TV Thursday – (05/01/12)

Time for a TV update from my living room. I watch quite a lot of crime drama including CSI:Las Vegas, NCIS, Criminal Minds and Castle. All American. However, one program that I love is one made right here in the UK. The new 3 episode series of Sherlock returned to our screens on New Years Day.

The end of 2010 saw a new take on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories and characters starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson. It was truly great. Witten by Steven Moffat (Dr Who) and Mark Gatiss (A League Of Gentlemen) who have put a completely new spin on the legendary detective that many in the world still think actually existed. Its a great blend of modern day technology and old fashioned storytelling.

The old rivalry between characters is still there. Inspector Lestrade and Sherlock tolerate each other, but the respect is still there and Holmes likes nothing better than to make Lestrade look foolish as demonstrated in the very first episode using text messages via mobile phones which we get to see on screen in a very unique and original way. Each episode has been loosely based on an actual Holmes story with the title varied slightly, so “A Study In Scarlet” becomes “A Study In Pink” for the updated version, which was in fact nominated for an Emmy.

The first series had great viewing figures and we have had to wait over a year for the second set of 3 episodes, the first of which has just been shown on BBC1 this week. This was partly due to an extended filming schedule but I also think that the fact that Martin Freeman is appearing as Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming The Hobbit movie delayed things a little, but it was worth the wait.

“A Scandal In Belgravia” saw the introduction of Irene Adler played here by Lara Pulver. A character whom Holmes held in high esteem. I don’t know if we will see her again, but judging from this pic from the episode, I certainly hope so. This story was a cracker; extremely cleverly written and with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing although it is in the execution of the story on-screen that makes it all work. Cumberbatch is ruthlessly deadpan yet annoyingly intelligent. Freeman is a great foil and plays the partner in solving crime as good as I have seen. It’s not all about the action, he uses his talents in other places.

The BBC has also published a few tie-in websites, one of which is Dr. John Watson’s Blog that gets updated all the time with entries and these are referred to in the show. It’s a nice little touch and allows the viewer to be  more involved in the Sherlock world. For anyone that hasn’t yet seen this brilliant series, I urge you to watch it. For fans of crime dramas, this is definitely for you, here is the Series One promo trailer, I hope you enjoy it enough to want to see more. I can’t wait for the next episode and its such a shame that there are only three in a series. =)

 

TV Thursday Update & Preview

Its Autumn. What does that mean then? Well apart from the cold nights coming in and the leaves falling from the trees, it also means that my favourite TV shows are back! **WARNING** – THERE MAY BE SPOILERS BELOW!!

I am a massive fan of crime dramas and the original CSI is back for its 12th season. I wrote a blog on here some months ago regarding whether CSI had indeed “Jumped The Shark”. Literally days after I wrote that it was announced that Larry Fishburne wasn’t returning to the show. No offence to the great actor, but his character just didn’t fit the show and its for the best that he has moved on. He hs instead been replaced by Ted Dansen (yes, Sam Malone from Cheers). From the first episode, I like his character already. He has a humourous quirkiness to him that manages in a bizarre way to get the job done. I look forward to more.

Also returning is Criminal Minds for its 7th season. We see the return of two characters here, with JJ (AJ Cook) rejoining the team and also the resurrection of Emily Prentiss, played by Paget Brewster who was assumed by the BAU to be dead, but was in fact alive and working under cover once more. The first episode in the season concludes the story from the previous season and we should now have seen the last of this plotline. Now we can get back on with solving serial murders. Whether the whole team stays together remains to be seen.

My favourite show at this time is Castle. Starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, this show has just started its 4th season. Amazing stuff really, any show that Mr. Fillion has been in has ended up being cancelled, (Driven, Firefly) so he has done really well this time around. The chemistry between the two main characters is great and the continual will they/won’t they scenario is great while they don’t. There are always lots of little references to other works and with Fillion’s character being a writer, the powers that be have actually released fictional material as proper novels and more recently a graphic novel. All of which are referred to in the show itself. Its a great little hook and nice touch.

