|
|
Post by dit on Jun 16, 2011 22:56:32 GMT
I don't ever remember getting 'the talk' at home, though I must have done as I knew the basic facts pretty early compared to some of my classmates. At high school, we had biology lessons with the reproductive details of peas, rabbits and humans and, after our final exams, a film of a woman giving birth. As I've said before, I read "Lady Chatterley's Lover" when I was 11, so I was pretty clued up!
By the way, to those of us who find James narrating an explanation of human reproduction a naughty turn-on, just be grateful he's not narrating the documentary that's on Channel 4 at the moment. It's called The Sex Researchers, it's much more detailed and has real action rather than animation - we'd be semi-comatose with delirium if it was James' voice explaining what's going on!
It's actually Robert Webb narrating - and I know that won't actually help some members of the JMB!
|
|
|
|
Post by devil-may-care on Jun 16, 2011 23:03:09 GMT
He's been tweeting about it. And the nasty hotel he's been put up in. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by kadett007 on Jun 17, 2011 9:03:59 GMT
We got sex ed in elementary school, I was only 11 years old. And nothing with bees and honey or what have you, but with all the real names and everything. I remember misunderstanding one thing, I said organism instead of....  I wouldn't mind if James explained it to me again ;D |
|
|
|
Post by jacqui on Jun 17, 2011 9:20:39 GMT
I watched that Dit  must admit had pretty much the same thought  ;D |
|
|
|
Post by dit on Jun 17, 2011 10:31:35 GMT
Yes, it was very explicit, wasn't it?
Of course, I was totally disgusted - and must remember to watch the second in the series next week!
|
|
|
|
Post by aeromanda on Jun 17, 2011 16:02:36 GMT
When I was in third grade one of my classmates said that she was pregnant with twins. That night at the dinner table I told my parents what my friend had said. They looked at each other and then told me it wasn't possible that she was pregnant. I asked "Why not?" and at that my dad said to my mom "she's all yours" and left the room. My mom went on to explain what a period was and what sex was and how babies were conceived. (She's a nurse so it was all very technical.) When I asked where the baby comes out she asked me where there was a hole that the baby could come out. I said "well...the belly button..." she said that that wasn't a hole. After a few seconds I must have gotten a horrified look on my face and my mother confirmed that yes, that is where the baby comes out. I was astounded! So, by the time I got to fifth grade where they separate the girls from the boys to have "the talk" I already knew everything they told us.
|
|
|
|
Post by fattony17 on Jun 17, 2011 16:49:43 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by devil-may-care on Jun 17, 2011 17:55:14 GMT
Great find, fattony17!! ;D ;D Thanks! ;D  |
|
|
|
Post by lew on Jun 17, 2011 18:13:22 GMT
Thanks for that  |
|
|
|
Post by lindenchase on Jun 17, 2011 18:45:43 GMT
Thank you!
As some of you have already mentioned as well, I still don't get why they broadcast this at such a late time. Kids would love it!
|
|
|
|
Post by eolise on Jun 17, 2011 21:16:15 GMT
It's truly a weird time to broadcast this series, even for me, as it will be 11 PM over here!! Is there going to be anyone who's going to put it on the net after recording it?
|
|
|
|
Post by dit on Jun 17, 2011 21:31:45 GMT
I suspect the scheduling reflects the content and BBC don't know quite what to do with it. It's narrated by one of their present top 'talents' who is becoming famous for being intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable, but what he's been given to say is more simplistic than his usual stuff, as far as I can tell from the various promos that have been released.
When you think of 'Big Ideas' and '20th Century', where he was given his head with the subjects, both series wiped the floor with this. I'd be surprised if he wrote the narration for this himself, and if he did he must have been writing it to a specific brief.
Don't get me wrong, I know I'll enjoy it as I like informational stuff, and the animations seem quirky and imaginative. Plus, anything with James fronting it has to be good. But I can't help wondering whether it's on when it is, not primetime, as it's clear that James is there as narrator, rather than any other more involved role.
Of course, this is only my opinion, feel free to disagree. And it is a bit mean to comment before the programme's even been on (though I suspect the promos give a clear idea).
|
|
|
|
Post by amie8 on Jun 17, 2011 22:49:49 GMT
This does sound like "presenter for hire" stuff. He might just have been passing the door when they were looking for a narrator, or someone he knows is involved with the show, or they just wanted his usual amused, ironic style of delivery. I haven't found out who the production company is, so no clues there.
Whatever, the animation looks like fun so I'll be watching.
|
|
|
|
Post by dit on Jun 18, 2011 0:13:11 GMT
The production company is 360 Production, rather than Plum, which is the company James usually work with. This is their website: www.360production.com/Perhaps interestingly, Things You Need To Know is listed as being for the Discovery Channel, so I wouldn't know why it's ended up on BBC2. I agree, the animation looks funny, quirky and a bit dark in places. |
|
|
|
Post by jess_lou on Jun 18, 2011 0:14:32 GMT
We got sex ed in elementary school, I was only 11 years ;D I teach in a primary school and I do the 'sex' talk with the grade 5 and 6 kids. One year, I was heavily pregnant when giving the talk. I remember one of the kids saying, "oh my god. That means you had sex!" very grossed out kiddies. It did give me a very REAL example if what can happen if you don't follow safe sex practices!! I think they will remember it forever, me saying, "use condoms or you will end up like THIS!!" lol. I had very straight forward and honest information from my dad at a young age. A bit disturbing, not nearly as disturbing though as having an unwanted discussion at 16 with my sex therapist father about stuff you soooo don't need to talk to your dad about. Lucky he's a therapist, I sure as he'll needed it after that!! |
|
|
|
Post by jacqui on Jun 18, 2011 20:41:17 GMT
Even though it is on at a peculiar times for anything containing James, the fact that he is narrating for what looks likes relatively, dare i say, small company, is a big thing for them no doubt. Good on James for daring to branch out and do something slightly different from the norm ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by amie8 on Jun 18, 2011 23:22:25 GMT
I notice the title on the website is "Things You Need to Know About Everything". James's name has been appended later.
