Editorial - Issue 196

The new issue is out and as you can see we have a new style - and we're not breaking it to you gently. The Event TV is becoming more opinionated, more critical and frankly more interesting. No more timidity or pussy-footing around - we are gonna tell it like it is, and if you don't like it...well, you can tell us online! This is your chance to discuss and voice your opinion. So, what is on offer this week?

Robert Jackman takes on the big news story of the week in Television X, a look at just why Channel 4 is so obsessed with sex. Channel 4 has some amazing programmes (Green Wing and Shameless to name a few) and it has arguably one of the best news coverages around - but it all seems to get tainted with the increasing amount of tripe sex documentaries. I can still remember channel flicking a few weeks ago and getting a horrifying glimpse of 'The Real Blue Nuns', a programme which tried to make pornography into documentary, complete with 'serious' voice overs and historical facts. Next week they have 'The Perfect Penis' - to be honest, who really cares?

It's disappointing that a channel that has such fantastic and innovative dramas and comedies, take it to the other end of the spectrum by justifying the programmes as catering for all aspects of its audience, painting the largely 'soft' porn shows as documentaries - but isn't that one of the reasons we have multi-channel broadcasting? Do the general public need to be subjected to this kind of programming? Yes, we can all just change the channel or switch off, but is there justification for these kinds of shows?

Andrew Stafford takes a look at the 70s kitsch show The Six Million Dollar Man, Robert Jackman brings us some interesting trivia about our beloved Countdown and Kiera O'Brien gives us the lowdown on the eventful week of Neighbours. Our Primetime show is Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare where we take a look at what makes the show so interesting.

Last week I went to the Sci-Fi film fair at the uni, spent too much money but bought a beautiful LOTR Elves of Middle Earth figure set. Sad i know, but it was too pretty to resist. Saw The Prestige which was awesome, one of the best films i've seen in a while (also considering the last few were snakes on a plane, taladega nights and borat - the things we do for journalism...), and The Last King of Scotland at a preview screening, which was a very intersting and a personal perspective on one man's experience with Idi Amin.

On Wednesday, we had our 1st Concrete vs. Livewire laser quest, which Concrete unfortunately lost, but cos of gun malfunctions I happened to be on the winning team! I think it was fate...since I was Gollum on the red team and then went to the dark side as Batman. Following that we had Jane's 21st birthday (our news editor) at Po Na Na's, in which I was approached by a livewire member, they shall remain unnamed, who was very rude about disagreeing with our reviews and herby I feel the need to defend myself. Our TV reviews are all opinions and because of that people are bound to disagree. I like Scrubs more than Green Wing - and that's just preference, not fact. Fair enough Robin Hood has gone down hill, and one can only gauge what is to come from what we have seen, but there is no need to be cruel about reviews. Voice your opinion (which is why we've set up this blog), but just because you don't agree it doesn't give you free reign to be spiteful.

This week we have our TV and Film Social on Wednesday 22nd Nov to see Casino Royale, the new Bond film with the talented Mr Daniel Craig. Yes he is a rougher Bond than Brosnan, but maybe they are trying to bring back the Connery feel to the character. We are meeting outside the Odeon Riverside for 6:30 and then going for drinks afterwards. Please come along, it will be an awesome evening.

Also this Sunday 26th Nov we have the Media Party 2006 in the LCR, hosted by Concrete, Livewire and Nexus. Livewire wil be DJ-ing and we'll be having societies performing throughout the night. Tickets are £1 and you can buy them from the concrete office or the box office. It will be a great chance to mingle with other societies and meet new people so make sure you buy a ticket.

Make sure you take a look at the new Jennifer Saunders comedy Jam and Jerusalem starting this Friday on BBC1 at 21:30, which features some of the jems of British Comedy such as Dawn French, Joanna Lumly and Sue Johnston.

Natasha Kundaiker