Why Homer Simpson is the great lost mind of his generation

I love the Simpsons. Way, way, way too much. I have a complex theory about how the reality the characters experience is constantly in flux to get away with the various inconsistency's in the time-line on the show (Homer and Marge getting together in the 70s and 90s). One of the things I think about is the fact that Homer, every once in a while, shows flashes real knowledge or insight. He can understand complex issues in an instant, but most of the time he's classed as the quintessential happy-idiot. Another thing is that the level of his stupidity changes moment to moment. Sometimes Homer can't understand the simplest of things , for example responding to a new name:

But when he changes his name to Max Powers he instantly knows what's what. My theory is as follows: Homer Simpson is an incredibly smart man. However, due to circumstances beyond his control his intelligence is severely limited - he just can't assess much of his brain.



The following list outlines the main contributing factors to Homer's stupidity.

1) Repeated Blows to the head

Quite early on we saw Homer getting hit in the head, and it just keeps getting more and more intence. Theres an episode where a drawbridge closes on his head, and numerous times we've seen him hit by baseballs etc. Also, Homer was once hit repeatedly hit by Drederick Tatum:

This could be a lot worse if it wasn't for...

2) Homer Simpson Syndrome
Homer suffers from a completely unique genetic defect called Homer Simpson Syndrome. Its like he has a hard-hat on under his skull. These kinds of blows to the head could kill a normal man, or leave him a vegetable, but due to his condition Homer is able to absorb most of the blows. Its unsure if the condition effects his intelligence, but it seems to be implied that he has a smaller brain because of it - this one could go either way.

3) The Simpson gene

Homer used to be as smart as Lisa in school, but slowly his intelligence started to fade due to the Simpsons gene which effects only men in the family. Bart is effected by the same condition, and sadly his intelligence faded too. Homer was once a bright young individual, this has been proven.

4) Other Brain damage
Homer has mentioned various incidents in this past that could have caused brain damage - Holding his breath until he passed out, taking part in lab tests for medication etc. Also his raging alcoholism - the amount of booze he drinks can't be good for his brain, and we all know how hard it is to think with a hangover. Not to mention the dangerous chemicals he comes into contact with every day at the power-plant. Its not exactly an ideal environment.

5) The crayon in the brain

This is the big one. If it wasn't for the crayon in the brain Homers startlingly  high intelligence would only be muted by the factors above. While Homer was a child he passed the time shoving crayons up his noise. Most of them came back out, but one remained in his head - and its been there ever since. Its been shown when Homer has the crayon removed from his brain, his intelligence sky rockets. He's no Einstein, but certainly above average - able to function above most of Springfield. Tragically, Homer is happier as an idiot so he has Moe put the crayon back ('That's right - I'm a surgeon!').

My point being, Homer was above average after the crayon was removed - think of how smart he'd be without the other things holding him back! If he never got hit in the head, if he didn't drink all night and work in a hazardous environment all day, if he wasn't subject to the various genetic defects that plague him. What a waste of a potentially brilliant mind.

Amazingly, Homer can still overcome these things and have moments of amazing insight or shows of intelligence. Shown in the episode where they go to China (You guys are commies? Why am I seeing signs of rudimentary free markets?) or Italy (Well, what am I supposed to do about it? Transport water from distant cities? / Why couldn't you remain a series of independent states, trading and occasionally going to war?) He can also have flashes of insight in a more emotional sense - undertading a situation and doing what's needed to make it better for his family.

So, what do you think? Is Homer the great lost mind of his generation? Can you think of any other contributing factors to his low-intelligence?

Find out for yourself by watching from The Simpsons - The Complete First Season or reading Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1-20

I'm going to add more examples to his article as time goes on.

The Office s07e20 review

When I heard that Michael was leaving The Office I didn't really know what to think. The UK version was centred around David Brent, but the US version has grown to so much more. They might be able to pull it off, the writing is so good. Ricky Gervais talks about why the show needs to continue in his blog: (there's no direct link so I'm just gonna copy and paste the entry)

There are lots of cynics (or maybe just people not in the actual business of making TV shows) asking the question, "Oh why don't they just axe The Office?" I of course pulled the plug on the original version after a measly seven or so hours of television. I stand by that decision and believe it's part of the reason why it, and the franchise in general, has been so successful ever since.

