Articles by Rob Buckley

About Rob Buckley
I’m Rob Buckley, a journalist who writes for UK media magazines that most people have never heard of although you might have heard me on the podcast Lockdown Land or Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Edition or Afternoon Edition. I’ve edited Dreamwatch, Sprocket and Cambridge Film Festival Daily; been technical editor for TV producers magazine Televisual; reviewed films for the short-lived newspaper Cambridge Insider; written features for the even shorter-lived newspaper Soho Independent; and was regularly sarcastic about television on the blink-and-you-missed-it “web site for urban hedonists” The Tribe. Since going freelance, I've contributed to the likes of Broadcast, Total Content + Media, Action TV, Off The Telly, Action Network, TV Scoop and The Custard TV.
Website YouTube LinkedIn

What have you been watching this week (w/e August 28)?

28 August 2009 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

Tele: seen much this week or has it all been a bit too rubbish?

This week, I’ve caught the first two eps of the new season of Mad Men – I won’t bother with a full review, only to say it’s better than the second season so far, which is an indicator of how good it is.

Leverage was pretty good this week, with the advent of a mirror-image team of grifters to fight against. Maybe a little less comedic than usual and a little bit more serious at times, but still good viewing. I’m also watching the Wallanders at a snail’s pace, but The African was really very good – clearly they get better as time goes on.

Otherwise, that’s it, since I’ve still got to catch up with 10 Things I Hate About You, Psych and Dark Blue. Oh yes, and I’ve been introducing my mother-in-law to The Wire. She’s loving it.

Don’t forget the new series of The Fixer starts on the 1st September on ITV1.

As always, no spoilers unless you’re going to use the <spoiler> </spoiler> tags, please

US TV

Season finale: Royal Pains

28 August 2009 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Royal Pains finale

Of all the shows arriving on our screens over summer, the surprise big hit has been Royal Pains. A charming comedy-drama about a New York ER doctor who ends up working as a ‘concierge doctor’ to the rich of the nearby Hamptons, it’s as languid as a Long Island iced tea, with no big pyrotechnics, no screaming melodramas, only MacGyver-esque medical procedures and reasonable people having relatively normal relationships – against the general insanity experienced by the rich.

While it hasn’t avoided the occasional escape from reality and House-ian "bizarre diseases of the week" to diagnose, it has remained whimsical fun with a compelling cast throughout. With a second season now assured and with so many sub-plots coming to a head, a cliffhanger ending was inevitable. What was surprising is that the creator of Charmed and the show’s exec producer Constance M Burge managed to avoid Wiccans for a whole season – until now.

Continue reading “Season finale: Royal Pains”

October at the BFI

28 August 2009 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Time for our regular look at what TV’s on at the South Bank in London in October. Not a lot at all this month, but a couple of things at least, including a day looking at future trends in TV production.

  • 2nd: 360° TV and multi-platform production
    A panel of commissioners and new media producers discuss the process of 360° commissioning, its impact on programme genres and what the future holds.
  • 2nd: Online-only TV and the democratisation of TV production
    Using clips of shows created specifically for online consumption, this will examine how companies such as Current TV, Bebo and YouTube are showcasing the work of the public.
  • 4th: Preview: Murderland + Q&A
    A showing of episode 1 of ITV1’s three-part Rashomon-esque Murderland, starring Robbie Coltrane. Followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with writer David Pirie, director Catherine Morshead, producer Kate Croft and members of the cast.

Champions’ priority booking (I have no idea what that is) by phone: August 31
Members’ priority booking opens: 11.30am September 1
Public booking opens: 11.30am September 8

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