Behind The Screen!
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September 18, 2009 · By
Hey folks.
Now, one of the biggest stories this week was Kanye West’s stage invasion at the MTV Video Awards. What is it with West’s and burying young girls? The thing is, he mounted the stage and Taylor Swift actually gave him the microphone. Has she not heard him sing? I’d have given him the shirt off my back rather than a mic. Kanye was apparently upset because Beyonce’s video was one of the greatest of all time. Really? I don’t see how putting a bodybuilders legs on a woman’s body is so amazing. Now even Barak Obama has joined in, apparently calling Kanye West a ‘Jackass’ in an off the record conversation – let’s hope we see him falling from a great height or getting kicked in the nuts like Steve-O very soon.
So, Television, the drug of the nation…
Big news this week was the passing of Patrick Swayze at the age of 57.
The actor, who had been battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years, died with family at his side on Monday.
Swayze was diagnosed with advanced stage four pancreatic cancer in January last year but had defied the illness and medical logic by fighting off the disease past its normal threshold. Only recently, regular readers of my column would have watched an excellent interview with Swayze and his wife on FiveUsa in the UK which was heartbreaking as much as it was inspiring. At the end of the show I left thinking that nothing would break his spirit or determination; so his death did, for me, come as a shock.
The actor had been starring in US TV show The Beast since being diagnosed with the disease and I was a big fan of the gritty cop drama in which Swayze – of whom I’ve not been the biggest fan over the years – was excellent.
A brave man and an excellent actor.
So last Thursday night’s ‘Vampire Diaries’ series opener that i reviewed for you pulled in the largest ever audience for a CW premiere in the US, according to the latest figures.
The show, which stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley as warring vampire brothers, pulled in 4.84m during the 8pm hour.
Over on The CW, the season premiere of ‘Supernatural’ that i also looked at, logged 3.39m, down from last year’s 3.96m.
Later in the week, the ‘King Of The Hill’ series finale performed well for Fox on Sunday night. An average of 6.11m tuned in at 8pm for a special hour-long goodbye to the show.
This is one of the craziest ideas I’ve heard for a while – ABC is reportedly plotting a US version of BBC sitcom ‘Gavin & Stacey’. The show almost entirely relies on its regional Welsh accent and cultural ‘in jokes’ for its comedy, so how they can replicate that elsewhere I’ve no idea.
According to Variety, the network will remake the comedy series for American audiences without the help of writers James Corden and Ruth Jones also.
ABC is said to have ordered a pilot for the series, which will be made by BBC Worldwide, along with two other sitcoms – one from Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith and the other from the executive producer of ‘Samantha Who’, Don Todd. ‘Samantha Who’ that completely blew too.
‘Gavin & Stacey’ joins other British remakes stateside, including ‘The Office’ (good) and ‘Life On Mars’ (awful).
Earlier this year, Corden announced that the third series of the British version of ‘Gavin & Stacey’ will be the last.
Former ‘Reaper’ star Ray Wise has landed a role on the second season of ‘Dollhouse’, says Entertainment Weekly.
The 62-year-old actor, who played Lucifer for two years on The CW and E4 series, which was disappointingly axed, has reportedly been lined up for a recurring role on the Joss Whedon drama. Series 2 of ‘Reaper’ is running as we speak on Thursday nights on E4. The show is great primarily due to the performance of Tyler Labine who plays Bert ‘sock’ Wysocki – the guy is FUNNY and will be a big star in the future.
Wise’s previously television credits include ‘Twin Peaks’, ’24′ and ‘Psych’. He’s just got the weirdest face hasn’t he? Sets him up perfectly to play those odd roles.
Summer Glau, Jamie Bamber and Keith Carradine have also signed on to appear in the second season of ‘Dollhouse’, which premieres Friday, September 25 on Fox in the US.
In further casting news, Carlos Bernard, who played Tony Almeida on ‘24′, will be appearing in the upcoming back half of season 3 of ‘Burn Notice’. I enjoyed the first season, shown on the best channel we have in the UK – FX – and season two is about to debut on Sky 3 starting Friday at 11pm.
Details on whether he’ll be a client or a nemesis of Michael Westen, played by Jeffrey Donovan, has yet to be disclosed; although I wouldn’t wanna spoil it anyway!
The second season of ‘Fringe’ premieres Thursday in the US – which is too late for me to review – but I will report back to you next week. Season one was a huge success in the UK as much as Stateside and is one I’m really looking forward to, following the ‘jump to alternate universe’ ending of the first season. “The second year is much tighter,” Blair Brown, who plays the mysterious Nina Sharp, who may or may not be the villain of the show; told the LA Times. “The writing is wittier, more complicated but also there’s clarity to the stories and character. And we are all speaking with quite different voices. The rhythm of show is clear now.” Should be interesting!
Another Imported US show that I’ve failed to mention so far in my columns is ‘Harper’s Island’ currently showing on BBC3. Produced by Jon Turteltaub who made the excellent ‘Jericho’ - the show is a good old fashioned ‘who dunnit?’ amped up for the teen slasher generation. I thought I’d hate it, teen slasher movies have been done to death and a TV version going down a similar road doesn’t appeal to me – but four episodes in and I’m pretty hooked. Catch up with repeats if you can – some of which are still on iPlayer. I actually sat and watched the first four in a row and it worked for me.
Ok – so what do you look out for this week? -
- As mentioned earlier ‘Burn Notice’ season two begins on Sky3 at 11pm on Friday night. Great first series, and reports from the US are good!
- Secondly ‘Peep Show’ returns Friday at 10pm on Channel 4 for a new series. David Mitchell and Robert Webb now have a pregnant Sophie to deal with..
- Again on Friday, at 9pm – I realize I’m doing this in reverse time now – is Derren Brown’s latest experiment ‘How to control the Nation’ where he’s planning on making us all stick to our chairs and not be able to move. This is Britain, have you seen the obesity crisis? If i could get up i couldn’t be arsed anyway. If you’re watching, make sure you go to the loo first..
- Wednesday at 11.05 pm on E4 is Demetri Martin – Person which is the American Standup’s 2007 live show in Texas. I thought it was so good i bought the DVD so I definitely recommend watching, especially as a comedian who’s relatively still unknown over here. If you steal his jokes, always quote the reference eventually – its the rules
- Lastly, next Thursday at 10pm on E4 sees Leigh Francis’ return as Michael Jackson in ‘Cha’Mone – Mo’Fo Selecta!’. A special ‘tribute’ show, lets see how far he pushes the envelope with his rubber faced antics
So there we have it – see you next week you saucy devils!
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