Tina's 2011 British TV Blog

Where Have I Been!?

There are definitely a few shows I need to go back and catch from the past two weeks, aren’t there!   I actually spent a lot of quality time going back in the archives.  In addition to a whole run-though of “Ashes to Ashes” (woo-hoo!), here’s what was on:

Trust (BBC, 2003)  One of my alltime favorite series, set in a London law firm.  Good to see that after all these years, the cast members are still very much on screen in other projects:  Robson Green, Sarah Parish, Ian McShane, Eva Birthistle, Chiwetel Ejoifor and Neil Stuke.  I’m actually trying to redownload the series now, since all I have left are some scratched-up home-burned copies.   Why, why, why only one series!!?

Harley Street (ITV, 2008)  Same premise as “Trust” except with some of London’s most exclusive doctors.   It starred Paul Nicholls and Suranne Jones (who was great as a recently-released cop killer in ITV’s 3-parter “Unforgiven” which I also watched this week - and soon to be on “Doctor Who” according to the internet).

Legends Thin Lizzy: Bad Reputation

Friday, 21st January 2011, BBC4

I won’t make any comparisons to “Titanic,” but let’s face it - you know how this program’s going to end.  

Best known for the anthem “The Boys Are Back In Town,” this Irish band produced some of the best hard rock music of its time back in the 1970s… but upon reflection, thoughts will always turn to the 1986 death of dynamic lead singer and guitarist, Phil Lynott.    

It follows the tried-and-true pattern of these “look back” music docs:  great old concert footage; present-day interviews with various band members, record producers and road managers; and a little bit of edgy narration (provided here by Phil Glenister).  Bob Geldof even shows up.

For someone like me who still has a Lizzy CD in the car — and yes, I know it’s 2011 — it’s a must see.  For people who’ve moved on, and for a little bit of predictability in the production, I give it: 

Must See  Good  Skip

The Sinking of the Laconia

Thursday and Friday, 6th and 7th January 2011, BBC2

“The Sinking of the Laconia” is a three-hour British-German coproduction that takes the best aspects of epic World War II movies and allows them to take a back seat to some very well-written human drama.   The captain of a Nazi submarine sinks a British ocean liner, but convinces his crew to take the survivors on board in a humanitarian rescue effort.  It’s not 100% successful: at one point American aircraft attempt to sink the sub, and the Germans must leave the survivors to be picked up by other vessels, and many die in the days thereafter.  Overall, the captain’s determination to do the right thing was the reason for dramatizing this particular story - but the subsequent Nazis’ “Laconia order” meant that no other German U-boats would ever help a survivor again.

Standout performances from Ken Duken as the German captain, Andrew Buchan (who was in “Cranford”) as the sunken Laconia’s officer in charge, and Franke Potente (probably best known for the Bourne movies, but for me for “Run Lola Run”).

Lots of great acting in the minor roles, and the writing by Alan Bleasdale was first-rate.  Well worth the long viewing…

Must See  Good  Skip

Dancing on Ice

Sunday, 9th January 2011, ITV1

Saw a tweet tonight from Dean Andrews (who played Ray Carling in “Ashes to Ashes”) that summed up “Dancing on Ice” quite simply:  Can anyone tell me who anyone is on the ice dancing thing? I know Denise, Kerry and vanilla   This show gets worse each year in terms of who they can find in the entertainment biz who have 5-6 months free for this commitment.

Like Dean Andrews, I know of Kerry Katona, Denise Welch and Vanilla Ice.  I also recognized Jade Goody’s ex-husband and TV presenter Jeff Brazier.  So that’s four for me.  Those I don’t know are folks from Corrie, Hollyoaks, Eastenders and Neighbors. There’s also a newsreader, a model, a kids TV presenter, a cricket player, Julia Sawalha’s sister and Richard & Judy’s daughter. I didn’t recognize Army hero Johnson Beharry, although his story was in the news an awful lot a few years back.  His was the most inspirational story of the night, and an honest-to-goodness high point of tonight’s show.  If I continued watching, it would be because of him.

If you are going to keep tuning in this year, early indications are Laura and Vanilla Ice are the good ones.  Overall for me, though, this series is a:

Must See  Good  Skip

Hustle

Friday, 7th January 2011, BBC1

The con is on for a seventh time.  Same crew as last year and, for those still clinging on to Marc Warren and Jaime Murray — they’re gone, they’re not coming back, and it’s time to either go with it or stop whinging.

