All six programmes in Michael Smith's Drivetime, the second TV series, are repeated back-to-back on BBC4 tonight, from 2345.
Which means that all 12 of Smith's programmes - six hours of TV - will have been rebroadcast by BBC in the last eight days.
The Drivetime programmes will also be on viewable online via BBC iPlayer for seven days.
Jezza
28 April 2009
21 April 2009
Citizen Smith - tonight on BBC4
Reminder: the full series of Citizen Smith (6 programmes @ 30 mins each) is repeated on BBC4 TV tonight, from 2345.
Why not pre-set your recorder now!
Jezza
Why not pre-set your recorder now!
Jezza
17 April 2009
Citizen Smith on BBC4 again next Tuesday
Having already repeated the Citizen Smith series, Michael's first, as a taster before Michael Smith's Drivetime, BBC4 are set to repeat it again.
They're showing all six programmes of Citizen Smith back-to-back from 2345 on Tuesday 21 April - until 0245 on Wednesday morning.
Telly for Insomniacs!
It'll also be on BBC iPlayer - so you can watch in online any time you want, for a week after transmission.
Patsy
They're showing all six programmes of Citizen Smith back-to-back from 2345 on Tuesday 21 April - until 0245 on Wednesday morning.
Telly for Insomniacs!
It'll also be on BBC iPlayer - so you can watch in online any time you want, for a week after transmission.
Patsy
16 April 2009
Live in Middlesbrough - tonight
Michael's doing a reading from his two books, The Giro Playboy and Shorty Loves Wing Wong, at MIMA in Middlesbrough tonight.
The gig's organised by New Writing North to launch the new novel by Richard Milward, Michael's Teesside friend and Faber stablemate.
Starts at 1930 - it's free, but you have to book: 01642 726 722.
Apologies for short notice - I just got wind of the gig.
Jezza
The gig's organised by New Writing North to launch the new novel by Richard Milward, Michael's Teesside friend and Faber stablemate.
Starts at 1930 - it's free, but you have to book: 01642 726 722.
Apologies for short notice - I just got wind of the gig.
Jezza
12 April 2009
The Giro Playboy - reviews
Following the excitement of the Drivetime TV series, lots of people have been asking us about Michael's book, The Giro Playboy (Faber, 2006 & 2007).
It seems to have sold out in many bookshops, but you can still buy it online - from Amazon, or Faber.
There are two editions - the first has a hand-drawn self-portrait on the red stripey dust jacket; the second, a jacket-less paperback, has a drawing of our hero taking a well-earned rest for a ciggie. The contents are the same, but we prefer the jacketed edition.
Here's a selection of reviews.
Best wishes from Patsy!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reviews of The Giro Playboy
by Michael Smith (Faber & Faber, 2006/2007)
* “… original and restless… one man laid bare… the very raw material from which cult status is often ignited… has already drawn comparisons with Jack Kerouac and Hunter S Thompson… what a beautiful writer… little epiphanies everywhere… ” The Times
* “Wonderful… one of the best books I’ve read in some time…” BBC Radio 3
* “a treat ... a masterpiece of gutter romanticism that stands up for those who, for whatever reason, refuse to sign the contract” Tatler magazine
* “… digs out plenty to lift the heart in the increasingly conformist landscape of Britain…celebrates those little epiphanies that peek out from the cracks of modern life…”
Dazed & Confused
* “… Smith’s London perpetually seems to melt and re-mould itself with an almost filmic fluidity… reminiscent of George Orwell… Henry Miller… the Beats… even Dickens…”
i-D magazine
* “… beautiful prose poetry … being heralded as the new Roger McGough – or indeed the new Rimbaud …” The Word
*… a British beat classic for the 21st century… debuts don't come much saucier or more sordid than this ... the Hunter S Thompson of Hartlepool…” Esquire
* “…a cult classic in the making… his languid and meandering journey through life is beautifully laconic and told with a loveable charm…” Attitude
* “…brilliant… “ The Idler
* “… by making its all so naively personal, Smith’s novel offers a different take… and its inconsistencies become just one more thing to love it for…” BBC Collective – the interactive culture magazine.
