Ça va? Engrenages is a French crime drama series which has also been aired in some 70 countries. In the English-speaking world it is known as Spiral.
"The series describes the day-to-day work and life of six employees of the judicial system: a police captain and her two lieutenants, a judge, a prosecutor and a lawyer."
This is in French with English subtitles. The subtitles are not hard coded, meaning you have to press the subtitle button on your remote to activate them. They play fine that way in my ancient cheap Philips disc player, so chances are they will work fine in yours as well. D'accord?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_%28TV_series%29
The 5th series of Doc Martin has concluded.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Martin
I've seen some rumors that Arrested Development could be returning for another series plus a movie. Sort of amazing considering the way the rocket scientists at Fox did everything they could to kill it off back in 2005. Anyways, here are two shows with an AD connection.
Running Wilde stars Will Arnett and Keri Russell along with British actor Peter Serafinowicz and David Cross.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Wilde
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret stars David Cross with British actors Sharon Horgan and Blake Harrison and Will Arnett. It's considered to be both a US and UK sitcom. The original Comedy Showcase pilot with Russell Tovey as Dave instead of Blake Harrison is also on the disc. I just didn't have room to show it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Increasingly_Poor_Decisions_of_Todd_Margaret
Slide is an Australian teen comedy-drama which sounds similar to the UK show Skins, but don't quote me on that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slide_%28TV_series%29
Close To Home was a 1989-1990 LWT family comedy about a London veterinarian, his two kids, his ex-wife, and takes place at his practice and home. 13 of the 19 episodes produced and from a-copy-of-a-copy-of-a-copy video tape recordings. Starring Paul Nicholas (Just Good Friends, Bust), Angharad Rees (Poldark), Jane Briers, Lucy Benjamin (Press Gang, EastEnders), Pippa Guard (Roger Roger, Hearts And Bones, The Creatives, Hope And Glory, The Riff Raff Element, Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, The Mallens), John Arthur (Barbara, Pilgrims Rest, Fresh Fields).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_to_Home_%281989_TV_series%29
Legacy of Murder + Jack of Diamonds are 2 related comedy shows Dick Emery did shortly before his death. (Actually, Emery had already passed away by the time Jack of Diamonds was aired.)
He played numerous characters in both and they also featured Barry Evans (Doctor in the House, Doctor at Large, Mind Your Language), Richard Vernon (Paradise Postponed, Class Act, Nanny, The Sandbaggers, Duchess Of Duke Street and many big films), Tony Selby (Moody And Pegg, Dr Who, Get Some In!, Mulberry, Love Hurts, The Detectives), Glynn Edwards, Patsy Rowlands.......etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_Murder
Sorry, can't find anything on Jack of Diamonds.....
Shameless, now with over 100 episodes under its belt, wrapped up the second half of its 8th series last night with a big dance routine. It'll be back in 2012 with more tales from the British upper crust. I was hoping it would fit on one disc but the 100th episode was 75 minutes long and that killed any chances of that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shameless
This one almost fell through the cracks. Ended last week and I forgot all about it.
The Body Farm, a crime drama, is a spinoff of the now ended Waking The Dead.
It is about "a fictional private forensic pathology facility that conducts scientific research to help solve crimes".
Tara Fitzgerald, as Dr Eve Lockhart, continues her Waking The Dead role and is joined by veteran actor Keith Allen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_Farm_%28TV_series%29
Spooks....Series 10 has concluded. 6 new episodes of MI-5 saving the world from complete destruction, utter chaos and total mayhem!!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooks
Beasts was a series of unrelated plays written by Nigel Kneale (of Quatermass and The Stone Tape fame) that all share a theme of light horror. Special Offer stars Pauline Quirke, who must have been only about 16 at the time. Buddyboy stars Martin Shaw sporting quite a perm.
Also on the disc is another similar play Kneale wrote for the Against The Crowd program the previous year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beasts_%28TV_series%29
Mount Pleasant, a comedy-drama, will be returning with a Christmas special and there will be a second series in a year or so.
I'm only posting this because someone asked for it.
Nice seeing Pauline Collins, Bobby Ball, Liza Tarbuck, Neil Fitzmaurice, and Cori veterans Sally Lindsay & Angela Griffin.
Paula Wilcox is in a couple of the episodes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pleasant_%28TV_series%29
Rules of Engagement......from IMDB: "Political intrigue and murder occurs when the English town of Portsmouth is sealed off by the military during the eve of World War III."
