• A View from the Audience Our report from the audience
by Dawn Ploughman on the recording of the third season
episode,A
Little Learning • My
Hero Title Sequence
Some behind the scenes images
Latest News
BEWITCHED REBORN FOR THE UK 16/11/07: The classic US sitcom Bewitched is
set for a British makeover by My Hero creator
Paul Mendelson. Broadcast reports
Sony Pictures Television International, which
owns the rights to the original show, has agreed to a UK adaptation, which
is likely to be made for the BBC.
Paul told downthetubes the
pilot will be shot early next year at Teddington Studios, which is also where
My Hero was shot. The cast has yet to be announced
but he hopes to be able to share the information soon, but says "it's a goodie!"
Paul
Mendelson, who in addition to My Hero also created
the BBC1 sitcoms May to December and So Haunt
Me is now in talks with the BBC about a full series. If accepted, the show would
strengthen the BBC's relationship with Sony, which has sold the Dragons'
Den format around the world.
The original ABC series ran for eight series from 1964 to 1972 and
spawned spin-off show Tabitha and
inspired a
big screen remake starring starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell.
It starred Dick
York (and, later, Dick
Sargeant) as a man who discovered he
was married to a witch, Samantha, played by Elizabeth
Montgomery. Agnes
Moorhead played
the wicked mother-in-law, Endora. None of the major cast of the show are still
alive (see
this list for more information).
• Buy
the original Bewitched on
DVD from amazon.co.uk
• Buy the original Bewitched on DVD from
amazon.com
• More about
the original show on www.bewitched.net • Read our interview with Paul on the making of My Hero
MY HERO ON DVD 16/11/07: Some episodes of My
Hero are
available on DVD in both NTSC and PAL editions. here's the current information:
MY HERO NO MORE 25/9/06: downthetubes is
sorry to report that My Hero is
no more.
"The BBC have said - very graciously
I have say - no more My Heros
thank you," says series creator Paul Mendelson says, in an email thanking dtb for
its coverage of the show. "Thank you so much for your unwavering support
over the years.
"I hope My Hero lives on (I think there's
going to be DVD's) - and hopefully one day it will be re-formated somewhere.
It seems the double whammy of a new lead for the show - James Dreyfus - who,
based on the ratings, did not appeal to the general public or the show's fan
base, and the show's low ratings up against Channel 4's Big
Brother were
the reasons for the show's cancellation.
I'm sure every My Hero here
will join me in thanking everyone involved in the show for bringing so much
enjoyment down the years and we all look forward to seeing what Big Bear Films
come up with next. This includes a new BBC2 comedy
seriesin development called Mud,
written by Ian Brown and James Hendrie (My
Family, Home Again) and Me
and Mr Bones, another new comndey by My
Hero writer
Katie Douglas, a prize-winning writer who has several original TV projects
in development.
MAY TO DECEMBER COMES TO DVD
•Acorn
Media have released first series of Paul Mendelson's romantic comedy May
to December on DVD, owing to 'popular
demand'.
For more on Paul's popular romantic comedy, which starred Anton Rodgers as lawyer
Alec Callendar and Eve Matheson (and later, Lesley Dunlop) as Zoe Angell, visit this web site for an overview, episode guide and interview with Paul: www.mjnewton.demon.co.uk/tv/maymain.htm • Click
here to order May to December on DVD OLDER NEWS ITEMS: READ THE ARCHIVE
Writers: Paul Mendelson, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Simon Braithwaite and Paul
Alexander and many otherss
Director: John Stroud
Music: Phillip Pope
Costume Design: Sally Plum
Initial Broadcaster: BBC1.
You can read their guide to the show at: www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/m/myhero_66602550.shtml
In the UK, My Hero also screens on the digital channel UK
Gold.
View a clip of 'Baby Sunday' in action: www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/m/video_clips/myhero_66602550_1.shtml
Production Company: BBC Television/Big
Bear Films. Directed
by John Stroud. Produced by: Marcus Mortimer and John Stroud
Executive Producer: Geoffrey Perkins
Big Bear Films Limited is a company specialising in the development and production
of comedy and drama. Behind the company’s formation lies a single principle:
that all great television comedy and drama begins with good writing. Big
Bear Films is determined to offer the encouragement and rewards that good
writers deserve, but do not always receive.
Big Bear Films was formed in 1996 by two producer/directors, Marcus Mortimer
andJohn Stroud. Both were keen to use their experience to hothouse new writers,
as well as developing projects with more familiar talents.Among the writers
currently in discussions with the company are stand-up comedian John Dowie,
Phil Ford (Coronation Street, Taggart), Paul Mendelson (May to December,
So Haunt Me), Alan Clews (Made in Heaven, Love Hurts) and Lizzie Mickery
(Heartbeat,The Ice Room).
Special thanks to WILL-TV Program Director David Thiel for
giving me much more information on which PBS stations are
now screening My
Hero as of October 2002. If you're a WILL viewer, make sure
you pledge to help that station along! (And any PBS station,
come to that!)
BBC
America (as of 19 November 2003) Wednesdays at 9.00pm/et,
6 and 9 pm/pt. (Season2). One US fan tells us (14/11/03): "BBC
America has been repeating Season One for what seems like forever!" So
this is good news...
