Month: July 2010

UK TV

Review: Sherlock 1×1

28 July 2010 Rob Buckley 14 Comments

In the UK: Sundays, 9pm, BBC1/BBC1 HD

Sherlock Holmes is one of those classic characters who gets revived with incredible regularity. You can’t go for more than five years without yet another Sherlock Holmes remake. Sometimes, he gets revived in Victorian times (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes), sometimes he’s Victorian and gets transplanted to modern times (Sherlock Holmes Returns), sometimes you get a modern day version of him but in another genre (House) and sometimes you just get him in modern times.

Steven Moffat, showrunner of Doctor Who, has also given in to this latter temptation with Sherlock. This sees Benedict Cumberbatch as modern day consulting detective Sherlock Holmes meeting Afghanistan war hero Dr John Watson in 2010, and running around modern day London, solving crimes in his usual ways – but also texting a lot.

When asked what the difference between Sherlock and Doctor Who was, our Stevie said “Sherlock‘s on an hour later” – and that’s about right.

Continue reading “Review: Sherlock 1×1”

Wednesday’s “the government taketh away, the government giveth?” news

28 July 2010 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Film

Technology

  • TiVo to be included in next Apple TV?

British TV

US TV

Competitions

Competition time: win a Covert Affairs gift bag

27 July 2010 Rob Buckley 9 Comments

Covert Affairs prize pack

It’s competition time for US and Canadian readers of the blog once again, thanks to those nice people over at USA Network. This time, it’s a Covert Affairs competition and they’ve offering one lucky reader the chance to win a gift bag.

In case you’ve not yet caught Covert Affairs, it’s about the CIA’s latest recruit, Piper Perabo, and her attempts to have a normal private life while getting to grips with her new secret agent day job. I previewed the show a while back, but here’s a couple of YouTube trailers as well:

Either way, Piper Perabo’s pretty ace, so you should be watching it on those grounds alone.

What’s in the Covert Affairs gift bag?

  • Tumi maps set
  • Hard cover Spy book
  • Covert Affairs Hat
  • Covert Affairs T-Shirt

That’s not bad, huh?

First, stuff that USA Network would like me to point out:

USA Network has your Tuesdays covered with the best looking night on television with the new hit series Covert Affairs at 10pm. COVERT AFFAIRS stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher , Kari Matchett, Anne Dudek and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Visit the official Covert Affairs website for games, photos and weekly prizes. Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

Second, the terms and conditions:

  • Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only
  • Entrants must be at least 18 yrs of age
  • The prize pack is valued at $150 and is provided by USA Network.

Third, how do you win the gift bag? Simply leave a comment below before Wednesday 4th August – don’t forget your email address or else I won’t be able to contact you if you win. Using the power of the Internet random number generator, a winner will be randomly determined and announced on the blog on the 5th August and I’ll get in touch with the person who won to find out where to send it to.

Remember: you’ve got to be in it to win it!

September 2010 at the BFI

27 July 2010 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

It’s September so if you thought there was an absence of TV in August at the BFI South Bank, prepare to be staggered by the one event this month:

  • 5th: Merlin + Q&A
    Episodes 1 and 2 of series three, together with cast and crew for a panel discussion and Q&A. There’ll also be a Funday workshop in the foyer

Champions’ priority booking by phone: 11.30am August 2
Members’ priority booking opens: 11.30am August 3
Public booking opens: 11.30am August 10

Prices
£7.60 (members)
£5.25 (member concs)
£9.00 (non-members)
£6.65 (non-members concs)
Under 16s £5.

All shows are £5 on Tuesdays. Conc prices are available to senior citizens, students, unwaged and disability visitors. Proof of eligibility may be required.

As always, visit the BFI web site for more details.