* “… a brilliant slacker assault on bourgeois myths… before you know it you are seduced… like William Blake’s poem London, Smith treats us to a classic piece of flanerie… highly readable and enjoyable…” Dogmatika
* “… like a drug-addled Catcher In The Rye… has the potential to reach a similar cult-like following… is set to put Hartlepool on the map…” Hartlepool Mail
* “… has already engendered comparisons with Hunter S Thompson, Plath, JD Salinger, and Rimbaud… poignant and witty… So often did I find myself saying ‘I know exactly how he feels’…” Transition Tradition magazine
* “…magnificent, triumphant first novel…a major new talent… I envy you the joy in store…” Amazon.co.uk
It seems to have sold out in many bookshops, but you can still buy it online - from Amazon, or Faber.
There are two editions - the first has a hand-drawn self-portrait on the red stripey dust jacket; the second, a jacket-less paperback, has a drawing of our hero taking a well-earned rest for a ciggie. The contents are the same, but we prefer the jacketed edition.
Here's a selection of reviews.
Best wishes from Patsy!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reviews of The Giro Playboy
by Michael Smith (Faber & Faber, 2006/2007)
* “… original and restless… one man laid bare… the very raw material from which cult status is often ignited… has already drawn comparisons with Jack Kerouac and Hunter S Thompson… what a beautiful writer… little epiphanies everywhere… ” The Times
* “Wonderful… one of the best books I’ve read in some time…” BBC Radio 3
* “a treat ... a masterpiece of gutter romanticism that stands up for those who, for whatever reason, refuse to sign the contract” Tatler magazine
* “… digs out plenty to lift the heart in the increasingly conformist landscape of Britain…celebrates those little epiphanies that peek out from the cracks of modern life…”
Dazed & Confused
* “… Smith’s London perpetually seems to melt and re-mould itself with an almost filmic fluidity… reminiscent of George Orwell… Henry Miller… the Beats… even Dickens…”
i-D magazine
* “… beautiful prose poetry … being heralded as the new Roger McGough – or indeed the new Rimbaud …” The Word
*… a British beat classic for the 21st century… debuts don't come much saucier or more sordid than this ... the Hunter S Thompson of Hartlepool…” Esquire
* “…a cult classic in the making… his languid and meandering journey through life is beautifully laconic and told with a loveable charm…” Attitude
* “…brilliant… “ The Idler
* “… by making its all so naively personal, Smith’s novel offers a different take… and its inconsistencies become just one more thing to love it for…” BBC Collective – the interactive culture magazine.
* “… a brilliant slacker assault on bourgeois myths… before you know it you are seduced… like William Blake’s poem London, Smith treats us to a classic piece of flanerie… highly readable and enjoyable…” Dogmatika
* “… like a drug-addled Catcher In The Rye… has the potential to reach a similar cult-like following… is set to put Hartlepool on the map…” Hartlepool Mail
* “… has already engendered comparisons with Hunter S Thompson, Plath, JD Salinger, and Rimbaud… poignant and witty… So often did I find myself saying ‘I know exactly how he feels’…” Transition Tradition magazine
* “…magnificent, triumphant first novel…a major new talent… I envy you the joy in store…” Amazon.co.uk
02 April 2009
Why no new edition of The Giro Playboy?
Following the great reception for the two TV series, you'd think that Faber & Faber, Michael Smith's publisher, would be promoting his books, The Giro Playboy and Shorty Loves Wing Wong - maybe even re-publishing them with TV tie-in covers.
No chance.
Not only have they not been promoted, they're not even available in many of the bigger bookshops I frequent in London and Cambridge.
Time Faber woke up to one of its under-promoted star assets?
