Tuesday 2 August 2011

What Are You Watching?

  I don't know about you, but my husband and I have a hard time finding anything good to watch on TV.
We had some favorites that were once shown but you couldn't find on any of the channels anymore.
So we started buying our favorite programs on video.


This is what my husband and I watched last week during the evenings. And no one, in my book, does a
better Miss Marple than Joan Hickson. She is Miss Marple. Now whenever I read any of Agatha's  
Miss Marple mysteries her face is the image I carry in my mind.  But in all fairness, I also have enjoyed the new PBS Miss Marple programs starring Julia McKensie. I think she does a fine job in the role.



Here's the rest of our Agatha Christie collection. The cheapest place we've found to buy DVDs that we like is a company called Acorn. Please do not confuse it with that government supported agency that was
dismantled last year. I'm sure you can find it on-line. Tommy and Tuppence really 
isn't one of my favorites. I liked the books but not  the video.
Have you viewed any of these programs? In the past I watched Hetty on PBS and Rosemary and Thyme on a British Columbia channel-Knowledge. Pie in the Sky we bought cold turkey and we really ended up
enjoying it!

I'm sure you must know these fellows! I was so happy when they brought Lewis back with a program
of his own. Morse had been such a favorite of mine for so many years. My DH  and I took to betting whether the murder would take place in a church or university. It seemed so many were either in one place
or the other!

Are you looking for laughs? Well these are guaranteed to please. We also have Andy Griffith, Beverly Hillbillies, and Petticoat Junction to watch for a hearty cackle.

Here are my two original Jane Austen movies. I can't tell you how many times I've watched the two
of these. We bought them sometime in the 90's. I do like the newer versions too. PBS has done some good
Jane Austen movies. Even Hollywood's versions weren't too bad.

And last, but never least. The Queen and Churchill. Now I hate to admit this but I was busy doing something
else when my husband watched "Monarchy". So I'll have to watch it and let you know what I think. But
I can highly recommend "Chasing Churchill". It was a documentary done  through the eyes of his
granddaughter. It was a historical and personal account of his life. And was filled with more footage
of Churchill than I had ever seen in other specials.
The husband and I have decided the next purchase we make in DVD is definitely going to be (drum roll please) Foyle's War. We loved these programs. My sis told me about it when they 1st began airing but
I thought it was a war show, and I hate war shows. So we didn't watch it. Last fall we happened upon
it and DH  thought we ought to give it a try. Well after we watched all they were showing, we went to
the library and rented the series from the beginning to the end. I researched it and discovered that the
show was over (after all the war ended), but people loved it so much they are making more concerning life
after the war. I can't wait.
Let me know what your favorite DVD's are to watch and any that you would like to recommend.
I'm all ears!

25 comments:

  1. For the past year, I've not watched current TV....I've been streaming all the TV I never watch via Netflix.

    That being said, this past week, I turned TV on...to watch Project Runway. It's the only show on TV I like!!!

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  2. We got rid of cable almost two years ago and since then I watch less and less tv. For a while, I had my shows that I was loyal to, but I've even stopped watching many of them. It may be because my little tv in my office bit the dust and I haven't decided if I want to replace it. Plus it's summer...we're hoping to do netflix this winter. When business is slower my husband and I will have more "sit down" time. :-)

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  3. I have ordered from Acorn before. Got Jewel in the Crown from them on my uncle's recommendation. It was good.

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  4. OH. .thanks so much for the wonderful list of "tv" viewing for summer nights.
    The one show that is on TV that we really enjoy is Murdoch Mysteries.

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  5. There is very little on TV that we enjoy. The current stuff we enjoy is a short list: Bones and Dancing With The Stars (American TV)

    We probably will get rid of cable when mom is no longer with us. But your taste in DVDs mirrors our own. WE have seen all these - except the BBC titles.

    I would add other BBC titles: Doc Martin, As Time Goes By.

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  6. What a great list of good movies to watch. We don't have satelite or cable and only have 3 channels - CBC, CTV and Global. It being summer there sure isn't much on to watch. Just the usual reruns and some miniseries that are so full of corruption and sexual content that I don't like them! So, I haven't been watching too much tv this summer at all. I really do need to go to the library (or bookmobile) and see what they have in the Marple Mysteries. I love watching them when on CBC now and then. Thanks for the suggestions. Some I've never heard of before and I find BBC makes some excellent ones. Pamela

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  7. Thanks for this great review! I watch cable news/business starting early morning and through the day (can't turn your back on Washington D.C. for one minute) and by the evening I'm ready for something happy, or at least a bit lighter. I will be checking out Acorn and do appreciate that info.

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  8. Thanks for the heads up on those great shows! We are new to the whole "streaming tv" thing, so far have been watching some movies that we'd missed and then will be onto the tv series we loved just like you. Really watch very little live tv, dvr it for times that suit us. I used to be news program lover, not so much anymore...too depressing. TV is more of a winter thing for us.

