channel hop
Today is a landmark day in the history of television. The Sopranos, arguably the greatest TV show of all time, comes to a close, with the final episode of the epic mob drama screening in the US. The chances of seeing what happens to Tony and the rest of the family on Hong Kong screens any time soon, however, are about as likely as Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri winning the humanitarian of the year award; TVB Pearl has pencilled in the final nine episodes to begin in December while HBO - the channel that makes the show - is just getting round to showing 2001's season three on its Asian network.
Maintaining a personal media blackout on what transpires until jingle bells are jangling or until HBO get up to date appears to be a non-starter. There are, of course, other ways to see up-to-date episodes of The Sopranos and all the other shows that arrive late, or not at all, to local schedules, and anyone with a broadband connection and a will to download will perhaps label such complaints as being 'so last century'. As the prospect of high-definition on-demand internet TV moves closer to being a reality, such gripes will be confined to the dustbin of 20th-century history, alongside grumbles about the poor quality of VHS tape and the lack of copies available at a given rental store. Even if it means putting TV critics such as me out of a job, that day can't come soon enough.
For those feeling nostalgic, HBO Signature is screening season three of The Sopranos nightly this week at 10pm, from tomorrow. If you are tech ignorant and want to see more up-to-date episodes, it's probably best to fuggedaboutit.
Another show that is somewhat behind the times in Hong Kong is Scrubs (Star World, Thursdays at 9.30pm). Given that season six of this offbeat medical sitcom has just finished in the US, you could be forgiven for thinking the 'new' season starting this week might be the latest or, at a push, season five. You would, however, be wrong; this helping of the show is season three, which first aired in the US almost four years ago. It's not exactly the kind of service that will have viewers rushing to renew their Star World subscriptions but one to file under 'better late than never' all the same.
The series kicks off with the group of interns at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital, led by trainee doctor John 'J.D.' Dorian (Zach Braff), attempting to cure a patient without the help of their eternally sarcastic mentor, Dr Cox (John C. McGinley), while the unlucky-in-love Elliot (Sarah Chalke) attempts to give herself a makeover to avoid losing her latest squeeze.
Perhaps not as sharp as the first two seasons, Scrubs still offers enough laughs and poignant moments to recommend it - although Cox's classic putdowns are the clear highlights.
Thankfully, documentaries seem to hit our screens with greater alacrity. Discovery Channel this week premieres new six-part series Living with the Kombai Tribe (above; Mondays at 8pm), which sees extreme travellers Mark Anstice and Olly Steeds venturing into the remote rainforests of West Papua to befriend one of the most isolated tribes on Eafrth. Anstice and Steeds' intention is to learn to live as the Kombai do, a way of life that has changed little since the Stone Age, but they soon have arrows pointed at their heads by tribal warriors dressed in nothing but penis gourds. Despite this early misstep, the pair are welcomed into the tribe and learn to hunt rats for dinner and cut down trees with stone axes. Ultimately, they are fitted for penis gourds of their own.
An eye-opening look at a way of life that couldn't be more different from city living, this is a unique encounter - and perhaps the catalyst for a fashion revolution based around fruit shells worn around the genitals. You have been warned.
Another documentary series starting this week is Wild Caribbean (ATV World, Tuesdays at 9pm). This four-part BBC production explores the waters and islands off the east coast of Central America, revealing the astoundingly diverse wildlife indigenous to the area. Among the species in the spotlight are sperm whales, frigate birds and capuchin monkeys, although it is the swooping takes of the islands' volcanic peaks, lush forests and pristine shores that most take the breath away.
Surprisingly, Captain Jack Sparrow is nowhere to be seen.
