Tagged: BBC

Review: ‘Sherlock’

It has been a very good year for producer Steven Moffat. He took over [[[Doctor Who]]], hired Matt Smith (after rejecting him for Watson) to replace the incredible David Tennant and kept the show high in the ratings. He has proven exceptionally versatile with the recent [[[Jekyll]]] miniseries, wrote the script for [[[The Adventures of Tintin]]] for Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg and now has updated [[[Sherlock Holmes]]].

Arthur Conan Doyle’s indelible detective has survived pastiche, parody, and endless retellings of the classic stories. Moffat and Mark Gatiss took all the trappings and characters bringing them to the 21st Century. Dr. John Watson arrives after a tour in Afghanistan (some things never change) and meets Holmes, moving in with him at 221B Baker Street. Instead of a journal, Watson blogs about their cases and marvels at Holmes’ disinterest in the extraneous, even things like who is the current Prime Minister.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a strong Holmes, with an intense gaze and unshakeable focus making him reminiscent of another famous figure who stands apart from humanity, a certain Spock. He’s fortunate to be matched with Martin Freeman’s even-keeled Watson. They make a very enjoyable duo.

His intellect needs to be constantly engaged or he fears slowly going mad, using Watson as his tether to the world he seeks to protect. Watson craves a normal life, dating Sarah (Zoe Telford), a doctor, and making a respectable living. As a consulting detective, Holmes continues to take on cases, earning him the respect of DI Lestrade (Rupert Graves).  The only downside to the updating is that by placing Holmes in 2010, it oddly echoes [[[Fox’s House]]], which is directly inspired by Holmes with both figures driven and detached from mankind.

The three episodes that aired on the BBC over the summer and just completed a run on PBS are now available on a two-disc set from Warner Home Video/BBC Video. The roughly 90 minute stories give all the characters plenty of room to breathe while letting Holmes investigate his mysteries. Behind all three is the invisible hand of Moriarity, who finally reveals himself in time for the finale. The good news is that a second season of three episodes will arrive in fall 2011.

The stories, including “A Study in Pink” written by Moffat, are involving and enjoyable, requiring you to keep up and pay attention. The discs are complemented by the original 60 minute pilot, which was produced in January 2009 and was so well received by the BBC that they ordered 90 minute shows requiring them to rework and reshoot the story. It’s an interesting comparison. There’s also a 32-minute behind-the-scenes look at production of the trio of stories which is interesting. You can watch “A Study in Pink” with commentary by Moffat, Gatiss and Sue Vertue, while Cumberbatch, Freeman and Gatiss can be heard during “[[[The Great Game]]]”.

Starz Nabs ‘Torchwood”s 4th Season

torchwood-a-8490247Just the other day we talked about how everyone was awaiting word on a fourth season of the BBC series Torchwood. Here’s this morning’s formal press release with the details. Let the rejoicing and anticipation begin.

LOS ANGELES, June 7 /PRNewswire/ — Starz Entertainment has
acquired U.S. television rights to the next installment of the BBC’s
audience sensation Torchwood, developed and produced by BBC
Worldwide Productions. Starz will debut the 10-episode series
exclusively in the U.S., and BBC One will debut it in the U.K., both in
summer, 2011. This is a co-production between Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and
BBC Worldwide, and BBC Worldwide will distribute the show outside the
U.S. The deal was jointly announced today by Starz, LLC President and
CEO Chris Albrecht and BBC Worldwide
Productions EVP Jane Tranter.

The stars of the previous versions of Torchwood, notably John Barrowman (Capt. Jack
Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), will return for the new version.
Additional key cast, reflecting the more international scope of the
series, will be announced soon.

Torchwood is a drama that puts extraterrestrial
threats into a very real world, and asks how humanity deals with the
danger – while fighting mankind’s darkest instincts. The series’
previous three seasons aired on BBC America in the U.S. and garnered
record-breaking ratings for the network. Created by visionary
writer/producer Russell T Davies, Torchwood has to date been
located primarily in Cardiff, Wales.
The new series will allow Davies and his writing team to tell a more
explosive and global story, one that takes advantage of the unlimited
narrative opportunities of a premium television service like Starz.

Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Scripted Julie Gardner
return as executive producers, with Davies also serving as show-runner
for the new Torchwood.

“We’re committed to programming exceptional television that is
entertaining, imaginative and provides a premium TV experience, and by
any measure the new concept for Torchwood fits that mandate,”
Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht
said. “I’ve been part of successful partnerships with Jane Tranter and the BBC previously, and I’m
very much looking forward to working with them again.”

