30.tvfeatures
Monday 27 April 2015
The Courier
TV Editors: Helen Daly and Ellie McLaren Online TV Editor: Rebecca Dooley
The American Wish List
While they may not have Midsomer Murders, they do have some decent programmes across the pond. Here are some we wish we had over here
Fallon angel
Dom Daly on her intense, confusing love for the US talk-show host
The Tonight Show
We love you, Graham Norton, but Jimmy Fallon takes talk shows to new heights. The hilarious sketches and games let loose the wacky personalities of our favourite celebrities. Anyone who can get Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart to compete in a Lip Sync Battle deserves to be on British screens.
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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
A brilliant comedy about five friends, A.K.A ‘The Gang’, who scheme against each another with the most ridiculous, usually illegal and idiotic plans, always ending in complete disaster. From stealing a stranger’s baby to faking their own deaths, it’s constant insanity for these characters who are, quite simply, the worst.
The Ellen Show Ellen DeGeneres’ chat show has become an absolute classic in America, her wonderful collection of guests and sarcastic humour could transition perfectly to the UK. Her dancing alone would make a great addition to the daytime TV we shouldn’t be skipping lectures for, and provides serious inspiration for Wednesdays in Tiger Tiger.
ever in my life did I think that at the ripe age of 21 would I have an inappropriate and raging crush on a 40 year old American man who dons a dress on national television to become a braces-clad, lisping, Starbucks drinking 15-year-old girl. However, I feel no shame in declaring my proud status as a Fallonator; one who is deeply obsessed with the comedy stylings of Jimmy Fallon. No, my friends, this is not a joke and these feelings are far as hell from being “totally EW”. Much like the Beliebers or the Directioners of this world my love for the Tonight Show host is irrational, its emotional and it motivates me to almost serial killer level when forced to defend my man’s art from the haters (I’m talking to you Andres du Bouchet, writer on Conan O’Brien and total key board warrior – watch your back). Jimmy Fallon is currently the undisputed king of late night comedy in America, and the undisputed
king of my heart. Rising to the top in 2014 when he replaced Jay Leno as The Tonight Show host, Fallon promised his undying fans that The Late Show’s format and beloved recurring characters would remain untouched. And he sure did deliver, garnering more eyes on the box than ever. His sketches are creative and endearing, showcasing the many strings to his multitalented bow. And boy does he look cute in his costumes - barber shop quartets are the new bad boys of sexy ladies, pin stripe my heart. A big fan of the celebrity cameo, Fallon has a knack for coaxing out the funny bone in even the most straight laced of stars. Except for the time Michelle Obama came on and tried to promote exercise and kale chips to America. What ensued was a scene so awkward and contrived that not even Will Ferrell in bunches, making out with a poster of Harry Styles could salvage it. Michelle Obama is totally EW - stick to politics and having toned arms
First Lady, leave the comedy to Jimmy. He’s a man that can sing, dance and look damn fine in a suit, using song as a way to cracks the squeaky clean shell of his celebrity guests. Far from shy however, is a common member to The Tonight Show team, bringing even more sexy back to your TV screens, Mr Justin Timberlake. We’ve seen the duo team up as rowdy campers and much more to bless the rains down in Africa and steal our hearts. Who wouldn’t like jerry curls and short shorts on Timberlake? My love for Jimmy Fallon can be summed up in an unforgettable Jamie Foxx Sketch entitled ‘Singing Unsexy Words Sexily’. Jimmy’s not buff, he’s no male model, and he’s certainly not a rock star, but he is testament to laughter being the quickest way to a woman’s heart. If loving Jimmy is EW then I don’t want to be right.
Rise o f t he S ilver c hannel-Surfer Not content with colonising the cineplex, superheroes are taking over the small screen too. Tria Lawrence dons a cape and investigates
Better Call Saul As the prequel to the highly acclaimed and wellloved Breaking Bad, the story of how James McGill becomes Saul Goodman is proving to be just as dramatic. Featuring characters and clever references from Breaking Bad, this show is just as gripping for those who loved the tale of Walter White.
Saturday Night Live The comedy titan has produced timeless skits, characters and catchphrases for 40 years. The range from high-brow satire, to classic parodies launched some of the biggest careers in the industry, with Tina Fey and Adam Sandler among the list of previous cast members. SNL is the gift that keeps giving. Fortunately, we can still experience a little American greatness, as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Better Call Saul are ready and waiting on Netflix. Helena Vesty
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lthough the Golden Age of superheroes was over sixty years ago, it seems pretty clear that we are in the middle of a new one. The Superhero movie began to take the world by storm with Iron Man back in 2008. Since then, there have been ten Marvel movies (with another two out this summer). Although DC (and the effect of its Oscar winning Dark Knight trilogy) deserves a mention, it is Marvel that should be given the credit for the new transition of superheroes to the small screen. Marvel created its Marvel Cinematic Universe, a place in which all the Marvel films take place, meaning that us fans get a massive multi-layered world of superheroes, just like the ones in the comics. This has resulted in fans expecting more - a couple of movies a year is hardly enough time for fans who want to explore every facet of this new and complex world. As a result, superheroes have begun to transfer to the small screen at an incredible rate, with at least eight new shows since 2012 and six of them having started in the last six months. Not only this, but there are more coming.
Netflix is set to produce another four, starting with AKA Jessica Jones later this year and DC has three on order and six in development. However, a superhero on the small screen is a very different concept to a superhero on the big screen. The cinema is a great place for the excitement - the spectacle of the dramatic showdown requiring millions in special effects. But being a superhero isn’t just about these fights. It’s also about the small ones, or the long drawn out ones that take time and patience to win.
“The supporting characters we fall in love with in the movies get the stories they deserve” It also makes sense to move to the small screen where there is more time to play with. More time means greater character and plot development. Just think, Daredevil came out only in the last few
weeks, but had a thirteen episode season with each episode lasting around fiftyish minutes. That comes to around eleven hours of screen time, three hours more than Iron Man has had over seven years. There is nothing wrong with the development we have seen of Tony Stark, it’s actually been done pretty well. However it’s been far more satisfying to see Matt Murdock develop just as effectively over a shorter space of time. However superheroes on television means something else. The supporting characters we fall in love with in the movies get the stories they deserve, and the supporting characters from TV get a greater screen time in which to develop and earn our attachment. These characters are important as, whilst we still get our fix of all the fantastical superpowers available from elsewhere in the story, they remind us that superpowers can be something more ordinary. This can be anything from the kindness of Claire temple in Daredevil, the intelligence of Felicity Smoak in Arrow, or in the case of Agent Peggy Carter, the ability to crush the patriarchy under her heel.