Crusoe

Crusoe: Preview of "Smoke and Mirrors"

editor@buddytv.com — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT

There's an on going buzz that Crusoe is on the brink of cancellation. The show hasn't been a critical favorite and hasn't exactly attracted promising numbers. Following its premiere episode on October 17, 2008, ratings have significantly dropped, leading critics to predict that NBC will soon pull the plug on the multi-million pound budgeted series. On the other hand, the show boasts its own share of weird and fantastical elements. And if you're a fan of the Justin Bodle-created drama, you still have four remaining episodes to enjoy, including tonight's installment called “Hour 10 – Smoke and Mirrors.”

Will 'Crusoe' Get the Axe Soon?

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

After it premiered a couple of weeks ago on NBC, Crusoe has not exactly been a critical favorite. The reviews have ranged from lukewarm to scathing, but the overall consensus can be summarized in a single word: silly. Prior to its airing, some have expected some sort of a Lost vibe for Crusoe, but they realized the only thing it has in common with the ABC hit are the flashbacks. Lost didn’t have any pirates or cannibals. It had its own share of weird, fantastical elements, but for some reason, it had been capable of making the whole thing work and seem believable, whereas Crusoe, heavily promoted and anticipated on NBC’s fall line-up, jumps from being poignant and dramatic to something out of Saturday morning children’s fantasy.

Now for the numbers. Crusoe’s two-hour premiere managed to reel in 7.4 million, and if critics are to be believed, disappointed viewers. True enough, its second week saw a drop of 1.5 million viewers to 5.9 million. Judging from the reviews, it looks like the boat is sinking for the NBC freshman. Apparently, its multi-million pound budget (yes, it is being made by a London-based independent production company) cannot buy creativity for the series. Already, some critics are predicting a sunken ship on the horizon.

Is 'Crusoe' Poised To Be A Waste of Your Time?

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

As a strongly-promoted segment of NBC’s fall line-up, one can’t help but think of Crusoe as a program of epic proportions. Shot in multiple locations and featuring a stories cast (Phillip Winchester, Tongayi Chirisa, Anna Walton, Sam Neill and Joaqium de Almeida, among others), you’d think that it’s one of the more worthwhile programs to find itself on your television screens this season.

After the two-hour premiere aired last week, though, it felt that there were second thoughts about the series. In summary, it’s been described as a lavish production with terrible pacing and terrible faith in the original story, Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe. As BuddyTV’s Oscar Dahl simply put it, it “has its charms, but [it’s] ultimately unsatisfying unless you’re a 12-year-old boy.”

Crusoe: Premiere Review

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:58:26 GMT

Crusoe. I get it. NBC wants an exotic adventure series, something that can appeal to kids and adults. It's a worthy endeavor, though one difficult to pull off. There is certainly a place for old-fashioned entertainment in a network landscape increasingly cramped with high-concept modern fare, but you have to nail the execution. NBC did not. Crusoe (whose two-hour premiere airs tonight at 8pm) is based on the classic novel Robinson Crusoe, about a man stranded for decades on an island in the middle of nowhere. It isn't a deserted island, however, as pirates and cannibals are bound to show up and wreak havoc. Crusoe is an example of a network having a solid idea but not knowing what to do with it. Unless, that is, they want to appeal to 12-year-old boys and only 12-year-old boys.

'Crusoe' Star Talks About His Challenging Role

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT

BuddyTV recently previewed the new NBC series, Crusoe, which debuts October 17 at 8pm. Our very own John Kubicek described the show as something that “looks and feels like a movie,” adding that it “has far more in common with HBO's Rome or Showtime's The Tudors than it does with other major network dramas.” Recently, the star of Crusoe spoke to Deadbolt to share his thoughts on the new series, which exude action scenes such as that of the Pirates of the Carribean.

Philip Winchester, who stars as the titular character, admitted that one of the biggest challenges he had to overcome was “he physical and emotional stamina, because we’ve been [shooting] in such a short amount of time and...there’s been a lot of physical demands on everyone.”

Sexiest Breakout Stars: #4 Philip Winchester in 'Crusoe'

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:01:00 GMT

For exclusive on-set videos and hot features on the new TV season, check out BuddyTV's Fall 2008 Preview.

