Oh Seven Heaven

From braces and a fashion faux-pas poncho to plastic surgeons and the Fox River Eight, Natasha Kundaiker takes a look at the returning favourites and the new shows set to take the country by storm in 2007.

With 2006 firmly behind us, it’s out with the old and in with the new, and it is no different for the array of television programmes arriving on our screens. As we wave goodbye to the likes of Robin Hood and CSI: Miami, the new year brings in a tide of shows to keep us entertained.

2007 brings in two new shows from the US, one in the form of an apparently ugly fashion magazine secretary and the other a band of genetically mutated misfits.
Channel 4 leads the way with the quirky comedy Ugly Betty. It has won audiences stateside and is now doing the same in the UK, with its first episode drawing in over 4.5 million viewers. If Ugly Betty proves a substantial hit, Channel 4 may just have found that crowd-pleasing show to fill the gaping hole left in its Friday night schedule by the end of Friends.

The digital channel Sci-Fi brings us the other smash-hit from the US – Heroes. Hitting our shores on February 19, Heroes follows a group of people whose DNA has mutated and developed to give them different and unique powers. The characters are all linked and even if they don’t know it, their fates are tied together. Their ultimate destiny? Nothing less than saving the world of course. You’ll hear no end to the hype of the show, even if it is just us writers at The Event constantly chirping on about how wonderful it is. It is a fantastic show and we just can’t seem to get enough, especially now that ex-Doctor Christopher Eccleston is joining the cast.

With a killer storyline, engaging characters, the creepy serial-killer villain Sylar and the great tag line of ‘Save the cheerleader, Save the world’ – what’s not to love? If you don’t have Sci-Fi, fear not: BBC2 has also picked up the show for airing in June. Even though it is six months away, it is well worth the wait and if it gets a response anywhere near like in the US, Heroes looks to be a sure fire hit in the UK.

E4 brings us another new show, but this time it’s home-grown. Brit drama Skins, an off-beat series from the makers of Shameless, focuses on a group of 17 year olds, though it is worlds away from the flowery ideals of Grange Hill and even The O.C. Skins is ostensibly more adult in nature, with its characters popping pills in their spare time, partying all night and pushing boundaries like only teenagers can. The nine-part drama starts on E4 from January 25 and stars Nicholas Holt, best known for his role in About A Boy.

This season’s terrestrial TV appears to be in the thrall of Channel 4. Alongside Ugly Betty, we have the return of some old favourites like Shameless and Shipwrecked. We’ll finally find out what happened to Mike as Desperate Housewives returns to the Wednesday night slot with its third season following the high jinks of the wacky residents of Wisteria Lane.

Prepare for a strong dose of drama on Monday nights as the Emmy Award winning ER is back on Channel 4 in its thirteenth season. After the tumultuous and shocking moments of the previous finale, we get thrown straight back into action to deal with the aftermath of the shooting. Though it has lost most of its original cast, ER is still proving it can pull the punches, delivering one gripping storyline after another.

Everyone would have heard by now that Channel 4 will no longer be showing Lost. If that news it is too much for anyone to bear, unfortunately you Lost-a-holics will have to shell out for Sky One (or watch online). If you do, not only will you have Lost but you’ll also have the Golden-Globe winning Nip/Tuck to add to your television repitore for Monday nights. Yes, the grogeous but deadly Dr. Christian Troy and troubled Dr. Sean McNamara are back. If you’re the star spotting type, look out for Kathleen Turner and Brooke Sheilds, both of whom will guest star in this fourth season.

Channel 4 will suffer another blow this year with the recent announcement that pop culture phenomenon The O.C. will end in only its fourth season. With ratings declining, networks decided to pull the plug despite fan protests, with the last episode airing in late February in the US. Never fear you Josh Schwartz fans, as The O.C. creator has two new shows up his sleeves, with the pilot episodes for Gossip Girl and Crumbs both having been picked up by major US networks.

