Posts Tagged ‘medical’
Thursday, October 25th, 2007
We usually like to give a bit of advance warning when selecting programmes for our ‘set the video’ category, but such has been my utter disinterest in recent Grey’s Anatomy offerings that I completely forgot that tonight’s instalment is, in fact, the last in the series. With that realisation, I come to you as a GA fan so that we can cross our fingers, silently pray and do all that we can to hope that the season three climax is a marked improvement on the show’s recent slump. And so, as we hit the home stretch, how do we think it will end? Will Alex admit to his feelings for Jane Doe/ Eva/ Rebecca? Will the tiresome love triangle between Callie, Izzie and George finally come to an end and will the interns have passed their exams?
One of the problems that GA has developed is its swollen cast. Each character cannot possible be given the screen time they deserve and so, rather than more stream-lined efforts with smaller casts and more focused story-telling, the show desperately strives to cram in everyone and everything. All this means that some sagas will inevitably go unresolved tonight, and most probably bleed into season four, but there are at least two that require immediate attention: the exits of Addison and Burke.
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Tags: Burke, Drama, Grey's Anatomy, hospital, import, interns, Isaiah Washington, Living, medical, surgeons, television, TV
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, Set the Vid | No Comments »
Friday, October 19th, 2007
After last week’s less than subtle introduction to Private Practice, the upcoming Addison-based spin-off show, it was back to Seattle Grace for the penultimate episode in this faltering season of surgical shenanigans. The interns were busy preparing to take their intern exams, Burke was fretting over his upcoming nuptials to Cristina and Meredith had just lost her step-mother. It’s all in a days work for this lot.
The Alex/Jane Doe plot dragged its heels for another week, with the amnesiac revealing that she had regained her memory. She was called Rebecca Pope, had left her dull husband when injured in the ferry crash and had no intention of reclaiming a life she was happy to have left behind. Alex was stunned by the news, clearly hurt that she had concealed the information from him, as their patient/doctor relationship grew ever more complicated.
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Tags: American, doctors, Drama, Grey's Anatomy, hospital, import, interns, Living, medical, Meredith, Seattle Grace, surgeons, television, TV
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, October 5th, 2007
If I was in a generous mood I might claim that last night’s Grey’s Anatomy was an improvement on recent episodes. Sadly, I’m not and it wasn’t. Thankfully there was slightly less of the George/Callie/Izzie love triangle and a bit more of the neglected characters – Bailey, Sloan and Addison, but such slight changes are not enough to save a show dangerously on the slide.
Obviously I still watch it and will continue to do so. I understand that even at its worst it is still superior to the soaps, reality shows and makeover drivel that dominate the airwaves. When I berate GA for being poor and disappointing, I’m not comparing to this ropey fare but against the high standards it has set itself. This is the show that introduced the prefixing of ‘Mc’ into our language with McDreamy and McSteamy, established Katherine Heigl as Hollywood’s new golden girl and caused a colossal row over the other ‘f’ word. It has shown us bombs in bodies, ferry crashes at harbours and countless illicit romances. Come on Grey’s – give us what we want!
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Tags: Drama, Grey's Anatomy, hospital, interns, Living, medical, Seattle Grace, surgeons, television, TV
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Thursday, October 4th, 2007
The housewives better not be planning any trips to the Philippines soon. The suburban comedy/ drama has just returned for its fourth season in the States and has already upset the Filipino community with a flippant joke mocking their country’s medical education. The slur occurred when Teri Hatcher’s character Susan Mayer, shocked at her doctor’s suggestion that she might be going through the menopause, demanded to see his diplomas “just to make sure they aren’t from some school in the Philippines”.
The programme’s network, ABC, has issued a formal apology after an online petition with nearly 53,000 names called for immediate action. The stink has even reached political circles, with Francisco Dugue III, the country’s Health Secretary claiming he will contact the show’s producers expressing his nation’s “vehement protest”. ABC are said to be considering removing the offensive gag before it airs again, which would mean that us UK viewers only see the cleaned-up version. Still, it all sounds like a lot of fuss over nothing – I could have told Teri she was due the menopause soon.
[via BBC Online]
Tags: ABC, apology, Channel 4, Comedy, Desperate Housewives, doctors, Drama, Filipino, joke, medical, mocks, offends, suburban, Susan Mayer, Teri Hatcher, the Philippines
Posted in Channel 4, Comedy, Drama, Imports, TV News | 1 Comment »
Friday, September 28th, 2007
And the slump continues in an episode appropriately titled ‘Time After Time’. Sure there are the odd moments that restore your faith, such as Sloan offering to be the Chief’s ‘wing-man’ as he re-enters the dating game – but these are sadly few and far between. Grey’s Anatomy has clearly hit a wall in its third season and so we are being treated to slow-moving stories, uninspired repetition and Meredith whining at her well-meaning stepmother – lucky us.