So why isn't the American version afforded the same reverence?

I suppose it has gone on a very long time and the loss of Steve Carell could mean the end of an era, but let me explain something; In the US TV industry, a show as successful as The Office will never stop.

Here's why.

If you can keep going for about 70 episodes you can get a low level syndication. That is, sell the series you've already made and been paid for to a second broadcaster at 100% profit.

The real magic number though is about 100 episodes. Then you can strip the show across 4 days a week at a given time for about 6 months a year. (We're on about 150 episodes at the moment and have another season commissioned.)

200 episodes means you can do this the whole year and then start again. This can be done on more than one channel of course, and in as many countries as will take it. One network alone could pay $100 million to show the reruns.

Now ask that question again; "Oh why don't they just axe The Office?"

Seems like a silly question now doesn't it?

So, y'know, its all about the money. There's some rumours flying around about who's gonna take over, Catherine Tate being one of the options (urgh), but if this new episode isn't just some one-off guest apprentice it looks like Will Ferrell is set to take over. I have no idea how I feel about that.

I don't have anything against Will Ferrell, his man-child ways and easy slapstick comedy does piss me off in large doses, but so did Steve Carell before I first got into the Office. Ferrell seemed to have calmed for the show, and it does work I guess. He's a little too high-profile for me too watch the show and really believe it, with the exception of Carell I didn't know any of the main cast before the show started and to me the cast are the embodiments of their characters. I know Ferrell from too many other things.

I think the show started off well, when Ferrell started talking to everyone he seemed to fit okay, if I could put his fame out of my mind - then he started abusing Andy and telling Jim and Pam he didn't care about their kids - the funniest stuff in the episode, but a meanness that didn't feel right in the show. There's something about the comedy that's so light-hearted and fun, even when things get serious, that made Will Ferrell's power-mad antics seem awful within the context of the show. I think that was my main problem with it.

Well, lets see how it goes. This could be awful, the Office could be one of those shows that were once great but begin to become awful, or the quality of the writing could carry the show through even with questionable casting. (I'm thinking the show should finish with Carell leaving, but that's just me.)

Overall I'd give this episode MIXED THUMBS UP.

Watch the classics, before it all got weird with The Office: Seasons 1-5

How I Met Your Mother s06e19 review

Barney met his dad... because of a letter he sent. I don't even remember him sending that letter, but the season had aired weirdly this year with some weird long gaps.

John Lithgow plays Barney's dad. I couldn't really get behind that as the last thing I saw him in was Dexter, and he was a crazy evil serial killer in that, just pretending to be a nice family man. So, when he was a a nice family man in this episode I couldn't shake the feeling he was planning to kill Ted and the gang in horrible ways as soon as he could. Who knows, maybe he sliced Ted up a bit off camera. He'd deserve it.

This seasons been a bit heavy, Marshall's dad died and now Barney meets his dad who's been missing for something like 25 years. Marshall's dads funeral was a moving moment, but this episode just seemed hollow. I don't like Barney as a interesting three dimensional character, I want him being funny and banging chicks. Its what he does best. We have the rest of the cast to have deep moments, just let Barney be funny. Jesus wept.

I did quite like the idea that everyone has a gap in their general knowledge that makes them seem like idiots - Robin thinking that the North Pole is not a real place, Ted mispronouncing chameleon etc. Its true, we all have things like that. I thought that the Rolling Stones were American 'till I was 19. When people found out they ridiculed me for days. The ones that the cast brought up seemed a little forced though... maybe I just didn't like the episode much.

Not much to say about this episode really, not many gags, weird casting and Barney not being funny enough.
FOUR THUMBS UP

Watch it all on Amazon: How I Met Your Mother: Season One

Californication s04e11 review

How is it the penultimate episode already? It seems like 2 days ago the first two episodes were leaked online. The season has been great, I thought the trial would come and go within the first 5 episodes and the rest of the season would focus on Hank making a movie. Not so, this season has shown a broken Hank dealing with the consequences of his actions in a way he's never had to before. Its not slowed him down, but still.

