With the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth nearly upon us (February 2012), there are numerous festivals, exhibitions and educational activities planned for 2012. Two of the most eagerly awaited events from my perspective, however, will be those that find their way to the telly in December leading up to the year-long celebration. Bleak Expectations […]
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To the lucky ones on the planet in the UK sitting down in front of the telly tonight at 9:00pm with the enviable viewing choice of either the new seaon of ITV’s Downton Abbey or the final season of Spooks on BBC One. The Guardian put it best by saying that, “…in Downton Abbey, you […]
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We’ve all secretly done it…meticulously watched films or television shows searching for that elusive shot where sunglasses are worn in one scene, but disappear from the same scene when the camera cuts to a different angle. There have long been rumors that in one of the battle sequences in the John Wayne film, The Alamo, […]
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Downton Abbey 2 vs. Spooks 10 vs. Mildred Pierce With Downton Abbey 2 and Spooks 10 set to battle it out Sunday night in the UK, the States have a battle of their own as the Sunday night telecast of the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards will pit the original Downton Abbey 1 series against HBO’s […]
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With the new series of the hit comedy drama, Doc Martin, set to return tomorrow (Monday, 12 September) on ITV1 in the UK, it’s time to set up yet another support group in the U.S. Unfortunately, as we have recently reported, series 5 will not premiere in the States until April 2012 on public television […]
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Critically acclaimed, audience favorite, new kid on the block versus the best show on television for 9 years running. Thank goodness for the invention of the DVR. As most are aware, the long-awaited second series premiere of Downton Abbey is set for a Sunday, 18 September, transmission in the UK on ITV. When we last […]
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Patients of Dr. Martin Ellingham finally received word this week that the new season of Doc Martin will begin on Monday, 12 September, in the UK (ITV). In the States, on public television, we can now, with virtual certainty, announce that Dr. Martin Ellingham will resume making house calls in Portwenn beginning in April 2012. […]
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According to the BBC, Dame Eileen Atkins will not return when filming commences on Upstairs Downstairs 2 in Cardiff in October. Atkins, who created the series with fellow actress, Jean Marsh, did not appear in the original 1970’s ITV series, but was cast in last years revival of the series as the free-thinking mother-in-law Maud, Lady […]
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In television, series finales are a completely different ballgame from season finales, for one simple reason. The individual who originally envisioned the series, the writer, knows going into the finale, that what the viewer will ultimately see, will be a program that ties up all loose ends and all questions will be answered. Uh, right. […]
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I’m afraid you’ll know where I stand in the matter of seconds….if it takes that long. The only thing in common between the iconic Granada Television series, produced for ITV and PBS, and the upcoming NBC series starring Maria Bello, is the title. To be fair, it might not be a fair fight just yet […]
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