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Gillian Anderson to host Masterpiece Theater, and "The Complete Jane Austen"
After 37 years, the people's broadcaster has unveiled plans to overhaul their staple and increasingly staid anthology series, Masterpiece Theatre, signing the erstwhile X-Files babe up to host the first of three new miniseasons when the pedigree show returns on Jan. 13.
"I am a huge supporter of Masterpiece Theatre and the quality and integrity of its programming," Anderson said. "I'm proud to be a part of it."
Rather than the mash-up of genres the series has previously scheduled, come 2008, the show's featured content will be divided into three separate blocks of programming: period pieces, mysteries and contemporary dramas. The first bundle of TV movies, dubbed "Masterpiece Classic," will be hosted by Anderson and is set to run from January through May. Anderson's ascension to the hosting gig marks not only the first time a woman has hosted the show, but the first time anyone has since 2004, when former New York Times columnist Russell Baker stepped down from the emcee gig. Veteran journalist Alistair Cooke was the series' inaugural host, introducing the program from 1971 until 1992. PBS execs noted in announcing the changes to the program that they were not altering the quality of the series.
Anderson's hosting tenure will begin with The Complete Jane Austen, a showcase adaptation of all six of the writer's beloved novels. Her miniseason will also include Miss Austen Regrets, a biography of the novelist.
The complete Jane Austen
(And, yep, it's the Colin Firth P&P. And are any of these actually remotely "new" as opposed to "This is the first time they'll appear on PBS? )
"I am a huge supporter of Masterpiece Theatre and the quality and integrity of its programming," Anderson said. "I'm proud to be a part of it."
Rather than the mash-up of genres the series has previously scheduled, come 2008, the show's featured content will be divided into three separate blocks of programming: period pieces, mysteries and contemporary dramas. The first bundle of TV movies, dubbed "Masterpiece Classic," will be hosted by Anderson and is set to run from January through May. Anderson's ascension to the hosting gig marks not only the first time a woman has hosted the show, but the first time anyone has since 2004, when former New York Times columnist Russell Baker stepped down from the emcee gig. Veteran journalist Alistair Cooke was the series' inaugural host, introducing the program from 1971 until 1992. PBS execs noted in announcing the changes to the program that they were not altering the quality of the series.
Anderson's hosting tenure will begin with The Complete Jane Austen, a showcase adaptation of all six of the writer's beloved novels. Her miniseason will also include Miss Austen Regrets, a biography of the novelist.
The complete Jane Austen
(And, yep, it's the Colin Firth P&P. And are any of these actually remotely "new" as opposed to "This is the first time they'll appear on PBS? )
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I've read somewhat lukewarm reviews of Mansfield Park and Persuasion - don't know about the other two. They've all been available for download in various places, but I haven't seen any of them.
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I'm still boggling at the changest they made to Persuasion.
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