Critic's view - Thursday, September 10
The Age
Thursday September 3, 2009
Pedigree Dogs ExposedABC1, 8.30pmTHE publicity blurb describes this 2008 BBC documentary about the role of dog shows in creating and exacerbating health and genetic problems in purebred dogs as "the greatest animal welfare scandal of our time". It's not an exaggeration. The list of pedigree health issues listed here is staggering and the sight of them is distressing. King Charles spaniels with excruciating neurological disease caused by tiny skulls; boxers who suffer from epilepsy, heart disease and cancer; German shepherds with dysfunctional back legs; Pekinese with curved spines; pugs unable to breathe because of squashed faces; ridgebacks with spinal problems; British bulldogs so deformed they can't mate or give birth without help €” and that's just for starters. The problem is that such diseases and disabilities have been created by inbreeding and by breeding for "fashionable" qualities, especially for dog shows. Filmmaker Jemima Harrison, who wrote, directed and produced the film, lays most of the blame for this tragedy at the feet of the Kennel Club, the British institution that controls official breed standards €” the physical qualities by which pedigree dogs are judged €” arguing that genetic engineering has so weakened many breeds they should be on the endangered animals list. An online forum to discuss the issues raised and the relevance to Australian dogs will be held after the show and a Catalyst report on pedigree-dog breeding in Australia will screen next Thursday.Beached AzABC2, 9.25pmBEACHED Whale was a simple animation that went viral on YouTube after it was posted in April last year. At the time of writing, it had tallied a staggering 4,986,360 hits on YouTube and had generated millions of dollars in merchandise. Not bad for a $15 outlay. Barely running to 90 seconds, the original video is little more than a pointless conversation between a New Zealand whale and the seagull who finds him stranded on a beach. Not pointless in a deeper-meaning, Zen way but in a here-are-some-really-bad-New Zealand-accents-talking-crap way. It is re-released here by the ABC as Beached Az, with an additional 10 one-minute episodes to follow. It's hard to imagine a repeat of the original film's success, though you can understand the ABC's desire to attempt that if it has negotiated a cut of the merchandise profits. So good luck to it. The thing about viral hits is that they catch fire because the fact that they're good is unexpected. That they are not mainstream productions also helps €” the whiff of extra-establishment being a powerful quality in cyberspace popularity. But when something is picked up by an institution, it instantly becomes mainstream and expectations are raised and that can be death, especially in comedy. So you're more likely to enjoy Beached Az if you stumble on it without knowing anything about it. Which means for you, dear reader, it's probably too late. Don't tell your friends.FMABC2, 9.05pmSPEAKING of unexpected surprises, this offbeat comedy from ITV Productions is a gem. Set in and around the studios of radio station Skin FM, it follows the tangled lives of two DJs and their producer. Chris O'Dowd (The IT Crowd) is brilliant as the hapless and neurotic Lindsay Carol, the butt of jokes on air and out of his depth in the hip indie-music industry and club scene off air. Kevin Bishop (The Kevin Bishop Show) is solid as Dom Cox, Carol's smart-mouthed offsider who has a way with the ladies. Nina Sosanya plays straight-guy Jane, the producer whose messed-up love life keeps them all entertained. You'll have to work your way through some strong language and sexual references €” having-sex-with-a-mate's-mother references, actually €” but it's worth the effort for O'Dowd's performance alone. His attempts to fake it as a club DJ in this premiere episode are a joy to watch.
© 2009 The Age
Share This