Evening Folks,
Welcome back!
A bit of a marathon post, this time, I'm afraid. Thanks to all of you who return to read my weekly postings! It's nice to know that my work is worthwhile, and useful to all of you. There's a mixture of programme listings this week, and I've also included some TV news items as well, which are pertinent to the list. I hope that's okay with everyone. There's some good news, and bad news also, for fans of US shows, and I hope that those of you who want to take a stand, will feel compelled to follow my lead. (More on that, later on in this posting.) But, for now, let's get straight down to work.
Saturday 13th August
E4 - Now a 24hr channel!
Yes, E4 will, from 6am this morning, turn into a 24hr, 7-day-a-week TV channel, broadcasting on Sky, Cable and Freeview! For the most part, the schedules after 2pm will remain very similar to what is already shown: "Friends", "One Tree Hill", "Without A Trace", "The OC", "Lost", "Wife Swap", Hollyoaks", etc, etc. But there will also be some changes. One of the major changes, will be that Films will now be given a regular slot, on Monday's (at 9pm), with a repeat on Friday's (at 10pm)! The selection of films won't be new titles, but ones that have already been shown on C4, and FilmFour. As such, you aren't likely to see anything you've not seen before. However, there may be the occasional title worth watching or recording. For the daytimes, the schedules in my opinion, are actually pretty poor, which is hardly surprising, when Channel 4 are going to be bringing us their new station "More4" in October! Weekday repeats of "Smallville" and "Without A Trace" will air, but these have already been shown multiple times before. The rest of the daytime shows are poor-quality filler shows, that will barely make a dent in your weekly viewing schedule. Most of the shows seem to involve teen-pop music artists (Craig David, Girls Aloud, et al), naff chat shows and music video selections. Nothing special, in other words. You have been warned!
Farscape - 8:05-8:50pm
Another chance, to see this excellent Australian/US science-fiction fantasy show, with Season 2 getting its premiere on BBC3. Sadly, the channel has decided to launch a revamped on-screen DOG, and it's not pretty! It's big, bold, and white - everything that DOG's should not be! A great show, ruined by the BBC, and more to the point, almost all of the episodes have been edited - some very, very heavily! Check out episode 8 "Home On The Remains", which was given an uncut 18 certificate by the BBFC, because of sexual scenes, bad language and graphic and gory violence! Expect the BBC to edit most - if not all - of this! It's a good episode, as well! (BBC3)
Lost Mysteries Of The Titanic - 9:00-11:00pm
During pre-production, Hollywood movie director took several submarine trips down to the wreck of the real "Titanic" vessel. With a small video camera, he obtained footage of a vessel not seen for over 80 years. That footage was edited, into this award-winning documentary. Even if you hated the film, this will bring a lump to your throat, as the footage reveals what happened on that fateful voyage, and what remains of this long-forgotten ship. Repeated on Sunday, between 6:00-8:00pm! (The Discovery Channel)
100 Greatest Sexy Moments - 10:35pm-2:40am
Never has a show had such a misleading title!
British audiences were asked to name their 100 sexiest moments from TV and cinema. There are a few scenes that do work well, (e.g. "Nine And A Half Weeks, Last Tango In Paris, et al), but when the Number 1 is from a James Bond film, then you know there's something hideously wrong with either the selection process, or British audiences! If foreigners ever needed to see why British people are still so prudish in the 21st century, this would be the ideal way to prove it! Some adult material, and strong language. Just don't expect anything sexy!
(E4)
Lost - 10:40pm-12:30pm
This jaw-dropping new US drama has already received positive reviews, and garnered C4 with some of their best ever ratings. Every Saturday night, you can get to see a repeat of the previous Wednesday night's episode. Thus, tonight, you can watch the two-part Pilot Episode again, but without any "Butt Munch" interruptions!
Episodes are also being repeated weekly, on E4, but are covered in DOG's!
(Channel 4)
Clubhouse - 5:05-5:55am
Another new US comedy/drama, given a crappy timeslot. I don't have any details about who's in it, other than Christopher Back to The Future Lloyd, but it's set around a High School Baseball league. Showing most days, at various times of the early-morning. It could be great, or a complete pile of pants. More details, will follow, if I can find anything out. (Channel 4)
Sunday 14th
Al Murray: And A Glass Of White Wine For The Lady - 10:30-11:55pm
The emotional, but hilariously bigoted Pub Landlord returns for a second live concert, taken from his most recent UK stand-up comedy tour. A fair amount of swearing, and one-or-two near the knuckle jokes, but a very, very funny show nonetheless, just don't mention Brussels, or his boy!
