Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe - Series 05 (2008)

Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe
Series 05
Year: 2008
Producer: BBC4

An irreverent sideswipe at the world of television by the misanthropic TV critic

Episode 01:

Charlie Brooker examines the state of television in the current economic climate and, with now-redundant home sale programmes clogging up the schedule, he explores what we can expect in their place.

Expensive dramas and the plethora of job-based shows are also in his sights, while there is light relief as he illustrates the penny-pinching tricks TV uses to meet budgets.

Episode 02:

In an advertising special, there are reports from a mysterious insider dishing the dirt on all that is bad in the industry, plus a potted history of advertising. Brooker reveals the changing psychology used to keep people buying, and how the portrayal of men and women in advertising has changed. Plus, poet Tim Key gives us an advert-related verse.

Episode 03:

In a writers' special, Brooker is joined by some of the best in the business to talk about how you make a TV programme actually happen. The people and pens behind Doctor Who, Father Ted, Peep Show, Life on Mars, Shameless and many more lead us through the joys and pitfalls of writing, with the added benefit of some of the best bits from the programmes.

Episode 04:

Brooker takes a scalpel to 'mission' documentaries, the shows that begin with the presenter uttering 'I am on a mission to...' only to finish with a daft gimmick. After reviewing the current crop of mission documentaries, he goes on to make his own rather unusual version of the genre, highlighting the formats and tricks of the trade along the way.

Episode 05:

He turns his gaze to the state of kids' TV, giving a potted history of the genre and taking a look at psychedelic kids' shows both old and new. Brooker moves on to look at the newer trend for programmes to be made with the help of child psychologists and asks if it is a sinister development.

Plus, the reflections of a TV presenter, a poem from Tim Key and the revelation of dark TV tales from behind the scenes.

Episode 06:

Charlie Brooker celebrates Christmas by taking a look back at all that has happened in TV land over the past year, including reviews of the very best and worst shows to grace British screens in 2008, and reflections on all the big issues. He considers the trends that emerged and explores what can be expected in 2009.

There are also a couple of special contributor pieces from Harry Enfield and Jimmy Carr, while poet Tim Key supplies a festive verse.