The Karev/ Jane Doe plot and the George/ Callie/ Izzie love triangle are the main offenders. They drag on predictably. What have we done to deserve such tedious story-lines? Once upon a time I looked forward to my weekly dose of action from Seattle Grace, now it really is like a trip to the doctors – lots of waiting around for something to happen until the inevitably vague verdict and the feeling of ‘why did I bother?’ Why has the pace slowed to that of a snail’s? And why are the more interesting characters (Addison, Bailey, Sloan) constantly being side-lined to make room for the hysterical playground antics of the others? If there is a tonic to cure the malaise that has enveloped GA it better arrive soon – as there are only five episodes left of the season and I don’t know that I can make it until the end.
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Tags: doctors, Drama, Grey's Anatomy, hospital, interns, Living, medical, review, Seattle Grace, surgeons, television, TV
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, September 21st, 2007
My suspicions were confirmed by 11pm last night – Grey’s Anatomy has hit a slump. After a poor episode last week we were treated to an even worse one yesterday, with the medical drama becoming slow, repetitive and dreary. How I hate sticking the boot in like this – but come on and prove me wrong Grey’s. There’s nothing like a return to form to make a girl forgive and forget.
The race to become Chief continued with Marlow presenting the hospital’s board with a ten year plan, much to the annoyance of the current Chief. Sloan also fared well with a ‘right now’ policy stolen from a chance conversation with Bailey, while Derek was too distracted by Meredith to focus on work. Blah blah blah. Further blah came in the shape of Karev’s burgeoning friendship/ romance with the mushy-faced Jane Doe. Last night saw him help the unidentified woman pick a face – dear God. How long can this dull plot drag along for? I’m bored by it, Hell even Karev looks like he’d rather be somewhere else. Let’s pick up the pace people!
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Tags: doctors, Drama, Grey's Anatomy, hospital, Living, medical, medics, My Favourite Mistake, surgeons, television, TV
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, August 17th, 2007
Last week’s episode ended with my eyes bugging out and my jaw gaping in a manner somewhat less than attractive. Why? Because Foreman had tendered his resignation to House and was looking to flee the hospital before he became any more like his grouchy mentor – that’s why. This week’s instalment picked up where the previous one ended and Foreman was under scrutiny for his decision.
Chase persistently endeavoured to identify the reason why Foreman was off and was intrigued that neither the departing doc nor House would tell him why. Cameron was less pushy and was rewarded for her patience, with Foreman opening up to her with his private motivations. Whether he will actually leave is still anyone’s guess, with House seeming confident that he won’t. He accused Foreman of secretly wishing to stay, but during the course of the episode Foreman seemed even more appalled by House’s behaviour than normal. And, as we know, normal for him is pretty bad.
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Tags: Addie, doctors, Dr. Allison Cameron, Dr. Eric Foreman, Dr. Gregory House, Dr. James Wilson, Dr. Robert Chase, Drama, Five, hospital, House, medical, patient
Posted in Drama, Five, Imports, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, August 3rd, 2007
I was not aware, until I snuggled on my sofa at 10pm last night and flicked over to Living TV, that Grey’s Anatomy was to be a double-billed affair. Night-time me rejoiced at an extra hour of Seattle Grace hospital, while morning me groaned at the later-than-planned bedtime and inevitable sleepiness the next day. Well, happily night-time me won out – and I’m pleased she did, as the two episodes were pretty non-stop.
With so many characters and so many long-established storylines, GA has been sagging under its own weight in recent weeks. Thankfully, those that had been neglected for too long were finally given their chance to flex their acting chops. Most notably, McSteamy. Since his arrival in Seattle, the plastic surgeon has whined about coffee, been rude to his interns and slept with both Addison and Callie – and that’s about it. All until yesterday. For a hefty chunk, he remained unchanged – in the background and repeating old behaviours. I was once again lamenting the waste of an intriguing character, until the bombshell: he was angry with Addison for having aborted their baby.
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Tags: Addison, Burke, Callie, Cristina, Derek, doctors, Drama, George, Grey's Anatomy, hospital, interns, Izzie, Karev, Living TV, McDreamy, McSteamy, medical, Meredith, Miranda, Mr. O'Malley, Seattle, Seattle Grace, Sloan, surgeons, the Chief
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV Reviews | 3 Comments »
Thursday, August 2nd, 2007
I love House. I love Emma Thompson (come on – how could you not?) and the rumoured merging of the two could leave me so excited that I might need to lie down in a darkened room. IMDb is reporting that Oscar winner Em (I saw her once from afar, and so now feel like we’re on first name terms), wants to be in the hit medical drama alongside ex-boyfriend Hugh Laurie. The two have remained chums since they dated back in their Cambridge days (pictured right), starring together in Peter’s Friends and Sense and Sensibility.
Hugh is just as excited at the prospect saying “She (Thompson) genuinely does watch it. It obviously goes out in a different season in the U.K. but she does follow the show and likes it very much and would love to be on it.” However, our Hugh is no mug and is keen not to sound like a demanding diva, dictating who should star in his show: “Obviously I would never feel I was in a position to treat this as some sort of club, where I can have… ‘Oh, just mention my name. They’ll let you in.’” But perhaps you could make an exception for Emma? Make it happen, make it happen, make it happen!