Luckily, you can still get both of Smith's books online via Amazon.
Jezza
No chance.
Not only have they not been promoted, they're not even available in many of the bigger bookshops I frequent in London and Cambridge.
Time Faber woke up to one of its under-promoted star assets?
Luckily, you can still get both of Smith's books online via Amazon.
Jezza
01 April 2009
Michael Smith’s Drivetime: summary of press coverage
I've finally managed to collate the pick of the press coverage of Michael Smith's Drivetime.
It's amazing!
Patsy
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Series:
* "hypnotic, lyrical odyssey..." - The Times
* "Excellent. Brilliant, laconic state-of-the-nation road trip... frequently hilarious, always charming, and occasionally informative... his off-the-cuff comments are as funny as most of telly's scripted ones." - Guardian
* "...another of his characteristically thoughtful meditations... a succession of insights into everyday culture... a major new TV talent..." - Time Out
* “Offbeat gem…”- The Independent
* "You can see why BBC Four has gone for Michael Smith in such a big way… nuggets of pure poetry" - The Times
Individual episodes:
* "Our poet of the road: BBC4's antithesis to Top Gear…" - The Independent
* "We've thoroughly enjoyed Michael Smith's ruminations on a life in motion... in tonight's closing episode, Smith reaches motoring nirvana... thoughtful and engaging." - Time Out (which selected all six programmes of the series in its TV Picks).
* "insights... incisive, get you thinking..." - Guardian
* "enjoyably tireless, accessibly lyrical recalcitrance... convincing tract about how satnav has gradually inhibited our freedom... a refreshingly upbeat instalment..."
- Time Out
"... erudite and engaging, Smith continues to be a unique and cherishable TV presence." - Time Out
* "eloquent burbling... delightfully lucid soundbites... He's like a UK Kerouac for the homogenised generation... Why doesn't Smith have a regular show yet?" - Alexi Duggins, Time Out
* "almost grunge... observing it all like Jonathan Meades, JG Ballard and Ray Gosling rolled into one" - The Observer
* "The novelist Michael Smith, once described as the Hunter S Thompson of Hartlepool, is a bit of a TV one-off..." - The Independent
31 March 2009
It's amazing!
Patsy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Series:
* "hypnotic, lyrical odyssey..." - The Times
* "Excellent. Brilliant, laconic state-of-the-nation road trip... frequently hilarious, always charming, and occasionally informative... his off-the-cuff comments are as funny as most of telly's scripted ones." - Guardian
* "...another of his characteristically thoughtful meditations... a succession of insights into everyday culture... a major new TV talent..." - Time Out
* “Offbeat gem…”- The Independent
* "You can see why BBC Four has gone for Michael Smith in such a big way… nuggets of pure poetry" - The Times
Individual episodes:
* "Our poet of the road: BBC4's antithesis to Top Gear…" - The Independent
* "We've thoroughly enjoyed Michael Smith's ruminations on a life in motion... in tonight's closing episode, Smith reaches motoring nirvana... thoughtful and engaging." - Time Out (which selected all six programmes of the series in its TV Picks).
* "insights... incisive, get you thinking..." - Guardian
* "enjoyably tireless, accessibly lyrical recalcitrance... convincing tract about how satnav has gradually inhibited our freedom... a refreshingly upbeat instalment..."
- Time Out
"... erudite and engaging, Smith continues to be a unique and cherishable TV presence." - Time Out
* "eloquent burbling... delightfully lucid soundbites... He's like a UK Kerouac for the homogenised generation... Why doesn't Smith have a regular show yet?" - Alexi Duggins, Time Out
* "almost grunge... observing it all like Jonathan Meades, JG Ballard and Ray Gosling rolled into one" - The Observer
* "The novelist Michael Smith, once described as the Hunter S Thompson of Hartlepool, is a bit of a TV one-off..." - The Independent
31 March 2009
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