Hank was found guilty, which I really didn't expect, and in the opening shots we saw the gang dealing with the news - badly. Charlie wept like a child. I just feel bad for Hank now, everyone knows he's innocent(ish) but he's facing jail time. Hanks described as an 'outlaw' by an old friend and Becca pleads with Hank to be a normal boring 9-5 dad (which leads to a 50s-Sitcom style dream sequence that almost kills the episode). Becca has some great moments this episode, despite her pissing me off somewhat this season. Hank tells her that he wants to 'forget reality' for a while and Becca communicates to Hank, without actually saying it, that that is exactly what his problem is.

I think I've always wanted to be an outlaw. Hunter S. Thompson, Bill Hicks - these are the people I look up to, but I could never cut lose and live like Hank. I think its why I find Hank such an appealing character.

The gang all get high together and talk of old times, remembering that they were once great - and wondering how it all went wrong. Hank is the centre of this little group, but he needs them all to survive. I think in their heats they all want to go back to being two couples, getting drunk and having a laugh, but its just out of reach. Its sad times.

I'm looking forward to next week and seeing how this all wraps up. There's another season after this, but to me this feels like the last. The whole season has been about his mistake from the start of season one, and we re-lived the infamous Nun scene that opened season one this episode. Maybe this will be the last great season, but who knows the show seems to have just got better to me, without losing sight of where it all began - a rarity. Most shows find out what works with the fans, then do that to death and ignore everything else. Califonication is a cut above.

EIGHT THUMBS UP.

Season 1 was good too y'know: Californication - The First Season

30 Rock s05e17 review

its my way... 'till pay day WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN

When the whole 'Queen of Jordan' episode started I thought it was just a cleaver into - I was a little pissed when I realised it was a full episode, but that quickly went away when it was one of the most brilliant episodes ever. The satire in 30 Rock is spot on. It goes right up too the line of being too much, but never actually crosses it. Jack trying his hardiest not to seem gay was the highlight of the show, as Jack is the highlight of most episodes. His whole speech about playing football in college and the repeated shot of him falling over had me laughing out loud.

D'Fwan was an amazing character. His first words on screen 'D'Fwan forgot his catchphrase!' coupled with the close-up and amazing expression was priceless. All the way through he nailed every line he had. 'I'm not just a gay hairdresser. I'm also a homosexual party planner.' If he was a real person on an actual reality TV show, I would not be surprised. 

The subplot with Frank and his old teacher didn't really do much for me. The idea was that Franks teacher from School slept with him in the 9th Grade (dunno how old that would make him) and has just got out of jail - but he's never grown up so she doesn't want to be with him anymore. The one good part of that plot was the line where the teacher asked Frank how he knew where she worked - 'Its just one of the benefits of dating a registered sex offender.'

Queen of Jordan was just everything wrong with reality TV. Reading other reviews online it seems some of the scenes and ideas were targeting specific TV shows, ones that I guess don't air over here in the UK, but I wouldn't watch them even if they did.

I'm glad shows are back after a couple of weeks off, and the Office is back next week so everythings back on track!

EIGHT THUMBS UP


watch it all blah blah 30 Rock: Season One30 Rock: Season 230 Rock: Season Three30 Rock: Season Four

House... just house.

happy people are not intresting

I'm just gonna say it - House should have ended last season. Maybe even before that. There's only so many times I can hear Foreman say 'What? There's only been a handful of documented cases in the past 50 years!' before I start to disbelieve that they're gonna come across these cases.  This last episode showed House saying that loving Cuddy made him a crappy doctor... but that she was worth it. I just didn't believe that scene, I thought House must be playing everyone to get away with something.... but no, it was real. That's not then House we love. House should have ended one of two ways. One: he's addiction finally caught up with him and he died (the best ending) or we see him finally get with Cuddy and we're left to believe they live happily ever after.

What we have now is a happy House, with no real conflict (apart from him thinking 'should I be happy? Yeah probably'). I don't give a shit about the supporting cast any more, their problems are laughable. Divorce? Room mate issues? Wilson gets a dog? What happened to staff members struggling with there own mortality, forced to experiment with drugs? Also that new redhead staff member... worst actor ever. Who the hell is she? Her thing is she's smart but naive about the real word - something that has been done far better, and more subtlety, before.

