Its unique,just like everything else

That means more seriousness with factual series like Natural World,Tropic Of Capricorn,Wonders Of The Solar System at prime time; that means less light entertainment after 8 pm with the likes of Hotel Babylon and Absolutely Fabulous at an early evening slot,although Dancing With The Stars retains a late evening position; and that means,seriously entertaining programmes like the hugely imaginative motor show Top Gear,the home-changing Extreme Makeover,the drama series Inspector George Gently starring the absolutely fabulous Martin Shaw,or old faithfuls Spooks and Silent Witness.

That leaves shows that defy categories or need newly invented ones: theres the seriously-I-dont-know-what-to-call-it reality show Dont tell the Bride,in which the groom plans every last candle on his wedding cake without the knowledge,sorry,interference of the bride. In India,this band,baaja baraat wedding show would have been called Bahu Bina Shaadi. Or else,theres The Restaurant,Raymond Blancs Kitchen Secrets,Trishs Mediterranean Kitchen that presumably feed into our insatiable hunger for more food shows,although why we would want to watch food preparations we would never eat or cook ourselves,is extremely puzzling: raw,sorry,rare meat dishes and pork entrails in wine sauce,anyone?

If its BBC,it cant be anything but well-produced. Nevertheless,theres a sense of loss and longing. Loss because we are genuinely at a loss: how to choose between BBC Entertainment,Discovery,TLC or NG for similar shows on nature,history,the universe or food all equally well-executed and seriously entertaining? Clearly,theres a branding problem here.

And longing because which of us doesnt yearn to see some of those wonderful old BBC drama series? Pride And Prejudice for one,with Colin Firth. Its old hat but with his stammering performance in The Kings Speech,Firth is very much the man we want to watch. Sad that we still do not see the best drama or comedy series the BBC has in its archives.

Which brings us to watching perhaps the best or worst youll ever see of that self-possessed lady called Sarah Palin. Last seen on TV,she was out fishing. For fish,specifically salmon Sarah Palins Alaska,TLC. This new nine-week series is about how outdoor gal Palin loves her family and her state with a love so sweet,it beats treacle,it beats the chocolate cake she prepares oh-so-lovingly for her daughter Willows sixteenth birthday.

In the first episode,we visited Palin at home and in a boat which is her second home because husband Todd is the best fisherman in Alaska,America,the world?; wherever she goes,she finds sermons in salmon and homilies in household chores,about family and traditions the twin pillars of her political beliefs as a Republican. Theres something so self-satisfied about her. On Todd: he loves kids they have five?8230; that was one of the things that attracted me to him8230; I was lucky to have the perfect person for me. On young son Trig,who suffers from Downs syndrome: He is such a joy. About taking 16-year-old Willow out to clean fish: I would rather she be out here,picking fish than out texting,phoning,partying. On her children: we dont spoil them materialistically but with love. Visiting Todds cousin Ina,whom she hasnt seen in two years: reminds me how important family is,traditions are8230; how blessed we are. If Palin is to be believed,everything in Alaska,in her family,is perfect,blessed,loved and more wholesome than fresh fruit.

Theres just one problem: though she looks warm in her red jacket,theres something steely behind those spectacles she wears; and despite her loving protestations,she sounds like a moral science school teacher. Shes something of a cold fish. Blame it on Alaska and all that time she spent out on a boat.

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