BilliePiper-related stories
Posted Nov 16th 2009 1:30PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: OpEd, Celebrities, Obituaries, Reality-Free
The anonymous blogger "Belle Du Jour" whose career as a call girl spawned the British and Showtime TV series
Secret Diary of a Call Girl has outed herself. Apparently she wanted to do it because an ex-boyfriend threatened to do it for her. Her real name is Brooke Magnanti and she's a child health researcher at the University of Bristol. She worked as a escort for over a year while pursuing her Ph.D.
Thankfully, her university has said her past was not relevant to her current job. I wonder if an American university would be as supportive of such a decision, given the taboo of sex work and sex in general in the U.S.
On the other hand, now she can start publishing more books under her real name. If she makes enough (or possibly gets another TV deal), she wouldn't need to worry about who would hire her or not.
Posted Jan 21st 2009 3:02PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Doctor Who, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
I wasn't a big fan of NBC's
Bionic Woman remake. The best thing about it – besides Katee Sackhoff's guest turn – was star Michelle Ryan. The English actress not only looked the part, but her performance sometimes managed to make the show feel richer and more complex than it actually was. So I was happy to hear that she might play
the new Doctor's companion on Doctor Who.
"Michelle's been in secret talks with BBC bosses," a source told the UK's Sunday Mirror. "They are likely to announce her as
Doctor Who's new assistant very soon. She is perfect for the role. She is good looking and the right age to star alongside Matt (Smith). Everyone agrees they look great together and reckon fans will think they're the perfect team, too."
Continue reading Michelle Ryan might be Doctor Who's next companion
Posted Aug 5th 2008 8:38AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
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(
S01E08) Like so many of the episodes this season, this one felt too short. The show is good but when it feels too short, it often feels underdeveloped too. Despite the lack of development in places, Belle did get some closure. And I think it's pretty obvious that closure in a season finale is important. I, for one, was glad to see her satisfied with her situation at the end.
Tonight Belle tried her hand at being a courtesan. Wow, semantics makes all the difference, huh? There's your street-walking hookers, your pimped out prostitutes, high class escorts, and your professional courtesans. As she explained how courtesans were different than even highly paid call girls like herself, I thought of one of her very first asides on
Secret Diary of a Call Girl. In the season premiere Belle told us that it didn't matter which way you slice it or what you call it, she gets paid to have sex.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-08 (season finale)
Posted Aug 1st 2008 10:00PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: OpEd, Doctor Who, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E13) The latest season of
Doctor Who gets resolved with a story that seems rushed, confusing and filled with self-love on the part of showrunner Russell T. Davies. But that doesn't necessarily mean it was bad.
To begin, the CGI and special effects are quite possibly the best ever seen on the show. Despite being in charge of the specials that will be airing next year, it seems that this episode was treated as the last that Davies will ever run. As a result, he wrapped up most every storyline he could think of going back to the first season.
Continue reading Doctor Who: Journey's End (season finale)
Posted Jul 29th 2008 8:42PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(
S01E07) So that was a pointless episode. And to think, I was just complimenting the show on how they are using their twenty-two minutes wisely and balancing character development with intriguing bits about call girl life. I'm actually glad that next week is the season finale. If next Monday wasn't the last episode and we had say, three or four more to go, I would be abandoning
Secret Diary of a Call Girl. My feeling is that some of you readers have already done so.
For those of you who enjoyed last night's episode, sorry, but my review doesn't get any better after the jump...
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-07
Posted Jul 21st 2008 11:32PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(
S01E06) Let's start with the very end of tonight's
Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The previews from next week look insane! I shall even resort to using tweeny-internet speak here as I declare "ZOMG!" about next Monday's episode. Ben and Hannah are taking their already unusual relationship to a whole other level of weird.
But that is a whole week away, I know. I'll quit now and save my commentary for next time. Tonight's episode of
SDCG was another good one, much like
last week's. Once again the show mixed stories about Hannah's personal life and relationships with her exploits as a London prostitute. As I mentioned last week, when the show gives equal attention to both these aspects of Hannah's / Belle's character, it is truly entertaining.
However,
SDCG took a long time getting to this point. I fear that some people may have given up on the show after
episodes 1-02 and
1-03 failed to deliver. What do you think?
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-06
Posted Jul 14th 2008 11:35PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
"Ashok? Every-second-Wednesday-since-I-started-Ashok?" --Belle/Hannah to her agent Stephanie
Belle had to share her first and most loyal client, Ashok, with another woman this week. While she was a bit surprised that her luscious self wasn't enough to satisfy her favorite regular, she ended up having fun during with the ménage à trois. Can this call girl truly learn to share?
