Archive for March, 2011
Same Old Story: Do We Really Need More TV Remakes?
Mar 30th
Earlier this week MTV unveiled the latest trailer for Teen Wolf, their reboot of the 1985 Michael J. Fox movie, which is pretty much fondly remembered by no-one!
Then there’s ABC, planning their own Charlie’s Angels remake for the Fall featuring Annie Ilonzeh (General Hospital), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) and Rachael Taylor (Grey’s Anatomy) as the new female crime-fighting force.
And of course by now you’ve probably all seen the new Wonder Woman – played by Adrianne Palicki (also from Friday Night Lights) wearing what almost everyone agrees is an especially tacky Halloween costume. Less female empowerment, more low end fetish flick.
From my perspective I’m just wondering why networks feel the need to revamp these old franchises – and if it’s actually what audiences really want?
If you look back over the last few years you’ll see plenty of TV remakes – but how many of them have actually succeeded? NBC’s Knight Rider reboot lasted just 17 episodes, proving there’s just no way you can polish a turd, which the original series essentially was (we all had lower standards in the 80’s!) How about Melrose Place, the CW’s tedious reworking of the classic 90’s soap which replaced campy drama with typically beautiful but bland CW characters. And why, oh More >
Join Our NEW Facebook Page
Mar 29th
Thanks so much for continuing to read Remote Patrolled – I love seeing all your comments.
We’re coming up to our one year anniversary for the site so we’re in the process of doing some much needed Spring Cleaning, tidying up some expired site links and videos in the process.
As part of this clean up we’ve also created a new Facebook page – Remote Patrolled TV. This will replace the old Facebook page which was simply titled Remote Patrolled and which we’ll be retiring soon.
If you haven’t joined the new Facebook page yet we’ve made it super simple – just go to the box on the left and click Like!
And of course please do spread the word on any articles or pieces you enjoy.
Thanks again – and keep reading…!
Richard
An Open Letter To Mad Men Creator Matthew Weiner
Mar 29th
Dear Mr Weiner (or can I call you Matthew?)
I recently read that yourself and AMC were nearing a deal to continue production on a 5th season of your critically acclaimed series Mad Men. Phew – I think I speak for the millions of Mad Men fans across America when I say we were all getting a little worried there. Unfortunately I understand that due to the delay caused by your protracted negotiations we won’t be getting our annual summer Mad Men fix… please tell me this isn’t so.
Like many other people I rely on Mad Men to get me through the summer slump, that late August period where nothing airs except for endless repeats and new episodes of Wipeout. Last year I even considered watching some of the procedurals on USA – yep, it got that bad. But thankfully Mad Men came along to save us once again.
It’s now been almost 6 months since Season 4 came off the air and I’m still buzzing about the series finale. Sure it wasn’t as dramatic as Season 3, where you dismantled the iconic Sterling Cooper ad agency in the show’s paciest episode to date. But Don Draper’s spur of the moment engagement More >
Keep Or Cancel? FOX
Mar 28th
It’s Keep Or Cancel time again – and today we’re turning to Fox to take a look at what shows will be coming back in the Fall – and which are heading for the TV graveyard…
Fox is in an interesting place – and one that’s dangerous for a lot of the network’s new shows. Take a look at the LONG list of already renewed shows below… plus add in Simon Cowell’s X Factor, which is likely going to take up between 2-4 hours of primetime each week and THEN add in Terra Nova, the Steven Spielberg produced dinosaur series that’s a lock for the Fall. That doesn’t leave many slots open… so let the battle begin!
Cool Clip: Michelle Rodriguez’s Killer Pillow Fight
Mar 26th
It’s rather amazing how well Michelle Rodriguez‘s career has gone!
For an actress known for one particular type of role – the butt kicking tomboy – she’s shown amazing resilience and ended up in a whole stream of hits over the years, including The Fast And The Furious, Resident Evil, Avatar and this year’s Battle: LA. Someone either makes some great choices or has a great agent – or both!
I interviewed Michelle right at the top of her career, for the female boxing movie Girlfight and she was lovely and very new to the scene (I believe it was her first time in London so she was seeking tips on where to go). Somehow I suspect she’s a lot more worldly wise now!
Here’s Michelle in action in one of the best viral clips of the year so far, a college pillow fight that suddenly gets a whole lot more serious when blood is drawn. It’s very Kill Bill – and fast and furious. Those College Humor guys really are spending money these days!
Check out the clip below…
The Flintstones Theme – Extended!
Mar 25th
We haven’t posted a clip from the College Humor guys for a while now – but this one caught my eye today and is worth a watch!
Check out the gang’s reworking of the classic Flintstones‘ theme tune – with a darker 21st century twist…
Yep, if you’ve ever wondered how Fred could keep wolfing down those huge ribs all the time, here’s your answer…
Enjoy! (more…)
Keep Or Cancel? ABC
Mar 23rd
It’s that time of the year again when networks have to start making some tough decisions and clearing the decks ahead of the upcoming Fall season. But what shows will survive and which are heading for the chopping block?
With the ax looming over several shows on each network I thought it would be a great time to launch our new strand, Keep Or Cancel, analyzing each show’s chances of survival for the Fall season.
First up – ABC, the increasingly troubled network which has endured a pretty rocky season so far.
First Look: Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution – Season 2
Mar 22nd
Wow – has it really been a year since Jamie Oliver last hit our screens?
ABC have rushed through production of a second season of Oliver’s Food Revolution, despite some middling ratings towards the end of its run. But I guess for ABC on Friday night’s that’s better than running a costly first run drama (just look at the kind of ratings Fringe is getting these days!)
This time around Jamie is heading to Los Angeles to improve the county’s schools – but as had already been widely reported, not everything goes to plan and Jamie ends up banned from all the schools in the area…
I like Jamie Oliver a lot and was initially a big fan of his Food Revolution. But as the first season wore on it grew more and more fake and my interest waned. I really hope this second season gets back to the reality and stays true to the spirit of Oliver’s infinitely superior UK series.
Here’s the first look at the show… so will you be watching?
William And Kate: How Do You Say ‘Overkill’
Mar 22nd
Look I totally understand the appeal of William and Kate‘s upcoming Royal Wedding, the modern day love story that’s generating acres of press coverage and TV interviews. But is it just me or are the number of wedding shows and specials getting seriously out of hand now?
Check out this preview of William and Kate, the Lifetime movie coming April 18th that presents a glossy, romanticized view of the royal couple. You’ll note that the TV movie William is kind of hot – in a way that the real life version simply isn’t (unless you’re into stiff and balding English gents)
But the Lifetime movie is just the tip of the iceberg – TLC are launching an entire week of wedding shows including special episodes of What The Sell and Say Yes To The Dress while BBC America are going similarly crazy with documentaries, behind the scenes glimpses and ‘royal insider’ interviews that are tangential at best. Meanwhile the Today show breathlessly covers every single moment of William and Kate’s wedding plans as if it were of groundbreaking importance… guess what it really isn’t!
But what do you think? Do you think the networks have gone royally mad – or is the amount of screen time More >
The Voice: 5 Reasons Why It’s Going To Flop
Mar 21st
By now you’ve probably heard all about The Voice, NBC’s latest entry into the music competition world.
Hosted by Carson Daly and featuring Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera as judges, the network obviously intends for The Voice to cause some serious damage to the American Idol franchise – and weaken the impending launch of Simon Cowell’s X Factor.
But while I’d be the first to concede that The Voice has a starry line up and shows more promise than many other network music shows – yep we all remember The One on ABC – I have to be honest, I think the show is going to flop big time. And here’s why!