Alabama
• Georgia Public Television Screening
as of 23 October 2002: Not currently screening
Previously aired on: 11.30pm Saturday nights
Susan De wrote from Savannah, Georgia USA in December to say
that My Hero was
recently added to a line up of "Britcoms" the Georgia
Public Television station plays on Saturday nights. "We also
get Are you
Being Served, As Time Goes By, and The Vicar of Dibley", says Susan.
"These shows are the highlight of my week (as far as television
goes :) My
Hero is a great addition!"
The station is out of Atlanta. They have affiliates all over
Georgia. (Thanks, Susan! Thanks also to Chip Allen - updated
24/5/02)
Arizona
• KNME-TV/Channel 5 Screenings
as of 23 October 2002: Sundays 10.30pm
A service of The University of New Mexico and Albuquerque
Public Schools.
Arkansas • Louisiana Public Broadcasting Screenings
as of 10/9/02: Not currently on air
LPB is a big fan of Britcoms, with its own Britcom Fan Club.
For those of you who just want to know which programs they're
airing, check out their Britcom Lineup page. If you have any deep probing
questions about their Club call 1-800-272-8161, ext. 4211 or
4274.
California
• KOCE (Southern California)
Screenings as of 23 October 2002: Friday evenings at 10.00pm
(thanks to Jocelyn)
• KRCB/Channel 22 (Rohnert
Park) Screenings as of 23 October 2002: 7.00pm, Sundays
Florida
• WEDU-TV Channel 3 in
Tampa, Florida Screenings as of 10/9/02: Saturdays, 10.00pm
Began screening My Hero on Saturdays at 10.00pm in
July 2002 (thanks to Miguel - added 7 July 2002)
• WUFT, PBS's University
of Florida station Screenings as of 10/9/02: No info
B egan broadcasting My Hero on Sunday 24 February at
9.30pm. (Thanks to Kara Bridgman)
Illinois
• WILL AM-FM-TV Servicing
the Univeristy of Illinois. Screenings as of 24/10/02:
My Hero was the winner of a pledge drive vote last year. The
show began airing 27 july 2002, and currently airs on Saturdays
at 9.30 pm. The station
also airs Ardal O'Hanlon's Father Ted on Saturdays
at 11.15 pm. (thanks for this information from Program Director
David Thiel, whos says "It's a fun series, and I'm glad to see that it's still in production.")
Incidentally, WILL is one of only 16 PBS stations still running
Doctor Who in the US. Way to go!
• WSIU (Carbondale,
Illinois) Screenings as of 24/10/02: Saturdays
at 9:30 pm
Iowa
• Iowa Public Television
Screening as of 10/9/02: Series 3, 9.30pm Saturdays
"We broadcast the series on Saturday nights at 9.30 p.m," writes Cyndy Robbins
from the station's programing division, after she happened across this humble
page. "It's part of our Saturday night Britcom lineup," Cyndy continues, "which
also includes Are You Being Served? Again!, Last of the Summer Wine,
and The Vicar of Dibley." (Thanks Cyndy! Added 24/5/002).
The site includes a RealTime clip from the show (courtesy of
the BBC) on this page.
Minnesota
• Twin Cities Public Television (TPT)
in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota Screenings as of March 2005: TPT
have just started airing Season Five.
New Mexico
• KNME (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Screenings
as of 24/10/02: Sundays at 10:30 pm
New York
• NJN (New
Jersey Network Television - PBS) Screenings as of 13/10/03:
screening season
4 on Saturday nights at 10.30. (Thanks to John E. Santomas)
• WMHT The New York Capital Region station
Screenings as of 10/9/02: begins again on 13 October (Sundays)
at 11.00am.
North Carolina
• UNC-TV Screenings
as of 27/10/05: Thursday nights at 8.30pm: Season 5 starts screening from 3/11/05.
(Thanks to David Windhorst)
Ohio
• WNEO/WEAO (Alliance/Akron,
Ohio) Screenings as of 24/10/02: Saturdays at 10.30 pm
• WOSU Channel 34 out of Columbus, Ohio.
Screenings as of 17/10/02: Airs My Hero on Monday - Thursday
nights at 11.30pm. Sometimes another PBS show axes it, but
it's pretty regular. (Thanks
to Hiedi and also Tammy Hendershot)
Oregon
• Oregon Public Broadcasting Screenings
as of 5/10/03: 9.30pm Saturdays. Repeating season four
Serving communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. (Thanks
to Zane)
• KSYS/KFTS (Medford/Klamath Falls, Oregon) Screenings
as of 24/10/02:
Saturdays at 8.30 pm.
Generally in Jackson and Josephine counties
on channel 8. Generally in Klamath county on channel
22.
Pennsylvania
• WHYY-TV (PBS
- Channel 12) Philadelphia. Screenings as of 12/5/03: Currently
screening
season 3 Sunday nights at 11.oo pm. (Thanks to John E. Santomas)
Texas
• KERA (PBS in the Dallas/Ft Worth area)
Screening as of 1/3/04: 11pm Sundays (thanks to Steve)
KERA screens My Hero along with numerous other UK shows. "We love it!"
writes Michael Bialas. "We like the web site and I was looking for more info
about Emily Joyce, she's cute." (Thanks to Michael and Shelli
- updated 21/5/02). The station also screens Goodnight Sweetheart.
