Adaptations (Mars goes to US)

I recently took interest and blogged about the show Life On Mars here. The current BBC series is already in its 3rd season, and I believe it's doing quite well... which is why, adapting the idea for an audience overseas isn't farfetched. In fact, TV Guide reports that:

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Boston Legal creator David E. Kelley is going to try to bring us a new one. With a tentative premiere set for fall 2007, he's working with ABC on a series adaptation of BBC's sci-fi crime drama Life on Mars, about a 21st-century gumshoe who wakes up in the 1970s after a car crash.

Quick Trivia:

Two UK to USA adaptations in the last two years: The Office and Coupling.

The Office UK ended it's series sometimes three years ago; and the US version, while not exactly a hit maker for NBC, has earned a very big cult following. It is standing on its own, with stories developed for a much better understanding from its audience (some adapted from the UK series, but mostly original storylines).

Coupling USA on the other hand went off air just after six episodes, leaving 3 unaired ones. It was bad, a poor copy and, well, deserved to be off TV. The UK version also abruptly died after four seasons. The departure of it's funniest character, Jeff (played by Richard Coyle), killed the show.



Life on Mars
The Office
Coupling
- UK versions airs/has aired on BBC

The Office
Coupling
- USA versions airs/has aired on NBC

My American Idol Score Card - Top 10

This week's theme is all about the music of the present... it is expected to be one enjoyable week. But I know I'm not alone in saying that this was the worst one so far. Simon says the reason why they were doing songs of the 21st century was so that these singers would be able "to prove they are as good as contemporary artist." If this is any indication of what kind of music and performers we'll hear in the future, then please bring me back in time, to the 1950's!

Last week's 50's week was spectacular. This week showed signs of the Idols getting a little to complacent and tired ... and maybe even overworked. I think that the routine, the stress and the pressure is starting to get to them. They probably think they need a lot of rest and relaxation; gotta be overwhelmed with stardom or stuff to do for this show.

But if someone unexpectedly gets the boot today, that should jolt them up right back to reality. It's still a competition boys and girls, you've gotta work harder and relax later! Stars work a lot harder, that's why they're there.


Rating Legends:

PERFORMANCE
- includes stage presence, camera flirtation, projection, audience impact, movements or choreography, dramatic impact

VOCALS
- exactly what it is: VOICE
- "If I close my eyes and listen, do they still sound as good?"

STYLE
- includes the physical appeal, personaly style, looks, how they carry themselves, how they carry their clothes (if it is right for their age/performance/personality)

21st Century Week

LISA
Performance - 6
Vocals - 6
Style - 8

Total - 6.66

Judging her: Owww, that was bad!

**********

KELLIE
Performance - 6
Vocals - 7
Style - 7

Total - 6.66

Judging her: I hate, hate country!

**********

ACE
Performance - 6
Vocals - 7
Style - 8

Total - 7

Judging him: You ruined a song I really like, Ace!

**********

TAYLOR
Performance - 8
Vocals - 9.5
Style - 7.5

Total 8.33

Judging him: Good vocals, but not enough to Wow me.

**********

MANDISA
Performance - 7.5
Vocals - 7.5
Style - 7.5

Total - 7.5

Judging her: I don't get you. You have problems with your low ranges. You belt songs out but I don't feel emotions when you sing.

**********

CHRIS
Performance - 9
Vocals - 8
Style - 8

Total - 8.33

Judging him: Simon says they needed to prove if they can be contemporary. Well, he's proven it.

**********

KATHARINE
Performance- 7
Vocals - 6
Style - 7

Total - 6.66

Judging her: Whatever happened to you this week? Sounds like a cat in heat!

**********

BUCKY
Performance - 7
Vocals - 7
Style 8

Total - 7.33

Judging him: Okay....country boy.

**********

PARIS
Performance - 9
Vocals - 9
Style - 7

Total - 8.33

Judging her: Good performance actually, but again, no WOW for me.

**********

ELLIOT
Performance - 7
Vocals - 9
Style - 7

Total - 7.66

Judging him: Your vocals are flawless, but you look petrified on stage.


