Dear Readers, Carlo and I are working hard on Shattered, which will be published in October by Hamish Hamilton. Once this is done - it should take another week or so - we will be back blogging. The piece below was published in the Guardian six years ago, and is about my love for television.
The early episodes of Mad Men reminded me of both how far and how not far we have evolved. Seeing women smoke during pregnancy, as my mother surely did, gave me a jolt. Being reminded in Breaking Bad that what makes us human is the bridges we build, or destroy. TV has given me the greatest escape in my darker hours and my hope is that it’s doing the same for you.
It is funny but you have described very well exaclty why I rarely watch any of these shows: 'Television writers saw that the audience loved to see deceit, manipulation and evil: people doing what they wished they could do'. Do people really want to be like this? I don't. The deep amorality at best, puts me off totally. Tony Soprano may well be portrayed very finely and brilliantly, showcasing how good TV can be in many ways, but he is still, at the end of the day, a murderous, vile thug and I don't care about him or his world one bit as a result. I find the whole approach by writers and executives deeply cynical.
Loved this reflection on what television means now. Television series are made so well these days and really give artists / writers full range to express themselves without the time constraint of a film for example. It also shows how much we have come to accept the complexities of humans and the duality of good and evil within us all.
Telly is great Hanif. Lot of ridiculous snobbery about film. Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander an example. As always a great piece, working on my film about you which is why I haven’t seen you as much as I would like. You’re a great man even if we are not older and uglier than when we first met around 40 years ago love Nige
After my SCI, I felt guilty watching so much TV, because I used to view it as wasted time not working. I am, after a few years now (8 afer injury), pretty active when I want to be, but I love being able to sit through a series guilt-free. I bond with my daughters over Breaking Bad (we even queued to see Bryan Cranston at a signing, unsuccessfully). It is at least ONE thing which we can still do easily, it distracts from pain and boredom, and engages us with the world. I assume you've watched Succession?
If you haven’t seen them yet here are two French series which are a must: le Bureau des Légendes (known on Netflix as The Bureau, and a police series called in French Engrenages and on BBC4 where it was shown as Spirals. There is also the fabulous American Newsroom. Enjoy!
(You could also look at 10% known on Netflix as Call My Agent. Make sure that you look at the original French version, not the bad American remake!)
The curious incident of the walnut in the morning! Hi Hanif (& Carlo), Late last night / in the middle of the night, I listened to the whole of your Today Programme edit.I found it very interesting, moving, and unflinching. An excellent insight into your life after your accident with well-chosen interviewees, especially the head of the garden, your wonderful family and friends. This morning…. I tripped over a WALNUT, a bloody walnut of all things. I was out walking my beautiful rescue dog, who comes from Montenegro. I am British, but live in Berlin. I have been a bit paranoid about having an accident and being unable to care for my dog, who is still very nervous with anyone other than me. Also, a few friends of mine have had freak accidents/ falls, one resulting in something called CRPS (compound regional pain syndrome), which is horrible. None as bad as yours, but I seem to think of the worst things that could happen, and yet I somehow manage live my life as if they won’t. Anyway, I fell to the floor, scraped my knee and badly twisted my ankle - just a few hours after listening to the podcast, so perhaps there is something in the idea that one person spoke about - it was my time to fall! I was picked up by a cyclist who was going by… he offered to call an ambulance, but I thought I’d be okay… I sent him on his way after about five minutes leaning on him. After he’d gone, I felt very shaken (and a bit embarrassed about the cause of my fall). I had to sit on the cold grass until i felt able to move again, and my dog was ready to stagger back home with me (she wasn’t staggering, just me!). My first thought when I started to feel able to move again was “You bastard, Hanif Khureishi”. This was down to me listening to your podcast. My second thought was, thank goodness I can still walk, use my hands, arms, feet etc. How very grateful I am. And how sad I am for all the changes you have had to endure. I have always enjoyed your writing and the films / tv programmes made from your work (Laundrette/ Buddha/ Fanatic). I came to see you speak at the Literature Festival in Berlin, many years ago, and even plucked up the courage to ask you a question. You answered respectfully, thoughtfully and fully. My heart was pounding, but you made me feel it was a perfectly interesting and worthwhile question. I can’t for the life of me remember which book you were promoting at the time, though, if any. Anyway, I just felt I had to write and tell you of my very curious, nutty incident. Looking forward to your and Carlo’s posts and catching up on them. All best wishes and positive thoughts to you and yours from Cesca in Berlin
haven’t watch any of this.. really .. bits n pieces via Youtube, The Great (was great !) .. but is ‘it’ even television anymore - ‘streaming or not’ .. ? Or just ‘the screen(s)’ or ‘screenings’ ? Name your ‘receiver’ - your ‘device’ ! I’m coming back more & more to ensuring ‘cinematic’ is deployed when describing the nature of my ‘Properties for Development’ here.. ‘entertaining ‘artful & ‘cinematic ..
