Sky One: Back From The Dead

It genuinely feels like only a few months ago when I wrote a eulogy to Sky One, It hasn't been, though. That very post went live 1,638 days ago.

Time flies, I guess.

The post was written around the time when the people at Sky decided to end the flagship entertainment channel in favour of a newly-branded offering called Sky Max. 

I had a reread of the post yesterday. I put a lot of thought and effort into it because I wanted to share how much that channel assisted me in my 21 Jump Street loving and WWF-following childhood. It was also there for my adulthood following of some WWE shows (the important stuff was on Sky Sports by then) but also my enjoyment of the Arrowverse programmes.

Anyway, it was replaced. Everything I used to watch before then, like MacGyver, Magnum PI and SWAT (RIP to all three since 2021), all ended up on Sky Max.

Until today. 

Yep, Sky One is back. 

I surmise the reason why Sky has resurrected Sky One is because HBO Max is launching in the UK marketplace imminently, so it would be somewhat confusing to have a Sky Max channel and a HBO Max streaming platform fighting for eyeballs.

I'm obviously okay with Sky One's return, considering how gutted I was to see it go in 2021. However, it does allow me to once again ask a question I pondered back then. It's even more significant now considering the reversion.

What was the point in the name change?!

Stepping Back On The Nancy Guthrie Story

The Nancy Guthrie 'kidnap' story I wrote about a few weeks ago has, I'm afraid to say, jumped the shark with me.

It has now been over three weeks since Nancy, mother of American TV presenter - Savannah Guthrie - was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona home. 

I've been following as much of the story as possible. I have checked out the coverage from the mainstream media and have also watched a lot more from, I suppose, the underground reporters.

The latter has done an exceptional job. However, I should state that there are some out there with questionable methods of 'reporting the news'. 

My take - after all these weeks of following the story - is this: what a mess.

I keep hoping for a resolution, but there's just so many contradictions being relayed and reported it has made my interest wane significantly.

It's okay for me to do that, though. I'm far away from the scene. I hope those right in the centre of the story don't lose interest like I've done.

I don't intend to completely give up on following the story. I'm simply going to take a step back from being almost all-in by reading and watching as much as I can about this massive story.

With all that said, I hope Nancy is found and those responsible are brought to justice.

Thrill Of Victory / Agony Of Defeat

In early January, I wrote a post in which I mentioned leaving the WildEarth channel on overnight because Oreo likes having the TV on (yes, I know how mad that comes across). I have continued to do that across the previous weeks.

With the preface out of the way, I have a story from today's viewing of the channel.

I was sat on my bed having either my breakfast or putting my shoes on (I cannot recall which!) and looked up at the TV. I noticed they were filming a lake. There was a crocodile head slightly above the water. It was slowly resting along by the waterbed. I didn't think much of it at first. Not until I noticed there was a small bird finding food on the bank.

'Oh,' I thought 'he's going to catch the bird'

I sat there for a few moments hoping the bird would get away before it's prey made the move.

Then...

..out came the croc and then flew the bird.

'Ha, m**herf***er!' I exclaimed as I saw the underdog (underbird?) get away from the favourite.

Not so fast.

The camera panned to the right because it had lost the view of the crocodile. It was chewing. 

'Oh, s**t!' was my response to what I had seen. Or not seen. The camera must have missed a second attempt by the crocodile.

It was a case of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in two fell sweeps.

Here's a photo I was able to take of my TV shortly afterwards. It was after the croc had eaten its catch. 

A few minutes later, it - or another one - was eyeing up another bird along the bank. Then a shadow came alongside them. I surmised it was another croc, but it turned out to be a turtle.  The turtle managed to swim by the croc with ease.

As I wrote back in January, this is such a fascinating channel. To see all this going on live is brilliant. What a great idea. I wish I had things like this to educate me 24/7 (or close enough to 24/7) during my childhood.

Thoughts After Yesterday's Big Boxing News

Professional boxing is a business.

It's written right there on the tin: Professional. 

