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

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The Wire’s coming back soon: please watch it

18 August 2006 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

The Wire

I know I drone on about The Wire being probably the best TV show ever made rather a lot, but it’s coming back for a fourth season on HBO soon – the 10th September at 10pm to be exact – so I thought I’d commit some more droning into electronic type.

It’s brilliant. Watch it.

Not entirely persuasive, huh?

Okay, here’s someone else explaining why it’s brilliant. A choice quote:

Having devoured all 13 hours even before sitting down with Simon, I can say I have no need of a refund. If anything, I feel like I should be paying more than my HBO subscription rate for this show. It is the best drama in HBO history — all due respect to “The Sopranos” and “Deadwood.” “The Wire” is deeper, tighter and more ambitious — and one of the finest works ever produced for American television.

And here’s Charlie Brooker on last night’s Screen Wipe US special explaining why it’s the best TV show of the last 20 years. Y’all respect his opinion, don’t you?

Over here in the lovely UK, you’ll have to wait for FX to air the fourth season, but it should be arriving by year end. There’s one reason for a Sky subscription, anyway, since FX isn’t on FreeView.

Unfortunately, it’s not repeating any episodes at the moment, which is completely atypical of it. If you want to catch up, Amazon (average customer review: 5 stars) or a similar service is the way to go: you should be able to get a box set of each season for about £25 a whack, or I’m sure a DVD rental service will be able to oblige. It’s really, really worth watching. Promise.

There’s a trailer for the fourth season on HBO’s The Wire site, just in case you don’t believe me.

News

BBC Four’s Spy Season coming soon

18 August 2006 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

BBC Four's Spy Season

God bless you BBC4. Every so often you’ll come up with a cracking idea for a season of programming, like last year’s Ghost Story season. Now we’ve got ‘British Spies Season’.

I can’t seem to find an in-depth listing of what’s in it, but there’s definitely a bit of Spooks, a bit of Smiley (don’t know whether it was Tinker, Tailor or Smiley’s People) and some decent documentaries.

It probably won’t include The Sandbaggers, that being a Yorkshire programme, but I live in hope. I’ll keep you updated as I find out more.

UPDATE: The trailer’s up on the BBC Four site.

News

A reason to watch – or not watch – CSI: New York that has spoiler-ific potential for another US show

15 August 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Claire ForlaniClaire Forlani is joining the cast of CSI: New York next season. She’s always interesting so that might be a good reason to watch the usually rather dull CSI: NY. It might also mean something rather exciting is happening on a completely different show.

On the other hand, Forlani’s casting might put you off watching CSI: NY. She’s intended as a potential love interest for Gary Sinise. Which is a bit icky – she’s 34, he’s 51 – although not overwhelmingly icky. Enough to give me second thoughts about watching, though.

Plus what is it about ‘Mac’ and English women in their early 30s? He was after that Sonya Walger last season.

The fact he’s not suggests something interesting is happening elsewhere.

DO NOT READ ANOTHER WORD IF YOU WANT TO AVOID BIG SPOILERS FOR A US SERIES YOU MIGHT WELL BE WATCHING.

Continue reading “A reason to watch – or not watch – CSI: New York that has spoiler-ific potential for another US show”

David Tennant being poached by Hollywood and ITV?

14 August 2006 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

More from the “please take with a pinch of NaCl” school of journalism: David Tennant might be poached by either Hollywood or ITV, according to Sunday’s People. Plus RTD “wants to take a back seat to develop his own drama projects”, apparently.

I thought ITV had quit doing golden handcuffs deals because they ended up with Robson Green and Ross Kemp doing rubbish in exchange for loads of cash. Plus – and no offence to DT here – why would Hollywood be interested in him right now? The second series of Who doesn’t air in the US until September, and since when has British TV popularity resulted in massive Hollywood deals.

All in all, probably not true. But I thought I’d bring it to your attention.