Trailer Thursday II - Merlin Series 3

Merlin returns with its third series, on BBC One at 7.25pm on 11 September. Here's a preview:

Read Pretty Little Liars - online

HarperTeen as made the first instalment of the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard (now a tv show) available to read online. It can be read in full here.

The tv show premieres on Tuesday, June 8 at 8:00PM ET/PT.

Merlin moves to Syfy (in the US)

From Digital Spy:

Syfy has acquired the basic cable rights to Merlin.

The first series of the UK fantasy series, which stars Colin Morgan as a young mythical wizard, previously aired on NBC during primetime.

Merlin will now join Syfy's lineup from April, with all 26 episodes from the first two series slated to air.

Read the whole article here.

Vampire Diaries on ITV2 - the wait is nearly over

Finally the date is out for the ITV2 showing of The Vampire Diaries. It was suggested it was going to be on in January but episode 1, The Pilot, will be on 2 February at 9pm followed at 10pm by episode 2, The Night of the Comet (and repeated on 5 February at 8pm and 9pm).

My reviews of the first four books can be found in my Vampire Diaries posts as well as links to how to read the first two books online in their entirety.

Here's the ITV2 trailer for The Pilot:

Pretty Little Liars on TV?

Buffy/Angel star Alexis Denisof has shot a pilot for Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series. From Sci-Fi Wire:

Alexis Denisof has shot a pilot for a supernatural series that ABC is considering for its fall schedule: Pretty Little Liars, which was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, before Christmas.

"It centers around five teenage girls, one of whom is deceased," Denisof said in an exclusive interview Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif. [...] he added, "she's around as an entity that the other characters have to deal with. I play one of the parents of the central figure. It's a good story. I think it will appeal to multi-generational viewers."

The pilot focused on establishing the premise, leaving the opportunity for a series to explore other storylines surrounding the characters. "Basically that premise is put forward," Denisof continued. "You get the story of the girls and their relationships and the families and their relationships. Then it drops into this ghost story as well."

While Denisof waits for ABC's decision, he is prepared to return to Vancouver to begin filming in the spring. "If they pick it up, it will get picked up for shooting in spring/summer."

Read the whole article here.

(Coincidentally I requested the first part of the series yesterday at the library).

Merlin's Back

Series 2 of Merlin starts next Saturday (19th) at 6.40pm on BBC One.

Watch the trailer on the BBC's Merlin Website

and tv.com has behind the scenes photos from series 2.

Jeanette Winterson writes children's drama for BBC

From The Guardian:

Jeanette Winterson has written a one-off children's thriller for the BBC, nearly 20 years after her award-winning novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit was adapted for TV.

Una Stubbs will star in Ingenious, the story of 11-year-old Sally, who lives on a farm with her grandmother and friends. The children find a mysterious old glass bottle which leads them on a magical adventure. As the nearby Jodrell Bank telescope picks up curious signs, the children and a local author suspect a dragon could be at large. The drama will be shown on BBC1 later in the year.

Read the whole article at the Guardian website.

Merlin to be repeated on BBC3

A bit of an advance warning to set the recorder...the first series of Merlin will be repeated on BBC3 beginning 21 August with the first two episodes:

20:30–21:15 The Dragon's Call Merlin arrives in Camelot but finds magic outlawed, its practice punishable by death. (R)

21:15 –22:00 Valiant Knight Valiant competes at Camelot's annual sword tournament. Merlin believes he's a cheat (R)

Read more about Merlin and his friends (and foes) at the BBC website.

Vampire Diaries to be on ITV

Good news: ITV will be showing The Vampire Diaries. Bad News: not until 2010. From today's Bookseller:

ITV has acquired the rights to US series "The Vampire Diaries", which is based on the book series by L J Smith, who is published by Harper Teen in the States.

The series will be the focal point of ITV’s schedule in 2010; Kevin Williamson, who was behind “Scream” and “Dawson’s Creek” will produce. The books follow two vampire brothers—one good, one evil—are at war for the soul of a high school girl and the souls of her friends and family.

I wasn't overly impressed with the first book in the series, The Awakening, but I have now got the next three books to see if my opinion changes. Nonetheless I look forward to the tv series.

Merlin debuts on NBC

The fantasy drama Merlin, already shown in the UK, debuts in the US on NBC this Sunday (21st). Programme summary taken from the NBC Merlin website:

"Merlin" is a new drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend for a new audience. The mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began; a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious people; a dangerous world in which magic has been banned by the ruthless tyrant, Uther Pendragon.

When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur. But guided by Uther's wise physician Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets. As he does so he discovers that his destiny and that of the kingdom's young leader in waiting, Arthur, are inextricably linked.

There are a couple of dull episodes and some dodgy CGI but overall it's a very pleasant way to spend an hour. There are a lot of funny lines and good acting from the cast, which includes Anthony Stewart Head and Richard Wilson. I'm looking forward to the second series...