The Beeb are bringing back the ‘original reality TV show’ Castaway, after a five year absence from our screens. Instead of a cold, wet Scottish island, the contestants will be shipped of an undisclosed but exotic location. This spring we also see the return of the great sci-fi classic Doctor Who. After the tantalising Christmas special and a host of Who themed shows over the holidays (not to mention the Cybermen dancers at the Kylie Showgirl tour) we can only wait for the wonders in the third series. With the introduction of the new companion Martha Jones, an appearance by William Shakespeare and of course the Daleks, the new series looks set to be a winner.

Prison Break also makes its long-awaited comeback on January 15, with FIVE sparing no expense to advertise it anywhere they can. The imperceptive viewer would think that once they’ve actually broken out of the prison that’d be the end of the series - because of course once they escape no one will ever think of looking for them. However it is only the start of the long journey ahead of brothers Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield. The show manages to maintain its grasp in the second series, with the manhunt for the ‘Fox River Eight’ providing gripping drama and even comedic touches. It is better than ever, proving the second (and hopefully a third) series can be just as good as the first.

At other end of the spectrum of brotherly love, ITV2 brings those sexy Winchester brothers back to our screens from January 28 in Supernatural. The second season is more emotionally charged, darker and even better than the first. Alas, they do have a clown episode, so steer clear of that one if you are faint hearted or prone to nightmare-induced sleepless nights.

It looks set to be a stellar year for television, lets just hope they don’t do a Torchwood and ruin it all at the final moments.

Dracula

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of the most famous novels from the last two hundred years, and this new adaptation, starring Hustle’s Marc Warren as the Count and Sophia Myles as Lucy Westenra, takes a stab at bringing a raunchier modern take on it. Suffice to say, it is successful in portraying the underlying eroticism and the sexual repression of Victorian life present in the novel, however it some of its plot developments are truly a stab in the dark.

Viewers not familiar with Stoker’s novel will probably find this version entertaining and better than most of the Dracula film and TV adaptations that have come before it. But for this reviewer, the liberties taken with the plot are too much of a change. First of all Jonathan Harker is sidelined and killed off, Van Helsing is portrayed as a snivelling wreck and the villain Dracula is far and away from striking fear into the hearts of men. One would think that by having David Suchet under its wing, they would use him more wisely.

The writers take the theme of immortality from the novel and run with it. The minor character Arthur Holmwood (Dan Stevens) is made the protagonist and by giving him syphilis, they seek make Dracula’s arrival to England all part of Holmwood’s search for a cure to his disease.

It would be a decent piece of television, were it not for the shockingly bad editing and constant plot jumps. An intricate plot of such magnitude feels rushed in the 90 minutes provided. Dracula is a disappointment to say the least considering the hype. The only comfort one can find in this version is that it was produced by Granada and not the BBC.

Natasha Kundaiker

Ugly Betty

When the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea (“I am Betty, the Ugly”) aired in 1999, it sent shockwaves across the globe, prompting worldwide release and even successful remakes in Mexico, Germany, Russia and India. Now it is quite literally America’s turn.

Betty Suarez, played by America Ferrera, is a budding writer but despite being smart and hard-working, her dream has always been shadowed by the fact that she isn’t the most attractive young woman. Ironically, when she finally gets a job at the glossy New York fashion magazine Mode, she is hired for her looks. Publishing magnate Bradford Meade (Alan Dale) has specifically employed the unattractive Betty to stop his Mode editor son, Daniel (Eric Mabius), from his playboy ways.

Betty is an endearing and loveable character, and even though her naivety is sometimes taken advantage of, we still see her as a shining example of what a good person should be, irrespective of their appearance. Though she eventually finds out why she really got the job, it doesn’t dishearten her and she strives to be the best she can be, which makes her all the most likeable. The Suarez family offers a glimpse in to the hardened but happy life of a working family and they are just as entertaining and charming as Betty herself.

