In the US: Mondays, 9/8c, Fox. Started Sunday 17th January 2010 In the UK: Starts Sunday January 24 2010 on Sky 1/Sky 1 HD
Well, we're eight seasons in and, seriously, what do you expect me to tell you that you don't already know about 24? In this new season/'day', Jack Bauer comes across some epically scary terror plot in typical US intelligence fashion - 24 hours before it's due to happen - he runs around a lot, in real time. He shoots lots of people, usually Muslims (if it's an even numbered season, Europeans if it's an odd-numbered season). He says damn it a lot, and he tortures lots of people, all in the event of necessity. And you end up with a weekly adrenaline addiction.
What? You think they're going to change the formula now? Oh wait, they have, just the teensiest tiniest bit.
In Canada: Thursdays, 9pm, CBC In the US: Acquired by Ion Television In the UK: FX probably
Firstly, as always, don't go to the CBC web site if you want to have any surprises this season. They give the whole game away.
Secondly, where were we? Oh yes. Back at the end of the second season of The Border - Canada's answer to 24 and Spooks in which its immigrations service, ICS, finds itself having to deal with nasty Muslim terrorists, and even worse, Americans - lots of people got blown up and shot. Maybe. We were left in a "Dynasty wedding scenario", waiting to see who survived.
But it's time for the third season so clearly we have to reveal how many cast members can withstand a fusillade of automatic weapons fire at point-blank range with near-zero cover to protect them.
Anyone want to guess if the number is greater than zero?
Pay attention, UK readers: this may be about a Canadian show, but it's going to be on FX (aka "The channel that gets all the good stuff but no one can get and no one watches") in the UK soon, so it affects you now.
The Border is Canada's good TV programme. An atypically conservative take on world affairs, it's a look at terrorism, crime, international relations, spies and other nefarious activities, all set to the backdrop of Canada's Immigration and Customs Security (ICS) agency. It does what 24 and Spooks does - except better and with a smaller cast.
So popular did it prove when it aired during the American writers' strike last January that it was re-commissioned for a second season while it was still airing, and a third one is on its way soon.
But since most of y'all won't be watching it for a while, I'll continue talking about it after the jump - and specifically, the second season finale.
Well, I'm back. Happy New Year and I hope you all had a great holiday/vacation. You may have noticed that I did a little bit of blogging over the Christmas period, although not much, but with current work commitments being what they are, I probably won't have too much time to start blogging properly until Wednesday. Hell, you're probably all going to be too sleepy until then anyway.
Coming on Wednesday I'll probably have at least mini-reviews of Gavin & Stacey, The 39 Steps and The Next Doctor to put up by then, as well as possibly of the first episode of absolute drek-fest (allegedly) Demons, Jonathan Creek and maybe Above Suspicion and Crooked House, with potentially even a season finale of The Border to muse over. Or I might not. And assuming I can get my arse down the gym enough, there should be some more Big Finishes to mull over as well – although there may never be enough time in the day to listen to those wretched stage play adaptations.
Reader survey results Not so many responses in the reader survey this year and most of what was said was "keep up the (good) work", so I'm assuming everything's sunny and rosy here and not much needs to change. Okey doke. Either that or you've all buggered off somewhere and I'm talking to myself again. Ho hum.
However, 12.5% of all respondents – clearly all with exquisite taste – requested more pictures of Ali Larter – okey doke again. Happy to oblige.
Jane Henry suggested we have a new feature on Richard Armitage. Now, I really can't be arsed to go ferreting for Richard Armitage pictures, so I'd need a blog quorum (ie two other people) to back her up on that and promise to faithfully look for Richard Armitage pictures.
On the other hand, for the sake of symmetry, if we're to have a male equivalent of Random Ali Larter Pictures (or maybe I should retitle that Random Acts of Ali Larter?), it should probably be a US/Canadian actor who gets a look in this time. Any suggestions? I'll need a quorum.
Today's questions
What was the most depressing thing you saw or heard on television over the Christmas period? Mine was hearing the Big Brother theme tune and thinking to myself, "Oh surely not." You?
