Miscellaneous Corner

[OceanBlue]

You'd have to check the listings on Sky etc. to make sure if any episodes have been shown yet. Caught by accident in the TV listings in the new issue of TV & Satellite Week (covering Saturday 4th to Friday 10th February, 2023), a TV series which I thought might be an older series, called Wild West Chronicles, airing twice a day from Monday to Friday on GREAT! movies action (around noon and early evening).

Having checked it out on the IMDb, it's a much more recent TV series (a western anthology series by the sounds of it). Never heard of the channel it airs on in the States, called "INSP". The description of the show on the EpGuides page says it's a "docudrama", about Bat Masterson and stories about the Old West.

Two seasons to date (Season 1 has fifteeen episodes, with Season 2 having eleven episodes.

Pretty sure it's a series I've not heard of before. But I thought some here might be interested in checking it out. Am going to try a couple of episodes first before deciding whether to watch any more.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Checked Sky's On Demand service earlier for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and discovered that a Season 6 tab has appeared. I'd call it a sampler (like with Season 5 (the first three episodes were put up initially, before the rest were put up this week after the season started being repeated on Sky Arts). Four random episodes have been made available:

Season 6, Episode 6 "Pen Pal"
Season 6, Episode 12 "The Baby Blue Expression"
Season 6, Episode 13 "The Man Who Found the Money"
and Season 6, Episode 37 "Make My Death Bed" (the penultimate episode of the season).

According to my "crystal ball" (otherwise known as the 2 week Virgin planner, Sky Arts are only showing the 4 episodes of season 6 mentioned above and are then going back to the beginning again. Why those 4 particular episodes, I've no idea.

In other news, my Sky channels were all upgraded to the HD channels last Wednesday on Virgin (the SD channels gone altogether). Along with ITV2/3/4 and TCM.

As a result I'm now recording Quantum Leap which started again on Sky SciFi nowHD on that day, and Magnum PI on ITV4 nowHD which was right at the end of season 2 (the first episode I recorded in HD was the episode with the actor who played Chin Ho Kelly in the original 5-0 appearing as some kind of Vietnam army commander turned drug lord, and the second episode had Higgins pretending to be his dead "half-brother" from Texas in order to save a circus - and yes it was as bad as it sounds!)

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

According to my "crystal ball" (otherwise known as the 2 week Virgin planner, Sky Arts are only showing the 4 episodes of season 6 mentioned above and are then going back to the beginning again. Why those 4 particular episodes, I've no idea.

In other news, my Sky channels were all upgraded to the HD channels last Wednesday on Virgin (the SD channels gone altogether). Along with ITV2/3/4 and TCM.

As a result I'm now recording Quantum Leap which started again on Sky SciFi nowHD on that day, and Magnum PI on ITV4 nowHD which was right at the end of season 2 (the first episode I recorded in HD was the episode with the actor who played Chin Ho Kelly in the original 5-0 appearing as some kind of Vietnam army commander turned drug lord, and the second episode had Higgins pretending to be his dead "half-brother" from Texas in order to save a circus - and yes it was as bad as it sounds!)

I checked the Sky TV listings earlier and saw that Sky Arts are (and I agree, it's peculiar) only repeating those four random Season 6 episodes of AHP for now. Based on how many times the channel repeated the first couple of seasons before they eventually repeated the third season, it could be the second half of this year before we get the last two seasons (technically, not the last two seasons, because it changed to an hour-long (including ads) format and show getting a name change to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour).

I've thought something similar about the Higgins-centred episodes which involved members of his family and extended family. If you can still get it, I recommend the Larry Manetti book about the series. There is an anecdote about those Higgins episodes (sounds like the other main castmembers didn't get much of a look in. When Tom Selleck was away making a film, the other main characters were the focus of an episode).

The actor who played Duke in the original Hawaii Five-O appeared in an early episode of Magnum, P.I. (think he played a coroner character, not sure).