I watch it now due to some sense of loyalty to the show. It used to be amazing, and the one off weird episodes (like ones that happen only in Houses mind) can be television at its best. I still get chills when I think about the episode where House was shot, and he hallucinates an entire episode. The man who shot him features in the hallucination and gives House some hash truths:

"You pretend to buck the system, pretend to be a rebel, claim to hate rules. But all you do is substitute your own rules for society's. And it's a nice, simple rule: tell the blunt, honest truth in the starkest, darkest way. And what will be, will be. What will be, should be. And everyone else is a coward. But you're wrong. It's not cowardly to not call someone an idiot. People aren't tactful or polite just because it's nice. They do it because they've got an ounce of humility. 'Cause they know that they will make mistakes. They know that their actions have consequences. And they know that those consequences are their fault. Why do you want so bad not to be human, House"

Brilliant. Now? I couldn't care less. I hope the show gets better again, or ends on a high. Anything but this pointless limbo.


MIXED THUMBS UP

See House at his best in House, M.D.: Season One, House, M.D.: Season Two, House, M.D.: Season Three, House, M.D.: Season Four, House, M.D.: Season Five

The Office s07e18 review

Remember Chris from the UK Office? He was awful but I believed him as a character. Brent telling him to 'fuck off' was one of the greatest moments of TV ever. Todd Packer is just annoying. I know he's supposed to be, but he's too over the top to be believed.

But, sadly, most of this episode was about Packer coming back to the sales force after many years on the road. The whole office (bar Michael) hated having him back. They tried to tell Michael how awful he was but he was having none of it until right at the end where Packer insulted Holly. Michael has shown increased self awareness in the past few episodes. In 'Threat Level Midnight' he accepted mockery of his film with good grace (eventually) and here we're shown Michael rejecting Packer - a man he's looked up to since season one. This is all because he's leaving at the end of this season and they need to give him a happy ending. I think its working well. Dwight and Jim teamed up (always fun to watch) to get rid of Packer which worked, we think, so looks like Packers gone.

The real humour for this episode came with Pam getting a new computer for reception. Erin was happy at first but soon saw that the rest of the staff were jealous. She gave the computer to Andy, who had to give in back to Erin. Andy was upset so he and Pam conducted a scheme where Andy would break his computer, she would order a new one but they'd make it look old. It was a simple plot but it worked well, Pam giving some great lines. 'I'm full on corrupt!' 

This wasn't a great episode, there were a few laughs but I'm finding it hard to have the willpower to talk about the episode at any length - never a good sign. Packer came and went, Jim and Dwight had some moments but that's about it.

SIX THUMBS UP

watch the Office, yeah? The Office: Season One, The Office: Season Six all that

Skins s05e05 review

What an awful two weeks to stop updating! TVs been good in the last fortnight. Most noticeable being The Office (US) showing us Michaels 'Threat Level Midnight'. But, that was a full week ago, so I guess I'll tell all y'all about Skins.

Skins is a funny show. So many people hate it, I can totally see why, and the people who are really, really into it are annoying fucktards. However, I still watch it every week and I still think its worth following. Just don't take it too seriously. Before we start the review of this episode I just wanna say how much I like the little touch of the sky in Skins. Every time we see the sky its blue with clouds like this:

too nice

Which anyone in England will know is not our year-long sky. I heard once that over half of our days are overcast. In Skins where hangovers don't exist, drugs are cheap and available and life is never boring the sky is always a beautiful blue with while fluffy clouds - its a nice touch and is a subtle reminder that what we're watching is not our world. Things work ever so slightly differently, and this knowledge lets you accept some things that don't quite make sense.

This episode was the best of the season so far. We followed Nick, a sporty type who (like Mini) does not quite fit in with the group. Saying that though, one of the strengths of this new generation and the thing that differentiates this group from previous generations is that none of them seem to fit in. The friendship group is full of one off's, people who you wouldn't put together. Every character feels alienated. Its an interesting and its stopped this season feeling repetitive. 

