When it rains drama on PBS, it pours. Next up in the long line of ‘well worth your time television viewing to help you deal with the fact that there’s still 9 months until both Downton Abbey and Sherlock return’ is Home Fires, the series inspired by Julie Summers’ non-fiction book, “Jambusters”. The 6-part series is set to transmit […]
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Historically, there’s something in everyone’s life whether it be a movie you’ve seen, book you’ve read or newspaper story you came across that made you sleep with the light on for the next several days. No shame in that. Happens to all of us. Two examples I will forever proudly admit had that effect on me early […]
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As if Poldark was not enough to tide you over this Summer from a drama standpoint, along comes another bit of drama gold from across the pond that will help ease the separation anxiety that has set in waiting for Downton Abbey and Sherlock. The Crimson Field, which premiered back in April 2014 on BBC One, is headed to PBS […]
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My small and, until now, closed circle of actors that I would enjoy just hearing read the phone book has just expanded. Originally, only founding members Bill Nighy and Patrick Stewart were part of this exclusive club. Now, Benedict Cumberbatch has just entered the small, but growing circle. Cumberbatch, along with his Sherlock co-star, Louise […]
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There is always joy in Mudville when your favorite series is renewed for another season before the current one concludes. Unfortunately, the telly streets are littered with series that didn’t know their fate until long after the previous series concluded. With only a few episodes left on BBC1, devoted UK Poldark fans breathed a collective sigh […]
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At PBS’ request, it’s time to, once again, welcome the midwives of Nonnatus House to America. Hey, it worked for Downton Abbey so why not trot out a few paper dolls possibilities for the current bright and shiny drama from PBS, Call the Midwife. Kicking off an absolutely brilliant night of television that begins with […]
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While it’s been a bit since I’ve been able find the proper place to admit in public that Spooks (MI-5 as it was known in America) was, and still is, the best show on television, the forthcoming theatrical release of Spooks: The Greater Good provides the perfect opportunity. For ten years (2002-2011), Peter Firth as Sir Harry […]
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David Mitchell has signed on to star as William Shakespeare in a BBC sitcom pilot by Ben Elton (Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line). Focusing on the playwright’s life before he became famous, the storyline for Upstart Crow, according to the BBC, revolves around a purloined play, a wise wife, a stroppy teen and the underhand […]
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Saturday’s 21st century return of the Tracy brothers in Thunderbirds Are Go could have been disastrous. It was not for one simple reason. Respect. Respect for their elders. The elders, in this case, being the original Thunderbirds, the brilliant mid-60’s creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson which featured marionette puppetry combined with scale-model special effects sequences in a hybrid filming technique dubbed “Supermarionation”. Aside from what […]
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Britain’s Royal Mail rolled out a long-overdue collection of stamps celebrating British comedy greats on Wednesday, April 1. Thankfully, this was no April Fools Day joke. The brilliant set features British comedy greats from the 1950s to the modern day, from Norman Wisdom and Morecambe and Wise to Spike Milligan and Victoria Wood. Stamps featuring […]
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