|
THE HOT ZONE -APRIL 2003
The Latest Dish on DVD Releases, New Books, UK TV Premieres and Hot New Talents. HOT ON DVD The first two seasons of Red Dwarf are now available in a deluxe DVD set. Among the smegtastic extras are: · Commentary by Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules,
and Norman Lovett This product and more are available at http://www.bbcamericashop.com HOT ON CD Former Monty Python member Eric Idle has recently released The Rutland Isles, an "award-seeking" spoof of travelogues. Idle plays Nigel Spasm, who leads listeners on a journey through the people, flora, and sheep of the Rutland Isles. The CD is a mixture of Idle's spoken word travelogue and silly songs such as Whoops Look Out Behind You and Surfing Apes. HOT AT THE CINEMA The British hit Bend It Like Beckham has finally been released in the US to glowing reviews. Don't let the title (a reference to famed soccer player David Beckham) put you off. It's a sweet romantic comedy about an Indian girl, Jess (played by Parminder Nagra) who is passionate about soccer and wants desperately to play for a top woman's team. This doesn't sit well with her traditional Indian parents, who want her to simply settle down and find a nice boy to marry. After all, that's what her sister is doing. Jess does fall in love - with her coach - and this causes friction between her and her best friend. If you liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding or the sweet Scottish film Gregory's Girl you will probably enjoy Bend It Like Beckham. HOT ON THE TELLY IN THE UK Chef! star Lenny Henry has recently returned to the BBC with a second series of his sketch series Lenny Henry In Pieces. The show, which began airing on March 21, brought back some of Lenny's popular characters such as Donavan Bogarde the randy West Indian retiree, and Gloria the gas station cashier. Among the new characters is a family of animated zoo animals. A TALENT TO WATCH FOR… At the moment you're not going to find anyone much hotter than Peter Kay. The cherub-faced 30-year old writer/actor/stand-up comic was born (and still lives) in the northern town of Bolton. In 1997 he won Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny contest and since then there has been no looking back By the following year had been nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award at the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He also earned nominations for Top Stand Up and Top TV Comedy Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards. After successful stand-up tours of the UK his major break into sitcoms came with That Peter Kay Thing, which won the Best New Comedy Series award at the 2000 British Comedy Awards. He outdid this the following year with the six-part series Phoenix Nights, in which he played the wheelchair-bound owner of a cheesy northern nightclub. Next to The Office, this was the most honored and critically acclaimed sitcom of the year. Kay's comedy is not political, surreal or wacky. It is more observational and shows his deep affection for his northern, working class roots. Kay worked a number of jobs before going into comedy and the people he came into contact with - as well as his family - have provided the basis for a number of characters and stand-up routines. Kay is currently doing a string of stand-up dates, dubbed the Mum Wants A Bungalow tour. Tickets have been selling out all over the UK, necessitating the addition of numerous dates. Following this tour, he starts work on the Phoenix Nights spin-off, Paddy and Max, for Channel 4. By Michelle Street Editor, The Insider |