Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009 October 19

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October 19

TV Researcher

I was watching a show from Jamie's American Road Trip and was wondering how much of what happens is pre-arranged by a TV researcher. Does Jamie just show up at markets, bars, supermarkets etc. and on the spur of the moment pursuade people (who probably have never heard of him) to let him cook for their event, christening, etc, or is there a lot of TV researcher involvement long before filming takes place? Astronaut (talk) 02:41, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

I've never seen this show, but since no one has yet offered a definite answer I would bet that with such a high-profile celebrity these shows will be highly stage managed several weeks in advance. You don't invest in a film crew, production team, props, and a celebrity without ensuring beforehand that everything will run smoothly.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 15:36, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Not necessarily. From what I gather Michael Palin's travels are rarely stage managed to any great extent (which is, for instance, why he famously failed to complete his circle around the Pacific, finishing a mere handful of miles short of his destination). Grutness...wha? 00:24, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

Usually with something that requires collusion from others, producers do a lot of the work ahead of time, and then things are staged for the cameras to some extent. How much no doubt depends on the show. I suspect anything that involves cooking and cameras probably takes some planning ahead of time. --Mr.98 (talk) 12:31, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

Adverts made in Spain/Latin America

I've noticed on British TV a recent trend where many adverts seem to be made in Spain or Latin America. For example, Barclaycard's waterslide advert shot in São Paulo, and more recently an advert for Oral B electric toothbrushes shot in a Spanish-speaking country. Why the trend? Astronaut (talk) 03:45, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps it's cheaper? MBelgrano (talk) 12:47, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

I suspect because Spain is a popular holiday destination with the Brits, so it would have positive associations.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 07:50, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

I can't find cites, but I think it's also due to advertisers moving towards global branding and running the same advertisement in multiple countries, rather than making special adverts for Britain in Britain. This means that ads shown in Britain are now more likely to be made overseas (possibly with localised voiceovers or text).--Lesleyhood (talk) 12:25, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps because it rains less? Parts of the film Battle of Britain were shot in Spain just for that reason. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alansplodge (talk • contribs) 19:45, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

As were parts of Doctor Zhivago. -- JackofOz (talk) 07:09, 22 October 2009 (UTC)

Rock Me Amadeus

What's the year of the song "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco? 1985 or 1986? David Pro (talk) 16:43, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Did you check our article, Rock Me Amadeus, which states it's 1986? Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:49, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

The album it was on, Falco 3, was released in 1985. So, are you asking for the single or the album? You'll get two different answers. -- kainaw™ 17:49, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

"Rock Me Amadeus" was released in the German speaking countries in Spring 1985 (topping the Austrian and German charts in May 1985). It wasn't released in the US until March 1986.195.128.251.194 (talk) 23:20, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Christian movie-rating organization?

I'm trying to remember the name of the Christian organization that gave (and, for all I know, still gives) ratings to movies based on how Christian or Satanic they are, who briefly came to public attention by giving South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut the lowest rating in the history of the organization. Category:Conservative organizations in the United States is of a daunting size, and the group isn't mentioned in the movie's article. Tevildo (talk) 19:33, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Was it www.capalert.com? Their South Park review is rather hysterical (in the raving loony sense). Adam Bishop (talk) 21:05, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

That's it, thanks very much. ChildCare Action Project, for anyone else interested. :) Tevildo (talk) 21:33, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

There seems to be a major flaw in how that site rates movies, in that they only give negative ratings for things they consider bad, but don't give a positive rating for good things, like life lessons taught. And a movie of any portion of the Bible would be sure to include something from just about every one of the "bad things" categories (violence, impudence, sex, drugs/alcohol/smoking, "offense of God"), so movies about the Bible should apparently all be banned. StuRat (talk) 00:36, 26 October 2009 (UTC)