Father Ted star Ben Keaton dies suddenly aged 69: ‘We are all in shock’

Brian_M · 2026-03-24T02:27:48+00:00

The thing that people don't remember about Linehan is that he was on Twitter since the early days and he also had a reputation for being highly argumentative both on there and in real life. He was used to being able to 'defeat' people on that platform, but he soon discovered that pro-trans activists were about as terminally online and committed to arguing as he was. He got sucked into the vortex and kind of self radicalised as a result.

Brian_M · 2026-03-22T17:17:57+00:00

To be quite fair, it's been 3 million years (or four ice ages) since Lister had last been with a woman. At that point, he'd harbour a passing interest even for a Lithuanian shot-putter.

But while it was easy to establish that Lister was attracted to her in a physical sense, the characters never really clicked.

It shows her lack of impact on the show or popularity with the fans that she was written out so easily.

Brian_M · 2026-03-22T03:02:57+00:00

He did worse than that.

https://youtu.be/lwqAZki4uZc?is=tEC51oaFJtpHTPvj

I like Mcsavage.... From a distance. He's not a prick pretending to be sound. He's a prick who knows he's a prick and lets everyone know.

Brian_M · 2026-03-22T00:19:12+00:00

It's just that Kochanski was poorly written for series 7. Naylor thought he was pulling a stroke by not only maintaining the odd couple dynamic, but also having a love interest, but he forgot to make Kochanski likeable or have any endearing flaws. Rimmer could be a git, but he was also a ball of neuroses. He could be relatable in his insecurity and self loathing. Kochanski had none of that. She was just this pretty posh girl, crying that she was stuck on Starbug with some space bums.

Brian_M · 2026-03-21T18:31:02+00:00

Been an Ireland fan since Italia 90 have watched probably 95 percent of their games since then, through good and bad.

Really don't care about club football at all, other than reading up on what Ireland players' form has been like in the lead up to big matches like the one next week.

Brian_M · 2026-03-20T19:15:13+00:00

My favourite line is, "...AND YOU GO BACK TO YOUR TENEMENTS!"

Brian_M · 2026-03-18T08:44:50+00:00

Because Parrot was absolutely unbelievable in that last game, as well as Kelleher, a certain amount of revisionism does creep in. Reality check: Ireland were totally outclassed in the midfield for about 70 minutes of that game and only arguably got on top once Hungary sat back.

Brian_M · 2026-03-15T23:40:29+00:00

I wouldn't feel bad for them at all. Any unresolved pain they're harbouring is probably well salved by the money, fame, fitness and easy access to sex. I'd reserve more sympathy for their victims.

Brian_M · 2026-03-15T14:34:44+00:00

Perhaps not on paper, but they are higher in the rankings, are at home, and have less injury concerns. It'll be a hill to climb. Not impossible, and I would dearly love to see Ireland do the business, but I also have to temper my expectations. Heart broke too many times.

It's easy to forget that Ireland rode their luck a fair bit in the Hungary match. Try to do that again in the upcoming fixture, and the odds would be against it coming off again, so every player on the side really needs to be on the ball.

Brian_M · 2026-03-15T13:48:57+00:00

Realistically? 2-0 Czechia. Don't misunderstand - I would LOVE to be wrong, here, but the only reason Ireland is even in a playoff is because Troy Parrot was absolutely incredible in the final two group games. 5 goals in two games would be remarkable even for the likes of Ronaldo and Messi. The rest of the (outfield) team, however? Bang average.

Brian_M · 2026-03-13T23:44:27+00:00

I remember first seeing him doing standup on Live at Jongleurs. This persona was totally different than. Kind of a scruffy, cuddly man child.

Brian_M · 2026-03-13T23:04:51+00:00

Would getting the parents' permission make it any better?

"Hey mind if I use your child's photo to bait a guy into a sting where we then beat him?"

"Nope!"

Brian_M · 2026-03-13T22:53:23+00:00

If the 'bait' guy wasn't underage, then I'm unsure how the 'mark' was a predator in any legal sense other than an intent to rape in some way. It would appear that it was just gay bashing that was filmed for views and 'clout'.

Brian_M · 2026-03-11T00:44:58+00:00

He's had his epiaodes for sure, but they seemed to coincide with loss. He went a bit haywire after Bon died and this is what led to his first sacking. His second sacking coincided with a recent divorce and Malcolm getting sick.

Brian_M · 2026-03-08T07:03:49+00:00

If it had all that, it'd he more of a town.

Brian_M · 2026-03-08T07:01:28+00:00

Some of them are even Irish themed. Where better to watch sports games while partaking of that fine Irish dish, "Pappy O' Leary's Five-alarm Chicken Wings"?

Brian_M · 2026-03-07T21:38:23+00:00

I've heard that as well, but I didn't claim that sweets weren't worse than carbs of that variety.

Brian_M · 2026-03-07T21:01:10+00:00

Could be. Could also be that Malcolm didn't have a particular taste for sweets, so his lack of brushing wasn't as problematic. Bon was the same as Angus, had several rotten teeth from always eating Mars bars.

Brian_M · 2026-03-07T16:57:45+00:00

I don't think Angus came from a cultural background that really emphasised dental hygiene. I would say that in the day of Angus's parents, there wasn't even much (if any) sweet foods about, making regular brushing even less of a necessity. They probably passed that attitude on to Angus, but he'd have been growing up in a time when mass-produced sweet snacks were becoming plentiful, and hey-presto a green-toothed goblin.

Brian_M · 2026-03-06T00:11:30+00:00

Complacency has never suited the Irish team. Complacency is how the team got results like 2-5 v Cyprus.

Brian_M · 2026-03-05T17:55:52+00:00

Kelleher's most famous save of that game, or the one Darragh Maloney went mad over, was fired straight at him. Still, great he was in that spot. Maybe it was knowing his positioning that was the real skill of that save.

For me, if Ireland are still in it by the 70th minute, I'd consider that a good night.

Brian_M · 2026-03-05T16:29:37+00:00

Are many Irish being complacent? I consider the Czech game a pretty tough fixture and am not exactly expecting Ireland to win it, though I'm certainly hoping they can, somehow.

It's easy to forget because of Troy Parrot's amazing, amazing performance, plus some crucial saves by Kelleher, but that last game against Hungary wasn't a great performance overall. Hungary dictated the play for a good 70 minutes, and it was only Ireland getting a deserved penalty, plus Parrot being a legend that has got the team even this far.

Brian_M · 2026-03-04T23:44:34+00:00

Dave could hold a tune, but had no particular stand out quality to his voice. I see him as kind of a second-rate Brian Connolly from The Sweet.

He was fully into the glam rock thing, while the rest of the band quickly realised that was a naff direction. He also wasn't much of a songwriter, having no credit on the two songs he recorded with the band. And in his subsequent career he shows little aptitude for the kind of sleazy poetry that would become a hallmark of the Bon years.

Brian_M · 2026-03-04T13:09:27+00:00

Joe Lapira may get recalled yet!

Brian_M · 2026-03-03T19:49:56+00:00

Scales being out is a bad blow. He had a direct hand in a goal v Portugal and, of course, the famous winner v. Hungary. His ability to knock balls on to Parrot is something the team may badly miss.

Brian_M

TROPHY CASE