what’s on tv A rundown of some of the best new TV series’ starting over the next fortnight. Get your Sky+ ready!
DATE NIGHT
tuesday, 16 August 2011, 10PM sky movies comedy
What's It About? A married couple, whose relationship has turned a bit on the stale side, plan a date night. Deciding on a trendy restaurant in the middle of New York, they find the place is full to bursting and so take up the reservation of a couple who fail to show. They soon regret it, though, when they realise that the people whose table they've taken are in debt to gangsters and the hitmen are on their trail. Is It Any Good? The chances are that anything that Steve Carell puts his well-respected name to is going to be worth a watch. What kicks all of his other efforts out of the ballpark in this, though, is the chemistry between him and co-star Tina Fey. Pitting two of the funniest people of the last few years against each other on the big screen proves to be an act of genius - and of course brings laughs a plenty. We also love the addition of Mark Wahlberg as the weapons expert - Can we have his apartment please?! Anything Else? Film buffs with a beady eye should keep an eye out for Mark Wahlberg's shirtless scenes. Every one of them was filmed carefully at specific angles to avoid showing a tattoo of Bob Marley on his left shoulder. Starring: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mark Wahlberg
UEFA SUPER CUP
friday 26 August, 7pm, ITV4 Listen up sport fans... In the official curtain-raiser to the European season, Champions League winners Barcelona take on UEFA Europa League trophyholders Porto in Monaco.
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GLEE 3rd season TBC, SKY 1 + SKY 1HD
The Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning musical comedy comes to Sky 1 HD soon with its third season, airing just days after its US broadcast. Glee is, quite simply, a pop culture phenomenon. An instant success when it launched in 2009, the series follows an Ohio high school teacher’s efforts to inspire a group of oddball teenagers to realise their star potential and revitalise the school’s show choir to its former glory. Also tackling issues such as sexuality, bullying and teen pregnancy, Glee ranges from the heart-felt to the hysterical. Led by Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), McKinley High’s glee club, New Directions, is a group of social misfits. Ambitious star vocalist Rachel Berry (Lea Michele); the school’s only openly gay student Kurt (Golden Globe® winner Chris Colfer); dimwitted dance supremo Brittany (Heather Morris); sexually confused Santana (Naya Rivera); and the physically disabled Artie (Kevin McHale) are just some of the kids who make up the group. Although all different, they share the same dream of fitting in and triumphing at the National Show Choir Championships. Season two saw the teens reach Nationals in
New York, although on their adventure in the Big Apple they failed to rank in the top ten. But, their dreams are still alive as we enter this third run... Series co-creator, writer and executive producer Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck) has hinted at what we can look forward to. As well as welcoming the winner of reality show The Glee Project to the cast, this latest outing is set to give major storylines to powerhouse diva Mercedes (Amber Riley) and the loved-up Mike (Harry Shum Jr) and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz). Meanwhile, cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Golden Globe® winner Jane Lynch) is set to turn her attention to politics as she runs for Congress: “It’s time for Sue to stop picking on the glee club and time for her to start picking on the country,” says Murphy. And, romance may be on the cards for her too. “One thing I’m looking for is someone for Sue Sylvester to love. Who is that person – man or woman? Who is man enough to love Sue Sylvester?” As well as welcoming a team of new faces to the Glee writers’ room for season three, including Buffy and Angel alumni Marti Noxon, it has been confirmed that recurring guest star Darren Criss will become a series regular as Kurt’s boyfriend, Blaine.