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'''''Moving Wallpaper''''' is a satirical [[ITV]] [[comedy-drama]] television series set in a TV production unit. The subject of the first series was the production of a soap called ''[[Echo Beach (Soap)|Echo Beach]]'', each episode of which aired directly after the ''Moving Wallpaper'' episode about its production. The second series is based around the production of a "zombie show" called ''Renaissance''. |
'''''Moving Wallpaper''''' is a satirical [[ITV]] [[comedy-drama]] television series set in a TV production unit. The subject of the first series was the production of a soap called ''[[Echo Beach (Soap)|Echo Beach]]'', each episode of which aired directly after the ''Moving Wallpaper'' episode about its production. The second series is based around the production of a "zombie show" called ''Renaissance''. |
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The title, "Moving Wallpaper", is a disparaging term applied to uninspiring TV shows, or to television in general, referring to the perception that modern television viewers are |
The title, "Moving Wallpaper", is a disparaging term applied to uninspiring TV shows, or to television in general, referring to the perception that modern television viewers are "mindless absorbers of images", as if staring at wallpaper.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1izq0QnlhB0C&pg=PA175 ''Formations'', p. 175], Dan Fleming, Henry A. Giroux and Lawrence Grossberg, Manchester University Press, 2000</ref> |
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== History == |
== History == |
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Revision as of 21:25, 11 March 2009
| Moving Wallpaper | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy-drama television series |
| Created by | Tony Jordan |
| Starring | Ben Miller Lucy Liemann Sarah Hadland Elizabeth Berrington James Lance Dave Lamb Raquel Cassidy Sinead Keenan |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Kudos |
| Running time | 22c minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 10 January 2008 – present |
| Related | |
| Echo Beach (2008) Renaissance | |
Moving Wallpaper is a satirical ITV comedy-drama television series set in a TV production unit. The subject of the first series was the production of a soap called Echo Beach, each episode of which aired directly after the Moving Wallpaper episode about its production. The second series is based around the production of a "zombie show" called Renaissance.
The title, "Moving Wallpaper", is a disparaging term applied to uninspiring TV shows, or to television in general, referring to the perception that modern television viewers are "mindless absorbers of images", as if staring at wallpaper.[1]
History
The show was created by Tony Jordan and produced by Kudos for ITV. Filming for series one started in July 2007 and the show began airing on ITV on 10 January 2008, continuing on Fridays thereafter for twelve weekly episodes.[2] The "fictional" soap opera Echo Beach was itself shown immediately afterwards: Moving Wallpaper aired at 9pm and Echo Beach aired at 9.30 pm.
A second series of Moving Wallpaper was commissioned and began airing on ITV on 28 February 2009. The companion soap Echo Beach was cancelled, however, and the storylines of series two instead revolve around a "zombie show" called Renaissance.[3] Unlike Echo Beach in series one, which was a full series, Renaissance will only be a half-hour pilot[4] which will be reportedly be screened at the conclusion of Moving Wallpaper's second series.[5]
Premise
Moving Wallpaper storylines revolve around a crazed producer, Jonathan Pope (played by Ben Miller), trying to hold together an assortment of egotistic and neurotic writers and actors through the vicissitudes of Echo Beach production (series one), while simultaneously fighting off his bitchy boss.
Series one ended with the producer on the verge of learning whether a second series of Echo Beach had been commissioned. Series two picks up from this point with the news that the network has cancelled Echo Beach (mirroring the real-life circumstance). However, a clause in Pope's contract forces the network to allow him to make a pilot for a new show, which largely by accident turns out to be the "zombie show" Renaissance.
Cast
Current
| Actor | Character | Series |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Miller | Jonathan Pope (producer) | 1–2 |
| Sinead Keenan | Kelly Hawkins (PA) | 1–2 |
| Lucy Liemann | Samantha Phillips (script editor) | 1–2 |
| Elizabeth Berrington | Mel Debrou (cast liaison) | 1–2 |
| James Lance | Tom Warren (script writer) | 1–2 |
| Dave Lamb | Carl Morris (script writer) | 1–2 |
| Raquel Cassidy | Nancy Weeks (TV boss) | 1–2 |
| Sarah Hadland | Gillian McGovern (script writer) | 1–2 |
| Alan Dale | Himself playing John* | 2 |
| Kelly Brook | Herself playing Sam* | 2 |
* Characters in Renaissance.
Past
| Actor | Character | Series |
|---|---|---|
| Susie Amy | Suzie Amy (actress playing Angela**) | 1 |
| Martine McCutcheon | Herself playing Susan** | 1 |
| Jason Donovan | Himself playing Daniel** | 1 |
| Hugo Speer | Himself playing Mark** | 1 |
** Characters in Echo Beach.
Reception
The first episode of series one of Moving Wallpaper attracted 5 million viewers on average with a 21% audience share,[6] easily winning the timeslot. After that, the ratings dropped — halving to about 2.5 million towards the end of February.[7]
Viewing figures fell again at the start of series two, with the first episode watched by 2.1 million viewers.[8]
Media reviews for Moving Wallpaper were largely positive (though the series one companion show Echo Beach was received less favourably). The Telegraph's reviewer described Moving Wallpaper as "sharply written and cleverly characterised",[9] and a review in The Times called it "joyously and uproariously funny".[10] The Mirror was less enthusiastic, however, saying "Moving Wallpaper remains a laboured in-joke at its own expense".[11]
References
- ^ Formations, p. 175, Dan Fleming, Henry A. Giroux and Lawrence Grossberg, Manchester University Press, 2000
- ^ Television - News - 'Beach' and 'Wallpaper' supporting cast confirmed - Digital Spy
- ^ "Alan Dale joins Moving Wallpaper". BBC News. 2008-08-18. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a147290/alan-dale-moving-wallpaper-renaissance.html
- ^ "Zombies invade Moving Wallpaper", tv.com, 25 February 2009
- ^ TV ratings - January 10: Echo Beach resonates with viewers | Media | guardian.co.uk
- ^ TV ratings - February 22: Just 1.6m 'avin a laugh at Gervais show | Media | guardian.co.uk
- ^ "Moving Wallpaper outstripped by Six Nations rugby", Guardian, 2 March 2009
- ^ "Review: Margaret (BBC Two) - Moving Wallpaper (ITV1)", Telegraph, 2 March 2009
- ^ "Friday's Top TV", The Times, 21 February 2009
- ^ "Moving Wallpaper is a laboured in-joke at its own expense", Mirror, 28 February 2009
See also
External links
- Moving Wallpaper at itv.com
- Moving Wallpaper at the British Comedy Guide
- Moving Wallpaper at IMDb
- Template:Tv.com