Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week
A festival of Family Guy on the BBC, Stephen Hawking's Universe, Ashes To Ashes and Doctor Who lead this week's TV highlights. And we've got movie highlights too...
This weekend, fans of Family Guy are going to be happier than a pig in whatever a pig likes best. To celebrate and usher in season 8 of the animated comedy series, BBC3 is hosting a weekend of some of the best episodes from past seasons and some new specials. Among the classic eps is Da Boom on Saturday, which we highlighted in our pre-Zombieland 10 Twinkie sightings in films and TV. Specials include Family Guy: The Top 20 Characters, narrated by Chris Addison.
We’ve got a schedule of the goings-on below, put together with help from Planet Family Guy, where more Family Guy goodness can be found here, as well as in the BBC Three blog here.
Friday 7th May11:30pm Bill And Peter’s Bogus Journey11:50pm No Meals On Wheels
Saturday 8th May9:00pm Family Guy: The Top 20 Characters9:30pm Da Boom9:50pm And The Wiener Is…10:15pm I Dream Of Jesus10:40pm Family Guy Presents: Seth And Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show11:05pm Brian Wallows And Peter’s Swallows11:25pm Three Kings11:50pm Running Mates
Sunday 9th May9:00pm Family Guy: The Top 20 Characters9:30pm Family Guy Presents: Seth And Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show
Launch of Series 8 (first two episodes)10:00pm Road To The Multiverse10:20pm Family Goy
11:40pm Family Guy: The Top 20 Characters
Monday 10th May12:10am Barely Legal12:30am Road To Rupert12:50am Peter’s Two Dads1:15am Family Guy Presents: Seth And Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show
If the recent Wonders Of The Solar System series (reviewed here) whet your appetite for science smarts, the next logical step is to go to the authoritative brain on the subject, Professor Stephen Hawking. Discovery Channel is airing Stephen Hawking’s Universe on Sunday, May 9th at 9:00pm. It’s described as covering questions inquiring minds want to know, such as: “How did our universe begin? Could alien life be found in distant planets? Does our galaxy have a life expectancy? And is time travel possible?” And answering them thusly: “Cutting edge effects, digitally enhanced NASA footage and live action are combined to bring Hawking’s extraordinary vision of the universe to the screen for the first time in this visually stunning and captivating three-part series.” The first episode asks Are We Alone?
The acid test for whether you’re reaching the super-grouch status stage of your life (and it’s not age dependent, mind you) may be found on BBC2 on Monday night at 9:00pm in The Grumpy Guide To The Eighties. The grumps set their curmudgeonly glaring sights on the decade we’re especially fond of around here for its wealth of fun shows and films. Can you snicker along in agreement when the spotlight is on “the decade that style forgot”? Or will you advocate your favourite era with an angry letter defending the New Romantics, mullets and big hair, a certain coloured cube and the cuteness of Cabbage Patch dolls?
That’s it for telly start-ups, but there’s also the matter of Ashes To Ashes tonight, Friday 7th May on BBC1 at 9:00pm and Doctor Who makes an earlier appearance at 6:00pm on BBC1 Saturday, 8th May in Vampires Of Venice. We’ll be poised for reviews of both shows to go live as soon as each has aired.
There’s also a great round-up of films to fill the hours in-between, including a double dose of Roald Dahl (James And The Giant Peach and Matilda) for big and little geeks, Iron Man 2 alumni Scarlett Johansson in a duo of films (The Island and Lost In Translation), Sly Stallone’s one-two punch of Cliffhanger and Demolition Man and Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart. Plus, more time-tested favourites in all genres.
Now, on to the films showing through the weekend and a bit beyond. As always, if we missed anything interesting, have a shout in the comments, with our thanks.
Please also note: the ordinal numbers for dates will help you scan through this simple list with your browser’s search function. Enter ‘8th’ in your browser’s Find box or window to highlight and/or tab through all movies shown on Saturday. Enjoy!
