Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Coming Soon ... To Your TV Screen

Idris Elba, above, in a poster for "Luther"; Will Arnett and Keri Russell, middle, in a poster for "Running Wilde," and creator/star Al Thompson, below, in "Baby Daddy Memoirs." Photos from nytvf.com

HEAD'S UP: Yours Truly cannot be EVERYWHERE. To that end, she finds that she must rely on reliable contributors. The multi-talented Daralyn Jay is the first to join the fold. Drum roll, please ...

BY DARALYN JAY

IDRIS Elba. He of “The Wire” and “The Office” may be the reason I upgrade my cable subscription to again include BBC AMERICA. In “Luther,” he stars as a brilliant, tormented detective. The miniseries premieres next month on the British cable channel. However, you and I can catch the first episode (with premium tickets) during the New York Television Festival when it screens Wednesday.


In its fifth year, the NYTVF showcases independent television pilots in competition categories, as well as hot new network and cable programming. In addition, daytime panels feature industry insiders holding forth on nonscripted television, digital and web programming and show development. The festival closes Saturday with a red-carpet premiere/second-episode preview/Q&A and reception for Fox’s “Running Wilde," which happens to have its network premiere tonight (9:30). From the brains behind “Arrested Development,” this story told from the perspective of a 12-year-old (Stefania Owen) concerns rich playboy (Will Arnett) willing to undertake any means necessary to woo childhood sweetheart (Keri Russell).

"Baby Daddy Memoirs," also concerns itself with a young man - albeit one significantly down the socio-economic ladder - with sweetheart complications. Poor Slice has 28-plus “baby mothers” on his hands and unimaginable drama. Al Thompson is the show’s creator/star and an independent television veteran who won last year’s Audience Award for another comedic show, “Johnny B. Homeless,” which found a home on Comedy Central’s Atom.com (http://valdeanent.com/). “Baby Daddy Memoirs” (screening Wednesday and Thursday) is his third Web series and one of 42 NYTVF official selections in the Independent Pilot Competition.

“It was just something I kind of created for fun.”

Lest he be known only as a comedic series creator, AT also offers Lenox Avenue. The stylish, sexy Web drama revolves around the lives of 20-somethings living and loving in his native Harlem. It debuts on the Internet this fall. Starting out as an actor in such films as “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “A Walk to Remember” and “Love Don’t Cost A Thing,” AT turned his attention to the Web to fill what he saw as a void in quality programming.

“I want to continue to make quality entertainment in the vein of old-school television – when we didn’t have reality shows,” he says.”

With good reason, AT has been compared to both megafilm and TV producer/director J.J. Abrams and pioneering filmmaker/producer Robert Townsend. On Friday, he will participate in a panel titled “The Straight Dope on Web TV.” Reflecting on his current medium of choice he mused, “You have such a vast audience on the Web.

"People from Sweden love my stuff. I have no idea why, but I’m happy to be there."

“Luther” will be screened at 8:30 p.m. on 22 Sept. at SVA Theater 2; “Baby Daddy Memoirs” will be screened at 6:30 p.m. on 22 Sept. at Tribeca Cinemas Theater 1, and at 7:45 p.m. on 23 Sept. at Tribeca Cinemas Theater 2; “Running Wilde” will be screened at 7 p.m. on 25 Sept. at SVA Theater 1.

Learn more about the New York Television Festival at http://www.nytvf.com/.

Daralyn Jay is a writer, actress and singer. Visit her online at www.Daralyn.net.

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