The ITV4 repeats of Magnum, P.I. have moved onto the third season again. Still a way off before we discover if the channel is going to show the fifth season in it's entirety.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

I watched Dracula Unearthed tonight. And if you're wondering, yes its the "usual suspects" Iain Nathan et al...

The programme goes into the background pre Stoker and then moves through the better known films up to around 2000. One thing I enjoyed was the background music which is drawn from a number of films. They used a romantic music piece i love from the 1992 Coppola film for example. There are no interviews or archive material other than clips from some of the movies, but they (Kim Newman particularly) do go into some nice details especially about the reason for certain tropes such as the cape.

My love affair with D started really with my first year at Uni when the Coppola film was released. Flawed indeed (especially Keanu's accent!) but visually it was and still is sumptuous in my opinion.

After which I got the novel out of the Uni library (back when people read real books!). Even 30 years later, I remember the novel as being very enjoyable but physically hard to read as it is written in old prose often using language long since abandoned in written form.

Watched Dracula Unearthed last night. Yes, the regular Discovering: Film and The Directors gang were here in the documentary (Ian Nathan (who co-wrote it), Neil Norman and Stephen Armstrong (but sadly no Derek Malcolm and Dr. Bonnie Greer), along with Kim Newman.

This was the longest amount of time I've heard Kim Newman speak. On the whole he was interesting to listen to. I bet it's out-of-print, but he mentioned a book called In Search of Dracula which sounded good. What they were talking about was fascinating, including the European folk tales etc.

Not a lot in the way of film clips (they were mainly shown before each ad break).

I can't recall if I saw Horror of Dracula first, or the second one with Sir Christopher Lee (Dracula: Prince of Darkness), but I believe Dracula: Prince of Darkness I first saw while on a family holiday in Scarborough back in the nineties.

It was very talky, and seemed less about the films at times, but I quite enjoyed the subjects being discussed (the history with the folk tales, the influence Bram Stoker's novel had etc.), and at some point I'm definitely going to watch the TV version with Louis Jourdan (Count Dracula).

Have never read the Bram Stoker novel, but based on what you've said Cutback, I would find the writing in old prose difficult to read (I've had to skip some of the short stories in a Christmas murder mystery short stories book (which I started reading before the pandemic started, and which I still haven't finished reading).

[DTSBOY]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I bet it's out-of-print, but he mentioned a book called In Search of Dracula which sounded good.

Amazon have used copies for 16 ish quid or 30 ish quid for new. Or if you trust certain sites you can download it as a pdf file for free. Not sure how that works unless it's out of copyright?

There were other book shops listed when I looked but Amazon is obviously the easiest to deal with.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Search-Drac.../dp/0395657830

[OceanBlue]

A new drama series called North Sea Connection started on BBC Four last Saturday night (4th February) with a double bill. It continues this coming Saturday night (11th February) at 9 pm - 10.30 pm with the next two episodes (six episodes in total, likely finishing on the channel a week on Saturday (18th February).

All six episodes are available in the BBC iPlayer section on Sky's On Demand service.

Source: Sky's TV listings and the Saturday 4th to Friday 10th February, 2023 and Saturday 11th to Friday 17th February, 2023 issues of TV & Satellite Week.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by DTSBOY

Amazon have used copies for 16 ish quid or 30 ish quid for new. Or if you trust certain sites you can download it as a pdf file for free. Not sure how that works unless it's out of copyright?

There were other book shops listed when I looked but Amazon is obviously the easiest to deal with.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Search-Drac.../dp/0395657830

DTSBOY, thanks for your help with this book query.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

You'd have to check the listings on Sky etc. to make sure if any episodes have been shown yet. Caught by accident in the TV listings in the new issue of TV & Satellite Week (covering Saturday 4th to Friday 10th February, 2023), a TV series which I thought might be an older series, called Wild West Chronicles, airing twice a day from Monday to Friday on GREAT! movies action (around noon and early evening).

