TV: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
TV’s most reliably tasteless sitcom returns for a 10th depraved outing, and going by the episode titles alone – take a bow, Mac Kills His Dad – it has no intention of moderating its excesses. Yet, to reduce It’s Always Sunny… to gross-out moments underplays just how funny it is, with the sardonic interplay between its leads still as bracingly fresh as it was a decade ago. Watch the lot on Netflix.
Netflix
TV: Shark
Seeking to restore the reputation of the much-maligned species is this fine BBC documentary series, filmed over the course of three years. While the first episode confirms the shark’s clinical killing skills, the later episodes upend the stereotype, revealing the sexual habits, social skills and remarkable intelligence of the creatures. Worth watching for the footage of mobula rays – members of the extended shark family – leaping out of the water to impress their prospective partners. Available in full on the iPlayer.
Audio: Sodajerker On Songwriting
Scouse songwriting duo Sodajerker have produced two years’ worth of podcasts stripping the hit-making process down to its nuts and bolts. They’ve scored a coup with episode 71, coaxing Stuart Murdoch into sharing the secrets behind some of Belle & Sebastian’s best-loved songs, including this year’s much-discussed Nobody’s Empire. As you’d imagine, cafes and buses loom large, but there’s also an exclusive about a potential collaboration with Haim.
TV: Mad Men
Is that all there is? Mad Men’s finale, much like the rest of Matt Weiner’s 60s fever dream of a series, proved ambiguous, stylish and divisive, leaving some viewers befuddled and others enraptured. Sky subscribers who have assiduously managed to avoid spoilers up until now can learn Don Draper’s eventual fate via its On Demand service, where the rest of the show’s episodes are also available. Meanwhile, Amazon subscribers can get up to speed with the show, via its Instant Video service, which has seasons one to five in full.
Sky On Demand
TV: John Kearns
Two Edinburgh comedy awards in consecutive years – best newcomer and the main award – has meant that Houses Of Parliament tour guide-turned-stand-up Kearns is now very much in demand. Later this year comes BBC3 police spoof Top Coppers. But first, this short Radio 4 series, in which Kearns’s pitiable alter ego ruminates on love, life and scratchcards. Episode one follows Kearns on a walk home from work, and is on the iPlayer, while this week’s episode (Wednesday, 11pm) concerns a football match.