Torchwood has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in
both the UK and U.S., and in this new partnership with Starz, the next
chapter will not only reward our current fans, but also introduce new
viewers to the most impressive installment yet,” said Jane Tranter, EVP, BBC Worldwide Productions. “Chris Albrecht and his team are committed to
delivering quality premium programming to their subscribers, also a core
attribute of the BBC, and we are excited to be working with them as the Torchwood adventure continues.”

“Russell, Jane and Julie came to us with a compelling vision for the
evolution of the Torchwood saga that really takes the story
into whole new areas,” added Carmi Zlotnik,
Managing Director of Starz Media ? the production and development
division of Starz. “The compelling story and characters this trio
created provide a strong template for driving this narrative in exciting
ways.”  

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama
Commissioning said: “We have a long history of working with many U.S.
networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the
first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in
Russell, Jane and Julie. Torchwood will burst back onto the
screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations
that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever”

Torchwood is the latest piece of notable programming from
Starz. It follows on the heels of the recently concluded first season of
the epic “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” this summer’s highly anticipated
event  series “The Pillars of the Earth,” based on author Ken Follett‘s international bestseller, and the
recently announced series “Camelot,” which Starz is co-producing with
GK-TV and will air early in 2011.

“Torchwood” originally debuted in the UK on BBC One in 2006. All five
episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth” reached the Top 10 list in
TV Episodes across the entire iTunes TV Store, with episode 1 of the
series reaching the top spot the week of launch in August, 2009.

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‘Torchwood’ coming to the US?

  • News
  • January 19, 2010

The Hollywood Reporter says that Fox is developing a stateside version of the U.K. hit series Torchwood.The project is from BBC Worldwide Prods., with original series creator Russell T. Davies writing the script and the original producing team is on board. In addition
to Davies, exec producers include Davies’ producing partner Julie
Gardner (former head of drama at BBC Wales for the show’s first season)
and Jane Tranter (another BBC vet, now exec VP programming and
production at BBC Worldwide Prods. in the U.S.).

Also, some of
the current cast — most likely John Barrowman, who plays the immortal
Captain Jack Harkness — might star if Fox orders Torchwood to pilot.

As
for the new show’s plot, the U.S. version will contain a global story
line compared to the more localized sensibility of the first two BBC
seasons.

No word if this ends up being the fourth season of Torchwood that we talked about back during San Diego.

‘Doctor Who’s new logo UPDATE: with video!

  • News
  • October 6, 2009

Just up on the BBC website, in time for the debut of the new bloke, Matt Smith.

UPDATE: Oh, look, some nice person has posted the video that you’re not supposed to see if you aren’t in England:

EXCLUSIVE: Torchwood picked up for another season by BBC

  • News
  • July 26, 2009

torchwood-a-6968303This just in: a rep from BBCAmerica has let it out to our man on the scene that Torchwood has been picked up for another season by the BBC. Details to come…

UPDATE: BBC America told ComicMix’s Mike Raub that Torchwood has been picked up for a fourth season. No word on when it will air or the number of episodes. This follows the highly succesful UK broadcast of Children Of Earth.

BBC Plans New ‘Day of the Triffids’ Adaptation

  • News
  • December 13, 2008

With the global ecology a hot topic these days, it’s little surprise the BBC is planning a new version of the classic tale The Day of the Triffids. It all started with the 1951 post-apocalyptic novel by John Wyndham.

The story, according to the BBC tells of “Bill Masen, who awakes in a hospital after treatment for temporary blindness caused by a sting from a genetically modified plant, a triffid.”

"The first 45 minutes of 28 Days Later are the first three chapters of The Day of the Triffids, marginally modified with the addition of zombies," said Dr Barry Langford, senior lecturer in film and television at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The novel received immediate acclaim was first adapted for BBC radio in 1953, 157 and 1958 before the 1962 feature film.  The BBC did subsequent productions in 1971, 1973 and 1980.

It was also adapted by Marvel in 1975 for an issue of their Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction while a British television series was produced in 1981. The new production is being written by Patrick Harbinson (ER).

"The triffids are perhaps to us a more potent threat than even in Wyndham’s time," Dr Langford added.

Andy Sawyer, librarian at the Science Fiction Foundation Collection at the University of Liverpool, told the BBC. "It has become relevant. There is a lot more anxiety about bio engineering now."

The images of empty cities was a haunting one in the book and one which continues to resonate in post-apocalyptic fiction including next year’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.

