Archive for the ‘First Look’ Category

First Look: The Wire, Season 5 + David Simon and Charlie Brooker

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

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It doesn’t take much to start me off on a little empassioned rant about how great The Wire is, so the fact that I had tickets to attend the preview screening of the first episode of Season 5 of The Wire at the BFI last night was almost enough to send me into a foaming froth of near collapse.

As if a preview wasn’t enough, David Simon – the show’s creator – was there to answer questions from Wire evangelist, Charlie Brooker, and an audience of hand clasping Wire devotees.

Keep reading to find out what I thought of Season 5 of the BEST SHOW EVER, and for David Stone’s interview.

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Posted in Drama, First Look, TV Reviews | No Comments »

First Look: Bonekickers, the BBC’s new ‘Time Team meets Indiana Jones’ drama series

Monday, June 16th, 2008

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It’s amazing what people come up with, isn’t it? I know, let’s make a TV series that mixes the best bits of Time Team with the best bits of Indiana Jones. This faintly ludicrous concept would have been laughed out of town if it wasn’t for the fact that it came from the brains of Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham, the writers and creators of Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes. That combo makes people sit up and take notice. So Bonekickers is a mixture of Time Team and Indiana Jones then, and I went to a screening of it last Thursday (because of the usual embargoes I couldn’t write about it until today). I have to say with muffled embarrassment that I am a sucker for all that Indiana Jones/Da Vinci Code adventure spin on history. I know, I know. You don’t have to say it. It’s one of my weaknesses. So I can report that Bonekickers, due to start early next month, is really rather good.

Update: Read John’s review of the first episode here.

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Posted in Bonekickers, Coming Soon..., First Look | 18 Comments »

First look: Dexter, series two

Friday, June 6th, 2008

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Yes, I know. You’ve probably seen it already, but indulge me. If you love Dexter (and I know at least 10 people that do) you won’t mind me banging on about it. After all there’s nothing better than seeing (or hearing) something before everyone else and then seeing the faces (or, in this case, words) of those who are catching up. Call me old fashioned but I don’t go near all that Torrent stuff, so I’m coming at series two of Dexter as fresh as a daisy so those that have seen it can say “awww… look at his little face”. I watched series one again on ITV recently, and FX has purposefully held back series two to accomodate any new viewers this run attracted. Anyway, FX had a series two shebang (well, screening) last night at the Apollo cinema in London. That’s right… Dexter Morgan on a big screen. How scary was that?!

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First Look: Satisfaction

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

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Here’s something a bit weird. I received a DVD and a press pack from a PR company showcasing a new Australian series about sex workers in an upmarket Sydney brothel (I think it was Sydney). It’s called Satisfcation. It looks glossy, populated full of beautiful people and boasts the kind of storylines that would make the Sex And The City crowd go bananas. However, the series doesn’t have a channel (yet) over here, so I wondered exactly why I was taking a look.

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First Look: Doctor Who. Verdict: Catherine Tate not bad. David Tennant great as ever

Monday, March 31st, 2008

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Last week, I was invited to BBC Television Centre to watch the first two episodes of the new series of Doctor Who. I would have reported on this sooner if pain of death and utter confidentiality hadn’t been threatened and promised. I enjoyed the last series, but not as much as the previous three, and there were some serious questions lingering in the back of my mind. David Tennant is just amazing in all he does, so his portrayal of the Timelord wasn’t an issue. For me the key questions were: Could a series that slightly lost its way get back on track? And, perhaps the burner, could Catherine Tate make her casting as the Doctor’s assistant look like a masterstroke of utter genius, despite most Who fans dissing her appointment?

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Posted in Doctor Who, First Look | 3 Comments »

Ashes To Ashes – first look

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

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Last night I found myself sitting around nine inches away from Keeley Hawes and around half a foot away from Philip Glenister. Before you ask, I hadn’t gone on one of my Tuesday-night stalking missions. I was lucky enough to be at the press launch of Ashes To Ashes, the eagerly anticipated follow-up to Life On Mars (remember that show? We may have done a bit of coverage on it). I know, I know – look at me, look at me. But c’mon… if you had just gone to the press launch of a series you’re looking forward to more than your next meal, you’d scream from the rooftops too. I guarantee it.

I walked into the Curzon cinema, in Soho (yes, yes, look at me, look at me), and was ushered into a quasi-VIP area. There was Keeley Hawes! There was Philip Glenister! In fact, there were all the cast! And there was Matthew McFayden too! It was a really super sight, I can tell you. Soon, we were all ushered down into the cinema to watch the opening episode. I know you want one question answered – is it any good? You’ll have to click over the jump to find out.

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Posted in Drama, First Look, TV News | 8 Comments »

Thank God You’re Here – First Look

Friday, January 11th, 2008

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I went to the filming of the first show of ITV1′s brand-new improv show Thank God You’re Here last night. I managed to get some tickets from one of those free-ticket places, and I was really looking forward to it – Paul Merton hosts, and if anyone looked at some of the clips Mof posted up a while back (this series originates in Australia) they would have laughed their socks off. It just looked fresh, funny, had the merest whiff of Whose Line Is It Anyway? about it and was something to be looked forward to. We all know that Merton is a sharp and funny panel show guest, and is proud of his improv roots.

This series, on paper, seems to suit him down to the ground. What viewers will see tomorrow night (ITV1, 9.05pm) is Merton hosting and asking a comedy guest to walk into a room. They have no idea what will be in that room, and they will have to improv their way through a scene. Actors will be there, asking questions and gooing through the scenario. On paper, it sounds great fun. But then again anything can look good on paper.

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Posted in Comedy, First Look, TV Reviews | 6 Comments »