Sunday 13 February 2022
The Murder of Emmett TIll
Emmett Louis Till was a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. His death eventually helped to motivate the civil rights movement.
Louis Theroux’s Forbidden America: Extreme and Online (1/3), BBC2 9pm and then on BBC IPlayer
In this first episode exploring the impact of the internet and social media on controversial areas of US society, Louis looks at the influencers of the “new far right”. These include Nick Fuentes, a 23 year old YouTube star who is Theroux’s main subject. Fuentes seems to be a blend of social media influencer and white nationalist provocateur for the social media age. His hallmark is advancing racist themes while offering shelter behind the idea that it is “just a joke”.
As one of Fuentes’ followers says, “I’m not a political guy. I’m just a gamer, a comedian. Making edgy jokes on the internet is punk rock.” Theroux describes this grim, nihilistic “comedy”—“playing at being racist while actually being racist and then accusing opponents of having no sense of humour.”
The Most Beautiful Boy In The World, BBC4 9pm
The sad story of Bjorn Andreson who starred as Tadzio in Visconti’s adaptation of the book by Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (1971).
Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love (2019), BBC4 10:35pm
An in-depth look at the beautiful but tragic relationship between the late musician Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen.
I missed this when it was out at the cinema so I’m looking forward to watching it now. I’m a big fan of Leonard Cohen as is my colleague David Kerr who wrote a review here.
Monday 14 February 2022
A Room With A View (1985), Film4 6:45pm
When Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and chaperone Charlotte Bartlett (Dame Maggie Smith) find themselves in Florence with rooms without views, fellow guests Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliott) and son George (Julian Sands) step in to remedy the situation. How will Lucy’s life change as a result of this…?
Rise of the Nazis (1/3), BBC2 9pm
At the peak of his power, Hitler now faces fellow ruthless dictator Stalin. He tries to deceive Stalin with a plan to invade Britain, all while preparing an attack on the Soviet Union.
Desperate Romantics (1/6), BBC4, 10:30pm
The Guardian described this mini-series like this back in 2009: “Some costume dramas like to revel in the difference between Victorian times and our own; Desperate Romantics is one that likes to emphasise the similarities. Great young painters they may be, but as they are presented here, the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood are also randy young careerists who move with alacrity from brothel to easel.” Could be fun! More serious programmes precede it on the same chanel from 8pm.
Tuesday 15 February 2022
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby (5/6), BBC2 9pm
As a cost of living crisis hits us in the UK why not escape to the luxury of the Qasr Al Sarab in the UAE? One person can stay for two nights from just £1,011. Then there are flights… Perhaps, I will just watch the programme and just dream of palatial comfort in this luxury desert resort? I wonder if I should turn my heat up!
The V&A Present Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser (2021), Sky Arts 1230
Delve into the journey of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland through its origins and reinventions over the last 157 years in this immersive show. See my review of this great film here.
Wednesday 16 February 2022
Fred Dibnah’s Made in Britain : The Source of Iron, BBC4 730pm
Fred reaches Cumbria where iron ore was once mined on a large scale, and enjoys the Lake District on a friend’s steam boat. It’s then on to the Florence Mine.
Thursday 17 February 2022
Boeing’s Fatal Flaw, PBS America 7:35pm
346 lives were lost as a result of two accidents and the entire Boeing 737 MAX fleet was grounded. Why?
Friday 18 February 2022
Chasing Ghislaine: Sins Of The Father, Quest Red 11pm
To pull back the veil on Ghislaine Maxwell’s mysterious past, Vicky Ward starts by profiling the complex life of her evil media mogul father, Robert Maxwell.
Selections by Pat Harrington with assistance from Henry Falconer.
Counter Culture 
Leave a Reply