I think that last year was a good year for homemade and Irish connection television. There are some things we do very well right now.
TG4 stills flies the flag for interesting and alternative documentaries with the other state channels holding well. Not to mention TV3 who have seen a surge in quality in programming in recent months.
At this rate, the IFTAs will be very interesting in 2011. However, I still do not know why Victoria Smurfit was presenting. I am not complaining, I was merely confused by it.
Of course I couldn’t let this week go by without mentioning the live episode of Eastenders. Now, we all know I am not a fan nor do I tune in regularly but with all the talk and column inches devoted to it in recent weeks I felt it was my duty. I have to say I thought it went well. It seemed like the cast enjoyed themselves. Although how they didn’t guess is beyond me. But indeed, a nice piece of television history to be part of. Even if it was only from the couch.