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  9. I don't have any recommendations because I rarely watch television. Just the occasional news and the HGTV programs and they're not as good as they used to be. We'll rent or buy a movie every now and then but good ones are hard to find. I sound kinda picky, don't I? LOL! Guess I would rather read!

    Monarchy sounds like something I would like. I'm not sure why, but I find the Royals fascinating (except for Charles). Maybe because their way of life is so completely different than ours? Thanks for the new ideas!

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  10. Well, that is funny, we were watching our Poirot's last week. This week Pride and Prejudice. I have all of those in boxed sets too and I have always bought them from Acorn too. :) I am a huge Charles Dickens fan, My favorite is Bleak House. The last one they came out with was Little Dorrit and I really enjoyed that.
    I also really like Elisabeth Gaskill and they have made her books into really good drama's,
    Like Wives and Daughters and North and South.
    We have been watching Dr. Who as well. Our kids wanted us to watch it so we started watching that.
    I like to sit and sew while we watch Dr. Who
    I liked the Tommy and Tuppence books better too, but I did like the old series. I agree I always see Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, and David Suchet as Poirot now.

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  11. I like all of your picks. We're calling this 'the summer of the subtitle' as we've watched some of the Swedish 'Wallander' series, as well as the British version. We've also just finished the German 15 episode 'Heimat' - excellent! Have you seen any of the 'Zen' detective series, or 'Foyle's War'? They're good, but my all time favorite is Miss Marple!

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  12. It's interesting to see how many people are giving up on cable. I had mine turned off about a month ago and just packed up the TV yesterday since it was only taking up space. After reading your post I'm thinking about putting it back and buying a DVD player.
    It looks like you all have found some great movies to watch. I'll have to check out Acorn.

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  13. I like a lot of the programs you've listed. I've watched Hetty,but not Miss Marple...
    I loved Rosemary and Thyme... and the same actress; her name eludes me-- in Good Neighbors...
    love their little homesteading show!

    All good views in my book~

    Right now during my blog break, I'm reading The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

    I'm enjoying reading more than watching, right now.
    Pat

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  14. Oh dear! I haven't watched any of these (well, I have watched Lucy and Hogan's Heroes). They look like my cup of tea though. The Chasing Churchill looks really interesting to me. I can remember writing a paper on Lady Clementine Churchill in high school. How I ever heard of her in the 1980s in small town California I have no idea, but I was fascinated.

    Well now I have some new shows to investigate. (I also have to confess that I love a lot of the shows on USA network - the quirky characters draw me in.)

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  15. My son who is 21 made me watch Hettie Wainthrop and I must say I enjoyed it very much!

    Veronica
    www.tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com

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  16. My husband and I are not big TV watchers. We basically watch the evening news and an occasional baseball game. We do belong to Netflix and get a movie once a week which we watch on weekends. We really enjoyed the John Adams series earleir this year, and mainly order drama or comedies. Thanks for your recommendations!
    PS: You haven't joined me as a follower on my blog as yet!

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  17. We loved Foyle's War. If you like a dramatized biography you might enjoy A Gathering Storm. It is about Churchill during WWII. Not a war movie, but takes place during the war. We also loved Amazing Grace. It is about William Wilberforce and his fight against slavery. A new movie that you may like is True Grit. We especially liked the extra info on costuming that is available on the dvd.

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  18. I watch very little TV anymore. There's usually nothing on I want to see. My husband likes to watch sports or movies sometimes. The comedies you list are all ones I watch occasionally on TVLand, if they're on, though. :-)

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  19. I have to admit I feel the same way about TV, it's a vast waste land out there. We too have taken to DVD's. Thanks for the suggestions

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  20. thank you for this post! We haven't had cable for years and watch dvds exclusively! Although many of the ones you listed are personal favorites, some I've never even heard of and we needed new titles...

    Blessings, Debbie

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  21. thank you for this post! We haven't had cable for years and watch dvds exclusively! Although many of the ones you listed are personal favorites, some I've never even heard of and we needed new titles...

    Blessings, Debbie

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  22. These are great...I need to check some out...Churchill sounds great, my son would enjoy that,and of course...all I Love Lucy.

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  23. What a fabulous choice of movies to choose from. :o) We watched MASH all of last summer. :o) Our children had not seen them, so it was fun for all of us.

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  24. I agree - not much good on the TV. I like watching Jane Austen movies too. And many other such as the one you have shared like
    Andy Griffith, Beverly Hillbillies, and Petticoat Junction

    hugs..

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  25. I love Agatha Christie too - I collect all her videos. I agree that Joan Hickson is the best of the actresses that have played her. Since then Masterpiece Theatre has gone through 2 new Miss Marples who don't hold a candle to her IMHO. I'm also addicted to Poirot and Lewis too. The Morse Mysteries are what got me started on Masterpiece Mystery. A new interesting series is the Zen mysteries with Rufus Sewell - you must try them - they take place in Rome - I've just seen 2 episodes and I'm hooked.

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All of your comments are read and much appreciated.
You are dear and lovely friends!