US TV

An archive of articles about US television programmes and production.

News

The Office meets The Office

11 July 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

2offbkn05 There’s an odd sort of meeting being planned at The Office. This one involves The Office. Confusing, huh?

Let me explain. The makers of the US version of The Office, which stars Steve Carrell from The Daily Show and The 40 Year Old Virgin, have a special episode planned for next season that will feature cameos by some of the cast of the British original.

In an interview with the New York Post, US executive producer Ben Silverman is quoted as saying: “Expect some cameos from the UK paper company. There’s a lot of love between the casts and crews of the two versions of the show.”

No word on which cast members will appear, although Ricky Gervais is unlikely to be one of them. He is, however, writing an episode for the US series, of which he is an exec producer.

Star Trek with new effects

11 July 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Ever wondered what the original series of Star Trek might have looked like if they’d access to modern graphics technology? Wonder no more because someone’s had a go at fixing up the episode The Doomsday Machine with proper CGI. See what you think. Personally, I preferred it with 1960s technology but your mileage may vary.

Events

Event review: Andromeda at the NFT

11 July 2006 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

Julie Christie as Andromeda

Event: Andromeda at the NFT

Date: 10th July 2006

Host: Richard Hollis

Guests: Peter Halliday, Michael Hayes

Series summary: British scientists pick up a message from the Andromeda galaxy. After decoding it, they find it contains instructions on how to build a computer. They build it and after an accident that kills a lab worker, the computer creates a new life form in her image, which the scientists call Andromeda.

Episode summary: Episode six, The Face of the Tiger, sees the computer become ever more valuable to the government after it develops anti-ballistic missile technology. The computer, however, is starting to assert its own agenda through Andromeda, who is becomingly increasingly human.

Continue reading “Event review: Andromeda at the NFT”

Preview: Hidden Palms

7 July 2006 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

Hidden Palms

INT. OFFICE – DAY

We are in the office of a PRODUCER. He’s in his late twenties and full of coke and gym-induced energy. It’s sunny outside – it’s LA after all – but there’s the faint sound of a breeze. As the producer happily plays with his A-Team action figures, we slowly realise that the breeze is actually a whistling noise coming from between his ears.

There is a knock at the door.

PRODUCER

Come!

He giggles. He said come. That one always cracks him up. He returns to playing with Mr T.

Enter JUNIOR WRITER excitedly. Junior Writer is even younger than the Producer, Harvard-educated and has wanted to work in television his whole life. He hasn’t been paid in two years, even though his internship only lasted six months. But that’s all right: his trust fund is extensive.

The notepaper he carries in his hand contains The Idea.

JUNIOR WRITER

I have it! I have an idea for a new show.

Producer looks up. There’s only a slight glassiness to his eye from the coke. Slowly, he realises what this means.

Continue reading “Preview: Hidden Palms”