News

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

News

I pity the fool who doesn’t watch this reality TV show

2 May 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Mr TGood old Mr T has just landed his own reality TV show. Apparently, he’s going to be a ‘Dr Phil’-like self-help guru who’s going to aid everyday people in their daily lives. Car salesman not meeting his quota? Mr T will help sort it out. Fabulous.

Also coming soon is Back to the Grind, in which actors get to do the jobs of the characters that made them famous. Top of the list is Erik Estrada from CHiPS, who’s going to be a California Highway patrolman. Go Poncherello, go!

News

Clash of the Titans remake is on the cards

1 May 2006 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

Clash of the TitansCracking news (or should that be ‘Kraken news’?): Warner Bros wants to remake Clash of the Titans. In case you don’t remember lump-of-wood Harry Hamlin’s first big break, this was a retelling of the classic Greek myth of Perseus and Andromeda, with all the magic of Ray Harryhausen added in for good effect(s).

I’ve fond memories of it, particularly since it was one of the last real stabs at doing Ancient Greece properly before the likes of Xena and Hercules morphed it into some cod-medieval Dungeons and Dragons setting. Plus who can forget the mechanical owl, Pegasus the winged horse and the ever-so-scary Kraken? Or Tim Piggott-Smith wandering around in a skirt?

My big fear is they’re going to do a Tristan & Isolde/A Knight’s Tale and try to make it more ‘contemporary’. Ugh. But who knows? They might do the right thing. I’m not expecting the unexpected (such as doing the whole thing in Ancient Greek, which apparently is something only ITV would be willing to do), and with Troy still lingering in the memory, my hopes aren’t that great. But funnier things have happened…

Events

A Doctor Who weekend for two

30 April 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

David Tennant in some good clothes for onceSpend a weekend in a hotel in Cardiff? Not a totally attractive offer, but not awful: I spent Christmas last year in a hotel in Cardiff and it was actually very nice. All the same, how could a couple of days in a plush hotel in Wales’ capital be made even more attractive?

I know. How about if there was a leaflet available that told you where Doctor Who had been filmed in the city? Grabs you now, doesn’t it?

No?

Okay. How about if there was a blow-up Dalek as well?

Whoops. Disturbing now, isn’t it? It makes the claim, “We’re now seen as a sexy city to visit,” take on a whole new upsetting dimension.

Oh dear. I suspect the Park Plaza hotel is going to have to try harder for this particular cashing-in scheme to work. Perhaps they should talk to Travelodge about innovative ways to drum up trade?

Events

A Doctor Who weekend for two

30 April 2006 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

David Tennant in some good clothes for onceSpend a weekend in a hotel in Cardiff? Not a totally attractive offer, but not awful: I spent Christmas last year in a hotel in Cardiff and it was actually very nice. All the same, how could a couple of days in a plush hotel in Wales’ capital be made even more attractive?

I know. How about if there was a leaflet available that told you where Doctor Who had been filmed in the city? Grabs you now, doesn’t it?

No?

Okay. How about if there was a blow-up Dalek as well?

Whoops. Disturbing now, isn’t it? It makes the claim, “We’re now seen as a sexy city to visit,” take on a whole new upsetting dimension.

Oh dear. I suspect the Park Plaza hotel is going to have to try harder for this particular cashing-in scheme to work. Perhaps they should talk to Travelodge about innovative ways to drum up trade?

News

Marvel at the concept of the William Shatner DVD club

28 April 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

William Shatner, laughing all the way to the bankI’m not making this up. There really is a William Shatner DVD club. Every month you’ll get a DVD selected by William Shatner himself (maybe) as well as a newsletter with Shatner’s reviews of movies. There’s even a chance to vote in weekly polls on Shatner’s best Star Trek performances.

“But what kind of movies will I get if I join Billy’s DVD club?” I hear you ask.

Why, ‘Underground hits no one else has’, of course!

By which, of course, they mean absolute bollocks B-movies that no one with any sense will watch and which probably cost $0.99 in the bargain bin – but to you, discerning sci-fi fan, only $4 by post. Films like Immortel: ‘New York 2095. In a strange pyramid floating in the sky, gods of ancient Egypt are judging Horus…’

The sad thing is, I’m absolutely convinced dozens of sci-fans will join. Twats. At least Shatner can laugh all the way to the bank. Did you know that during the dot.com bubble, he was the highest paid actor in the world? Now he’s doing this and All Bran ads. Weird, huh?