Brothers & Sisters

holly_johnson

Anyone know this tv series?

http://abc.go.com/primetime/brothersandsisters/index.html

Anyone know where I might be able to watch this or if it is due to be shown over here?

SoSueMe

Seen the first few episodes and is one of the best new fall series after about the third/fourth episode. Channel 4 and E4 have the UK rights and I wouldn't be surprised if RTE showed it as well as it seems like a show that would work well on RTE1. I believe they will if you remember Once and Again with Sela Ward and also the cast is amazing...Sally Field, Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin, Calista Flockhart, Patricia Wettig to name just a few.

StarryBud

Mmm Calista... I'll be watching this with my trousers around my ankles! Just kidding!



Well not really. Seriously, I probably will be masturbating to this.

holly_johnson

It's the 6 (possibly more) episodes with Rob Lowe that I'm after...

SoSueMe

It used to be on youtube but were removed. its not really a series that has na intenet following. if I were you wait for Channel 4 and E4 in January and possibly RTE.

SoSueMe

Has anyone seen the trailers promoting it as coming soon on Channel 4. The promos are emphasizing the star power of the show. They deliberately mention Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field, Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe (even though he doesn't appear until mideseason)/ Either way I am looking forward to it being on this side of the Atlantic.

holly_johnson

I haven't seen those trailers yet... I must check out the C4 website. I can't wait! Until this I was expecting to have to buy the box set from the US... I watch the highlights every week from a private service on youtube so I can't wait for it to begin over here!

Thanks for the info!

purplegeko

Just saw the trailer on channel 4, looking forward to this one. Channel 4 seem to be promoting it a lot so hopefully it will live up to my expectatons.

holly_johnson

I saw the trailer today too; can't wait!
I have been following this every week through clips on youtube so I pretty much know whats happening and if it's what I think; it's a superb show.

little miss

Can't wait for this show either! Matthew Rhys is in the show and I love him!

SoSueMe

The show is starting on Wednesday 20th June at 10PM on channel 4 followed by first look on E4 at 11PM

SoSueMe

Here is the link for the season one DVD press release:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7413

SoSueMe

The Channel 4 promo is now up on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnL5sf_2s-4

ScruffySlayer

SoSueMe wrote:

The show is starting on Wednesday 20th June at 10PM on channel 4 followed by first look on E4 at 11PM

the magazine they send out to the Sky customers every month has a different time/listing.

holly_johnson

Yay!
I can't wait...

SoSueMe

Channel 4 have confirmed their schedule. They are giving B&S a very good launch like they did with Lost in 2005.

WEDNESDAY 20TH JUNE:

20:00 Big Brother
20:30 Brothers and Sisters
21:30 Big Brother
22:00 Brothers and Sisters

little miss

Fantastic! Something to fill a void now Desperate Housewives and Ugly Better have finished. Yay!

CutieCat

Brilliant it looks really cool!

holly_johnson

I'm so excited!
I feel like I already know the series as I've been watching all the clips with Rob in them on Youtube, but I can't wait to see them all!

Thanks for the info!

blow69

It follows Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights in the U.S so it probably gets high ratings which means it will last a while!

SoSueMe

Ally does Dallas
A Californian Dallas with feuds, fights and Calista Flockhart? Brothers & Sisters is TV gold

Brothers & Sisters is that new, mammoth-proportioned American import that Channel 4 has been hyping for the past couple of weeks. Let’s face it, you knew it was going to be good as soon as you saw the first trailer. It focuses on a billion-dollar veg empire run by the troubled Walker family, a neat set-up that allows up to six inter-related millionaires, spanning three generations, to be screaming “We never talk!” at one another at any one time — and in a variety of luxurious locations to boot. In the first episode alone you can take your pick from a host of pleasing scenarios: Calista Flockhart (of Ally McBeal fame), Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths having a three-way bitch-up in a luxury kitchen; Matthew Rhys handsoming around as a hot gay lawyer; Nancy from thirtysomething making a big comeback as a mistress with amazing hair; a dead man in an infinity pool; and some smack.