Showtime Developing Sci Fi series

  • News
  • December 9, 2008

Syns, a project initially developed for the BBC is now being shaped at Showtime as a new cable drama. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series is about “a world in which humanlike synthetic organisms, known as Syns, are used for various purposes.”

John McNamara, who was a consulting producer on CBS’ Jericho, is developing the project with Supernatural supervising producer/writer Sera Gamble, who is writing the pilot. The original series was developed under the title Dolls’ Hospital by Stephen Volk (Afterlife) for the BBC before they abandoned the concept.

Clerkenwell Films is producing with Pangea, the scripted arm of RDF USA. Chris Coelen, CEO of RDF USA, said the project will have "light sci-fi elements, but it’s really meant to be rooted in the real world."

"They have taken an option to develop a US show based on the UK version. It’s still in the early stages, but hopefully it will go to series," is all a spokesman for Clerkenwell would say.

‘Life on Mars’ Co-Creator Praises American Incarnation

  • News
  • November 29, 2008

Life on Mars is the successful translation of the 16-episode BBC series to America.  Not every translation has worked, as noted by the cancellation this season of The Ex-List, which came from Israel.

Life’s co-creator,  Ashley Pharoah, told reporters in New York that he thinks this interpretation works very well. "I think it’s marvelous. We’re really very proud of it," he said. The producer was in Manhattan receiving Life‘s second International Emmy for best drama.

He praised the decision to replace David E. Kelley as the showrunner which led to a new cast a chance in locale from Los Angeles to New York. "It was sun-drenched and rather pleasant," said Pharoah.. "The whole point of our show in Manchester and the one in New York is to show those mean streets and show how much has changed in these 30 years.

"They’re changing the mythology, which I think is all right," Pharoah said. "It has to be different. Otherwise everyone just goes on YouTube and sees how it ends."

On the BBC version, the show wound down when actor John Simm decided the sixteen episodes were enough.  Therefore, his time-tossed detective died and ended the series on a downbeat note.

"Even we worried about that," said Pharoah. "Some people back home didn’t like the ending, but that was the end we had in mind from the beginning."

Writer-producer Cameron Roach also doesn’t mind the changes.

"I think it’s good that it ends in a different way," Roach said. "It keeps the American audiences guessing."

Doctor Who in Review: Season Four, Episode #12 – “The Stolen Earth”

The hit BBC series Doctor Who is now in its fourth season on the Sci-Fi Channel, and since we’re all big fans here at ComicMix, we’ve decided to kick off an episode-by-episode analysis of the reinvigorated science-fiction classic.

Every week, I’ll do my best to go through the most recent episode with a fine-tooth comb (or whatever the “sonic screwdriver” equivalent might be) and call out the highlights, low points, continuity checks and storyline hints I can find to keep in mind for future episodes. I’ll post the review each Monday, so you have ample time to check out the episode once it airs each Friday at 9 PM EST on Sci-Fi Channel before I spoil anything.

Missed a week? Check out the “Doctor Who in Review” archive or check out any of the past editions of this column via the links at the end of this article.

Keep in mind, I’m going to assume readers have already watched the episode when I put fingers to keyboard and come up with the roundup of important plot points. In other words, SPOILER ALERT!

Let’s begin now, shall we?

Season Four, Episode #12: “The Stolen Earth”

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SDCC: Vertigo and WildStorm News

  • News
  • July 27, 2008

Vertigo and WildStorm — both imprints of DC Comics — talked about their respective futures at a couple of Comic-Con panels.

While Vertigo (led by editors Karen Berger and Will Dennis and a ton of creators) talked about an array of new projects and the Vertigo Crime imprint, WildStorm had just a little bit of news on already existing properties.

Newsarama has an exhaustive roundup of the Vertigo panel, including some insight into Vertigo Crime:

New Vertigo Crime books that are coming out include Dark Entries, a new book by writer Ian Rankin with Werther Dell’edera artist. Rankin is best known as the writer of the Rebus novels, on which the BBC show is based. "It’s using the character of Constantine from Hellblazer," Dennis said. The story follows what happens when John Constantine is called in to investigate what went wrong on a reality television show.

Filthy Rich is a new Vertigo Crime book by writer Brian Azzarello and Victor Santos, an artist from Spain. "Basically, it’s a story of a big man who makes even bigger mistakes through his life," Azzarello explained. "He is hired to be a clandestine bodyguard for a wealthy automobile heiress."

Filthy Rich takes place in the early ’60s so it has that "upbeat vibe," he said. "It’s all about the celebrity culture of wealth and why people find that fascinating."

Meanwhile, CBR kept tabs on the WildStorm panel.

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