Kudos to PopWatchers Jonas and Rodney (Fixer fans unite!) for voicing their anger at BBC America’s importing of so many reality shows but not enough dramas. Now, I won’t bite the hand that feeds me some very good stuff. It’s my preferred channel after all. I never miss a Gavin & Stacey. And I owe them for introducing me to Dylan Moran in Black Books. Moreover, I actually enjoy BBC America Reveals (476-lb teenagers, man whores, mums-who-are-really-dads, and all). But that doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated when I curl up hoping to catch some MI-5 or maybe a Green Wing and I’m stuck watching You Are What You Eat. Trust me, I already know that if you cut me open you’ll only find tuna fish sandwiches. I can also do without ever witnessing someone else’s waste matter whiz out through a plastic tube during her colon cleanse.
Conversely, there are several projects airing in Britain this fall that I want to see. BBC and ITV2 released their autumn promos last week (watch them here and here) and the pickings are mighty good. Some we’ll definitely get: Kenneth Branagh’s Swedish detective show Wallander hits Mystery! next summer, along with the new Marples and Poirots. God on Trial airs on Masterpiece Contemporary this fall. And Merlin, starring y’alls favorite Anthony Head, drops on NBC soon (check the seductive trailer here). But I’m yenning for more. Find some excellent options after the jump…
1. Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Little Dorrit with Matthew Macfadyen (pictured). Masterpiece will show Oliver Twist and The Old Curiosity Shop in 2009, so I’m betting Dorrit isn’t far behind.
2. Peter Moffat’s Einstein and Eddington with David Tennant (pictured). HBO co-produced this biopic — thus, it better be in our future.
3. Mutual Friends with Marc Warren, Macfayden’s real-life bride Keeley Hawes, and Coupling’s Sarah Alexander. Whether he’s Danny Blue (Hustle), Elton Pope (Doctor Who), or Dominic Foy (State of Play), Warren’s flawless. Just see the ad.
4. MI-5 with Richard Armitage (sample that BBC promo again). Did we not dutifully watch the previous seasons on A&E and BBC America? Crikey.
5. Tess of the D’Urbervilles with Hans Matheson. Sure, the1998 adaptation featuring Justine Waddell and Jason Flemyng doesn’tseem that long ago. But with The Street’s David Blair directing and The Tudor’s Matheson starring as evil Alec, I’d tune in.
6. Lost in Austen with Hex’s Jemima Rooper. Critics call it “Life on Mars meets Pride and Prejudice.” Austen’s already airing in the U.K. and some kind person put the pilot on YouTube.
Runners up: Britannia High (not digging an English HSM, but if there’s a British show I can get my ten-year-old cousin stoked for, this is it), Apparitions (much like my old favorite Strange), and The 39 Steps (my pet spy story meets my pet Hitchcock movie meets my pet actor Rupert Penry-Jones).
Now tell me, what British shows are you dying to see? Criminal Justice with Ben Wishaw? Burn Up with Penry-Jones? Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye with Macfadyen?
And here’s your Bits and Bobs Calendar for the week:
Monday (Sept. 8th): Keira Knightley guests on CBS’ Letterman at 11:35pm. Sophia Myles visits Craig Ferguson to promote Mister Foe at 12:35am on CBS.
Tuesday: To The Manor Born: The Complete Series premieres on DVD. Paul Weller performs on Letterman.
Wednesday: This week’s Must Listen: BBC Radio 4 airs a special one-off radio broadcast of Torchwood. At 9pm, BBC America plays the all-star comedic charity show The Secret Policeman’s Ball.
Thursday: Leona Lewis performs on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (check local listings).
Friday: At 11:35pm, Ricky Gervais talks to Letterman about Ghost Town and hopefully Karl Pilkington (who has a new book!). Download the free clip advertising their upcoming podcast here. Hugh Laurie hits the The Tonight Show.
Saturday: At 7pm, the Daleks take Manhattan in a rerun of a season three 1930s NYC-set Doctor Who (followed by the Primeval season finale at 9) on BBC America.
Sunday: Mystery! reairs Ruby in the Smoke, starring Billie Piper as Philip Pullman’s orphan/sleuth Sally Lockhart at 9pm.
