Tuesday’s truthful news

Doctor Who

Film

Theatre

  • John Simm, Ian Hart and Kerry Fox to appear in Speaking in Tongues
  • Gareth Gates to star in touring Les Mis

US TV

US TV

Review: Virtuality

Virtuality cast

In the US: Friday June 26, 8pm, Fox. Available on Fox On Demand
In the UK: Sky will probably nab it

Unless minor miracles happen, this won’t become a TV series. Yes, it’s from the brain of Battlestar Galactica creator Ronald D Moore (well, “written by Michael Taylor; story by Michael Taylor & Ronald D. Moore”). Yes, Fox picked it up as a pilot.

But then they had second thoughts and left it to air as a TV movie.

It’ll also be a minor miracle because frankly, if you thought Battlestar Galactica was depressing, you’re not going to have a fun time with Virtuality. Here’s a 12 minute preview to give you the basic idea.

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Monday’s touring Rain Man news

Doctor Who

Film

Theatre

British TV

  • Last of the Summer Wine back for six episodes
  • Ofcom report says Sky needs to offer its movie and sports channels to other providers
  • Mighty Boosh to split?

US TV

US TV

Review: The Philanthropist 1×1

The Philanthropist

In the US: Wednesdays, 10/9c, NBC
In Canada: Wednesdays, 10/9c, Global TV

Ooh, Africa. It’s a bit tricky, isn’t it? What with all the shit happening, and stuff and ooh, it just makes you want to throw your hands in the air and do nothing.

If only there were like some really cool, really rich, billionaire Western guy who could go in and like sort things out, by you know, “hands-on philanthropy”, which would be like riding motorbikes without shoes on to get medicine to villagers before he gets on his Lear Jet. Because that would, like, really sort it all out.

Okay, it’s quite easy to sneer at The Philanthropist. Look, I just did it.

But:

  1. It is actually based on a real person – Bobby Sager – although only very loosely on him
  2. It stars British actor James Purefoy and that Neve Campbell woman
  3. Despite its silliness, its artificiality and its shallow attempts to depict an incredibly complicated situation in a 40-minute action-adventure format, The Philanthropist has its heart in the right place and isn’t so stupid that you can hear the pebbles rattling around inside its skull.
  4. It’s got Omar from The Wire in it.

Here on some YouTube promos; more about the show after the jump:

Continue reading “Review: The Philanthropist 1×1”