Tags: actress, doctor, Dr. Gregory House, Drama, Emma Thompson, House, Hugh Laurie, medical, Oscar-winner
Posted in Drama, Five, Imports, TV Tittle Tattle | No Comments »
Friday, July 27th, 2007
And so second in my double bill of doctors, comes Grey’s Anatomy. I’ve previously had a whinge about the tendency for the Grey’s writers to overlook and neglect some of their more interesting characters and again, last night they were guilty as charged. As much as I love this show, they need to trim their cast (with Isaiah Washington fired and Kate Walsh given her own spin-off, maybe things will look up), as an hour episode reduces some to mere background players.
Again Sloan was two-dimensional. He got to choose which intern could work with him for the day and opted for Izzie, as she would be “good to look at.” However, unlike her predecessor Alex, Izzie wasn’t prepared to become a lackey for the egotistical plastic surgeon and refused to oblige his orders for coffee. Quite predictably, Izzie’s uncompromising feistiness impressed Sloan and after what has seemed like years on the sidelines observing, Sloan allowed Izzie to scrub in and watch at close range a difficult operation on conjoined twins.
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Tags: Alex, Burke, cancer, conjoined twins, doctors, father, George, Grey's Anatomy, import, Isaiah Washington, Izzie, Kate Walsh, LivingTV, McDreamy, medical, Meredith, Miranda, operation, plastic surgery, programme, show, Siamese twins, Sloan, surgeons, surgery, the Chief, TV, USA
Posted in Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, July 27th, 2007
I love my Thursday night TV double whammy of House at 9 and then Grey’s Anatomy at 10. Such yummy medical goodness. But alas and alack, last night’s episode of House was number 19 out of 24, which means an unwanted disruption to my nice scheduling is looming at the end of August – boo hiss. Still, I am determined to enjoy it while I can and last night’s episode of House was another cracker.
I really don’t know how the House team keep it up – every episode (barring that silly one with the rape victim) is of the highest quality and if anything, it just seems to get better and better. Yes, the cases are involving and suspenseful but they’re just the sideshow to the complicated personal lives of the doctors at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. And with Cameron having dumped Chase last week, there seemed to be an unprecedented outbreak of romantic entanglements.
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Tags: affair, Cameron, Chase, Cuddy, doctors, Dr. Gregory House, Drama, Five, Foreman, hormones, House, Hugh Laurie, May to December romance, medical, medicine, premature ageing, programme, romance, sex, show, theatre, tickets, TV, Wilson
Posted in Drama, Five, Imports, TV Reviews | No Comments »
Thursday, July 26th, 2007
I know that in the wrong hands top-ten lists can be cheesy, tired and clichéd. They can overly simplify matters and reduce a broad and complex subject into convenient, restricted numbers. Fear not, TV Scoopers – these are not the wrong hands, and so I give you the Top 10 best British actors on American TV.
With the Emmy nominations out, everyone in Britain looks to see who we have nominated from Blighty. Some of these stars receive the acclaim and attention they are deserving of, while the impressive acting and convincing accents of others are neglected in little seen programmes. By limiting this list down to actors rather than all imports, I am omitting presenters (Cat Deeley, Craig Ferguson), reality show stars (The Osbournes), reality show judges (Simon Cowell, Nigel Lythgoe) and any other such folk who have achieved success Stateside (Gordon Ramsay, Darren Brown.) I am ignoring those whose British programmes have fared well (Ricky Gervais, Helen Mirren), those that have maintained their accent (Joan Collins, Alex Kingston) and those who were born in the UK but grew up elsewhere (Mischa Barton, Nicollette Sheridan). I am looking only to those who have managed to break through with nothing but a working passport and a fake New York twang. This list is for those whose performance skills are such that Americans can’t tell that they’re actually British. Impressive stuff indeed.
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Tags: actors, Angela Lansbury, Band of Brothers, Battlestar gallatica, best, Bill Miller, British, Bryan Singer, Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama, Captain Major Winters, CBS, Comedy, Courteney Cox, crime, Damian Lewis, Deadwood, detective stories, Dirt, doctor, Dominic West, Don Konkey, Drama, English teacher, family, female author, Golden Globe award, HBO, House, Hugh Laurie, Ian Hart, Ian McShane, Jamie Barber, Jessica Fletcher, Joely Richardson, Julia McNamara, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Life, list, Lovejoy, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Mark Addy, medical, Murder She Wrote, Nip/Tuck, photographer, programmes, Redgrave, retired, Sci Fi, Secrets and Lies, series, shows, sitcom, Still Standing, The Full Monty, The Wire, toilet salesman, top ten, TV, US, Vivian Johnson, war, Without A Trace
Posted in BBC 2, Comedy, Digital and satellite, Drama, Five, Imports, ITV 1, Sci Fi, Sky One | 3 Comments »
From:Set The Video: NASA: Triumph and Tragedy, BBC Two, Wednesday, 24 June, 9pm