From Errol Flynn in the early days of film to Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean, swashbucklers have always been sexy. Television finally gets its own in British actor Philip Winchester, playing the titular role in NBC's historical drama Crusoe. The notion of a man shipwrecked on an island, longing to return to his wife and family while keeping treasure-seeking pirates at bay is the thing of romance novels, and Winchester perfectly fits the bill. With his rugged good looks and British charm, there is little doubt that Supernatural's Sam and Dean will have a new Winchester competing for the adoration of female TV viewers.

BuddyTV Fall 2008 Preview: Oscar Dahl's Top 5 New Shows

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:45 GMT

For exclusive on-set videos and hot features on the new TV season, check out BuddyTV's Fall 2008 Preview.

It's hard to get excited about a show you haven't seen. I get it. The failure rate of new series (both ratings and quality-wise) is so high, that you never want to get your hopes up too high before a new show premieres. This season's new batch of shows aren't very inspiring (at least to me), and I'm kind of happy about it. If I enter into the season with low expectations, I can only be pleasantly surprised. There will be at least one show that you expect little of that comes out of nowhere to impress. Last season, for me, it was Dirty Sexy Money. You don't want to write any show off, but until the new season begins, I'm going to keep an even keel. While reading my top five selections, remember this: I don't expect too much from any of them, but see serious potential in all.

BuddyTV Fall 2008 Preview: Crusoe

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:15 GMT

For exclusive on-set videos and hot features on the new TV season, check out BuddyTV's Fall 2008 Preview.

Network: NBC

Premiere: Friday, October 17, 8pm

Cast: Philip Winchester, Anna Walton, Joaquin De Almeida, Tongay Chirisa and Sam Neill

Premise: Based on the novel by Daniel Defoe, Crusoe follows Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked on an island, facing obstacles like pirates and the dangerous creatures of the island. His story is paralleled by visions of his homelife and the family he longs to get back to.

NBC Looks for More International Co-Productions After 'Crusoe'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:00:10 GMT

In an effort to give audiences the best in entertainment, television networks are investing significantly in production of favorite television shows, as well as new ones they hope will be loved as well. The result is a plethora of programs that are epic in proportions, either in the actors that star, or the locations they shoot in, or the story itself. To do just that, they need money. Obviously.

NBC, for one, is premiering Crusoe on October 17. Already the program is getting a significant amount of hype: the retelling of Robinson Crusoe stars Philip Winchester, Anna Walton and Sam Neill, and is shot in different locations around the world, such as South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom. To aid the network in the show's production, it has struck a deal with British production company Power Entertainment, which is also distributing the show internationally.

Crusoe: When is a Lot of Intrigue Too Much?

editor@buddytv.com — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Many press people over at the Television Critics Association press tour weren't too happy with how NBC introduced (or not introduced) Crusoe, as part of its fall line-up premiering on Fridays in mid-October. According to some, while it is true that the cast and crew and currently filming in South Africa, the NBC people could've done something similar to how they presented the network's coverage of the Beijing games from the Chinese capital.

To its credit, NBC did screen a clip-reel loop of the new adventure series but the absence of a panel with cast and producers via satellite from Africa left a lot disappointed (with not so much to write about). Some say it worked, to increase anticipation and build up suspense for Crusoe while others were simply blanked out.

Live from the TCA Press Tour: New NBC Shows

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:22:56 GMT

On the final day of panels for the Television Critics Association press tour, NBC previewed some of its new shows coming this Fall. The network has the Jekyll and Hyde spy drama My Own Worst Enemy starring Christian Slater, the Australian-imported comedy Kath and Kim, and the revised Knight Rider.

The network's one other new scripted series, Crusoe, was not in attendance due to filming in South Africa, though a preview video for the show was quite inspiring, making it look a bit like a TV version of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Fall Anticipation Rankings: #9 - Crusoe

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:05:27 GMT

BuddyTV is looking at the 17 new shows the major networks will premiere this Fall to see which ones are worth getting excited about and which ones we have low expectations for.

Show Description: Based on the acclaimed Daniel Defoe novel Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe is a new take one the old story, with the action moving between the island where Crusoe is stranded for 28 years and Crusoe's former London home. Crusoe braves the elements and unexpected enemies.