* By and large, I think the ABC still does radio pretty well. I would mark out for particular praise the overall likeability and competence of Marc Fennell (he's pretty good on TV too, although he does draw some boring shows, like host of Mastermind), Richard Fielder as an interviewer (gosh he's been doing it for a long time now), and I still think Norman Swan is also good to listen to. Sure, there is a lot of content I won't listen to, and some hosts who are well past their "use by" date (I have complained that the Science Show has been pretty dull for many years now), but I always get the feeling that, for a small country, our government funded radio really punches above its weight. The best way to get "the best" of it now is to use the ABC Listen app - I find it works well.
* ABC TV is struggling a bit by comparison. It seems pretty lazy when quite a lot of bland British light drama/light crime content is still relied upon to fill up empty space. (Really, who watches shows like Sister Boniface Mysteries and Call the Midwife? I mean, when I was younger I could say "it's not for me but it's probably popular with the oldies", but now that I am over 60, I can't imagine any of my contemporaries watching it!) But then again, Australia drama is often completely unappealing too. It has always been that way, though. I'm not sure it is getting any worse, so that's a positive.
As for comedy content - yes I think it's main problem is in the innovation department. But maybe its because I don't like many comedians under 30 any more?
You still can't beat it for current affairs: watch the ABC news, 7.30, Planet America, Foreign Correspondent, and sometimes Four Corners, and you'll be pretty well informed on all major topics. Compared to the absolutely scandalous nature of current affairs programs on Channel 7 in the last couple of years, there is no comparison.
* I continue to love all videos put out on Religion for Breakfast. It doesn't matter what the topic (the massive scale of the Daoist "scriptures"), or whether I had an interest in it before (the origins of the Pope's pointy hat), there is a 95% chance I will enjoy it.
* This is hard to explain without sounding weird, but I un-ironically like watching the Singaporean National Day Parade. (This was on last week.) It starts with military parade stuff, then a demonstration, complete with corny narration, of all their defence and civil services in action (sort of like a souped up Edinburgh Military Tattoo, I guess?), and the last hour or so is a large concert full of songs old and new about the country which always - always! - emphasise the importance of unity of the mixed ethnicities. The only way to put it is that it is 100% pure propaganda - but when it's for sentiments that are purely positive - well, it's actually praiseworthy, isn't it? And it's flawlessly produced, with the participants from such a diversity of ages and backgrounds, it indicates that it's propanganda that is taken to heart by the citizens. Again - it's good propaganda!
So it's not a simple kind of "just the State engendering patriotism for self interested reasons" (although, of course, the cynical could say it is just that): it's a State that is continuously encouraging its people to get along together, and to be proud of the fact that they do, pretty much, get along.
Here, you can watch the (pretty decent) National Day theme song for this year, and get an idea of what I mean.
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