Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

The Radio Times Christmas and New Year double issue has arrived.

There was a time, years ago when this was a big event, a very big event. For me, it was always about which movies were going to be on TV for the first time. I'm thinking about the days when there was a gap of up to 3 years (longer for some) before a film moved out of the cinema on to the small screen

This meant there was often a period of expectation for weeks no months about whether it would be this year that that gone but not forgotten favourite film would be included in the schedules. In addition for many years there would be well constructed a series of classic films - lots of Humphrey Bogart or Redford and Newman or all Woody Allen's films up to and including Annie Hall.

Exciting times - Nostalgia? - no, it really was better to wait and savour the moment, the big film on the big day.