Like a perfectly poured cup of tea, Masterpiece Theatre's The Complete Jane Austen (Sunday, PBS; Check local listings) is arriving just in time to keep viewers warm through the cold winter months. Starting Jan. 13 and running Sundays through March, the series — hosted by Gillian Anderson (Bleak House) — features all-new adaptations of Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility, as well as old favorites Emma, starring Kate Beckinsale, and the Emmy Award-winning Pride and Prejudice (yes, ladies, the one starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy).
Kicking off the event is Persuasion, starring Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot, the shy daughter heading toward spinsterhood, and Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Sir Walter Elliot, Anne's father. "Sir Walter is a party animal who has spent all
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Question: I've seen a bunch of news items recently about Ugly Betty, and I was wondering what your opinion of it was. To me, the premise just seems awful. Like in The Devil Wears Prada, we've got an attractive woman who we're supposed to pretend is "ugly," and then we've got the cutting-edge topic of the fashion industry. Wow, it's not like anyone's made fun of them before. What's next, a sock-hop-and-ice-cream-social comedy? I like America Ferrera, but previous shows along this theme, such as Veronica's Closet and Less than Perfect, have just been shrill and annoying.
Answer: The worst sin in writing about or analyzing TV seriously is to judge a show simply by its premise. While it's entirely likely that you are predisposed not to enjoy Ugly Betty, it's always all about the execution. Ugly Betty is not a traditional sitcom, it's a hybrid of comedy and soap, and Betty herself is nothing like the heroine of Prada (Betty is much more extreme), except perhaps for her inexperience in this
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Of all the multinominated films vying for Academy Awards this Sunday, Pride & Prejudice may be the most overlooked. The latest adaptation of Jane Austen's ageless tale picked up four nominations — including a best-actress nod for Keira Knightley — but its buzz is nowhere near that of higher-profile contenders such as Walk the Line and Brokeback Mountain. Jena Malone, who plays Knightley's on-screen sister Lydia is a bit skeptical of putting too much stock in awards, but she hopes the extra attention will bring new audiences to the film. TVGuide.com found this out when we spoke with Malone about the classic romance's arrival this week on DVD.
TVGuide.com: Be
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