? Despite all the obvious factors that might keep someone away: a 465 minute running time, the dismal and depressing sounding title, the possible cliff notes flashbacks, and the fact that this is not another breezy Austen romance, I promise Bleak House is a thoroughly entertaining affair.

Charles Dickens's epic is adapted with high production values, a captivating script and a great cast that includes including a quivering Gillian Anderson as lady Honoria Deadlock, a bored wealthy woman with a dark secret; Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley), who has great fun as the “child-like” scoundrel Harold Skimpole; and, far too briefly, the late Ian Richardson as the chancellor presiding over the legal case that's basically another character, Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce. As could be expected from any Dickens work, there are beloved street urchins, good loyal men (my favorite is the gorgeously mutton chopped weapons master, Sergeant George played by Hugo Speer) who become victims of hypocrisy and lawyers–villainous creatures with fittingly vile names like Tulkinghorn and Smallweed.

It's a faithful adaptation that gives life and a modern edge to the scope of the original panoramic work. There are several story lines and characters to keep track of and all of them are rich and intriguing. It's a romance, a legal drama, a tragedy, a revenge story, a mystery, and even a detective story all in one!

See more: TV Shows

Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on February 4, 2008

Back in the 50's, 60's and 70's, the BBC decided they had a “tape shortage” and found no reason to record the perceived “inferior” entertainment of television and actually began recording over several of their programs; a practice that painfully confuses a pack rat like me. Among the victims are early seasons of Dr. Who and, very sadly, the first two seasons of the spiffy magic themed children's program, Ace of Wands.

The new box set, which contains the entire third (and only surviving) series and a heartbreakingly tantalizing booklet with complete information on the lost episodes which starred the ultra babe Judy Loe (Kate Beckisdale's mother) as Lulli. I will never get to see the episode The Mind Robbers where, “Hypnotised by Zandar, Lulli lures Tarot into a trap.?Zandar and the Fat Boy open their sinister box of tricks with surprising results.” Nor will I get to see?The Eye of Ra wherein, “Using telepathy, Lulli communicates to Tarot that she is a prisoner in Sir John Peckham's vaults and that she has been turned into a 6-inch high chalk statue. Tarot races to her rescue, but someone else is waiting for him.”

The tragedy of lost episodes is not the show's only similarity to Dr Who. Both have sound stage sets and minimal outdoor filming combined to a jarring effect, long plot arcs that slowly (sometimes very slowly) unfold, and in a way (especially compared to today's razzmatazz, quick as lightning children's programming) both could be almost considered bit boring by children today. Not by me or my friends who were wrapped up in the fun and imagination of the show. This is perfect afternoon viewing.

In the third season, Michael Mackenzie stars as the magician, Tarot, who finds himself in a cursed London marketplace when he answers an ad for a new exciting invention for stage magicians posted two weeks ago in the the classifieds. The author of the ad is a kind, pock marked hipster named Chas whose wide eyed and maxi skirted sister Mikki turns out to share a telepathic bond with Tarot; so he decides to stay on with the siblings and solve the problems at the local market, of course!

Oh, and he brings along an owl named Ozymandias and the evil people are a street band headed by “Spoon”, a handsome bearded dude dressed, in my opinion, very snazzily (boys on Bedford Ave should take notes: A marching band jacket, a striped polo and a beat up hat trump a Brooklyn industries hoodie).

We've only seen first story arch of season three, called The Meddlers and we're excited for more–particularly The Beautiful People (which has evil hippies) and Peacock Pie (described thus: “A bank robbery – and the robber not even present at the time! A man who uses torn-up paper as money. And Mikki's sudden feeling that she needs a holiday. These are the ingredients of a new adventure for Tarot, Mikki and Chas.”).

I first heard about the show from Cinedelica which posted the incredible Donovanesque theme song and intro that drew me in. I'm sure it will hold an allure for you too if you like archaic TV with a mod magic twist (and surely everyone likes that).

