British TV Podcast Show #75 - Comic Relief's Red Nose Day

The British TV Podcast with Chrissy & Ryan Show 75 has a feature on Comic Relief's Red Nose Day which will be on March 18th this year. We'll talk about the history of the event, some of the classic comedy sketches that have appeared over the years, and what to expect this time. Plus a review of "Friday Night Dinner." In the news, Kevin Spacey in a remake of "House of Cards," the international iPlayer for iPad will be $10 but will it be good value for money?, and "QI" moves back to BBC2.

Listen to Show 75

British TV Podcast Show #74 - The Evolution of British Sitcoms

The British TV Podcast with Chrissy & Ryan Show 74 has a somewhat rambling but hopefully informative discussion about the evolution of British sitcoms. It used to be that all you ever saw were characters telling jokes in front of a studio audience (a tradition which carries on today in popular shows like "The IT Crowd" and "Miranda") but formats have also evolved (for example "The Office" and "Gavin & Stacey") with nary a joke being made and no laugh track. In the news, Showtime renews "Episodes" but the BBC cancels "Whites." This weekend David Walliams will attempt to do 24 hours of panel shows for Comic Relief.

Listen to Show 74

British TV Podcast Show #73 - Harry Hill

The British TV Podcast with Chrissy & Ryan Show 73 has a feature on comedian Harry Hill. Though he's made many appearances on David Letterman's show, the "TV Burp" presenter can't quite make the big time in the American market. Why? In the news, Nicholas Courtney ("Doctor Who's" Brigadier) passes away, "Outcasts" gets moved to a graveyard slot on Sundays, and the BBC cancels "Zen." Plus the usual: this week's TV highlights in the UK & USA, and DVD releases.

Listen to Show 73

British TV Podcast Show #72 - Being Human

The British TV Podcast with Chrissy & Ryan Show 72 has a feature on "Being Human" to bring you up to the third season premiere on February 19th on BBC America. Also reviews of "Mad Dogs" and "The Promise." More "Upstairs Downstairs" is coming, Paul Merton is doing another travelogue, and David Walliams will have to spend 24 hours being funny for Comic Relief.

Listen to show 72

British TV Podcast Show #71 - Paul McGann

The British TV Podcast with Chrissy & Ryan Show 71 has a feature on actor Paul McGann, best known for "Withnail and I" as well as playing the 8th Doctor in the 1996 "Doctor Who" TV Movie that finally has been released on DVD in the USA after 15 years. Also reviews of "Marchlands" with Alex Kingston, "Lunch Monkeys," and the BBC's ambitious new science fiction series "Outcasts." David Walliams is going to play an alien in "Doctor Who," and Danny Boyle's new "Frankenstein" stage show with Benedict Cumberbatch will be shown in select cinemas on March 17th. Plus news, what's on TV this week in the UK & USA, and DVD releases.

Listen to Show 71

Wayne's World Reunion

11.30 pm Saturday night on NBC we were transported back 20 years to Aurora, Illinois' Cable 10 Public Access Channel...



...Apart from one close up on 'Garth' they'd not changed a bit. Now, how about a Wayne's World 3?

British TV Podcast Show #70 - Timothy Spall

The British TV Podcast with Chrissy & Ryan Show 70 has a feature on actor Timothy Spall. Currently he's playing Winston Churchill in "The King's Speech" but his TV career stretches all the way back to the classic 1983 series "Auf Wiedersehen Pet." We'll also talk about his son Rafe.

"Lark Rise To Candleford" is canceled by the BBC which prompts a discussion about what is the natural lifespan of a TV series? Are BBC comedies too middle class (the Controller of BBC1 thinks so). The Doctor does the introduction to the National Television Awards and then fails to win any. And Sky Atlantic begins in the UK, a pay channel running mostly HBO shows but with commercials.

"Marchlands," a new spooky series begins this week on ITV1, as does the science fiction drama "Outcasts" on BBC1.

Listen to Show 70