Wednesday 23 February 2011

Twin Peaks plot to be explained by David Cameron to a labrador

I just came across a story on News Thump titled: David Cameron to explain plot of Twin Peaks to a Labrador

Apparently Prime Minister David Cameron has employed the use of a Labrador to practice getting across confusing government policies such as the Big Society, to the public.


Mr Cameron attempted to explain the plot of David Lynch’s serial drama Twin Peaks to a Labrador named Baffles, as preparation for a speech he gave to social entrepreneurs in London in which he defended the Big Society.


The Big Society has been described by Mr Cameron as his mission in politics, but has been dismissed by critics as a cover for crippling cuts.


“If the prime minister can cut through the surrealism of Twin Peaks and explain the intricacies of the plot to a 3 year-old Labrador bitch, then getting the Big Society message across to a bewildered electorate should be child’s play” revealed a government spokesperson.

Cameron explains Big Society



Labour leader Ed Miliband told reporters, “It’s no surprise that Baffles has so far struggled to grasp the weird humour associated with Twin Peaks.”


“Much like the public’s understanding of the Big Society, she will grow weary, confused and ultimately lose interest.”


The government has denied that Baffles has become pre-occupied with trying to find hidden messages within government policy as a result of watching Twin Peaks.




Monday 21 February 2011

Twin Peaks Stars


I don’t think people who have heard of Twin Peaks but haven’t really watched realise what a wicked cast it has.  First of all, obviously there’s Kyle McLaughlin (yummy), but there are loads of well known actors who either star or do guest appearances.  Here are some of my favourites.
Sherilyn Fenn plays sexy kooky Audrey Horne, who is in love with agent Cooper, gets kidnapped and drugged with heroin, and can tie a cherry stalk into a knot in her mouth.  After seeing her do that on Twin Peaks I then made it my mission to master this skill - it definitely does not look sexy in real life!  Audrey also has an affair with a young Billy Zane, who guest stars as a checked shirt, country styled businessman.
Another Twin Peaks A list guest star (although she wasn't then) is Heather Graham.  Heather plays Annie, the sister of Norma (Peggy Lipton) who owns the local diner where all that cherry pie and coffee is served.  Annie has just ditched life as a Nun in a convent and ends up falling for Agent Cooper (although life isn't happily ever after).
However, the best guest star appearance has to be David Duchovny, who plays Dennis Bryson, a transvestite Drug Enforcement Administrator.  I have to say he makes a pretty good looking woman (why do guys always have the best legs?).

Then there's Everette McGill (Big Ed) and Wendy Robie (crazy eye-patched housewife Nadine).  Ed marrys Nadine when they are in high school, even though he is really in love with Norma, because he accidentally shoots her eye out on a hunting trip - hence the eye patch.  Nadine knows Ed is not in love with her and tried to commit suicide by overdose.  She goes into a coma and when she wakes up she thinks she is 17 again.  She insists on attending high school and trying out for chearleading practice where everyone discovers the coma has somehow induced some weird superhuman strength?  What can I say...Twin Peaks was weird! 
McGill and Robie are also awesome in Wes Craven's People Under the Stairs, a much underrated and really excellent comedy horror, which also stars Brandon Quintin Adams (the kid in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker).  If you've not see People Under the Stairs then you really should. 
In striking contracts to his Twin Peaks character, Evertte McGill plays a studded-leather-clad madman who lives as husband and wife with his sister (Robie), steals children and keeps them locked up in their fortress style house...it's better than it sounds honest!

And last but not least of the best Twin Peaks stars are the sweethearts of the Sheriff's department, Andy and Lucy -  Harry Goaz and Kimmy Robertson.  Their on-off again, at-work, who-is-the-baby-daddy-romance is brilliant.  Here they are choosing doughnuts in true Twin Peaks class comedy.


