Posts Tagged ‘station’
Thursday, October 18th, 2007
Comedy panel shows are popular, as are puppets, and so new channel Dave (formerly UKTV G2) have gone and combined the two in their first commission for the recently re-branded station. ‘And Then You Die’ is the cheerily named show to be hosted by puppet Barrie Stardust, which like other fault-finding fests such as the Grumpy series, will look at the disappointments of modern life.
Over to Dave to explain: “Host Barrie Stardust is joined by a panel of star comedians. But Barrie is a host like no other… not least because he happens to be a puppet! Each round of the show is based on life’s terminal failures, disappointments and annoyances. But this is no gloom-fest… And Then You Die can always see the funny side of being miserable.”
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Tags: And Then You Die, Barrie Stardust, channel, Comedy, Dave, panel show, programme, puppet, show, station, television, TV, UKTV G2
Posted in Comedy, Coming Soon..., UKTV | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
Virgin 1 launched last night with a debut that is being described as ‘solid, if unspectacular’. Its big name show, the Eddie Izzard/Minnie Driver starrer The Riches earned 323,000 viewers in its 10pm slot with a multi-channel share of 2.5%. Over the course of the programme, the numbers dipped, but the hit US comedy/drama scored some extra viewers with the time-shifted channel Virgin +1. The Riches had some stiff competition from Eastenders on BBC3 and Prison Break on Sky One, yet still fared better than the opening show Criminal Minds at 9pm with just over 250,000 viewers.
I was one of those 323,000 that tuned in for The Riches, and though it was darker and grittier than I had come to believe it would be, the chemistry between the leads was strong, the premise was novel with seemingly infinite possibilities and the characters were engaging and sympathetic. The issue of class on American TV is often skirted over and rarely examined in ugly close-up, and this show, like My Name is Earl could be a diverting exercise in examining another type of lifestyle. I’ll be tuning in again and hope that unlike other new US imports such as Dirt, that The Riches can sustain its early promise.
[via Broadcast Now]
Tags: channel, Comedy, debut, Drama, Eddie Izzard, launch, Minnie Driver, premiere, station, television, The Riches, TV, Virgin 1
Posted in Digital and satellite, Drama, Imports, TV News | No Comments »
Thursday, September 20th, 2007
We gave you our school report on Living recently and it looks like the channel has taken our criticisms to heart. The digital station has announced three new US imports soon to be screened in the UK – Lipstick Jungle, Army Wives and Viva Laughlin. LJ has been touted as the new Sex and the City (isn’t everything?) as it comes from writer Candace Bushnell and features a gaggle of attractive, successful, glamourous Manhattan ladies. Heading up the cast is Brooke Shields with support from 24’s Kim Raver and Lindsay Price (best known for Beverly Hills 90210.)
Army Wives is based on Tanya Biank’s non-fiction book Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage and looks at the women left at home when their men go to war, while Viva Laughlin is a US version of our very own Blackpool and stars Hollywood names Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffiths. Claudia Rosencrantz, the director of programming at Living is excited by the new acquisitions: “Alongside our hugely successful established brands, people can expect the unexpected from a smorgasbord of truly excellent acquired and newly commissioned programmes this season.” Good to note they listened to TV Scoop and brought in some new heavy-hitters. Top marks Living.
[via Digital Spy]
Tags: Army Wives, Brooke Shields, Candace Bushnell, channel, Comedy, digital, Drama, Lipstick Jungle, Living, station, Viva Laughlin
Posted in Comedy, Coming Soon..., Drama, Imports, LivingTV, TV News | No Comments »
Thursday, September 20th, 2007
Is this real? Has the calendar fast-forwarded to April Fools Day and this is just one of those ‘hilarious’ media stunts like spaghetti growing on trees? I almost hope so, otherwise someone at UKTV needs to go visit their shrink and pronto. UKTV G2 will be re-christened Dave in a move scheduled to coincide with the channel’s launch on Freeview on October 15th. Not David, Davey or any other variation – but Dave.
And why the need to re-name a television channel after one half of the country’s favourite Cockney musical duo? Because “everyone knows a bloke called Dave.” Er, I don’t – does that mean I can’t watch it? (I really can’t know that many people, as I should also know a bloke like Mickey according to that god-awful Head and Shoulders advert when I don’t either. Maybe I need to spend more time on Facebook.) How is this any kind of explanation? I get that it wants to attract a male audience, but apart from the Daves among us, surely this name ostracises rather than appeals to most men. Billed as “the home of witty banter”, Dave will air shows such as Top Gear, QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. If this is a success, can we look forward to a Chas channel to keep Dave company?
[via What Satellite and Digital TV]
Tags: channel, Dave, Freeview, launch, re-name, station, television, TV, UKTV, UKTV G2
Posted in Comedy, Coming Soon..., TV News, UKTV | 1 Comment »
From:Set The Video: NASA: Triumph and Tragedy, BBC Two, Wednesday, 24 June, 9pm