John Byrne brings a round-up of all things telly this week.
The Girlie Shows
Reviewed: 2 Broke Girls (Thursday, RTÉ Two) and New Girl (Friday (Channel 4)
As someone who’s been a long-time fan of Harry Hill’s TV Burp (Saturdays, UTV), I thought that one way of determining which is the best of two new US sitcoms would be to have a fight between Zooey Deschanel from New Girl (Fridays, Channel 4) and Kat Dennings from 2 Broke Girls (Thursday, RTÉ Two). Not so easy to organise though, so perhaps the best way of resolving my telly quandry is by, well, reviewing them here together.
New Girl enjoyed the dubious benefit of a head start, as it began three weeks before 2 Broke Girls arrived, but that’s a minor plus. Having indie darling Zoeey Deschanel as its star, though, is another matter entirely. Straight away, New Girl is guaranteed exposure and a certain curiosity level that most new shows crave. 2 Broke Girls, on the other hand, is the latest creation of Michael Patrick King, the guy who gave us the once great Sex and the City, a show that took a spectacular nosedive in quality after its first four seasons.
Given that 2 Broke Girls isn’t as much of a groundbreaking show as SATC once was, I can’t see it being regarded at any point as part of the zeitgeist, but it does have one advantage over many of its comtemporaries: it’s actually funny. Scratch that: it has two advantages, the other being Kat Dennings. Most recently seen in a minor role in Thor, Dennings shows off some impressive comedic skills in 2 Broke girls as Max, a working-class waitress who befriends Caroline (Beth Behrs), a recently impoverished socialite who takes up waitressing to earn a living.
It’s the classic, chalk 'n' cheese sitcom scenario, best exemplified by the daddy of them all, The Odd Couple. Behrs plays the penniless posh girl quite well, and there’s a nice chemistry between the two, but after that the show falls a little short of its promise. Some of the jokes are lame (or try too hard to be edgy), and the show’s remaining characters are bizarrely reminiscent of racial stereotypes from the 1970s. But it’s Seinfeld compared to New Girl.
In recent years there’s been a surfeit of shouty American sitcoms (it started with Scrubs), and New Girl fits in just as loudly. Like 2 Broke Girls it’s a chalk 'n' cheese concoction as quirky-girl Jess (Deschanel) moves in with three guys enjoying arrested development (the condition, that is, not the show).
Why make up a joke when a character can just gurgle loudly, stick their tongue out and wave their hands in the air? Now that’s funny, eh? Well, no. Happy Endings (Thursdays, E4) started off in a similar vein, but has thankfully progressed to a point where it’s one of the better US comedies currently running. Fingers crossed New Girl can achieve that, but I can’t see it happening. All that’s going for it so far is the overhyped Deschanel, and some impressive stuff from Max Greenfield, who plays roommate Schmidt, New Girl’s answer to How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson. The rest is just Mike & Molly for loudmouths.
Final result: 2 Broke Girls 3 New Girl 1
Pick of the Week
Upstairs Downstairs (Sunday, BBC ONE)
Written and created by Heidi Thomas, the second season of the Beeb’s reheat of the classic period drama returns to BBC One for a six-episode run and stars Jean Marsh, Keeley Hawes, Ed Stoppard - plus new arrival, Alex Kingston.
It’s now September 1938. Sir Hallam is anxious about affairs in Germany and determines to persuade those in power that Hitler can’t be contained. But when he is met with short shrift from his superiors and sees his wife’s concern over what the possibility of another war might mean for their young family, Hallam is forced to consider whether his approach is the right one - and when he meets an unexpected face in Germany he begins to question more than his political beliefs.
Downstairs, with Rose taken ill with TB, the staff welcome spirited new maid Beryl (played by Laura Haddock). She catches Harry’s eye but struggles to adjust to life in service and has greater ambitions.
Friday Night Lights (Tuesday, Sky Atlantic)
At last – a chance to see this fantastic series in a primetime slot. Based on a book of the same name (which also spawned a movie starring Billy Bob Thornton), on one level it’s about a high school American football team based in the fictional Texas town of Dillon, but it’s really about life in small town America.
It’s also a riveting and often moving drama that richly deserved its many awards during its recently-completed five-year run in the US. In Tuesday’s pilot episode, viewers are introduced to several key characters, particularly the Dillon team coach Eric Taylor, superbly played by Kyle Chandler (Super 8, King Kong, Early Edition), who says more with a stare than most actors manage with a page-long monologue.
Although FNL boasts a fine ensemble cast and some great characters, Chandler is superb in the central role and richly deserved the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performances. Seriously, do yourself a big, big favour and tune in to Friday Night Lights. You won’t regret it. This is character-driven TV at its finest.
New this week
The Republic of Telly (Monday, RTÉ Two)
It’s back! Presenter Dermot Whelan is joined by Jennifer Maguire and Bernard O'Shea for lots more late night fun. To start off the season, the show will be premiering their new music video for Carlow rappers, Brendogg & Bolsak.
The Real Republic Returns – and features Bressie, as he takes over from Dermot for the show. How will Jen deal with him getting all the attention?
Also back are Martin Muff, who’s still looking for a woman, Darby the Leprechaun will be the first Irish Astronaut to go into Space, Damo and Ivor show us how to party, and Handy Sandie will be reporting from Cork. Celebrities making an appearance this season include Ryan Tubridy, Bressie, Caroline Morahan, Baz Ashmawy, John Creedon and Kathryn Thomas.
