UK TV

An archive of blog entries about UK TV programmes and production.

I’m With Stupid being remade for the US

23 October 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

If you worked for a US network and you wanted to remake a sitcom set in a home for the disabled, who would you get? The Farrelly Brothers, of course. So naturally, that’s whom NBC has hired to retool BBC3’s I’m With Stupid.

That’s quite handy since both 30 Rock (which is very good) and 20 Good Years (the second episode of which I only got halfway through, it was so bad) are not doing at all well in the ratings. Perhaps NBC was right to talk about cutting back on its scripted comedy.

News

Sherlock Holmes spin-off coming to BBC1

20 October 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

The Baker Street BoysJonathan Pryce is to star as Sherlock Holmes in a Sunday afternoon drama on the Beeb. However, the show won’t focus on Holmes: instead, it’ll be looking at his Baker Street irregulars, a gang of urchins who helped him find out information.

Good news: It also stars Bill Paterson, Anna Chancellor and Michael Maloney

Bad news: it’s being adapted by Robin Hood co-writers Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle

Sounds to me terribly reminiscent of The Baker Street Boys, an early 80s Beeb drama that Richard Carpenter (Robin of Sherwood‘s creator) and Anthony Read put together. Is there something about Robin Hood that makes people want to write about other gangs from classic fiction?

UK TV

Third-episode verdict: Lead Balloon

19 October 2006 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

Lead Balloon

In the UK: Wednesdays, 10.30pm, BBC4, repeated Thursdays at 2.20am at 9pm. Scheduled to be repeated on BBC2, starting 26th October at 9.30pm. Also available streamed from the BBC web site.

In the US: Not scheduled yes. Might get picked up by BBC America at some point.

Jack Dee’s new sitcom has been picking up so much good word of late – as well as ratings – that it’s getting an immediate repeat on BBC2 following the end of its run on BBC4. It’s certainly good compared to some sitcoms I could mention, but I don’t think it’s quite worth the adulation it’s been getting.

Continue reading “Third-episode verdict: Lead Balloon”

UK Lost viewers: time to get a satellite dish

19 October 2006 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

Sorry guys, but Sky One’s bought the rights to seasons three and four of Lost, I’m afraid. Whoops, Channel 4. Three guesses as to whether it’ll air on Sky Three (available on Freeview) or Sky One/Two (BSkyB only)…

Incidentally, episode three of the third season, which aired last night, is really good, so hang on in there in case you find the first two a bit dull.

And, unrelated to anything in particular, my sister has pointed out to me that all of Sayid’s plans are rubbish and end badly. Plus no matter what happens, whenever anyone asks him his opinion about anything dramatic that has just occurred (eg nuclear warhead detonation, attack of wild buffalos, mysterious smoke signals, etc), he always says “About what?”, as though it’s a complete mystery.

Just thought I’d leave you with that thought.