There are a couple of shows coming very soon that I have seen the pilots for. You can never be sure with new shows if they are going to be any good after the pilot, but Homeland and Person Of Interest certainly have promise.Starring Damian Lewis as a lost soldier, Sgt. Nicholas Brody, who is found during a raid in Afghanistan and returns to the United States a hero after being held in captivity for many years. To Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes) though, she is not convinced that he is all that he appears to be and sets out to convince her superiors at the CIA that he has been turned by terrorists and is in fact involved in a plot to attack his home country. The first episode was a great intro to the story and the main characters. It instantly grabbed me and I can’t wait until the next episode in October. Also starring is Mandy Pitinkin as Anderson’s boss and mentor Saul Berensen, and Morena Baccarin as Brody’s wife Jessica who starred in Firefly and more recently the updated version of V. Fans of terrorist dramas such as 24 or The Cell will definitely enjoy this show I think.

Secondly is a show from the mind of Jonathan Nolan, Person Of Interest. This crime/thriller/tech drama comes very soon and will be another I think I will like after seeing the pilot the other night. It stars James Caviezel as an ex CIA hitman who is recruited by a mysterious businessman to prevent violent crimes happening to ordinary individuals on the street. The mysterious Finch played by Michael Emerson (Lost) has developed a computer program using CCTV, audio recordings and other information to predict when a crime is going to happen. Unfortunately he does not know when or how it will happen, he only knows who. John Reese is brought in to help him discover what and how is going to happen and attempt to stop it before it does.

Its an original idea that I think has some future in the Autumn show list. What gives it some gravitas is the name of JJ Abrams as Executive Producer and his television successes have been plentiful. I hope to see this show continue and its certainly one of the better offerings this year. Check out the trailer.

 

The Witches Of Oz (2011) – A Review

The World of Oz seems to be making a big resurgence recently and I thought I would check out this version of the classic story which was a two part mini series aired not so long ago on non British television.

The story of Oz is a familiar one and we all know it. Here though we see Dorothy Gale as a grown woman, although very naive about the world, she has become a children’s writer and has been given the chance to have her stories turned into a movie. She moves to New York from Kansas and quickly discovers that her books are in fact repressed memories from her childhood and everything she thinks her fictional character experienced was all real.

Although the part of Dorothy Gale is the main one, the actor playing her isn’t well known at all. Paulie Rojas is reasonably new on the scene as are many of the actors in this mini series. There are however, some very notable thespians in the castlist. Sean Astin plays Frack, a mischievous little character. Astin’s Lord of the Rings hobbit friend Billy Boyd plays the part of Nick Chopper, a normal guy who falls for Dorothy in New York and helps her in her fight against the evil Wicked Witch of the West, who is very well portrayed here by Eliza Swensen who also wrote the music for the show and produced it. The biggest names are Christopher Loyd who plays the small part of The Wizard Of Oz, there isn’t much screen time for him, Mia Sara as head changing Princess Langwidere and the legendary horror actor Jeffrey Combs as Frank.

I liked the concept for this, but in reality it was pretty poor quality and considering the cast, should have been much better. Mia Sara was probably the best thing in it and she played her part very well and added the right amount of humour to the plot as the downtrodden Langwidere under the influence of the Wicked Witch of the West. I would say it can be put in a pile alongside the likes of Merlin starring Sam Neill, although that was better than this, but The Witches of Oz and its mediocre special effects can be very much overlooked if you see it advertised anywhere. I guess child fans of the books would like to see this version, but I think you’re better off sticking to the 1939 version of the story with Judy Garland.

I was overall disappointed, and can therefore only give this a paultry 4/10, but if you’re interested, here is the trailer…

 

T.V Tuesday – Are You Game?