Ireland’s Rappers (Monday, RTE Two)
The Irish hip hop scene has never been that big and has staunchly remained outside of the mainstream. This documentary takes a look at the lives of various Irish rappers, from Redzer, a charismatic 28-year-old who fronts one of Ireland's leading rap bands, the Class A'z to Elaine Harringtom aka Temper-Mental MissElayneous, and Cork crew Rebel Faction.
Knuckle (Sunday, RTÉ One)
An epic 12-year journey into the world of an Irish Traveller community, this award-winning feature-length film takes us inside their secretive and exhilarating bare-knuckle fighting lives and seeks to find out the real motives behind these feuds. Chronicling a history of violent feuding between rival families, Knuckle follows James Quinn McDonagh and his younger brother Michael, as they fight for reputations and the family name.
Éalú (Thursday, TG4)
The first programme of this new series about infamous Irish prison escapes features Limerick man Sean Bourke, who sprang Britain's most wanted KGB spy from Wormwood scrubs in 1966. George Blake was serving the longest sentence ever handed down by a British court when he befriended Bourke in prison and the pair hatched a plan that left intelligence around the world baffled.
Daddy Daycare (Wednesday, Channel 4)
In this brand new three-part documentary series, nine men are sent on a crash course in childcare by their long-suffering wives and partners – the people who do the donkey work when it comes to kids.
Ending this week
Hustle (Friday, BBC ONE)
It’s not just the end of the season, but the last-ever episode of Hustle. Mickey’s found the ultimate mark in multi-millionaire businessman Madani Wasem, who is ripe for a stock market scam. The stakes are higher than usual as Wasem is extremely dangerous and the kind of mark they usually avoid. Mickey has his own reasons for taking the risk - he’s tired of grifting and is ready for retirement.
The others are shocked but the prospect of a £10million jackpot is too good to turn down. There is a surprise in store when Wasem’s broker turns out to be Stacie Monroe (played by Jaime Murray). She’s a useful insider but, when Wasem instructs his enforcer to kill Mickey after the deal is done, the very real prospect of death looms large over the gang. It’s the end of the road for Mickey and the gang but will they go out in a shower of money or a hail of bullets?
The Nurse (Thursday, RTÉ One)
In Cavan, Kathleen Gilheaney helps her 88-year-old patient recover from a broken leg; John Carew has a battle of wills with a patient n Castleknock; and on Inishbofin, Mary Walsh faces a tough decision.
Documentary of the week
A Dad is Born (Thursday, BBC TWO)
This looks deadly. Award-winning film-maker Kira Phillips follows three men in the weeks before and after their child is born. There’s Jamie, a city HR worker, who has obsessively read every self-help guide he could find, but nothing he finds inside the pages of a book quite prepares him for his new life. Then there’s mini-cab driver Viktor, who has resolved to put a long history of womanising behind him and become the perfect family man. Finally there’s multi-millionaire trader Greg, who previously left his wife and baby son. Now his girlfriend's pregnancy offers him a second chance at being the dad he wants to be.
Repeat of the week
Old Jews Telling Jokes (Wednesday, BBC 4)
It’s only a few months since this two-parter was first shown, but it’s well worth a gander - especially if you missed it last time around. The set-up couldn’t be simpler: in the fine tradition of American Jewish humour, a group of pensioners from all walks of life gather together to tell their favourite jokes. It’s simple but brilliant TV.
Guest stars of the week
The wonderful Fringe (Wednesday, Sky One) continues its singular path and the effortlessly spooky Jared Harris makes a return as biochemist-come-terrorist Robert Jones. The following night, former indie darling Parker Posey (the Zooey Deschanel of the 1990s) guests on The Good Wife (More4) as Eli’s ex-wife, who is running for political office. Sinead O’Connor is of the guests on The Graham Norton Show (Friday, BBC ONE), alongside former Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe and Anglo-Iranian stand-up Omid Djalili. Also on Friday on BBC ONE, Alistair McGowan, Hilary Devey and Josh Groban join Frank Skinner in Room 101.
Casting Couch Corner
Who’s heading to what show
Glee is back soon on Sky One and Helen Mirren is the biggest name in terms of guest stars coming to the musical dramedy, as Gloria Estefan will play Santana’s mother and Jeff Goldblum features as one of Michelle’s gay dads.
Gabriel Byrne has moved on from the superb head-wreck that was In Treatment and will star in Channel 4 conspiracy drama Coup, which is adapted from the Chris Mullen novel A Very British Coup.
Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts will present a yet-unnamed new Sky Living show searching for a new fashion designer. And the show is being exec-produced by Rihanna.
Sat Nav
Satellite Highlights
The Walking Dead (Friday, FX)
Returning for the second half of season two, Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and the rest of the ever-decreasing band of survivors get back to business after the jaw-dropping, mid-season moment when they discovered that young Sophia had become a zombie and Rick blew her away.
Blue Bloods (Tuesday, Sky Atlantic)
Back after a mid-season break, Tom Sellick and co return for more family-oriented cop stories. Here, Danny faces a tough call when a convicted hitman agrees to reveal where his victims’ bodies are buried – in return for his son avoiding a prison sentence.
The Almighty Johnsons (Thursday, Syfy)
This oddball show from New Zealand has been pretty entertaining so far. The great thing about it is that it’s believable that a bunch of Norse gods have been reborn in Auckland – and there’s a group of goddesses out to kill them. Scenery's good, too.
John Byrne
