Midsomer Murders & Sergeant Cribb

[Castile]

I just purchased a couple of sets of the "newer" (post-Daniel Casey) Midsomers and one set of Sergeant Cribb on DVD - I'd never seen Sgt. Cribb - a shot-on-video, Victorian Era mystery series, and wonder if it was ever shown here in the States. Is Midsomer still in production? Telecasts seem to have dried up over here, unless I just don't get the station broadcasting them. I watched this every week without fail on
A&E but had only seen one episode with the new sidekick. Any other fans of these series? The music from "Midsomer" is cool, too, and it apparently had a CD release, but I've never been able to find it over here. How were/are these shows received in the UK? And can anyone tell me about the Murdoch Mysteries? (They popped up as a recommendation during a search at Amazon, but if they've had an airing over here, I missed them.)

[John Johnson]

I just purchased a couple of sets of the "newer" (post-Daniel Casey) Midsomers and one set of Sergeant Cribb on DVD - I'd never seen Sgt. Cribb - a shot-on-video, Victorian Era mystery series, and wonder if it was ever shown here in the States. Is Midsomer still in production? Telecasts seem to have dried up over here, unless I just don't get the station broadcasting them. I watched this every week without fail on
A&E but had only seen one episode with the new sidekick. Any other fans of these series? The music from "Midsomer" is cool, too, and it apparently had a CD release, but I've never been able to find it over here. How were/are these shows received in the UK? And can anyone tell me about the Murdoch Mysteries? (They popped up as a recommendation during a search at Amazon, but if they've had an airing over here, I missed them.)

Midsomer Murders has been in production since 1997. So far there are thirteen seasons. John Nettles has announced he will be leaving the series in 2010. Anew DCI will be introduced for season fourteen. However, with all the cutbacks at ITV, nothing is certain. It has been remarked over the years that with all the murders that have taken place in Midsomer, it's surprising that anybody is left. LOL
The Boigraphy Channel used to screen the series in the U.S. but the rights expired for this several years ago and they don't seem that interested in bringing the show back. I think it would be an ideal show for BBC America, but when you look at the current output of shows, perhaps not.
There were two CDs featuring music from Midsomer Murders, both of which are deleted now and fetch quite a high price. Amazon UK has them for sale, but as I said, at a high price.
One of the better sites for the show is this one

http://www.midsomermurders.net/index.php

[John Johnson]

Wikipedia lists The Murdoch Mysteries as a Canadian series. The first series is due for a DVD release on 16th June. Here's a bit of background on the programme.

Set in 1895 Toronto, Murdoch Mysteries explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, Sue Thomas F.B. Eye), a handsome young detective using radical forensic techniques, like fingerprinting and trace evidence, to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. Though his unconventional approach elicits ridicule from fellow officers and skepticism from his boss, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street), Murdoch is often the only one who can crack the case.

Murdoch's small circle of confidantes includes pathologist Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy, Durham County), a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination with forensic science and Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Hatching, Matching and Dispatching), Murdoch's eager but inexperienced right-hand man. Both are valuable allies who help Murdoch solve his varied cases and traverse the many stratums of Victorian society.

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/tvshows_m ... eries.aspx

[John Johnson]

Sergeant Cribb was a short lived series which originally ran on a Sunday evening in the UK. I believe there was about 14 episodes. Here's an episode list.

http://www.memorabletv.com/episodeguides/cribb.htm

[Castile]

Thanks very much for the info, John. I looked at the CDs on Amazon UK, did the conversion and...you're right. Steep. Love the show, though. I've been enjoying the Sgt. Cribb episodes as well, and will probably splurge for the second set at some point. Also got a program called "Ain't Misbehavin'" which I haven't looked at yet, but is set during WWII and looked interesting to me. "Air Raids! Gangsters! Big Bands! Bombs!" Again, thanks for your input.

[John Johnson]

Another series I would recommend is Wallander, which was made by the BBC in 2008. It is adapted from Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels and stars Kenneth Branagh. In a way, it reminded me of the 1972 tv series Van Der Valk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallander_(TV_series)

[Castile]

Another series I would recommend is Wallander, which was made by the BBC in 2008. It is adapted from Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels and stars Kenneth Branagh.

