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.
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US TV

For Toby: the mysterious disappearing Ali Larter in the Heroes Superbowl commercial

2 February 2009 Rob Buckley 8 Comments

I wasn’t going to do this (honest) but since Toby has tried to spot Ali Larter in the Heroes Superbowl commercial and can’t – because she’s been edited out – let’s play a game of Spot the Larter then. First, count the number of Heroes in the huddle at the start of the promo:

Heroes Huddle

Six blokes, right? Now, let’s have a look at the break after their huddle:

Heroes + Ali

Six blokes and… oh wait, who’s that on the left? Then they head off to play. Six blokes again:

Heroes of the Superbowl

Then there’s a line up: again, who’s that on the far end?*

HeroesLineUp.jpg

They play, Peter throws long and who’s that in the middle of the field, waiting to catch?

Tracy goes long

But someone else gets there first:

Heroes interception

Here’s the behind the scenes interview to show she was there for the filming and you can see some some of the footage she shot for the ad, And here’s the ad so you can watch for yourself. Sigh. People are going to think I’m obsessed… Curse you Tobes.

*PS Can you tell I have no idea about American football or am I bluffing well?

UPDATE: In case you weren’t convinced by that line-up pic, here are two official promo pictures supplied by NBC – look to the top left:

NBC Superbowl pic

And in the middle at the top:

Another NBC Superbowl pic

Audio and radio play reviews

Review: The Companion Chronicles 3×7 – Transit of Venus

2 February 2009 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Transit of VenusIt seems that if you want to listen to a guaranteed decent Companion Chronicle, you have to stick with the Hartnells. Whether it’s because the Hartnell years tended towards greater innovation and harder sci-fi, or whether it’s because the better Big Finish writers prefer it, the quality on the Hartnell releases have tended to be far better than those for other Doctors. Certainly, the very worst of the range is still head and shoulders above most of the rest.

Here, for example, we have The Transit of Venus, read by original Hartnell companion Ian Chesterton (aka William Russell). While not absolutely brilliant, it is a very Hartnellian piece, in which Ian and the Doctor are stuck on board the The Endeavour under the command of Captain Cook as it travels to Australia.

Continue reading “Review: The Companion Chronicles 3×7 – Transit of Venus”

Robin Hood audio books (complete with Richard Armitage)

2 February 2009 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

Gosh, that Big Finish sure does love an audio book range. Not content with the Companion Chronicles and the Stargate audio books, it’s now planning to release Robin Hood audio books, featuring cast members from the TV show. Here’s the press release. I’ve cleaned up some of the typos.

Big Finish is excited to announce a series of six talking books based on the BBC’s hit series Robin Hood. Designed to be hour-long one-voice productions, each story will be read by a member of the original television cast.

The BBC’s adaptation of the Robin Hood legend for its Saturday night drama slot has proven to be massively popular worldwide. With action and adventure galore, the series has revitalised the traditions of the story and opened it up for an entirely new young audience.

In an innovative move, Big Finish’s series of talking books will tie closely into the third year of the show, reflecting the themes, plots and characters of the season as it unfolds. Each story will be available on CD, or as a download from www.bigfinish.com/robin-hood

Four actors from the series have lent their voices to the stories: Jonas Armstrong (Robin Hood); Richard Armitage (Guy of Gisbourne); Sam Troughton (Much) and David Harewood (Tuck) have all provided stunning performances that fans are sure to enjoy.

The first season of Big Finish’s Robin Hood talking books is as follows:

  • The Witchfinders, by Rebecca Levene. Read by Richard Armitage
  • The Tiger’s Tail, by Jonathan Clements. Read by Jonas Armstrong
  • Friendly Fire, by Trevor Baxendale. Read by David Harewood
  • The Dambusters, by Michael Abberton. Read by Sam Troughton
  • The Deer Hunters, by Jonathan Clements. Read by Sam Troughton
  • The Siege, by Simon Guerrier. Read by Richard Armitage

The first release will be available shortly after the first episode of Robin Hood’s third season airs on BBC1, but you can pre-order your copies now from www.bigfinish.com/robin-hood

If you would like to be sent more details when they are available, please send an email to [email protected]

BFI events

BFI offering free David Tennant film to members

2 February 2009 Rob Buckley 7 Comments

David Tennant in Sweetnightgoodheart

No, honestly, I’m not making that headline up. If you’re a member of the BFI, you can now download for free David Tennant in Daniel Zeff’s Sweetnightgoodheart:

Our Valentine to BFI members, this delightfully bittersweet and wry comedy stars Doctor Who’s David Tennant as a less-than-straightforward man trying to split from his hardworking medic girlfriend (Kate Ashfield). Over a candlelit supper, his attempts are misinterpreted as a marriage proposal and the night spins wildly out of control as a host of friends and family descend to wish the happy couple well. Will he find it in his heart to do the right thing?

It’s only nine minutes long and 53MB in iPod format. Ooh, look at that would you, it appears that link is clickable by people other than me. Get it while you can without joining then!

If that stops working (or I’m simply deluded), it’s available for the rest of the month at least so you can sign up to join now and get it; but since previous free downloads are still available, by the looks of it, you’ll probably be able to join at an even later date and still be able to get it. Here’s a clip: