September 9, 2010

Piers Morgan officially signs with CNN

It’s been in the works for the entire summer, but now it’s been inked. Former tabloid editor and current reality show judge Piers Morgan has been announced as CNN’s replacement for Larry King, with the network saying he’ll take over the 9 p.m. CST slot in January. He’s also slated to pen a regular column for CNN.com.

It took a few mountains to climb for Morgan to finalize the deal, including negotiations with NBC to allow him to appear on CNN (NBC finally revised their contract with him, with Morgan staying on as a judge for “America’s Got Talent” through 2012.) There were also some rumored problems with him getting an upgrade on his work visa, which is at least small consolation for those of us who don’t have network presenting jobs but are stuck on our side of the pond because of immigration red tape.

The New York Times said that Morgan is expected to maintain some sort of connection with ITV, probably continuing his celebrity interview specials “Life Stories.” However, those of us who liked seeing him and Simon Cowell compare the size of their egos on the “Britain’s Got Talent” judging panel are out of luck. Which may work out even better for him, with Simon making noises this week that both BGT and “The X Factor” may be off ITV next year whilst he works on the American version of XF. CNN also says that he will continue writing his columns for the Daily Mail, which will at least possibly afford them some goodwill from the Murdoch clan at the New York Post.

I said before that I think Morgan will do a fine job with CNN, and I stand by that. Yes, he is very infuriating and can’t live without saying nasty stuff about anyone who dares get on his bad side. And certainly his sketchy past with the Daily Mirror and subsequent firing there will raise immediate questions about his journalistic ethics.

However, although it makes me as a journalist shudder to make this statement, CNN is not looking for a journalist here. They need a personality and they need someone who can make headlines. Morgan’s done that for years in the UK. If he can get the bookings, the headlines will write themselves.

Talking Telly: ‘This Is England ’86′ is must-see television

This Is England '86

Courtesy Channel 4

The film “This Is England” was one of films that seemed to have a profound impact when it came out in 2006. The original movie was set in 1983 and was set amongst skinhead culture in industrial Britain at a time when there was violent clashes between the racist factions and those who embraced the movement as a counterculture protest in the Thatcher era.

On Tuesday night, Channel 4 began airing the four-part miniseries followup “This Is England ’86″ which brings back most of the original cast and catches up on what’s happening with the coming-of-age set three years later, the year Maradona knocked England out of the World Cup and during tough economic times for a large percentage of Brits.

The series is excellent – very well written and embracing the punk culture and period without feeling completely foreign. However, if you have not seen the original film, I highly recommend reading the plot of it on Wikipedia or you will spend an awful lot of time being confused about references. The original film aired on C4 on Monday night, but unfortunately it’s not available on 4oD. It is available on Netflix for Americans, fortunately.

One nice thing about the programme is whilst it’s definitely adult in nature and deals with pretty tough subject matter (the main character was 13 in the original film and became a part of a skinhead gang after being bullied, and in this installment once again is the subject of violence) it’s a story that’s very real-to-earth and reflects the time and reality without preaching.

Even if this is is a segment of British history or a part of society that you haven’t been part of or greatly interested in, it’s important to see this simply to see part of the beginnings of the current BNP controversy and the debate over “Broken Britain.”

Talking Telly: Breaking down the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ lineup

I’m generally not big on shows that feature dancing or ice skating, although I make a big exception for “Let’s Dance For Comic Relief” every other year. Note the “every other year” part, and the fact that it’s only four weeks long and doesn’t last for seemingly five hours each Saturday night during its run.

However, “Strictly Come Dancing” is one of those grand television traditions that pays for the salaries of at least three writers per tabloid each time it comes out. And since last year’s series did not fare well against “The X Factor,” there was a lot more pressure to bring out a lineup that at least gets people talking. That was accomplished in spades with only one name: Ann Widdecombe.

