October 17 2011
Good Break
Big reminder to watch this week’s battles on Letters & Numbers. We’ve reached the pointy end of Series 3, where the games determine the ultimate Conquistador. Some bell-ringer games.
Second, let it be known, that Bryan Cranston is a marvel. He’s the worry-worn, defiant geek in Breaking Bad, and I’m adoring Season One, with one episode to go. (Perhaps as a rugby antidote, not sure.) But as a major fan of The Sopranos, The Wire, and even Dexter on another level, I can vouch for Bad’s quality.
(And yes, I do have Deadwood and West Wing on my list of retirement projects. What are your HBO – or general telly – vices?)
Breaking Bad is also gold because it’s a double anagram signpost – a rarity among any TV, book or film titles. In the hunt to find others I came across such phrases as dance club, plastic surgery, jerk off and new wave. Must be some other gems out there, including a title.
So let’s make a classy list of doubles. And if one player opts for OFF, then feel free to double up, and recycle in another guise, if only to hunt down sweeter harmony.
Comments
RobT — 17 October at 06:44AM
Torchwood, Point Break.
DA — 17 October at 06:51AM
Half right, Rob. Torch and Break may be signposts, but not Wood or Point. We're out for twinned signposts in titles, phrases, or wherever they may be hiding.
RM — 17 October at 07:03AM
Outbreak
Playoff
RM — 17 October at 07:07AM
Playing hurt
Crookshanks
TT — 17 October at 07:54AM
Rome is every bit as good as the other HBO headliners. (Pity HBO never made the originally intended 5 series - it was just too expensive.)
TT — 17 October at 08:11AM
If you want to be depressed, shocked or made queasy, watch Oz. If you just want to be depressed, watch John From Cincinnati - hippy, drippy, nonsense.
Criseyde — 17 October at 08:19AM
Arrested Development
Wound Up
Broken Record
RobT — 17 October at 08:43AM
S%^t fight
Anthony Douglas — 17 October at 09:26AM
Hit out is hardly classy, but it will perhaps win the brevity award.
Anthony Douglas — 17 October at 09:28AM
I presume Firefly is on your list of TV to watch, DA - excellent, genre-breaking stuff.
And it counts, I think, for these purposes?
Em — 17 October at 12:21PM
Blade Runner
Boniface — 17 October at 12:26PM
Breaking Bad is the best show on TV. Life as a cook!
Knockabout.
Shelled nuts.
Criseyde — 17 October at 02:11PM
A movie title with triple indicators: Shake, Rattle and Roll - could play east and west.
Some more double features:
Roustabout
Wrong Turn
Cutthroat Island
Couples Retreat
Two-Top Bananas
SK — 17 October at 02:21PM
Hound dog
Kick-box
dg — 17 October at 03:42PM
hopscotch
brainwave
milkshake
rubbish can
potshot
hot pants
lost cause
full toss
stone's throw
pop punk
KM — 17 October at 03:54PM
Titles:
Doom Generation
Stir Crazy
Non-titles:
Illegal moves
Kickoff
Blastoff
Steering wheels
Surgical procedure
KM — 17 October at 03:56PM
(The) Ice Storm - nearly!
KM — 17 October at 04:17PM
Shock horror
Mad doctor
Badly treated
Dead battery
Ground force
KM — 17 October at 04:27PM
Battered fries
Creative juices
Assorted creams
Fashion faux-pas
Sam — 17 October at 04:43PM
OK, so it's a three-worder:
Doctor at Sea
KM — 17 October at 04:51PM
Dirty Dancing!
Sam — 17 October at 05:15PM
New Order
So close: Broadcast New(s)
And slightly dodgy (can trade, rip or skin work as anagram indicators?):
Rough Trade (Records)
Rip Torn
Mysterious Skin
KM — 17 October at 05:33PM
Disturbing Behavio(u)r
RobT — 17 October at 05:55PM
Top notch
RobT — 17 October at 05:58PM
Cracked pepper
One Wheel — 17 October at 07:20PM
Violent upset
Fashion model
Harry Fry
Mars rock
TT — 17 October at 08:28PM
Rolling Stones.
DA — 17 October at 08:53PM
Quite the list - amazing. Among my faves would have to be Dirty Dancing, Rolling Stones, cracked pepper, creative juices, brain wave...too many to name.
Who knew culture was so aswarm with double anagram signposts? Or triples: Shake, Rattle & Roll...
RobT — 17 October at 09:11PM
Game, Set & Match.
DC — 17 October at 11:54PM
Carnivale was another great HBO show, although the ending was hard hit by its cancellation, even worse than Rome.
I suppose Doctor No doesn't fit the pattern. What about Doctor Strangelove, which has two signposts plus another common cryptic fragment? Doctor Strange is also the name of a Marvel comics character.
DC — 18 October at 12:06AM
Had a quick search for Brain titles. There's quite a few: Brain Damage, Brain Dead (maybe), Runaway Brain(!), Brain Twisters, Brain Fix, etc etc.
Bush's Brain is a documentary about Karl Rove. Might work.
DA — 18 October at 06:45AM
As for telly suggestions, will give Firefly a look, and meander into Rome (and/or Carnivale) with due caution.
Anyone here tackled Boardwalk Empire? Looks the goods.
DC — 18 October at 09:08AM
I've been waiting on the DVDs for Boardwalk. As for SF, I'm more into the Sarah Connor Chronicles (but I'm told I'm odd).
TT — 18 October at 09:15AM
Boardwalk Empire is excellent. Not quite as good as the very best HBO, but it is a fine period piece with HBO's characteristic polish. I've heard people say it is the best TV show ever, but those people are the sort of people who get swept up in the buzz of a new show. They ought to reserve judgement.
TT — 18 October at 09:24AM
Nor am I 100% convinced Steve Buscemi works as the lead character in BE. I love his work and he certainly has his attractions in the show, but I can't help feeling the makers were determined to give him the lead, no matter what. He is not as mis-cast as Paul Giamatti in John Adams, but nor is he my idea of a gangland kingpin.
TT — 18 October at 09:26AM
Bored to Death has its moments, but tries too hard to be quirky. Think Flight of the Conchords (without songs) meets Woody Allen.
dg — 18 October at 10:29AM
2 more (slightly suss):
Buck Rogers
anti-depressant