* New article

Apr 17, 2014

Pick of the week: About a Boy

SVT, Fri 22:00
by Emily Shaw

New series About a Boy (SVT1, Fri 4/25, 22:00) is based on the 2002 movie of the same name starring Hugh Grant, itself based on the 1998 Nick Hornby novel.

So don’t be surprised if you’re already familiar with the story: single guy and preteen boy form an unconventional friendship, and each learns life lessons from the other. How sweet.

The update stars David Walton (New Girl) as the loner, self-centered Will, whose new neighbors are single mother Fiona (Minnie Driver) and her young son Marcus (Benjamin Stockham). Also expect to see cameos of familiar faces like Al Madrigal (The Daily Show), Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights), Dax Shepard, and even Lil’ Jon.

The show seems to have been created for Walton. The lazy playboy who maybe-has-a-heart is a fitting role for an actor known for his fluent sarcasm and indefinable charm. Reviews of the show – which premiered stateside just over a month ago – have favored Walton’s performance.

Tune into the pilot episode (directed by Jon Favreau) this Friday evening, and decide for yourself whether or not this one will last.

Also New

Everybody’s favorite fictional killer is coming to the silver screens of Scandinavia in Bates Motel (SVT1, Fri 4/25, 23:20).

The series starring Freddie Highmore focuses on young Norman Bates before he graduated into stalking and stabbing Janet Leigh types in the Hitchcock ‘Psycho’ days.

In commemoration of the 50 year anniversary of the Beatles’ iconic Ed Sullivan Show performance, today’s top artists offer renditions of Beatles songs in The Beatles in the USA: Tribute Concert 2014 (SVT2, 4/19, 20:00). Performers include Maroon 5, LL Cool J, Alicia Keys, and Katy Perry.

Beatles a bit old-school for your taste? Or perhaps you think that Ringo Starr is a porn stallion from the 70’s? Then hang with Rihanna for seven days of seven concerts in seven countries in Rihanna 777 (DR3, Sun 4/20, 13:05). One might’ve thought this ‘good girl gone bad’ would prefer ‘666.’

Also be sure to check out the premieres of two reality shows, cooking program Roux Masterclass (TV3Puls, 4/17,21:00) and Living with the Amish, (SVT1 4/20 18:00) which follows UK teens as they attempt to ‘go Amish’ for six weeks.

Coming Soon: BlackBox

Black Box, premiering in the U.S. this week, is one of the most anticipated new shows of the spring season.

It centers on Dr. Catherine Black, played by Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes). Black is a neuroscientist with a secret: she suffers from a mental illness herself. However, this is a secret she keeps from all but her psychiatrist, played by the legendary Vanessa Redgrave.

In other words, it’s a cheery, uplifting show that’s sure to restore your faith in medical professionals the world over – or not.

Sport of the Week

Everton are keen to pile on the misery on their former boss, Steve Davis may be absent, but Ronnie O’Sullivan will be chalking it up at the 2014 World Championship in snooker cues up at the Crucible in Sheffield and Kevin Magnussen hopes to overcome his Bahrain blues at Chinese Grand Prix in Formula 1.