News

Every week day, I let you know what’s happening in the world of television from around the world

Glasgow’s first superhero comes to the Web

17 November 2006 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

Fraser Coull of Silly Wee Films has asked me to mention his upcoming new TV series, Night is Day. Since he’s actually been nice enough to comment on this blog about the crapness of Torchwood, I’m happy to oblige. Says Fraser:

Okay, so “Night is Day” is an internet drama series about Glasgow’s first superhero, and the first 6 episodes (each lasting 10-15 minutes, except for episode 6 which will last 25 minutes), the first episode will be shown on Sky channel Propeller TV at somepoint in the near future. Episode 1 which is completely free to watch, will be made available online on the 25th of November, and each following episode will be released monthly for only £2 each.

Inspired by the likes of “Doctor Who”, “Spider-Man” and “Angel” and not at all like “Torchwood”, you can find out more at http://www.nightisday.moonfruit.com.

There’s a YouTube trailer for the series below and you can also read an interview with the Silly Wee Films people at Channel 4’s IdeasFactory.

Ronald D Moore to write new version of The Thing

17 November 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Battlestar Galactica exec producer Ronald D Moore is to write the script for a new version of The Thing, according to Variety (via SciFi Wire). The classic John Carpenter movie isn’t going to be remade: instead, the new film is to be a ‘companion piece’ to the original (itself a remake of 50s film, The Thing From Another World, which was based on a John W Campbell short story, Who Goes There?).

I have high hopes for it. If there’s one thing RDM has demonstrated in the last three years, it’s that he’s the king of remakes…

Fox – the network of variable taste

17 November 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Good old Fox. It commissions series that are evidently rubbish and keeps them going for years (cf Married with Children). It also commissions really good series that it cancels in mere minutes (cf John Doe, Firefly – I’m told). And sometimes it commissions pure rubbish that it cancels almost instantly (cf most of its output for the last 20 or so years). Which sides of Fox are we seeing in the latest news?

  • ‘Til Death and Standoff have been picked up for full seasons (more or less). Both are awful. Standoff cranked up an impressive four on the Carusometer while I turned off halfway through the last episode of ‘Til Death, which managed to achieve a five, a full Caruso on the Carusometer, it was that bad.
  • Vanished, previously off the air for a couple of weeks but scheduled to return in December, is now going to air only on the InterWeb and has officially been cancelled.
News

Hiro to come to Scrubs as Franklyn

16 November 2006 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

Hiro in HeroesIf you’re a fan of Scrubs, you’ll be pleased to hear that despite the fact Masi Oka is one of the main stars of Heroes, Scrubs‘s producers still want him to appear in the show this season in his regular role of Franklyn. But, if they manage to get him, they’re going to try to ensure he keeps his Heroes super-powers.

Another interesting fact about Masi Oka: he’s actually a full-time programmer for ILM, George Lucas’s graphics house. He wrote some of the software for the effects on Terminator 3. How’s that for multi-talented?

News

Doctor Who Weakest Link rumoured (and confirmed!)

16 November 2006 Rob Buckley 7 Comments

David TennantThe Sun is claiming that David Tennant, Freema Agyeman and various Doctor Who allies and enemies are to appear on a special edition of The Weakest Link. No word if they’re going to be old-series allies and enemies, although if the rumour is true, I’d expect to see Lis Sladen and John Leeson in there at the very least. Who else would you like to see? Do you reckon they can persuade Pipes (by which I mean Billie Piper, rather than the scary, cat-nibbled ghost from Ghostwatch)? And do you reckon they can stop RTD from working his way on?

UPDATE: Scott has been nice enough to point out that filming will be on the 21st November at Pinewood Studios and you can get tickets at the BBC tickets unit. Thanks Scott!

UPDATE 2: Tickets have gone now. Sorry, guys.