Comments (1-30) of 35 Add your comment
I wish David Tennant was a bigger star in the US – I love him! I am not really a huge Dr. Who fan, but watch it just for him.
I’m a history buff, so Einstein and Eddington looks like it will be pretty cool. Hopefully, HBO will air it soon.
Aubry, you have more than made up for your omission of Matthew Macfadyen in previous columns by featuring him so nicely in todays (an interview would be a nice bonus, not to be greedy or anything!). Thank you! Little Dorrit promises to be British television at its period costumed best – there is quite an excellent cast to back up Mr. Macfadyen. Miss Marple will probably air here before we get Little Dorrit on DVD, though (heaven forbid it air on BBCA!) – but luckily I will have him in theaters in Frost/Nixon to tide me over. It is going to be a great fall for Matthew Macfadyen fans!
I so want to see Einstein and Eddington! I did a double take when I first saw your photo of David Tennant and then figured you had to be talking about Einstein and Eddington after the jump.
Yay Marc Warren! He did a guest spot on Life on Mars too, so different from his role on Doctor Who that it took me a while to figure out where I recognized him from.
Also, Little Dorrit, Freema Agyeman’s in that, right?
Yup, rebecca, she plays Tattycoram.
If I lived in England I would just watch television all day long.
Two from Stephen Fry: KINGDOM (drama) and QI, the funniest, most informative game/panel show in the world! (Both currently on YouTube)
Most importantly however, TORCHWOOD. Luckily that will be back on BBCAmerica next spring.
Can’t wait for Einstein and Eddington! There are outlets online that those of us in the colonies can use to access shows that BBC never airs for us. tvfreeload.com
Matthew Macfadyen in Little Dorrit, Miss Marple and Frost/Nixon. I’m betting on Masterpiece Theater airing Little Dorrit (fingers-crossed).
So glad to see more mention of Matthew!!
Aubrey, I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven. So many fantastic looking series. My excitement is only matched by the pain of not knowing when I’ll get to see these series. Did I spy the excellent Paddy Considine? I’m also with you on Penry-Jones. There is no excuse for BBCA to not air Spooks or even Casualty.
And I can never get enough Dickens. Looking forward to Little Dorrit.
I just finished the first episode of Lost in Austen (thank you YouTube angel) and I am smitten. I hope that I’ll be able to see more, even if I have to wait for the DVD.
I read about Criminal Justice. It sounded good and Ben Wishaw was great in Brideshead Revisited. I’m looking forward to seeing him again. I never tire of watching Marple and Poirot. I also read a blurb today about the casting of the British version of Law & Order. I may be a ways off, but I hope we can see that, too. And, I’m still hoping to see Ashes to Ashes.
I’m waitng for “Ashes to Ashes” and “Little Dorrit” along with “Mutual Friends.” I almost hope BBCA doesn’t air them because their editor needs to use something other than a hacksaw to edit them. Although, they do edit the comedies with s surer touch.
I’ve seen “Lost in Austen” and color me unimpressed. I’m not a purist but it didn’t work for me. She’s read one book and is hooked?
Kurt Wallander coming to Mystery! Yea! With Kenneth Branagh on board it can’t be too f***d up, can it? Henning Mankell is a genius. I am sure some of the creepier bits have been toned down for tv. Off to google the series right now….
I have got a question. Does anyone know if Peter Moffat the writer of Einstein and Eddington and the brilliant Macbeth episode of Shakespeare ReTold, is related to Steven Moffat, brilliant writer and director of many Doctor Who episodes?
Test
All of the projects mentioned with Matthew Macfadyen would be nice (how about a feature on him in your mag?).
It would be great if BBCA could rerun all seasons of MI-5 and Life on Mars, as well as bring us Ashes to Ashes. I do love Top Gear and Cash in the Attic, but there is too much reality crap on that channel right now.
Being Swedish I am more then exited about Wallander.
As for shows I really wish will find its way to the small screen are:
Already mentioned “Criminal Justice” and “Burn Up”. Speaking of Rupert Penry-Jones…modern day jack The Ripper mini series “Whitechapel” sounds very interesting. “Pris, Y” dubbed the Welsh Sopranos should be good as well. “The Fixer”, “Law & Order: UK” and “Ashes to ashes” are all produced by Kudos Production and should be interesting.
