Quote: matt insley @ July 16 2009, 4:40 AM BSTI thought I would start a thread for this seeing as Pauline McLynn announced on Loose Women on Monday that it would be starting on August 9th! She said it would be 6 episodes double-billed on 3 consecutive Sunday nights!
I'm secretly a-bit looking forward to this. But that is really terrible scheduling, not happy about that.
Quote: Aaron @ July 19 2009, 12:27 AM BSTI'm secretly a-bit looking forward to this. But that is really terrible scheduling, not happy about that.
Me too, but I want to ask...is Sunday a bad night for TV, like Friday and Saturday are for us?
Quote: AndreaLynne @ July 19 2009, 12:31 AM BSTMe too, but I want to ask...is Sunday a bad night for TV, like Friday and Saturday are for us?
I don't think Sunday is a graveyard for comedy - plenty of long-running and/or successful shows have been on Sundays in the past. I guess the fear is that Sundays in August are dead, and the BBC might be wanting to rush it out at a quiet time because it's crap. And double-billing might mean the shows are light on laughs so are veering towards the deadly description of "comedy drama". 
What we do is run a show, if the ratings aren't great, it gets pulled, then it gets aired next summer, on a Friday or Saturday when nobody cares and nobody even remembers it.
Quote: AndreaLynne @ July 19 2009, 12:31 AM BSTMe too, but I want to ask...is Sunday a bad night for TV, like Friday and Saturday are for us?
No. But for comedy, it's not exactly the greatest timeslot. And a double-bill for 3 weeks is ... bad.
Think of those lavish BBC period costume dramas you've seen advertised; they're almost certainly from Sunday nights. Not exactly fitting with most comedy (although much in-line with Jam & Jerusalem in that it's largely family friendly, etc). Quite a number of (comedy) shows used to be on Sunday nights, but not really in the past 15 years or so.
Thanks for the info, Aaron. Anytime we get BBC costume dramas that end up on our public television, they seem to always air on Sunday nights. I actually can't picture anything else working out, thus validating your answer. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone that I agreed with you.
I think the main problem to me is the number of different characters.
I only watched the first episode but found nothing to laugh at and each "part" was too short.
(I've said it before but) I rather like J&J.
Quote: Tim Walker @ July 17 2009, 1:42 AM BSTDo I get 3 series of a self-indulgent, whimsical MOR sitcom, if I have a passable Kink's cover to hand?
Waterloo Sunset
Assorted human statues, jugglers and other street performers from the South Bank meet up at Waterloo Station at the end of a hard day's begging.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2009/wk32/feature_jam.shtml
Jam & Jerusalem
Day and time to be confirmed BBC ONE
* Programme copy
It's all change for the residents of small West Country town Clatterford as Jennifer Saunders's comedy, Jam & Jerusalem, returns for a third series. Jennifer stars alongside Sue Johnston, Pauline McLynn, Sally Phillips, David Mitchell, Maggie Steed, Dawn French, Susie Aitchison and Rosie Cavaliero, as the villagers face new challenges and try to deal with the credit crunch.
Here, Sally Phillips, Jennifer Saunders, Sue Johnston, Rosie Cavaliero and Maggie Steed give Programme Information the low down on the new series.
Sal's daughter, Tash, married in the last series and has moved out ... but only to the converted mobile library which Sal gave her to go travelling in, and which is now parked in Sal's back garden.
Sally Phillips, who plays Tash, says: "Tash has told her mother that she and Spike will live off the land as 'urban foragers', by finding free food – but they have the problem that it's now spring and therefore nothing is growing yet. So she is stealing food and eating from supermarket bins."
Writer Jennifer Saunders reveals that the inspiration for the turn of events in Tash's life was the current credit crunch. "Tash's character was based on the fact that a lot of stuff was coming out in the papers as soon as the credit crunch hit, based around these stories of everyone getting into that whole hippy lifestyle, growing food in gardens and saving odd bits and pieces – so Tash was born from that."
Jennifer's character, Caroline, has some challenges to face up to herself when her son goes to Afghanistan. "Caroline is much the same, shouting a lot, misappropriating language and hanging out with rock bands," she reveals. "The character was originally based on a sketch that Dawn [French] and I created in which I played Chris Martin's mother.
"One of the episodes is based on the fact that one of her sons is now in the Army and has been sent to Afghanistan. She is completely emotionally uninvolved, and while everyone else is crying she isn't, explaining that it will be good for him and it will toughen him up."
Meanwhile, a builder is planning on developing a barn in Sal's back garden, much to Sal's dismay. Sue Johnston, who plays her, says: "Sal is rather feistier this series and also is swearing a lot, which is down to the fact that she is a lot angrier this time around, as someone is starting to renovate a barn on the piece of land she looks out on."
However, it's not all bad news for Sal, who could possibly find love in Clatterford in the new series: "Sal has this small teenage crush on one of the new characters, Jock [played by Clive Russell, who is building on the land behind her house]," reveals Sue.
Also finding love in the new series is Kate, played by Rosie Cavaliero. "Kate is a little bit more daring and adventurous in this series," says Rosie. "She gets some romance with the vicar this time. They find themselves in this spontaneous setting where she has to help him through a crisis. They share a kiss and build up a relationship towards the end of the series."
