Flatliners

While it was first aired back in 1990, Flatliners has become something of a classic with an all star cast which includes Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon and William Baldwin. This is an intriguing look into the world of medicine with a group of medical students playing games with life and death!

Using an array of drugs to stop their hearts and their brains for a short period – commonly known as flatlining – they venture into a world of terror, joy and intrigue all appearing in a number of alarming episodes. While they think their dreams are over when they are awoken from their slumber, this is where the real fun begins. Chased by demons of years gone by, haunted by things they have done in their lives, each and every one of the medical students come face to face with their own nightmare . Eager to push the boundaries yet further and further, they attempt to “flatline” for longer and longer with shocking consequences.

While the storyline itself is edge of the seat stuff, it is the acting by the array of stars detailed above which really takes this film to a different level. Suspense, fear, joy and excitement, this movie has it all. Quite where they get the ideas for such films remains to be seen but a seemingly unbelievable storyline suddenly becomes believable!

It is difficult to pick out the main players in the film but Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts are cast in the lead roles, although they are more than ably supported by the remainder of the cast. For those who have not seen Flatliners, you really do not know what you have been missing for all of these years, and for those who have seen it before, well, you have the chance to watch it all over again!

Cricket : New Zealand v England

Test Cricket England renew there battle with the Kiwi’s in what is turning into an enthralling Test Series between two teams which seem unable to put together a run of form – making predictions so difficult to make. The England selectors have made some bold moves dropping some of the more established bowlers to give the “young kids on the block” a chance to shine while New Zealand has a very good crop of younger players coming through the ranks and they seem certain to give England a stern test in what promises to be an interesting battle.

English cricket has been through the mill for the last few years and while they have changed the players and the selectors, nothing has really materialised as yet. Top bowlers like Steve Harmison have gone off the boil, batsmen such as “Freddie” Flintoff have been dogged by injury for a number of years and there are real concerns that these two in particular may not be able to recapture their form of past seasons.

The problem which the England selectors have is one of who to actually bring in to replace the older members of the team, because unfortunately England have relied on these players for so long that nobody really thought about looking around for the future. Money has become paramount to the game and the sponsors want the big names to be on show to attract the crowds. Central contracts were awarded to many stars that seemed to be nearing the end of their better years, meaning that there was less cash and fewer contracts available for those up and coming players.

Now is the time when England cricketers need to grasp the nettle, pick up the baton and take the game to the opposition. Even if they go down fighting it will be a major improvement on some of the efforts we have seen over the last three or four years. Now is the time to stand up and be counted!

The Bill : Beth Undercover

The Bill TV Show Fresh from receiving a high profile TV award for services to the TV industry, The Bill is going from strength to strength having recently reversed its role as a place for ailing actors and actresses to “build up their pension”. Louisa Lytton made a relatively quiet start as Beth in the show but recently her role has widened out and she has been at the centre of a number of great storylines. Originally a little slow on the up take she now seems set for the top, with a number of her senior officers taking a great interest in her.

Tonight sees Beth go under cover on a dangerous mission to flush out some of the local drugs dealers who have been flooding the streets of Sun Hill with “skunk”. After getting the name of the main supplier Beth attends a party where she is soon drawn into the dark and dangerous world of drug dealing. While hot on the heels of the suspects she falls for one of the street workers Lenny, who has also been caught up in this underground network of deals and dealers. Determined to pursue the case to the end, Beth pretends that she has no feelings for Lenny, but will she come round in the end? Is she being true to herself?

The Bill is one of the longest running TV shows in the UK and at this moment it is probably at or near to its peak popularity. Gripping storylines, spectacular stunt work and acting which just gets better and better has seen the show move onto a different level. Rumours of its demise some years ago have proved unfounded and with viewing figures moving higher with each new storyline, it seems that the current crop of policemen and policewoman at Sun Hill are attracting more and more fans.

The Simpsons

The Simpsons Love them or hate them, there is no doubt that the Simpson have made an impact upon the way we think of life in the US, their habits and their opinions. Tonight’s show seems Homer recall the time that he found a dead body at the age of 12, but failed to report it. How will he react when he remembers it? Who will he tell?

Homers life has been one long rollercoaster and while his trusty family have stood by him there have been times when they must have felt like walking away! Quite what slant the writers will put on tonight’s show remains to be seen but there is no doubt it will be funny, thought provoking and certain to attract millions of viewers!

