TV Miscellany

° I'm not going to bother talking about American Idol (Thursdays/Fridays, ITV2) in any depth until it gets to the final twelve, but this week's shows sucked, didn't they? I am happy with the people who went, though, except for Garrett Haley. He sucked and it was justified that he should go, fair enough, but he reminded me of someone and now he's gone before I could figure out who it was. It was a bald, bug-eyed character actor who played creepy people in movies and now I just can't think of his name or what I specifically know him from. That's annoying. I thought that if you shaved Garrett's head and aged him a few years he'd look just like him. Now I'll never know because Garrett is never going to get so famous that he loses his mind and shaves his head. Sad how people's dreams are crushed so easily.

° That Mitchell and Webb Look (Thursdays, BBC2) returned for its second series this week and I'm not sure what to think. Much like last season half of the sketches are sharp, intelligent and funny while others seem flat, clumsy and ill-considered. It's hard to imagine anything changing. Any fans of the sublime Peep Show looking for more of Mitchell and Webb are going to have to take the rough with the smooth.

° Props to Sky Sports and the BBC in their handling of the Eduardo injury footage. I was initially kind of disappointed that Sky refused to show a decent replay but in hindsight I can respect that it was the middle of the day, the footage is kind of gross and there are sensitivity issues to be considered. I am glad, however, that the BBC - in a later time slot and with all due permission - showed it all clearly on Match of the Day (BBC1). People are going to be talking about this a lot and it's only fair that they're allowed to form their own opinions based on the proper footage. Horrible tackle, but it's the kind of thing that needs exposure if challenges like this are to be stamped out. Good job by all, and best wishes to Eduardo.