KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'DOCTOR WHO's JENNA-LOUISE COLEMAN

You can never get enough red! Jenna-Louise Coleman heats up the screen in the new series of DOCTOR WHO. Images: BBC.

Despite her general mass audience appeal, I can't say that I ever particularly warmed to the fiery character of Amy Pond, accompanied by her mostly wet husband Rory, when they travelled in adventures far and wide with Matt Smith's incarnation of the Eleventh DOCTOR WHO for two and a half years. At best, I preferred her on her own with the Doctor in the stories, in a duration that might have worked best at a year and a bit. Perhaps she was just a bit too modern for my tastes, with that in your face and often sarcastic attitude. The idea of an at first mentally troubled companion, whose problems were created from childhood by the Time Lord, also left me a little uneasy. I like intelligence and the ability to stick up to baddies, as has been seen in everyone from the monochrome era's Barbara Wright to Freema Agyeman's underrated Martha Jones, but a bit of charm and a twinkle in the eye is essential in the companions just as much as within the Doctor-they have to be likable, and there were times when I thought Karen Gillan's performance was anything but. Amy Pond/Karen Gillan may have shaken up the series and the way the companions are ultimately portrayed in Producer /writer Steven Moffat's revisionist blueprint for the series, but it definitely shook me up too much.

Hold on tight! The Doctor and Clara: a fun new pairing for 2013 onwards.

Impressive new baddies for the Christmas Special: the Snowmen.

So I'm delighted to say that the recent casting of the petite and rather lovely Jenna-Louise Coleman in the new companion role of the seemingly upbeat and enthusiastic Clara has cheered me up no end as we approach another new look for the long-running series. The Lancashire born actress may have previously played a completely different (?) character in the series than the one that she will ultimately be appearing in from the upcoming Xmas Special, The Snowmen, onwards, but Coleman's talents as an actress, after years in soap operas but showing potential with roles in the Titanic mini-series and a brief appearance in the Captain America movie, really shined with on-screen promise, what with her truly surprise appearance with a twist as the lone survivor of a spaceship crash, the burnt souffle making character of Oswin Oswald in Season Seven's acclaimed opener Asylum of the Daleks, as Coleman lifted the story greatly above an enjoyable if wasted opportunity for the metal meanies in the fast approaching anniversary year. Now playing the big skirted, Victorian era persona of a children's nanny, caught in the terror filled gaslight streets alongside the stove piped hatted Doctor's investigations of the evil Doctor Simeon (Richard E. Grant) and the monsters he unleashes upon London in the shape of the evil, fanged teeth bearing Snowmen (voiced with relish by iconic actor Sir Ian McKellen), Coleman's bubbly and clever personality as both an actress and as an emerging character, often to be seen in the new series taking the initiative with her Gallifreyan buddy, looks set to shine brightly in this charming time of the year, as further epic, mini-movie adventures are promised for the new and charismatic pairing from April 2013 onwards, leading to the apparently epic Fiftieth Anniversary Special, promised by Moffat and his team as a wonderful tribute and confectionery to the past...

Trailer: Doctor Who: The Snowmen - Christmas Special Trailer - BBC One Christmas 2012 - YouTube

Exclusive DOCTOR WHO: THE SNOWMEN BBC America Trailer Xmas 2012 - YouTube

BBC One - Doctor Who, The Snowmen, Vastra Investigates – A Christmas Prequel

A recent publicity shot celebrating major filming on Season Seven for Smith and Coleman.

KOOL TV wishes Miss Coleman all the best of success for the series and beyond...

KOOL TV WANTS ON UK DVD AND BLU-RAY: 'DAMAGES' SEASON 4

Tipping the scales? Glenn Close as Patty Hewes in Season Four of DAMAGES. Images; DIRECTV

It seems as if the formidable and ruthlessly dangerous lawyer Patty Hewes, as played by the brilliant award-winning actress Glenn Close (who, in my book, possesses the best barracuda poker face I've ever seen!), has finally lost her first major cut-throat corporate battle: not against the usual deceitful, pension robbing corrupt businessmen and politicians of America and the world, but against a foe seemingly far worse: UK television executives, as the news has finally been confirmed by the BBC, who aired the previous three series of the hit legal thriller series DAMAGES, that they won't now be purchasing its 2011 made Season Four (of which the stateside show, created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman, had also recently been saved from cancellation by its new home/rescuers at DIRECTV).

The lovely Rose Byrne as Patty's once legal employee/protege, Ellen Parsons.

Season Four trailer: Damages Season 4 Promo - YouTube
KOOL TV feature on DAMAGES Season Four: BATTLE "DAMAGES"... | KOOL TV

This frustrating news, though a long time in coming, isn't shocking to me-the BBC has been cash strapped for quite a while now and can no longer afford to pay competitive prices against the likes of digital channels like SKY for hit US shows (MAD MEN being another prime example where the BBC lost the battle, no longer having the prime modern classic on its roster), and now deciding to save its money on homegrown talent and series making instead. What is annoying, though, is the fact that Auntie Beeb ultimately stopped buying DAMAGES at the wrong time and have probably, unintentionally, damaged its sales potential elsewhere on UK TV, which hurts us the viewing audience. Because of the BBC's exclusive prior first run airings on those first three seasons, it looks highly unlikely that any other digital or terrestrial station will now pick up the option on a series that they conceive of as having been on the air for quite a long time now (Three years? A long time? Yeah, go figure!).