RUNDOWN OF TOTALS


Chris - 8.33
Paris - 8.33
Taylor - 8.33
Elliot - 7.66
Mandisa - 7.5
Buck - 7.33
Ace - 7
Katharine - 6.66
Kellie - 6.66
Lisa - 6.66


* Except for Katharine, who this week failed to impress me at all, I am now seeing a pattern emerging from my score cards. Final three could be: Paris, Taylor and Chris. Katharine is also a good bet (inspite this week). But I would love to see Elliot up there too, if he only tries to look like he isn't terrified of what he is doing!


Actual results of bottom three:

Ace
Katharine



Lisa - Voted Off




American Idol
Season 5 - Top 10 Performance Round
Original Airing: March 28, 2006
Network: Fox

Doing a Jack Bauer

I can never quite imagine Dennis Haysbert as a gun-trotting agent. To me, he is best fit for the role of a president, sitting behind a desk, making life-changing decisions and getting involved in a lot of politics. Jack Bauer he ain't.

Which is why, watching his latest series, The Unit, didn't have the same effect on me... compared to when I was watching him as President Palmer on 24. I was just not convinced he can strike on terrorists. I was more convinced he can give orders to strike on terrorists.

A friend informed me of the fact that Dennis Haysbert, as an actor in his early years, used to played "agent/police roles". He used to carry guns and killed the bad people; or became one of the bad ones himself. But that was just it, in those roles, he never stood out and just stayed in the background. Supporting cast only. "One of the Pips to Gladys Knight".

I cannot picture him as the chief of a sting operation; although I can picture him as the Commander in Chief.

I make take awhile to warm up to this series:

The Unit is a covert team of U.S. Special Forces operatives who must undertake missions around the world.

Recent "The Shield" collaborators David Mamet and Shawn Ryan have been given a green light to produce the drama pilot, which now is running under the title "The Unit." The project, which previously had a put pilot commitment, chronicles the lives of the members of a special forces unit and their families. Mamet will write the pilot script and executive produce the 20th Century Fox Television-based project along with Ryan.

The Unit
Season 1 Episode 1 - First Responders
Original Airing: March 7, 2006
Network: CBS

And I thought this only happens here!

Pinoys normally complain that local networks tend to milk popular shows every chance they get. They tend to also milk from whatever is the trend --- be it a personality or an event.

Take for instance PBB (Pinoy Big Brother)...because it is such a popular show (is it, still?), there was a time when it was all you see on Channel 2 (it still is!). You click to ABS-CBN and it's there, morning, noon and night. The housemates are all there, in almost every show imaginable.

Think this happens only on Pinoy TV?

Think again.

BB is a guilty pleasure in other countries, too. So popular in fact, that they even held a game show which consisted of popular Big Brother housemates (Ding! Should give ABS-CBN another idea! ).

Here is Australia's Brainiest Housemates:



Australia's Brainiest started as a Kid's show.

The format was taken from the British series entitled Britain's Brainiest Kid. The show was publicised through Australian primary schools, with children sitting an online test, some of these taking a supervised written test, and some of these appearing on the show.

It evolved to become a series, with different sets of people (e.g. housemates, footballers, musicians, etc) competing for the big prize.

Australia's Brainiest Housemates
Original Airing: February 26, 2006
Network: Channel Ten

My American Idol Score Card - Top 11

I wasn't expecting 50's week to be a good show. I personally don't dig 50's music, nor the 50's era. I was expecting to be bored and detached. But I have to agree with Paula Abdul when she said that last night was one of the best. I'm neither drunk nor high on something, I just happen to see what she also saw. I enjoyed this one. I never would have thought I would enjoy it. It truly was one of the best "episodes" on Americal Idol. I'd even dare say that this batch is probably the best (alright, second best to Season 1) I've seen on AI.


Rating Legends:

PERFORMANCE
- includes stage presence, camera flirtation, projection, audience impact, movements or choreography, dramatic impact

VOCALS
- exactly what it is: VOICE
- "If I close my eyes and listen, do they still sound as good?"

