A slice of Schadenfreude Pie with your Snarky Tea?
(There really is a recipe for Schadenfreude Pie, thanks to the multitalented John Scalzi.)
Alert Janeite Laurel Ann sent us a link to an article in the New Statesman complaining about what it considers ITV’s subpar drama offerings.
A lot has happened at ITV in recent days. Peter Fincham, the former controller of BBC1, has been installed as the network’s director of television, and Simon Shaps, the previous incumbent in the job, has departed. ITV bigwigs insist that the change of personnel has nothing to do with the station’s new schedule, masterminded by Shaps; according to Rupert Howell, an ITV managing director, the changes “have gone very well”. So, they are happy with loony-tunes shows like The Palace and Rock Rivals. They don’t mind that Moving Wallpaper has such low ratings, or that no one knows what to do with its bizarre sister, Echo Beach. I don’t think so. But I do fear that ITV’s collective nervous breakdown has not borne its final shrivelled fruit just yet. Coming soon is Lost in Austen, in which a Jane Austen fan steps into her favourite novel. Yes, it’s Pride and Prejudice meets . . . what? Ashes to Ashes? Fincham is going to have to beware commissioning editors bearing gnawed bones.
It’s Pride and Prejudice meets the Editrix with the Cluebat of Janeite Righteousness, is what it is.
Which reminds us…we shall work on the Golden Cluebat Award this weekend and see what we can come up with!
March 8th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
It’s probably too late for Golden Cluebat nominee submissions, but I think the “Celebrating the Complete Jane Austen” show that I emailed you about might be considered. I recorded it and watched it last night. I am really glad I didn’t wait until the 16th, as my hopes would have been dashed even more than they were last night. I found it really interesting that they asked Rebecca Eaton about “juicy details” and things about the productions of the films. Correct me if I am wrong, but the only involvement she had in the films was getting them put all together on Masterpiece (which the host kept calling Masterpiece Theater). The summary indicated that there would be information about Miss Austen Regrets, but there wasn’t any mention about that. Surprisingly, they didn’t talk about the Emma production either, though P&P sure had enough attention.
March 8th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Hey Ben–I just posted about it above!
And yes, I’ll consider it–check out the post, Laurel Ann ranted a bit about it, too.
March 9th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Someone should create a Snarky Tea. Hmm. I do work at a tea shop…
March 10th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
You guys mean you kept reading Mags’ post and didn’t jump straight to the schadenfreude pie??? You’re stronger people than me. And I’m so baking that pie this weekend!