Secret Diary of a Call Girl

Preview of Secret Diary of a Call Girl Season Finale

editor@buddytv.com — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

A couple of years after cable network Showtime acquired exclusive US broadcast rights to air hit British comedy Secret Diary of a Call Girl, the series wraps up its second season tonight at 10:30pm.

The show about the double life of Hannah (Billie Piper) – legal secretary by day, high-class call girl by night – premiered on the UK's ITV2 in September 2007 to huge numbers. In the same manner, Secret Diary opened in the US in June 2008 to the highest ratings Showtime had seen in nearly four years. It debuted to almost one million viewers,400,000 more than its closes rival, Dexter. The show benefited largely from the lead-in audience that tuned in for the fourth season premiere of Weeds. The second season aired on January 2009, with a third season coming up as part of the show's original acquisition deal.

'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' Premieres Tonight on Showtime

editor@buddytv.com — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 06:00:00 GMT

“I'm very high class, which means I charge by the hour, and I charge a lot,” says Belle, the London resident and high-class escort played by Billie Piper on the British import Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Sunday is a big night for Showtime, as it opens its big guns, namely The L Word, United States of Tara, and Secret Diary. Fellow cable network HBO will likewise debut Big Love and Flight of the Conchords' season openers. Piper played Rose on the long-running sci-fi hit Dr. Who from 2005 to 2006.

Piper, 26, returns as the high-class call girl who takes London by storm, with the maiden episode of its sophomore run tackling a lot of Sex and the City-like themes, including family, friends, and relationships couched in storylines that revolve around Belle's trysts. Critics maintain that the series is fast-paced and glossy. Just make sure the kids are asleep when it stars, which should be the case, as it airs 11:30pm on Showtime.

Live from the TCA Press Tour: Showtime Orders 2 More Seasons of 'Weeds,' 2 New Comedies

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:48:41 GMT

The folks at Showtime had plenty to be excited about as their panels at the TCA began. Yesterday the network finally broke through at the Emmys to score its first ever nomination for Outstanding Drama Series for Dexter and also saw acting nominations for Michael C. Hall from Dexter and Mary-Louise Parker from Weeds.

While the past year brought ratings records and plenty of awards, Showtime is looking to the future. The network just ordered two more seasons of Weeds following the current one, it's picking up two new comedies starring a pair of top-tier actresses and a potential spin-off for The L Word.

'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' Review: An Intriguing But Unfunny Comedy

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:41:33 GMT

In theory, a comedy about a high-priced call girl would pair perfectly with Weeds, about a suburban mom drug dealer. Showtime even has the perfectly clever and provocative tagline: “It's a business doing pleasure with you.” Unfortunately, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, premiering tonight at 10:30pm, comes up short for one simple reason: it's not a comedy.

There's a slightly humorous moment or two in the first episode, but the same can be said for any episode of Lost featuring a Hurley scene. Secret Diary of a Call Girl is interesting as a docu-drama, taking us inside a formerly unknown career, but HBO already gave us Cathouse and A.C. Hookers.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl

editor@buddytv.com — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:48:10 GMT

The Secret Diary of a Call Girl is a British television series originally on ITV and now currently airing on Showtime, which follows the life of high-class female escort Belle de Jour (Billie Piper), who is torn between her serious feelings for a client and the code of her profession. In addition to her dilemma, she is befriended by Bambi (Ashley Madekwe), a wannabe call girl who aspires to be just like her.