|
Exciting news from BBC AMERICA's press department hit the wires this morning: the entire channel is undergoing a "radical makeover" later this year. The channel will now "focus exclusively on bringing U.S. audiences the very best in contemporary British programs - including a greater emphasis on our world renowned news coverage," according to our new head honcho, Garth Ancier. Lots of great acquisitions to announce, including MI-5 (Spooks to you UKers), the long-running youth soap Hollyoaks (which I love), Hotel Babylon, the new Jennifer Saunders comedy The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood, and new seasons of Hex, Life On Mars, and Doctor Who. Here are some of the primetime highlights you can look forward to:
- Murder Mondays showcase some of the best in scripted drama. This is the destination for gripping psychological thrillers like the BBC AMERICA co-production Wire in the Blood. Starring Robson Green (Rocketman, Reckless) as the brilliant clinical psychologist, Dr. Tony Hill, the new season includes a one-off special where Hill brings his unique investigative powers to the U.S. for the first time, in a murder investigation set and filmed in Texas. Other shows on the night include an all-new season of critically-acclaimed Murphy's Law with James Nesbitt (Jekyll, Bloody Sunday) playing troubled undercover cop Tommy Murphy.
- Tuesday Nitro reaches out to the male demographic with high-octane dramas and the best of British reality television. In the ever-topical MI-5, British intelligence confronts international espionage and global terrorism in an acclaimed drama that reflects the uncertainty of the world today. And original action-packed drama, Ultimate Force, follows an elite army unit on a series of dangerous undercover missions.
- Wicked Wednesday is where being bad never felt so good. Female focused and full-on, this night is one of television's guiltiest pleasures. Femme fatale Joan Collins joins the all-new season of the sexiest, sassiest drama on TV - Footballers Wive$. And after the game, BBC AMERICA checks into the all new Hotel Babylon where the only thing more exciting than being a guest is being on staff. Other shows include BBC AMERICA co-production Goldplated, a darkly comic family saga about luxurious lives lived on credit, and Sinchronicity, a party-fuelled drama about three hip, but unhappy twentysomethings searching for love.
- Big Thursday is all about huge characters with larger than life personalities. From top chef Gordon Ramsay (Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsay's F Word) to showbiz gossip monster Graham Norton (The Graham Norton Show), big personalities take over the channel with all-new seasons of their shows.
- Crime Scene Friday features the best in procedural crime, forensic and legal drama. BBC AMERICA co-production, Whistleblower, centers on people who risk their careers and even their lives to expose dangerous secrets while another BBC AMERICA co-production, The Innocence Project, follows a group of bright, young law students who investigate miscarriages of justice pro bono. Other shows include all-new seasons of returning forensic series Silent Witness and the UK's top-rated cold-case drama Waking the Dead.
- Supernatural Saturday enters a world of science fiction and paranormal events where nothing is what it seems. In a BBC AMERICA co-production, James Nesbitt (Murphy's Law, Bloody Sunday) stars as Jekyll in a modern re-telling of the classic tale of scientific misadventure. And from the creators of Doctor Who, spin-off series Torchwood, follows a team of modern day investigators as they use sci-fi technology to solve crimes in both alien and human worlds. Returning series include all-new seasons of time-travelling Life on Mars, spine-chilling Hex and sci-fi favorite Doctor Who.
- The Brit Movie - every week BBC AMERICA showcases the best of British movie talent. Preceding this, at 7:00 p.m. Adventure Sunday, focuses on action-packed drama for all the family featuring some of the UK's most exciting new shows. Romance, humor and excitement play out in an all-new season of BBC AMERICA' top rated show Robin Hood. And the breathtaking landscapes of the South African bush are brought into viewer's homes in Wild at Heart, a compelling account of one family's journey of self discovery.
|
Does this mean we won't have to wait until next March (2008) for the second series of Robin Hood? I hope so! I also look forward to MI5, some episodes of which I saw on A&E--wonderful show.
"...a "radical makeover" later this year. The channel will now "focus exclusively on bringing U.S. audiences the very best in contemporary British programs..."rnrnWhat was it doing before?