• KLRU (Channel 18 /
Cable 9 ) Screening as of February 2005: Season Five (Thanks to
John Buczek)
• Maryland Public Television Screenings
as of 24/10/02: My Hero is on sabbatical. "The
audience response has been negligible," a spokesperson for the station told
me. "Viewers tell us they want to see the old favourites." However,
MPT will bring My Hero back in early summer 2003.
Utah
• As of 30/8/04: KUED Ch 7 Saturday nights at 11.00pm
Virginia
• WSWP/WNPB/WPBY (Beckley/Morgantown/Huntington,
West Virginia)Screenings
as of 24/10/02: Saturdays at 10.00 am
• UNC-TV Screenings
as of 12/5/03: Saturday nights at 10.00pm. This channel serves
North Carolina
and parts of Virginia. (Thanks to Phil)
Washington
• KBTC/KCKA (Tacoma/Centralia,
Washington) Screenings as of 24/10/02: Saturdays
at 8.30 pm
Australia
23/4/06 (thanks to Adrian J. Watts): My
Hero is
also shown on the subscription TV channel UKTV (albeit several months behind
the ABC).
14/3/05: ABC Australia has started
reshowing My
Hero at 2.30pm on Fridays. "They seem to have started at the beginning
only a few weeks ago (beginning of March) without telling anyone," says fan Peter
Fallon, "So I missed the pilot episode again. Anyhow, fans should know that
they seem to be re-running the lot." There's no word on whether ABC have
purchased Season 5 yet.
Laurel Considine wrote to me back in January 2002 that My
Hero in
Australia " a bit of a sleeper as they don't advertise much
but I have pointed a few people in its direction since I stumbled
onto it and they think it is a crackup (This
is a good thing!)... I haven't laughed so
hard for ages." Canada
As of 26/10/03: My Hero screened
on BBC Kids.
Night at Migdnight, season three.
France
BBC Prime has the rights to screen My Hero. (Thanks to Andrew Thomas)
Holland
• Read a Dutch review of My Hero (or Thermoman, as
it's called there): Go. Can't read Dutch? Run it through Babelfish.
New Zealand
As of 28/10/02: My Hero (Season
2) is screening on New Zealand's biggest channel, TV1, on Saturdays
at 7.00pm. "That's
a pretty prime time, although weekend viewing is obviously lower as people go
out of a Saturday night," writes John Davies. (Thanks to several
people who e-mailed from NZ to let me know about this).
Portugal
• "Meu herói" As
of 10/9/02: Series 3 screens on R.T.P.
2 every Sundays at 24:00. (thanks to Rui for this who says
My Hero is "one of the best
Comi Shows I've ever seen... My Hero is a success here in Portugal.")
South Africa
Used to screen as part of a Sunday comedy hour on SABC3.
• Read a review in The South African paper, The
Herald: Go
Sample: "This 2001 BBC sitcom brilliantly spoofs the superhero
adventure genre... The cast is rounded out by some other nutty
characters, especially
Geraldine McNulty as Mrs Raven, the sharp-tongued doctor's
receptionist who abuses all comers to the surgery, and Hugh
Dennis as Dr Piers Crispin, the clinic's
doctor, who is far more concerned about his career as a TV
medic than actually
practising medicine."
OTHER LINKS • Big Bear Films
Link: www.bigbearfilms The independent TV company which produced My Hero.
• BBC
My Hero Page Not a great amount about the show really, but there is an interview with Ardal
REGION TWO My
Hero Season 3 was released on two Region 2 DVDs (Europe, Middle East & Japan only) by Imc Vision Ltd
in October 2002. DVD One covers episodes 1 - 5 and DVD Two 6 - 10.
"I'm not entirely impressed with the special features on My
Hero," writes contributor Dawn Ploughman. "There
simply isn't enough! All very amusing of course."
You can
buy both from Amazon.co.uk.
Want to see more My Hero on DVD?
BBC
Worldwide is responsible for marketing BBC shows internationally and we
suggest you contact them with any enquiries. The web site also has information
for businesses interested in taking out licenses for BBC products - you know, My Hero lunchboxes, costumes, action figures
etc...
BBC Worldwide Limited
Woodlands
80 Wood Lane
London W12 0TT
UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 8433 2000
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 8749 0538
WANT TO WRITE SITUATION COMEDY? Here's some links that might help you in your quest
BBC
New Writing
Drama, Entertainment and Children's Programmes Room
222 Broadcasting House W1A 1AA 020 7765 2703
The BBC's new department seeking out new writing talent.
• SitsVac
Comics creator Kev Sutherland has compiled this brilliant
site on comdey writing as part of the process of in his
show The SitCom
Trials, which has aired on ITV and often tours the
country. It's packed with invaluable comedy writing tips, script
samples and much more. There's also a discussion group
you can join. Brilliant!