Occasional contributor Linda Jones is asking over on her blog who our favourite fictional journalists are. My somewhat incoherent reply:
Ooh, tricky. So many good ones to choose from. Tin Tin? Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, etc? There's Kevin McKidd in Journeyman to look forward to. I was always kind of partial to David Warner in Hold the Back Page. And Julia Sawalha in Press Gang. Danny in The West Wing? John Simm in State of Play?I'd probably go for Darren McGavin in Kolchak: The Night Stalker though.
Who says I watch too much television?
But how about you guys? Answer here, answer there, answer in your own blog: the meme is on.
September 20, 2007 | Reply
My top five:
September 20, 2007 | Reply
Here's what I posted there:
Well, TV's my forte so I'd go with the following:
Carl Kolchak, 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker'
Oscar Madison, 'The Odd Couple'
Rossi, 'Lou Grant'
Greg Kettle, 'Hot Metal'
and just to prove it's not a boys' club,
PJ Franklin, 'My Boys', my latest fave.
But there's something about a great 1940/50s movie about reporters, - "Deadline USA", "-30-", even Leo McKern in "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" from 1962. The black & white photography, the rumpled suits and fedoras, the rush to deadline, the booze in the bottom drawer. Those types of movies can be as addictive as Westerns. If one's playing on TCM, I'll watch it!
September 20, 2007 | Reply
All good choices (bar PJ Franklin, but you know my feelings on the subject there). I'd also throw Michael Elphick in Harry into the mix, and in my darkly cynical moments, Kirk Douglas in Ace in the Hole.
September 20, 2007 | Reply
Hi Rob - thanks for the link and the mention! Your informed choices make me ashamed! Time for someone to pen a series based in a UK newsroom full of intrigue and suspense I reckon!
On another subject, I hope things are going well for you and you are as busy as you want to be!
Cheers
Linda
September 20, 2007 | Reply
I went for Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant in 'His Girl Friday'.
September 21, 2007 | Reply
I'm ridiculously, mentally busy! Thanks!
As for that series based in a UK newsroom, if you never saw State of Play, get it, because it's just what you're after (and before the forthcoming Brad Pitt/Ed Norton version comes out). It is, after all, the show that introduced us to the John Simm/Philip Glenister partnership.
September 21, 2007 | Reply
Sorry I ommitted the link on my list to you Rob, it wasnt intentional but rather from rushing to post!
September 21, 2007 | Reply
It happens. You only have to look at my daily news to realise that.