I looked this up and it sounds like something I would like very much. I also liked "Jericho of Scotland Yard" when PBS ran it over here in the states a few years ago. Anyway, the Branagh goes on my list, too. Thanks for the recommendation.

[John Johnson]

Branagh's Wallander leads BAFTA craft awards

Kenneth Branagh's TV drama Wallander is leading the British Academy of Film and Television Arts craft awards - scooping four prizes for achievement behind the scenes.

The BBC series, which stars Branagh as a Swedish detective, was honoured in categories including original music and production design. It comes less than a month after the show was named best drama at the Academy's TV awards.

Cult sci-fi show Doctor Who garnered two trophies for best visual effects and best editing for fiction/entertainment, while Aardman Animations, the makers of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, was handed this year's special award.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20090518/ten ... 0bd6d.html

[John Johnson]

BBC Trailer.

[John Johnson]

Four new episodes of Midsomer Murders are being released on 29th September. This part of the 2006/2207 season. Wish they would release them a proper seasons and not break them up.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Midsom ... t-13/12253

[Castile]

Cool. I'm due for some new mayhem.
PBS ran some episodes of the Branagh series not long ago here in the states, but I didn't find out about it until after they had shown. They're now alternating between new episodes of POIROT and MARPLE. The MARPLE re-dos with Geraldine McEwan played fast and loose with some of the stories (particularly with the who-actually-dun-it aspect) so I'm curious to see if this new series sticks closer to the original novels. Thanks for the heads-up on the next MIDSOMER set.
Oh...a few years ago we had episodes of a series called JERICHO OF SCOTLAND YARD - four episodes, I think. Is this series still in production in the UK, by any chance? It was a good program.

[John Johnson]

Cool. I'm due for some new mayhem.
PBS ran some episodes of the Branagh series not long ago here in the states, but I didn't find out about it until after they had shown. They're now alternating between new episodes of POIROT and MARPLE. The MARPLE re-dos with Geraldine McEwan played fast and loose with some of the stories (particularly with the who-actually-dun-it aspect) so I'm curious to see if this new series sticks closer to the original novels. Thanks for the heads-up on the next MIDSOMER set.
Oh...a few years ago we had episodes of a series called JERICHO OF SCOTLAND YARD - four episodes, I think. Is this series still in production in the UK, by any chance? It was a good program.

Jericho was another attempt to make a period crime drama, similar to Foyle's War, but it was not a great ratings success and ITV decided not to commission a second series.

[John Johnson]

Cool. I'm due for some new mayhem.
PBS ran some episodes of the Branagh series not long ago here in the states, but I didn't find out about it until after they had shown. They're now alternating between new episodes of POIROT and MARPLE. The MARPLE re-dos with Geraldine McEwan played fast and loose with some of the stories (particularly with the who-actually-dun-it aspect) so I'm curious to see if this new series sticks closer to the original novels. Thanks for the heads-up on the next MIDSOMER set.
Oh...a few years ago we had episodes of a series called JERICHO OF SCOTLAND YARD - four episodes, I think. Is this series still in production in the UK, by any chance? It was a good program.

Marple is now played by Julia McKenzie, who replaced Geraldine McKeowan for the 2009 series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marple_(TV_series)

[John Johnson]

Two more crime dramas I can recommend are Wire In the Blood, sadly now cancelled due to high production costs. It starred Robson Green. It was being screened by BBC America, but hasn't been on for some time.

http://www.itv.com/drama/copsandcrime/wireintheblood/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_in_the_blood

The other one is A Touch Of Frost, starring David Jason (Only Fools And Horses). The series was concluded in 2009 after a 17 year run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Touch_of ... TV_series)

http://www.itv.com/Drama/copsandcrime/a ... fault.html

[John Johnson]

Four new episodes of Midsomer Murders are being released on 29th September. This part of the 2006/2207 season. Wish they would release them a proper seasons and not break them up.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Midsom ... t-13/12253

Here's the package art.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Midsom ... t-13/12272