STYLE
- includes the physical appeal, personaly style, looks, how they carry themselves, how they carry their clothes (if it is right for their age/performance/personality)

50's Week

MANDISA
Performance - 8
Vocals - 7.5
Style - 8.5

Total - 8

**********

BUCKY
Performance - 6
Vocals - 7
Style 6.5

Total - 6.5

**********

PARIS
Performance - 7
Vocals - 7
Style - 8

Total - 7.33


**********

CHRIS
Performance - 10
Vocals - 7.5
Style - 10

Total - 9.16

**********

KATHARINE
Performance- 7.5
Vocals - 7.5
Style - 8

Total - 7.66

**********

TAYLOR
Performance - 8.5
Vocals - 8
Style - 7.5

Total 8

**********

LISA
Performance - 7
Vocals - 6
Style - 6

Total - 6.33


**********

KEVIN
Performance - 6
Vocals - 7
Style - 6

Total - 6.33

**********

ELLIOT
Performance - 7
Vocals - 9
Style - 6.6

Total - 7.5


**********

KELLIE
Performance - 7
Vocals - 7
Style - 7

Total - 7


**********

ACE
Performance - 6
Vocals - 6
Style - 6

Total - 6

RUNDOWN OF TOTALS


Chris - 9.16
Taylor - 8
Mandisa - 8
Katharine - 7.66
Elliot - 7.5
Paris - 7.33
Kellie - 7
Bucky - 6.5
Lisa- 6.33
Kevin - 6.33
Ace- 6


* Interesting to note that even if I saw this as one of the best episodes, my score card was actually higher last week. It may be because, from my perpective, the playing field was even-ed out last night. The "bad" singers got better and the "good" singers, except for one, didn't reach for the stars.


Actual results of bottom three:

Lisa
Bucky
Kevin - Voted Off



American Idol
Season 5 - Top 11 Performance Round
Original Airing: March 22, 2006
Network: Fox

The Loop

Watching American Idol the other week, Ryan Seacrest introduced a couple of actors from a TV show that is about to premiere that week called The Loop.

I decided to check it out and suprisingly found it funny. Yup, give this one a chance, it has potentials. The people at Fox might thought so too because from its original Wednesday slot, they moved this one to Thursdays (where top-raters like Survivor and The Apprentice air).

Some characters (the women roommates...too stereotyped) need to be fined tuned. But overall, interesting storyline, the funnies aren't forced and the lead hero is an adorable loser.

This is the story of Sam Sullivan, the youngest executive at the corporate headquarters of a major airline and the first of his friends to get a real job.

He tries to find a way to cope with the demands of his career social demands of his roommates.

His roommates are his brother Sully; his college pal/medical student Piper; and Lizzy, who tends bar at their local hangout and is oblivious to the fact that everything always goes her way because she's so good looking.

The Loop
Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
Original Airing: March 15, 2006
Network: Fox

My American Idol Score Card - Top 12

Disclaimer: In no way do the ratings here indicate who will get the boot. Nor do they indicate who my favorites are. I'm *attempting* at an unbiased judging. Let's just be clear though: I love Elliot lots, I root for Katharine, I heart Ace *kissy-kissy*, I think Taylor is a pro, I think Chris is a rockstar, I believe Mandisa is too big for this competition (no pun intended), I used to like Kellie ... and I don't care so much for the rest.

Rating Legends:

PERFORMANCE
- includes stage presence, camera flirtation, projection, audience impact, movements or choreography, dramatic impact

VOCALS
- exactly what it is: VOICE
- "If I close my eyes and listen, do they still sound as good?"

STYLE
- includes the physical appeal, personaly style, looks, how they carry themselves, how they carry their clothes (if it is right for their age/performance/personality)

Stevie Wonder Week

ACE
Performance - 7
Vocals - 6.5
*bad singing, it was sort of contrived and forced.
Style - 8

Total - 7.16

**********

KELLIE
Performance - 6
Vocals - 7
Style - 7

Total - 6.66
*I'd have to agree with Simon, this made her "old"

**********

ELLIOT
Performance - 6
*You can actually see Elliot thinking while singing. Lighten up, kid!
Vocals - 8.5
Style - 6

Total - 6.83

**********

MANDISA
Performance - 7
Vocals - 7
Style - 7

Total - 7
*Her low notes were a problem. For someone with her "power", this was an average performance.

**********

BUCKY
Performance - 7
Vocals - 8
Style 6.5
*I prefered the rugged looking Bucky. Clean Bucky, made-up Bucky was a different image. It was not Bucky.

