Last week's TV - the inthenews.co.uk view
Hustle returned for a new series last week
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By Adam Leveridge
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Tuesday, 12, Jan 2010 04:40
The weather outside may have been bitterly cold, but last week's TV was full of glamour and sunshine with the return of Hustle, 90210 and Being Human on BBC1, E4 and BBC3 respectively.
Hustle returned on top form, opening its sixth season with a genius con in which Emma (Kelly Adams) posed as pop princess Kylie. It may sound ridiculous but Tony Jordan's creation works brilliantly.
It is great fun and does not take itself seriously. Instead of an hour of intense serious drama, Hustle provides an hour of feelgood TV which always puts a smile on your face. However, it does make you think. The show cleverly plays a confidence trick on the audience through misdirection and clever storytelling. Every episode features a twist, in which the culmination of the con is never what the audience expects.
In the current climate where MP's expenses and the questionable actions of bankers are fully in the public consciousness, Hustle's place in the TV schedules is even more relevant. These grifters' primary focus is targeting these rogues and fleecing them out of thousands as punishment.
This week's main con was on ex-banker Piggy Richardson (Patrick Ryecart), a character not to dissimilar to Sir Fred Goodwin, who has been the subject of a very public pension scandal. Hot on Mickey (Adrian Lester) and the gang's heels though is DCI Britford who is determined to see the team behind bars. As always, our favourite grifters are one step ahead and outsmart both Richardson and Britford in true Hustle form through a little deception and playing on the weaknesses of others.
Great winter-warming entertainment, Hustle is an enjoyable affair of glamour and intrigue with stunning shots of the London skyline thrown in for good measure.
It was sun, sea and sex on E4 as 90210 returned for a second series. Much like The OC, Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill, 90210 captures the essence of young, rich and beautiful American teens brilliantly. Drawing on the classic 1990s series Beverly Hills 90210, this rebooted show combines much of the same charm of its predecessor with a modern twist, complete with some of the former's characters.
As we join the second series, life is no longer a beach for Annie, Naomi seems determined to ruin her life and there are endless relationship entanglements to complex to go into.
It is not particularly groundbreaking, there is nothing here we have not seen before, but it is still pure guilty pleasure TV. The series also seems to have matured and now feels well established. The show has developed a strong set of characters to generate a wealth of potential storylines and established a good balance between dramatic and comedic moments.
90210 takes the audience into the bright and sunny idealised world of LA life and is perfect escapism from the current cold snap.
It seems almost impossible to escape vampires and werewolves at the moment and BBC3 proved as much with the return of Being Human.
This show is so much more than just the UK equivalent to True Blood. It is witty, clever and compelling viewing. It may not be as adult in content as its American counterpart or as stylised but it still packs a mean punch.
It is one of the few shows that you could easily see on E4, which in recent years has captured the teen market marvellously with the likes of Skins, Misfits and The Inbetweeners. The storylines prompt intrigue while the characters' struggles to live a normal life are endearing.
Being Human stands out because it is dark and sinister but also funny as we follow characters attempting to work in a pub whilst wrestling with the fear of what a full moon might bring.
Matt Robinson