New episodes from “Walking The Dead” and “Silent Witness” would be much welcomed. James Nesbitt’s conspiracy thriller Midnight Man should be good as well….and the latest Sharp installment would be much welcomed.
BTY..
David Hare’s My Zinc Bed and Caryl Churchill’s A Number have been adapted by the playwrights for television in a co-production between BBC and HBO Films. Does anyone know when they will be shown on HBO?
My Zinc Bed stars Uma Thurman, Rhys Ifans, Tom Wilkinson, Jonathan Pryce and Paddy Considine…should be quite interesting.
SAVE SWINGTOWN!
I can’t wait for all of these shows to hit BBC Canada – Marple, Poirot, etc. . . but we need more Richard Armitage in this hemisphere . . . . he is absolutely beautiful – I am totally smitten . . . .
Hope this doesn’t post twice — I can’t wait for more on BBC Canada; more Marple, more Poirot, but we absolutely need more Richard Armitage on this continent – Sparkhouse, Mary Lloyd, etc. — he is absolutely beautiful. Can’t wait for George Gently on September 12th on BBCC.
Matthew, Matthew, Matthew………can’t get enough!!
Such a line up of great entertainment, no wonder Americans are clamoring for more Brit Telly! And with actors such as Matthew Macfadyen headlining, we Americans too shall thoroughly enjoy every minute! I don’t think the classic dramas like “Little Dorrit” will air on BBC America quite yet as Masterpiece Theater is the typical place for such fine productions as these! The other shows are typically more BBC America, you know such as ‘Ashes to Ashes’.
If I were a betting person, I would bet all my cards on “Little Dorrit” airing soon enough on Masterpiece Theater too, Aubrey. We shall have to watch that.
Matthew Macfadyen will also co-star in Ron Howard’s upcoming film “Frost/Nixon” which is currently much talked about for Award and Oscar contention! So, will we see his name on your weekly “Bits and Bobs” calendar sometime again soon?? I would bet so!;-)
I have to say I can’t wait for Oliver Twist and the next Marples. The Miss Marple mysteries always have a great cast and the next 3 installments won’t disapoint as Rafe Spall, Matthew Macfadyen and Benedict Cumberbatch are all acting in one of the installment.
I really wish He Kills Coppers would cross this side of the ocean.
Friends don’t let friends watch reality television :- )
Actually I do enjoy Top Gear or Gordon Ramsey from time to time, but I am very irritated that BBC Americas strong emphasis on reality television has cut down on drama so significantly. (Especially crime fiction) This haffi change! Isn’t drama something that most people think of when they hear the name BBC??
Gavin & Stacey, Skins and Primeval are all fine shows. I do miss some proper murder mysteries and coppers. My brother was over the moon about Criminal Justice and he rarely talks about television, I loved Life on Mars so now I want Ashes to Ashes, ITV did a 3-part adoption of Jake Arnott brilliant fictional take of the Shepherd’s Bush Murders in ’66 and with this being one of my favorite book I REALLY want to see this. Bring back Midsomer Murders and Spooks to the US, BBC America should pick up The Fixer, Midnight Man, Spooks: Code 9 and New Tricks. I also would love to see Plus One, a failed pilot that apparently works j
Got cut off, here is pt 2:
I also would love to see Plus One, a failed pilot that apparently works just fine as a movie, it is about east European gun runners and back ghetto youth.
I will try to be upful and hopefully these series will find their way to BBC America, since sooner or later they have to wake up!!
I also want to give a special big up to Keen Eddie on the Sleuth network (Sundays). While this is a series intended for an American audience it takes place in London and features some brill Brit actors, Siena Miller, Colin Solomon (No relation, even though a lady at Pizza Hut in once thought I was him) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (soon to be seen in the Sally Lockhart: The Shadow in the North)
Don’t ask for Spooks Code 9 – apparently it’s awful. So’s Bonekickers.
Sorry but I’ll take Spooks Code 9 anytime over some of the standard BBC America offereings such as:
My Fake Baby, Sex Change Soldier, Sugar Mummies, Brothers And Sisters In Love, Britain’s Youngest Grannies…