  
Other Twin Peaks stars to mention include:
  •  Lara Flynne Boyle - (Laura Palmer's best friend) Waynes World, The Pratice
  • Richard Beymer (Ben Horne, Audrey's father) who actually played Tony in the musical West Side Story
  • Ray Wise (Leyland Plamer, Laura's father)
  • James Marshall (used to date Laura secretly but after she dies starts dating Donna, Laura's best friend) - A Few Good Men, Gladiator (not the Russel Crow one)

Twin Peaks meets Dallas

This is so weird, an episode of Dallas where one of Bobby's friends talks about a pitch for a TV show with a lady and a log and a dwarf that dances - which is obviously Twin Peaks?!


Saturday 19 February 2011

Andy Brennan

Apart from Dale Cooper, obviously, my most loved character has to be Deputy Andy Brennan (Harry Goaz).  He brings some much needed comedy into the general weirdness and he's so sweet and ridiculously oversensitive, you just want to take him home and give him a bowl of chicken soup.  
Apparently Harry met David Lynch while working as a limo driver – he drove Lynch to a memorial tribute to Roy Orbison and Lynch decided to cast him for the role there and then.  Can't imagine anyone playing it better.




Twin Peaks Feature Film? Hmm

I have just found out that a Twin Peaks fan is trying to edit down the whole series to feature film length.  Apparently they've got it down to about 5 hours but want to cut it more.  I’m not sure how I feel about this?  The two series together are very long (series 2 is over 20 episodes), but it’s not supposed to be a fast paced story and I think by cutting it down you would definately be losing a lot of the elements that make it what it is…..?
Trailer below:

Friday 18 February 2011

Damn That's Good Coffee

I was recently channel hopping on late night TV when I stumbled across an episode of Twin Peaks on the Horror channel.  After watching it I found myself beginning a series of late night sessions with my series 2 box set which I hadn’t previously opened, despite waiting for it’s release for about 10 years, because my boyfriend was still in a huff with me (for accidentally blurting out who killed Laura Palmer while watching series one) and had refused to watch any more.  I had been waiting for him to get over it, but nevertheless. 
For anyone who hasn’t seen Twin Peaks you are definitely missing out on one of the coolest, quirkiest and most addictive ‘who dun its’ ever aired, and so I am starting this blog to share my love for Twin Peaks and what makes such a cult classic series.

I first watched Twin Peaks when it was shown on BBC 2 in 1990.  I was 10 years old.  It seems a little strange now that I was so fixated with it then (and that my mother let me watch it), but actually there was a whole group of us in my class that used to watch it and would all gather in the playground the day after to discuss the previous night’s episode.
One of the things I had forgotten about Twin Peaks is that it has such a brilliantly dry, albeit quirky, sense of humour, something not exactly synonymous with American television, especially back in the 90s.   Even more, it manages to combine dry humour with some really dark and pretty downright scary story lines.  But I guess that’s all down to David Lynch, a seriously talented and weird individual (also check out some of his films - Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive). 

David Lynch
Very broadly (and without spoiling for non watchers) the story goes like this:  in the picturesque, sleepy town of Twin Peaks, the community is thrown into shock when the body of a young girl is found.  This girl is Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).  Laura is the perfect all-American-girl; homecoming queen, charity volunteer and dating the captain of the football team etc, but after she is discovered washed up on the beach, wrapped in plastic, some disturbing truths begin to become unearthed about Laura and the rest of the town.

The case is passed from the local Sheriff’s department to the FBI: enter Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle McLaughlan), a tall dark and handsome detective from the big city, who is as fabulous and meticulous as he is odd.  Dale Cooper successfully wins over the local law enforcement team and leads the investigation, taking inspiration from his dreams of Tibet, and all the while consuming enough cherry pie and black coffee to keep the local diner in business.

Dale Cooper

So anyway, if you’re a ‘peaky’ and want to join in my ramblings, then please do.  If you’re a Twin Peaks virgin then have a look at the trailer below.