And an appearance from Charles Dance excites members of the Women's Guild. Maggie Steed, who plays Eileen, says: "Well, Eileen has lots of things to organise; she has the busiest job in the town, being chair of the guild. She becomes obsessed when she hears this rumour that perhaps Charles Dance is going to move to the village. From that, Eileen begins to act like it is the second coming, and makes every effort to get Mr Dance to be a guest speaker for the guild."
Jennifer adds: "I think he is just every middle-aged woman's fantasy. I did a talk at a WI meeting and as soon as I mentioned Charles Dance it sent them completely into flutters!"
Jam & Jerusalem
Day and time to be confirmed BBC ONE
* Programme copy
It's all change for the residents of small West Country town Clatterford as Jennifer Saunders's comedy, Jam & Jerusalem, returns for a third series. As part of the BBC's commitment to punishing comedy and exploiting gullible foreigners. Jennifer stars alongside Sue Johnston, Pauline McLynn, Sally Phillips, David Mitchell, Rose West, Maggie Steed, That one you thought was dead, Dawn French, Susie Aitchison, Rosie Cavaliero, will be replaced by poorly shaved chimpanzees.The villagers face new challenges,try to deal with the credit crunch and the fact they're not very funny.
Here, Sally Phillips, Jennifer Saunders, Sue Johnston, Adolf Hitler, Rosie Cavaliero and Maggie Steed give Programme Information the low down on the new series and just how much they despise the viewing public.
The script writer, Slash, married in the last series and has moved out ... but only to the converted porta potty which the BEEB gave her to go produce crap, and which is now spilling over from Slash's back garden.
Slash, says: "Slash has told our unfortunate viewers and Dingus the director will live off other better comedies from sitcoms golden as "moronic plagarists", by pinching jokes – but they have the problem that it's we don't actually know what's funny. So she is doling out the tweeness and eating from supermarket bins."
Ex comedian Jennifer Saunders reveals that the inspiration for the turn of events in Tash's life was her massive mortgage and her husband's failed career. "Slash's character was based on the fact that a lot of stuff was based around the fact that people who read The Daily Mail actually watch TV and frankly foreign cretins will watch any old sentimental crap, aparently there's some nob ends who think Last of the Summer Wine is funny. Well we're every bit as dreary so show me the money."
Jennifer's accountant, Caroline, has some challenges to face up to herself when she invested Jennifer's pension in The Horne and Corden show. "Caroline is much the same, shouting a lot, misappropriating language and forcing me to make crap that makes people forget I used to be funny," she reveals. "The character was originally based on a sketch that Dawn [French] and I created in which I got to be in Absolutely Fab for ever and she became an actual actress and not a shouty porker with a lousy West Country accent.
"One of the episodes is based on the fact Dawn was the worst thing in that idiotic costume drama on BBC1. She is completely emotionally uninvolved, and while everyone else is crying she isn't, explaining that it will be good for the viewers and it will toughen toughen them up."
Meanwhile, the BBC is planning on developing decent comedy, much to Jennifer's dismay. Brian Blessed, who plays her, says: "Jennifer is rather feistier this series and also is swearing a lot, which is down to the fact that she is a lot angrier this time around, as someone is starting to renovate the tired old comedy crap that pays her mortgage and other burnt out 80s alternative comedians, unlike that wanker Ben Elton he can't even sing."
However, it's not all bad news for Jennifer, who could possibly find love in a new BBC reality show; "shag an excomic who was hot 30 years ago": "Jennifer had this small teenage crush on Alexi Sayle, I loved his too tight suits and his shouty accent but I don't like his new beard," reveals Jennifer.
Also finding love in the new series is Dawn French, played by Horne and Corden. "Dawn is a little bit more daring and adventurous in this series," says Rosie. "She gets some lauhgs with Psycoville this time. She finds herself in this original setting where she has to help be genuinely fuuny. She got a great bit with a baby and it's really quite funny."
And an appearance from Charles Dance excites his agent Eileen, who says: "Well, Charles hasn't had a decent role in years, since the BBC stopped making decent drama and left it to HBO. It's great that the BBC still makes crap like this it's a big trough and there's space for everyone's snout. He's playing Silly Billy in Last of the Summer Wine, then Panto, then he's contemplating suicide."
Jennifer adds: "I think is every middle-aged woman's fantasy. A fat cheque for bugger all, I mentioned it to my accountant it sent her into flutters!"
"And an appearance from Charles Dance excites his agent Eileen, who says: "Well, Charles hasn't had a decent role in years, since the BBC stopped making decent drama and left it to HBO. It's great that the BBC still makes crap like this it's a big trough and there's space for everyone's snout. He's playing Silly Billy in Last of the Summer Wine, then Panto, then he's contemplating suicide."
Funny that you say that. Jam and Jerusalem is partially funded by HBO. 
I predict Friday, 8:30pm.
Not exactly Nostradamus is it, Aaron?
I can predict there will be a Friday, most likely with the time 8.30pm in the day. I predict that Friday will be followed by a Saturday, but after then... who knows? (Hope I've hammered this one home enough?)