How time flies, its TV Tuesday alread, I forgot Music Monday yesterday so I’ll do that later on, but I’ll crack on with today’s topic, Game Of Thrones.

This show from HBO seems to be everyone’s favourite TV viewing at the moment. As a viewer of the show myself, I can see why. Th cast is phenomenal and there are simply too many names to mention, but the main stars are Sean Bean as Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, also starring is the lovely Lena Headey as the main antagonist Queen Cersei Lannister who is a character much in the mould of Lady Macbeth. The cast after these two is just as impressive albeit not quite as well known, but we do recognise some people on screen.

HBO seem to have a great knack of picking novels or a series of novels and making them massive television hits. Band Of Brothers and True Blood are other examples. Its nice that they are an American TV network that is wiling to give shows a chance and also the financial backing they need to be succesful. The show revolves around a fictional land that is ruled from the main city King’s Landing. There are 7 realms in all. The story itself is an adaptation from a series of books written by George R R Martin called A Song Of Ice And Fire.

This show has been critically acclaimed and the fan base has already become somewhat of a cult. It is approaching the end of its first season, but has already had a second season greenlit which is great news for fans. This is one of my favourite shows just now and with the off season break for all my other favourites until September, this has been a fantastic filler for the summer. Once this finishes its time for True Blood which I am not a huge fan of owing to the Vampire element to the show (I find vampires boring), but my wife is hugely anticipating the new season, so at least one of us will be happy. Anyway, check out the trailer for Game Of Thrones and perhaps you’ll give it a shot sometime.

 

T.V Tuesday

Has CSI: Las Vegas jumped the shark?

I ask this question today having completed Season 11 -  the latest season of the show. Last season saw the appearance of new guy on the block – although you wouldn’t think it – Raymond Langston played by Lawrence Fishburne. Now initially when I heard that he was the big name replacing William Peterson‘s Gil Grissom, I was pleased as I am a big fan of Mr Fishburne’s work. What I don’t appreciate is a character who we are told is a junior member of the CSI night shift team suddenly becoming all high and mighty and appearing to be something that he just isn’t.

The character comes across as this self-righteous do-gooder to whom shit will not stick. I shout “Nay!“. I have personally had enough of Dr. Ray Langston and his personal struggles with hate, rage and the marvellous Nate Haskill, a serial killer that I thought was a tremendous character, played by Bill Irwin. The viewing figures also demonstrate that CSI’s popularity is beginning to fade. With a drop of 6.5 Million viewers since Season 9 (the last with Grissom) it is clear to me that CBS are really going to have to pull out the stops in Season 12 which graces our screens in the autumn.

With a cliffhanger at the end of Season 11 with a conclusion that is so predictable its like spotting that the winner of Britain’s Got Talent is going to be the one with the biggest sob story, I don’t hold much hope for the start of the season. I think that Langston has to be put in his place and stop coming across to the viewer as the leader of the team, which he isn’t. Even Greg Sanders is more senior than him! Also, whats with Jorja Fox? She stopped doing the show as Sara Sidle because she wanted to try her hand at something else. What happened Jorja? not what you expected it to be? no parts or offers forthcoming? I don’t get the outcry there was when she left the show. I find her irritating to the point of distraction with her whiny nasal voice. She is however, exceedingly good at pointing out the blatantly bloody obvious – usually “a blood drop over hee-yar..”

In the most recent season, CBS brought to life a character from one of the “Level 26″ novels by CSI creator Anthony Zuiker called Sqweegel. This is a killer who meticulously plans and waits and watches a person who has committed a sin. He then gives them a warning and if they still do not repent, he kills them. The story was thrilling and the character was spine chilling. He lasted one episode and was forgotten about. To my mind, that was a big error. I understand they needed to finish the story arc with Langston and Haskill, but it was so drawn out it was just boring. Sqweegel could have been another “Miniature Killer” story that was exciting and disturbing at the same time. Hopefully he will make a reappearance in the next season, it would be crazy not to bring him back.

