Journal

A chronicle of people, places, happenings, and creations we admire.

Official: Clarkson Hammond & May to Amazon Prime TV

Photo: The Times / driving.co.uk

Photo: The Times / driving.co.uk

After the now infamous "Fracas", mourning the end of the Clarkson era of BBC übershow Top Gear, and months of speculation, the lads have signed a three-year deal to do a nonfiction automobile show on Amazon Prime TV.  Also joining the crew will be former TG co-mastermind and producer Andy Wilman.  Wilman resigned from the BBC after co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May followed Jeremy Clarkson out the door.  Clarkson was fired from the BBC after berating and assaulting a producer during filming over dining arrangements (keep a Snickers handy, Jezza).

The trio (and Wilman) together turned what Clarkson at one time called 'a pokey little car show' into the largest viewership on the planet, with over 350 million weekly viewers in over 190 countries in various formats.  The show was famous for its classic British humor, double entendres, often controversial jokes and sophmoric antics of Clarkson mixed with great photography, soundtracks, races and challenges performed by the three all over the world.  The onscreen chemistry of the three hosts cannot be overstated.

Filming of the new series begins in the fall, hopefully we won't have to wait 5-9 business days after release of the first episode.

Follow @JeremyClarkson

Follow @RichardHammond

Follow @MrJamesMay


Midsommar - The most Swedish of Swedish Holidays

After the long dark winter, Swedes celebrate the summer solstice and the arrival of the midnight sun!  We eat, drink, sing, eat, drink, dance and drink some more!  Midsummer traces its roots to old pagan times and medieval observers of the Nordic Peoples recorded: "they gather in throngs on town squares or out in the fields to cheerfully enter in dance".  Through the ages, traditions and superstitions surrounding this celebration include saving your midsummer wreath until Christmas and soaking it in your bath as well as rolling around naked in the midsummer day dew -- both for health, of course!  Watch "Swedish Midsummer for Dummies" above to learn how to celebrate today.  GLAD MIDSOMMAR!        


The Month of March

A Recap of our discoveries in March.

new film “Trevligt Folk” - Somali Team from Sweden to World Championship in Siberia

A group of young Somali immigrants in the town of Borlänge takes on the Swedish winter and the local favorite sport of bandy -- a precursor to ice hockey. Together with a local man who had a simple idea of “integration through sports”, these young men embrace the cold, the ice and their skates and 6 months later end up representing Somalia as the first African country at the Bandy World Championship in Siberia. Their inspiring journey is shared in the documentary Trevligt Folk (Nice People) presented by Filip & Fredrik premiering at the Göteborg Film Festival over the weekend and in theaters around Sweden beginning January 28th. Watch the trailer above with a universally understood message that goes beyond sports, Somalia, Sweden and Siberia.  

Pharrell to appear on "The Simpsons" in February

©Matt Groening / FOX

©Matt Groening / FOX

Ubiquitous Super-Producer, Rapper, Artist and Entrepreneur Pharrell adds an upcoming appearance on "The Simpsons" to his resume.  The episode airing February 8th on FOX deals with Pharrell and his creation of a new official song for the city of Springfield after it is discovered that their current anthem is not unique.  Hopefully in the end everyone will be 'Happy' with the results.

"The Simpsons" Sundays, 8/7C (Check local listings)