TV www.|ist.co.uk/tv
Drama & Comedy Reviews i] j': . g Muffin“;
The Sopranos Davrd Chase's cryptic diner finale wasn't to all tastes. but the dOubters were. ObViOLlSly. rust plain Wrong. TV won't ever be the same with Tony's passmg.
Life on Mars Seems that some weren't that keen on now the
U ' ' i " ’ ' ‘ M " ' " " 5‘ I ' curtain was brought down on this Miro. '- ’ ’ R' a ‘ ' - “i - ‘ ‘ ' ' ' timewarvinr c0) show either H t EXT 5 " i ‘ " " ‘ ' ' ‘” ‘ for a" its Foneltric‘k )one (lOlll it U 8801, Fri 28 Dec, 9.30pm . D '1 I, .x _ P. n .4 n , , i y .
. ' - ' ' ' ' - ~ was Quite Simply the best British For all his faults (and his stand-up and radio work make them plentiful), ' :l : . ' . ' The Old drama SW88 for a bug “mm RICK: (3918's :zlegfiknowifigen .8 T: comzdy (83:09? bow om: Tall/m: cunos'ty 8&0? P v f 1 Heroes Daft and delirious in equal Cloc e o hat 6 IO: M .th :p'tso 8: 8318 :5 mi: SIpec'a ', e as ‘l‘ '1 ‘ " ' measure. this comic book fantasy opted fort e same stra egy wr x ras. l anyt ting, e atter Sitcom . 1. «‘33:. kept the blood pumping Wm} :18 wrth its profligate reliance on stars and their reputations, needed a hole in r -.v . »
mind readers. shape shifters and self healers.
Derren Brown: Trick or Treat More magical mayhem from old spooky drawers as he convmceri one guy that he was a ventriIOQuist's dummy being locked in a box and helped a sloppy driver wrtness her own death. Inspired. 30 Rock The best new US comedy of the year from the pen of Tina Fey who gave herself the key role in this media spoof.
its head before it became repetitive and stale. And, like the conclusion to The Office with Tim, Dawn and Brent all finding a certain kind of happiness, Gervais and Stephen Merchant have given the Extras finale an added emotional drive with permanent losers Andy Millman and Maggie achieving a sense of closure.
Beginning with an almost too-perfect set-up which represents the nadir of the existence 3 semi-famous man such as Millman would lead, the story shoots back in time to focus on how he got himself into such a spiritual hole. And that story is a familiar one of thwarted ambition, wholesome dreams turning into stark nightmares and reality biting hard. Despite acting as the reason why Extras had an inherently short lifespan, the celebrities on show either play up beautifully to elements of their public persona (George Michael's sex life, Gordon Ramsay's bad temper) or show a
menacing side only vaguely hinted at (Clive Owen being savage and n: in a: «i a ra.‘ if i). n ‘31," . 30! A AIODQSid‘? 3906" MU 8”“ hurtful, Lionel Blair depressed at having to seem permanently cheerful). flu." .la : it a innit. ,' a‘ i' : Forgiven. lhIS adaptation Of Whether Gervais and Merchant will bring us anything as good on British TV :l7*;ir;:i‘r' 1" tr»,- ~ . w ‘ N3.- r l' :‘rrtr Jonathan Trigell‘s novel about a again is almost doubtful, but this swansong dies with dignity. frrw utti' amt. .. :rw; .’ r; childhood killer being released (Brian Donaldson) ‘v."‘."a."iariiak~"r. Mari " i w .. var . fibu- many years after “'3 <3“le CVOW'WU f)i:'t‘[)rtrf,,",’1",}l _ £3,514.“ a fine year for one—off Channel 4 a1. seer" tr in; ‘.i.". H.‘ Tali. dramas- REMOTE CONTROL the shape of plillll} Gleitister, aka [)0 Jr tries in tin,- aim r,‘ I? -'- rr '«rft. The Not Dead Brian Hill and BTU” DO”~"d50" fmds some Gene Hunt. wielding his lllll)l(3f$f3l‘.’t¢ <)";i(“§{)alrr'll‘fifx new miller Simon Armitage's documentary With Spom'h‘mpy Comed'es and tinneheon ioh come on. it's panto l):£l,ll‘(; frti: an ,if. I w w '.i:i .;, poetry laid bare the horror Of war
‘ S )- ) t / l o .o J ‘ LO tumt IL “"9 dnmds season is it not :’i (luring a Life on lira/s; ll‘it:t.‘t‘» a 0” en. ‘3'"). and the shoddy treatment Of British
tribute. And then tlirére's Kath‘. Burke as the daughter of the latex granny
who show each other love on reveal profane (:ontempt when their
soldiers once battle dies down. Seven Ages of Rock Addictive series about the history of rock music starting at Hendrix and
backs are turned. Now I'm as sick am: tired of 'am i t>o\.\.’(zie<l' as much. as
finishing With the Gallaghers.
Brit: Peter Kosminsky's two-parter may have lacked 100% credibility but the tale of two British Muslims exploring their identities in diverse ways was at the very least a heart- pumping thriller.
The Peter Serafinowicz Show Naturally patchy. but this sketch
you are. but there's an irresistible tltlltJllt’lllt“, llf3l(: ‘.'.’tl(*." we pro félr'tf.'.'t'n to Lauren Cooper.
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.\ , . ' ' ' ' ' ’ .' ” i " ' / show featured an awesome array of ea 0 tr x Shadow in the North , ° “Ht. ,_ . , ,2, r . impersonations making ,, ‘ ) L ‘ ‘ SerafinOWIcz the British comedy . ' A ' " ‘ i v fthe ar. Theresa moment in the Ext'as finale m, r L... . r r d 8C0 ery 0 ye
ri n nl on when Ante Miliman shows his disgust (B a DO ads )
that George Michaei is appearing in. a
Niger from Eaerrfuers attempts tr:
certain other Christmas comedy lt sat ta ta to life in Holby City 88C '. “3' °' ' irrr-x initia||\ sounds like a joke for its one. lieu Jo Dee. :lrvr‘ . "<1 a lore/z'a'r‘n‘r; [2, , .." , 2- 15:" f: '52' ’2 sake. but \ou'll disemer it's based en that wot. u normally be glue“. a smart 'V ' 'r; / .~‘,-' ’10 ',:,~',- I: 3‘ Still Game hard tact when \ou tune, in to The thought on these pages. Bu. as [4,519 Ir ,4: [/r. ’1 "r. " " " ' Catherine Tate Christmas Show they are done a rat"»_;' T‘£:t‘.'. ' r : ‘ : r,- r .
880'. Tue 35 Dee. ltlat‘po‘r. There take on it's a ‘.'.L"7:7e'fl,r' L ‘e, t'en-S' " C ' r '
he is in his pyramas doing a duet with hair“. in coming oxer a seasixut t" ' ' ° " , eerr / Tate's daft Oinsh nurse at the hosp tal tnis 'iasrtztar sub-drama. T" ;;_.a~.:.a' . r; r ’1
karaoke while an added treat arrixes :n angel :s payed bl. Richard B'e's
96 THE LIST 135t\‘3t\”---1eti";‘f:*