As a big fan of the show, this blog may sound very critical, but when the writing and storylines just havent been up to the usual standard of previous seasons, its hard to find any positives from the current cast line-up. Willows just looks bored all the time, Sanders is his usual chirpy self, but its obvious the actor wants more from the character, Langston is so depressing I wanna do myself in and Sidle is just so IRRITATING. One positive form the latest season was the sight of Lady Heather once more. Now a psychologist, she puts her previous career knowledge to good use in a more professional capacity. Yet another character seriously under used.

I think that if things don’t improve very early on in Season 12 which has been greenlit, then CSI: Las Vegas may be losing a viewer, and as the only show in the franchise that I watch, I would be disappointed to see it disappear from my viewing list, but if I don’t enjoy it, whats the point of watching? Investigate that Dr. Langston!

 

That’s Just Kids Stuff – Best Of British!

So I did the Japanese stuff already, lets come back home to Britain now and look at some of the classic kids TV theme tunes and show that we all loved and probably still do to this day. First up “Camberwick Green“.

There were three programmes in the family, Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley. Camberwick was always my favourite though and it wasn’t so much the tune to this, but more the music box. I remember fondly trying to guess who was coming out of the box on any given day. More often than not though, it was Windy Miller. I do like seeing Peter Hazell the Postman though, hehe. Any fans of both this and “Life On Mars“, the sci-fi/cop show with John Simm starring will love this next clip…

Lets move on. How about some “Rainbow“? What got me about this show was the fact that Bungle had to wear pyjamas to go to bed, but thought it was perfectly acceptable for a very young audience to see him parading around all day with no clothes on. Hmmm… Jeffrey? your pals have a lot to answer for. And yes I have seen the rude episode and have played with Jane’s maracas many a time =)

There are so many shows again here that I loved as a child and some that I still watch. Trumpton is one of my son’s favourites after I managed to get ahold of them to show him what proper telly is like and again like my last blog could go on forever, but next in my list would be “Dangermouse” A classic tune and show that had the talents of David Jason in it, so it must’ve been good…GRIEF!

I think my favourite one has to be this next clip though. The animation was superb, the idea very simple and it always had a happy ending. I give you “Chorlton & The Wheelies“. It was just very clever and I remember the kettle rattling on the hill. Enjoy and feel free to add your own favourite tunes and shows in the comments.

 

 

That’s Just Kids Stuff – Japanese Style!

After writing my TV theme tunes blog earlier today, someone commented that I should do one about Kids TV themes. It was always going to be my intention and so here is part one.

There were some cracking kids tv tunes when I was a little boy. (yes I know hard to believe I was). Anyway, there are so many I could literally go on forever here with them, but I shall post up some of my favourites. Lets start with probably everyone’s favourite – “Ulysses 31“

awesome, but it wasn’t my pick of the bunch, that will come later… There were loads of this type of cartoon on the go at the time all produced by the same folks – DiC Entertainment. They were usually Japanese animes re-dubbed for the English speaking audience and on the whole were bloody good. Another example of this was “Jayce & The Wheeled Warriors“. Now this tune rocked my Sunday mornings at 8am.

I bet your heads were going there eh? My favourite program was “Battle Of The Planets“. Adapted from the Japanese anime “Gatchaman“, all the violence was removed and to fill the time that left, they introduced 7 Zark 7, the robot that would re-cap the story. Anyway, I loved this show and I really hope that the planned CGI movie version of this is released very soon. I’ll leave you the original tune and then a CGI teaser. Enjoy.

Now lets see, what else was there? “M.A.S.K“, I wasn’t so keen on that, there was “Centurions“, yep, thats right, the one where they got loads of things joining on to them “Power Extreme!” but who can forget the timeless classic that is “He-Man“. It always did make me wonder why he had never tried out his “magic sword” before. Was he just wandering along the road one day and though “hmm I think I’ll hold aloft my magic sword and improvise some random words like..oh I dunno – by the power of Grayskull” ? I wonder what his early attempts were like.

