Unfortunately, there are countless individuals who’s names are unfamiliar to the masses but, in the same breath, you are infinitely familiar with their work. Monty Norman was one such individual. Chances are good that his was not a household name. His work, however, in creating one of the most famous musical movie intros ever will be […]
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As the outside temperature hits 106 degrees today (112 heat index), my mind immediately wanders to the first time I came upon a little slice (or, pint) of heaven by the name of Humphry Slocombe. Ok, they didn’t ask “Are you being served?” and no one said, “I’m free” when I finally hit the front of […]
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On July 5, 1937, the American culinary landscape as we know it would change forever, courtesy of Austin, Minnesota. Eighty-five years ago yesterday, America ushered in the arrival of the canned luncheon meat known as SPAM. Post Great Depression, SPAM became an instant success for its versatility as it could be opened with an accompanying […]
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As co-writer and co-director of BBC’s The Office, Stephen Merchant is best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais. Several years ago, the British writer, director, radio presenter, stand-up comedian and actor added London West-End appearance to his CV with his first play, The Mentalists by Richard Bean, alongside Steffan Rhodri at the Wyndham Theatre. And, his most recent effort alongside the greatness of […]
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DI Humphrey Goodman (a.k.a. Kris Marshall) spent three years in ‘paradise’ on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie after first arriving to investigate the death of his predecessor, DI Richard Poole, who fell victim to a nasty ice pick in the chest at the beginning of series 3. Taking a page out of the Father Brown / Sister Boniface Mysteries playbook, Marshall will star in a Death in Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise, which will see DI Goodman reunite with now fiancée Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton), picking up with the pair as “they navigate a new life together in the idyll of rural Britain.”
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While this is definitely not Jane Austen’s first rodeo on PBS whether it be earlier adaptations of Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Emma or even the most recent adaption of Austen’s previously unfinished work (Sanditon), news of a somewhat different type of Austen adaptation has fans worldwide eagerly anticipating the forthcoming small screen version of Gill Hornby’s critically-acclaimed Miss Austen which focuses on the life of the author herself.
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At long last, the streets of the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester are, once again, safe as the seventh series of Grantchester returns to PBS Masterpiece on Sunday, July 10 with Tom Brittany and Robson Green reprising their roles of Reverend William Davenport and DI Geordie Keating for the new set of episodes. Series 7 will also […]
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Not long after Monty Python’s Flying Circus’s October 1974 premiere on KERA-TV in Dallas, one of my earliest memories of watching British comedy on public television was to ‘religiously’ watch Dave Allen at Large….a somewhat non-descript sketch/standup/sitdown comedy series featuring an intellectually brilliant Irish comedian that sat in a high bar stool with a seemingly bottomless glass of whiskey.
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Set in the breathtakingly beautiful resort town of Portofino, Hotel Portofino is about personal awakening at a time of global upheaval in the traumatic aftermath of World War I and of the liberating influence of Italy’s enchanting culture, climate and cuisine on elite British travelers.
Premiering tonight at 8pET/7pCT on PBS, Hotel Portofino tells the story of the Ainsworth family that has relocated from Britain to open an upscale hotel on the Italian coastline. Once you meet the cast of characters, both Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey come to mind….if they happened to be set in 1920 Italy.
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With Sunday’s return of Endeavour prominently marked on our calendars, Masterpiece is giving everyone a quick recap as to where we ended series 7 just over a year ago. Lest you forget, a lot has happened and a lot is getting ready to happen so this will be a must read leading up to Sunday’s return on your local PBS […]
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