Hanif how lovely once more that you have popped something on here and apparently bashing out your story. It doesn't get much better than that. I thought shall I respond before I take a couple of swigs of my Merlot or not. The reason I mention the merlot is because and not sure why I did this, I won't be trying it twice, I gave up alcohol for Lent. it's not as if I believe in Lent. The giving up something makes some sense but for 40 days? Anyhow, the bottle has been cracked open. To my delight you speak of the Boxset. This alone saved me from going mad when Mum ceased being independent and thus my brother, dependent upon her, ceased his way of life to-date. This happened in 2012, and by 2013 or the begin of 2014 I realised that boxsets were the answer and saving the nation from god knows what. I had watched The Wire all by myself without the reviews or ravings - and got through all the violence too (I think it acted as a place to put my own stuff) then graduated to The Sopranos. I could write about that for hours - it's probably still my favourite - as you remark the violence is like an aside to everyday life. His wife flirting with the idea of an affair - the psychoanalysis. Breaking Bad though - now my daughter brought me the entire boxset telling me I must watch it. I thus approached it with reluctance. Are you watching it she demanded? Well - I watched the first episode but not sure - Just watch it she shouted. I got over my stupidity needless to say and was spellbound. The episode of the fly - I totally got that. Hanif back to you - yes it really was the way forward and think it still is. In this age of destruction of cheap politics of poverty it's what people need. It saved me through Lockdown and any good series will save me now. Can you write one. Or your sons are they up to it. I am reading a huge book called Into the Silence about mountains and wars and may not get to the end. TV wise I am really hooked on The Apprentice this year who knows why that is - maybe the candidates are more authentic - some of them haven't gone overboard with the make up. And so far, Sugah has fired exactly (almost) the right ones. he does have favourites. Hanif I wish you a happy evening and week ahead working away with Carlo and managing your daily routine. Really I'm in awe of your stamina regarding it all. Take lots of care, Maddi from the tiny village in North Yorkshire and yes in the middle of Easter. xx
The early episodes of Mad Men reminded me of both how far and how not far we have evolved. Seeing women smoke during pregnancy, as my mother surely did, gave me a jolt. Being reminded in Breaking Bad that what makes us human is the bridges we build, or destroy. TV has given me the greatest escape in my darker hours and my hope is that it’s doing the same for you.
It is funny but you have described very well exaclty why I rarely watch any of these shows: 'Television writers saw that the audience loved to see deceit, manipulation and evil: people doing what they wished they could do'. Do people really want to be like this? I don't. The deep amorality at best, puts me off totally. Tony Soprano may well be portrayed very finely and brilliantly, showcasing how good TV can be in many ways, but he is still, at the end of the day, a murderous, vile thug and I don't care about him or his world one bit as a result. I find the whole approach by writers and executives deeply cynical.
Watching Mad Men is an annual ritual of mine since I discovered this gem of a series. The sheer genius of character is astounding.
Loved this reflection on what television means now. Television series are made so well these days and really give artists / writers full range to express themselves without the time constraint of a film for example. It also shows how much we have come to accept the complexities of humans and the duality of good and evil within us all.
Telly is great Hanif. Lot of ridiculous snobbery about film. Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander an example. As always a great piece, working on my film about you which is why I haven’t seen you as much as I would like. You’re a great man even if we are not older and uglier than when we first met around 40 years ago love Nige
After my SCI, I felt guilty watching so much TV, because I used to view it as wasted time not working. I am, after a few years now (8 afer injury), pretty active when I want to be, but I love being able to sit through a series guilt-free. I bond with my daughters over Breaking Bad (we even queued to see Bryan Cranston at a signing, unsuccessfully). It is at least ONE thing which we can still do easily, it distracts from pain and boredom, and engages us with the world. I assume you've watched Succession?
If you haven’t seen them yet here are two French series which are a must: le Bureau des Légendes (known on Netflix as The Bureau, and a police series called in French Engrenages and on BBC4 where it was shown as Spirals. There is also the fabulous American Newsroom. Enjoy!
(You could also look at 10% known on Netflix as Call My Agent. Make sure that you look at the original French version, not the bad American remake!)
Those will keep you busy for a while!
As a fellow admirer of Don Draper, storytelling, and the long form tv heyday I salute you and all your passion. Be well. X
Interesting thoughts. I still watch some series on TV but I am one of those few people who have never had Netflix, for example.
