Upstart Crow, the BBC2 comedy starring David Mitchell as William Shakespeare, will return later this year for a second series with several new cast members in tow. Emma Thompson (Brideshead Revisited, Love Actually, Harry Potter, Howards End, Fortunes of War) and Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh) are joining the cast of Upstart Crow. Thompson will […]
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I may be in the minority here, but one of my most favorite British situation comedies of all-time is Open All Hours. Written by Roy Clarke (Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances) and starring comedy legends Ronnie Barker and David Jason, Open All Hours ‘premiered’ in 1973 as a last-minute addition to Barker’s comedy anthology series, Seven […]
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There is definitely something in the water when it comes to British actors that places them a cut above their American counterparts as it relates to stage and screen. Some point to the ‘formal’ theater training that makes them more than capable to handle both the most serious role one week and a drop-dead comedic […]
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Miranda Hart may not be returning to Poplar this Christmas when Call the Midwife returns but she will definitely be on everyone’s radar this holiday season as the star of the self-titled, self-penned and semi-autobiographical sitcom, Miranda, joins forces with her dog, Peggy, to recreate some of television’s iconic moments from 2016 for Alan Carr’s 12 Stars of Christmas beginning […]
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Perhaps either taking a page from former husband Lenny Henry’s brilliant portrayal of culinary genius, Gareth Blackstock, in the comedy series, Chef, or remembering her portrayal of Geraldine Granger and her love of all things food-related in Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French has signed on for a new Sky1 comedy series, Delicious, premiering Christmas Day on Sky1. […]
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The Parkers were able to survive the holiday season despite Ralphie getting his ‘perfect Christmas wish’ of a Red Ryder BB gun. The Griswolds’ hopes of having a ‘good old-fashioned family Christmas’ would not be dashed despite having to deal with cousin Eddie and family. Ever wondered if and/or how the Brockman family would survive Christmas? Well, […]
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Normally, when the guys from Top Gear were issued a challenge, something gets destroyed. Series 21 of the long-running motoring show was no exception. In episode one from 2014, former series hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May drove their 1980’s hatchbacks around a specially designed course in the aisles of a supermarket, to see who […]
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Following the 2012 Olympics in London, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) was a man without a purpose. As Head of Deliverance of the Olympic Deliverance Commission in Twenty Twelve, Fletcher’s herculean task was to organize the 2012 London Summer Olympics in the face of massive logistical difficulties, production errors, infrastructure problems and troublesome contributors. It was not long after […]
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In keeping with the BBC’s tradition in 2016 of reviving and/or rebooting classic comedy series (i.e. Young Hyacinth, Are You Being Served, Goodnight Sweetheart, Porridge, Cold Feet) comes news that ITV will turn to the classic 90s BBC sitcom, Birds of a Feather for a Christmas treat for viewers. It was ITV the brought back the popular […]
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Today marks the 80th anniversary of British television as the BBC launched the nation’s first regular TV service at 3pm on November 2 1936, broadcasting live from from Alexandra Palace in north London. I am reminded, once again, why I continue to favor British television over their American counterpart. We turn to the British Comedy Guide […]
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