Monthly Archives: February 2012

This blog post is a response to Grace’s post about The Only Way is Essex, with specific attention to her analysis on the disclaimer that opens the show. Essentially, text appears on the screen describing what can be expected in … Continue reading →

Found this interesting article that has a great argument against the Misfits remake that I completely agree with. Enjoy! http://www.themarysue.com/misfits-us-remake/

I am embarrassed to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Only Way is Essex (enough so that I continued to watch the second episode on Hulu immediately after). Something about the fact that it is a reality and staged … Continue reading →

                 From following British television shows like Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Misfits, I have realized that many U.K. dramas have much less focus on season-long narrative arcs than their American counterparts. Instead, these dramas have (pretty much) standalone episodes where … Continue reading →

There is something undeniably British about Misfits. As Faye Woods says in our reading, “…whilst inspired by US Teen TV, British Youth Television also seeks to define itself against it.” One of these “inspirational” US teenaged TV shows she mentions is … 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 →

HBO is adapting the British show The Thick of It, which we’re watching later this semester. TTOI is a hilarious show and from the looks of the trailer, in the hands of HBO, it’s potentially possible to do it some … Continue reading →

Lucky thirteen. Yes I have liked certain shows we have viewed this semester, even to the point I would chase them down and watch them (legally or not [here’s looking at you Doctor Who and Sherlock]).  However, I had yet … 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

Something that we briefly mentioned in class, but didn’t discuss specifically in our conversation after the screening was the way that shows like Downton fit into the four-step plan that ITV is going for (and tied Downton to in that … Continue reading →

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 →

After the screening this week, I thought a lot about how these three very different shows would work in America. As we all know, Downton Abbey has become an international phenomenon – including here in the United States – but … 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 →

Prior to our class screening, I asked one of my friends from London about Downton Abbey.  His response?  “I’ve heard it’s excellent, but my mum watches it, so I’ve stayed away.” I think it’s interesting to point out that my … 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 →