Total - 7.16

**********

MELISSA
Performance - 5
*Would you like to listen to someone messing up the lyrics to a classic favorite?
Vocals - 7.5
Style - 8

Total - 6.83

**********

LISA
Performance - 6
Vocals - 6.5
Style - 8

Total - 6.83
*From the beginning I've always wondered if she can do up-tempo song. I don't have to wonder why she sticks to ballads now.

**********

KEVIN
Performance - 6
Vocals - 6
Style - 5

Total - 5.6
*It was just so wrong having him here. John Stevens 2.0, this one. The sad thing is, John Stevens was almost persecuted (Okay, that's an exaggeration...but some things were said against him). Can Kevin take what should happen to him in case he stays in the competition?

**********

KATHARINE
Performance- 8
Vocals - 7.5
*Her high notes didn't sound good on TV.
Style - 8.5

Total - 8

**********

TAYLOR
Performance - 9
Vocals - 8
Style - 8

Total 8.33
*Totally enjoyed this number.

**********

PARIS
Performance - 8
Vocals - 8
Style - 8

Total - 8
*I don't have to state the obvious --- she'll stay awhile longer.

**********

CHRIS
Performance - 9
Vocals - 7.5
Style - 7
*He dressed very plainly, there should have been more "daworks".

Total - 7.83

**********

RUNDOWN OF TOTALS


Taylor - 8.33
Katharine - 8
Paris - 8
Chris - 7.83
Bucky - 7.16
Ace - 7.16
Mandisa - 7
Elliot - 6.83
Melissa - 6.83
Lisa - 6.83
Kellie - 6.66
Kevin - 5.6

* Interesting to note that Ace wins over Mandisa by a very small margin. Ace's looks and over-all presence could earn him more points than Mandisa's powerful voice.

Actual results of bottom three:

Ace
Lisa
Melissa - Voted Off






American Idol
Season 5 - Top 12 Performance Round
Original Airing: March 14, 2006
Network: Fox

Getting Whacked

The Sopranos Season 6 premiered the other night to lukewarm ratings. Its long absence, about one year to be exact, is a factor. So much has happened in TV world since then... people's taste and choices have changed. These days, 5 housewives, 40+ castaways & a group of neurotic resident surgeons rule the ratings --- something which not even Tony can reckon with.

This will be their very last season and after which, the show should be "swimming with the fishes." There will only be about 10 episodes to this one before it bows.

The Sopranos' opening credits is one of my very favorites....it's just cool. So, in honor of the drama series that got me interested with the Mafia, here is The Hustler



You woke up this morning
Got yourself a gun,
Mama always said you'd be
The Chosen One.

She said: You're one in a million
You've got to burn to shine,
But you were born under a bad sign,
With a blue moon in your eyes.

You woke up this morning
All the love has gone,
Your Papa never told you
About right and wrong.

But you're looking good, baby,
I believe you're feeling fine,(shame about it),
Born under a bad sign
With a blue moon in your eyes.

You woke up this morning
The world turned upside down,
Thing's ain't been the same
Since the Blues walked into town.

But you're one in a million
You've got that shotgun shine.
Born under a bad sign,
With a blue moon in your eyes.

When you woke up this morning,
When you woke up this morning,
When you woke up this morning,
You got yourself a gun.



The Sopranos
Season 6
Original Airing: March 12, 2006
Network: HBO

Your grandma would probably say: In my day, there was no CSI

What if you're a skilled detective/CSI who suddenly has to go back to basics? You probably would understand how he feels:

A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.

The actor John Simm described the show as "a cross between Back to the Future and The Sweeney", and it makes effective use of the disorientation of the unwitting time traveller while taking a post-modern romp through 1970s fashions and technologies, with due tribute paid to the classic police dramas of the day to fashion a truly unique programme.

First off, its a loooooooooong show. These Brits, when they say a show is 30-minutes or 60-minutes long, it is exactly 30-minutes or 60-minutes long. Americans on the other hand have 22-minutes for a 30-minute show and an average of 45-minutes for a 60-minute show.

Anyway, second....good writing. You can easily follow the story because there is a flow or structure to it. Also good premise. Just when you think this is another crime story, it isn't.

Third, subtle acting that suprisingly is more effective. No one over-acts in this show. Well, at least not on this episode.