Made by Ken (thirtysomething) Olin and Jon Robin (The West Wing) Baitz, Brothers & Sisters is the work of some guys who really know their upscale, long-running, multi-stranded, Emmy award-winning drama series chops. As a result, Brothers & Sisters is embarrassingly better paced, better scripted and better acted than nearly anything else on TV. Its biggest asset is that — in common with its unlikely soul mate, Shameless — it really knows how families, particularly big families, think, speak and interact. Tiny things rip generations apart. Huge things can be ignored for whole lifetimes.

But while, on the one hand, this is undoubtedly classy stuff — the soundtrack of sensitive female singer-songwriters singing songs about “forgiveness” at apposite plot-points confirms that — there is also another, deeper truth about Brothers & Sisters just below the surface. For with its big business, troubled siblings, multiple infidelities, inter-generational warfare and frequent plot exclamation marks, Brothers & Sisters is, basically, Dallas for the Kettle Crisp generation. A classier take on Southfork — certainly a more eloquent take on Southfork — but Southfork nonetheless. Southfork in California. Personally, I’m not complaining.

holly_johnson

Great review - I can't wait!

SoSueMe

So, what did people think of it? Watching it for a second time reminded me how dramatic the show was at the beginning and how the show became a little bit lighter as it progressed. The acting was amazing and the use of music was good too. The reason I like this show is because it is different from anything on TV at the moment, it doesn't require suspension of belief or to have your brain swithced on to full capacity. It is simply an entertaining and worthwhile show to watch.

It is refreshingly normal.

BuffyBot

Wasn't the worst opening pitch I've seen. Will probably tune in next week

little miss

Loved it! So glad I wasn't disappointed - will definitely be tuning in to this one. Brilliant acting and music - love the idea of it too. Yay! Another new cult show for me to get hooked on!

Faerie

I thought it was okay but I don't think I will be hooked.
It might be well-acted and well-written but I don't think the storylines are that interesting and it's the type of programme that you can tune into now and again without missing much. Also, although I think the characterisation is quite good, I don't like the main characters! Particularly Calista Flockhart's character - I just can't empathise with someone that right wing. The sister is okay and the gay lawyer is interesting but the others are a bit irritating.

SoSueMe

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcastnowarticle.aspx?intStoryID=169669

C4 keeps it in the family
21 June
C4's latest US drama acquisition, Brothers & Sisters, got off to a modest start last night with the opening episode attracting 2.2m viewers (10.8%) at 8.30pm.
The 60-minute show held a largely steady audience throughout the time it was on air. Despite starring Calista Flockhart and Sally Field, and being heavily plugged throughout the week, the audience was some way off the channel's slot average for the year so far of 3.6m (15.6%).

Brothers & Sisters was flanked by two editions of Big Brother. Both updates from the reality show house broke the 3m mark with the 30-minute 8pm show drawing 3.1m (15.8%) as details of the £100,000 giveaway were announced.

The second show at 9.30pm had 3.8m (17.2%) over half an hour.

Second chance

Channel 4 followed that with the second instalment of Brothers & Sisters, in what will be the show's regular slot of 10pm. That episode drew 1.4m (8.1%) over 65-minutes. Once again the show underperformed, getting well below the slot average for the year so far of 2.3m (13%).
Managing to give the first outing of Brothers & Sisters a run for its money was the return of BBC2's historical drama Rome which averaged 2.2m (10.3%) over 60-minutes from 9pm.

The drama saw its audience fall from 2.4m (11.7%) to 2m (9.4%) in the final 15-minutes but was above the channel's slot average of 1.6m (7%).

The audience for the start of the second series was not a patch on the first series though which opened on 2 November 2005 with a massive 6.5m (27.1%). Viewers did trail off though quite sharply and the series ended with 2.3m (9.9%). Over the nine-part series it averaged 3.6m (15.5%).