1. I held aloft my nifty looking sword and said – sword, LIGHT UP!…nah
2. I ‘ll grab my sword from my back in a cool way and shout – I wanna be the most powerful man EVER!
3. I held aloft my MAGIC sword (I like it so far) and said – by the power of GRAYSKULL and Oh.. My…GOD! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

Heres the intro to that great cartoon. Incedentally, a new live action version is currently “in developement” and has been for a number of years. I hope it comes to fruition.

Watch out for part two of this blog coming very soon.

 

TV Theme Tunes Of My Youth

Whilst twittling some tunes this morning – “twittling”, for those of you who don’t know is a really annoying whistling – I started doing the Mike Post back catalogue of 80′s TV theme tunes. Mike Post was responsible for so many compositions and definitely carved out a niche in mid evening television. I started to think about which were his best ones, and indeed from other composers, and decided to write about it and give you some examples to see if you remember them as fondly as I do. I shall try to include the opening title sequence.

First up, “The A Team”. Saturday tea-times were the best time of the week for me when this was on. A classic program with some of the biggest names in film and television starring. The crime story, the zero body count, the conveniently placed mounds of earth to roll a jeep on and of course being locked in a room or garage with nothing but a pick-up truck or bulldozer, 2 inch thick sheet metal and a handy ARC welding kit. What more could you ask for?

Next on my list would be another Mike Post tune from the great show that was “Quantum Leap“. Very similar in style to The A Team, it was a little gentler and flowed much better, a more polished job I always though. Cracking series aswell. Was the bartender actually God? we shall never find out for sure…

What TV theme list would be complete without “Magnum P.I” ? That dodgy moustache and Hawaiian shirt and of course the Ferrari 308 GTS. I loved this show. The blend of crime and humour was just right with the comedy relief provided by Higgins, the manager of the estate with whom Magnum had to fight constantly to get anything from. A classic tune this one I’m sure you’ll agree.

I had to include the next one for its originality. It wasn’t the classic all action theme tune like The A Team. Lee Majors performed “Unknown Stuntman” for the show “The Fall Guy“. Now I wasn’t the biggest fan of this show really, I just loved his truck for some reason. I think it was because we didn’t really have anything like that in the UK, it was Land Rovers or cars. Pick-ups weren’t a big thing in 1981. I still enjoy the song though.

Next in my ever-increasing list here is “Knightrider“. This was my second favourite show when I was younger. The car was great, I mean who didn’t think that KITT was cool? even though in retrospect the actual car was about as crap as you could get; a 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am, just awful. The story was great, it was sci-fi, western version of  “The Lone Ranger“. The whirring noise of the red light on the front teased you enough to want more. Then the “duh-duh” started, you were in for a treat and we still all know how it goes to this day don’t we?

Finally today, I’m going to leave you with my favourite TV theme tune of that era, “Airwolf“. This is a true classic and will be remembered as one of the best theme tunes of ALL time, let alone the 80s. That show was my favourite one, the helicopter itself was sleek and dangerous looking, the guy with the patch on his glasses, Jan-Michael Vincent and of course the brilliant Ernest Borgnine to finish it off. Sit back and enjoy with me the tune written by Sylvester Levay. Oh, and turn the volume up, it deserves that much.

Perhaps you can leave comments with some of your favourite tunes from this era aswell =)

 

TV Heaven

I like US TV shows, mostly crime shows. A quick list of the ones I watch on a regular basis :

• Castle
• NCIS
• C.S.I (Las Vegas)
• The Mentalist
• Lie To Me
• Criminal Minds

I also watch The Office (the US version). I find it very funny and Steve Carrell has definately improved his comedy working on this show and the big movie offers are now coming in thick and fast for him.

I’ll update on the TV stuff (without giving too much away) as and when I see a few episodes of each series, so stay tuned…

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