The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, January 20, 2012 2 coverstory Rare roomies Syfy series gives BBC hit an American accent By Kyla Brewer TV Media M onsters are invading prime time, and viewers are eating it up. Supernatural creatures have been a staple of televi- sion for years, but the latest trend doesn't portray them as frightful beings to be feared. They fall in love, feel pain and have meaningful friendships. In the Syfy series "Being Hu- man," a ghost, a vampire and a werewolf rely on each other while living together as room- mates. The premise may sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but the show has actually proven quite popular since its premiere in January 2011. Boasting a young, talented cast, "Being Human" mixes elements of drama and come- dy as the supernaturals try to evade detection while navi- gating their way through the human world. Season 2 of "Being Human" premiered last week, but viewers can catch the continuing story Monday nights on Syfy. Produced by Montreal's Muse Entertainment, Syfy's program is actually based on a British series of the same name that has been a huge success across the pond for years. While its premise and characters are similar, Syfy's version is not a direct re-hash of the U.K. hit. The first season Sam Huntington stars in "Being Human" did follow some plot lines from the original, but the show's North American writ- ers and actors claim they haven't watched the second season of the Brit series. In the U.S. adaptation, Sam Witwer stars as Aidan McCol- lin, a vampire who works as a nurse at a hospital in Boston. Sam Huntington portrays Mc- Collin's roommate Josh Radc- liff, a Jewish werewolf who works as an orderly in the same hospital. Meaghan Rath rounds out the cast as Sally, a ghost who haunts the house where Aidan and Josh live. A year after its debut, the return of "Being Human" is creating buzz in the blogo- sphere as anxious fans await Aidan, Josh and Sally's new adventures. With an average of almost two million viewers per epi- sode in Season 1, Syfy is throwing its faith in Season 2 with a huge promotion that began in Sin City on New Year's Eve. The "Temptation is a Beast" campaign encour- aged Las Vegas partygoers to give in to their temptations while promoting the season premiere with in-room adver- tisements, themed drink menus and even a "Being Hu- man" travel package that of- fered VIP access to hotel en- tertainment experiences. "The television culture has a seemingly insatiable appe- tite for supernatural-based stories," explained Syfy exec- utive Michael Engleman of the promotion. "Coming off a successful first year, 'Being Human's' edgy characters and plot engages the imagi- nation while confronting the many temptations we all face, whether a vampire, werewolf, ghost or a mere human be- ing." Indeed, "Being Human" has struck a chord with North American fans, with all of them anxiously awaiting the fallout of last season's finale when last week's premiere aired. After missing her "door," Sally must deal with the consequences as this sea- son picks up. Following what happened with Bishop, Aidan struggles against his vampire instincts while trying to guide the Boston community. Also, a figure from his past returns to both tempt and torment him. Meanwhile, Josh continues to search for a cure for his condi- tion as he hopes for a future with Nora (Kristen Hager). Season 2 welcomes actress Dichen Lachman as vampire princess Suren and Kyle A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 Schmid, who appears as Hen- ry, Aidan's former vampire protegé. "Being Human" has also given Syfy some cred among a group usually uninterested in the channel's prime-time offerings: women. It turns out the show's viewership is mainly female, which is un- common for a Syfy series. That may change as the channel introduces more fe- male-friendly fare, including "Being Human" and another surprise hit, "Lost Girl." In Oc- tober, Syfy announced it had picked up the Canadian se- ries, which airs on Showcase in Canada. Like "Being Human," "Lost Girl" has a far-fetched prem- ise, but it's one that has in- trigued viewers on both sides of the border. Anna Silk is the "Lost Girl," a seductive su- pernatural named Bo. Raised by human parents, Bo had no idea she was anything but un- til she "drained" her first boy- friend. She soon learned she is a succubus, a powerful creature that feeds off the sexual energy of humans. The sci-fi drama follows Bo as she learns more about her origins as one of the Fae, a collection of supernatural be- ings who walk among hu- mans. Determined to make her own way, Bo decides against forming an allegiance with either the Light or Dark Fae. Instead, she strikes out on her own with the help of her human friend Kenzi (Kse- nia Solo). hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: What was the old movie with Edmund Gwenn, in which he plays an old man who counterfeits $1 bills when he is down and out? He hangs the bills in the basement to dry. I believe it also stars John Payne. A: The film you're thinking of is the 1950 comedy "Mister 880," but his co-star was Burt Lancaster. The film Gwenn did with John Payne was Gwenn's career-defining "Miracle on 34th Street," which came out three years earlier. Though Gwenn played charming old men in both, in "Mister 880" he traded Santa's toy factory in the Arctic for a much more grown-up money-minting factory in a New York apartment. Lancaster played a Secret Service agent sent to apprehend the bumbling counterfeiter, who had nonethe- less eluded the force for decades. The film was actually based on an article by St. Clair McK- elway, published in The New Yorker, which related the true- crime tale of counterfeiter Edward Mueller. The article was later part of McKelway's similarly themed book, "True Tales From the Annals of Crime & Rascality," released the same year as the film. Gwenn was nominated for the best-supporting-actor Os- car for his turn in "Mister 880," three years after winning it for "Miracle on 34th Street." Chirstopher's Coins 2 x 2 A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town.