TV Worth Blogging
by David Thiel, Program Director for WILL-TV
An insider's view of public television programming and the issues that help determine what and how you watch
Cast Your Ballots!
Since 2000, WILL-TV has livened up its fundraising drive with a special night of comedy we call The Great Britcom Vote. For the tenth consecutive year, we'll directly ask our viewers which British comedy that they want to see air on WILL-TV in the future. It'll air live on Saturday, February 7 from 7:00 to 10:30 pm. Check out the candidates after the jump!
7:00 pm To the Manor Born
This venerable audience favorite was the winner of our very first Britcom Vote back in 2000. Penelope Keith stars as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, a widow forced out of her manor house after the death of her husband. She strikes a love-hate relationship with the new owner. (And you just know that love will win out in the end!)
7:40 pm Blackadder
For my money, the best season of Rowan Atkinson's time-hopping historical comedy is the second, in which the cunning Edmund Blackadder attempts to keep his head while in the court of a thoroughly mad Queen, played by Miranda Richardson.
8:20 pm One Foot in the Grave
The only one of this year's candidates which has never aired as a series on WILL-TV, this was one of the original contenders back in 2000. Will it find more favor this time? Richard Wilson plays the cantankerous Victor Meldrew in a series which was adapted for American TV as "Cosby" in the mid '90s.
9:00 pm Chef!
With arrogant chefs all over the TV dial these days, why not check back in with the funniest, Lenny Henry as Gareth Blackstock. Surely that "Hell's Kitchen" host took a lesson or two from Henry's perfectionist character.
9:45 pm Good Neighbors
Penelope Keith bookends the night with this other WILL-TV audience favorite. It also stars Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as the Goods, whose back-to-nature ways don't set well with Keith's Margo Leadbetter.
Tune in Saturday, February 7 at 7:00 pm to sample these shows. When you call in with your pledge of financial support, we also invite you to cast your vote for the candidate you'd most like to see air on WILL-TV during our next fiscal year. We'll announce a winner at the end of the evening!
Is it possible to “cast a vote” if a pledge is made online instead of by phone? Are current contributers allowed to vote only if they contribute again during the Britcom event?
While we certainly encourage viewers to make a pledge at the same time they call in to cast their vote, it’s not required. We don’t want to exclude current contributors or those who pledge online from joining in on the fun!
Feel free to pledge at willpledge.org, then call the pledge line that evening with your vote!
Who won the Great Britcom vote for 2009? I missed the announcement.
Skip up to my next blog post for the answer!
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