As will all the other versions of the show, there is no doubt that eventually our Betty will undergo a make-over, transforming her from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. However let’s hope that instead of falling for her boss Daniel or settling for ex-boyfriend Walter, Betty manages to make a better choice – hopefully in the form of accountant Henry (Christopher Gorham) who appears later in the series.

Vanessa Williams stands out as Wilhelmina Slater, the highly entertaining Cruella-De-Vil-esque villain who seeks to drive a wedge between Daniel and Bradford and to sabotage Daniel’s newfound job so she can move up the career ladder. As the embodiment of all that is cynical and manipulative about the business of appearances, striving for beauty and greed, she makes the perfect opposite to Betty.

But it is not all fun and games. Behind all the cosy comedy lies a sinister back story, focusing on the mysterious death of the much-revered old editor of Mode, Fey Sommers, and a behind the scenes scheme involving a hostile takeover of the Meade Publications. Though it is a tad melodramatic, it adds more depth to the plot in a bid to keep viewers watching week after week, and the style echoes the niggling mystery that kept audiences hooked on Desperate Housewives in its first season.

Don’t hold the fact that it stars Jim Robinson from Neighbours against it, as Ugly Betty is a warm-hearted, touching and entertaining comedy. Even if you have no interest in the fashion industry or soap operas, it still manages to draw you in with gushes of charm, wit and family appeal that will have you beaming from ear to ear. And with Extras’ star Ashley Jensen and Salma Hayek on the cast, Ugly Betty is definitely the one to watch.

Natasha Kundaiker

TOP FIVE TV TREATS on Channel 4 this Fortnight

1. Ugly Betty (Fri 21:30) – In the fashionable, stick-thin world of Mode magazine, how will the geeky Queens girl Betty Suarez fit in?

2. Celebrity Big Brother (Weekdays 21:00) – Like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it but it’s back...and so is Jade.

3. Desperate Housewives (Wed 22:00) – The hit US comic drama returns for a third series and, as usual, things aren’t always what they seem...

4. The O.C. (Sun 14:55) – Everybody’s favourite teen drama enters its fourth and final season. But as the gang struggle to adjust to life without Marissa, will their friendships survive these troubled times?

5. ER (Mon 22:00) – We finally return to the halls of Chicago’s County General hospital. But will Abbey and Kovac’s baby boy survive?

By Nikki Jones

Neighbours Week 1

Well, it’s not been a happy holiday for the Timmonses, as Sky’s revelation that Stingray is in fact the father of her baby breaks the family apart. Dylan disowns Stingray as a brother, Janelle chucks him out of the house and Rachel ends their relationship. Just what a recovering alcoholic wants and it’s not long before he raids the mini-bar. He and Sky vow to support each other at least. However, crazy new character Teresa, fixated with Sky and her baby, becomes all territorial and tells him Sky doesn’t want him.

Further down the ward, Max’s mental health starts to deteriorate for real and he runs away. Toadie flies back from Sydney to help Steph in her anguish (subtle), and we see the return of ‘Angry Boyd’ as he becomes aggressive in the search for Max. Elle, guilty for her part in Max’s downfall, and grieving Dylan find comfort in each other’s arms.

Meanwhile, Ned’s and Katya’s relationship becomes more serious, but she has a fight on her hands in the form of Carmella. Four newbies move into Number 30: laid-back Will; Carmella’s sister, Rosetta; and fake couple, Pepper and Frazer. Is nothing left sacred in this soap that they need a fake couple? And just as things are going well between Lou and Janelle, Mishka makes a dramatic return!

Lucy Purcell

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman 1993-1997

If Smallville is Superman for teens, then Lois & Clark was Superman for the ladies. Specifically conceived for the 18-25 female demographic, the show’s focus was on the romance of the eponymous couple, with the inevitable yet protracted resolution of their flirtations setting the bar for will-they-won’t-they television romance when Ross and Rachel were but a twinkle in the eye.