Still, I found myself stunned at the big story which came out of the sport last night.

Conor Benn has jumped from Matchroom to the new player in the game - Zuffa Boxing - in what is reportedly a one-fight deal that's eight figures deep.

A stunning deal both financially and morally.

You see, Benn had been backed heavily by Matchroom and Eddie Hearn. At Benn's lowest point, Eddie stuck by his fighter when he really could have cut bait. 

But, like I said, that's business.

I'm intrigued to see what becomes of professional boxing now. Zuffa means business.

Here's What Should Be Outside The Bears' Hammond Stadium (If A Move Happens)

It looks like the Chicago Bears could be on their way up the road and set to play home games at a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

Well, that's what's being said. 

The Bears are indeed looking for a new home. I'm under the impression that Illinois is still hopeful to keep the team in its US State. However, Indiana reps have given the thumbs up for a potential Bears move to Hammond, which is relatively close to Illinois.

It's headed for a Mexican standoff. 

Until then, here's how I would like the designs of a Hammond stadium to look.

'Why the leg lamp from A Christmas Story?' I suspect some of you might be wondering. Others could be pondering 'why a leg lamp!?' Well - here's why.

Hammond, Indiana is where Jean Shepherd grew up as a child. Therefore, some of the events in his books and the films that spun off from Shepherd's writing, are set in Hammond.

It would only be fitting for the Hammond stadium to honour the legendary raconteur.

But, that's IF such a move were to happen.

I sense this is a game of chicken between the Bears and Illinois. Time will tell on that one. 

In the meantime, remind the designers the leg lamp is Italian because it has FRAGILE written on its container.

Santa's Secret Flavour Pringles Revealed

Do you remember late last year when Pringles brought out a secret flavour for Christmas? I do. It was the worst Pringles flavour I have ever tasted. Trust me on that, I'm a Pringle connoisseur. 

I wrote about the can shortly after I tasted one of the potato snacks. The post was titled Worst. Pringles. Flavour. Ever' because, in my humble opinion, it was the worst Pringles flavour ever.

Yes - I cannot stop hammering home how much I disliked the taste. It was the worst.

My taste buds sensed a bit of mushroom, so I immediately stopped eating from the tube and handed it to my nephew and other members of my family. I was done. Never to return.

In the post, I speculated that it was 'something mushroomy'.

I can now reveal, because Pringles announced it weeks ago and I'm late to the news, that the flavour was...

Truffle and Butter!

 

I consider 'something mushroomy' to be a very close guess on my part.

Looking up what Santa's Secret Flavour turned out to be was prompted by an email I received from Pringles recently. In the communication, the company behind the potato snack brand  informed me that there's a new promotion in which customers have to guess the flavour. The winner will receive a trip to California.

Once I find a can, I'll pop one open and have a guess. 

I hope it isn't omething mushroomy.

WWE Set To Clash In Italy

World Wrestling Entertainment will host a Clash in Italy show later this year.

The event, scheduled to take place from the Inalpi Arena in Turin on May 31st, is part of a five-country European tour that will see episodes of Raw and Smackdown filmed across Europe.

It will be the fourth WWE Premium Live Event to use the 'Clash' title on the continent.

In 2022, the company held its first Clash at the Castle event in Cardiff's Principality Stadium. That was followed by a second Clash at the Castle in 2024. That one emanated from the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

WWE Clash in Paris occurred last August from France's capital city.

Here are the dates announced for the European tour:

29th May - Barcelona, Spain (WWE Smackdown taping)

31st May - Turin, Italy (WWE Clash in Italy)

1st June - Turin, Italy (WWE Raw taping)

2nd June - Strasbourg, France

3rd June - Lisbon, Portugal

4th June - Madrid, Spain

5th June - Bologna, Italy (WWE Smackdown taping)

6th June - Rome, Italy

7th June - Florence, Italy

8th June - Paris, France (WWE Raw taping)

22nd June - London, England (WWE Raw taping)