Nick is the brother of Matty, the best character in the show by far. Matty is the mysterious stranger Frankie saw in the very first episode, and he was fully introduced last week. Matty is the black sheep of the family, he's lived on the street, at some point in the past trashed the house, he loves drink and drugs and struggles to obey day-to-day rules. He has some crazy eyes:

not a sane man

Nick, on the surface, seems the opposite of Matt. He's hard working, captain of the rugby team (do rugby teams have captains?) and set to be successful. He obeys the iron fist of his dad, who is some nut-case life-coach who tells his customers too 'MAN UP' all the time. He actually has a brilliant website I advise you to all check out.

As the episode goes on we see more and more that Nick is just putting on a mask. He hates his rugby friends, he hates his dad, he's not that into his girlfriend Mini, he just wants to be more like his older brother - who by all accounts as a colossal fuck-up. Matt, however, has the girl Nick really wants, makes friends quickly, has a dry, self deprecating humour and even plays rugby better than Nick.

You feel bad for the guy, he's playing by all the rules but losing the game - a feeling I think most can relate too. Nick seriously loses it by the end of the episode, trashing his dads house, telling Liv that she's the only girl who understands him, quitting the team and punching a friend in the face. There's a glimmer of hope here though where Nick finally stands up to his Dad and maybe learns to let go a little. I'd like to see more of this story, but we know next week we'll just be onto the next one.

SEVEN THUMBS UP

catch up with Skins with Skins, Vol. 1, Skins, Vol. 2, Skins, Vol. 3 and Skins, Vol. 4

Skins s05e02 review

I'm a cynical man. I hate easily. I spend a lot of my TV watching time raging out at idiots on adverts. I've been known to shout at the TV (I hate the guys in Jackass for example, and shout about how they're assholes who got too rich). I don't think I've never been so angry as I was last night watching the new episode of Skins.

the worst man alive

This episode followed Rich - the most dislikeable person I have ever seen. He's a 'metal head', who only has one friend (one too many). The episode revolved around his fear asking out a girl and some people trying to help him. That's all they were doing and he was an unbelievable dick to all of them. I can't get out how awful he was.

Every single time he spoke to anyone it was about how much he hated them for not being more like him. Grace, a girl he didn't even know, went out of her way to help him talk to a fellow metal head, a girl they called 'the angel of death', and he told Grace that she was 'everything he despised about the world' . She stuck with him and tried to understand his world more by coming to a record shop, listening to metal and he just told her she wouldn't get it and she was an idiot. Then she listened to some of his music and actually liked it, and he told her she still didn't get it and she was an idiot. Then she tried to talk to him about her passion - ballet - and he said it was for idiots and gays and she was an idiot for even daring to like anything but the exact same thing he liked. His mate told him not to be such a dick all the time and he said 'hey, I'm metal, I don't compromise'. OH REALLY, YOU'RE METAL ARE YOU? I DIDN'T KNOW.

Somehow, and I really don't understand this at all, the ballet girl began to like him and wanted him to ask her out. After he turned him down, his mate dared to insult metal and in a rage he went to spend £500 on what we found out earlier in the episode from a character called Chemical Mike was the 'heaviest album ever made'. Guess what it did? It made him go deaf. I wish it killed him. BTW, while buying his album he called the owner of the shop a 'sell-out' for reading Heat.

So rather than go to his metal show he's been banging on about all episode he goes to see this girl in a ballet. Oh, and its so beautiful it makes him cry. At this point my head almost exploded. She comes to the metal show with him anyway after her show 'cause she's willing to experience his world. Then his hearing comes back the next day for no real reason and he chickens out asking her for a date. At this point I was shouting at the TV 'I hope you get hit by a bus like Tony you fucking idiot'.

The sad thing is I know people like him really do exist in real life. People who like some crap music and think their point of view is the only point of view and refuse to change that even a little. I just wish I didn't have to sit and watch a person like that for a solid hour. The only redeeming part of his episode is Grace - the girl trying to help Rich the metal head. She hangs out with Mini (who we met last episode - think Mean Girls) who treats her badly and Grace just goes along with it - but she seems untouched by it somehow, like she's getting something from the relationship we don't know about yet. She has a passion for ballet but instantly understands the appeal of metal. She can inhabit these different worlds and still be herself. Grace is brilliant.


This episode was not bad it itself, I just hate that Rich guy so much it was almost unwatchable. I'll give it FOUR THUMBS UP.