Angel HeartOn: ITV4Date: Monday 10th MayTime: 00:25am (and 1:25am ITV4+1)
Back To The Future Part IIIOn: Sky1Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 4:45pm (and 5:45pm 9th May Sky2)Battlestar Galactica: The PlanOn: Sky Movies Sci-Fi/HorrorDate: Saturday 8th MayTime: 11:45am (and 7:05pm)CliffhangerOn: Sky Movies ShowcaseDate: Saturday 8th MayTime: 11:25pm (and 1:05pm & 10:50pm Sky Action)CrashOn: Film4Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)
Crimson TideOn: BBC 4 Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: midnight
Demolition ManOn: Sky Movies Action and Adventure Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 4:25pm (and 00:40am 8th May)
Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsOn: Virgin 1Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Virgin+1, 3/4:00pm 9th May Virgin/+1)
Dumb And DumberOn: WatchDate: Saturday 8th MayTime: 10:10pm (and 11:10pm Watch+1, 9/10:00pm 9th May Watch/+1)
FargoOn: Sky Movies Crime and Thriller Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 02:25am
FletchOn: Sky Movies Crime and ThrillerDate: Sunday 9th MayTime: 06:00am (and 5:30am 10th May)
FlightplanOn: BBC 3 Date: Wednesday 12th MayTime: 9:00pm
Ginger Snaps BackOn: BBC 2Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 02:00am
GodzillaOn: Five Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 6:20pm
Grosse Pointe BlankOn: Sky Movies Showcase Date: Monday 10th MayTime: 02:10am
I, RobotOn: Film4 Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm Film4+1)
James And The Giant PeachOn: Film4Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 3:00pm (and 4:00pm Film4+1)
Kiss The GirlsOn: more4Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 00:15am 8th May)
LadyhawkeOn: E4Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 2:40pm (and 3:40pm E4+1)
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking BarrelsOn: ITV1 Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 10:20pm
Lost In TranslationOn: Film4Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 11:10pm (and 00:10am 8th May Film4+1)
Mars Attacks!On: G.O.L.D. Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 01:05am (and 2:05am Gold+1, 10:15/11:15pm 9th May Gold/+1)
MatildaOn: LIVING Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 4:00pm (and 5/6:00pm Living+1/+2, noon/1/2:00pm 9th May Living/+1/+2)
Nanny McPheeOn: ITV2Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 5:05pm (and 6:05pm ITV2+1)Phone BoothOn: E4Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 10:45pm (and 11:45pm E4+1)
Planes, Trains And AutomobilesOn: Sky Movies Comedy Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 11:25am (and 8:00pm)
Scream 2On: Comedy Central Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm CC+1)
ScumOn: ITV4Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 10:00pm (and 11:00pm ITV4+1)
Se7enOn: Five USADate: Saturday 8th MayTime: 10:00pm (and 10:00pm 10th May)
SlitherOn: Film4Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 10:50pm (and 11:50pm Film4+1)SpaceballsOn: Comedy Central Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 11:00pm (and midnight CC+1)
State Of PlayOn: Sky Movies Premiere Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 10:00am (and 11:00am Premiere+1 & 8/9:00pm, then daily at similar times through 13th May)The Dark CrystalOn: Sky Movies Family Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 06:45am (and 6:15pm)
The Fifth ElementOn: Five USA Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 9:00pm
The IslandOn: ITV2Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm)
The Italian Job (1969)On: Film4 Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 1:00pm (nad 2:00pm Film4+1)
The MummyOn: ITV1 Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 3:15pm
The Outlaw Josey WalesOn: ITV1Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 10:35pm
The OutrageOn: Film4Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 3:05pm (and 4:05pm Film4+1)
The Sum of All FearsOn: Channel 4Date: Thursday 13th MayTime: 10:55pm
The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974)On: TCM Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 11:10pm
The Time Machine (2002)On: Sky Movies Sci-Fi/HorrorDate: Sunday 9th MayTime: 10:00am (and 5:35pm)
The TommyknockersOn: horror channel Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 4:00pm (and noon 8th May)
Transporter 2On: Channel 4Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm 4+1)
TremorsOn: ITV1Date: Sunday 9th MayTime: 00:20amUnbreakableOn: Sky Movies Sci-Fi/Horror Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 2:05pm (and 2:25am 8th May)
Wayne’s WorldOn: Sky Movies Comedy Date: Saturday 8th MayTime: 06:50am (and 4:30pm)
X2On: ITV2 Date: Friday 7th MayTime: 9:00pm (and 10:00pm ITV2+1)
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