The curious incident of the walnut in the morning! Hi Hanif (& Carlo), Late last night / in the middle of the night, I listened to the whole of your Today Programme edit.I found it very interesting, moving, and unflinching. An excellent insight into your life after your accident with well-chosen interviewees, especially the head of the garden, your wonderful family and friends. This morning…. I tripped over a WALNUT, a bloody walnut of all things. I was out walking my beautiful rescue dog, who comes from Montenegro. I am British, but live in Berlin. I have been a bit paranoid about having an accident and being unable to care for my dog, who is still very nervous with anyone other than me. Also, a few friends of mine have had freak accidents/ falls, one resulting in something called CRPS (compound regional pain syndrome), which is horrible. None as bad as yours, but I seem to think of the worst things that could happen, and yet I somehow manage live my life as if they won’t. Anyway, I fell to the floor, scraped my knee and badly twisted my ankle - just a few hours after listening to the podcast, so perhaps there is something in the idea that one person spoke about - it was my time to fall! I was picked up by a cyclist who was going by… he offered to call an ambulance, but I thought I’d be okay… I sent him on his way after about five minutes leaning on him. After he’d gone, I felt very shaken (and a bit embarrassed about the cause of my fall). I had to sit on the cold grass until i felt able to move again, and my dog was ready to stagger back home with me (she wasn’t staggering, just me!). My first thought when I started to feel able to move again was “You bastard, Hanif Khureishi”. This was down to me listening to your podcast. My second thought was, thank goodness I can still walk, use my hands, arms, feet etc. How very grateful I am. And how sad I am for all the changes you have had to endure. I have always enjoyed your writing and the films / tv programmes made from your work (Laundrette/ Buddha/ Fanatic). I came to see you speak at the Literature Festival in Berlin, many years ago, and even plucked up the courage to ask you a question. You answered respectfully, thoughtfully and fully. My heart was pounding, but you made me feel it was a perfectly interesting and worthwhile question. I can’t for the life of me remember which book you were promoting at the time, though, if any. Anyway, I just felt I had to write and tell you of my very curious, nutty incident. Looking forward to your and Carlo’s posts and catching up on them. All best wishes and positive thoughts to you and yours from Cesca in Berlin
haven’t watch any of this.. really .. bits n pieces via Youtube, The Great (was great !) .. but is ‘it’ even television anymore - ‘streaming or not’ .. ? Or just ‘the screen(s)’ or ‘screenings’ ? Name your ‘receiver’ - your ‘device’ ! I’m coming back more & more to ensuring ‘cinematic’ is deployed when describing the nature of my ‘Properties for Development’ here.. ‘entertaining ‘artful & ‘cinematic ..
Hanif how lovely once more that you have popped something on here and apparently bashing out your story. It doesn't get much better than that. I thought shall I respond before I take a couple of swigs of my Merlot or not. The reason I mention the merlot is because and not sure why I did this, I won't be trying it twice, I gave up alcohol for Lent. it's not as if I believe in Lent. The giving up something makes some sense but for 40 days? Anyhow, the bottle has been cracked open. To my delight you speak of the Boxset. This alone saved me from going mad when Mum ceased being independent and thus my brother, dependent upon her, ceased his way of life to-date. This happened in 2012, and by 2013 or the begin of 2014 I realised that boxsets were the answer and saving the nation from god knows what. I had watched The Wire all by myself without the reviews or ravings - and got through all the violence too (I think it acted as a place to put my own stuff) then graduated to The Sopranos. I could write about that for hours - it's probably still my favourite - as you remark the violence is like an aside to everyday life. His wife flirting with the idea of an affair - the psychoanalysis. Breaking Bad though - now my daughter brought me the entire boxset telling me I must watch it. I thus approached it with reluctance. Are you watching it she demanded? Well - I watched the first episode but not sure - Just watch it she shouted. I got over my stupidity needless to say and was spellbound. The episode of the fly - I totally got that. Hanif back to you - yes it really was the way forward and think it still is. In this age of destruction of cheap politics of poverty it's what people need. It saved me through Lockdown and any good series will save me now. Can you write one. Or your sons are they up to it. I am reading a huge book called Into the Silence about mountains and wars and may not get to the end. TV wise I am really hooked on The Apprentice this year who knows why that is - maybe the candidates are more authentic - some of them haven't gone overboard with the make up. And so far, Sugah has fired exactly (almost) the right ones. he does have favourites. Hanif I wish you a happy evening and week ahead working away with Carlo and managing your daily routine. Really I'm in awe of your stamina regarding it all. Take lots of care, Maddi from the tiny village in North Yorkshire and yes in the middle of Easter. xx