The goggle box
Feb. 4th, 2011 02:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caz963There seem to be a few decent things coming up on the telly that I am determined to make the effort to watch. I managed to get all the way through Marchlands last night - and it wasn't bad. A bit of a slow start maybe, but I think it needed to be given the premise or it could have got very confusing very fast. The mystery is intriguing enough for me to want to watch again next week - although I'm not sure that Alex Kingston's "eh-oop!" northern accent is especially convincing!
The really scary thing though is that I keep forgetting that 1987 isn't just a few years ago now...
I watched the first two episodes of Boardwalk Empire on the new Sky Atlantic channel, which also promises a lot more new drama - whether I'll have time to watch any of it remains to be seen. But I liked Empire. The good thing about HBO (and other US cable) shows is that they're usually only 12-13 weeks long - and while I like to have good telly to watch, these days, committing to something for 22 or 23 weeks can be difficult.
The new BBC sci-fi thingy, Outcasts starts on Monday, so I'll be giving that a go, too.
Other than that, I'm catching up with S3 of Lie to Me. I still think Tim Roth is going a bit OOT with the physical mannerisms, but things seem to be picking up a bit on the storyline front, so I'll stick with it. How many more episodes are there?
Fringe continues to be awesome, and White Collar to be entertaining and well-made telly, so I'm sticking with those as well.
Sky keeps trailing a new series called Bedlam which looks a bit weird. Anyone know what that's about?
I have yet to catch up with Misfits and Being Human. I hate being so behind, but I keep promising myself that I'll get there!
The really scary thing though is that I keep forgetting that 1987 isn't just a few years ago now...
I watched the first two episodes of Boardwalk Empire on the new Sky Atlantic channel, which also promises a lot more new drama - whether I'll have time to watch any of it remains to be seen. But I liked Empire. The good thing about HBO (and other US cable) shows is that they're usually only 12-13 weeks long - and while I like to have good telly to watch, these days, committing to something for 22 or 23 weeks can be difficult.
The new BBC sci-fi thingy, Outcasts starts on Monday, so I'll be giving that a go, too.
Other than that, I'm catching up with S3 of Lie to Me. I still think Tim Roth is going a bit OOT with the physical mannerisms, but things seem to be picking up a bit on the storyline front, so I'll stick with it. How many more episodes are there?
Fringe continues to be awesome, and White Collar to be entertaining and well-made telly, so I'm sticking with those as well.
Sky keeps trailing a new series called Bedlam which looks a bit weird. Anyone know what that's about?
I have yet to catch up with Misfits and Being Human. I hate being so behind, but I keep promising myself that I'll get there!
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Date: 2011-02-04 02:49 pm (UTC)TR has also toned down Cal Lightman's mannerisms and is not such a prick in the later episodes.
My husband and I really liked Boardwalk Empire. I found Steve Buscemi's acting a bit obvious in the later episodes, but found it to be great storytelling overall even with the historical revisions and factual inaccuracies.
BTW, when will the BBC show that drama series with Christopher Eccelston? Also, has BBC2 shown The Crimson Petal and the White yet? I'm just finishing up the book and was looking forward to seeing the dramatic interpretation of the story.
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Date: 2011-02-04 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 02:54 pm (UTC)Not sure about Crimson Petal - I haven't heard about it, but then I don't watch that much to see trailers.
How many LtM eps are there in S3?
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Date: 2011-02-04 02:57 pm (UTC)I also found the plots to be a bit vague.
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Date: 2011-02-04 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 06:04 pm (UTC)Course it is! I graduated in '87, so it's only a couple of years back. Isn't it?
I had a look at the Sky Atlantic schedules the other day. Seems they've gone for the episode a day approach on a lot of stuff. That only works if you've got time to watch or record everything and manage to watch at the weekend. But it quickly gets overwhelming if you're trying to watch 3 shows every day and normal stuff weekly.
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Date: 2011-02-04 06:09 pm (UTC)Yes. I start fourth grade on Thursday. ;-)
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Date: 2011-02-04 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 08:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 06:21 pm (UTC)Yeah, I saw that in the Sky Atlantic schedules as well. But BE is on once a week, on Saturdays, so that's not too bad. This daily episode thing is frustrating though - not all of us have the time to watch every day or catch up with the ones we've missed every day. Weekly telly can be frustrating, but at least you DO end up watching it rather than giving up.
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Date: 2011-02-04 06:08 pm (UTC)I'm rather pissed with the regular American networks at the moment because of my two favorite new shows this season, one (The Whole Truth) was canceled after about five minutes and the other (Chase - see icon) has had its episode order cut and probably won't be back in the fall. Thank goodness NCIS is still going strong; otherwise I wouldn't have a reason to watch any of the regular channels because TPTB have no patience and seem unwilling to let shows develop real followings - if there aren't 18 million viewers straight away, the thing gets yanked, which is a huge waste of talent and money, and did I mention talent?
So, that brings me to cable, and specifically the USA network, which has quietly become the home of nearly all the best shows on television. I'm very happy that White Collar is back, because I want to hug Mozzie and snog Caffrey, who brings the added bonus of making someone named Neal sexy for the first time that I can recall. Fairly Legal is new and I like it; Sarah Shahi has an odd affinity for wearing too many necklaces at once but she brings back warm fuzzy memories of the days when Damian Lewis was on my TV looking really good in pants, and then there's Trucco, who is excellent and delicious. Speaking of excellent and delicious, Covert Affairs should be on again soon, so I can sit back and soak up the sublimely talented yummy that is Christopher Gorham. He was spending more and more time without a shirt on as the last season progressed, so here's hoping that trend continues. Dear producers, it will only make me love you more. Brad Whitford is going to be on In Plain Sight for at least one episode and hopefully more; really looking forward to that, and here's hoping Mary McCormack spends as much time as possible in bed with Cristian de la Fuente - lord knows I would if given half a chance.