Starring Kenneth Cranham (Shine On Harvey Moon, Danger UXB, El C.I.D., Our Mutual Friend, Rome), Derek Fowlds (Yes Minister, Heartbeat, Affairs of the Heart, Chancer), Anna Calder-Marshall (Bloomers), Cathy Tyson (Band Of Gold, Bonkers, Grange Hill).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344712/
No Excuses is a 1983 drama serial about (from IMDB) "Shelley Maze, a female rock star. The series showed her trying to come to terms with her failing career and her relationships with the people she'd worked with." Starring Charlotte Cornwell (Dressing For Breakfast, The Men's Room), Alfred Burke (Public Eye, Enemy At The Door), David Swift (Drop The Dead Donkey, The Paradise Club, Vanity Fair, Bloomers) and Donald Sumpter (Being Human, Tess of the D'Ubervilles, Our Friends In The North) .
Knights Of God was a sci fi drama set in the year 2020. This one was targeted for a younger crowd, but as with similar British programming from that period don't take that to mean it was dumbed-down and cheaply produced. Featuring a solid cast that included the likes of Don Henderson, Patrick Troughton, Frank Middlemass, Owen Teale....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_God
Body Of Proof is a current American pathology drama now in its second season. It is aired in many countries but apparently not New Zealand as this was requested by one of our Kiwi cousins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_of_Proof
A lot of you have asked me about these comedies.
Series 1 of Miss Jones & Son became available some 14 months ago and there's no word of the 2nd series becoming available. I do have one of the Series 2 episodes. Miss Jones & Son starred Paula Wilcox fresh off her long run in Man About The House. Miss Jones is a single mother with a newborn son. Christopher Beeny is also in this (In Loving Memory, The Rag Trade, Last of the Summer Wine). Maybe the other 5 episodes will turn up someday. Maybe they won't.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Jones_and_Son
Romany Jones, which ran for 4 series (27 episodes) plus another 19 in Yus My Dear which was a continuation of it, starred Arthur Mullard and Queenie Watts. The first series became available about 5 months ago. No word on further releases. Many people recall James Beck's sudden death when he starred in Dad's Army. He was also in this one at that time as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romany_Jones
Lollipop Loves Mr Mole was an early 70's sitcom created by Jimmy Perry who also co-created such comedy classics as Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord? It starred Peggy Mount (The Larkins, George And The Dragon, You're Only Young Twice), Hugh Lloyd (Hancock's Half Hour, Hugh And I, Lord Tramp) and Pat Coombs (Beggar My Neighbour, Don't Drink The Water). 13 episodes were produced, but only 2 survive today.
http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/mrmole/index.html
So, for those who have been asking, here they are. But please save your sad stories for someone else should more material become available.
Mancunian Ken informs me that Romany Jones Series 2 and Miss Jones & Son Series 2 may be released early in 2012 according to published reports.
Forever Green was a family drama starring the husband-wife duo of John Alderton and Pauline Collins. They appeared together quite a bit in the 70's. Upstairs Downstairs, Thomas And Sarah, No - Honestly, The Wodehouse Playhouse all come to mind. Of course, individually they are both television veterans of nearly 50 years. Pauline was just in the comedy-drama Mount Pleasant which ended last night. I have it here and may post it on the blog, but then again, I might have better things to do too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever_Green
In case you haven't noticed....take a look to the right and you'll see a link for a blog I've started for US TV that will be mainly focusing on the first television generation.
I couldn't tell you how many people have asked me over the years about the Australian version of Are You Being Served? I've had these 6 episodes sitting around here for ages hoping more would turn up as, from what I understand, they do supposedly exist in an Australian archive somewhere. I never came across any other Australian comedy from that period so I would have something to pair it up with, so here they are along with Inman's two solo shows plus brief edits of his guest appearances in 1999's hilarious French & Saunders Star Wars spoof and the 3 lines he had in one of his first TV appearances in the final episode of Two In Clover in 1970.
In case you're not familiar with Are You Being Served? (Down Under), in the early 80's Network 10 made 16 episodes of this with all the same roles played by Australian actors with the exception of Inman's Mr. Humphries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_Being_Served%3F_%28Australian_TV_series%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Man_Out_%28UK_TV_series%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_a_Letter,_Mr._Jones
3 Eric Sykes specials plus another of 2 his films. To fill out the disc I've included 5 of his guest appearances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Sykes
Haven is a supernatural drama loosely based on Stephen King's The Colorado Kid. A joint Canadian/American production, it is filmed in Nova Scotia. Currently there is no word on whether there will be a third series, but it has been reported there will be another episode aired around Christmas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haven_%28TV_series%29
Doctor Who (11th Doctor) wrapped up another run. Here's the 7 latest episodes along with the companion Confidential episodes.
