US TV

An archive of articles about US television programmes and production.

Au service de la France
Streaming TV

What have you been watching? Including Au service de la France, Dead Lucky, Stargate: Origins and You Are Wanted

24 August 2018 Rob Buckley 21 Comments

It’s “What have you been watching?”, your chance to recommend to fellow TMINE readers anything you’ve been watching this week/month

I’m calling it – summer season is dead. It has ceased to be. It is an ex-season.

Before TMINE went away on its holidays, I pointed out how quiet July had been worldwide, but while I was away, the number of new shows has been small. Very small. Castle Rock (US: Hulu) and Dead Lucky (Australia: ABC) were released and Netflix gave us Insatiable, but that was basically it.

Sure, there have been returning shows, but new shows haven’t had a look-in and a lot of shows that used to air over July and August have postponed their returns until the end of the month or September. That even includes the final season of The Lost Ship, which was filmed a year ago, so production concerns clearly weren’t stopping it from being aired in its usual slot.

I’m guessing that ratings haven’t held up for any TV shows. Probably because everyone’s been on holiday. Or maybe it’s because of my fearsome “if it starts in August, I won’t review it rule.” That’s probably it, isn’t it? Still, it does make my life easier.

Thankfully, new shows have already started coming online. Netflix has this very day given us Ghoul, The Innocents and Deadwind, while Amazon has woken up again and is giving us Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan next week. I’ll try to watch some, if not all of them, and give you at least one Boxset next week. After that, I’ll be struggling to catch up with the release schedule, with new Iron Fist coming, The Last Ship back, and season two of Ozark due on 31st.

In the meantime, I’ve been continuing with the usual viewing queue, although that’s now down to just Shooter, given Condor and Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger finished their runs while I was on holiday. All of them I’ll discuss after the jump.

I also scoured around for new shows to watch, as well. Of the shows I mentioned last time, I could never quite bring myself to watch the rest of Jongo but I made a brave stab at the properly subtitled second season of You Are Wanted. I also managed to catch the movie version of Stargate: Origins, and started a new French show: Au service de la France (A Very Secret Service). But we can talk about all of those after the jump.

Continue reading “What have you been watching? Including Au service de la France, Dead Lucky, Stargate: Origins and You Are Wanted”

Killing Eve
BAFTA events

What TV’s on at BAFTA in September 2018? Including Killing Eve, A Discovery of Witches, Outsiders and No Offence

20 August 2018 Rob Buckley 9 Comments

Every so often, TMINE flags up what new TV events BAFTA is holding around the UK

BAFTA’s got some interesting TV lined up for September, including previews of Killing Eve (all the episodes of which I’ve reviewed elsewhere on the blog if you do a quick search, but here’s the TMINE verdict), A Discovery of Witches, Outsiders and the third series of No Offence. Here’s what you can still buy tickets for, though (sorry – holidays!)

Killing Eve

TV Preview: Killing Eve

Wednesday, 5 September 2018 – 6:30pm
Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London

A preview of the new BBC series followed by a Q&A with the creative team.

From multi-BAFTA winning writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) the eight-part series follows Eve (Sandra Oh), a bored MI5 security officer whose desk job does not fulfil her fantasies of being a spy. That is until she’s tasked with tracking down fearsome assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer), throwing them into a cat-and-mouse game that turns the traditional spy-thriller on its head.

The all-star cast includes Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter), David Haig (Four Weddings and a Funeral), and Kim Bodnia (The Bridge).

The series is a Sid Gentle Films Ltd production for BBC America, and was acquired from Endeavor Content. It will premiere on BBC One and will be made available as a box set on BBC.

Book tickets

UK premiere: A Discovery of Witches + Q&A

Wednesday, 5 September 2018 – 7:00pm
Cineworld, Mary Ann St, Cardiff CF10 2EN

Bad Wolf Productions and SKY One present the UK premiere of their brand new TV series. Adapted from Deborah Harkness’ best selling novel A Discovery of Witches is a contemporary love story set in our world, but one which humans share with the declining species of witches, vampires and daemons – creatures existing and working amongst us, but hiding, unknown to most humans, in plain sight.

Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge) plays brilliant academic and historian Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch denying her heritage. The discovery of a manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library throws her into the heart of a dangerous mystery and into the path of enigmatic geneticist Matthew Clairmont played by Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey, The Crown), an ancient vampire hiding dark family secrets.

Bad Wolf is the result of over 15 years of creative collaboration between founders Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner and the production and creative community of Wales.

A Q&A with key cast and crew will follow the screening. Details to be confirmed nearer the time.

We have an allocation of members’ tickets available. Please email Vicki to reserve your place.

TV Preview: No Offence

Monday, 10 September 2018 – 6:45pm
Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London

A preview of the third series of Paul Abbott’s BAFTA-nominated Channel 4 series, followed by a Q+A with creator and writer Abbott, director Catherine Morshead and cast Joanna Scanlan and Will Mellor.

This season sees the crime-fighting Friday Street team face off against their most formidable antagonist yet: the far-right. A contentious Manchester mayoral election is a tinderbox ready to ignite. And a far-right group are determinedly fuelling the chaos. When a political event becomes a flashpoint for deadly violence the team must race to catch a killer and stop an escalating reign of terror across the city.

DI Viv Deering (Scanlan) and her coppers find themselves clashing once more with the underworld and the upper brass alike. Deering’s never had it so tough and finds she must deploy every weapon in her arsenal to keep her team together and restore peace to a community wracked with political and xenophobic uncertainty.

The all-star cast includes Elaine Cassidy, Alexandra Roach, Will Mellor, Sharon Rooney and Neil Maskell.

No Offence is written and created by Paul Abbott and produced by his company AbbottVision. Executive Producers are Paul Abbott, Martin Carr and Paul Coe for AbbottVision; with Philip Leach as Producer.

Book tickets

TV Preview: Outsiders

Wednesday, 19 September 2018 – 6:00pm
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

Tom thinks it’s time his youth group got in touch with their inner selves, outside. But when group therapy and organised fun collide, bad things happen. A new comedy drama with songs. Written by 5 new Welsh writers and starring 6 new Welsh actors/actresses, ‘Outsiders’ will be broadcast as a 30 minute TV drama on BBC Wales this autumn. A BBC Writersroom and Boom Cymru production for BBC Wales.

We’ve all got problems, but Tom has more than most as he’s taking his teen therapy group for their big summer outing. Only the venue turns out to be a bit crap and there are hours to fill until the minibus comes back to pick them up. The teenagers don’t want to be there, but Tom is sure they’ll be able to get in touch with their inner-selves, outside… without touching each other that is. There are no breakthrough, life changing moments, but as Tom attempts to keep the gang entertained – and alive – there is something resembling fun, friendship and laughter. Oh and there’s songs….

Each individual character story is written by a different emerging Welsh writer. Outsiders can be watched as five single standalone films or as one half hour of comedy drama.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the team behind Outsiders with a discussion centred around BBC Wales’ commitment to Comedy and the BBC’s Commitment to new talent in association with BBC Writersroom. More information coming soon on the Q&A panellists.

This is a post-watershed show which contains strong language and adult themes.

We have 20 complimentary members tickets available for this event. Email Vicki to reserve your place.

Public tickets are available to purchase via Chapter.

Twin Peaks
Events

There’s going to be an official UK Twin Peaks festival in September

20 August 2018 Rob Buckley Post a comment

TMINE is just beginning its ‘return to work’ phase, so let’s start off with something simple – an event I can simply copy and paste into an entry:

THE 9th Official TWIN PEAKS UK FESTIVAL

September 29th and 30th 2018
London Irish Centre and Camden Square Gardens, 50-52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB

Tickets: from £85 www.twinpeaksukfest.com

For fans of Twin Peaks, the cult American TV series created by writer Mark Frost and director David Lynch, the annual Twin Peaks UK festival is a highlight of their calendar. Celebrating the phenomenal cult hit, that has captivated fans for nearly 30 years, from its launch in 1990 to the most recent 2017 series, the Official Twin Peaks UK Festival was founded by British writer and producer Lindsey Bowden in 2010 and has since become a hugely popular and firm favourite with both fans of the series and with Twin Peaks cast and crew members.