Five also managed to put in a worthy performance with 1.6m (8.5%) watching the British crime thriller Layer Cake starring Daniel Craig.

Cold sweat

Neither ITV1 nor BBC1 could make much of an impression at 9pm. The commercial network aired the first slice of a new three-part run of Cold Blood. The 90-minute episode, starring John Hannah and Jemma Redgrave, could only bring in 4m (19.3%). Its audience dropped from 4.5m (21.9%) to 3.5m (18%) in the last quarter of an hour.

When the ITV1 drama was last on, in March this year, it attracted 5.7m (26.3%).

BBC1 managed to claim the top spot at the time but it too failed to make an significant impact with 4.5m (21%) watching Traffic Cops.

ITV1 was in a much stronger position at 8pm thanks to The Bill bringing in 5.4m (27.4%).

Its nearest rival, BBC1, failed to put up any significant challenge over the hour. A new series of the lottery show Jet Set 2012 managed just 2.4m (12.4%) while the new series of Vet Safari interested 2.7m (13.6%).

little miss

I'm surprised by the viewing figures, but then again it is summer and people do have social lives. I've recommended it to everyone I've been talking to today.

purplegeko

I thought it was a great start and the viewing figures will rise like little miss said it summer and ratings aren't great this time of year. It hasn't hooked me in yet but i'm going to give it another couple of episodes to see if it picks up.

Hrududu

I didnt think much of it. The trailers had me all excited as it looked right up my street. But it just couldnt live up to it. It borrows too many elements from other shows. The main device is lifted straight from Six Feet Under. The characters are quite 2 dimensional. And it overdoes the incidental music. Like Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty it seems to think it cannot have a scene that doesnt play some incidental music underneath it. Just so we can be sure the scene is meant to be jaunty or serious. I find that a little condescending.

I will probably watch a couple more episodes because I really wanted to like it. Plus there is nothing on tv at the moment.

ScruffySlayer

surprised the ratings were that poor, hope C4 will stick with it because I'd hate to see this get shunted around the schedules. I've really enjoyed the 3 episodes I've seen so far. Quite surprised RTE haven't already shown this actually.

SoSueMe

ScruffySlayer wrote:

surprised the ratings were that poor, hope C4 will stick with it because I'd hate to see this get shunted around the schedules. I've really enjoyed the 3 episodes I've seen so far. Quite surprised RTE haven't already shown this actually.

I agree completely. The ratings were poor but not bad. I am sure Channel 4 thought that by having Big Brother as a lead in that it would do well. But they appeal to two different audiences one being stupid and the other well, not. I think channel 4 will stick with it and promote it when the show gets on its feet. Critics from the US said the first few episodes were dour and depressing but by episode 6/7, the show improves immensly. That is why ity is a favouriste to scoop a lot of emmy awards.

As for RTE not showing it, that is strange as the try to beat channel 4 in airing imports like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. Maybe they wanted to let Channel 4 test the waters.

But it makes me wonder how successfull will Dirty Sexy Money be on Channel 4 as they are very similar and come from the same producers.

SoSueMe

I really liked tonights episode. Patricia wttig shows us that she is brilliant in everything she does. Her threat that she won't stay quiet anylonger was excellent. I admit as I have been warned that the pace is slow as they had a lot of behind the scenes trouble with Buffy producer Marti Noxon and the show was having a hard time finding its feet but it has steadily gotten lighter and more fun. The acting especially Sally Field more than makes up for any temperary shortcomings.

I loved the song for the closing montage - Easier to Lie by Aqualung

CutieCat

Is there any plans to air this on RTÉ?

little miss

Bit disappointed with last night's E4 episode. Bit early in the series to be bored by it. Hope it was just a once off, as I so want to enjoy this. Matthew Rhys is yummy in it.

lady_j

This is definately a grower for me. I think the main problem the acting currently is of a higher standard than the writing. Im not saying the script is particularly bad, in fact its quite good, its the acting is so fantastic! Sally Field as always - Amazing. I think I'll keep watching..

