VIDEOS
Coming Soon: The Firm
Jan 4th
When Does It Start: Sunday 8th Jan at 9.00pm EST on NBC (the show’s regular slot will be Thursdays at 10pm)
In A Nutshell: The Tom Cruise film from 1993 gets reworked as a TV series. Who says there are no new ideas left in Hollywood!
What’s It About: 10 years on from the events of The Firm, Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas), his wife Abby (Molly Parker) and daughter Claire are emerging from witness protection. You may recall that the McDeeres had become caught up with a corrupt law firm with ties to the mob – before the couple battled back and brought down the firm.
Now a decade on, the McDeere’s are trying to start a new life, Mitch has launched his own upstart law firm, but the company is strapped for cash. So when another large law firm offers to take on the fledgling company the McDeeres decide to partner up. Guess what happens… yep, lightning really does strike twice! (more…)
The 10 Best TV Shows Of 2011
Dec 29th
Yes, it’s that time of the year again where I pick my top shows of the last 12 months. Many shows – New Girl, The Borgias, Homeland, Nurse Jackie – almost made the list. But in the end there could be only 10… here they are!
REVENGE: There were shows this year with better writing, better directing and better acting. But NOTHING on our screens in 2011 was as ridiculously entertaining as Revenge, the season’s most surprising new hit.
Who would have thought that the primetime soap opera would make a comeback in 2011 and that its story of rich people receiving their comeuppance would seem quite so timely. Revenge has been perfectly played since episode one – hooking us into Emily Thorne’s grand plans to avenge herself on the Grayson family – led by the wonderfully icy matriarch Victoria (Madeline Stowe).
But Revenge has also done a wonderful job of surrounding Emily with a series of equally gripping storylines. There’s grasping social climber Tyler who’s gradually becoming more and more unhinged, bisexual billionaire Nolan who helps fund Emily’s schemes, reformed party boy Daniel who may be the key to Emily’s undoing and the Poison Ivy-like Amanda who’s out to cause a whole heap More >
DJ Earwork: The United States Of Pop 2011
Dec 26th
As the year draws to a close here’s a look back at some of the music video highlights of the year, courtesy of music video mash up king DJ Earworm.
We’ve posted these music compilations before here on Remote Patrolled and they’re a fun way of remembering some of the best music moments of the year (although a couple of these tracks feel more 2010 than 2011 to me!)
What’s most amazing to me is how just a handful of acts seemed to dominate the music charts in 2011 – especially the ladies. Check out how much Rihanna, Katy Perry, Pink and Lady Gaga makes it into the mash up – we really are in the middle of a big female pop renaissance not seen since the early Britney / Christina days.
On the boys side it’s all about Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Enrique and Pitbull… interesting how the first two are also stars of a reality music show. It seems The Voice did more for the careers of its judges than for its actual contestants… (not to mention the impact American Idol had on J. Lo’s career)
Anyway – check out the mash up below…
More >
Tallafornia: Check Out The Irish Jersey Shore
Dec 14th
Jersey Shore truly is the STD of the TV world!
Hot on the heels of Geordie Shore and Desperate Scousewives check out Tallafornia, the Irish version of the guidos and guidettes smash!
Yes, it seems that big muscles, fake tan, excessive drinking and hot tub makeouts aren’t just particular to the New Jersey coastline, as the Tallafornia trailer makes clear.
I have to say the dark haired guy is very hot but the blonde guy with the mohawk screams gay to me! And let’s not even get into the cross eyed blonde girl. OMG!
The Tallafornia crowd hail from West Dublin, an area I’ve visited a few times over the years – but I can’t say I’ve ever come across guys that look as good as this.
Tallafornia premiered last weekend in Ireland and proved a big hit, delivering over 1/2 million viewers (in a country whose population is just over 6 million) – so expect the hook ups and bust ups to keep on coming. Funnily enough, over here Jersey Shore has likely peaked and I think is heading for some seriously declining ratings when season 5 debuts in the New Year…
In the meantime check out Tallafornia… in all its tanned and pumped up glory! (more…)
More >
The Best Commercial Of The Year – Hands Down!
Dec 3rd
Okay – tissues at the ready!
Here’s the most beautiful, awesome and most powerful commercial I’ve come across this year – hailing from Australia and in support of marriage equality.
The video’s called ‘It’s Time’ and is already a viral sensation with over 3 million views on You Tube in the last week alone. It’s one of the most potent videos I’ve seen so far in support of equal marriage rights – and far better than the bland and gutless US equivalents which have so far failed to really take off.
I don’t normally touch on political / social issues here on the site, but as a gay man myself in a long term relationship I feel very passionately about the cause of marriage equality. In fact not being able to marry has caused myself and my partner a lot of problems – both personal and financial. I honestly don’t understand how people who constantly call for smaller government seem so determined to have that same government legislate people’s private lives! Still it’s a battle we WILL win in the end – marriage equality is inevitable.
