Li Jin Mae - BBC2 - The Mekong River with Sue Perkins

I hesitate to spell this brilliant ladies name because it was only said aloud on the program, but I think it might be Li Jin Mae. She is an Aini woman in China trying to keep the traditions of her people alive in the midst of a rapidly changing culture that pursues the new and modern. I like how she doesn't completely vilify technological advances, they're kind of ok you know? There's pros and cons. It's the way we live now and it's moving so fast we don't always have time to get used to the changes or to sit down and work out what is worth preserving of the old ways of doing things, and what is fine to throw out with the bathwater. Or Mekong River water in this case. 

I like Sue Perkins as a travalogueer, and I enjoy how tall she looks in China and how polite and jovial she is, like a young Steven Fry. I do miss her presence on the the Comic Relief Bake Off though. 

Katy Brand on Pop's Greatest Dance Crazes

So I was just watching an old talking heads dance program on iPlayer which was recommended to me after I ran out of new episodes of The Voice to watch (sad times) while I drew this castle or something for this women who is paying me. 

And I really wanted to draw this quote from Katy Brand, perhaps I should have drawn her in full on Beyonce gear, because they played the clip from when she did the Single Ladies dance for Sports Relief, do you remember that? I'm not sure why I do but I do. 

I love this quote because it reminds us of how truly democratic artistic expression is, that ANYONE can do amazing things. All they need is time and impetus and, presumably in this case, first rate tuition. Dance is almost up there with poetry as the most accessible of artforms, some people are naturally talented at moving their hips or turning a phrase, or were lucky to grow up in an environment that encouraged them to shake their booty from a tender age, or read the Nation's Favuorite Poems. But even people that are really not talented or lucky can still do these things. 

I mean, Katy Brand was really good at the Beyonce dance. So maybe she is talented and lucky. But her charmingly British self effacing talking head bit suggests not. So there's still hope for you!

Food Junkies - Kerryann Dunlop

London Live is my new favourite channel. It shows lots of Spaced, and also lots of shows where random people from London hang out and talk about stuff and explore the capital. Also because I met some of the stars of Drag Queens of London the other week and they were very nice, although I haven't actually watched it yet but I'm sure when I do it will appear here. Anyway.

Food Junkies is a nice fast cut, fast talking food and drink show about, you've guessed it, London. Kerryann is an down to earth gunner and sometimes she wishes Arsene Wenger was her dad. She was on one of those Jamie Oliver kitchen programs or something, and now she has a youtube celebrityship. Actually, the whole thing that I saw on TV this morning seems to be already on her channel here. She was rustling up some very tasty looking fried chicken ('the Colonel don't have nothing on me') when she came out with this nugget. And it's worth remembering, because just cos it's unpretentious and delicious, doesn't mean your humble grub has to be also f*cking ugly. Put it in a little pile on a board and sprinkle over some spring onions and lime you lazy reverse snobs.

Match of the Day Live - Danny Murphy on England v. Italy

It's the World Cup!

Excitement all around and lots of not boring football has happened so far with several unpredictable results. This is on account of the game of football (soccer) is a very much not very predictable game isn't it though? I think Danny Murphy put it perfectly in the post England v. Italy analysis:

SOMETIMES when you're bold and courageous and try and win football matches, you can lose them too. I am not an expert in sports. But I do know that the best laid plans of mice and Wayne Rooney aft gang a not in the net. We is only human. Also after watching this particular match I did learn that SOMETIMES when you're naive and trusting and you try and get night buses home from south London when TFL have said there will be extra ones because of the England football, you can wait for a really long time on King William Street at 2.30 in the morning.

Woo football.

BAFTA special - Helen Mirren

I've never understood where the T comes from in BAFTA. I could google it now couldn't I? Ah right it is from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Which I guess means it exists as an institution for the other 364 days of the year when Stephen Fry isn't being blown kisses by Leonardo DiCaprio. 

But obviously it's the awards we care about. Dame Helen Mirren got a fellowship award. Which is not meant in the way that the hippie cult youth organisation I attended as a child meant it. It just means she's like, really good, and really famous, and has been for a while now. 

She took the opportunity to talk about how great teachers are. Which is of course a very important point. She asked the audience of successful performers how many of them had a teacher who believed in them and inspired them to pursue their dreams. Everyone raised their hands of course. Because when teachers are awesome it makes a difference. But more it made me think about how all famous people (except creepy child stars and royalty) were once on the other end of that, just students with a creative bent that needed encouragement and inspiration. One among hundreds or thousands passing through a school, a course, a classroom, being encouraged and inspired. 

Christmas in a Day

Have you seen the feature length Sainsbury's ad, christmas home video compilation that is Christmas in a Day?

You really should. It's on the youtube for free. It's, you know, totes emosh, and also witty and sarcastic and genuine and all the Christmassy.

I like the woman obsessed with her geese and the woman tweeting Simon Cowell at 1.30am in Christmas morning, obviously the girl who got the Barbie Graveyard, the woman who likes to edit boxing videos as a hobby, all the drunken carol singing, all the petty arguments.

I drew two of my favourite momentquotes for you:

As well as the girl crying because she thinks she's too naughty for a stocking and the girl who wants all her presents to be ipads, this girl's saddest of sad faces when she thinks she's not getting the Camera she wants for Christmas, but trying to be philosophical about it and see the true meaning of the season is so classic. Because this film if anything really shows that she's right, in both senses. It is all about the presents, and all the other things too. 

This gentleman doesn't even need any spiel to tell you how awesome he his, just look at him. 

Launching Real TV Wisdom Shop

So I know you have all been wondering how you could possibly acquire some Real TV Wisdom drawings for yourselves. 

Wonder Nenceforth.

For I have put some in an Etsy Shop. 

Not only can you order a print of ANY Real TV Wisdom drawing you like for an exclusive holiday rateness of only £8, you can also BUY original drawings, COMMISSION your own, and OF COURSE, buy Real TV Wisdom Christmas cards.