So, with no new purchaser of the series on the horizon anytime soon, let's hope that DIRECTV are able to weather the storm and release the series on UK DVD and Blu-ray a great deal sooner rather than later, so that it's innumerable and very loyal fans in Blighty can catch up with, and savour, the next compelling tale of dark deeds, conspiracies, legal entanglements and bloody violence: combined ingredients which have always made the classy show so successful...

More news from KOOL TV on Season Four, and the ultimate finale Season Five (coming Summer 2012), as and when.

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'HUSTLE's KELLY ADAMS

In the business of deception, Kelly Adams of HUSTLE certainly has our attention. Image: BBC/KUDOS/GRESHAMBLAKE.COM

In the real life world of modern London, distraction crimes by thieves and con artists are sadly on the rise: a fact which is both annoying and frightening for the victims who suffer it on a daily basis. However, if I was ever to be distracted by anyone within the make believe, alternate fantasy world of London, as seen in the hit BBC/KUDOS series HUSTLE, please let it be by the lovely English actress Kelly Adams, who, as stilettoed vixen and razor sharp con artist/femme fatale Emma Kennedy, knows how to help her teammates (including younger brother and fellow grifter, Sean (Matt Di Angelo)) hit their creative mark and make sure that their mission to rob from the best (well worst) of society comes to successful fruition! Along the way, she's also been a mistress of disguise, appearing as anybody from a cleaning lady or leggy secretary to Aussie megastar Kylie Minogue, whom she did an uncanny impersonation of-and looked stunning, too!- during the opening episode of Season Six a couple of years back.

Memorably impersonating Kylie Minogue in HUSTLE Season Six. Image: BBC/KUDOS.

Almost pixie-like in size, with a cute sense of mischief on screen, and most definitely one of the boys on numerous occasions, the lovely Miss Adams, who previously appeared in the long-running BBC hospital soap HOLBY CITY and recent films like the Tom Hardy starring BRONSON, has much in common with her HUSTLE counter-part in the likes of intelligence and charm, too. With her model looks, if she'd been acting in the sixties she'd have made a great AVENGERS girl, or a fine DOCTOR WHO companion now. And, as HUSTLE comes to its end this season, the actress is about to depart England to make way for sunnier climes and a career launch in the US (the right time for her to do it, too, what with the current success of HUSTLE on the BBC AMERICA channel).

Kelly as Emma, with her HUSTLE team-mates for the final series. Image: BBC/KUDOS.

Having stolen British men's hearts, KOOL TV wishes Miss Adams success for the future, and looks forward to seeing her in equally popular series to rival or improve on HUSTLE.


Previous seasons of HUSTLE are available on DVD. The final season continues its run on the UK's BBC 1 HD channel.

MEN, WOMEN AND HOUNDS: THE RETURN OF "SHERLOCK"

Old enemies get an intriguing revisionist spin in the new second season of SHERLOCK, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Images: BBC

Worldwide fans of the new re-imagined SHERLOCK HOLMES series created by those two BBC "Wunder-kids" Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss won't have long to wait now to see how the Baker Street sleuth (played with steel eyed, cold hearted modern day superiority by Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal companion Doctor John Watson (a pre and post HOBBIT Martin Freeman) get out of their first cliffhanger battle against the scheming and quite mad Professor Moriarty (Andrew Scott). Arriving on New Year's Day on BBC 1 HD, the first of three tales linked to classic Arthur Conan Doyle adventures will surely be a fine start to the channel's new season of 2012 programming.


Here's the BBC promotional blurb: 


BBC One’s much praised, multi-award-winning drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, returns for an eagerly awaited second series of three, 90-minute films – A Scandal In Belgravia, The Hounds Of Baskerville and The Reichenbach Fall.

Holmes with Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) in A Scandal in Belgravia.

The contemporary re-imagining of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic, co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, caused a sensation in the summer of 2010, delivering an audience of more than nine million viewers who tuned in to watch Sherlock and John Watson navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers in three thrilling, action-packed adventures.

At Dartmoor, the duo investigate The Hounds of Baskerville.

In episode one of this new series, compromising photographs and a case of blackmail threaten the very heart of the British establishment but, for Sherlock and John, the game is on in more ways than one as they find themselves battling international terrorism, rogue CIA agents and a secret conspiracy involving the British government. But this case will cast a darker shadow over their lives than they could ever imagine, as the great detective begins a long duel of wits with an antagonist as cold and ruthless and brilliant as himself: to Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler will always be THE woman.

The mad genius of Holmes arch-enemy, Moriarty (Andrew Scott).

Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Sherlock Holmes, with Martin Freeman as John Watson, Mark Gatiss as Mycroft, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade, Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, Andrew Scott as Moriarty, Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper and Lara Pulver as Irene Adler.

Trailer for the new series via THE GUARDIAN: Sherlock: watch an exclusive trailer for the second series – video | Television & radio | guardian.co.uk
BBC Sherlock Series 2 Preview - YouTube
Sherlock Series 2 BBC Teaser - YouTube


New images via DIGITAL SPY: 'Sherlock': 'A Scandal In Belgravia' - In Pictures - Sherlock News - TV - Digital Spy

PIP'S PROGRESS - THE DARK ROAD OF "GREAT EXPECTATIONS"

The all-star cast of the BBC's lavish new adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Images: BBC.

No one can make lavish and engrossing costume drama quite like the BBC, as has been proved time and again with so many critically acclaimed and popular audience hits like 2005's beautifully made BLEAK HOUSE and its successor LITTLE DORRIT, as well as going back to the late seventies and early eighties with their Sunday Afternoon Classics strand, produced by Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks, encompassing such iconic adaptations of THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP and OLIVER TWIST amongst its accomplished entries. Now comes a new version of Charles Dickens beloved, emotionally complex GREAT EXPECTATIONS, deemed one of the great British novels of all time, and set around the mysterious Satis House and the adventures of the orphan Pip, guided into his destiny as a gentleman by an unknown benefactor.

Trailer: Great Expectations Trailer - BBC One - YouTube

Gillian Anderson continues to carve out a fine character acting career.

With an all-star cast portraying the books memorable characters, including Gillian Anderson (can she possibly top her sterling work from BLEAK HOUSE?) as the ghostly and manipulative Mrs Havisham, wandering the corridors of her equally decayed estate in her crumpled fading wedding dress, Ray Winstone as the escaped fugitive Abel Magwitch, POIROT's David Suchet as the clever and malevolent lawyer Jaggers, and, playing the all-important lead role of Pip, THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH star Douglas Booth, hopes are high for Dickens fans, who admire the authors seemingly timeless and resonant storytelling showing us a mirror to the very best and worst of the Human condition, that this new adaptation will be of the highest calibre yet.

Check out the lovely BBC site for the three part series here: BBC One - Great Expectations

Here's the recent DAILY MAIL article: GREAT Expectations: Gillian Anderson leads an all-star cast in the BBC's festive adaptation of Charles Dickens classic | Mail Online

THE "HIDDEN" WORLD OF HARRY VENN!

Disturbing and dangerous events for Thekla Reuten, Philip Glenister and David Suchet in the new London-based conspiracy thriller HIDDEN. Image: BBC.

His beloved and iconic role as seventies and eighties ball busting, criminal chasing legend Gene Hunt may now be over with the completion of the time travel/detective series LIFE ON MARS and its sequel ASHES TO ASHES (with his distinctive fiery red Audi Quatro finally put in lock up storage alongside him!), but respected actor Philip Glenister isn't one to rest on his laurels and has continued to make the kind of high quality and compulsive TV productions that everyone wants to see. First off, there was the ensemble drama of four friends on holiday soon caught in nightmare from hell scenario: MAD DOGS (of which a second season, continuing on from its cliff-hanger, is in pre-production to commence on SKY ONE HD sometime next year), and now sees a new four part conspiracy thriller, HIDDEN, written by Irish screen writer Ronan Bennet (with input from Glenister himself), and showing on BBC One and HD from tonight at 9pm, which has its soiled feet firmly set in todays economically depressed, conspiracy ridden and thoroughly immoral, corrupted world of London politics, bankers and money brokers. Glenister plays Harry Venn, a debt ridden, boozy, drug taking solicitor getting by- a man with a criminal past who's no stranger to any any of the moral grey areas that the city streets, indeed the world, now present, and whose opportunities he has exploited to his own benefit over the last few years. But then, despite his now bottom of the barrel status, things suddenly get even more interesting. Enter a mysterious lawyer, Gina Hawkes (played by Thekla Reuten), who asks him to find a missing witness to act as an alibi for a client of hers accused of murder: a man who turns out to be an old friend from Venn's re-awakened dark past. From this begins a series of major twists and turns plot-wise that threaten to escalate to a volcanic point where not only the main players are endangered, but also the entire country!

A more than relevant story for todays audiences, with dark overtones that ring truer than ever, THE HIDDEN, described as a modern noir thriller of sorts, is more than backed up by Glenister's always charismatic, intense and fist in your face acting style, alongside a quality support cast that includes David Suchet (as a powerful QC) and "Posh Totty" Anna Chancellor (as a media mogul to make Rupert Murdoch proud!), part of a mission statement for quality drama of the type the BBC has always done so well. If you've enjoyed recent small screen successes like the corporation's complex, highly stylized THE SHADOW LINE, PAGE EIGHT and THE EXILE, you'll bound to get satisfyingly caught up in this, too...