Lastly, and hopefully I won't need to do too much prompting, anyone got any pictures of David Tennant sitting down or in a reclining position?
Not so long ago, there was a writers' strike in the US. Faced with the unthinkable prospect of watching British television, I decided to have a look at some of the programmes available from other countries - in particular, Canada. CBC's The Border was one such programme and to my incredible surprise, it turned out not just to be a good programme "by Canadian standards"* but a good programme, full stop.
Seemingly intended not just to demonstrate that Canadians easily have what it takes to make good TV but to show that they're not all the liberals stereotypes would have us believe, The Border is a cross between Spooks and 24, right down to the shaky cam, with Canada's heroic Immigration and Customs Service (ICS) defending the country against all kinds of threats - all of which seem to be American or Muslim.
Although by no means the best action-thriller series ever made, it was reasonably clever, albeit a touch low budget, and didn't dumb itself down like Flashpoint did to attract an international audience. The inter-departmental conflict with Canada's CSIS - the country's equivalent of MI6 and the CIA - was interesting, even if it was cast in strictly black and white terms, with CSIS boss John Bennett (Forever Knight) almost twirling a moustache during every appearance. And the usual conclusions to stories were a touch, ahem, Canadian, with the villains either misunderstood or American.
But now it's back after just six month's absence - it was that popular - and changes are afoot.
Remember the writers' strike in the US? It seems so long ago now, yet it really did happen, honest. While curtailing the runs of many existing shows was its most obvious side-effect, it also killed off more than a few pilots, and stopped shows that were going to kick off in the Summer season.
While most US networks responded by commissioning easy-to-make reality TV shows to fill the gaps, some chose to think the unthinkable. CBS, as well as re-purposing Dexter for mainstream audiences, decided to look to other countries for some primetime programming.
Canada was the main port of call. That shouldn't be surprising as Canadian TV has come on in leaps and bounds of late. The Border might have been a natural choice as an import, given it's 24-esque qualities, and indeed some cable channels did look at it for a while. But the fact all Canada's ills turned out to be caused by Americans (and Muslims) put them off.
Now comes something more surprising: Flashpoint. It's set in Toronto, features Canadian actors playing Canadians and it's a co-production between CBS and Canada's CTV that's simulcast on both sides of the border - the first such show since Due South in 1994.
NBC have been difficult this year. They've messed around with the whole concept of upfronts, which isn't helpful. They also haven't really got round to filming any proper pilots, which isn't helpful either.
All the same, they have given us some info about what shows they are going to make as well as a single solitary, slightly weak video to back it up. Let's look at the highlights - including Knight Rider, Top Gear, a remake of Kath and Kim, Sean Bean in Crusoe and Christian Slater trying to be Jason Bourne - and that poor lonely little vid.
Cast lined up for The Man of Your Dreams comedy pilot
After my appeal to the relevant authorities, NBC is likely to pick up Canada's The Listener, while other networks are looking at The Border and Sophie (why?)
About the blog
This is a UK media blog with daily news, views, exclusive reviews and good conversation. There's a bit of a bias towards the latest and greatest US TV, but we also cover British TV ranging from new Doctor Who to old Z Cars, Property Ladder to Big Brother, and BBC4 to S4C – yes, this blog is firmly part of the conspiracy to promote all things Welsh where possible, particularly Caerdydd.
Add in film, theatre, art, books, events and media journalism and you've (hopefully) got one of the best places on the web for media lovers. Oh yes, and there's The Carusometer, the ultimate guide to quality TV.
About me
I'm Rob Buckley, a freelance journalist who writes for UK media magazines that most people have never heard of. I've edited Dreamwatch, Sprocket and Cambridge Film Festival Daily; been technical editor for trade magazine Televisual; reviewed films for the short-lived newspaper Cambridge Insider; written features for the even shorter-lived newspaper Soho Independent; and contributed sarcastic articles about television to the blink-and-you-missed-it "web site for urban hedonists" The Tribe. I'm freelance now and have contributed to the likes of Broadcast, Total Content + Media, Action TV, Off The Telly and TV Scoop. Have pity on me.
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