What's in a Substack Name?

Time is up for Two Television Things, as Fancy Falls is on the rise.

It’s Monday lunchtime from the dayjob, and there’s a cold or virus on the edge of my throat and sinuses that’s partly pushing my brain to focus and get this writing done in case it gets worse, but also suggesting that I sit and watch some TV and/or video essays on Nebula (see Televigion Update for more on that). I suppose there’s no way to know what will happen, unless this post ends here.

Oh look, I stayed¹!

I’ve been thinking about a name change for this Substack, given the direction my creative energies are going. “Two Television Things” made sense for making sure I got picked up on searches for TV, but there is still no Film and TV category, as far as I know. And to be honest, it’s pretty clear that my fantasy world of Fancy Falls is metatextual enough in its construction to include the real me watching TV and talking about it, plus my characters being on a (currently) imagined TV. So, I think this is going to become…

Is that too boastful? I’m not really saying that what I write as imagined TV is the best, just that’s what I’m aiming for. And also, I suppose it’s a discussion of what TV at its Best is. If you think this is a terrible name, please do let me know.

You might also be wondering why I am focussed on the name of my Substack and not working on entries for the writing competitions I thought I’d be focussed on in June? The simple answer is a little bit of burnout and the need for a rest after a very busy time.

But also because I’m enjoying making real things in these audio sketches, as opposed to imagined things gatekept by those in charge of the competitions and opportunities.

I am learning too, I’ve finally spent some actual time with Reaper (audio editing software with a 60 day free trial) and Da Vinci Resolve (video editing software that might be completely free, what?!), thanks to these sketches and also fixing a recording of the Televigion Wife’s village choir². So making things and learning definitely trumps working on something others can reject that never goes further.

Fancy Falls - Along Came a Husband

This Week’s Notebook

I had grand plans for a new double act who may become a regular feature, but I’ve run out of time and energy to write it. So instead I raided my DMs are Open sketches for something appropriate to record, and that is what you have above! Specifically, the sketch I wrote for the theme “Secret”, as Notebooked here.

What you’re hearing is take 2 with no edits. If ever it becomes a video sketch, I’d love a black and white 50s romance look, if you care to picture it. I think it could handle being feature length.

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Televigion Update

Watching

• Adults (Disney+) - As I briefly mentioned in a footnote at the end of last week’s post I was not very enamoured with this new sitcom about a group of Gen Z “Friends”. But I powered on through to episode two to let them settle in. I’m afraid to say that during the 44 minutes or so I’ve been in their company, I have not laughed once. I have smirked at one or two physicality choices, but that’s it. I am of course almost 20 years older than these characters, but I’m also not very much like the characters in Spaced, or Arrested Development³, or any other sitcom I enjoy. I don’t like them enough to spend any time in their presence. I’m very open to alternative opinions on this one, so do get in touch if you enjoyed the show.

• F.D Signifier: Beyonce is Everything (Nebula) or on YouTube - In the last couple of weeks I’ve headed back to Nebula, the creator owned streaming service that hosts many, but not all, of my favourite video essayists and YouTubers⁴. I suppose the shows I’ve been watching have been ending, with nothing to fill their place during the worst television season⁵. I also gravitate to video essays when I’m struggling more creatively, so there’s that. Anyway, this 2 hour essay on why Beyonce is everything is absolutely fascinating on Beyonce, the music industry, TikTok, the current US political and activism landscape and culture at large. It is also further certain proof that F.D Signifier can hold your attention and educate you on the world through a black lens, even on subjects you know almost nothing about.

• Doctor Who Unleashed: 20 Years in Wales (iPlayer) - A bit surface level, and nothing of any revelatory nature. I was pleased to hear the obvious love everyone has for Wales and the great work that Doctor Who does in supporting Welsh people into the TV industry. Peter Capaldi was very glossed over, and Jenna Coleman wasn't even mentioned, nor the 50th. An odd confection, but it made me miss Matt Smith, and pine for better stories for Jodie Whittaker. It might be rewatch time for some of the last 20 years of Doctor Who⁶.

New Beginnings

• Frankenstein (Netflix) - This teaser trailer looks excellent, an adaptation of the famous story from Guillermo del Toro, with a long and complicated history of making it to the screen. Netflix are releasing it in November.

• North of North (Netflix) - A new sitcom recommendation from the Televigion Cousin, with the description “a fairly ordinary sitcom”, though the ‘sit’ is certainly a little unique, being the far North of Canada in Nunavut. If it can actually achieve a likeable cast of characters I want to watch, I’ll be delighted⁷.

• Mountainhead (Sky Atlantic/NowTV) - Haven’t got to this yet, given the time required of an evening for a two hour film, and the requirement for both myself and the Televigion Wife to have the energy and no prior creative commitments.

Questions/Prompts

Is “Fancy Falls - TV at its Best” a good name for this Substack?

Footnotes

1. I also watched a little something while I did the eating part of lunch, but I think that’s allowed.

2. They had their first performance this past weekend at our local Gala Day, a huge perk of being in a tight-knit community in a small village.

3. I’ll admit to a certain proximity to George Michael Bluth.

4. The accumulated days I’ve spent watching the entire back catalogue of Lindsay Ellis (including a new one I enjoyed Why Has Tori Amos Never Had a Hit?), HBomberguy and Jacob Geller is a subject for another post, but the headline is that I love people with passion to share their thoughts in an entertaining way. Also, no need to subscribe to Nebula to try them out, YouTube will give you a good taster of their work.

5. I struggle to decide whether summer is worse for lack of television I’m interested in or for the way it forces my immune system to overreact with hayfever.

6. Maybe a Substack post breakdown on a specific Doctor Who theme is a way to justify that time spent?

7. Another last minute addition, episode 1 has promise!