Contains strong language. (Paramount)
Arrested Development - 11:20-11:40pm
The start of Season 2 of this acerbic US comedy, about the unfortunate Bluth family. At times, hilarious, poignant and darkly twisted! Episodes will be shown first of all on BBC4 each Thursday, and repeated on BBC2 the following Sundya. Both showings are uncut, DOG-free and in Widescreen! (BBC2)
Monday 15th
SCHEDULE CHANGES - 10:00am-1:00pm
Depending on whether Live Cricket is shown or not, episodes of "Third Watch", "ER", and "Frasier" will be shown instead. Please check press for details. (Channel 4)
Michael Carroll: King Of Chavs - 9:00-10:00pm
He was the dustbin man who won £9.7 million on the National Lottery, at the age of just 19. Now, he's the self-crowned "King Of Chavs": a young man who has been in and out of the courts for unruly behaviour, disruption, and has caused no end of problems for locals in his area of Norfolk. This documentary explores just want went wrong, and why this guy is such a complete looser! (I used to live near this guy, and trust me, he's a complete muppet!) Contains strong language. (Channel 4)
Without A Trace - 10:00pm-Midnight
A double-bill to start all-new Season 3 episodes of this acclaimed US drama about the fictional Missing Persons Unit at the FBI. (Channel 4)
The Week The Women Went - 10:30-11;00pm
A new 12-part documentary, that could well prove once-and-for-all, just how bad we men really are! Several families in Nottinghamshire decided to turn the tables, and see if men really can look after their own children - on their own! The wives of each of the families take a well-earned break, and leave the men to look after their little angels! Barrels of laughs for women, and plenty of embarrassment and frustration for the men, as we see that being a mother isn't as easy as they make it look! Showing daily, at the same time. (BBC3)
Six Feet Under - 1:30-2:40am
A chance to catch a complete rerun of Season 2, over weekday nights, of this dark drama from the writer of "American Beauty". See tomorrow for some news regarding this show. (Channel 4)
Tuesday 16th
Law And Order: Special Victims Unit - 9:00-10:00pm
The return of the dark and adult drama to our screens is a welcome addition to UK crime drama fans eyes! Hallmark start the first run of the newest series - Season 6 - which has only just recently finished in the USA. Familiar faces return to help investigate the never-ending parade of brutal sex crimes, that pervade New York Ciry. Airing every weekday night, with a nightly repeat at 1:00-2:00am. (Hallmark)
Six Feet Under - 10:00-11:15pm
It's good news and bad news, for fans of this series. The good news, is that this is all new Season 5, starting tonight.
The bad news: it's the last ever series of the drama, and to make matters worse, Channel 4 will NOT be airing this series at all, EVER!
Hence, if you want to see how this show concludes, you must be able to receive E4! Otherwise you're stuffed. Channel 4 issued a statement, saying the old crime of "lack of viewer interest" and "niche programming", et al, were the reasons they've only bought the digital rights to this series, and not the terrestrial rights as well. See my notice, at the end of this update, for some more news. (E4)
Surprise Cinema - 3:40-3:50am
Brilliantly funny and award-winning animated short! Highly recommended, if you love film and animation in any way! (Channel 4)
Wednesday 17th
Codename Eternity - 8:00-9:00pm
Rarely-seen Canadian science-fiction show, about an extra-terrestrial assassin sent to Earth, to prevent an alien invasion. The cast includes Cameron Bancroft as Ethaniel,
Ingrid Kavelaars as Dr. Laura Keating, Andrew Gillies as David Banning, Gordon Currie as Dent, and Olivier Grunier as Tawrens. Some interesting storylines, and with reasonable effects for such a low-budget show. The show lasted for one, long season of 26 episodes, and has only been seen on Channel 4 before, where it was treated with their usual lax attitude - i.e. buried in the schedules, at an ungodly hour on a Saturday or Sunday night! Here's your chance to see the show at a decent hour, for the next 6 months! Worthwhile, although it can get heavy-going at times. Also, each episode follows on from the next, as the show was intended to be a full-length novel, for TV! (Sci-Fi Channel)
FILM: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (15) - 11:20pm-1:20am
Documentary about the American cinema of the 1960's and 70's. Interviews with Dennis Hopper, Cybil Shepherd, Peter Bogdanovich, Kris Kristofferson, Peter Fonda, and many others, recall some of the most acclaimed films of the period, and the problems of getting the films made, with the problems in politics and war going on all around them. William H Macy narrates this one-of-a-kind movie. Contains strong language, and some adult material. (BBC4)
FILM: Manhunter (18) - Midnight-2:15am
Special late-night showing of the UK cinema and video version of this superb and visceral 1987 thriller, about the hunt for a serial killer, known only as The Tooth Fairy. Michael Mann's film takes us into the world of an FBI profiler, and introduced the world to Hannibal Lecktor. (Nope, that's not a spelling error. His surname was modified to Lecter, in the sequel "The Silence Of The Lambs", when author Thomas Harris forget to check the original spelling!) Dark, brilliant, and disturbing, and with some great quotable dialogue. A gem of a crime film. Fans of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Crime Story" will want to see this film too, as actor William Peterson (Gill Grissom) stars in the title role, and his boss is played by Dennis Farina - aka Mike Torello! N.B. The film is showing uncut, and in Widescreen, but the version airing differs from US prints, for reasons unknown even to director Mann. The UK version, I feel, is darker and more adult in tone, than the US versions. There are about 8 different edits of "Manhunter" in existence, each with slightly different variations of scenes and dialogue. It is not possible, to buy a completely uncensored print. To do so, you would need to combine the UK cinema/video print, the US cinema/DVD print, along with the US TV print, the US Director's Cut, and the UK DVD print, all into one!
