Month: November 2009

Competitions

Preview: Misfits 1×1

9 November 2009 Rob Buckley 17 Comments

Misfits

In the UK: Thursdays, 10pm, E4. Starts November 12

Stick around lads and lasses because this is a very special preview. Not only is there going to be a competition at the end of this, there’s also going to be the very first “not great quality” The Medium is Not Enough podcast involving me (and my not very dulcet tones), some other journalists and the creator of E4’s Misfits Howard Overman.

Anyway, there are two things British TV traditionally does very badly. One is youth shows. Usually, they’re embarrassing – witness more or less anything on BBC1, BBC2 and, ironically enough, especially BBC3 that’s aimed at “young people”. Okay, there’s E4’s Skins, but that’s a rare diamond in the rough of British TV.

The second is superhero shows. No Heroics, Phoo Action, My Hero: oh dear, oh dear, and can I just add, oh dear?

What’s this though? Light at the end of the tunnel?

Now, from E4, comes Misfits, in which ASBO kids on community service get struck by lightning and end up with super powers. It’s funny, clever and far more adult than a whole load of shows I could mention. Trailers now, review, competition and podcast after the jump.

Continue reading “Preview: Misfits 1×1”

Monday’s ITV period drama news

9 November 2009 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Awards

Film

Theatre

  • Jonathan Pryce to star in The Caretaker when it transfers to West End

British TV

  • ITV1 to adapt Philippa Gregory’s The Little House
  • Alan Plater to write one-off period drama for ITV1
  • ITV greenlights WW2 drama Joe Maddison’s War
  • STV sues ITV but will bring back Taggart anyway
  • Gavin & Stacey series three press pack – including episode synopses! [spoilers]
  • The line up for Idris Elba’s Luther, including Paul McGann and Indira Varma

US TV

Sitting Tennant

Friday’s Sitting Tennant (from Karen): Learners

6 November 2009 Rob Buckley 11 Comments

Karen's Sitting Tennant

Our Doctor, who ain’t in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on blogs as it is in TARDIS. Give us this day our daily Tennant…

Thanks to Karen, God’s will has been done. It’s from Learners. She gets three points. Thank her, then caption.

  1. Rullsenberg: 63.5
  2. Sister Chastity: 60.5
  3. Jaradel: 35.5
  4. Karen: 13
  5. Toby: 8
  6. Amy, Lauren, Sabine: 4
  7. Rosby: 2.5
  8. Persephone: 1

Once again, Electric Dragon has ironically been cooking with gas, because he wins last week’s caption competition. Good luck this week everyone!

  1. Toby: 196.5
  2. Marie: 192.5
  3. Rullsenberg: 152
  4. Electric Dragon: 86
  5. Jane Henry: 75.5
  6. Persephone: 45.5
  7. Jaradel: 38.5
  8. Rev/Views: 25
  9. Joe, Sister Chastity: 20
  10. Scott 2: 14
  11. George: 10
  12. ecg: 5
  13. Scott: 3
  14. Aaron: 2
  15. almostwitty.com: 1
  16. Stu_N: 1

Got a picture of David Tennant sitting, lying down or in some indeterminate state in between? Then leave a link to it below or email me and if it’s judged suitable, it will appear in the “Sitting Tennant” gallery.

Every photo displayed on Monday (one per person who sends one in) gets a point, with a bonus point if it’s from the latest DT production; the best pic in the stash each week will appear on Friday and get three points.

You can also enter the witty and amusing captions league table by commenting on Friday’s Sitting Tennant photo, the best caption getting 10 points, everyone who contributes getting five points.

US TV

Review: Battlestar Galactica – The Plan

6 November 2009 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Battlestar Galactica

In the US/UK: Sometime in 2010
Available from Amazon.co.uk on BluRay import

The Cylons were created by man. They evolved. They rebelled. They look and feel human. Some are programmed to think they are human. There are many copies. And they have a plan.

Unfortunately for them, it’s rubbish, and they can’t make up their minds about what to do. At least, that’s what Battlestar Galactica: The Plan appears to suggest. A final “milk it for all it’s worth” effort before it becomes impossible to get the actors in the same place, it’s more like a director’s commentary than a worthwhile addition to a TV classic’s range.

Continue reading “Review: Battlestar Galactica – The Plan”

What have you been watching this week (w/e November 6)

6 November 2009 Rob Buckley 9 Comments

I really should take notes, because I keep forgetting things. It didn’t help that our block of flats lost all TV reception for the weekend, which really knackered my attempts to watch the Francis Bacon evening on BBC4:

  • Mad Men – Finally caught up. All brilliant of course
  • Community – Another doozey. Will you ever look at Batman the same?
  • 30 Rock – interesting, but not very funny
  • Dexter – a really fine episode. I’m surprised it took the police and Dexter so long to work out Trinity’s MO, but great all round
  • Stargate Universe – still liking it. Nice touch to have them kill the helpful alien, and for the Stargate to take them to such a rubbish planet
  • The Thick of It – still not enjoying it as much as previous series, but at least Malcolm’s a bit swearier this episode
  • The Border – this is what I mean. Completely forget I’ve been watching this. Definite pick-up in quality this week since we had an actual firefight and Grey finally showed that he’s not a complete nancy. Bit of a pat resolution though
  • Being Erica – haven’t watched this week’s
  • Cougar Town – really starting to enjoy. The characters are now starting to show some depth
  • Modern Family – the cool dad is really starting to get annoying now, but every other character is great
  • The Sarah Jane Adventures – caught up with the wedding from last week, and it nearly bought tears to my little eyes. Obvious nods to Sapphire and Steel story six, too, which always warrants praise
  • CSI: Nothing desperately exciting going on here, but the characters are starting to come together again
  • Heroes – already reviewed but I forgot to mention the Quantum Leap shout out.
  • Supernatural – great joke about the clap, quite an enjoyable story, but nothing desperately radical. Will be watching last night’s episode in a bit

What have you been watching though?

As always, no spoilers unless you’re going to use the <spoiler> </spoiler> tags, please. If you’ve reviewed something on your blog, you can put a link to it here rather than repeat yourself (although too many links and you might get killed by the spam filter).