These pretzels are making me thirsty

So much Glee

After the bitingly funny 'Nip/Tuck', Ryan Murphy has outdone himself with what is shaping up to be the campest TV show of all time: 'Glee'.

Feast your eyes on this glorious sequence:



Totally addicted.

Surveillance

After the critical and commercial failure of Jennifer Lynch's debut film 'Boxing Helena' I could understand a studio's apprehension about promoting her sophomore effort.

Judging by the complete lack of promotion - in the UK at least - it is obvious that few Execs even watched 'Surveillance', because they would have been blind not to see the diamond in their midst.

The film's two FBI-Agent leads are played by Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond, who has flown a little under the radar since her 90s big-screen debut. Having seen her play Elsa in David Hare's 'My Zinc Bed' at the Royal Court Theatre back in 2000, she's not aged a day.

The Agents arrive in a small town to investigate a double murder. There are three witnesses whose versions of the events don't quite match up and the story unfolds from all points of view.

Its unconventional narrative is well shot and tightly edited with scenes of shocking violence and black humour in equal measure. Every role is well played but for me Ormond is an absolute knockout. Surveillance took my breath away and I can't wait to watch it again. I just need to recover for a bit.

Grey Gardens

The combined effect of inches of snow and a horrible flu left me in a nesting mood today and wanting some comfort tv.

So I nestled under the duvet to watch 'Grey Gardens' with cat (just the one mind) to keep me company. A cult classic, from the same team who directed 'Gimme Shelter', the documentary features the Beales - Big Edie and Little Edie - Aunt and Cousin to Jackie Kennedy. Living in their now-rundown Hamptons mansion, it is an insight into their loving but highly dysfunctional relationship. Little Edie's unconventional signature style of headscarfs, brooches, underwear as outerwear and huge fur coats has influenced many a fashionista.

As I watched the bickering mother and daughter, often talking over each other with memorable quotes ("My body is a very precious place. It's concentrated ground.") I was reminded of another mother and daughter duo: Kath and Kim Day from the classic Australian series 'Kath and Kim'.

A well-observed black comedy with a constant source of quotable one liners makes this classic television that stands up to repeat viewing. If you've ever heard Kath chastise Kim with a stern 'Kimmy, look at me", you know what I mean.