|
|
|
|
Post by lindenchase on Jun 20, 2011 8:12:02 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by dit on Jun 20, 2011 10:05:26 GMT
I loved this quote from the above preview article: I have nothing against James May. I’ll happily watch him making a house out of Polo mints. But I do not want to see him talking about cervixes.Yet another promo from the show. I can't help thinking that I'll have seen most of it before it's actually transmitted! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13798275 |
|
|
|
Post by liverbird on Jun 20, 2011 10:43:49 GMT
I loved this quote from the above preview article: I have nothing against James May. I’ll happily watch him making a house out of Polo mints. But I do not want to see him talking about cervixes.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13798275I do! In an enquiring mind way of course  Just watched the above sneaky peak and believe that it is wrong, on two levels.... 1. James should've been subjected to alcohol abuse, in the name of research, then he could show us the effects alcohol has upon his body. 2. I wasn't asked to be the person to take him home  3. They forgot that bit!!! *hits T and speedial on phone* Now I really must go and do some work. |
|
|
|
Post by dit on Jun 20, 2011 18:16:33 GMT
Does it make me immature that I giggled when I was setting up the timer on my Sky+ box for this, and noticed that, due to lack of space, the programme is listed as 'James May's Thing'?
|
|
|
|
Post by meimichan on Jun 20, 2011 18:20:32 GMT
Does it make me immature that I giggled when I was setting up the timer on my Sky+ box for this, and noticed that, due to lack of space, the programme is listed as 'James May's Thing'? I just laughed so hard reading that, so apparently we're both in the same mindset. |
|
|
|
Post by grizabella on Jun 20, 2011 19:49:21 GMT
^ ;D ;D Count me in the immature club. Just spat water on my laptop reading that.. I think I'll call the show by that name from now on: "James May's Thing". Has a nice (or naughty) ring to it...
|
|
|
|
Post by devil-may-care on Jun 20, 2011 20:15:34 GMT
I'm so glad I finished swallowing my mocha before I read your comment, Dit!!! ;D ;D ;D Laughed ever so hard!! ;D ;D
Also loved the comment about listening to James talk about cervixes!! I know I'll be riveted!! ;D ;D
Well, I'll probably be riveted tomorrow as that's when I'll be downloading it and viewing! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by eolise on Jun 20, 2011 20:17:29 GMT
Does it make me immature that I giggled when I was setting up the timer on my Sky+ box for this, and noticed that, due to lack of space, the programme is listed as 'James May's Thing'? It does make me wanna go back to NC..!!! Hillarious, Dit!!! ;D ;D *nearly falls off of chair* |
|
|
|
Post by lindenchase on Jun 20, 2011 21:40:30 GMT
This has been the first time I didn't enjoy a programme that James is involved in. I simply don't understand what the point of it is. Very superficial, way too many subjects in what is just a short programme. Nope, not my thing, I'm afraid. Hopefully it was just a contractual obligation thingy.
|
|
|
|
Post by crumbs on Jun 20, 2011 21:41:32 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed that. I laughed at the animation which was reminiscent of Terry Gilliam's work with Monty Python: to be honest the animation was the best bit(s) apart from James being on the telly of course. I liked it when the camera homed in on his blue eyes..... Great fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by liverbird on Jun 20, 2011 22:17:57 GMT
Does it make me immature that I giggled when I was setting up the timer on my Sky+ box for this, and noticed that, due to lack of space, the programme is listed as 'James May's Thing'? As it was big it had to be see Sky + and not poverty model sky! I am saying nowt about HD Yes, I know, Naughty corner...... *wanders back to her perch in NC* |
|
|
|
Post by dit on Jun 20, 2011 23:30:11 GMT
I thought the programme was a bit 'like the curate's egg - good in parts'.
I very much enjoyed the animation - yes, very Monty Python but also reminded me of the animation for The Book in the TV series of 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy', so fast you could barely take it in, but what you were allowed time to comprehend was witty and imaginative.
James did his usual excellent job of presenting, in fact he seems to be the consummate professional at this kind of thing now. I get the impression you could bring him in, sit him down, give him a script to read through, come back 20 minutes later, show him where the autocue is and Robert's your mother's brother. I enjoyed the speed of the thing too, you had to cling on like a roller-coaster in order to stick with it.
You can tell there's a 'but', yes?
I noticed that James was credited only as 'presenter'. Interestingly, no-one was credited with writing the script. Two people were names as composers, but not one for the script. Yes, there were a couple of references to things that are relevant to James, but nothing that couldn't have been slipped in after the script was originally written. And, as I suspected from viewing the promos, the script fell between the two stools of being informative and being educational in the sense of 'schools broadcast'. I was also interested by the fact that it was a collaberation between BBC and Discovery Channel Canada. Canada?
So yes, it was a quirky broadcast, in a style that suited James, but somehow didn't quite work in that timeslot - it might have been more comfortably placed, say, after Horrible Histories at tea-time on Sundays (and that's not an insult, Horrible Histories is brilliant and again offers factual information in a quirky way).
|
|
|
|
Post by adrianmay on Jun 20, 2011 23:32:36 GMT
 Only screen cap I was able to get that hasn't been done. Oh, I do love blue eyes especially with little crinkles around them. I'll had to reserve judgment on the program until I've seen the rest. |
|
must admit had pretty much the same thought 
;D
I love a man who can handle a gun 
