• From the genius vault — Spaced

    From the genius vault — Spaced

    Originally pitched as a cross between The Simpsons, The X-Files and Northern Exposure, Spaced only ran for a couple of seasons on Channel 4 in the UK, but this has to be one of the most clever British comedies series of all time. Writers and co-creators Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) and Jessica […]

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  • IT Crowd headed for 4th season plus more for 2010…

    IT Crowd headed for 4th season plus more for 2010…

    As a follow-up to a recent post on the in’s and out’s of getting a comedy series commissioned from the BBC, I thought it would be of interest to everyone to see just what’s on the slate for the coming year from an output standpoint. Thanks to our good friends over the The British Comedy […]

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  • Memo to John Inman: Thanks for the years of laughter

    Memo to John Inman: Thanks for the years of laughter

    When John Inman (Mr. Humphries, Are You Being Served?) passed away on March 8, 2007, all the years past, present and future of smiles and laughter did not end. John was, and will continue to be, a very good friend to public television viewers nationwide through his comedic talents on screen. Many of us will […]

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  • Not the Messiah, just a very naughty boy

    Not the Messiah, just a very naughty boy

    What do you get when you put crazy Cambridge and Oxford graduates in Royal Albert Hall? Don’t know? How about if you add in the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus AND three sheep? Still no clue?  Well you get comic genius from the minds of Eric Idle and John du Prez, the masterminds behind Spamalot. […]

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  • More Funny Ladies….of British comedy, of course

    More Funny Ladies….of British comedy, of course

    Let’s hear it for the ladies…the Funny Ladies, that is, of British comedy.  Coming your way on PBS stations nationwide beginning this weekend is More Funny Ladies of British Comedy. Airing tonight on KERA Channel 13 in the North Texas area at 10:30pm (following the new season of Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, which airs […]

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  • British comedy scattershooting….

    British comedy scattershooting….

    We’ve Got Mail… Since lots of questions have come across the desk in the last several months asking for updates on favorite British comedies or dramas, what favorite Britcom actors and actresses are doing, etc, we’re going to try and to do this once a month on the first Friday of the month. If you […]

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  • Yes Minister, more reality than comedy

    Yes Minister, more reality than comedy

    Forgot to mention one really cool thing that occurred after the BBC Showcase meeting last week. Spent some time at the House of Commons watching the Q&A session as party leaders from the Opposition Party answered questions from the ruling party Members of Parliament (MP’s). In a word, it was a fascinating afternoon. As I […]

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  • Just how does a British comedy get on the air?

    Just how does a British comedy get on the air?

    Fresh from the 2010 BBC Showcase and back on this side of the pond, I thought it might be interesting to everyone who has asked the question at one time or another, “how in the world did that get made” or “I have a great idea for a show, what do I need to do”, […]

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  • BBC Showcase – a postscript

    BBC Showcase – a postscript

    Well, screenings are over (again, we were the last people to leave the Brighton Centre before they kicked us out), but the wind, rain and cold have a new friend, snow, in the forecast. Lots of great finds, as always, during our five days in Brighton. I say this every year, but this has to […]

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  • The return of Upstairs/Downstairs and more…

    The return of Upstairs/Downstairs and more…

    The return to 165 Eaton Place If Monday’s news of Sherlock coming to PBS wasn’t enough, there was the announcement yesterday that WGBH and the BBC have signed a major co-production deal to return to 165 Eaton Place with a new Upstairs/Downstairs. Jean Marsh, who won the Emmy for Best Actress in the original series will return […]

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