Having checked it out on the IMDb, it's a much more recent TV series (a western anthology series by the sounds of it). Never heard of the channel it airs on in the States, called "INSP". The description of the show on the EpGuides page says it's a "docudrama", about Bat Masterson and stories about the Old West.

Two seasons to date (Season 1 has fifteeen episodes, with Season 2 having eleven episodes.

Pretty sure it's a series I've not heard of before. But I thought some here might be interested in checking it out. Am going to try a couple of episodes first before deciding whether to watch any more.

I've been enjoying these, each story involves "Bat Masterson" in his later career as newspaper reporter (he had many jobs including sheriff of Dodge City!) interviewing someone connected to a famous figure. It then cuts to dramatization of key events in that figure's lifetime. It looks like series 1 was started in 2020, aborted due to you-know-what and restarted in 2021.

Including the opening introduction segments it's only the usual 21/22 minutes - there is so much story to these characters, its a pity the programme isn't twice the length. But it's entertaining and informative and I've learnt some new things. For instance I didn't realise that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were members of The Wild Bunch.

One odd thing, any episode involving native Americans is preceded by a warning about outdated stereotypes even though it's only 2 years old(!) and actually seems fair in their portrayal.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

I've been enjoying these, each story involves "Bat Masterson" in his later career as newspaper reporter (he had many jobs including sheriff of Dodge City!) interviewing someone connected to a famous figure. It then cuts to dramatization of key events in that figure's lifetime. It looks like series 1 was started in 2020, aborted due to you-know-what and restarted in 2021.

Including the opening introduction segments it's only the usual 21/22 minutes - there is so much story to these characters, its a pity the programme isn't twice the length. But it's entertaining and informative and I've learnt some new things. For instance I didn't realise that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were members of The Wild Bunch.

One odd thing, any episode involving native Americans is preceded by a warning about outdated stereotypes even though it's only 2 years old(!) and actually seems fair in their portrayal.

In the back of my mind, I knew there was an older TV series called Bat Masterson, but not who starred in it. Having checked the IMDb, it was Gene Barry who played the role in that western series (which originally aired in the States in the late fifties to early sixties).

I watched another episode of Wild West Chronicles last night (from the first season, "The Bandit Queen"). I agree, the episodes being expanded would improve the story, as they're over before you know it, especially when you're enjoying them. I'd be interested to know where the on-location scenes have been shot, especially the ones outside the towns (the wilderness etc.) Unless you pause the end credits, it's difficult to spot anything you're looking out for (but I did spot that the copyright for the two episodes I've seen (the first two of Season 1) is three years ago.

Yes, I'm also puzzled by the disclaimer shown before the episodes start. Unless they're referring to when the stories are set, it's a bit confusing as the series started being made (based on the copyright) three years ago.

I like that part at the end of the episode when it tells you what happened to the famous figures from the "Wild West" (example being "The Dalton Gang", which mentions that Emmett Dalton worked in Hollywood during the silent era).

Have looked at the episode list on the IMDb, and they're in a different order to that on the UK TV channel airing it (the airdates are not in chronological order).

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

Including the opening introduction segments it's only the usual 21/22 minutes - there is so much story to these characters, its a pity the programme isn't twice the length. But it's entertaining and informative and I've learnt some new things. For instance I didn't realise that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were members of The Wild Bunch.

I have seen in the Sky TV listings for Wild West Chronicles, that a two-part story is airing on GREAT! movies action this week (I think), called "Bat Masterson & the Dodge City Dead Line".

I haven't checked elsewhere yet, but based on the IMDb (which like Wikipedia, isn't always accurate), there may be a third season of the western anthology series.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I have seen in the Sky TV listings for Wild West Chronicles, that a two-part story is airing on GREAT! movies action this week (I think), called "Bat Masterson & the Dodge City Dead Line".

I haven't checked elsewhere yet, but based on the IMDb (which like Wikipedia, isn't always accurate), there may be a third season of the western anthology series.

