Hot on the tails of Joss Whedon’s magnificent Dr. Horrible earlier this summer, another high profile US TV showrunner, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, is turning his attentions to the web.
Judging from the teaser trailer embedded above, the show promises every bit as random and bonkers as Family Guy, and we here at TV Spy Towers will definitely be logging on on 10 September.
9pm, CSI: Miami, Five
CSI: Miami goes a bit Randall and Hopkirk: Deceased tonight, as Delko gets help in his latest investigation from Tim Speedle, who supposedly died three years ago. Is it a hallucination, or did Speed fake his own death? All will be revealed…
10pm, Private Practice, Living
If you get squeamish watching women giving birth (even if they are just acting) then you’re going to need a lot of tea breaks in this episode. There’s plenty of drama with the team to distract you though, as Pete and Addison plan to take their flirting further, Violet makes Cooper an irresistable offer, and Sam finds himself in an inconvenient position. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled - the waiting room actually has some patients in it this week!
10pm, Smallville, E4
James Marsters makes a welcome return as Brainiac, and he’s more dastardly than ever, targetting Lana to get to Clark and Kara. Meanwhile, Lois and Jimmy try to get to the bottom of Lionel’s machinations, but Lex’s flashbacks reveal just what sort of guy they’re up against. If you’re enjoying Kara’s gung-ho attitude, you really ought to check out the Kara Chronicles on E4’s website.
‘He (the Mayor) wants us to solve the murders, he just doesn’t want the cost. Don’t look so shocked, you’re running with the big dogs now.’
Police chief Rawls reminds Daniels of political realities after the Mayor tells the press he’s determined to see McNulty’s fictitious serial killer brought to book.
This series of The Wire has been strong on the effects of budget cuts on a city and its institutions – the police, the newspaper, the schools… and last night’s episode, The Dickensian Aspect, followed the same theme.
McNulty continues to distort real police work by continuing his campaign for more funds by inventing a serial killer; the forensics lab has messed up the evidence because it employed a temp who didn’t really know how things worked; and The Baltimore Sun has switched its emphasis from a real story about schools to McNulty’s fictitious serial killer.
Meanwhile, as a backdrop to a city where institutions aren’t working properly, we find Marlo and Omar trying to settle scores with guns.
It’s an episode where you can chew over the politics of a city and how and why things work and don’t work, but it also offers the disturbing, yet entertaining, duel between an ice-cool Marlo and emotional Omar.
While we were pleasantly surprised by the first season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, we couldn’t help but think the series was crying out for a flame-haired uberbitch to whip things up into a mind-bogling, conspiracy-theory frenzy.
The producers seem to agree and have thrown former Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson into the mix as cool-as-ice company bigwig Catherine Weaver. As her little Harry Lime-esque monologue above proves, Catherine isn’t entirely a benevolent boss at the mysterious Zeiracorp, though there is some speculation on whether she’s going to help the Connors or not.
Things got really claustrophobic last night, especially as the creepy Lila has moved in with Dexter and Debs (who hates her). But Dexter’s finally twigged Lila’s a dangerous psycho in the Fatal Attraction mode. So, unless he falls for her bunny boiler antics, I think she’s not long for this world.
Still, it’s just great seeing these two psychos doing their thing. Lila’s shadow at Rita’s apartment sent a chill down my back, as did the moment Dexter realised that it was Lila who called his mother’s murderer. But the scene where he tells her to stay away or she will ‘see the monster’ was choice. Looks like the Lila experiment really is over.
And what about that cliffhanger, where Doakes finds Dexter’s blood slides? Wow! Can this show get any better?
Best line of the night:
Deb: ‘I’m sorry, but she’s gross. And pale. Nobody is pale in Miami. She is obviously a vampire. A gross. English. Titty. Vampire.’
A fantasy comedy drama based in a San Francisco law firm featuring a prophet, a Chinese acupuncturist and singing superstar George Michael as a regular guest may sound completely bonkers, but from the clips I’ve seen so far, Eli Stone – coming to Sci-Fi in October – looks destined to become a hit.
Already a major success in the States, the series follows the adventures of ambitious lawyer Eli Stone, played by Brit Jonny Lee Miller, who, through a series of hallucinations, often involving the song lyrics or the appearance of George Michael (yes, the George Michael!), goes on a voyage of self-discovery both personally and professionally. The medical world blames Eli’s visions on a hereditary brain condition, while his acupuncturist Dr Chen (James Saito) reckons his patient is a prophet!
Cue George Michael, who adds a brand new string to his guitar, taking on his first acting role as the star of Eli’s entertaining hallucinations. Natasha Henstridge stars as Eli’s fiancée Taylor, while Alias’ Victor Garber plays his boss and future father-in-law Jordan.
Ignore the fact that Miller’s phony American accent is frankly quite ropey, and that the show is basically Ally McBeal with a male lead (just substitute the dancing baby for George, and Boston for San Francisco), because this series looks pretty smart.
We’ve got five copies of film Meet the Spartans on DVD, the latest tongue-in-cheek parody from the team behind ultimate spoofs Scary Movie, Date Movie and Epic Movie.
The film follows Leonidas, the King of Sparta, as he fights to protect his kingdom from the Persians. Unfortunately, although he tries to round-up 300 of his finest soldiers to defend his homeland, only 13 of his not-so-finest turn up to meet the call of war, and he heads into battle with his ragtag army armed with nothing more than a cape and his leather underwear!
DVD extras include footage not screened in cinemas, a trivia game and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
To be in with a chance of winning one of the five copies of the DVD, answer this question:
Q.What US sitcom did Sean Maguire recently play a starring role in?
Answers on an email, clearly marked ‘Meet the Spartans DVD’, to tvspy@ipcmedia.com
Closing date 31 August.
We will collect your personal email data solely to process your competition entry. Prize will be awarded to the first 5 correct entries drawn at random under independent supervision after the competition closes at midnight on 31 August. We will notify the winners by email within 21 days of this closing date. The prize consists of a copy of the Meet the Spartans DVD. Promoter: IPC Media. Prize Supplier: Taylor Herring. For full terms and conditions see here
We’re getting excited at the prospect of a niiiice long Bank Holiday weekend (sorry if you’re reading this in Scotland!) after a busy week blogging here at TV Spy. In case you missed them, here are some of the best bits…
• Ben felt guilty about how little we talk about top spy comedy Chuck, so rectified the situation with some previews of series two.
• We all breathed a sigh of relief when Pete got confirmation that he doesn’t have psycho tendencies, courtesy of Dexter’s latest viral campaign. You can have your stapler back now, Pete!