On your side of the pond, I'm very impatient for the return of Law & Order: UK, which is just awesome and keeps me current on my British slang. Though I'm very sad that they got rid of James before he and Alecia could start knocking boots, and P.S. that wasn't nice what they did in the season finale, making her phone ring when they were about to kiss. If they have any laws against cruel and unusual punishment over there, someone needs to be arrested forthwith. And then, of course, there's Sherlock. Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbach. Need I say more? I think not.
Whew. That's all I have for the moment, but I'm sure you'll agree it's quite enough. :-)
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Date: 2011-02-04 06:27 pm (UTC)I'm not sure when L&O UK comes back - we haven't had the second half of the last series yet, although it's been broadcast in Canada (but I've seen them so that's okay!) Keeping it in the Doctor Who family, Peter Davison is taking over from Bill Paterson - but I can't remember who is taking over from Ben Daniels. The best part of that show is, IMO, Bradley Walsh. He was best known for appearing in Eastenders over here - which I don't watch because I loathe soaps. But he's fantastic in L&O.
The second series of Sherlock is underway I think - but I'm sure I read it will only be 3 or 4 episodes again. But that's okay - as long as they're all bloody good, I can live with a small number of them!
I saw the news about Brad being on In Plain Sight. I think it's on over here, but I'm not sure which channel, and I've not seen it. Isn't Josh Malina on it as well?
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Date: 2011-02-04 07:10 pm (UTC)Exactly! In the case of The Whole Truth (starring the lovely and gifted Maura Tierney, who also has a great name) I think they aired a total of four episodes before they pulled it. Um, hello! That's really all the chance you're going to give it? Really??? And I'm staring daggers at NBC right now because if they yank Chase, I will never forgive them. EVER.
[/girl crush on Kelli Giddish - she's smokin']
I'm not sure when L&O UK comes back - we haven't had the second half of the last series yet, although it's been broadcast in Canada (but I've seen them so that's okay!)
Oh, I'm glad I didn't spoil you! I shouldn't have put that in. :-(
The best part of that show is, IMO, Bradley Walsh.
Yes, he is excellent! And so is
Captain ApolloJamie. I think the two of them are great together. They did an interview on NPR a few weeks back - you should listen if you haven't already heard it. Good stuff.The second series of Sherlock is underway I think - but I'm sure I read it will only be 3 or 4 episodes again. But that's okay - as long as they're all bloody good, I can live with a small number of them!
Yes, there was more quality and depth and damn fine acting in the first three episodes of that show than can be found in entire seasons of other programs.
I think it's on over here, but I'm not sure which channel, and I've not seen it. Isn't Josh Malina on it as well?
Hmm, I can't help with the channel, I'm afraid - it's on the same one as White Collar over here, but it sounds like that's not the case where you are. Maybe try online at usanetworks dot com - they have video, not sure if you'll be able to watch it though (I can't see things on the BBC site, it won't load the player).
Josh Malina has been on it in the past, and so has Allison Janney, but neither of them are permanent characters, I'm afraid. JM is more recurring than AJ was, though, so perhaps we'll see him back this year.
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Date: 2011-02-04 07:20 pm (UTC)And yes, Bradley Walsh and Jamie Bamber are great together. Jamie Bamber is also in Outcasts which starts on the BBC on Monday - another good reason to watch :-)
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Date: 2011-02-04 07:29 pm (UTC)I'll have to look it up - I'm always in favor of more Jamie. :-)
but I'm a bit anal about telly shows in that I have to see EVERY episode of a long running show, so I don't know if I'll be able to catch up.
Yeah, there have been three seasons of IPS so far, so you'd have a job ahead of you if you wanted to watch them all! If I had to pick another one to rec, I'd say Covert Affairs. It reminds me of White Collar in some ways, but it's CIA instead of FBI. And Chris Gorham really is fascinating to watch - his character is blind, and if I hadn't googled to confirm that it wasn't true, I'd totally believe Chris was as well. He's very good, and that must be a challenge as an actor. And there's only been one summer season (shorter than a regular fall one) thus far, so less to catch up on. :-)
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Date: 2011-02-04 07:31 pm (UTC)"A group of courageous pioneers face a unique opportunity: the chance to build a new and better future on another planet."
and saw the chick with the short blond hair at the top of the page, I had to blink to make sure I wasn't reading about BSG. It looks good. :-)
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Date: 2011-02-04 08:55 pm (UTC)If this isn't a BSG clone, it sounds an awful lot like one!
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Date: 2011-02-04 09:02 pm (UTC)It's a BSG clone with Jamie, though, so I'm good with it. And maybe they'll manage to not totally botch the ending this time. Should have named the show Mulligan.
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Date: 2011-02-04 09:04 pm (UTC)/shallow
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Date: 2011-02-04 09:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 09:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-04 09:50 pm (UTC)Sadly no longer with Outcasts
Date: 2011-02-07 08:48 pm (UTC)Re: Sadly no longer with Outcasts
Date: 2011-02-07 10:37 pm (UTC)