John Byrne brings you this week's television round-up.
Fringe a cut above the rest
Reviewed: Fringe (Wednesday, Sky One)
Sometimes I look at my favourite TV shows like they’re children. I don’t want to say some are better than others, but would always encourage the ones who might want to do things a little bit differently. Conformity is as much of a curse for the creatively-inclined as it is a safe harbour for the more conservative, but when it comes to it, I’ll always be cheering on anyone or anything that shakes up the status quo a little.
Take sci-fi drama Fringe, for example. Unlike a lot of other shows, which set up a basic scenario and then repeat it or place it in different situations until the viewing audience dwindles (many procedurals and sitcoms spring to mind), series such as Fringe take a different path, and often reward viewer loyalty with intriguing storylines and fascinating plot developments. But even by the standards of quirky shows, Fringe pretty much operates on a solo plane and makes LOST look as predictable as CSI in comparison.
The current fourth season, just started on Sky One, had a lot to live up to after a third season that was jaw-droppingly brilliant on a weekly basis. It had ended on a cliffhanger, with key character Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) seemingly blotted out of existence in order to save the universes. So, here, we are, and it’s like a brand new show again!
For starters, Peter is gone and has never existed (although dad Walter’s getting a few sightings of some kind of Peter image and it’s driving him even crazier than before); but the killer punch is that the Fringe divisions from the two universes are now working together rather than against each other.
In last Wednesday’s riveting second episode, Olivia and Bolivia joined forces with a professor of forensic psychology from this world, whose other world counterpart is a serial killer. I can only imagine how insane rehearsals must be on a show where virtually everyone is playing two versions of the same character, and often in the same scene, but it’s worth it. In particular, Anna Torv (Olliva/Bolivia) and John Noble (Walter/Walternate) have both been outstanding in their double roles.
Some shows are enjoyable because you know exactly what you’re going to get and there’s a certain comfort in that. But with Fringe, you just can't even hope to second-guess what’s going to happen next, and therein lies its brilliance.
Pick of the Week
The Good Wife (Thursday, RTÉ One)
All good things come to an end, and this is where the truly wonderful The Good Wife signs off for season two. It’s been one hell of a trip for Alicia Florrick and co, but once again a superb ensemble cast (take a bow: Archie Panjabi, Alan Cumming, Matt Czuchry, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski) has played as vital a role as the show’s lead, Julianna Margulies, in making this the best show on TV. A courtroom drama that’s really about the repercussions of the choices people make in their lives, this final episode sees a piece of vital evidence literally land on Alicia’s desk. On a personal level, an opportunity presents itself with Will at the end of a case, and maybe this time Alicia won’t back down.
New this week
The Hunt for Tony Blair (Friday, Channel 4)
It’s been a while since The Comic Strip last showed up on the telly, but this looks like it’s been worth the wait. Regulars Jennifer Saunders, Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall and Robbie Coltrane are joined by the likes of Stephen Mangan (Green Wing, Episodes), who plays the eponymous British Labour Party leader in a black-and-white spoof of 1950s’ thrillers, with the cops hunting Blair under suspicion of murder.
Have I got News for You (Friday, BBC ONE)
Once upon a time this was essential viewing. But ever since the departure of Angus Deayton back in 2002, it’s gone slowly down the tubes and feels every bit of its 21 years. Still, you never know, things may have picked up a little. Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are back as captains, and the first guest host is Jo Brand.
Joanna Lumley’s Greek Odyssey (Thursday, UTV)
Greece may be better known these days for Riot Dog and financial crises, but here Joanna Lumley sets out to explore one of the most diverse countries in Europe, where much of western civilisation began. Joanna encounters both the ancient and modern aspects of Greece, touching on how the origins of drama, democracy, science, philosophy and medicine can be found there, and how they have left an enduring legacy on the fabric of everyday Western life.
Ending this week
MasterChef Ireland (Thursday, RTÉ Two)
Don’t get this kind of show myself, but plenty of punters have lapped this up, and Thursday’s finale will see judges Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier declaring the inaugural winner, who’ll not just get crowned MasterChef Ireland, but will also receive a handy €25,000 first prize.
Documentary of the week
Me, My Sex and I (Tuesday, BBC ONE)
This sounds fascinating. While most people assume that everyone else is either male or female, apparently things are a little bit more complicated for many folk. This documentary promises powerful insights from people born neither entirely male nor female. Conditions like these have been known as 'intersex' and shrouded in unnecessary shame and secrecy for decades. It's estimated that DSDs (Disorders of Sexual Development) are as common as twins or red hair - nearly one in 50.
Repeat of the week
Top of the Pops (Thursday, BBC FOUR)
A chart-tastic peek at pop life in Britain back in 1976, just as disco was going mainstream. Tonight’s show is a typical TOTP musical smorgasbord of German experimentalists Can, one-hit-wonders Sherbet, and gargantuan Greek crooner, Demis Roussos. All presented by the Hairy Cornflake, Dave Lee Travis. This show is brought to you by the colour beige.
