In the US: Mondays, 9/8c, CBS In the UK: Not yet acquired
It seems hard to believe now but there was a time before Aaron Sorkin was a household name. However, way back in 1992, nobody had heard of the future creator of The West Wing, Studio 60 and The Newsroom. Thankfully, the then-playwright soon hit the big time thanks to a film adaptation of his stage play for A Few Good Men.
Featuring an iconic performance by Jack Nicholson as well as a sizzling script, A Few Good Men not only introduced the world to Sorkin, it also gave us our first real filmic glimpses at the modern US Marine Corps and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. These were so unknown in the heady days of the early 90s that when I reviewed A Few Good Men, my editor actually queried – in print in my review – my claim that the base featured in the movie was in Cuba.
While the Marines have seen many outings in the movies and on TV since, the Uniform Code of Military Justice and its system of courts martial largely only featured in one show: JAG, which concerned the lawyers of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps charged with prosecuting crimes under the code. That ran for an astonishing 10 seasons (one on NBC, nine on CBS), launched the apparently immortalNCIS franchises and even this very day is being considered for a revival.
One can only assume that CBS is planning this only because it has so little faith in its latest drama, The Code, given that:
The Code is all about the JAG corps.
It’s basically a remake of both A Few Good Men and JAG
It’s a bit of a superheroey week this week for Orange Wednesday, thanks mainly to release schedules rather than my superhero fanboyness. Although that’s a factor.
Up for review this week are two DC Extended Universe movies:
Aquaman (2018): Jason Momoa is half-human, half-Atlantean and all man, but must choose whether to live a quiet life or become King of Atlantis. Amber Heard helps him choose.
Shazam! (2019): Teenage foster kid gets given a magic word that turns him into the World’s Mightiest Mortal – Chuck‘s Zachary Levi in a padded suit. What will he do with his new powers?
Every Tuesday, TMINE flags up what new TV events BAFTA is holding around the UK
With WHYBW having completed its slow migration to Tuesdays, TMINE’s BAFTA rundown is now ready to slowly migrate its way over to Thursdays, but as TMINE is on a mini city-break from tomorrow, it’s going to be a day early this week.
As we’re now halfway through April, we’re finally getting some details of events in May. But BAFTA seems to have one last trick up its sleeve for April – provided you happen to be in New York City.
Suranne Jones in BBC/HBO’s Gentleman Jack
Gentleman Jack
Wednesday, 17 April 2019 – 7:00pm New York City
From Sally Wainwright, this series tells a remarkable and unlikely love story, set in the complex, changing world of 1832 Halifax, the cradle of the industrial revolution, just as it begins.
Starring Suranne Jones, it focuses on landowner Anne Lister and her determination to change the fate of Shibden Hall, her faded ancestral home, by re-opening the coal mines and marrying well. The charismatic, single-minded, swashbuckling Lister – who dresses head-to-toe in black and charms her way into high society – has no intention of marrying a man. True to her nature, she plans to marry a seriously wealthy woman, heiress Ann Walker.
Every part of the story is based in historical fact, recorded in the four million words of the real-life Anne Lister’s diaries, which contain the most intimate details of her life, once hidden in a secret code that is now broken.
KEY CAST: Suranne Jones, Gemma Whelan, Timothy West, Gemma Jones, Sophie Rundle, Jodhi May, Albane Courtois
Samson Kayo and Theo Barklem-Biggs in Dave’s Sliced
TV preview: Sliced
Wednesday, 1 May 2019 – 6:45pm Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN
A preview of the new UKTV comedy followed by a Q+A with Samson Kayo, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Phil Bowker and Al Campbell
Sliced is a crisp, urban comedy for Dave set amongst the hustle and bustle of a low rent, back street pizza parlour. We follow delivery riders Joshua (BAFTA-nominee Samson Kayo) and Ricky (Theo Barklem-Biggs) through their shifts and see their world at first hand. A world where counterfeit money, vindictive call centre staff, hopeless security guards, hedonistic pensioners and aggressive teens reign supreme.
Fast food delivery’s never been so much fun.
Written by Samson Kayo (Famalam) and Phil Bowker (Pulling, Phone Shop), directed by Al Campbell (Man Down, Drifters) and produced by Lovely Electricity.
Preview screening: Years and Years + Q&A with Russell T Davies
Thursday, 2 May 2019 – 6:45pm Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
As Britain is rocked by unstable political, economic and technological advances, we follow the Lyons family as their complex lives converge on one crucial night in 2019. Then, over the next 15 years, the twists and turns of everyday life are explored as we find out if this ordinary family could ever change the world.
Russell T Davies’ new drama series for BBC One produced by RED Production Company for BBC One and HBO, starring Emma Thompson, Rory Kinnear, Jessica Hynes, Ruth Madeley, T’Nia Miller, Anne Reid and Russell Tovey.
Following the screening there will be a Q&A with Russell T Davies.
We have an allocation of complimentary tickets available for members. Email Vicki to reserve your place.
Emma Corrin to play Princess Diana on Netflix’s The Crown
Australian TV
Screen Australia to fund: period estranged families drama The Sisters Antipodes, first responders drama The Force, newsreader rebuilding her life comedy-drama The Upside of Over and international conspiracy drama Clandestine