The Simpsons have been on our screens since December 1989 and while there are many critics of the show, it has fans young and old around the world, making it the best selling cartoon series ever. They also brought out a Simpson Movie which has brought in over $500m since its launch. Homer, Marge, Maggie, Bart, Lisa and Santa’s Little Helper (the dog) are the mainstays of the show, but the way they interact amongst themselves and their friends and neighbours is something else. Do we all have neighbours and friends like the Simpsons? Or is this just America?

While the show is obviously centred on humour and laughter, the writers seem to have a unique gift for bringing in serious subjects, such as the Iraq war, and somehow taking a dig at the government without saying anything outright. Many people see the Simpsons as the conscience of America, a real look at the inner workings of middle class America. Quite whether is true is a matter of opinion, but they sure do catch the attention of the masses.

Neighbours Teaser

Dramatic events unfurl this week in Ramsay Street. The teens decide to enjoy themselves at an illicit dance party, but the fun comes to a shocking end when part of the roof suddenly collapses, leaving the gang buried under the rubble. As rescue teams rush to the scene, the whole neighbourhood rallies round, desperate to know who has survived. Trapped in the wreckage, Ringo comforts a mortally wounded Jessica, while Riley tries to keep Elle from losing consciousness. As onlookers crowd the scene, Paul is shocked to see Elle pulled out of the rubble in a critical condition. Will she survive the ordeal?

Elsewhere, Janae reacts angrily to the news that Steve and Miranda do not want to buy the house with her. She escapes to the garage, where she finds Darren seeking refuge from his own difficulties with Libby. The pair vent their problems and lend each other a shoulder to cry on, only for the moment to end in a forbidden kiss. Unfortunately for them both, the kiss is witnessed by Kirsten, who tries to use it against Janae. Backed into a corner, Janae decides to trump Kirsten by coming clean and telling Ned. How will Ned react?

Also this week, Zeke confronts Karl over his decision to abandon him for Libby. Rachel escapes the accident when she leaves the party early to find Angus Ð and ends up spending the night with him…

Hollyoaks Teaser

There’s tragedy afoot in Hollyoaks as Newt and Lauren’s prank on Elliot goes tragically wrong. The duo want revenge on Elliot after he refused to help them with their coursework, and lure him into the woods for a faked meeting with his dad. What they don’t know is that Elliot is already reeling from finding Sarah in bed with Roger and their prank could be enough to push him over the edge. Hiding in the woods, Newt and Lauren’s delight quickly turns to shame when they hear the raw pain in Elliot’s voice as he screams for his dad. Returning later to look for Elliot and apologise they make a terrifying discovery that could change their lives for ever.

John Paul and Kieron end up spending the night together after John Paul’s jealousy over Kieron and Kris’s closeness leads to a blazing row. As the duo argue it seems neither can hide their feelings any longer, but the morning after brings troubled consciences. As John Paul prepares to tell Kieron that he doesn’t see a future with him, he is surprised to find that Kieron has made a decision of his own. Does he feel more for Kieron than he realises.

Elsewhere, Rhys is worried that his secret affair with Beth is about to be revealed now that Michaela is hot on their trail, so he decides to end it now before it’s too late. Katy is infuriated by Justin’s attentions while she is trying to write an essay, leaving Justin feeling like a spare part.

Warren suggests a big night at The Loft that could help Justin impress Katy and appease Louise, but does Justin have what it takes to pull it off?

EastEnders Teaser

There are some old faces back on the Albert Square this week and tensions are running high. Peggy is determined to get to the bottom of Pat’s move to Spain and is convinced there is a man involved. Pat is making preparations for Frank’s funeral but she and Peggy begin to disagree and before they know it they are arguing at full tilt and exchanging not just cruel words, but slaps, too. The funeral, however, turns into a proper East End send-off. Pat, suspicious of Janine’s motivation for returning to Walford, lays a trap for her. But is Janine quite as hard-hearted as she thought? After the funeral, Frank’s last wishes are read out at the Vic as he requested and Pat prepares to head off for a new life in Spain.

Meanwhile, Bianca is struggling to cope, which leads to a dire situation for her and the children. A visit to social services proves fruitless so Bianca is forced to take matters into her own hands. She is struggling to find a room for her and the kids and they end up huddled together in a bus shelter. Desperate, she calls Ricky, but then does a runner - afraid he’ll find out the truth.

Elsewhere, Chelsea is hell-bent on finding her father but her sister, Libby, is reticent. Chelsea decides to find her dad.

