Television Drama

From the Hugh Laurie thread in July Quote: We invite you to experience the Aga lifestyle and learn how it can help you cook better, eat better, taste better and live better. Wait, does it come with a cookbook titled "To Serve Man" by any chance? If anyone in the U.S. hasn't seen this episode, SciFi network has a Twilight Zone episode today. To Serve Man will be on at 10:17 p.m (Eastern) ETA: Actually, it's one of the full episodes available at IMDB

One of the best TZ's ever. spoiler: One of the great trademark devices on TZ, when the whole show was a build-up for one joke, then the payoff flips our expectations right over and makes us wonder why we didn't see it coming, at least until near the end: then the cavalry charges in with the warning but it's too late!!! So memorable and hilarious. That Rod Serling was tv genius! Maybe I didn't need to spoiler tag this, but even hinting at giving the ending away even fifty years later would be a crime. ;-)

Anyone who loved David Shore's "Due South" as much as I did may be interested to know that Deep Discount has the entire series for $24.87. That's the American version, so the episodes with Callum Keith Rennie as Ray's replacement are tacked on to the end of Season 3.

Oh bailey (and misere), you are so right - Damages is phenomenal! I Netflixed it on bailey's rec and I watched the first 5 episodes back to back without stopping. Great, great, great show. Highly recommended.

Anyone who loved David Shore's "Due South" as much as I did may be interested to know that Deep Discount has the entire series for $24.87. That's the American version, so the episodes with Callum Keith Rennie as Ray's replacement are tacked on to the end of Season 3. I loved Due South!! The music and photography was great! Plus a fun story! Paul Haggis ("Crash") produced it, I think. Thanks for the tip!

Oh bailey (and misere), you are so right - Damages is phenomenal! I Netflixed it on bailey's rec and I watched the first 5 episodes back to back without stopping. Great, great, great show. Highly recommended. Excellent, am glad you are enjoying. The damn thing is way addictive. I was out of town for a week and didn't take my discs with me, so I haven't finished season 1 yet. Just got through episode #10. Whoo-boy, great stuff. Am anxiously waiting for netflix to deliver the remaining episodes. Back to the Life on Mars discussion. I am having a terminally shitty weekend so am doing little else other than watching TV and waiting for the phone to ring with bad news. So I caught up on season 1 of the British series. I have to say....Wow. Fantastic. From what I've seen (and I haven't seen all of the US episodes thus far) it really just works better than the US version. Which isn't to say the US version is bad, just different. And I much prefer the Sam/Gene of the British series than their US counterparts. Much prefer. I wanted to backtrack to the US series and compare/contrast certain episodes and am finding that the video player on abc.com isn't launching for me. Anyone else have that trouble with the site? In my efforts, though, the main site was showing clips of the confrontation between Sam and his dad in the woods and it seems to me that the US version may have really missed the emotional mark on that. I'm literally dying to find out. Anyone see both? Thoughts?

The US version didn't hold my interest past the first couple of episodes. I can re-watch the British version and still feel an emotional kick, but the American version falls flat. I just don't give a damn about American Sam or how he ended up in '73. Whereas with John Simm Sam I not only gave a damn, I worried about the poor guy. It didn't matter that he was a fictional character, I wanted things to work out for him. American Sam? Meh. There's no there there.

The US version didn't hold my interest past the first couple of episodes. I can re-watch the British version and still feel an emotional kick, but the American version falls flat. I just don't give a damn about American Sam or how he ended up in '73. Whereas with John Simm Sam I not only gave a damn, I worried about the poor guy. It didn't matter that he was a fictional character, I wanted things to work out for him. American Sam? Meh. There's no there there. I felt that the casting of Sam was easily the weak point of the US version. Lack of empathy for him was problematic even in the pilot. I think I saw the first 2, maybe 3, episodes but then lost track. Have I mentioned how annoyed I am with the site player? I felt the British episode that had the clash between the rival soccer (football) fans between Liverpool and Manchester was so strong and so distinctly regional that it's hard for me to imagine what they did in the US version for this. We really don't have that kind of comparison. (Not to mention when Sam sees his young self going to the game with his dad....heartbreaking.)

I felt the British episode that had the clash between the rival soccer (football) fans between Liverpool and Manchester was so strong and so distinctly regional that it's hard for me to imagine what they did in the US version for this. We really don't have that kind of comparison. (Not to mention when Sam sees his young self going to the game with his dad....heartbreaking.) I haven't yet seen the BBC version, only the American version. But I'm guessing that the equivalent episode is episode 5, in which an African-American guy is accused of killing a Puerto Rican girl. 1970s-style race war on the streets. How have you managed to watch the BBC version? Is it on BBC America right now? It's not yet out on DVD in region 1, as far as I know.

I haven't yet seen the BBC version, only the American version. But I'm guessing that the equivalent episode is episode 5, in which an African-American guy is accused of killing a Puerto Rican girl. 1970s-style race war on the streets. Hmmm...interesting. How have you managed to watch the BBC version? Is it on BBC America right now? It's not yet out on DVD in region 1, as far as I know. Fortunately, a friend of mine had done the dirty work already and downloaded it via bit torrent and he gave me the files. I'm now on to season 2. Still enjoyable but, as usual for me, season 1 is really the magical one.

It was on BBC America in the past. Maybe two years ago?

I know it was on BBC America in the past. But bailey said she caught up on it this weekend. I suppose she could have had it on her DVR for the past year or two, but most people don't leave shows on the DVR that long. Hence my question. :) Anyway, I'm envious, bailey. Perhaps someday I'll catch it on BBC America. I have a feeling they won't release it on DVD in region 1 for a long time, because they don't want to step on the toes of the American version.

as usual for me, season 1 is really the magical one. It ends well. Something I'm sure won't happen with the American version.

bailey - I finished Damages Season 1 over the weekend and it was just stunning. I can't wait for the new season to start. As for Life on Mars UK - it's riveting. The US version can't hold a candle. It's not out on Region 1 yet, but you can sign up on Amazon to be notified when its available. I sincerely hope they'll release it soon.

Agree with those who say the UK Life on Mars was excellent. My friend had BBC America and they taped it for me each week: I was sooo excited with the characters and stories. John Simm was fabulous (wasn't he your icon for ages RSH?). Watched the first couple of US version and found myself wandering away to do chores. Not terrible, but nowhere near the intensity or dreary seventies feeling of the UK version. Also, anyone here watching Tess on PBS tonight? Or already saw it?

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