If it's anything like the Basil Brush revival then it will be very bad indeed.

That whole dying after falling off the roof while fixing the TV aerial bit is spooky.

And Sooty was ruined forever when they gave him, Sweep and Soo legs. Legs, godammit, how dare they give them legs! They're puppets, for heaven's sake!

*is led away to quiet place to calm down*

That whole dying after falling off the roof while fixing the TV aerial bit is spooky.

From Wikipedia: Hull died in 1999, at the age of 63, after falling from the roof of his house in East Sussex, while trying to fix his television aerial. He and his son had been watching the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich when the picture lost quality.

That was one of the greatest nights of my life. Because of the game, of course, not the demise of Emu's creator.

I have nooo idea what you guys are talking about, but I've decided to pick England to win the World Cup.

Oh yeah, I remember that final, that was the super dramatic one with two goals in extra time, right, and Steddy Teddy putting in the winner in extra time?

If you thought Big Brother was the nadir of British TV

I dunno, I kinda had a soft spot for that chunky blonde who kept getting naked.

Soft, huh? Weirdo.

OK, I had a hard spot for her. A surging, veiny, fleshy hard spot for her.

*throws cold water in own face*

I need a minute.

Steddy Teddy putting in the winner in extra time?

It was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which led to the creation of a song still sung today at Old Trafford (to the tune of "Skip to my Lou")

Who put the ball in the Germans' net?
Who put the ball in the Germans' net?
Who put the ball in the Germans' net?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer!

(Teddy Sheringham is a hero of mine. He lives just up the road and I often see him around. I have to restrain myself from prostrating myself in front of him.)

That's right, and Teddy put in the equalizer? I remember a totally inconsolable (was it Sammy Kuffour?) Bayern player collapsed in disbelief on the pitch at the end of the day. And weren't Teddy and Ole both subs? Great game.

I loved seeing Carsten Jancker cry.

When does the World Cup thread start?

World Cup?? The Mets are in first place for pete's sake!

It was a wonderful game. The goals were scored in injury time, and when Teddy equalised, everyone thought we were going to extra time, but then, that last corner kick and ... well, it still sends shivers down my spine.

A Yank who knows about football. Hugh Janus, I think I love you.

A Yank who knows about football.

We all know about football. Terry Bradshaw, Barry Sanders, Junior Seau. Brett Farve, like gods to us...

Lets not talk about when the Canajans won the "World" Series (twice, if memory serves).

The funny thing is, the USA USA USA (practice saying it now kids), are a good bet to get to the final. Where they will be beaten by Brazil, but hey.

Oh yeah, how many emus are there in Essex? This is the nadir of Australian TV shown in the UK. Or it would be if, well if Oz TV were a little better. Which it isn't. And if Aussies didn't think that they had to go "home" to make it big. Don't get me started...

Don't get me started...

I won't, Gecko, because I was born in Australia and am, technically, an Aussie. So, yeah, there's at least one emu in Essex.

One of my favorite soccer moments -- okay, two of my favorite soccer moments -- came during (Washington) DC United's 3-1 victory over Newcastle United back in, oh, 2000. There was an English fellow sitting next to me in the RFK Stadium stands, and we chatted about the lineups and our likelihood of seeing Alan Shearer (he came on as a second-half sub). When I sang "my Country 'Tis of Thee" over the English national anthem, and most of our section joined in, his jaw dropped as if he'd never heard it before, and then he got a huge grin on his face as he realized US fans do have their own mock chants. The guy shook my hand after each DC United goal (and hugged me, jumping up and down, after Newcastle's), and I felt that amazing international soccer camaraderie. My proudest moment, however, came after an obnoxious dive by a Nukie player set up a lull in play and a vacuum in the crowd noise, during which my brother yelled, "Hey you! Get up or go back to Foot Locker!"

The crowd roared.

≡ Click to see image ≡

Anarchic Glove Puppet sounds like a great name for a rock band.

One of my favorite soccer moments -- okay, two of my favorite soccer moments -- came during (Washington) DC United's 3-1 victory over Newcastle United back in, oh, 2000.

I already love this story. Any defeat of the Skunks is a win for football.

I have no idea about soccer, but anything involving "putting in the winner" sounds like it could be fun. I'm just sayin'.

That does it. I'm getting my cable reconnected. I cannot believe I had it yanked before the frigging World Cup.

Let me just state right now that I have little interest in either of the sports that call themselves football, and I LOVED ROD HULL'S EMU. The damn thing attacked Johnny Freaking Carson AND Richard Freaking Pryor on the Tonight Show.

The greatest fear is that the second-generation emu handler will water down the act, like Ross Bagdasarian Jr. with Alvin and the Chipmunks (but the Chips were kinda watered-down to start with). And the description of the kid-targeted show seems to make that inevitable. Still, if Emu Jr. comes to America, I want to see him attacking every TV host from Letterman to Oprah to O'Reilly to King to Seacrest (OUT!). Of course, the only ones likely to let him on will be Conan and Craig.