Results tagged “bbcamerica”

The British motoring series Top Gear (Monday, 8:00 p.m., BBC America) has a world wide following and happens to be one of the funniest shows on television. It's sort of a combination of Monty Python, Mythbusters, Motorweek, and a talk show all rolled into one crazy hour of British madness with three crazy British hosts. This week, they add beautifully filmed travelogue and a bit of road movie to the mix as they journey to Africa.

Part of the NBC 2.0 philosophy has been to put cheap programming on air as a measure to cut corners and save money. Even before the writers' strike this has meant a string of programs that are “unscripted,” such as cheesy game shows and of course the requisite fakeality nonsense. So taking quarterlife, a Web 2.0 based online show/online community from the creators of thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, and Once and Again, and sticking it on TV doesn’t seem like a big stretch.

If you are looking for some good television (you know, the kind with actual scripts), BBC America delivers a one-two punch on Saturday night with the season debuts of two British sci-fi shows – Doctor Who (8:00 p.m.) and its spin-off Torchwood (9:00 p.m.). The episodes of Torchwood are a bit fresher, airing a few weeks ago in the UK, while the Doctor Who episodes aired last spring over the pond.

We can’t get excited about or honestly recommend any of the rubbish spewed forth by the WGA strike-hurting networks in place of actual scripted programs. At this point, we would like to never see the Endemol logo on air again. (Apparently Endemol is Dutch for “mindless garbage television.”) So we were a bit surprised when we heard that NBC actually was importing a version of one of our favorite British programs, Top Gear.

A look at some of this week's noteworthy television:

A look at some of this week's noteworthy television: Spike TV's Video Game Awards 2007 (Sunday, 9:00 p.m., Spike TV) It is the fifth annual outing for this awards show for video games. Live From Lincoln Center: Red Hot Holiday Stomp (Monday, 8:00 p.m., WNET 13) Jazz at Lincoln Center is highlighted with this special hosted by Glenn Close. There will be a program of holiday music and jazz, plus it also features the broadcast...

A look at some noteworthy television this week: Art in the Twenty-First Century (Sunday, 10:00 p.m., WNET 13) Four artists - Robert Adams, Mark Dion , Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle Ursula von Rydingsvard – who explore the intersection between nature and culture. Billy Crystal: The Mark Twain Prize (Monday & Thursday, 9:00 p.m., WNET 13; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. WLIW 21) Billy Crystal receives the tenth annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in...

A look at some of this week's noteworthy television:

A look at some of this week's noteworthy television:

We have been quite happy with the first week of the BBC’s newest newscast BBC World News America, which airs at 7 p.m. on BBC America, as well as around the world on BBC World. (The half hour BBC newscasts that air on WLIW and NJN at the same time are tape delayed from an hour before.) The newscast is unlike any of the American networks and since it is an hour long unlike the big 3’s nightly broadcasts it has more actual news content, more international reporting, and it is anchored in Washington instead of New York. True PBS’ NewsHour is an hour long, but it is basically headlines at the top with people analyzing the stories of the day, instead of actual on the ground reporting.

A look at some noteworthy television this week:

A look at some noteworthy television this week:

A look at some noteworthy television this week:

What’s worth watching on food-related TV this week?

A look at some noteworthy television this week:

A look at some noteworthy televison shows this week:

A look at some noteworthy television this week:

Gothamist was pretty wary about NBC's version of The Office, but the commercials and previews have make it look very watchable. And we love shows that touch upon how insanely soul-crushing the office life can be. The American cast even looks pretty schlubby - a rarity this side of dumb-oaf-male leads on some sitcoms (you know, the ones where you're wondering "How did he land Leah Remini?") - which must have been an answered prayer to all those people labeled "character actors." We'll be tuning in tonight at 9:30PM, after the other office comedy, The Apprentice.

- Gervais doesn't have any worries about the US-version of The Office ("They are doing their own thing") and said the US version of Slough is Scranton, PA. [On the BBC website, Gervais earlier thought Newark was Slough-ish]Dan has a wonderfully thorough wrap-up of the evening. Here's BBC America's The Office site; the special will air tonight and repeat over the weekend. The NY Times loved the special; The New Yorker preferred two seasons of the series, calling it "perfect."

For ticket information, here's what the MTR says. Here's the BBC's The Office site. You can buy the Christmas Special on DVD. Also, Gervais on a Golden Globe earlier this year for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his work in The Office. Plus, Ask Gothamist on being a temp and dating coworkers.

Holiday party tips from Emily Post. And one Christmas office Gothamist is interested in attending: BBC America's marathon of The Office.

It was only a matter of time: King of the Hill co-creator Greg Daniels has signed to adapt the BBC series, The Office, for American audiences. Before the hyperventilating begins, check out Daniels' resume: Writing gigs on both Seinfeld and The Simpsons. Plus Daniels' co-creater, Mike Judge, is behind one of the greatest movies about Office Life ever: Office Space. According to an interview with Variety, producer Ben Silverman who brought Daniels on board, Daniels is "able to come up with characterizations that feel honest and personal without being caricatures. And he thoroughly understands what (the U.K. version of) 'The Office' is all about." Also, the US version won't be an exact copy of the UK version.

Victorian lesbians make it here tomorrow night with the premiere of Tipping the Velvet at 10PM on BBC America. The Post's Linda Stasi thinks it's funny that television doesn't know what to do with women...who kiss...each other... and think the TV drama is great. David Bianculli loves it, too. Gothamist knew to look forward to BBC America's airing of Tipping, thanks to Dahl.