Emmerdale Teaser

Donna is unimpressed when Ross invites Shane to Andy and Jo’s party but as Shane charms the locals, Donna decides to give him a chance. However later on as they exit the pub, Shane makes a move on Donna and as he becomes aggressive, Donna knees him in the groin and rushes home in tears. She heads to the station to make a complaint but Shane sees her arrive and gets to Vaughan first, claiming that Donna is caving under the pressure of Viv’s investigation and needs time off. Donna then tells Vaughan she wants to report Shane for sexual harassment but is dismayed when Vaughan warns her that it would result in either the end of her career, or the end of Shane’s. Donna quietly fumes as Vaughan tells her to take some time to reconsider before taking it further. Will Donna be scared off by the prospect of losing her job?

Elsewhere, while everyone’s enjoying themselves at the party, Paddy is fed up because he’s on call and can’t drink. The next morning, an annoyed Paddy discovers that his car won’t start and Ross gives Paddy a lift to work but as they chat, Ross nearly hits a girl on a moped, but she swerves into a ditch. After checking on the girl, Ross panics that he’s still over the limit and could lose his job when the police find out. Paddy is relived that the moped driver Gennie is ok and agrees when Ross begs him to tell the police he was driving. Suddenly Gennie’s condition worsens and she’s rushed to hospital. Paddy and Ross are shocked when they arrive at the hospital and find out that the moped rider is in intensive care. Will Paddy come to regret his lies?

Meanwhile, Shadrach receives a mysterious phone call which leaves Zak and Lisa suspicious. When Zak and Lisa see Shadrach sprucing himself up, Shadrach lies and says he has a date. How much longer can he keep his long-lost daughter a secret? Nicola turns up to see Donald with a list of her demands. However Donald throws her out, insisting if she doesn’t leave then he’ll have her done for attempted murder.

Coronation Street Teaser

At the Platts’, David is nervous as Gail wills herself to remember what happened when she fell. When Jason arrives in a bid to make her realise he had nothing to do with it, Gail suddenly gets a flashback. Gail’s delighted at her breakthrough and hopes the rest will come back soon while Tina and David try to hide their terror at the prospect. Tina is extremely distressed about Gail’s memory returning and tells a nervous David that she wishes Gail would just remember everything and get it all out in the open - she can’t take the guilt and the lies anymore. Her strange behaviour starts to make Gail suspicious and the pieces of the puzzle begins to fall into place for Gail. Gail tells David she remembers arguing with him at the top of the stairs and knows he was the one who pushed her. What will David do?

Paul and Leanne are both nervous about setting fire to the restaurant, but the thought of a future with Leanne is pushing Paul to want to go through with it. Once he’s alone, he psyches himself up and lights a burner under a frying pan full of oil. As the pan bursts into flames and fire starts to spread, Paul hurries out and calls Leanne to tell her it’s done. Leanne braces herself to act the role of distraught businesswoman and when she arrives at the restaurant she feigns upset, mourning the death of her dream. Will Leanne get away with it?

Elsewhere, Steve and Michelle are disappointed when they decide to take a mini-break with Amy and Ryan but Ryan reveals he doesn’t want to go. Everyone is thankful to Harry when he rescues Amy from being run over by a builders van on the street.

Drake And Josh

While Drake And Josh will be a show which is fairly new to many in the UK, it is fast attracting cult status in both the US and the UK with more and more younger people tuning into what is turning into a comic classic. The show centres around two teenagers who are set to become step brothers, their fights, their antics and their many adventures. First aired in January 2004, the show is now in season 4 and the reputation of the actors seems to be increasing all of the time.

The show stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck, with Drake the more sensible one of the two (which is not exactly saying too much!) and Josh the more accident prone one of the two, who always seems to be getting into scrapes. They have ruined their parent’s house, they have wrecked their place of work, not to mention the time they lost their parents car after being tied up and left in the middle of the countryside – you name it, they have probably done it at some time or another!

Even though many comedy shows in the US seem to have an underlying message, a point to many of their storylines, Drake And Josh is just fun, fun, fun all the way. Their madcap ventures have increased the profile of not only the show, but all of the actors associated with the venture. “Crazy” Steve played by Jerry Trainor seems to be one of the script writer’s favourites, popping up in almost every episode there has ever been.

It will be interesting to see if one of the traditional TV stations in the UK pick up the show from the US, because there is no doubt that there is still a lot of mileage in this one. Its perfect for kids, adults will find it amusing and it makes you glad to be normal!

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