This September the Official Twin Peaks UK Festival returns to London to re-create the eerie, fictional town of Twin Peaks, over the weekend of September 29th and 30th at the London Irish Centre in Camden with activities extended to Camden Square Gardens.  Guests will be able to rub shoulders with stars of the show as they dig into some damn fine cherry pie with a cup of coffee.  David Lynch Coffee in fact.

EVENTS

Live music with the divine Rebekah Del Rio on Saturday September 29th

Screening of the 1992 film ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ on Sunday September 30th

Onstage Q&As with the stars on Sunday September 30th hosted by British author and journalist Tom Huddleston

Screening of the classic 2001 David Lynch movie ‘Mulholland Drive’

A special train car featuring a VR experience of Twin Peaks.

“The Glass Box” photo opportunity

Short films, merchandise, art gallery

Damn fine cherry pie, endless doughnuts

Charity Auction including Rebekah Del Rio’s Mulholland Drive & Twin Peaks dresses and David Lynch signed a copy of his Nudes book

STAR GUESTS

Just added to the exciting list of stars attending the event is singer, musician and actress Chrysta Bell

“Hailing from Texas, Chrysta Bell is a hugely successful singer songwriter, musician and actress, starring in ‘Twin Peaks’ in 2017 as Special Agent Tamara Preston. Her partnership with David Lynch started back in 1999 when they met.  Lynch has co-written and produced two of her albums; ‘This Train’ and ‘Somewhere in the Nowhere’, as well as co-writing her track ‘Polish Poem’ which featured on his ‘Inland Empire’ movie soundtrack.  Lynch has said of Chrysta Bell “The first time I saw her perform, I thought she was like an alien. The most beautiful alien ever.” Chrysta Bell joins the Peak-tastic line up of:

Dana Ashbrook played Bobby Briggs 1990-1991 in the original series; reprised his role in the prequel film 1992 ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ and again in David Lynch’s revival series in 2017 ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’.  Dana’s well known to TV audiences from his appearances in popular series such as ‘Dawson’s Creek’, ‘Rules of Engagement’, ‘Law and Order’ and many more.

John Pirruccello played Deputy Chad Broxford in ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’.  John is a well known TV/stage/film actor, comedian, and voice artist lending his voice to a great many TV and radio commercials, video games, cartoons, movies and TV series including ‘Two And A Half Men’. John can currently be seen in HBO’s smash hit comedy drama ‘Barry’.

Kimmy Robertson played Lucy Moran/Brennan in the 1990-1991 original series of ‘Twin Peaks’; she reprised her role as Lucy Moran in a deleted scene in ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ and reprised her role as the now married Lucy Brennan in ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’.  Kimmy’s numerous TV and film credits include ‘Honey, I Shrunk The Kids’, ‘ER’, ‘Psych’ and more.

Singer Rebekah Del Rio will be performing at the festival on Saturday September 29th.  Rebekah is legendary in the world of David Lynch for her cameo in the film ‘Mulholland Drive’ (David Lynch, 2001) when she sang acappella ‘Llorando’ (the Spanish version of Roy Orbison’s ‘Cryin’’).  She also performed the song ‘No Stars’, written in collaboration with David Lynch and John Neff in Part 10 of  ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’.

THE HISTORIC LONDON IRISH CENTRE WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE LEGENDARY TOWN

Alongside Q&As, signings and star performance events and more, the rooms and hallways of The London Irish Centre, housed in a beautiful Regency terrace in Camden, north London, will be transformed into the legendary town of Twin Peaks.  And Fans and visitors to the 9th annual Official Twin Peaks UK Festival will be able to enjoy a sumptuous feast of entertainment and excellent refreshments as well as guests, autographs, live music, opportunities to purchase official merchandise and a few surprise encounters along the way.

IMMERSIVE EVENTS, UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES, CURATED ART AND MORE

Visitors will be able to visit The Great Northern Hotel, take part in the Mulholland Drive Jitterbug Class, visit the mysterious, seductive Black Lodge and Mr C’s Tulpa Creatives art class will be welcoming new students!

Welcomed by the One Eyed Jacks girls, festival guests will have access to screenings (including Lynch inspired fan made short films), and live performances from Lynchian burlesque and cabaret troupe The Double R Club, who produce very funny, very dark, sexy and nightmarish scenarios based on their favourite Twin Peaks characters.