Widdecombe is a former Tory MP who held ministry posts under John Major. She’s probably better known to the younger folk for some of her conservative campaigns and for documentary programmes where she basically decried the declining morality of Britons. She is also not the skinniest of people. I hate to even bring such superficial things into this, but hey, it’s going to be mentioned all over the tabs for months, believe me, so don’t let it be a shock. Between her getting on this show and the whole Wayne Rooney mess, this week’s return of “Mock The Week” has pretty much written itself.

Probably the second biggest name (in England, at least) is Patsy Kensit, who is departing a longtime role on “Holby City” and has been married to a good portion the of the 1990′s heyday of Britpop. Then there’s former rugby star Gavin Henson, who just broke up with “Voice of an Angel” Charlotte Church. Both have spent a fair amount of time in the press.

Felicity Kendal should be the public’s sweetheart. She’s an OBE who became famous on “The Good Life” and was a guest star on Series 4 of “Doctor Who.” The possible fave as far as demonstrated dancing ability is probably former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams. The John Sargeant of the year may possibly be 72-year-old TV magician Paul Daniels. And for the weird quotient is DJ and party circuit regular Goldie.

For the rest, I rely on descriptions from my fellow Brit culture geek Joe, who would fill in all the sport questions if we were doing pub quizzes. Pamela Stephenson the first non-North American cast member on Saturday Night Live back in the day and is married to Billy Connolly. Peter Shilton was the England goalkeeper who was on the receiving end of Maradona’s Hand of God goal at the 1986 World Cup.

Most of the rest are all your usual Brit soap filler, IMHO – “Coronation Street’s” Tina O’Brien, and “EastEnders” stars Scott Masien and Kara Tointon. Also, “Blue Peter” presenter Matt Baker and “East is East” star Jimi Mistry.

All in all, through my day job I am paid to actually care about “Dancing With The Stars,” who announced their own lineup this week. I like this one better. I knew what about 2/3 of the cast are actually famous for, which is a high percentage on these shows. Some of them look like they might be really good. And if I can stomach those loooooong episodes, I might tune in and see how long I can try to hang on to see Patsy Kensit dance – she’s a particular fave of mine after her very good episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?” And since all indications point toward this being Bruce Forsyth’s last series on “Strictly,” maybe it’s time to take a national treasure for a last spin.

Another Preview of the American Top Gear

The History Channel has released another clip of the upcoming Top Gear USA edition. This clip is a little more like Top Gear than the last one – it shows they’re trying to copy the same visual style and narrative. I’m still not sure about these hosts though.

What do you think?

I still don’t understand why they feel they need to do this. The History Channel could just air the original…

Talking Telly: Most shocking X Factor audition of the week

To be honest, I didn’t love any of “The X Factor” auditions this week enough to give them special props (although if you’re wanting to catch “highlights”, check out Cher, Liam, Storm Lee and the French Jedwards.) But the act that everyone will be talking about online and in the British tabloids for awhile were Ablisa, a pair of Birmingham best friends that you could just see coming as a truly horrific act the second they start talking about singing in their bedrooms for fun.

The second they get onstage, the Abi half of the double act morphs into Lauren from “The Catherine Tate Show,” yelling at the audience for laughing at them and storming offstage before the audition began. For some reason the duo went back onstage, were just as bad as expected and then the drama REALLY begins.

After Simon (or excuse me, Lightning Cowell – for explanation, watch Storm’s audition) says they had the worst attitudes he’d ever seen on any show, which I seriously doubt,) Natalie Imbruglia made the mistake of actually trying to talk to them. Abi asks who she is (to be fair, if Twitter is a fair judge that wasn’t the worst question in the world) and Lisa then smacks her formerly best friend in the head. Onstage.

According to the Mirror, Simon pre-screened the clip of the onstage fight to both girls before the episode aired, since supposedly Abi had been getting heckled since a teaser clip previously aired. I fully expect at least one girl to end up with an “exclusive” interview by a red-top on Sunday. But even if they were dreadful and a horrible example to other teens, at least they were interesting.