New Orleans becomes BBC West this week

It’s that time of year again, where Tellyspotting, along with 100+ colleagues from PBS stations around the country, descend upon New Orleans to work very, very hard on your behalf. Ordinarily, as television programmer’s, we like to say that our main function in life is to watch bad television so you don’t have to. However, […]

Read more

Early pics from AbFab, Sherlock 2

Ready for some AbFab, sweetie darling? When filming began recently, it was as if they had never left the limo-riding, shopping, boozing lifestyle. Patsy (Joanna Lumley) and Edina (Jennifer Saunders) are back, better than ever, for three new Absolutely Fabulous specials targeted for a 2012 transmission. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we get an exclusive sneak […]

Read more

River Song weds. Will honeymoon at Eaton Place

Ok, not really, but it does make good copy for those that follow both Doctor Who and Upstairs Downstairs, doesn’t it? Attention: Doctor Who final episode spoiler alert! Do not read on if you haven’t seen last episode of Doctor Who. Even if you haven’t seen it, the episode was, after all, titled, The Wedding of […]

Read more

It's a Dickens 2012 telly celebration

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 […]

Read more

Mr. Bean retires at 21, etc.

Having first appeared in a 1990 New Year’s Day radio program for Thames Television, Mr. Bean is officially retired. Rowan Atkinson, the British comedy great that brought the character to life believes he is too old to play the Buster Keaton-like character any longer. Having last played the lovable legend in the 2007 film, Mr. […]

Read more

OMG: HP Sauce changes recipe after 116 years

With a bit of full disclosure up front, I will admit my only experience that allows me to talk about this subject is having attended a number of BBC Showcase meetings over the years in the UK whereby the answer to everything that dealt with food seemed to be “…just add a bit of brown […]

Read more

David Croft discusses the complexity of 'Allo 'Allo

With the passing of David Croft on Sunday, 27 September, at age 89, more from our 1999 interview for the public television program, Salute to British Comedy on American Public Television. When host Penelope Keith introduces the ‘Allo ‘Allo segment, we come to realize that the series was not only complex for the audience, but […]

Read more

Could it be a Sherlock Christmas in 2012?

With news of Steven Moffat’s 2011 Christmas present to Doctor Who fans worldwide lighting up the internet the last several days comes Mark Gatiss’ look ahead to Christmas 2012 and his desire to spread joy around the world with a Sherlock Christmas special. Gatiss recently told the Radio Times: “I love the story, The Blue […]

Read more

Ready for a Doctor Who Christmas 2011?

A Doctor Who Christmas present for 2011 Good to know that both the U.S. and the U.K. are on Steven Moffat’s holiday gift-giving list for 2011. As if a second season of Sherlock wasn’t enough, Moffat will, again, be spreading Doctor Who joy throughout the land this holiday season. Word is that production of this […]

Read more