Also, viewers should be aware that the ending has not been censored or edited for censorship. The editing is deliberately fragmented as a stylised effect, again, courtesy of Michael Mann himself. (This will make sense, when you see the final scenes of the film!) Highly recommended, and with one of the most amazing movie soundtracks ever compiled! Contains strong language, and some scenes that may offend or disturb viewers! Also showing Thursday night between 10:30pm-12:50am. (ITV2)
Nip/Tuck - 12:40-1:50am
Just to add insult to injury to hardcore UK terrestrial fans, here's Season 2's finale of this brilliant drama, and the last time it'll ever see the light of day on terrestrial TV. Yes, it's another great US import dumped by Channel 4! Why do they keep doing this?! (Channel 4)
Thursday 18th
Queer As Folk - 11:30pm-12:35am
This is Season 2, (or possibly 3), of the US version of the controversial British drama about a group of gay men, getting its UK premiere. Rarely-seen outside of a few stations in the USA, where it was considered to controversial, too risque, and too offensive to be aired in many states! Contains adult material and strong language throughout. (E4)
Witchblade - 11:55pm-1:55am
Another chance to see this enjoyable action show, based on the US comic book of the same name. Detective Sara "Pez" Pazzini is a police officer, who comes into contact with a mysterious and supernatural weapon, from the early part of history - the deadly, but glamorous "Witchblade". When Sara finds herself drawn to the weapon, she finds her life changes forever - and not always for the better. This is Season 1 of the show, and I hope it will be starting with the uncut version of the two-part Pilot Movie, which properly introduces us to the characters and the Witchblade's history. If it doesn't, then this will be episodes 1 and 2 of the show itself, which has a brilliant opening-credit theme tune. However, you may prefer to read-up on the Pilot Movie, to acquaint yourself with the characters, and the plot thus far! Don't just jump in with Episode 1, as it may not make sense! (Sci-Fi Channel)
FILM: Nightmares (18) - 1:55-4:00am
I'm not 100% certain, but this may be a rare chance to see the bloody horror movie, that is now classed as a Video Nasty by the BBFC. Fans of horror or film censorship, may wish to check this film out. (Sci-Fi Channel)
Friday 19th
Friday Night Comedy On Four - 7:35-11:50pm
A whole host of comedy shows air tonight, including several new ones, but none of the new ones have been given good reviews so far. "Meet The Magoons" (9:30-10:00pm) is set in a Glasgow curry-house, and follows the staff. "Balls Of Steel" (10:30-11:20pm) is another Dom Joly rip-off, with stunts and jokes being performed on the public, whilst "Bromwell High" (11:20-11:50pm) is an animated comedy show set in a run-down London school. Approach with caution: expect spectacular results - either spectacularly ace, or spectacularly bad. (Channel 4)
FILM: Full Tilt Boogie (15) - 1:25-2:55am
Hilarious and well-made 1997 documentary about the wonderful behind-the-scenes crew working on the Robert Rodriguez-Quentin Tarantino horror movie "From Dusk Till Dawn". Contains violence, some adult scenes and some strong language. Showing uncut and in the original 4:3 aspect ratio. (Channel 4)
And that's your lot! Well, before I go, I am intending to start a petition. For a long time now, it's been my opinion, and many others, that Channel 4 treats fans of almost every major US drama show, with utter contempt! Poor scheduling, editing and censorship, the dropping of shows because they don't get 25 million viewers, etc, etc. The list goes on. As such, it's my opinion that with Channel 4 no longer willing to be able to adequately schedule US dramas (with the odd exception), and the fact it is constantly marginalised in their schedules for numerous repeats of "Friends", and endless reality and DIY makeover shows, I believe that C4 should be banned from being able to buy the rights - digital or analogue - of any future US import
unless they are going to guarantee to commit to the show's entire run (be thast 1 Season or 27 Seasons), and/or that it will be scheduled appropriately!! Fans are sick and tired of seeing amazing shows being given such poor treatment, and I think the British public should make a stand. The list is appallingly long: Angel, Alias, NYPD Blue, Nip/Tuck, The OC, One Tree Hill, Babylon 5, Crusade, Brimstone, Third Watch, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Frasier, ER, Oz, Smallville, Stargate SG-1, Enterprise, Point Pleasant
For a channel that is supposed to be innovative, daring and whose remit is to air material for minority audiences, it seems shocking that they can be allowed to keep on treating US imports like this.
My intention is to put up a petition to this effect, and also to try and get a letter published in the Radio Times, advertising the promotion of the petition and mine (and potentially) other peoples aims. I'd also like to try and get other websites promotion behind the petition, too, if at all possible, including AVF members
.
The address to access the petition is...
here! Please visit and sign, if you agree that UK viewers deserve better! Thanks!
Until next time,
Pooch