James May's Man Lab

[fallatyourfeet]

*reads Observer article,wishes James would come and fix our Scalextric. Has been broken since last Christmas*

[xjsarah]

My aunt still has her Scalextric set from the 1960s, complete with a BRM and a Porsche, and other accessories that are very much of their era. I don't think it's worked for decades. Maybe it could use a similar going over!

[jacqui]

Oct 31, 2010 18:24:28 GMT @nobody said:

Oct 31, 2010 16:55:15 GMT vertebraille said:

I hate waiting for things to play in the UK. 12 hours feels like such a long time.

Is Colin an actual person, or a generic name he uses for all his friends?

I believe he was in top toys playing the board game in the pub with James. ;D

Check out XJ's link you'll see a picture of Colin, the guy in the pub isn't Colin. Colin is the one wedged behind the table when the men are playing with the train set at the end ;D

[nobody]

I know Colin wrote a article once about how he's not made for TV.
But I don't know where to find it.

[flatin5th - Knight of the NC]

Oct 31, 2010 20:43:06 GMT jacqui said:

Oct 31, 2010 18:24:28 GMT @nobody said:

I believe he was in top toys playing the board game in the pub with James. ;D

Check out XJ's link you'll see a picture of Colin, the guy in the pub isn't Colin. Colin is the one wedged behind the table when the men are playing with the train set at the end ;D

i want one of those T-shirts!

[nobody]

Love the opening. lol

[Hops]

So, "my mate Colin" actually exists! Gee, I always thought "Colin" was a generic name James liked to call his friends in his columns, so as not to have to use their real names. A bit like "woman".. I guess I was wrong. They do hang out a lot, then!

[inky]

Going down like a lead balloon as far as the Beeb's POV message board is concerned ;D

[Wyvern]

I'm really not sure what to make of that. It's a nice idea, but it seemed to be lacking some substance, possibly because the main thrust of the episode seemed to be that no matter how clever you think you are, you still end up showered in sh*t (i.e. men actually are pretty useless). Next week's looks more promising, but I dunno... perhaps you really do need a Y chromosome. I did find the constantly changing shirts quite irritating too. Did like the concrete work top though.

Though anyone who can't get their head around wiring a plug does deserve shooting, unless they're colourblind.

[nobody]

Love the coffee table, but not sure if the show works.
It does not seem to flow together very well.

[lindenchase]

Watched it while I checked Twitter for what other people were saying. Very mixed reactions. Some loved it, some think it was awful. As with all good programmes, I guess.

I feel they might have tried to put too much in one hour. I loved though how they kept in things like the broken glass and the banana that fell off. ;D

Highlight has to be James singing the old minstrel song.

[inky]

Summed it up perfectly Wy. Men are a waste of space. Nothing they can do that a bit of plastic and a couple of batteries can't cope with ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Mayfayre]

*must remember never to ask my colour-blind Dad to wire a plug...*

I was taught that the second letter of blue is L so it goes to the left and the second letter of brown is R so it goes to the right. The other one goes straight on.

I missed the first half of the programme, so I'll reserve judgement until I've seen it as a whole, but what I did see looked fine.

I already have the mug of that Tshirt, thanks to Wy ;D

[nobody]

I want to know why no photos of James as a minstrel have come to light.

[eshalda]

I'm not sure what to make of the programme, it tended to jump around quite a lot and not much depth to some bits. I am wondering whether too much has been crammed into each episode. I know James (and I) like trains, but I found it a bit irrelevant. It was still lovely to see James and he is obviously enjoying what he is doing, he can serenade me any time at all.

[lew]

Oct 31, 2010 21:06:26 GMT Hops said:

So, "my mate Colin" actually exists! Gee, I always thought "Colin" was a generic name James liked to call his friends in his columns, so as not to have to use their real names. A bit like "woman".. I guess I was wrong. They do hang out a lot, then!

Colin

jamesmayboard.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=press&action=display&thread=860

[lew]

Anyway never watched, I'll watch it on iplayer at sometime, watched Downton Abbey....oh and with a London Pride ad thrown in .

Must remember never to post when under the influence ;D

[richmondgal]

It's on The Box for those who are interested: thebox.bz/details.php?id=135992

[dit]

I've often wondered about that, nobody!

I liked the programme. Yes, I know I'm biased, but I did like that so much information was crammed into it, it jumped from topic to topic, it wasn't ashamed to be silly at times, and I do like the fact that the director/BBC seem to have let James just be himself and follow his interests. In fact, I was trying to think of any other presenter over the past few years who has been allowed to be himself so freely.

I do think he needs to step back a bit after this series though, as if he's not careful he'll spread himself too thinly, but for now I'm happy with it. Perhaps I have a weakness for the silly stuff; the train, the picnic table, the exploding bomb had me laughing aloud, and the breaking banana that could have just been an outtake made me really giggle.

So, let's see what the critics think, eh?

[xjsarah]

I loved it! ;D I was giggling all the way through. It was so completely tongue-in-cheek that it was impossible not to laugh. I do love it when what would normally be outtakes make it into the final edit. That's been done on his other shows, and IMHO it somehow makes them and him more watchable.

To those who found it to be a bit random and lacking in flow, I viewed it not as a single hour-long programme, but rather as a series of individual segments, which when edited together added up to about one hour. It's a bit like what James said about DIY jobs in the Observer article yesterday, about breaking one big job down into its component tasks, so it doesn't seem like such a big job after all. To me, that's what this show is like: break it down into its individual segments, and it doesn't seem so random. Well, it worked for me, anyway! ;D

It's a small thing, but I rather liked the fact that his academic titles were quoted in the credits. 'Theme from Man Lab composed by Dr James May BMus'. Nice one.

