Pickadolla

Rest in peace, one of the greatest. #Pele

“Homicide: Life on the Street” is an American police drama television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons (122 episodes) on NBC from January 31, 1993, to May 21, 1999, and was succeeded by Homicide: The Movie (2000), which served as the series finale. The series was created by Paul Attanasio and based on David Simon’s book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991). Many of the characters and stories used throughout the show were based on events depicted in the book. The show won Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama in 1996, 1997, and 1998. It also became the first drama ever to win three Peabody Awards for drama in 1993, 1995, and 1997. It received recognition from the Primetime Emmy Awards, Satellite Awards, Image Awards, Viewers for Quality Television, GLAAD Media Awards and Young Artist Awards. In 2007, it was listed as one of TIME magazine’s “Best TV Shows of All-TIME.” (via Wikipedia)

I remember this tv-show when it came out, but I only saw an episode here and there. It had a strong cast with Ned Beatty, Yaphet Kotto, Jon Polito, Melissa Leo etc. I got hold of the first season some year ago and I just gave it a proper chance after reading about all the praise and accolades. However, I only managed to see 8-9 episodes before I had to admit to myself I simply didn´t like this police drama. The show is too slowpaced, too talky about trivial things that never seems to end, there´s no characters I personally like out of all the nine ones (which makes it hard to win you over) and the visual style felt really outdated when watching it. With other words, I can´t join in the praise of “Homicide: Life on the Street”. It´s not for me, but that´s my opinion.

Rest in peace Terry Hall, the lead singer of the 2 tone and ska outfit The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. A sad day for the world of music. Photo: David Corio/Redferns #TerryHall #TheSpecials

Rest in peace Jet Black, the drummer and founding member of the punk rock/new wave band The Stranglers. (Images from Daily Mirror and PA) #JetBlack #TheStranglers

Miraval Studios is a recording studio located in the Château de Miraval, a 900 hectares estate located in Correns, in the Var department of Provence in France. The studio was Founded in 1977 by French jazz pianist Jacques Loussier and sound engineer Patrice Quef, it was in operation under the name Studio Miraval until the mid-2000s, but sat unused after the acquisition of the estate by actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in 2011.

Frequented and used by many world-class bands such as Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, The Cure, Muse, AC/DC and The Cranberries, Brad Pitt and French producer Damien Quintard reopened the fully restored and refurbished studios under the name Miraval Studios in October 2022. (via Wikipedia)

This sci-fi inspired studio setting is truly intriguing, cool and inspiring. I looks like the bridge of a starship. Fantastic design environment. Who wouldn´t want to record there? #MiravalStudios

Image credit: Hélène Hadjiyianni

Another poor season being a Bears fan. 3-10 is hardly impressive statistics… #ChicagoBears

“The Prisoner” is a 1967 British television series about an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village, where his captors designate him as Number Six and try to find out why he abruptly resigned from his job. Patrick McGoohan played the lead role as Number Six. The series was created by McGoohan with possible contributions from George Markstein. Episode plots have elements of science fiction, allegory, and psychological drama, as well as spy fiction. It was produced by Everyman Films for distribution by Lew Grade’s ITC Entertainment.

A single series of 17 episodes was filmed between September 1966 and January 1968, with exterior location filming in Portmeirion, Wales. Interior scenes were filmed at MGM-British Studios in Borehamwood, north of London. The series was first broadcast in Canada beginning on 5 September 1967, in the UK on 29 September 1967, and in the US on 1 June 1968. Although the show was sold as a thriller in the mould of the previous series starring McGoohan, Danger Man, its combination of 1960s countercultural themes and surrealistic setting had a far-reaching influence on science fiction and fantasy TV programming, and on narrative popular culture in general. Since its initial screening, the series has developed a cult following.

The series follows an unnamed British man (McGoohan) who, after abruptly and angrily resigning from his high-ranking government job – apparently a secret service post – prepares to make a hurried departure from the country. The most he will later reveal about his resignation is that it was a “matter of conscience”. While packing his luggage, he is rendered unconscious by knockout gas piped into his London home. When he wakes, he finds himself in a re-creation of the interior of his home, located in a mysterious coastal “village” within which he is held captive, isolated from the mainland by mountains and sea.

Although internal physical movement of residents around the Village is unconstrained, the premises are secured by numerous high-tech monitoring systems and security forces, including a balloon-like automaton called Rover, that recaptures or kills those who attempt escape. The man encounters the Village’s population, hundreds of people from all walks of life and cultures, all seeming to be peacefully and mostly enjoyably living out their lives. They do not use names, but have been assigned numbers which, aside from designations such as Two, Three, and Six, give no clue as to any person’s status within the Village, whether as prisoners or guards. Potential escapees, therefore, have no idea whom they can and cannot trust. The protagonist is assigned Number Six, but he repeatedly refuses the pretence of his new identity. Number Six is monitored heavily by the constantly-changing Number Two, the Village administrator, who acts as an agent for the unseen Number One. Several techniques are used by Number Two to try to extract information from Number Six, including hallucinogenic drugs, identity theft, mind control, dream manipulation and forms of social indoctrination and physical coercion. All of these are employed not only to find out why Number Six resigned as an agent, but also to elicit other information he gained as a spy. The position of Number Two is assigned to a different person in each episode, with two making repeat appearances. This is assumed to be part of a larger plan to disorient Number Six, but sometimes the change of personnel seems to be the result of the failure of the previous incumbent, whose fate is unknown. Number Six, distrustful of everyone in the Village, refuses to co-operate or provide the answers they seek. He struggles, usually alone, with various goals, such as determining for which side of the Iron Curtain the Village functions, if either; remaining defiant to its imposed authority; concocting his own plans for escape; learning all he can about the Village; and subverting its operation. His schemes lead to the dismissals of the incumbent Number Two on several occasions (including one, played by Patrick Cargill, who is driven to paranoia and a near nervous breakdown). Despite foiling the system, however, Number Six never manages to escape successfully. By the end of the series, the administration, becoming desperate for Number Six’s knowledge, as well as fearful of his growing influence in the Village, takes drastic measures that threaten the lives of Number Six, Number Two, and, indeed, the entire Village. A major theme of the series is individualism, as represented by Number Six, versus collectivism, as represented by Number Two and the others in the Village. McGoohan stated that the series aimed to demonstrate a balance between the two points. The finale of The Prisoner left open-ended questions, generating controversy and letters of outrage. Following the final episode, McGoohan “claimed he had to go into hiding for a while”. (via Wikipedia)

After many years of wanting to see “The Prisoner” I have finally seen all episodes of this cult tv-show. To say the least, the storyline is quite intriguing and unique still today with individualism as the main topic which is as current today as it was in 1967. Patrick McGoohan´s input both as creator and lead actor was clearly essential to the show, but as far as I know he was not easy to work with and acted as a megalomaniac at times and I guess that was a result of the pressure of succeeding with his “The Prisoner” vision. As pointed out the mix of science fiction, allegory, psychological drama and spy fiction there´s nothing alike “The Prisoner” and when I saw the first episode I wasn´t sure what to think of this tv-show. I personally also think that up until episode “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling” the plot and the show works, but by this episode is clear they were struggling to move forward with the show as those last episodes has odd storylines and the final one is by far a very strange episode, but I can´t say I hated it, but I think that McGoohan doesn´t manage to tie it together properly. But, with that said “The Prisoner” has a truly unique place in tv- history. See it and be mesmerized. (Photos from ITC Entertainment)

Indy is back……

Rest in peace Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie. She passed away at the age of 79 after a short illness. A fantastic singer and songwriter. Image from Associated Press. #christinemcvie #fleetwoodmac