Author Archives: Christine

Faye Woods on The Only Way is Essex (and a failed Channel 4 reality show): “The failure of Seven Days in the face of the success of The Only Way is Essex has made me think about what we Brits really want from our docusoaps. … Continue reading →

As a kid of the 90s, the class on British idents yesterday took me back to Nickelodeon immediately. Essentially idents–full of characters, songs, and the Nick logo–these Nick promos are strong branders for the kids’ channel. What are called bumpers … Continue reading →

So at least one network is happy to pick up a Julian Fellowes-penned miniseries: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Downton-Abbey-Julian-Fellowes-Titanic-1043587.aspx

I had not thought about it before, but I realized in looking up information on Benidorm that every episode but one has been written by Derren Litten. Likewise, every episode of TV Burp is attributed to Harry Hill, while also … Continue reading →

There is one major reason why I think “Downton Abbey” works (at least for me) which any of you have not continued your viewing will not totally get – the characters. The characters – from the too-good Anna to the … Continue reading →

Not TV, but relevant enough: “A billboard that went up on Wednesday in London uses facial-recognition technology to know – 90% of the time – whether you’re a man or woman. And it gives you a different advertisement depending on … Continue reading →

Just as Maija mentioned in class yesterday, Adele received an apology for being kicked off stage at the Brit Awards–but not before she flipped off the camera! http://perezhilton.com/2012-02-23-adele-brit-awards-execs-apology-middle-finger

What’s interesting to me about this (besides the fact that it’s hilarious) is that the first few minutes in particular mock the show for being pretentious. The idea that an ITV show would be targeted for pretentiousness is significant. (Also, … Continue reading →

An excellent House/Sherlock crossover vid, taking advantage of the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch once played Hugh Laurie’s son in a 2003 TV series. But one warning: the ending of Sherlock‘s Series 2 is spoiled near the end, so don’t watch past … Continue reading →

Kim Akass says don’t forget that Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is also sexist. But here’s a brief defense of the show (after a section about how boring BBC docs about the countryside are): “Is it exploitative? Is it voyeuristic? Is … Continue reading →

If BBC is the staid channel of British television, providing programming that looks to “inform, educate, and entertain,” than Channel 4 is its rambunctious little sister that nevertheless is supposed to impress. Channel 4’s reigning motto is “Television with a … Continue reading →

Here’s a Charlie Brooker Screenwipe bit indicating that British TV isn’t very different from American TV after all:

As this LA Times article explains, BBC Worldwide has an American branch, and it’s focused on doing US remakes of British shows, like Top Gear. This line in particular stood out: “The company also is mulling a Doctor Who feature film … Continue reading →

The screening which struck me most this week was certainly Black Mirror, a program which gets its name from the opaque screens of televisions, computers, and phones saturating all our lives. I’ll try not to make this post a contemplation … Continue reading →

Our war is undeniably unique – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it, at least not on the American TV that I watch. It felt honest and unbiased in a way that I find is rarely the case with most depictions of … Continue reading →