From the maker of British TV classics Birds of a Feather, Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Lovejoy, come a new seven-part comedy series, Mumbai Calling.
Sanjeev Bhaskar, Nitin Ganatra, and Daisy Beaumont star in this brand new comedy broadcast in primetime on ITV1. The series features a huge Indian cast as well as guest appearances by a host of familiar British faces across the seven weeks including Richard E Grant and Dennis Lawson, Indian Superstars Lilette Dubey, Chunky Pandey and Raj Zutshi (Slumdog Millionaire) and rising star Via Das.
An embittered one-handed clown; a desperately misguided midwife; a lovestruck telekinetic dwarf; a blind avaricious collector; and a serial-killer-obsessed man-child… five seemingly unconnected characters share one thing in common.
Despite coming from different parts of the country and having different backgrounds and interests, each one has been sent an anonymous, black-edged card bearing the chilling message: “I know what you did…”
Ardent fans of US comedy My Name Is Earl have come out in protest of the recent decision to axe the show by launching a Twitter petition.
At present there are precisely 7,879 people supporting the ‘ EarlTwitition’ but I’m not sure that’s gonna be enough to save the show which lost millions of viewers during its last season.
So what about you guys? Any MNIE fans out there? Bet you’re a sad sack today
We’re taking a look at some of this years new comedies and TV shows and this one with Patricia Heaton is a little strange. It’s one of four half hour comedy shows that will air on US TV network ABC this autumn but it reminds me of one that came way before.
The show is aptly titled ‘The Middle’ and is about being middle-class, middle-aged and living in the middle of the country. However it is way too like ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ to be considered original in the slightest. In fact unless I am seriously mistaken the annoying kid in the clip is Erik Per Sullivan, better known as Malcolm’s little brother ‘Dewey’. Of course he’s called Rick in this show, but who’s splitting hairs?
Kelsey Grammer has made some amazing TV shows in his time. Cheers and Frasier stand out obviously, though his last venture ‘Back To You’ failed to hit his previously reached, dizzy heights.
Not yet ready to retire, Kelsey has signed with US TV network ABC to headline their new half hour comedy ‘Hank.’ Hank” features Grammer as a former tycoon who, forced out of his job, is forced to downsize, move from New York and begin spending a lot of time with his family.
Check out the clip below and let us know what you think. It kind of seems like Frasier with a family to me….
US TV network ABC have cancelled Christina Applegate’s Samantha Who.
Fans and critics of the show seemed sure it would be awarded a third season however according to The Hollywood Reporter the show has been permanently axed.
The axe fell after the show failed to cut its budget enough for the network to bring it back.
The series was a strong performer when it aired on Monday nights in 2007, but the ratings fell when the show was moved to Thursday nights last season.
All that campaigning has paid off and it looks like fans and cast of the American comedy, Chuck have convinced NBC to give it another go.
The show faced cancellation this year due to falling ratings but the US TV network have this week, placed an order for a thirteen episode third season.
The return came after what are said to have been fierce negotiations between NBC and Warner Bros TV, over cost cutting on the show’s production costs.
Our blogger Gerard has written a great article on all that’s great about Chuck. So if you are a fan, or you might be converted have a read of his Chuck love-in here.
Matthew Fox appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show this week with his arm in a sling. The pair went on to explain how a staring contest that arose between them led to his injury.
The clip from the interview is well worth a watch, I love Jimmy Kimmel but I have to admit, my heart beats (and my loin longs) for Matthew Fox…..
US TV network ABC is said to be planning a new version of Scrubs for next season. According to The Hollywood Reporter the new show will be a hybrid, and will feature old cast regulars alongside new cast members who appeared as interns this season.
Original cast members Zach Braff (John ‘J.D.’ Dorian), Sarah Chalke (Dr Elliot Reid) have agreed to return for six episodes, with their fellow cast members Donald Faison (Dr Christopher Turk), John C McGinley (Dr Perry Cox) and Neil Flynn (The Janitor) all returning as series regulars.
Judy Reyes (Nurse Carla Espinosa) may return for a handful of episodes if the ninth series gets the green light.
It’s official, Britain is the angriest nation in Europe, with grumpy Brits topping the polls as being the most hot-headed, irrational and impatient nation in Europe. Ever been queue jumped whilst waiting for your morning coffee? Or been stuck in traffic and found yourself becoming increasingly irate? Well fear not, you’re not alone! In fact it’s reported that Brits get angry, on average, up to four times a day compared to a laid-back 0.2 times from Scandinavians.
The poll picks out the top ten reasons that make Britain the rash and impetuous nation that is, with queue jumpers being at the top with a whopping 48% and traffic jams and delays coming a close second with 43%.
Former American Idol boss, Nigel Lythgoe has said that he thinks Al Murray and Harry Hill could crack America.
The TV producer was speaking at the BAFTA/LA’s British Comedy Festival in Beverly Hills, of which he is chairman.
Asked which British comedians would have the potential to make it in the States, Nigel said: “I think the Pub Landlord will do very well; I’d love to bring him over here.
Andrew Sachs has revealed that he got very badly burnt whilst filming Fawlty Towers.
During a scene where Andrew’s character Manuel supposedly set fire to the hotel kitchen, Sachs revealed that the chemicals used, actually burnt him and left him badly scarred.
Andrew told The Mirror: “They’d covered my jacket with some chemicals which reacted together and caused it to smoke and look as if it was on fire. They told me it was fine, but the problem was it wasn’t, and it got very warm.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, G.O.L.D. is throwing open the doors of TV’s most famous hotel once more after a lengthy absence, but it’s an absence during which the show has remained as funny, and as watched, as it was when it first aired. So, we thought we’d add our own little anniversary tribute to one of the best sitcoms that’s ever been on TV, but before we do, here’s what the show tonight – and its follow-up shows – are about…
Fawlty Towers: Re-opened gathers the cast and crew together to retrace the history of the sitcom from their ‘insider’ point of view. This one-off special tonight leaves no English Riviera stone unturned in its search for trivia and nuggets of information from the Fawlty Towers guestbook, together with in-depth interviews with John Cleese, Andrew Sachs and Prunella Scales, as well as Connie Booth talking about her memories from the show for the first time in 30 years. Just don’t mention the war… Read more & comment »
BBC Two has commissioned a new comedy series starring Dawn French, called Roger And Val Have Just Got In. Casting for the male lead is still ongoing.
Written by Emma and Beth Kilcoyne (Dogtown), the series will feature the lives of a middle-aged couple after they’ve come through the door at the end of the working day.
Mark Freeland, Head of Comedy at the BBC, said: “Roger And Val leapt off the page at me the very first time I saw it. There will be nothing like it when it arrives on BBC Two. It’s original, intriguing, sweet, funny and full of pathos. And it’s only got two people in it.”