Guest stars of the week
Marian Finucane goes on the other side of the microphone when she’s the subject of The Big Interview with Mike Murphy (Thursday, RTÉ One).
Jools Holland’s musical guests on Later (Tuesday and Friday, BBC TWO) has Peter Gabriel, the Horrors, Noah & the Whale, Lana Del Ray and Ghostpoet.
Jonathan Ross (UTV, Saturday) will be speaking to Hollywood star Seth Rogen, comedian-turned-fundraiser David Walliams, warbler Michael Bublé, and Coldplay provide the music.
Jo Brand pops up once more, on That Sunday Night Show (Sunday, BBC TWO), along with Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace and Margaret Mountford from The Apprentice.
Casting Couch Corner
Who’s heading to what show
Alex Kingston’s only just off our screens as River Song in Doctor Who, but she’ll be back soon enough in a completely different role. She’s joined the cast of Upstairs Downstairs, the revived ITV period drama, which returns in the new year. She’ll play Blanche Mottershead, the younger sister of Lady Holland.
Former Sopranos star Drea de Matteo – last seen on Desperate Housewives – will guest star in an episode of CSI: Miami as a high-stakes poker player who’s looking for revenge after her son gets murdered.
Hugh Dennis is a very familiar face on British TV – particularly with family comedy Outnumbered – so it’s pretty apt that he’s been chosen to host a segment on families in a new GOLD series called Only a Sitcom. Other strands include Ricky Tomlinson looking at Christmas and Neil Morrissey on friendship.
Sat Nav
Satellite Highlights
Southlands (Thursday, More4)
Back for a ten-episode third season, the budget on this impressive cop drama has been severely cut and its cast reduced, so it’ll be interesting to see if it still works. As for the story, with Russell (Tom Everett Scott) settling into a desk job, Lydia (Regina King) must get used to work with her new partner, Josie Ochoa (Jenny Gago).
Harry’s Law (Monday, Universal)
This got a very brief airing on 3e some months back, which was a pity because it showed some promise as a quirky comedy-drama, even if it is a creation of David E Kelly, the man responsible for Ally McBeal (and the much better Boston Legal). Kathy Bates stars as Harriet Korn, a bored patent lawyer who quits her job and sets herself up as a criminal defence attorney operating out of a shoe shop. The pilot’s fun, but whether the rest of the show’s any use is another matter.
What You Watched
RTÉ’s top 20 programmes (viewed as live) for the week ending 11.09.2011
Figures in multiples of a thousand (eg: 300 = 300,000)
RTÉ One
1 The Late Late Show Friday 563
2 Fair City Thursday 492
3 Fair City Tuesday 458
4 Prime Time Tuesday 453
5 Fair City Sunday 429
6 Behind the Walls Monday 408
7 The Restaurant 5 * Cook-Off Wednesday 398
8 Nationwide Wednesday 396
9 O'Gorman Sunday 395
10 Kitchen Hero Monday 394
11 EastEnders Monday 393
12 The Ashes Of 9/11 Sunday 390
13 Nationwide Monday 381
14 Fair City Wednesday 379
15 EastEnders Thursday 360
16 People of the Year Awards Saturday 358
17 EastEnders Friday 353
18 EastEnders Tuesday 352
19 Prime Time Thursday 345
20 Rescue 115 Tuesday 336
Despite a considerable drop of 65,000 (more than 10%), The Late Late Show remains – and by some distance – the most-watched show. No surprises to see Fair City up near the top as usual, but the documentary Behind the Walls comes in an impressive fifth with 408,000. Elsewhere, O’Gorman was the biggest gainer of the week, up eight places and 47,000 viewers to finish 9th.
RTÉ Two
1 Euro 2012 Qualifier: Russia v Ireland Tuesday 316
2 MasterChef Ireland Thursday 227
3 MasterChef Ireland Tuesday 224
4 Rugby World Cup Live: Ireland v USA Sunday 222
5 The Sunday Game Live Sunday 217
6 CSI Miami Wednesday 182
7 Home and Away Monday 165
8 Home and Away Wednesday 163
9 The Good Wife Thursday 151
10 Premier Soccer Saturday Saturday 142
11 CSI Miami Wednesday 141
12 Home and Away Tuesday 135
13 Home and Away Thursday 129
14 13 Going on 30 Monday 117
15 Euro 2012 Qualifiers Tuesday 117
16 Mr Bean Sunday 114
17 The Sunday Game Sunday 109
18 The Sunday Game Live Sunday 106
19 Rugby World Cup Highlights Sunday 105
20 Neighbours Wednesday 100
Sport’s the big winner again, with the Russia-Ireland game a clear pol-topper, nearly 100,000 ahead of second-placed MasterChef Ireland, which is doing really well, and in a normal week would’ve finished first. American dramas CSI: Miami and The Good Wife both picked up more viewers and remain in the top ten.
John Byrne
