I’m away on holiday next week – Swansea, in case you’re curious – so no blogging for me, unless I somehow fail to beat my workaholism. Hopefully, I’ll be back on September 18th. Until then, have fun and I hope you find some good tele to watch!
Year: 2006
US TV
Review: ‘Til Death
In the US: Fox, Thursdays 8/7c
In the UK: Not yet picked up. Paramount or Five will probably grab it though
Watching Everybody Loves Raymond is mandatory in our house. It’s not my choice. My wife feels sorry for Ray’s wife. So there you go.
In the deep misery that is the average episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, I find Brad Garrett to be the only beacon of light to keep me going.
ELR is over now, and Garrett has moved on to ‘Til Death, an average new comedy from Fox, this time featuring two wives with rubbish husbands.
I get the feeling a new mandatory show is looming on the horizon.
US TV
Review: Happy Hour
In the US: Thursdays, 8.30/7.30c, Fox
In the UK: Living TV from early 2007
Ah, yes, a searing drama, looking at the dark side of relationships and the human condition as men and women plunge into depressions, misery and self-destruction caused by the terrible emptiness of existence.
What? This was supposed to be funny?
Russell T Davies will be staying on for another series of Doctor Who
More larks from Doctor Who Magazine. This time, RTD confirms he – and everyone else on the production side – will be back for a fourth series, should it be commissioned. Oh, like there are going to be any problems getting that to happen:
“We’re planning for Series Four right now,” Executive Producer Russell T Davies tells Doctor Who Magazine, “as we’re waiting to be commissioned, and the signs are very good.”
“I will stay for Series Four,” he confirms. “I think we all will – Julie [Gardner, executive producer], Phil [Collinson, producer], and I would absolutely love to do it, so we’re waiting for the nod, and we’re fairly confident that it will come. The BBC is so supportive, and they’re delighted with the ratings – not just the ratings, cos they’re not that ratings-conscious, but also the profile, and the energy of the show. They love it.
”So yes, we’re making plans for Series Four. If we waited until they commissioned it, and I don’t know when that’ll be announced, we’d be behind already. Phil and I drove up to Manchester the other day, and we added together all of our ideas for Series Four in the space of that car journey… and we had nine episodes already! Of course, some of them will change, but it’s already gathering shape…!“
Apparently, there’s also going to be news about the eighth Doctor in the issue, on sale on Thursday. Ooh!
US TV
Review: Standoff
In the US: Tuesdays 9/8c, Fox
In the UK: Sky One from November
I’ve been busy this week, so I haven’t had time to review things as quickly as I’d have liked. Sorry. So we’re cramming a few reviews in today, starting with Standoff, which aired on Tuesday.
Not that there’s a load of good reasons to rush this one out, because despite the presence of the always wonderful Ron Livingston (Sex and the City, Office Space) and Gina Torres at the top of the cast list, this show is a bit of a dud.
Standoff, you see, has a double meaning. As well as being a drama about hostage negotiators, it’s also about negotiation within relationships. Oh, as they say, dear.