Fourth, beautiful screen projection. A movie has beautiful cinematography...a TV show has what? Whatever it is called, it's...uh, beautiful. I like how it looks on TV. Plus, it does actually look 70-ish (costumes, setting, etc).

AXN should probably get this one in their line-up.


Life On Mars
Season 1 Episode 1
Original Air Date: January 9, 2006
Network: BBC

The #1 Comedy Show?

This was proclaimed as the #1 Comedy show today.
This proclamation was by the network carrying it --- Fox.
This is the show they've replaced Arrested Development with.
Fortunately, Arrested Development has been picked up for Cable (Showtime).
To say that this is the #1 Comedy show today, leaves me laughing.
But not am not laughing hard enough to agree with it.
Free Ride looks promising but...
... I think I've seen the story's premise before, in many a different form.
So, let's see....I'll give it 2 and half seasons?

Free Ride, a partially improvised comedy, chronicles recent UC Santa Barbara graduate Nate Stahlings (Josh Dean) as he moves back home with his parents to his small hometown of Johnson City, MO. Once home he struggles to find direction in his post-graduate life as he hooks up with former classmates Amber Danwood (Erin Cahill) and Mark Dove (Dave Sheridan).

In the pilot episode "Missouri Loves Company" Nate Dineen decides to move home after graduating from his college to find surprises: his parents are now in therapy, his old room has been changed into his parents' gym, and could that strange guy at Kash Kutters become his new best friend?

FREE RIDE
Season 1 Episode 1 - Missouri Loves Company
Original Airing: March 1, 2006
Network: Fox

March 1 TV Frenzy

Haaaack!

My back feels like it's been stitched with tons of bricks inside. I feel so drained and tired. What a TV frenzy it was yesterday, a Wednesday.

On any other day, I would be able to do a lot....and still be able to relax. I can watch as much as I want to, I can take work however loaded I want it to be, I can even do household chores.

But Wednesdays...if people stress over Mondays at work...I stress over Wednesdays. So much so that on special and unexpected events and occasions falling under this day, my schedule's all messed up and I go on a frenzy. There's just too many things to do!!! And for some unexplainable reason, they all happen on a Wednesday, ALWAYS!

Here's what was in it for me yesterday:

- I had tons of work...had to help out with the hubby's business (I had to do in between all these)
- I had deadlines (I also had to do in between all these!)
- I had a relative over from the province and it was her birthday yesterday so we had to celebrate and I had to prepare for her (lunch, prep and eating time at least 2-3 hours)
- I had to wash my son's uniform as soon as got home, so he'd have something to wear tomorrow (20 minutes on the machine...okay, that? My fault, I could've washed one a day earlier but I was saving on soap, water and electricity....I'm a pratical mom, to a fault!)
- I had to help him with his homework (at least one hour)
- My son begged we watch at least 2 episodes of Seinfeld together (at least an hour)
- I had to prepare dinner (microwavable! But preparation at the table, 20 minutes tops)
- There was an earthquake and I had a moment of panic!

And of course, MUST NOT MISS....for other people, they can do without this...but am not other people! Hehe!

- It was the second semi-final round of American Idol (1 1/2 hour...I watched the 6 PM broadcast)
- It was the premiere episode of The Amazing Race (2 hours...I watched the 10 AM broadcast while doing work, and I watched the 8 PM broadcast, in full concentration mode)
- And it was the night Rustom Padilla chose to tell the world he is gay. (1 hour...it was not my intention to miss it!)

By the time it was 12 MN...I felt my back already giving up. I was just too tired.

This morning, I dozed off even if I had the alarm on, that my son was almost late at school....

If I were a cartoon, I would be Bugs Bunny, on fast forward, doing everything all at once.

-----------

By the way...a couple of TV thoughts before I do my whole Bugs Bunny routine again (It's still not done!):

American Idol Girl's Night - Blah! My husband sums it up for me: Ang babaduy nila pumili ng kanta. I was mighty disappointed. If only a lot of people got to watch this!

The Amazing Race 9 - Looks promising, I love many of the players this time around, seems like many of them have interesting personalities, including the dorky ones! My favorite show is back.

And finally, full transcript of Rustom's out-ing HERE