Fun for readers BBC TV show: The Book Club

[brecklundin]

First this might not be accessible to people outside the US. I just found this BBC series from around 2003 called The Book Club on Hulu:

http://www.hulu.com/the-book-group (episodes on Hulu)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276650/ (info)

It's only two seasons, about 12 thirty (30) minute episodes, so it can be done in a quickie marathon. The story centers around a book club in Scotland which was organized by the actress who played "#13" from the House, MD series. I am sure some of the actors and actresses are better known in the UK but not to us barbarians over here.

Anyway, it feels fun so far and might give a chuckle to others who are either start a book group or are part of one now. There is a nice fish out of water sense to it and good old "13" is a similar bitchy bossy sort who she portrayed in the House series. This time she seems to have moved form the US simply because she pissed off everyone she ever met at "home".

It does take it's time getting going, which is one thing I tend to like about BBC shows it's pretty character driven with oddballs and plenty of speech patterns us in the US could not understand with a dozen dictionaries and three interpreters.

Part of the irony here will be, odds are only people in the US will be able to view it on Hulu. Then again if you are in the UK it's old news but, hope there is a way you can watch it again-for-the-first-time. Anyway, it's not the best thing yet it's entertaining. At least it's about the idea of the idea of reading books and talking about them, you know kinda like people book boards who talk a good game about the idea reading, only I suspect most here actually do more than live with BAS (book acquisition syndrome).

Anyway, I am not sure this should go here but felt the thread might be missed if I put it in the lounge. But if it belongs there please move it...

EDIT: I felt I should add that the series does take a turn toward a racey-adult oriented theme after the first couple epsodes. I feel that should be mentioned as fair warning if you don't care for that sort of humor or content. I would never want anyone to feel offended or be watching somewhere it might become embarassing. I had not anticipated the more adult theme but to me that makes it funnier.

[tubemonkey]

Thanks for the thread. I'll check it out later.

Edit: this show's great. I just started watching it and will definitely be watching the entire series. So thanks again.

[MmavisO]

Ummm -- She was actually Amber, not 13, but you're right--she's playing the same kind of bossy individual she played on House.

And thanks for the link--I think I'll have to watch the whole series.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by MmavisO

Ummm -- She was actually Amber, not 13, but you're right--she's playing the same kind of bossy individual she played on House.

And thanks for the link--I think I'll have to watch the whole series.

D'OH!! yeah, thanks...yeah the one they done kil't off not the one they dragged out.

And yup you guys are right this is a sort of dark-comedy series. One definitely needs to appreciate a dark, ironic/dry sense of humor. I will add I think that 12-episodes is just long enough too. That is one thing I enjoy about a lot of BBC series, they don't over stay their popularity as a rule.

Glad ya both are enjoying the series. I just finished it a few moments ago. Nice way to waste a Sunday...hahaha...

[CharlieBird]

I used to watch most of the BBC comedy and drama programs when I lived in Alaska, so brecklundin's post about a book club on BBC TV really piqued my interest and at 2:00 this morning I saw my first television program in over ten years.

Of course all the actors were unknown to me and having lost my ear for British accents I had to pay close attention to the dialogue, but I certainly enjoyed it. I also remember the lustful scenes as being more sophisticated and less...what? in your face, but that just may have to do w/my own additional 15 years. And I couldn't figure why the hostess was bawling so much in the second to last scene in the first episode. If she was just feeling bad for the fellow's rejection (seems she should have been more embarrassed at her proposition being overheard by the fellow in the wheelchair)...or did she feel the book club a fiasco...she was wailing like her whole family had been wiped out.

I'll watch at least a few more episodes, but it has got me Googling for some Black Adder or Faulty Towers or Rising Damp or Red Dwarf to answer a just awakened nostalgia for all those oddball characters the BBC is so good at portraying.
Thx, brecklundin,
d

[tubemonkey]

I did the marathon thing last Sunday and watched all 12 episodes. It was very good and left me wanting for more. Too bad the series never went further.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by CharlieBird

I used to watch most of the BBC comedy and drama programs when I lived in Alaska, so brecklundin's post about a book club on BBC TV really piqued my interest and at 2:00 this morning I saw my first television program in over ten years.

Of course all the actors were unknown to me and having lost my ear for British accents I had to pay close attention to the dialogue, but I certainly enjoyed it. I also remember the lustful scenes as being more sophisticated and less...what? in your face, but that just may have to do w/my own additional 15 years. And I couldn't figure why the hostess was bawling so much in the second to last scene in the first episode. If she was just feeling bad for the fellow's rejection (seems she should have been more embarrassed at her proposition being overheard by the fellow in the wheelchair)...or did she feel the book club a fiasco...she was wailing like her whole family had been wiped out.

I'll watch at least a few more episodes, but it has got me Googling for some Black Adder or Faulty Towers or Rising Damp or Red Dwarf to answer a just awakened nostalgia for all those oddball characters the BBC is so good at portraying.Thx, brecklundin,
d

hahahaha...thanks and don't forget Vicar of Dibley as well...that show really cracks me up for some reason. But happy the show gave you a few chuckles...I kinda liked how they did not stray too far from the fact the characters all come together via the book club so there is always a club meeting or two in each episode.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I did the marathon thing last Sunday and watched all 12 episodes. It was very good and left me wanting for more. Too bad the series never went further.

snickersnicker...don't feel alone, I wasted a whole Sunday watching. I actually liked that it ended. Like they say "always leave 'em wanting more". I think so many series whether video or printed just drag out things too long at some point. The first book series I experienced this in was while in college I read the Gor series of novels by John Norman. I forget, someone here will remember, but somewhere around, I want to say #9 but it might have been more around #12-14 that the series became, wellll, mundane and boring. TO his credit my roommate finished the series. And there was actually very low budget b-movie made of the first book which, considering the special effects around at the time, not that bad a movie. Trust me it's not a great movie but it was OK if you read the books.

Anyway, so glad some others had a bit of fun with this really ironic series...Hulu is neat for finding those odd shows every now and then.

[CharlieBird]

don't forget Vicar of Dibley as well...that show really cracks me up for some reason.

New to me. Adding to my G list.
thx,
d