John Scott Lewinski
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BBC's The Choir turns reporters into singers
The star of the upcoming BBC America reality series, The Choir pulled a fast one on the assembled reporters gathered for the network's press conference during the TCA proceedings this weekend.The reality show features choirmaster Gareth Malone (right) as he attempts to forge a top-notch choir in England's cash-strapped schools and underprivileged neighborhoods. The 13-episode series will run this coming spring on BBC America.
So, Malone showed up in Pasadena this weekend to promote the show to the assembled TCA throng. After the standard clips and Q&A were winding down, Malone ducked out of the quick and easy farewell and invited the reporters to come up on stage and form their own flash choir.
Continue reading BBC's The Choir turns reporters into singers
Networks sign on for Clooney's two-hour Haiti telethon
It's full-speed ahead for George Clooney's aid event for survivors of the massive earthquakes in Haiti as eleven networks signed on to air the event with the ongoing possibility of more coming aboard.Currently, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, CNN International, National Geographic and MTV are aboard to air the event live. It will air at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT, January 22.
Clooney will host from Los Angeles, and Haitian music star Wyclef Jean will take the mike from New York as co-host. CNN's Andersoon Cooper will offer special live reports from on the ground from the ground in devastated country.
Continue reading Networks sign on for Clooney's two-hour Haiti telethon
Here's the first look of Doctor Who in The Beatles
Who knew that The Beatles came from Gallifrey? OK. They didn't, but at least one of men behind The Doctor's various incarnations is portraying one of the music giants in a new BBC movie.Christopher Eccleston is portraying the late John Lennon in the new Beeb movie, Lennon Naked. And, the network released the first look at Eccleston in character. The movie is set to air this year on BBC4 -- and (hopefully) soon after on a U.S. network.
Naked Lennon promises an inside look at Lennon after his departure from The Fab Four. Torchwood's Naoko Mori will play Yoko Ono.
Continue reading Here's the first look of Doctor Who in The Beatles
Support Haiti relief and Conan with new t-shirt
The "I'm with Coco" campaign to honor Conan O'Brien and ravage NBC's treatment of him over The Tonight Show is selling a t-shirt to show support for Conan and to send much-needed relief funding to earthquake victims in Haiti.Obviously, the shirt's logo is a take-off on the proliferating "Hope" poster stamped on President Obama's campaign. According to the t-shirt's sales page, a portion of the proceeds will go to Haitian earthquake relief services.
That sounds like a great idea, but there's word published about what percentage of sales -- or what dollar amount -- will go to Haiti. I'm not saying it's a scam at all. With more than 111,000 Facebook folks following the cause, there's plenty of eyes watching this effort. I just can't report the financial details on the shirt.
Meanwhile, on the "Save Conan O'Brien" front, there's a rally to show support for the current Tonight Show set for Universal Studios (the current home of Conan) this Friday at noon.
Top Gear revs for new season with DVD giveaway
A new season of Top Gear, one of this particular gear head's favorite shows, is headed to BBC America on January 25. And, to build buzz for the show's upcoming 13th season, BBC America is giving away DVDs for the new releases of Top Gear Season 11 and Season 12.One of the modern stalwarts of British TV, Top Gear is a popular import to the U.S. with its mix of super cars, stunts and less than politically correct humor. For viewers like me, it's fantasy fulfillment and as close to some mammothly powerful cars as we'll ever come.
We're a season behind here in the U.S., as U.K. fans already worked their way through Season 14. But, the show's ongoing success on U.S. screens means this franchise should drive on a little farther.
Continue reading Top Gear revs for new season with DVD giveaway
David Tennant's Doctor Who swan song comes to DVD
Doctor Who went from regular production to sporadic specials last year to freshen up the show and to give former lead David Tennant a shot at playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The end results of that year of specials are headed your way on DVD in a five disc set.Doctor Who: The Complete Specials features what proved to be a mixed bag of special episodes that became a sort of de facto fifth mini-season for Tennant. While you're not going to find a bad piece of television anywhere on this disc (or anywhere in Doctor Who's 21st century rebirth), last year's programs got weaker as they marched toward Tennant's regeneration.
The line-up includes The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars and The End of Time, Parts One and Two. The first two stand alone, but the last three create a sort of trilogy documenting the 10th Doctor's final days.
Continue reading David Tennant's Doctor Who swan song comes to DVD
Sci-fi comedy cult classic Red Dwarf lands at iTunes
While American TV viewers are aware of major British TV imports like Doctor Who, Top Gear or Monty Python, it's uncertain how well the sci-fi/comedy cult classic Red Dwarf made the overseas jump. But, you have a chance to sample the funny adventure series at the iTunes Store.The show features a blue collar loser trapped aboard a massive ship -- lost in space with an android, an uppity hologram and other assorted defective folks.
It ran for eight series on BBC2 between 1988 and 1999 before returning for a one-off Easter special in 2009 (Red Dwarf: Back to Earth).
The show ran on PBS affiliates and briefly on BBC America. Now, all eight seasons are available on iTunes. If you dig The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Blake's 7 and The Mighty Boosh, give Red Dwarf a try and see if its quirky sci-fi sitcom style stick with you.
Once proud Miss America pageant survives on cable
Remember when the Miss America Pageant was a major event on the national television candle? The folks at TLC want it to be that kind of show again.If you were born anywhere around the late 80s, you probably don't. But, throughout the 50s into the 80s, the annual televised event was more than just entertainment. It was news. And the winner, whether it was Lee Meriweather, Phyllis George or Vanessa Williams, had a shot at becoming a major celebrity.
But now? Name the current Miss America. Quickly. Don't look it up. Name last year's winner. Name any of the last five. Case closed. While it was once a proud contest/variety show, Miss America show is now overshadowed by other "rags to riches" battles like American Idol, America's Got Talent, etc. To get Miss America back on the pop culture map, the show's producers are mixing up the judges with a surreal mix of faces from through the media.
Continue reading Once proud Miss America pageant survives on cable
Mario Lopez going to the dogs as Westminster host
In this age of easily maintained celebrity, all you need to stay in front of people's eyes are a pretty face and a willingness to be there. Mario Lopez has both, and he's built that into a a career that keeps him resurfacing from one unrelated project to another without ever really showing any particular gifts for performing.Now, he's going to host the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this February on USA -- because, when you think elite canine breeding competitions, you think Mario Lopez. (Somewhere in all this is a joke about what a dog Saved by the Bell was, but it's too much of a reach to go there.)
Continue reading Mario Lopez going to the dogs as Westminster host
Team Venture will get its own line of merchandise
Venture Brothers, the funniest and best written show that -- inexplicably -- nobody watches, is getting its own line of toys and collectibles.The appropriately named Bif Bang Pow!, a collectibles manufacturer, announced today a deal with Cartoon Network to make a new line of toys based on the Adult Swim animated comedy. Fans can look for a collection of action figures, bobble heads, vehicle models and other goodies.
This is a great sign for a show that deserves a lot more attention than it gets. As well-written as The Simpsons or South Park, Venture Brothers shows off spot-on parody and multi-layered jokes in every episode.
Continue reading Team Venture will get its own line of merchandise
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