The episode on Monday was not the one listed, but was a repeat of The Great Train Robbery instead.

Today was part 1 of the 2 part episode. The structure is turned completely on its head - instead of Bat Masterson interviewing someone else, it is Bat being "interviewed" and telling his story, which I liked. The story was quite sad for spoilery reasons.

Must admit, I'm enjoying the show a lot more than I expected, so I hope you are right about a season 3.

For anyone out there reading this who is interested in finding out a little about the Wild West era, I'd recommend it.

[OceanBlue]

A new series of Crimewatch Live begins on BBC One next Monday morning (6th March) at 10 am - 10.45 am. As with previous series (usually airing on the channel in late winter/early spring, and in the autumn), the new series will air from Mondays to Fridays for three weeks (fifteen editions in total again).

Source: Sky's TV listings.

[OceanBlue]

Wasn't quite sure whether to post this in the Documentaries thread or in here. Starting on More 4 next Monday night (13th March) at 9 pm - 10 pm is a new four-part series called Jonathan Ross' Myths and Legends. The first edition is in Whitby in North Yorkshire and will be repeated on the same channel on Tuesday 14th March at 0.10 am - 1.15 am.

Source: Sky's TV listings and TV & Satellite Week (Saturday 11th to Friday 17th March, 2023).

[DTSBOY]

Sky Arts are showing the full Oscar ceremony this Sunday 12th from midnight to 0300.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by DTSBOY

Sky Arts are showing the full Oscar ceremony this Sunday 12th from midnight to 0300.

The last time I watched the Oscars ceremony was way back, when the late, great Barry Norman was presenting it from some (what looked like a) fancy restaurant in Los Angeles. This was when the Oscars ceremony wasn't pay-per-view.

Haven't been keeping a close eye on the Oscars for a few years now (including pre-pandemic).

[OceanBlue]

Checked the Sky TV listings this past weekend for channel GREAT! movies action, and this week they're repeating the first season of Wild West Chronicles again (ie. no sign yet of the second season).

*****

I had read a while back that Channel Five were reviving Challenge Anneka. The revival starts next Saturday night (in an hour and a half timeslot). Hopefully this will be good (used to enjoy watching it when it was on the BBC). Their obsession with squashing up and talking over the end credits aside, Channel Five are one of my favourite channels.

[OceanBlue]

Forgot to post about this last week before last Friday night, that this year's series of Gardeners' World started on BBC Two last Friday night. This week's new edition airs in the 8 pm - 9 pm timeslot (Friday 24th March).

Scottish gardening series Beechgrove should be starting in the first half of April (which first airs on BBC Scotland on Thursday evenings/nights, and on BBC Two on Friday evenings/nights).

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Forgot to post about this last week before last Friday night, that this year's series of Gardeners' World started on BBC Two last Friday night. This week's new edition airs in the 8 pm - 9 pm timeslot (Friday 24th March).

Scottish gardening series Beechgrove should be starting in the first half of April (which first airs on BBC Scotland on Thursday evenings/nights, and on BBC Two on Friday evenings/nights).

Following on from this part of the above, quoted post, this year's series of Beechgrove starts on BBC Scotland a week on Thursday (6th April) at 8 pm - 8.30 pm, and on BBC Two a week on Friday (7th April) at 7.30 pm - 8 pm.

Source: TV & Satellite Week (Saturday 1st to Friday 7th April, 2023).

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by DTSBOY

It's all about the cars for me.

Magnum and the (borrowed) Ferrari 308 and that theme tune = greatness.

Kojak had a Buick Century that drove like a squashy pillow. Boing

Starsky & Hutch had the worst cop car ever - a bright red Gran Ford Torino (well Starsky did) coz' Hutch drove a Ford Galaxie 500

Jim Rockford - Pontiac Firebird

And many others...

