Though the American version of The Office is one of the increasingly rare success stories when it comes to "translating" British shows, it still can't hold a candle to the mad genius of the original. Talking up the show at this point is likely useless, but the entire collection has a new DVD release, and it's something well worth putting on your radar for potential gifts. The only real question … [Read more...]
BBC's The Hour, also seen on BBC America, is one of the most gripping series to come along in recent memory. Set in 1956, the story is about a team working at the BBC to put together a new news program, The Hour. Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw) has worked at the BBC for some time, and has mostly made a name for himself as a renegade few people are particularly interested in working with. When the new … [Read more...]
I was rather skeptical when it was announced that Matt Smith was taking over the role of Doctor Who for the new incarnation's fifth season, but I was pleasantly surprised by his abilities from the very first episode. Each new Doctor faces a massive challenge stepping into a role that has been around since the early 1960s, and is moreover a cultural icon in a sense that nearly reinvents the term, … [Read more...]
If you've been around a while, you may remember the Holiday Extravaganza I had last year. If you do, you can rest assured that I will be having that awesome giveaway again, but the folks at BBC America and/or the BBC America Shop put together such a cool collection for me that I decided it should get its own billing, and its own giveaway. First off, I have to tell you that the BBC America Shop … [Read more...]
Four years in the making, filmed over 3000 days, across every continent and in every habitat, Life is the latest wildlife blockbuster from the BBC’s award-winning Natural History Unit, the producers of Planet Earth and The Blue Planet. Narrated by Oprah Winfrey, the series presents 130 incredible stories from the frontiers of the natural world, and details the extraordinary tactics that … [Read more...]
If you're familiar with Survivors, chances are it's the new series that's at the front of your mind, but the original should not be overlooked. Airing between 1975 and 1977, the hit show by Terry Nation followed the survivors of a worldwide viral outbreak that decimated the population. With modern technologies and comforts stripped from them, the random collection of humanity had to form some new … [Read more...]
If you haven't caught Planet Earth yet (and even if you have), I want to make sure you know about a special offer available only from April 12-26, 2010. During this limited window, in celebration of Earth Day, you can download a free episode ("Pole to Pole") on iTunes. The entire series is available in SD or HD, and it's a stunning effort, as you no doubt already know. The chance to get an … [Read more...]
It's difficult to find a synopsis or discussion of Emma which doesn't include the word naive, and with rather good reason of course. Yet, while there are several fine screen adaptations of the work, they all suffer from a certain lack of delivery in this area. If you think about it, there aren't many things that are more difficult in the world of acting. There is something oxymoronic simply in … [Read more...]
The BBC series Robin Hood started with a bang. The introduction to the story was solidly put together, the characters were infinitely likable, and the general feel of syndicated adventure was delivered with more style than most were accustomed to from such an effort. Jonas Armstrong's Robin was just about everything you could hope for in the suave bandit, and as time went on, Richard Armitage's … [Read more...]
If you liked the feature film Earth, or the television series Planet Earth it was built from, you're going to love the BBC follow-up to that series, Nature's Most Amazing Events. Narrated by David Attenborough, these six, hour-long presentations focus on wonders of the natural world, and their effects on the natural world. The gorgeous cinematography returns and is coupled with a more … [Read more...]
The first volume of the BBC drama Mistresses is hitting stores tomorrow, June 9th, and it's a package you don't want to miss. The show follows four friends through their increasingly complicated lives, and as the name implies, they're all floating somewhere in the general realm of infidelity. It's a bit Sex and the City, but with a base that leans much more toward real drama. It's … [Read more...]
The American version of Eleventh Hour apparently only made it one season, though there are rumors of it getting picked up somewhere else. The Rufus Sewell led version was pretty good, and the show seemed a dream enterprise for CBS audiences, but it looks like it's done. While the show was pretty good, and Rufus Sewell really did a nice job, it didn't quite live up to the BBC original with … [Read more...]
Gavin & Stacey definitely is a gem of British television. This season originally aired in May and June of 2007, and the show has won several British Academy Television Awards and British Comedy Awards. There is also a second series, and the story is (following the Christmas special of 2008) that a third is on the way. The show starts out with Gavin and Stacey, who … [Read more...]
