US TV

An archive of articles about US television programmes and production.

US TV

Preview: Bionic Woman

26 July 2007 Rob Buckley 10 Comments

Katee Sackoff in Bionic Woman

In the US: Wednesdays, 9pm/8c, NBC. Starts September 26th.
In the UK: Acquired by ITV2

Battlestar Galactica is everyone’s favourite current example of adult science-fiction. It has two exec producers: the highly visible, highly involved Ronald Moore; and the not very visible, not very involved David Eick. Many people have wondered exactly what parts David Eick is responsible for in producing this top show.

Judging by this pilot for NBC’s remake of The Bionic Woman, he’s responsible for all the crap bits.

Now, it’s worth remembering that the pilot is already being extensively retooled, with recasting, rewriting and more happening behind the scenes to bring the programme up to scratch. But it’s going to take a lot of work to remove the clunky dialogue, poor characterisation and tedious pseudo-feminist sub-text.

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Thursday’s news aka the news that is Thursday’s

26 July 2007 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Doctor Who

Film

  • Yes, Greg Grunberg will be in JJ Abrams’ secret movie
  • Guy Ritchie to direct a movie based on his own comic
  • How many Blade Runners do you want? Well, there’s five on this DVD set

Commercials

  • Morph shows us how to be green [QuickTime required]

British TV

US TV

Wednesday’s news of pure excitement

25 July 2007 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

Film

British TV

US TV

Tuesday’s minor news

24 July 2007 Rob Buckley 8 Comments

Doctor Who

  • Martha will have a boyfriend when she returns in series four. Which member of the Torchwood cast, I wonder? Tee hee

Film

US TV

  • Bones to solve the mystery of Vanished. Plus Geena Davis won’t replace Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds and Zachary Quinto almost certainly will be Spock in Star Trek XI
  • Sarah Connor Chronicles retakes because of school shooting
  • Replicators back in Stargate: Atlantis
  • Lots of Heroes chat/spoilers from Tim Kring
  • New Amsterdam staff tries to explain why it’s not Angel. There’s a lot of that about
  • HBO renews Big Love
  • David Rapaport to recur in My Name is Earl
  • Rory Cochrane will be Tim Speedle again on CSI: Miami but not in flashback
  • DB Woodside disappointed by Wayne Palmer last season on 24
  • No more pirates on CBS
  • Esai Morales to recur on Jericho

Preview: Pushing Daisies

23 July 2007 Rob Buckley 8 Comments

Pushing Daisies

In the US: Wednesdays, 8/7c, ABC. Starts in the Fall

In the UK: ITV1/ITV2

The French have a lot to answer for. The Napoleonic Wars, Michelin, the croque-monsieur: all are listed in their various crimes against humanity. Also on the list is the concept of the auteur, first proposed in Cahiers du cinéma back in the 50s. In short, it’s the idea that a film should be a reflection of a director’s personal vision.

Zut alors! Between the DoP, editor, visual effects team, producer, actors, production staff and the assembled multitudes for any movie, how can the director be entirely responsible for its look and style?

Nevertheless, there are some auteurs out there: Michael Mann, Darren Aronofsky, et al – all give films a particular, recognisable style.

There are television auteurs, too. Bryan Fuller is one. Responsible (among others) for Dead Like Me, Heroes and Wonderfalls, he’s now come up with another modern fairytale called Pushing Daisies, in which a man is blessed/cursed with the power to bring people back from the dead.

Don’t believe me? Okay, how many heroes of modern TV shows can you name who are pie-makers? Hmm. Okay, you’ve got a point with Richard Griffiths in Pie in the Sky. And that can bring the dead back to life? Ha. Got you there.

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