Originally Posted by cutback73

According to my "crystal ball" (otherwise known as the 2 week Virgin planner, Sky Arts are only showing the 4 episodes of season 6 mentioned above and are then going back to the beginning again. Why those 4 particular episodes, I've no idea.

In other news, my Sky channels were all upgraded to the HD channels last Wednesday on Virgin (the SD channels gone altogether). Along with ITV2/3/4 and TCM.

As a result I'm now recording Quantum Leap which started again on Sky SciFi nowHD on that day, and Magnum PI on ITV4 nowHD which was right at the end of season 2 (the first episode I recorded in HD was the episode with the actor who played Chin Ho Kelly in the original 5-0 appearing as some kind of Vietnam army commander turned drug lord, and the second episode had Higgins pretending to be his dead "half-brother" from Texas in order to save a circus - and yes it was as bad as it sounds!)

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I checked the Sky TV listings earlier and saw that Sky Arts are (and I agree, it's peculiar) only repeating those four random Season 6 episodes of AHP for now. Based on how many times the channel repeated the first couple of seasons before they eventually repeated the third season, it could be the second half of this year before we get the last two seasons (technically, not the last two seasons, because it changed to an hour-long (including ads) format and show getting a name change to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour).

I've thought something similar about the Higgins-centred episodes which involved members of his family and extended family. If you can still get it, I recommend the Larry Manetti book about the series. There is an anecdote about those Higgins episodes (sounds like the other main castmembers didn't get much of a look in. When Tom Selleck was away making a film, the other main characters were the focus of an episode).

The actor who played Duke in the original Hawaii Five-O appeared in an early episode of Magnum, P.I. (think he played a coroner character, not sure).

The ITV4 repeats of Magnum, P.I. have moved onto the third season again. Still a way off before we discover if the channel is going to show the fifth season in it's entirety.

ITV4's repeat run of the original Magnum, P.I. reaches the start of the fifth season again this coming Friday morning, 31st March (at 8.10 am - 9.10 am. No afternoon airing because of live snooker coverage) with the first part of the two-part season premiere "Echoes of the Mind" (Sharon Stone among the guest stars). Next Monday afternoon (3rd April) at 3.10 pm - 4.10 pm sees the concluding part of the two-parter. Then:

"The Legacy of Garwood Huddle" (Season 5, Episode 4) - next Tuesday afternoon (4th April) at 2.40 pm - 3.45 pm

and "Fragments" (Season 5, Episode 6) - next Wednesday afternoon (5th April) at 2.40 pm - 3.40 pm.

Based on the episode list on EpGuides, the third and fifth episodes of Magnum, P.I.'s fifth season ("Mac's Back" and "Under World") appear to be being skipped by ITV4 (for content reasons?).

Source: Sky TV listings.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

ITV4's repeat run of the original Magnum, P.I. reaches the start of the fifth season again this coming Friday morning, 31st March (at 8.10 am - 9.10 am. No afternoon airing because of live snooker coverage) with the first part of the two-part season premiere "Echoes of the Mind" (Sharon Stone among the guest stars). Next Monday afternoon (3rd April) at 3.10 pm - 4.10 pm sees the concluding part of the two-parter. Then:

"The Legacy of Garwood Huddle" (Season 5, Episode 4) - next Tuesday afternoon (4th April) at 2.40 pm - 3.45 pm

and "Fragments" (Season 5, Episode 6) - next Wednesday afternoon (5th April) at 2.40 pm - 3.40 pm.

Based on the episode list on EpGuides, the third and fifth episodes of Magnum, P.I.'s fifth season ("Mac's Back" and "Under World") appear to be being skipped by ITV4 (for content reasons?).

Source: Sky TV listings.

Some disappointing news! According to the Virgin 2 week planner, after S5E6 comes a small gap and then on Tuesday 11 April (day after Easter) ITV4 go back to the first episode again! As this is the second time, I'm beginning to think they either don't plan to show, or don't have the rights for, the remaining episodes. What a pain!