[richmondgal]

It's odd but brilliant at the same time. It makes me think of Dad and his inventions and what nots when he's trying to fix something. Indeed, it kept breaking when you were going to put in another segment, but that didn't bother me because I was too much engrossed into the next segment. I do understand why women will find this odd, but that's how the man works. Well, James at least. Not so sure about Charlie, because he sounded like a sissy. lol

[bob]

Only saw the 2nd half due to the time change, i thought id missed it only to find it was still on

I thought it was good and luckily OH did too so I can watch it more.

Speaking to OH who is also colourblind, the "new" wiring colours are now theoretically different colours even if your colourblind (they appear different in brightness). Although he did manage to re-wire a house before the new colours were introduced, but had to have the help of a multimeter.

[Wyvern]

Nov 1, 2010 0:03:48 GMT bob said:

Speaking to OH who is also colourblind, the "new" wiring colours are now theoretically different colours even if your colourblind (they appear different in brightness).

Now this is indeed theoretically true, but for the people who have the form of colourblindness where there is no appreciable colour perception at all, you need to know which is the brighter of the two wires - obviously you'll see one as brighter than the other, but you might not know whether the brighter one is live or neutral. It always seemed a bit silly to me that the three wires didn't just have different patterns to get around that problem. When I was building a circuitboard recently, I used several different patterns of insulation to make it easier to trace all the different connections, so I know it works ;D

[violetrose]

I think the only time I stopped giggling and laughing out loud the whole hour was when he was working on the "dirty" bomb. That bit (though I know it's only tv) made me a bit worried. But, I have to say that I really enjoyed myself. It is just the essence of "Jamesness", if such a concept exists. The show is very silly and absurd; I can see how some people would love it and some would hate it or at least not be too sure about it. As a concept, I think it is a bit thin... but as long as I don't take it seriously at all and focus on the utter silliness of it all I laugh my head off. Two thumbs up! ;D

[devil-may-care]

I really enjoyed the episode. It was silly and absurd and informational and fun and perfectly James. ;D

I agree with you, xjsarah - lots of little segments to break it all down. Do a portion of the job, take a break.

Next week's episode looks very good. Can't wait! ;D

Now that we've seen an episode, we'll understand the layout and style better for the next one.

Mind you, MOH wondered in during the diffusing of the bomb and building of the railway. More than once, I heard him mutter, "That's just stupid, James." _{He talks to the tv, radio, computer etc.} However, he's been in a mood all day. Perhaps on a second viewing he might like it. Of course, watching it from beginning to end instead of a few minutes in the middle might help.

[misterd]

I've joined an interesting example of a self-built, self-funded space that's similar to the Man Lab.

wiki.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/London_Hackspace

Large emphasis on electronics and programming, but we've also got a good quality turning lathe, a laser cutter, and a 3d-printer.

One of our members is a bloody good home brewer.

All set up, funded, and maintained by the people that use the space. Sharing the space means we can afford better toys.

It's a great example of how anyone can set up this sort of space for themselves.

And yes, women are allowed.

[jacqui]

Oct 31, 2010 22:21:45 GMT lew said:

Anyway never watched, I'll watch it on iplayer at sometime, watched Downton Abbey....oh and with a London Pride ad thrown in .

Ah I recorded Downtown - so i get a double wammy - good drama with James chucked in for good measure - result ;D

[lew]

I didn't think that one out, to be honest I couldn't take the abuse the ad confirmed it so I'm at home today, I shall watch this on iplayer all on me own. ;D

Actually i think May should get hold of my three teenage boys....bloody useless, case in point.

ME " lew2 can you put the new tax disc in the car "

LEW2 " how do I do that ?" looking at said tax disc seeing it is larger that the holder thingy

Me " tear the bits of paper off"

LEW 2 "how ?"

At this point I was rather annoyed, and only because they seem to have lost a lot brain cells, WHAT IS IT WITH TEENAGE BOYS, give me strength oh and there's more, and they have been around a practical dad and their pratical mother, what have I done

[crumbs]

Just been on iplayer as no-ones here but me. Hmmm. I'm not sure about it either. I agree with Wyvern I think - not enough substance. I liked the bomb bit and the serenading. I also liked the celebrity challenge but that's cos I like Alexander Armstrong.

I approve of a crispy fish finger sandwich - but not with salad cream and sandwich spread - good grief. Vom.

Good music in the background - some popular (but lovely) classics - Elgar's Nimrod, Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2. It was great to hear what I think (and I stand to be corrected here) Albeniz's Triana from the Iberia Suite - surely a James choice. He would be forgiven the salad cream etc if he played me Granados Goyescas. I would urge any of you that love piano music to listen to both Granados and Albeniz.

He looked good - cuddly, sublime long legs. I did see that he has a yellow finger (attempt made to scrub not quite working - I have experience of this as an ex smoker trying to hide the habit!).

Still wondering how a silly colander can be accused of being 'left wing'!

I will watch the others - hopefully the series will improve but I do wish he would do something that flexed his (and our) brains a bit more.

BTW - the reviews thus far are generally poor with the Independent chap being the only one with positive comment, but it's early days.

[jacqui]

Trouble is its so very different to anything else thats been on telly. Have to say if it wasn't for james presenting I may have turned over Still lots of lovely Jamesness made it very watchable ;D