He's Outrageous, He Screams And He Bawls

Spanish television. It is increasingly difficult to comment on it as I hardly ever watch it. I used to, but gave up. Reality shows, pop-idol shows, worthy but dull documentaries and hours of ads in the middle of films. The best things are the bizarre "sports" like the human-tower contests. But there may be some salvation, well possibly. They are to do a Spanish "Life On Mars". God alone knows what they'll do to it. Unlike the original, the Spanish Sam is to be transported back to 1978. 1973 would have been Franco time, and they'd rather not portray the police as they were then. Apart from this, the stories are apparently going to be along the lines of the BBC series, which makes one wonder about whether they had test-card girls, how they might do the Camberwick Green take-off and do they turn City-United rivalry into Atletico and Real Madrid or perhaps Real vs. Barca?

But the biggest thing will be Gene. How could there be anyone else other than Gene? Sam's not so problematic. Any old pompous, wimpy actor could suffice. But Gene, that's a different story. The thing also is that "Life On Mars", the Bowie song was of 1973, not of 1978. How do they get round that, or maybe it doesn't matter. Perhaps they'll call it something else - "Stayin' Alive" perhaps or probably some ghastly Spanish thing.

The one Spanish programme that is even vaguely worth watching is something called "Cuentame Cómo Pasó" (tell me how it was), a long-running sort of drama-soap set in the Madrid of the latter years of Franco. So the Spanish TV viewer is used to this throwback kind of show, which suggests "Vida en Marte" might be successful.

Anyway, I am indebted to "The Times" website for running this story today and also for giving some Spanish versions of the best of Gene. For instance, "¡Alto, está rodeado de cabrones armados!" (don't move, you're surrounded by armed bastards).


QUIZ
Yesterday - The Style Council. Today's title - why?

(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)