If Mad Men is any indication of what its like to work in the real advertising world, then the writing process alone must cause more migraines than swimming in radioactive sewage.
That's still no excuse for stealing material, if that is in fact the case with this British ad. UK comic Micky Flanagan claims an ad agency stole a joke from his act for a phone service commercial and is a stone's throw away from filing a lawsuit. Punchline Magazine posted videos of the joke and the ad. Is this just a coincidence or is the ad pulling a Carlos Mencia?
First, listen to Flanagan's joke...
And now, watch the ad, which is after the jump.
British TV-related stories
British comic claims TV ad ripped him off
Continue reading British comic claims TV ad ripped him off
Torchwood: Children of Earth: Day Three (U.S.)
They're here.
Species 456 finally touched down on Earth to scare the crap out of civil servant John Frobisher -- and this reviewer -- in the third suspenseful hour of Torchwood: Children of Earth.
Day two was an action-packed thrill ride from start to finish, but day three (scripted by Russell T Davies and James Moran) was the most intense episode of the miniseries so far. For the second time this week,Torchwood had me on the edge of my seat with some truly chilling moments. But before things got too creepy, there was some fun to be had with the team getting back together, finding a new Hub, and lifting a few credit cards and laptops from unsuspecting Londoners.
Continue reading Torchwood: Children of Earth: Day Three (U.S.)
All Allison wants for Festivus
Oh, Festivus, Oh, Festivus, the holiday for TV fans. How exciting that once a year we can close our eyes, click our heels and make our wishes for the magical ways television can be made better in the year to come. Still, there are more than a few changes that I think need to be made to make TV better ... not to say that it's bad. It just that everything can be better. This is a great opportunity to get a little Scrooge-y and vent about what I want to see corrected/improved/altered in TV in 2009. Is it wrong that I hope the bigwigs at the networks and cable companies are surfing the net and take my grievances to heart? Is it wrong that I still believe they care about what viewers think? Yeah, probably, but here's my wish list anyway:
Continue reading All Allison wants for Festivus
Quick Chat with the Little Britain USA guys
If you love British comedy, people who make jabs at America or men dressed in drag for that matter (we won't judge), then Little Britain USA (premiering Sunday, Sept. 28 at 10:30 PM EST on HBO) should be right up your alley.
David Walliams and Matt Lucas, who created and starred in the hit BBC series Little Britain, are bringing their irreverent humor and a bunch of their best characters -- like Phyllis, who believes her dog talks to her; Carol Beer, the meanest hospital receptionist you'll ever meet; and Bubbles Devere, a wildly inappropriate and totally uninhibited British socialite -- to America.
We talked to David and Matt about their dream of dressing George Clooney up as a lady, why following in Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervias' footsteps is just fine with them and how Brits and Americans really differ. (Hint: Men don't shave their bikini lines over there.)
Continue reading Quick Chat with the Little Britain USA guys
Life on Mars gets female cop, played by Gretchen Mol
I was really excited about the prospect of Life on Mars coming to ABC television. I speak in the past tense because everything that has happened since that initial announcement has me doubting that ABC's Americanized Life on Mars will ever make it out of the first season. It may not even air six episodes. There have been production changes, the first pilot was trashed, they've inserted new characters, they've remade the mythology of the show (with the approval of the British creators), and now more news. The character of Annie Norris on Life on Mars will be played by Gretchen Mol. Yes, the beautiful, sexy and very blond Gretchen Mol. (Okay, she can dye her hair.)
I have the ultimate respect for Ms. Mol. She was excellent in 3:10 to Yuma (a really amazing Western that should have gotten some Oscar consideration). I just think she's the wrong choice for the role of Annie.
Continue reading Life on Mars gets female cop, played by Gretchen Mol
Adam Chase brings Clone to BBC3
We constantly hear of the British invasion of American TV (The Office, Life on Mars and many others), but there is one executive producer swimming against the current. Former Friends executive producer Adam Chase is working on a sci-fi comedy series called Clone starring Jonathan Pryce for BBC3.The show is about a scientist who invents the first successful human clone to be used as a prototype super-soldier, but the clone ends up acting like a pacifist. The series is also being directed by The King of Queens alum, Rob Schiller.
Will the show work? I'm honestly not sure. The British are a different audience than the American one and they have a different style for their comedies. Their seasons are traditionally six episodes and all written by the same person. This format allows for more risk-taking in their programming and no question of ownership. Many American shows have enjoyed success over there, but I can't think of a single example of an American being the creative force behind an original and successful British show.
I just hope Mr. Chase can adjust to the much smaller budgets of British productions.
Hustle: Episode 17
(S03E05) The episode started with a young woman jumping into the Thames... a suicide attempt. After she arrived at the hospital (unconscious, but alive), we learned that she, Emily, was one of Stacie's good friends. Not only was she a kind friend, but she led a children's charity and had devoted most of her life to it. Emily's severe depression was caused by a vicious tabloid's claim that she had defrauded her own charity and had embezzled loads of money. Stacie went to visit Emily and, after seeing what a poor state she was in, vowed to seek revenge on the Weekend World.Continue reading Hustle: Episode 17
Gervais likes American TV comedies more than British
Hey, me too!Great interview in the UK edition of GQ (it's up at Gervais' site) where they talk about everything from The Office to The Simpsons to the state of British television to his home life and the fact that he wears "unremarkable" V-neck sweaters, T-shirts, and trousers.
Any of our overseas friends want to dispute his claims, or do you agree with him?
(Oh, and does anyone know what "abstemious" means?)
[via Chortle]
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