I read about this new series, LUTHER in The Guardian and after watching two episodes I am in. Idris Elba plays DCI John Luther. He is accompanied by lots of top-class actors like Indira Varma (ROME) and Stephen Mackintosh (LOCK STOCK, UNDERWORLD). This is quality.

My good friend Richard Hobbs (http://drhobbs.posterous.com/) told be about the pilot for this new BBC comedy series LIZZY AND SARAH. Written by Julia Davis (NIGHTY NIGHT) and Jessica Hynes (SPACED) I imagined that it’d be pretty raw. One watch and I see why the pilot aired at 11.45pm on a Saturday night. Fantastic stuff! See below.

While I sat waiting for the Coen Brothers to team up with crime mystery grandmaster Elmore Leonard, along came FX with JUSTIFIED. JUSTIFIED is a series of hour-long episodes based on Leonard’s short story ‘FIRE IN THE HOLE”.  As usual, ‘Dutch,’ as he is known to his legions of fans, comes correct as Executive Producer.

In Miami, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens has given Tommy Bucks 24 hours to get out of town. With several hours to go, the marshal shows up at a waterfront restaurant where Bucks is eating, and sits down for a chat. Shit-talking and gunfire ensues. Raylan is transferred to Kentucky where he grew up and from there, it takes off. You’ve got all the wild characters from a bunch of Leonard’s novels; detectives, gun molls, White supremacists, inmates, slick-talking wise guys and a pastor played by Doug E. Doug, who the police chief describes as “…from Ethiopia, by-way-of Jamaica, by-way-of being completely fulla shit.” That and all of the language and pop culture nuggets that the Detroit native is known for. Five episodes in, it’s damn good.

JUSTIFIED Airs on Tuesdays at 10PM on FX

Til Death Do Us Part (BBC) was a British sitcom which ran from 1965 to 1975 about a working-class family from the East End of London led by Alf Garnett. Alf was a debatably loveable old curmudgeon with some heavy right wing views. In 1971 this was remade into All In The Family (CBS) with Archie Bunker as Alf’s counterpart. In the days when Sarah Palin was probably goin’ rogue-milk-monitor these two were letting everyone ‘av it. See below.

Til Death Do Us Part

All In The Family

With the success of The Office and rumours of Saxondale and The Thick Of It being brought to the United States, I thought I’d step back to some past attempts. Steptoe & Son was one of many British televisions programs successfully remade for the US audience. The original was about two rag and bone men from Shepherds Bush, London and the latter Sanford & Son was two junkyard owners from Watts, (Los Angeles) California. Enjoy the clips.

Steptoe & Son

Sanford & Son

More to follow!

At about age 9, I’m not sure which is hit me harder, the harrowing theme music or the creepy, weird visuals. Quality!

Blair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOtZfmWboI0

Terror

Jamie Oliver

The official site is http://www.timetrumpet.co.uk/

I see this Station Identity for London Weekend Television sometimes when I close my eyes. (With the audio as well).