by dianaburrell on July 21, 2009
And I’m not talking about Fred and Gladys.
A couple years ago, I became addicted to a show called Perfect Housewifes on BBC America. The host, Anthea Turner, a blond Brit, took a Martha Stewart-like role to challenge two slovenly housewives to clean up their abodes to win that episode’s title of “the Perfect Housewife.” Turner seemed harmless enough — she wasn’t bawdy like Kim on How Clean Is Your House?, but she was sexier than Kim’s counterpart, Aggie. She seemed like a perfect ratings draw for a reality show.
Then I started picking up on news stories in the UK press about Turner and her husband, Grant Bovey. They were criticized for taking corporate sponsorships to fund their wedding and honeymoon; a photo of the couple posing with a Cadbury bar at their reception drew boos and jeers. Bovey had also left his wife and children to marry Turner. They bought a huge home in the country (where Turner’s housekeeping show was filmed), and the press gleefully reported on the couple’s ill-fated battle with their local council about the tennis court they’d built. Eventually the council demanded that the tennis court be dismantled. But it didn’t matter because by the time that decree came down, journos were drooling over Grant Bovey’s spectacular business failures, which resulted in the sale of their estate to a Russian businessman. Now the couple has moved to a smaller home more fitting to their severely reduced circumstances, a home with a reported £5 million mortgage, while waiting for a buyer for their European vacation home. In the meantime, the press reports they’ve pushed their way in to Simon Cowell’s box at Ascot, been served with papers by the bailiff (Bovey), and forced to shill for cleaning products (Turner).
Why the intense dislike of this couple by the press? Is it that they take themselves too seriously? Tabloid targets like Katie Price/Jordan and Posh Spice shrug off negative press … use it, even, to their advantage. Then there are people like that Geldof girl, who’s rich and famous for being the daughter of someone rich and famous … at least Bovey and Turner have worked, and I’m not going to ridicule someone who decides to take a job to pay the bills, as Turner has done with her advertising contracts. Maybe they’re loathed because they had an affair before they were married? Good grief, then, how many celebs haven’t done that … or worse?
Explain the intense dislike in the comments section below.
by dianaburrell on April 15, 2009
It’s tax day here in the U.S., so for my stateside readers, here’s a video clip that will bring a smile to your face before you head out to the post office or write a check for some obscene amount to the Department of Treasury, something to remind yourself that people have no sell-by dates. (Sorry I can’t embed it; it’s disabled on YouTube.) Actually, when I watched Susan Boyle sing, I did more than smile; I actually cried a little. Hey, I’m a big softie. Enjoy! (My British readers have probably seen this show/clip, but I’m not sure how popular it is here in America.)
by dianaburrell on April 8, 2009
Don’t laugh, but one of the highlights of my workday is settling down on the couch at noon (I work at home) with my bowl of vegetarian soup, flax crackers, and mug of herb tea to watch You Are What You Eat on BBC America. But when I tuned in this Monday, they’d replaced my hour of poo analysis and junk food banquet tables (if you watch the show, you know what I mean) with some show that’s a cross between How Clean is Your House and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, wherein a hospitality expert exposes the filth she finds in hotel rooms. Boo!
Tell me I’m not the only YAWYE addict out here. I know Gillian Mackeith gets a lot of flack about her medical qualifications and how she treats her subjects (quite rudely!), but watching the show makes me never want to eat things like hot dogs, pork rinds, and gummy bears ever again.
At least it’ll still be on weekends at noon.
by dianaburrell on February 9, 2009
British expat and “Wife Swap” participant Stephen Fowler claims he took up American citizenship because he wanted a voice in how this country is run, but here’s my theory: he’s living here in the US of A because the UK chased him out. I watched the offending episode of “Wife Swap” on YouTube this weekend, but since then all the clips have been pulled. You have to see this guy to believe him. Here’s a “best of” video that’s still posted. [ETA: Oops, it's gone. And when you go to ABC's "Wife Swap" page, it looks like they've gotten rid of the episode. too. Interesting!]
At first, I thought this nitwit was an actor, but no, he’s the real deal, a San Francisco-based eco-capitalist. I think he settled in the Bay Area because there’s no way Britain would tolerate an educated human being who 1. brags to the camera about his GRE scores and IQ, not only once, but twice in 44 minutes; 2. informs a person in a lower socioeconomic class that he makes more money in one week than she makes in one year; 3. reads a prepared statement to a camera belonging to a reality show production team and 4. wears a never-varying uniform of T-shirts printed with eco-creepy slogans.
I’ve been scanning blogs and bulletin boards all day, and folks are riled up about this “typical British snob.” I don’t agree with that assessment at all. In my mind, he’s a shining example of the prototypical ugly American, an ass without an opinion filter or sensitivity chip.
If any Brits reading this get to check out this guy: Where is this accent from? It sounds put on to me and I can’t quite place it.
by dianaburrell on February 5, 2009
by dianaburrell on February 3, 2009
Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch blog has an interview with Kristen Johnston, who’s tapped to play Patsy in the American remake of Absolutely Fabulous, coming soon to a television set near you.
Here’s a quote from the article: “I think they captured the exact amount of sweetie-darling,” she says. “I mean, it’s a totally different element, it’s a totally different show. We don’t smoke, we are hungover all the time, we chew Nicorette, we’re trying to be more PC, but I think it really works. It’s one of those scripts that’s like my favorite kind because on paper you’re like, Oh, this is funny, but when you read it out loud with two actresses, it’s, like, the funniest s— ever.”
Turning Pats and Eddy into nonsmoking, Nicorette-chewing politically correct fashionistas sounds like the most unfunniest s— ever, but that’s me. What do you think? Will the American version of this show be a hit, or will it sink faster than a Dukes of Hazzard holiday special on French tv?
by dianaburrell on January 22, 2009
The BBC reports today that a very lucky someone purchased the prop portrait of Fitzwilliam Darcy used in the BBC’s production of Pride and Prejudice
for a mere £12,000 (roughly $16,500) at auction. The portrait appeared near the end of the film, and could be seen when Elizabeth Bennett’s character toured Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley estate with her aunt and uncle. It’s right before Mr. Darcy jumps in the pond. You remember that scene, ladies?
The prop portrait sold for double what the auction house expected to receive. Proceeds from the sale are going to charity.
by dianaburrell on January 16, 2009
First off, when I read Toby Young’s memoir about his stint at Vanity Fair
, I think I laughed so hard a few times I knocked one of my cats off the bed. And I was thrilled to hear this British food critic was going to judge this season on one of my favorite shows, Top Chef. But I was severely disappointed with him last week — he just wasn’t that funny and his condemnations of the cheftestants’ dishes were too overwrought.
Luckily he redeemed himself this week. He still went for some truly awful similes but I loved it when he said when he gets served a pork product, he wants to make love to it. (Or something like that.) It was very funny.
Anyway, an interview with Mr. Toby Young on the LA Times‘ Show Tracker blog for your reading pleasure.
by dianaburrell on December 26, 2008
by dianaburrell on December 24, 2008
Nothing to add to this story except well done, Ms. Coren, well done.
