US TV

An archive of articles about US television programmes and production.

News

Wednesday’s “Gov” news

21 May 2008 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

The cast of Gavin & Stacey, including Joanna Page, in Rob Brydon's Identity Crisis

Film

British TV

US TV

  • Harper’s Island to undergo near-total recasting
  • Casting: Judy Greer for Suburban Shootout, Teri Polo for Finnegan
  • More casting: Craig Horner and Bridget Regan for Wizard’s First Rule
  • Burn Notice creator signs deal, works on law enforcement action-comedy
  • USA Network greenlights pilots of White Collar and Royal Pains

New 90210 spin-off trailer

20 May 2008 Rob Buckley Post a comment

As Cindylover pointed out, I neglected the new 90210 spin-off in my round-up of the new The CW shows. True, I’d forgotten, but I also didn’t have much to work with.

Now though, we have a trailer. No footage, but interviews with the cast. I have to say, I threw up a bit in my mouth when I saw it, but your reaction might be different.

Tuesday’s “Primeval documentary” news

20 May 2008 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Doctor Who

Film

British TV

  • ITV3 to run a Primeval weekend in June, complete with behind-the-scenes documentary written and directed by Andrew Lee Potts [free registration required]
  • E4 to be the focus of Channel 4’s US acquisitions

US TV

US TV

The Wire: just how realistic is it?

19 May 2008 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Baltimore police

It’s one of those age-old dilemmas: gritty crime drama depicting something few, if any of us, have experienced – is it realistic? The Wire has a deserved reputation as being one of the most realistic shows on TV, primarily because its creators, David Simon and Ed Burns, have been there and done that. Simon was a crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun while Burns was a cop and a teacher in Baltimore.

But as we learnt from the last series, times change. Both of The Wire‘s creators’ experience was gleaned during the 80s and 90s and times move on. As a result, even the depiction of The Baltimore Sun was slightly archaic compared to where it is now. A modern newspaper without rolling Internet deadlines? Really? And indeed, the whole of the first series, in which the drug dealers used pagers, was a throwback to an investigation from the 80s that Simon had covered.

Anyway, it turns out Baltimore isn’t as much of a hellhole as it’s depicted – at least, not any more. Does that reduce the value and impact of The Wire? Or is it still as valid and powerful as ever?

The Japanese Office

19 May 2008 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

From Saturday Night Live in the US, Ricky Gervais ‘amusingly’ introduces the supposed original Japanese version of The Office – featuring the cast of the US version of The Office. (Thanks to Toby for letting me know!)