SoSueMe

descry wrote:

This is definately a grower for me. I think the main problem the acting currently is of a higher standard than the writing. Im not saying the script is particularly bad, in fact its quite good, its the acting is so fantastic! Sally Field as always - Amazing. I think I'll keep watching..

The show has become appointment for me the first few episodes were too dark and serious but that was due to MArti Noxon and she was fired before episode 4. There is so mcuh humour intertwined with the drama whcih is refreshing without becoming OTT.

SoSueMe

SPOILERS:

Danny Glover has been tapped to play Sally Field's new love interest in 8 to 10 episodes this season, sources confirm to me exclusively. His character is Senator McCallister's presidential-campaign manager, and is described as extremely smart and charming but also as a political shark.

Unless I'm mistaken, this reps Glover's most significant prime-time series gig to date. He previously did four-episode arcs on Hill Street Blues and ER.

The B&S stint marks a reunion of sorts for Glover and Field. The duo shared the screen in 1984's Places in the Heart, for which Field won an Oscar.


http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/700000049

little miss

SoSueMe wrote:

SPOILERS:

Danny Glover has been tapped to play Sally Field's new love interest in 8 to 10 episodes this season, sources confirm to me exclusively. His character is Senator McCallister's presidential-campaign manager, and is described as extremely smart and charming but also as a political shark.

Unless I'm mistaken, this reps Glover's most significant prime-time series gig to date. He previously did four-episode arcs on Hill Street Blues and ER.

The B&S stint marks a reunion of sorts for Glover and Field. The duo shared the screen in 1984's Places in the Heart, for which Field won an Oscar.


http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/700000049

Oh, that's exciting! Looking forward to it already!

JP Liz

Anyone know when Season 2 is starting on RTE?

Season 3 starts Sept 28th on ABC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUXRrOVTxAg

Harpy

yea i've been waiting for season 2 for ages aswell its not in their autumn line up.. think i might just end buying the dvd when it comes out.

DerryRed

any news yet when RTE will be showing Season 2 of this series?

Harpy

i emailed them a couple of months ago..one sec and ill try find the email..here we are..
I am in receipt of your e-mail.

I have checked with our Acquisitions Department regarding the series "Brothers and Sisters"
and have been advised that no date is yet available for the transmission of series 2.
You may be aware that series 1 is being repeated at the present time on RTÉ 1 on Wednesdays
at 12.40 am approx.

Kind regards.
Bernie Fitzpatrick - RTÉ Information Officer.

that was the reply i got on the 16th of october so i wouldn't hold out hope to be honest.. im watching it on channel 4 at the mo..

JP Liz

Series 2 back on Thursday nights on RTE 1

Ron DMC

JP Liz wrote: »

Series 2 back on Thursday nights on RTE 1

Caught a few minutes of this last night, I'd forgotten how good it was. May have to invest in Season 1 dvds.

anotherlostie

I watched and enjoyed Season 1, but got fed up with Season 2 - it was like a West Wing spinoff at times, and not in a good way. After watching the first episode of Season 3, I gave up on it altogether.

JP Liz

Is Season 3 on any UK channels?

LiveLifeLively

JP Liz wrote: »

Is Season 3 on any UK channels?

Yep it's on More 4 on Thursday's at 10pm. Seriously good season. Great drama going on at the moment. You should tune in it seriously rocks!!

JP Liz

Its renewed for a Season 4

Rineanna

That's good news. I know RTÉ are about a series behind in this, but I think I'll wait to watch it there rather than looking at it on More4 to make it last longer! Fantastic series; can't put into words how much I enjoy watching it. Sally Field is excellent; she really portrays the role of interfering mother so well.

giftgrub

I love Mrs Giftgrub, but if theres ever a divorce, it'll be because of Brothers and Sisters

I have to leave the room when it starts

I find it to be an overdose of schmaltzy, saccharine bilge