Fancy Falls: Birthday Pause

In which creativity gives way to celebrations

Here is my single resolution for 2026.

I will write six episodes of ‘Fancy Falls TV’ (title TBC) by the end of this year

So it turns out that This Week’s Focus was in fact The Televigion Wife and celebrating her birthday. I’m happy with that.

Home baking, exceptional brunch, birthday studio

On the left is a Japanese Strawberry Shortcake, based on an amalgamation of two recipes¹ and adapted for vegetarian gelatin, that I spent a few hours making on Saturday, then was mostly consumed at our wood-fired pizza-oven garden party² on Sunday.

In the middle is The Filly Station Breakfast Club Sandwich from Cafe Filly at Cockenzie House, the most perfectly balanced way to eat a cooked breakfast I’ve ever experienced, and our breakfast together on Monday³.

And on the right is The Televigion Wife’s new art desk - after I tried and failed to secure art studio space in East Lothian as her present (it’s all taken, with waiting lists!) I took matters into my own hands and got this tiltable art desk for our living room. We spent the day rearranging furniture, which she assures me was exactly the day she wanted. After that breakfast.

Next Week's Focus

This week, the focus is, on the second attempt

Write a scene with at least three of the characters from The Troupe

I’ve got new filmable sketch ideas bubbling under too, including some directly related to Fancy Falls TV, but I’d like to explore the new characters properly in dialogue.

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The World of Fancy Falls

Mr Pop is Released! - Wed 27th

Did I rush to publish it at 10.30pm when I was still gathering some feedback? Yes. Because I have a life with responsibilities and tinkering forever isn’t worthwhile, and at some point you just have to let go. 10.30pm made sense so that I was able to hit my self imposed Substack deadline.

This morning it has a reasonable 592 views on YouTube and 444 on Instagram, so that’s not nothing. It probably doesn’t have the immediate punch it needs to keep people watching, but it’s also just a silly concept inspired by seeing an old board game I remembered.

I can’t help my brain wanting something I make to go insanely viral, but this was never going to be it. I hope my regular readers enjoy it, or feel comfortable to give feedback!

Drawn to Sketch - Sat 30th

I’ve been looking at my list of sketch notes - they are not ideas as they are sometimes single lines, often from old stand up. I have definitely not been writing a scene for The Troupe characters. One night of focus is all that’ll take, then some redrafting, but I’m definitely drawn to making more sketches, and aiming to follow the rules for algorithmic pickup a little better.

We’ll see.

Also, 150 days of journalling/2026!

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Televigion Update

Widow’s Bay Ep6 Our History (AppleTV) - Wed 27th

I watched this at lunchtime, knowing there were two episodes out today, and feeling free as a bird having released a sketch and a Substack post!

I suspected we might be travelling back in time on the island, given the name of the episode, and yelped with glee at the two main cast members who appeared back in 1702. Not huge names, but wonderful additions to the cast. There was a little less comedy, and a few more traditional tropes, but the comedy that was present was beautifully played.

The cut back to present day was very well handled too. Now I have to wait until after bedtime for episode 7...

Ted Lasso S2 (AppleTV) - Thu 28th

We watched two episodes of season two last night, and I still can’t remember if I’ve seen it. Not a good sign. Some of it feels familiar, but not memorable. We both felt that it’s a lot slower and more meandering than season one, clearly in evidence in the longer episode running time. Keep things tight, people!

There’s some magic missing. It’s like a show attempting to recreate what worked before, but becoming a pale imitation. Floppy was the adjective we both came to. Hopefully it improves.

This however is an excellent interview with Bill Lawrence about all of his shows.

Widow’s Bay Ep7 Seasickness (AppleTV) - Thu 28th

Lovely tension as we met our new character, undercut beautifully by Patricia, who also provided my biggest laugh as she distracted the Sheriff with her driving skills.

And though it was fairly obvious that the final celebration was going to be a little pre-emptive, it was an effective ending.

This article is a lovely explanation that the flashback episode was filmed last, and only conceived partway through! The biggest revelation is that the voice of the new character is real, and not augmented…

Barbarian (Netflix) and Taskmaster S21 Ep8 (Channel4) - Fri 29th

I was left alone after bedtime, in fact even I swapped in to finish as TTD was wriggly and awake and TTW went straight to bed. So after that I finished Zach Cregger’s 2022 horror film Barbarian.

As is my usual reaction to a lot of horror, I liked elements of it - build of tension in the first 45mins, the cut away from that tension to something new, and the germ of the idea of how women Vs men would approach horror film situations. But it really lost the way with how willing everyone was to enter the danger, and the world it showed us didn’t feel real or possible, within the limits of the reality we were in.

I will eventually watch Weapons, his much lauded film from last year, but I’ve probably accidentally seen too much about it to enjoy fully. And the teaser of his next film, a new adaptation of Resident Evil, is very effective.

Taskmaster was my palate cleanser before bed, and this bunch remains as not quite top tier, but fun enough. I get no feeling they are friendly beyond the taping.

For All Mankind S5 Ep10 This Land is My Land (AppleTV) - Fri 29th

I think we’re happy with where we ended up⁴ but it’s been a bit of a slog to get there. A comfort watch rather than being urgent or unmissable.

I’m pretty sure we’ll check out Star City, the spin-off telling at least some of the same story from the Russian point of view.

Make That Movie Ep1: Snake Switchers (Channel 4) - Sat 30th

I’ve been excited about Make That Movie for a long time. Sam Campbell has a brilliantly unique take on the world and I had laughed out loud at least three times by the ad break.

It’s like a daytime makeover show where “ordinary members of the public” have ideas for films. Sam, playing himself as a Hollywood director with a successful 5 hour rom-com under his belt, makes those movies happen with the help of his team.

It’s full of lingering awkwardness as a performing style, utterly weird, and with a lovely line in unearned confidence⁵ from Sam Campbell. There’s also some cracking wordplay and real jokes. And layers and callbacks. It’s also full of comedy ‘friends and family’ by the look of it (was that Ed Aczel, the anti-comedy king, as the first detective?!⁶)

And it’s absurd comedy! On TV! No comedy-drama required here, except in a TV-genre trope-mocking way. It feels like a less self-indulgent Mighty Boosh for the 2020s. And it is damn funny.

I’m sad it’s all on Channel 4 on demand already, as I’ll likely rip through it in no time. Another great unique comedy show, nothing like my previous favourite comedy of the year Small Prophets, except in the regard that a strong comedic voice makes for great TV.

Update - I needn’t have worred, I watched episode 2 and it wasn’t quite as good, the surreal flights a little less in evidence, but still funny. Small Prophets retains top spot for now.

Halt and Catch Fire S2 (ITVX) - Sun 31st

It’s easily addictive. I’m impressed with a lot of the character work and developments from S1, but occasionally annoyed with how predictable the plot developments are. Extra marital affairs, health issues, relationships breaking down, all present and entirely as expected. But I wouldn’t keep watching if there weren’t also enough great ideas and surprising moments also present, right alongside the predictable ones.

If it disappeared from ITVX tomorrow, I wouldn’t be distraught, but it’s engaging enough when I’m worn out from party prep and a week of work.

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Footnotes

1. This one and another on Hummingbird High that was briefly removed… ominous.

2. I was sorely tempted to hyphenate garden party, but I guess it’s the subversion in the Rule of Three.

3. The actual birthday.

4. SPOILERS - free Mars and “aliens”, woohoo!

5. Paul Rudd’s favourite comedy mode, according to his episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler that I listened to this week. He also shares my love of blooper reels. I’ve lost days to watching those in the past.

6. It was.