Month: July 2007

Wednesday’s news of pure excitement

25 July 2007 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

Film

British TV

US TV

Tuesday’s minor news

24 July 2007 Rob Buckley 8 Comments

Doctor Who

  • Martha will have a boyfriend when she returns in series four. Which member of the Torchwood cast, I wonder? Tee hee

Film

US TV

  • Bones to solve the mystery of Vanished. Plus Geena Davis won’t replace Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds and Zachary Quinto almost certainly will be Spock in Star Trek XI
  • Sarah Connor Chronicles retakes because of school shooting
  • Replicators back in Stargate: Atlantis
  • Lots of Heroes chat/spoilers from Tim Kring
  • New Amsterdam staff tries to explain why it’s not Angel. There’s a lot of that about
  • HBO renews Big Love
  • David Rapaport to recur in My Name is Earl
  • Rory Cochrane will be Tim Speedle again on CSI: Miami but not in flashback
  • DB Woodside disappointed by Wayne Palmer last season on 24
  • No more pirates on CBS
  • Esai Morales to recur on Jericho

Preview: Pushing Daisies

23 July 2007 Rob Buckley 8 Comments

Pushing Daisies

In the US: Wednesdays, 8/7c, ABC. Starts in the Fall

In the UK: ITV1/ITV2

The French have a lot to answer for. The Napoleonic Wars, Michelin, the croque-monsieur: all are listed in their various crimes against humanity. Also on the list is the concept of the auteur, first proposed in Cahiers du cinéma back in the 50s. In short, it’s the idea that a film should be a reflection of a director’s personal vision.

Zut alors! Between the DoP, editor, visual effects team, producer, actors, production staff and the assembled multitudes for any movie, how can the director be entirely responsible for its look and style?

Nevertheless, there are some auteurs out there: Michael Mann, Darren Aronofsky, et al – all give films a particular, recognisable style.

There are television auteurs, too. Bryan Fuller is one. Responsible (among others) for Dead Like Me, Heroes and Wonderfalls, he’s now come up with another modern fairytale called Pushing Daisies, in which a man is blessed/cursed with the power to bring people back from the dead.

Don’t believe me? Okay, how many heroes of modern TV shows can you name who are pie-makers? Hmm. Okay, you’ve got a point with Richard Griffiths in Pie in the Sky. And that can bring the dead back to life? Ha. Got you there.

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Problems posting, etc

23 July 2007 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Sorry if you’ve had any difficulties viewing articles or commenting on them today – my web host (Data Flame) sucks and I’m considering moving to another one cos they’re nothing but a pain in the bottom. Hopefully, everything’s fine again, now.

Thanks to Toby for letting me know, and if anyone else has problems commenting, email me using the link at the side of the page so I can kick Dataflame around a bit.

Preview: Chuck

23 July 2007 Rob Buckley 8 Comments

Chuck

In the US: Starts September 24th, NBC, 8pm
In the UK: Not yet acquired

There have been many iterations of the “nerd becomes spy” genre over the years: Jake 2.0, Joe 90, Condorman, Spies Like Us and many more. Joining this not-so-elite genre is Chuck, in which a tech support guy accidentally gets thrown into the deep end of international politics, thanks to an email from his former roommate.

Despite this somewhat derivative concept and despite coming from McG, “creative force” behind Charlie’s Angels, Fastlane, Supernatural and Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll, Chuck is actually a surprisingly good action-comedy show with some nicely fashioned characters and a good cast.

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