The festival Art Gallery will showcase inspired fan art including the popular ‘Return To Twin Peaks’ photographic exhibition by Canadian photographer Blake Morrow; his photos are coming straight from the Series Mania Festival in Lille, France.  Downstairs the Roadhouse/Bang Bang Bar will be hosting live music on both days of the festival, with DJ sets on the Sunday evening.  And there will even be live owls on show in the section named The Call of the Owl – a vital aspect of the Twin Peaks legacy.

This year a special treat will be in store for visitors – a train carriage will be parked in Camden Square Gardens, and will offer a thrilling VR experience – with actual locations shot in Washington State.  To enter the train car the fans will need to go through the circle of trees that is the ‘evil in these woods’ Glastonbury Grove.  After visiting the real life locations, they can relax in the picnic area.

LISTINGS – TWIN PEAKS UK FESTIVAL 2018      

Dates:          September 29th-30th 2018

Doors:          Saturday September 29th – VIP ticket holders 9.30am; Standard ticket holders 10am

Sunday September 30th – All ticket holders: 10am

Venue:         London Irish Centre and Camden Square Gardens, 50-52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB

Ticket prices:

VIP £300.00

Standard Weekend ticket (does not include signings – these can be bought extra) £150.00

Standard One Day only (does not include signings – these can be bought extra) £85.00

Tickets / Information: www.twinpeaksukfest.com

HBO's Succession
Airdates

When’s that show you mentioned starting, TMINE? Including Succession, Fangar and Carcereiros

20 July 2018 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Every Friday, TMINE lets you know when the latest TV shows from around the world will air in the UK

Only a couple of premiere-less acquisitions this week, with Walter Presents picking up Channel 2 (Iceland)’s Réttur (The Court) and C More (Sweden)’s Farang. The former will air in September, while the latter will air towards the end of the year.

Otherwise, everything’s got a date.

Premiere dates

Fangar

Fangar (Prisoners) (Iceland: RÚV; UK: Sundance)
Premiere date: Now

One of Sundance’s sneaky acquisitions, this Prix-Europa nominated drama sees 30 year-old Linda (Thora Bjorg Helga) accused of a deadly assault and sent to prison. She gets to know women of a different social class than her, from a broken environment. Slowly, a bond develops between her and the other women inmates and the series focuses on why things happen and how it affects the family and society as a whole.

Sounds a bit Orange is the New Black.

 Jailers

Carcereiros (Jailers) (Brazil: Globo Play; UK: Sundance)
Premiere date: Now

The second of Sundance’s new prison shows – what’s that all about then? – is from Brazil. The difference here is that as well as being about blokes, it’s from the jailers’ point of view. Based on Dráuzio Varela’s novel of the same name, it stars Rodrigo Lombardi as Adriano, a correctional officer who endures the difficulties of prison life – both his own and those of the inmates. Adriano is charged with keeping the peace inside the jail but also faces pressures in his home life, from his wife who wants a baby, to his teenage daughter and his father, a former jailer himself. Tested daily with ethical and moral dilemmas, he lives between walls and prison bars, weapons, threats and conflicts – both human and psychological.

Jeremy Strong in Succession

Succession (US: HBO; UK: Sky Atlantic)
Premiere date: Thursday, August 2, 9pm

Created by Peep Show‘s Jesse Armstrong and with support from some The Thick of It writers, Succession follows the Roy family – Logan Roy and his four children – which controls one of the biggest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world, tracking their lives as they contemplate what the future will hold for them once their ageing father begins to step back from the company.

Cough, cough, the Murdochs, cough, cough.

It’s already been renewed for a second season, and stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Hiam Abbass, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, Natalie Gold, Peter Friedman and Rob Yang. I found the first few episodes very funny, but it slowly switched from being a comedy with some drama to being a drama with the occasional comedy, which didn’t work for me.

Episode reviews: 1-2, 3, 4

Impulse
News

Impulse renewed; Arsène Lupin series; trailers for Doctor Who Titans, Origin et al; + more

20 July 2018 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

The Daily News will return in September – happy holidays, everyone!

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