After six series, it’s difficult to concoct a storyline so airtight that no one watching can predict the outcome or all the various twists and turns.   This year’s opener featured getting a little revenge on a model agency director (played to the hilt by Anna Chancellor) who wronged bar owner Eddie’s young niece.  It played out as you’d expect and all was again right with the world. 

I won’t say that the show has the same amount of charm and creativity that it once had, or that the characters adopted throughout the cons are as fresh (Adrian Lester’s clothing designer was a wee bit of a stereotype) but it’s still an enjoyable hour and it hasn’t run out its welcome with me quite yet.  I could easily see this being the last series, but I would greatly miss seeing Robert Vaughn on TV.

Must See  Good  Skip

Followup on those Part Twos…

Stargazing Live

While there were a few slow patches, this three-part live/taped astronomy show on the BBC was interesting enough to watch, but not overwhelmingly science-based to throw off the average punter’s interest.  It was amazing to see shots of the International Space Station and an on-board interview (I understand the ISS was visible overhead in London tonight!), there was a good segment on how to catch a shooting star,  It was also nice to see the meteor crater in Arizona, which I’ve visited several times, as a topic of discussion.   Good, so go back and take a look…

Above Suspicion

If you like “Prime Suspect” type shows, this was absolutely solid with a surprise or two at the end to set up (hopefully) a future series.  Must see for me.

Famous and Fearless

I’ll freely admit that I was taken by this show during the first few nights (of six), but the excitement did pan out quickly and I found myself fast-forwarding through to get to the actual challenges, which were quite good.   It was all for charity, which is terrific, but the celebrities weren’t as high level as they should have been for this sort of show … and one nightly hour was dragged out to two to try and capture audiences, but I’m confident it didn’t pan out that way for Channel 4.  It ended up ultimately being a Pass despite the occasional moments of go-karting fun. 

Got To Dance

Sunday, 2nd January 2011, Sky (first 2 episodes)

I DO like talent shows, and I’m really not going to get tired of the “X Factor” or “BGT” formats as long as there are truly gifted acts each series that can surprise me.  Last year’s “Got to Dance” wasn’t very good overall, and I honestly can’t remember who won the show, but I gave this year a shot assuming the producers and editors would ensure that at least a few exceptionally talented acts were up front to pique the viewers’ interest.  

I like Davina McCall and, like Ant and Dec or Holly Willoughby, she’s easy to watch and you feel comfortable with her in your living room.  There isn’t enough Davina in this show, there aren’t enough exciting acts, the panel doesn’t say anything witty or have that chemistry amongst themselves.  It boils down, though, to the fact that Simon Cowell and his production team have turned the bad auditions into pure comedy — sometimes cruel, true — but the reason the audition shows are so successful for them is that you initially watch to see acts both good and bad.  Not so with “Got to Dance.”  It just seems heartbreaking and rarely, if ever, funny.

If there’s a great act yet to come, it’ll be easier (and faster) to catch it on YouTube.

Must See  Good  Skip

Total Wipeout

I have watched quite a bit of TV this week, but I need to write about it now that it’s the weekend - sorry for being so behind (back to work, sick with a cold, the usual excuses).  But I just have to say this:

I really get a kick out of “Total Wipeout.”  I love Richard Hammond anyway, but the one-liners always make me laugh (how embarrassing) and I only really need to watch the first 45 minutes before moving on to something else each week.  Maybe it’s just a continuation of the whole Saturday night ”TV Burp”/”You’ve Been Framed”/”Walk On The Wild Side” silliness.

Come to think of it, I’ve never actually watched the final round to find out who wins.  I just like to see people falling into the water.  I guess that means “Total Wipeout” Series 4 will be a MUST SEE for me.   Back with more soon from the week’s watching… lots to catch you up on!

Tuesday’s Part Two’s…

  My mom always told me not to look too hard at the sun, and not to sit too close to the TV.  Too late!

Stargazing Live (part 2 of 3)

Above Suspicion (part 2 of 3)

Famous and Fearless (parts 2 and 3 of 6)

Feel very much in limbo tonight — not quite at the start of these, not quite at the end.  Looking forward to putting a cap on all things real, dramatic and ridiculous SOON!

Above Suspicion: Deadly Intent

Monday, 3rd January 2011, ITV1

This is the third go-around for the ITV mini-series.  DI Anna Travis and DCS James Langton (Kelly Reilly and Ciarán Hinds) team up once again to solve the drug-related murder of a former cop.   Seems very promising and, like all projects involving Lynda LaPlante, the “Prime Suspect”-esque police station tensions and stormy relationships are compelling.   Must see so far…..