Merrick here...
...with a quick heads-up about a new programming block on BBC America.
Tonight the network's "Ministry of Laughs" opens for business with the U.S. introduction of three new commedies: THE INBETWEENERS and COME FLY WITH ME.
THE INBETWEENERS (11pm Eastern) is, essentially, the anti-Nickelodeon/Disney teen show. Almost completely devoid of anything resembling restraint or decorum, the series (which will be quite edited for U.S. consumption I should think) is raunchy, crude, rude, naughty, and vulgar. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, and the impact of its excess should be mitigated in America by bleeps and blur-outs amd whatnot, but there are times THE INBETWEENERS feels like John Hughes meets PORKY's with a healthy injection of steroids.
Also debuting is COME FLY WITH ME (11:30pm Eastern), a mockumentary chronicling daily happenings in an enormous and bustling airport terminal (if you've ever seen the show AIRLINE, you get then idea). But COME FLY WITH ME isn't serious, and it often pointedly skewers some of the same conceits on which AIRLINE pivots. INterestingly, many of the often OTT character you'll see in COME FLY WITH ME are performed by two people - David Williams and Matt Lucas. A recent press release suggests that the duo realize "over 50" characters for the show.
The second episode (airing June 25) of COME FLY WITH ME guest stars FRIENDS' David Schwimmer as himself - he's intercepted by immigration when trying to sneak fetish porn into the U.K. Schwimmer immediately tries to throw FRIENDS co-stars Matt LeBlanc and Courtney Cox (who are not present) undetr the bus. The third installment of the show (broadcasting July 9) features a brief appearance by HARRY POTTER's Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who is accosted by an airport employee upon debarkation and handed a script. Said employee wants Grint to get the script to Daniel Radcliffe.
These titles succeed the already premiered GRAHAM NORTON SHOW (10pm Eastern), which itself follows the U.S. debut of OUTCASTS (9pm Eastern) - an epic Science Fiction drama from the makers of MI-5. The network's premiere of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - the Ron Moore version - comes to BBCA tonight as well, its two part launch miniseries airing tonight from 5-9pm Eastern.
It doesn't take much digging to gleen that OUTCASTS - about the trials and tribulations of human colonists on a distant-but-habitable aline world - was not particularly well received in the U.K. when it broadcast there recently. Be that as it may, I rather appreciated the first two installments of the show and intend to checdk out the whole thing when it hits Blu-Ray here in the States shortly (it's already up for pre-order HERE).
FInd out more about all the shows BBC America is debuting tonight at the network's website, HERE.
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