Everything from the tempering of Clark Kent’s traditional bumbling to publicity shots of the stars wrapped naked in Superman’s red cape screamed one thing: the brand might be Superman, but the heart is Lois and Clark. This dichotomy was so important to the conception of the show that DC Comics were pressured into postponing the planned marriage of the couple in the comics for fears it may compromise the romantic tension.

Though unashamedly courting the female audience, there was plenty here for the guys to enjoy too. If the weekly third act action set-piece (complete with the tights and flights outlawed on Smallville) wasn’t enough to keep the less sentimental viewer from wandering, there was always FHM’s sexiest woman in the world 1997 to hold the attention of the less sentimental of viewers.

Neil Huitson

Frasier

As a spin-off of Cheers, who would have thought Frasier could be even more popular than its parent? Set in Seattle, the show explores the life of verbose Doctor Crane (Kelsey Grammer), providing much insight into his character. The eleven series cover the psychiatrist’s many trials and triumphs in life and love, but the key to Frasier is the character dynamic. Contrast between characters is vast, yet they share enough to hold them together, and their differences complement each other. Indeed, much of the show’s success is due to cast camaraderie.

Although Frasier’s bouts of pomposity are irritating at times, they are regularly punctured by his family and friends, which is the source of much of the comedy. Grammer plays the part skilfully, so Frasier’s grandiosity is rarely overpoweringly annoying and he’s actually rendered rather endearing by his insecurities as he negotiates his love-life with help from his sexually-predatory producer and friend, Roz (Peri Gilpin). Frasier gains new dimensions as he rebuilds relationships with his father, Martin (the wonderful John Mahoney) and brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), and cements new ones with Roz and Daphne (Jane Leeves), bringing about some cosy “ah” moments which, however, never get too cloying.

Hyde Pierce has by far the best lines, many of which centre on his never-seen wife Maris, and his instant and continuous adoration and hair-smelling of Daphne, and he is particularly brilliant at physical comedy. However, the gorgeous doggy-features and astounding training render Eddy (Moose/Enzo) the scene-stealer whenever he’s on camera.

Despite the show centring on Frasier, some of the best moments don’t even feature him: season three, episode thirteen entitled Moon Dance is a perfect example of Niles’ infatuation with Daphne, and her total inability to see it. Frasier has that rare, brilliant gift of laughing-so-much-you-almost-wet-yourself combined with truly touching, pass-the-tissues moments, as revealed in the dance scene when Niles proves to his snotty “friends” he’s not broken by his divorce with Maris.

When Niles and Daphne finally get together, as is always the case with this sort of situation, the show’s dynamic changes. However, despite some of the angst magic being lost, the show by no means loses its way, and the final series is just as acerbic as ever, thanks to the large number of writers keeping it fresh, as well as the great efforts of the cast.

Regrettably, some episodes fail to live up to the show’s good name, for example when Frasier and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) go to extremes to get Freddy into an exclusive boarding school; situations are taken too far and become aggravating rather than funny. However, none of these episodes feature Bebe “The Devil” Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris) who provides some stupendously immoral comic moments whenever she’s about; the only down-side being she doesn’t appear often enough.

There are plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments to savour though, for instance, after a radio show, Frasier asks Niles, “Guess which thriving Seattle nightspot is finally closing its doors?” to which Niles responds “Roz, you’re leaving?”; one of many instances of a perfect marriage between wit and physical comedy, as Roz, to Niles’ horror, licks the rare first edition in his hands.

Sometimes the writers miss the mark and some of the wit is exchanged for too much farce, and, understandably with so many of them, some series are not as good as others. Fortunately however, this is a rare occurrence, and with such a fantastic combination of cast and writers, and because it had enough sense and dignity to bow out on a high, Frasier is definitely up there with the best classic TV shows.

Holly Curtis