The handsome star of the video is a New Zealand actor / director / writer called Julian Shaw More >
Dallas: The New Trailer
Dec 2nd
The pre-launch hype continues!
Even though it doesn’t debut until summer 2012, TNT are determined to make a big splash with their remake of the iconic primetime soap Dallas. Check out the latest trailer, which features some more scenes from the new show as well as a selection of soundbite heavy cast interviews (lit to within an inch of their lives!)
I’ve said before I’m not really a Dallas fan but I think the show’s makers are being very smart by featuring both new cast members AND several of the originals. In fact I was talking about this very topic just the other day with a network executive friend of mine. He felt that one of the reasons the new Charlie’s Angels failed was that it had no link to the past – and I think he could be right!
So will Dallas succeed? Well given that TNT has a huge middle American audience I’d say it stands a very good chance. Plus soap operas seem to be back with a vengeance, given the success of ABC’s Revenge. In fact I wonder if the broadcast nets aren’t kicking themselves a bit that they let Dallas slip through their fingers and head to cable.
Anyway More >
Absolutely Fabulous: Do Show Revivals Ever Work?
Nov 29th
If you’re a fan of British comedy you doubtless know all about Absolutely Fabulous, the Jennifer Saunders penned fashion comedy that’s been a huge part of the UK TV landscape for years now.
Originally the show ran for three seasons from 1992 – 1995, followed by a 2 hour finale in 1996. But then Saunders decided to revive the show in 2001 for a further two seasons and an additional 3 specials. Now Ab Fab, as it’s known to its fans, is coming back for three more specials to celebrate its 20 year anniversary, including one this Christmas. But is that really such a good idea? When should great series bow out gracefully?
Here’s the deal. I was a huge fan of the original 3 season run of Ab Fab back in the 90′s, when it truly was groundbreaking and funny and very fresh. At the time the show was a real shot in the arm for the British comedy scene, a bridge between the ‘alternative comedy’ movement but also mainstream enough for my parents to watch. But even back then Ab Fab had some writing issues – often scenes would drag on for far too long or stretch a good idea More >
In Production: Game Of Thrones – Season 2
Nov 21st
If you, like me, are hungry for more Game Of Thrones, take a look at this just released behind the scenes look at the upcoming second season…
I can’t really call this video clip a First Look or a proper teaser as it doesn’t reveal a whole lot – but it’s at least a vague taste of what’s to come.
Game Of Thrones was a show that really surprised me first time around. I’m normally not a fan of grungy, fantasy series but Thrones was so fascinating and complex and featured such terrific characters it was hard not to get sucked into the world. For me the series got better every single week – and it seems I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, with viewing figures climbing pretty much every week, ending on a high of 3.04 million.
My instinct is that Game Of Thrones will really explode in Season 2, in the same way that True Blood truly took off after its first season. The big challenge will be maintaining the show’s quality – and bringing the series’ more fantastical elements to life – remember Daenerys and her recently hatched dragons!
The second season of Thrones will launch on HBO in More >
First Look: TLC’s Geek Love
Nov 19th
Okay – I have to hand it to the guys at TLC – they’re definitely on a roll at the moment!
While other networks continue to wallow in ‘over-produced’ reality and fakery, the TLC team are digging up some truly fascinating subcultures. Obviously there’s Toddlers and Tiaras and Extreme Couponing – and coming in December, here’s Geek Love – the show that shines a spotlight on the world of nerd loving!
At the moment Geek Love is just a 2 part teaser – but I have a feeling that just like Extreme Couponing this one’s going to capture the public imagination. I think it’s a fascinating world and let’s face it, geeks are hot at the moment (check out the ratings for The Big Bang Theory and to a lesser extent New Girl)
That said – I wish this teaser was a little more polished. The trailer seems to consist of a speed dating event and a range of sound bytes – feeling more like a network pitch tape than an actual show. I’m surprised TLC allowed such a raw cut to be shown.
I’d also argue that the guy at the 1.35 mark is actually fairly handsome and with a bit of styling and a few trips More >
Coming Soon: I Hate My Teenage Daughter
Nov 15th
When Does It Start: Wednesday 30th November at 9.30pm EST on Fox.
In A Nutshell: Two former nerds try to deal with their bratty – and popular – teenage daughters.
What’s It About: Annie (Jamie Pressley) and Nikki (Katie Finneran) are two best friends who found themselves bullied during their own teen years by the popular kids at their schools. Now single parents with teenage daughters they’re determined to bring up their own kids differently to how they were raised themselves. But when their daughters start acting like Mean Girls, Annie and Nikki will need all their resources and cunning to get their kids back on the good girl track…