Catch up with classic Skins with Skins, Vol. 1, Skins, Vol. 2, Skins, Vol. 3 and Skins, Vol. 4

Californication s04e04 review

It seems that this season on Californication is going 'one okay, one great', episode-wise. This was a great episode, and by far the funniest of the season so far. We open where we left off last week - Hanks hotel room where he's been writing none stop ever since we left him. He's finished the script and Charlie thinks its brilliant.  Hank is drinking whiskey straight from the bottle and wandering around like the bad-ass he is and Charlie has to convince him to go see 'Zig' whos financing the movie. Hank reluctantly goes (eventually). I expected Rob Lowe to be at the meeting, but alas! he was not. Where has that goatee'd legend got to this season?

Anyway Zig was a brilliant character for the short time he was with us. As soon as Charlie opened his mouth he shouted 'silence agent!' in an overly dramatic way, which is always fun to do. His apartment was ridiculous, full of gold chairs and he had twin-sisters for wives. The life of a billionaire, eh? Hank reads some of the script which arouses Zig for the first time in years. He goes off for a while and we see the rest of the gang get stoned. Zig owns this monkey who steals Charlie's beer, high fives Hank and is generally a little legend. Charlie goes off with one of the twins and the monkey throws shit and him and bites Charlie's arm. Charlie throws and kills the money. All this leads to one of the best lines from the show: 'Hank, that monkey was a deviant and a cockblocker.' Fantastic.

They go up to find Zig and apologise for the monkey, only to find Zig dead, hanging from his belt loop. 'autoerotic asphyxiation'... god damn. Hank just deals with it, despite being stoned and calls his lawyer (who I actually kind of forgot about). Hank knocks out a cop before she gets there (woops).

This was a great episode, its good to take a step back from the darkness and have a laugh every once in a while. Hank and Charlie have some amazing adventures together, I only wish I could live more like them. The dialogue was sharp and funny it was brilliant acted from start to finish and I was laughing all the way through.

We also spent some time with Marcy and Karen this episode as they let Becca and her new band practice in the house. There's a new 'cool-dad' love interest for Karen and the big news is Marcy is preggo! Who's is it? It can only be Charlie's, I think, that guy looks too much like a baby not to be a daddy. Also they have to get back together soon, I love them as a couple.

To sum up, this was an episode that did not advance the plot a great deal, but a fantastic comedic episode that reminds us why we love the show to begin with. NINE THUMBS UP.

Check out Hank and Charlie's past adventures with Californication - The First Season, Californication : The Complete Second Season and Californication: The Third Season

The Office s07e14 review

Two worlds collided on the new episode of the Office. David Brent came face to face with Michael Scott. Jesus titty fucking Christ.

It was a great moment, even if it didn't really make any sense. Are there two documentary teams that followed to different paper supply company's, with very similar characters? Why is Brent in America? Still, Michaels face when David said 'thats what she said' was so priceless. It was good to give a nod to the shows origins, even if only for a brief moment.

What a world

ANYWAY the episode itself had some highlights, mostly Creed describing the Loch Ness Monster. "Two eyes, two ears, a chin, a mouth, ten fingers, two nipples, a butt, two kneecaps, a penis. I've just described to you the Loch Ness Monster. And the reward for its capture? All the riches in Scotland. So I gave one question: why are you here?" WTF, Creed?

The episode focused on Andy staging a 'grow you small business' meeting as a ruse to sell paper. The rest of the sales team thought it was a bad idea until it turned out some of the people who game had actual business. There were quite a few b-blots running through this episode - Erin playing scrabble with Gabe (helped my Oscar and Pam), Michael and Holly bonding over a vaguely raciest skit and Jim avoiding a childhood friend who he once called stupid. None of these were amazing, as far as the office goes and I can't think of many stand out moments apart from the very first meeting of Scott and Brent and that Loch Ness Monster speech.

