Oenophiles may not be the natural target audience for a reality show. And we already know that alcohol-infused reality TV isn’t a great idea (witness too many “Big Brother” melees, hookups and breakups). But here’s an upmarket concept tailored more to well-heeled PBS viewers than to fans of “Wipeout.”
Wine fans are about to get a show.
“Foodies have ‘Top Chef,’ fashionistas have ‘Project Runway’; finally, wine lovers have a reality show all their own,” says Kevin Whelan, executive producer of “The Winemakers,” which debuted last week on PBS (locally, it started Friday on KBDI-Channel 12 and will air on KRMA-Channel 6 in November.) So far, six half-hours are slated.
Whelan fancies this programming varietal as a cross between “Top Chef” and “The Apprentice,” meaning that it borrows the boardroom idea and pits 12 men and women against one another in a battle to launch their own wine label.
Beringer Vineyards signed on as a major sponsor. The winner gets to produce nearly 15,000 cases of wine, which will be distributed nationwide. The wine will be available in retail outlets in most states, including Colorado, before the final episode airs.
Whether the series turns out to be backward, cloying or has good legs will be left to each viewer’s taste.
A local was cast among the contestants: elementary-school teacher Julia Roberts, recently returned to Denver from culinary school in London. First up: a grape-picking challenge.
The lead judges are Leslie Sbrocco, a wine writer and host of the PBS series “Check Please,” and Mark Oldman, author of “Oldman’s Guide to Outsmarting Wine.” Participating judges include Lettie Teague, a Food & Wine magazine writer; Doug Frost, one of only three people worldwide to hold both a Master of Wine and Master Sommelier title, and Corey Brown, Los Angeles-based wine writer.
“Stargate Universe.”
OK, so there’s a secret off-world military base and, when a group of explorers and a senator serving as an official delegation from Congress arrive there, they’re suddenly under attack. Naturally they have no alternative but to evacuate to Earth. However, a last-minute maneuver by scientist Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle of “Trainspotting” and “The Full Monty”) thrusts them into a risky experiment, making use of some wormhole technology that makes you wish you understood quantum physics, which transports everyone to deep space.
Next thing they know, the survivors are on a rusty, old, uninhabited ship billions of light years from Earth.
And so begins the next chapter of the “Stargate” franchise.
This one is darker than earlier versions, but still, whisking humans through big, round, magical “stargates” into unknown worlds has a certain appeal — and looks better than the cheesy old “Star Trek” transporter room.
David Blue (“Ugly Betty”) is a hoot as the geeky young gamer who unexpectedly ends up aboard the spaceship. He and Carlyle are the standouts; Ming Na is underused, at least judging by the first few hours. The whole enterprise (pardon the expression) feels a tad too familiar, despite state-of- the-art effects and the somber tone.
“The Prisoner.”
Mark your calendar: AMC’s remake of “The Prisoner” will debut on Sunday, Nov. 15, with a two-hour opener. The miniseries will air on three consecutive nights in two-hour chunks. Jim Caviezel plays the title role as Six; Ian McKellen plays the sinister Two. Also in the ensemble: Ruth Wilson, Jamie Campbell-Bower, Hayley Atwell and Lennie James.
AMC has all 17 original episodes from the 1960s cult classic streaming on its site (www.amctv.com).
Matt LeBlanc to Showtime.
Not that they have any experience with the soul-killing industry that is Hollywood, but “Friends” star Matt LeBlanc and creators David Crane (“Friends,” “The Class”) and Jeffrey Klarik (“The Class,” “Mad About You”) will bring a spoof of the TV business to Showtime next year. Titled “Episodes,” the single-camera comedy follows a British husband-and-wife comedy team whose hit UK show is turned into a dumbed-down American sitcom starring LeBlanc (as himself).
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