This was a dearly beloved show in England and its DVD release has been met with sheer joy, but you'll have to order from amazon.co.uk and have an all region DVD player to enjoy.

See more: TV Shows

Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on January 21, 2008

With the writer's strike still carrying on and the subsequent lack of new shows, I have had to venture to less explored territory on my dial to find shows to record via dvr. Classic Albums on VH1 Classics is one of those shows. I was enthralled, of course, by the description “Fleetwood Mac's “Rumours”” and became an instant fan of this thoughtful and in depth documentary series.

The show works in nice contrast to the loud, quippy, fast paced trivial fluff that airs on most music networks. Rather than showing small soundbytes from these influential rockers, Classic Albums penetrates the creative process and struggles that produced such timeless works like Rumours, American Beauty, Who's Next, Dark Side of the Moon, Metallica's Black Album, and Disreali Gears.

The inner workings of the bands, the way in which so many creative talents come together to make music, is documented with such a genuine interest in the music and the process here, rather than just the celebrity gossip with which everyone is obsessed, that this series really stands out against many others. The added bonus of hearing about the recordings from the preceptive of the producers and engineers is engaging and rarely seen.

Unfortunately, the series is finite, there are as far as I can tell no new episodes, but the series is currently airing on VH1 Classics and available on DVD.

See more: TV Shows

Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on January 7, 2008

As Vanilla Ice and hypercolor opened the ugliest decade, a real classic – the famous perpetually burning Yule Log, was taken off the air due to the lack commercial revenue. Way to have the Christmas spirit WPIX general manager, Michael Eigner! The man who used to fill your shoes – the ingenious Fred Thrower would be turning in his grave if he knew the tricks you were up to.

Thrower began the yule log one Christmas in 1966 after feeling sympathy for all the New Yorkers, huddled in their apartments without a fireplace (usually) to warm them. Hence, the idea to put one on TV for all to enjoy!

When it was taken off the air people were outraged, but nothing changed until the attacks on September 11th, which made even the money hungry television executives see the importance of small comforts. I plan on watching Christmas Eve and Day if only because I have sat through too many Rachel Ray Eats for Forty Dollars a Day By Not Tipping and Eating Old Bread marathons to last me several lifetimes. Also, with so many channels and so much hollow garbage on TV, it is great to have something so simple to turn to – it's like television comfort food (for less than forty dollars a day).

Which reminds me of a This American Life episode I heard years ago about a man who wanted to create The Puppy Channel that just showed cute puppies all day long. No one ever took him up on the offer, (though it now exists online), but I think they were all fools. I have seen my father in law use a huge 60 inch TV just to listen to smooth jazz radio and see photos of the sea, so I think there would be a huge audience for kittens and puppies. After all, the yule log was the highest rated thing on TV the year it was reinstated.

See more: TV Shows

Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on December 24, 2007

Here again is another British show that you can only watch on youtube and lament the lack of funny on our shores. Nevermind the Buzzcocks has been around for years but I only just found out about it and dove into this absolute gem of an episode with Noel Fielding and Donny Tourette.. don't know who that is? Well, apparently he's a punk rocker and an ass.

He won't be the only thing unfamiliar to you, lots of the show is admittedly gobbly gook, as the foreign cultural references are well, foreign. Very impressive then that it is still so watchable and hilarious.

It's a panel comedy show where celebrities like Amy Winehouse, David Cross, Slash, and a host of people you've not heard of attempt to answer questions about music. Sounds simple enough, but with the help of one acid tongued, brilliantly funny host, Simon Amstell, it is an uproariously good time. Nothing is off limits to him and often he ends up mocking the guests quite savagely. Amstell replaced the long time host Mark Lamarr a couple years back. But of course you can still see his shows on youtube (though I personally prefer Amstell who is infinitely adorable).

See more: TV Shows

Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on December 10, 2007