SIX THUMBS UP

Why not watch David Brent in The Office: The Complete BBC Collection (First and Second Series Plus Special)

Skins s05e01 review

young fucks

Is it really 4 years and 5 seasons since Skins first came out? I can't actually believe that. I remember after the 'first generation' ended and we all found out we'd get new people in season three and we were all bloody outraged. I remember watching the first episode of season 3 and thinking 'who the fuck are these people?'. But, as the season went on, I grew to love the characters and the show again. The first generation was still much better, but the second had their moments and some great plot points. Where seasons two and three failed, is that they tried to do way too much. Massive things would happen in one episode, only to be forgotten as the next weeks episode showed the next massive event. Loads of people died, but we never got to see a resolution to those plots. Some of the problem comes from having character-centric episodes - we find out about one life changing problem a chatterer is facing, but the next episode doesn't have chance to resolve anything because we're onto the next person.

The first generation used this format too, but the main character was arguably Tony so we could focus on that plot throughout.

This first episode of the third generation was actually pretty good. I didn't get the feeling they were trying too hard like I did on the last season opener. We focused one one character throughout - Frankie, there wasn't massive drug use or craziness (I think on the first episode of the second generation Cook started a fire in the college about 12 seconds after we met him), it was all more believable. I think they'll ease us into the usual heightened reality of Skins more slowly this time.

As for the content of the episode itself, we met and followed Frankie, a weird small girl with two gay dads who had to move from her old school due to excessive bullying. She is weird, to be fair, look at the girl:

a look the screams 'social outcast'

She moves to Skinsville and immediately gets bullied by this popular girl with ridiculous hair, Mini. Mini then flip-flops, decides Frankie is supercool and invites her to join the social group. They shoplift and do drugs but the group eventually find out how badly Frankie was bullied on a ridiculous generic 'Facebook' type site and all hell breaks lose. Throughout the episode you see a dirty rocker duo and a mysterious tall dark and handsome type who faces down Frankie when she's at her most crazy. Eventually the rocker guys and one member of Minis group become friends with Frankie and the season has begun. All the players are in place and you can see how its gonna come together. I don't think the main cast are gonna get on as well as previous seasons, there will be more conflict between the characters.

I like it so far, things seemed more toned down and I don't actively hate anyone just yet, but I know its just a matter of time.

SEVEN THUMBS UP

I was going to review the recent American re-make of the show, but its so god-awful I can't bring myself to. It seemed like a cheesy teen-movie, they've missed the feel of the show entirely. No thumbs up.

Catch up with the golden years with Skins, Vol. 1and Skins, Vol. 2 and the silver years with Skins, Vol. 3and Skins, Vol. 4 .

How TV Ruined Your Life s01e01 Review

How brilliant is Charlie Brooker? I've been a fan for years now, and whenever I watch him I'm just thinking 'damn, why can't I say things like that?'. Everything he says is just what I think, but in a brilliant way I could never articulate. The anger and snide remarks just remind us how silly the world is and remind us not to take ourselves so seriously. I don't think ladyfolks like him, my girlfriend rages out whenever he's on the screen.

Like I said, I've been following him for a few years now and his new show How TV Ruined Your Life is the classic Brooker format and feel, but with a significantly larger budget. He's still sitting on a sofa, watching TV, but rather than looking like he's sitting at home it looks like he's sitting in some post apocalyptic TV headquarters where he's gathered the remains of the BBC and sits doing the show to no-one.

left: old / right: new

There's also more sketches! Before they had Barry Shitpeas being hit in the face with a pie representing the News or something, now there's long parody's which take you a moment to realize aren't real. Like the morning show where a woman who's just murdered someone phones in to get advice off an experienced murder, or the brilliant mockery of 'shockumentaries' entitled 'What if: Pens got hot?'

I don't know what I like more... I kind of liked the cheap random bits in Classic Brooker, but some one these new extended sketches are so spot on... I think this series is gonna offer some real gems.

In case you missed it or have no idea who Charlie Brooker is, its just a show about television. Charlie is doing what he always does, showing us that TV is designed to influence you and (surprise surprise) it works. Sometimes we feel like the worlds falling apart around us, just because the news shows us the isolated bits of horror around the world. Really, almost everything is fine almost all of the time. This week he showed us how public service announcements are designed to tap into the fear-centre of the brain and the cheap tricks they use to achieve this.

A fantastic start to the season, I hope it continues to be this bloody brilliant.

EIGHT THUMBS UP.

If you have no idea who I'm talking about, get with the program over at Amazon with The Hell of it All, Dawn of the Dumb: Dispatches from the Idiotic Frontline and Screen Burn