My review of
Secret Diary of a Call Girl is after the jump.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-05
Posted Jul 7th 2008 11:03PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(
S01E04) This episode of
Secret Diary of a Call Girl had everything I've been wanting in this show: Intriguing tidbits about the adventures of a London prostitute, well-delivered quips and situations ripe with comedy, and insight into why we should like / care about the other side of Belle ... Hannah.
All elements came together so seamlessly that I'm already wanting to see what happens next Monday night. (Yes, I have the screeners, but I try to watch only one a week so I keep those viewers seeing the show for the first time. I actually haven't seen Episode 1-05 yet.)
My review of tonight's
Secret Diary of a Call Girl is after the jump.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-04
Posted Jun 30th 2008 11:04PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(
S0E03) "If you ask them first, 90% of them will say 'No.' But hey, once it's up there..." -- Belle
Ahh, the pitfalls of being a London call girl. I'll have to remember Belle's trick for when I'm stuck with a marathon runner and I'm on someone else's clock. That someone else is Ashok. We met Belle's
very first client tonight. I already hope we see more of him.
My review of
Secret Diary of a Call Girl is after the jump.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-03
Posted Jun 26th 2008 6:02PM by Brett Love
Filed under: OpEd, Cable/Satellite, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, So You Think You Can Dance
I'm going to hazard the guess that if you are a regular visitor to TV Squad that you, like me, probably watch more television than the average bear. Partly out of good old fashioned curiosity, and partly because I'm paying for all of those channels so I might as well use them, I make it a point to cover as much of my cable TV package as I can when time allows. Doing so, you end up finding some odd and interesting things. After the jump, five things I've learned from my cable TV over the last week or so.
Continue reading Things I learned from my cable TV
Posted Jun 24th 2008 7:39AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(
S01E02) "Sometimes I get
paid to do the things I've always wanted to do." -- Belle
Like have sex with old Scottish men who have a penchant for horses? No, wait, that was
last week. This week Belle went to an exclusive adult party (think
Eyes Wide Shut, but not as creepy) and meet her favorite author. She also got to wear a black wig (think
Chicago) and some feathers around her neck (think Big Bird).
Check out my review of
Secret Diary of a Call Girl after the jump. I promise, no more references.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1-02
Posted Jun 16th 2008 11:33PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E01) Right after
Weeds, we got our first look at Showtime's new original comedy series
Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The half-hour show stars Billie Piper as Belle du Jour, a high-class London call girl. Tonight we got to meet Belle, who is Hannah the legal secretary by day, her agent Stephanie, her best friend Ben and a few of her clients.
We also got to hear Belle's rules: keep her two lives completely separate and stay in control. (There were others but those were the important ones.)
Then we got to see Belle break said rules.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Episode 1- 01 (series premiere)
Posted Jun 13th 2008 11:03AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Early Looks, Reality-Free
Showtime has a new original comedy series premiering next week called
Secret Diary of a Call Girl. I watched five of the eight half-hour episodes slated for season one (Showtime has ordered eight more for next year). In fact, I watched four episodes in one sitting. That should give you an idea of how much I enjoyed the show. It's easy to watch, well-acted, and the subject matter is well...interesting to say the least.
Take an early look at
Secret Diary of a Call Girl after the jump.
Continue reading Secret Diary of a Call Girl -- An early look
Posted Feb 5th 2008 8:04AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Programming, Doctor Who, Pickups and Renewals, Torchwood
In the No Duh News category,
Sci Fi Channel has reported that they've acquired the fourth series (or season) of
Doctor Who for air beginning in April. What's great additional news is that they've also picked up
The Sarah Jane Adventures as well. The latter series focuses on Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane, one of the most popular and famous "companions" in Who History, as she battles to keep Britain and the world save from alien encounters and invasions.
Sarah Jane is aided by a small group of children in her quest. And while the series has a lower budget than
Who and is geared more towards a children's audience, I still found it to be tremendously fun. And any opportunity to see K-9 is worth it in my book!
Continue reading Sci Fi brings back The Doctor, and Sarah Jane, too
Posted Dec 18th 2007 4:43PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Pickups and Renewals
In a rare move, a US network has picked up a British television program and decided not to make an American version. According to Zap2It.com, Showtime so fell in love with Billie Piper's (Doctor Who's Rose) performance as the titular character Hannah/Belle that they've decided to just bring over the British version of Secret Diary of a Call Girl as is. Based on real-life diaries, the comedy Call Girl features Piper as secretary Hannah by day, call girl Belle by night and proved to be a big hit for the UK's ITV2.
Showtime will air the eight-episode first season in spring or summer of '08. It's no wonder, with the popular (even in the US) Piper attached, that Showtime decided not to make an Americanized version. Well, that and the fact that most of the time when we Americanize a British hit show we destroy it (Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling). Hell, even The Office was a near disaster. Honestly, I don't get it. I guess American studios think we Americans are too dumb to "get" British shows.
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