Category: Entertainment

… But I’m not going to even attempt to link to them all. Actually, I’m not going to link to any of them since I’m too lazy to pick and choose amongst the dozens that have shown up in the past few days. The majority of the articles were reviews, and pretty positive from the sentence or two that shows up on the Google news alert summary.

Personally, I’ve still only seen the first episode (first online and then on Showtime on Sunday) and I don’t know if I’ll get around to seeing the second one online before it airs this weekend. So, only going on one episode, I’ll say that I’m enjoying it so far. I’m an unashamed Sam Neill fan, so I’m really liking his Wolsey. The series basically seems like a Tudor-themed soap opera, but when you look at Henry VIII’s real-life marital career, it isn’t all that different from some of the characters on soaps!

Update:

Ooops! Meant to add this link to a short You Tube video about Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ previous roles and his role as Henry VIII.

Okay, I meant to post about this several days ago, but I’ve been completely swamped.

As probably a lot of you know by now, the first two episodes of Showtime’s “The Tudors” series are now online in various places, and some cable and satellite systems are playing them as well (I think in ‘on demand’ services?). I think you have to be in the US to watch them on Showtime’s website, but I don’t know if international viewers can see them through other online venues.

Watch at Showtime’s “The Tudors” website

Unfortunately I’ve only been able to see about the first five minutes of the first episode so far. I was trying to watch a little of it at work but our network connection to the outside world went down (not good at a major university!). I’ll try again during lunch tomorrow. Alas, my satellite internet at home just isn’t up to snuff for streaming video. Anyone want to buy me a T-1 line?

Update:
For those of you outside the US, here are some other options to investigate if you want to see the first two episodes:

Two Tudors episodes will be available via free VOD on Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Cablevision Systems, Mediacom Communications, Atlantic Broadband, Bright House Networks, RCN and other operators.

At the same time, Internet users will be able to watch them via streaming video at Amazon.com’s Internet Movie Database — the first time that site has ever streamed a full-length episode of a TV show — as well as Netflix’s Watch Now, Yahoo, Microsoft’s MSN, CBS’ Innertube, Brightcove, CNET Networks’ TV.com and MeeVee.com

I was surfing on DirecTV last night and saw the last minute or so of one of the episodes on the CDUSA channel (580). Looks like they are on again tonight so maybe I’ll finally catch them!

If you can, check out the Showtime webpage for the upcoming “The Tudors” series. These are two of my favorite photos from the batches I’ve seen so far. They also have downloads for desktop wallpaper and chat icons, more photos and videos. I’m not expecting 100% historical accuracy from the series (and I’m one of those who isn’t quite as picky about it, within reason) and am looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a fun, sexy romp with some of our favorite kings and queens.

This is one of the new previews, set to “Lacrymosa” by Evanescence (I’m a big fan … love their lead singer’s voice)

The following links are to the three parts of a 30 min. high school film project on Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. The film was nominated for Best Picture and won Best Cinematography at the school’s film festival. Great job Sarah!

pt 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B807SYiMOFU

pt 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQVbWMOoWdc

pt 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOw39n1DVSU

This week in the US a special edition of the Academy Award-winning “A Man for All Seasons” movie from 1966 was released on DVD. The UK version was released last week. The links below goes to my Amazon affiliate stores. The US is on the left and the UK is on the right. If you order, be sure to get the correct one if you don’t have a region-free DVD player.

An Irish newspaper is reporting that the studio that produced the first season (or ‘series’ as they are called across the pond’) has signed on to do a second.

Ardmore Studios, Ireland

Thanks to Sonja Marie from The Lady Jane Grey Internet Museum who posted this to the TudorTalk list:

From Nevi‘s page at deviantART

iHenry

iEdward

iJane

iMary

iElizabeth

Although I do think that Henry VII should get one too… even someone as frugal as him would at least buy a Shuffle.

No April Fools joke… I meant to post this while back but just got around to it today. More information on the show is up at the Showtime website: http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/

For those of you in the US, PBS will replay the Anne-Marie Duff “The Virgin Queen” this Sunday and next. As the saying goes, check your local listings!

You can now see a trailer and brochure for next years “The Tudors” series at the PeaceArch Entertainment website here.

Sort of in line with my initial impressions, it looks like it is going to be a mix of true history and “sexy” history, but it looks entertaining!

As I mentioned a few month’s back, Sting’s new album is the music of Elizabethan musician John Dowland. There has been a lot of press on the album since its release last week, so here is a round-up of just a few, as well as links to Amazon US and UK to buy it if you’re intrigued!

From The Telegraph: A Step Back in Time – Sting has exchanged his guitar for a lute, returning to the renaissance for inspiration.

From The Guardian: Sting makes lute popular again

From The Independent: Sting plucks lute composer from obscurity

A couple of people have mentioned this, so I thought I would post something about it… There is a new show on ABC in the States called “Ugly Betty” where the title character wears a necklace with an initial “B” that should look familiar to Tudor fans. You can see the character wearing the necklace here.

And, if you would like a “B” (or any other initial) necklace of your own, you can get them here:
Parrish Relics (who actually supplied the necklaces for the show!)

From the article:

From Henry VIII’s mistress and sister-in-law to Henry VIII’s great-niece – Scarlett will play Mary Queen of Scots.

Reuters: Johansson finds something about “Mary”

Virgin.net: One more for Queen Scarlett

Comingsoon.net: Johansson to Play Mary Queen of Scots

Kristin Scott Thomas has been cast to play the mother of Anne and Mary Boleyn (to be played by Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson) in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of The Other Boleyn Girl.

Lots of articles have shown up in the past few days on this one, so I’ll just link to a few:

Empire Movies – Kristin Scott Thomas is Another Boleyn Girl
Production Weekly – Scott Thomas Mothers Boleyn Girls
Film Force – Boleyn’s Big Momma

In addition to the five creative arts Emmys the program won, the program took four primetime Emmys, bringing the program’s total to nine. Here is the run-down of the awards for Elizabeth I:

Outstanding miniseries – Elizabeth I
Outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie – Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I
Outstanding actor in a supporting role in a miniseries or movie – Jeremy Irons as Robert Dudley
Outstanding directing for a miniseries, movie or dramatic special – Tom Hooper for Elizabeth I
Outstanding casting for a miniseries, movie or special – Doreen Jones for Elizabeth I
Outstanding single-camera picture editing for a miniseries or movie – Beverley Mills, Editor – Elizabeth I Part 1
Outstanding hair styling for a miniseries, movie or special – Fae Hammond (Hairstyling designer), Su Westwood (Hairstylist)
Outstanding costumes for a miniseries, movie or special – Mike O’Neill (Costume designer), Samantha Horn (Assistant costume designer) – Elizabeth I Part 2
Outstanding art direction for a miniseries or movie – Eve Stewart (Production Designer), Leon McCarthy (Art Director), Sarah Whittle (Set Decorator) for Elizabeth

Lists of all the winners are available at Emmys.org

Unfortunately it only seems to be out in the US and Canada so far, but hopefully the UK will be following shortly!

The Creative Arts Emmys were announced last week and Elizabeth I took 5. A complete list is available here.

I just now came across a website with the production diaries from Justin Pollard, an historical researcher on the set of the sequel to Elizabeth. Check them out at Working Title Films