Line of the Day #DeadParrotSketch

This parrot is no more. It has ceased to be. It’s expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late parrot. It’s a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. If you hadn’t nailed it to the perch, it would be pushing up the daisies. It’s rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-parrot.

The very famous Monty Python quote from John Cleese (in the scene with Michael Palin) who was conned into buying a dead parrot. It was inspired by Palin’s experience with a car salesman “who had an excuse for everything”. You can find the memorable Argument Room sketch here and the oft-referenced Roman achievements here.

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Film Quizzes #MerylStreep

She may have been described as “overrated” by the 45th President of the USA Donald Trump recently, but Meryl Streep has long been considered one of the greatest actors ever. I haven’t done an actor-themed quiz for a while so thought why not do one for of the most versatile and decorated stars in the industry, who has been nominated 19 times for an Oscar, with 3 wins. How many of the films below do you recognise? Do you have a favourite?

 1. (1970s)

 2. (1970s)

 3. (1970s)

 4. (1980s)

 5. (1980s)

 6. (1980s)

 7. (1990s)

 8. (1990s)

 9. (1990s)

 10. (2000s)

 11. (2000s)

 12. (2000s)

 13. (2000s)

 14. (2010+)

 15. (2010+)

Answers below

Line(s) of the Day #NottingHill

William: I live in Notting Hill. You live in Beverly Hills. Everyone in the world knows who you are. My mother has trouble remembering my name.
Anna Scott: I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in the romcom Notting Hill (1999), about a second-hand bookshop owner who falls for a famous Hollywood star after a chance encounter.

Line(s) of the Day #TerryPratchett

Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.

The hugely missed Sir Terry Pratchett (1945 – 2015), author of nearly 100 published works and 85 million sales. The highly prolific English writer was long recognised for his wit and imagination and later, his brave fight against Alzheimer’s.

Line(s) of the Day #MoreThanAFeeling

I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

The opening lines of the hugely popular song More than A Feeling by Boston from their self-titled debut album.  While Boston (1976) was a success (more details here) and the band’s output has sold 75m copies worldwide, you’ll struggle to find a catchier and toe-tapping riff.

Line(s) of the Day #Human

Take a look in the mirror and what do you see?
Do you see it clearer? Or are you deceived?

Taken from the powerhouse single Human by emerging talent Rag ‘n’ Bone Man from his upcoming album Human (2017).

Gr8at: Favourite One-Hit Wonders (okay, 9)

I’ve covered countless artists who have left a huge legacy through their consistently superb and prolific output. But sometimes there are artists who only strike gold once. At least here in the UK. But hey, that’s one more than the rest of us. Before listing mine, I actually thought others could be included. But while they may be best known for one song, artists like Haddaway, Shakespeare’s Sister, Soul Asylum, Vance Joy and Sinead O’ Connor have had chart success with other tracks. Do you have a favourite one hit wonder? Was there an artist you thought would go on to more success?

Line(s) of the Day #NCIS

Anthony DiNozzo: What’s pretty boy mumbling about now?
Timothy McGee: How long can you hold a grudge?
Anthony DiNozzo: He broke my nose!
Timothy McGee: And he dislocated my shoulder, OK.
Anthony DiNozzo: Well you have another shoulder. I only have one nose. And it’s on my face. My face!

Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray in the long-running crime show NCIS (2003 – ). Named for the fictional Naval Criminal Investigation Service, the show is known for its great teamwork, clever deductions and light-hearted office humour.

Line(s) of the Day #ThreeMenInABoat

It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.

Arguably the most famous lines from Three Men in a Boat (1889), the charming book by Jerome K. Jerome. Filled with amusing and irreverent anecdotes, the story tells of three friends (and the fox terrier Montmorency) who decide to take a trip along the River Thames for a fortnight.

Line(s) of the Day #RogueOne #AStarWarsStory

We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope.

Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2017). Set just before A New Hope (1977), the film tells of a heroic mission to destroy the Death Star.