Wikipedia

Timewasters: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Rescuing 33 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.8
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
5,870,843 edits
Removed parameters. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | #UCB_CommandLine
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{short description|UK television comedy}}▼
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2021}}
▲{{short description|UK television comedy}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Timewasters
| image = Timewasters title card.jpg
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| alt_name =
| genre = <!--{{unbulleted Must be reliably sourced -->list
| [[Science-fiction]]
| [[Comedy]]
| [[Satire]]
}}
| creator = [[Daniel Lawrence Taylor]]
| developer =
| writer = {{unbulleted list
| Daniel Lawrence Taylor,
| [[Barunka O'Shaughnessy]]
}}
| story =
| director = [[George Kane (director)|George Kane]]
| creative_director =
| starring = {{unbulleted list
| [[Adelayo Adedayo]],
| Daniel Lawrence Taylor,
[[Josh Cole]],| [[Kadiff Kirwan]],
| [[Samson Kayo]]
}}
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
Line 34 ⟶ 45:
| runtime = <!-- Reliable source required -->
| company = [[Big Talk Productions]]
| distributor =
| budget =
| network = [[ITV2]]
| picture_format =
| audio_format =
| first_aired = {{Start date|2017|10|09|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2019|04|08|df=yes}}
| related = <!-- To be used only for remakes, spin-offs, and adaptations. If US version gets its own article, it can be linked here.-->
| website = <!-- Remove or comment out this parameter line completely if URL exists on or is moved to Wikidata; use |website_title= to change the display title. -->
| production_website = https://www.bigtalkproductions.com/production/timewasters/ <!-- use |production_website_title= to change the display title. -->
}}
'''''Timewasters''''' is a British satiricalscience-fiction time-travelcomedy television programme, first broadcast on [[ITV2]] in 2017 with a second series broadcast in 2019. It was created by [[Daniel Lawrence Taylor]] and written by Taylor and [[Barunka O'Shaughnessy]]. It was produced for ITV Studios by [[Kenton Allen]] and Matthew Justice of [[Big Talk Productions]]. EpisodesThe episodes were directed by [[George Kane (director)|George Kane]]. The programme stars Taylor, [[Adelayo Adedayo]], [[Samson Kayo]] and [[Kadiff Kirwan]] as the members of an unsuccessful all-black South London [[jazz quartet]] who time-travel to the [[1920s in jazz|1920s]], and later the [[1950s in jazz|1950s]], visiting the [[Jazz Age]] and post-war [[cool jazz]] period while experiencing culture clashes as they maneuvermanoeuvre in the unfamiliar eras.<ref name="DeadlineIMDb"/>
 
Critical response to the programme was generally favourable, with praise for its originality in addressing racism through the comedic insertion of modernity into a period setting. It is also known for satirizing [[historical drama]]s and their lack of diversity. There was critical praise for the writing, direction, chemistry of the main cast, and music. Taylor won the Breakthrough Award at the 2018 [[Royal Television Society]] Programme Awards, and the programme was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy at the [[2018 British Academy Television Awards]].
 
== Cast ==
 
Main cast (the jazz quartet):<ref name="DeadlineIMDb"/><!--ref for the four main cast only-->{{efn|Taylor named the four main characters after his four siblings.<ref name="CarsonRenaissance"/>}}
Line 67 ⟶ 73:
*[[Theo Barklem-Biggs]] as Len White, a club owner
*[[Ellie White]] as Janice, a Russian spy
*[[Oliver Wellington]] as JJ, Jason and Victoria's son
*[[Clint Dyer]] as General Hands, a grifting jazz musician
*[[Sam Douglas]] as Vadim, a Russian spy
*[[Daniel Simonsen]] as Alexei, a Russian spy
Line 83 ⟶ 89:
*[[Javone Prince]] as Pastor Gabriel
*[[Patrick Baladi]] as Jonty Ripperton Clack, a conservative politician
*[[Maple Briscoe]] as Time Travelling Girl
 
== Episodes ==
Line 91 ⟶ 97:
===Series 1 (2017)===
 
{{Episode table |overall=5 |series=5 ||airdate=16 |airdateR=<ref name="RT1"/> |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
Line 171 ⟶ 177:
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2019|04|01|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Victoria is away for a funeral and Jason worries that he's gottengot fat. General Hands returns, secretly on the run from his creditors. When he thinks Horace suspects his motives, Hands accuses Horace of attacking him with voodoo and Nick has Horace leave to appease his idol. Horace wanders into a church and confesses his trouble at being accused of having bad juju, and undergoes a baptism. Hands steals Lauren's money (which she skimmed from Horace) and fluffs Jason's ego, eventually taking boudoir photographs of Jason to sell to men's skin magazines. Janice finds Horace and tries to warn him but Lauren pulls Horace away to get their money back, leaving Janice to be captured by Russian spies who were surveilling Horace. Jealous of Jason, Nick shoots his own skin pictures for Hands, who calls him creepy and leaves, refusing to perform at Nick's club.
|LineColor = 42AC39
}}
Line 185 ⟶ 191:
== Development ==
 
The programme was created by Taylor, who began working on it in 2015.<ref name="RTSPanel"/>{{rp|2:45}} He recalled that "I wanted to write a comedy for young black actors and I saw that shows such as ''[[The Inbetweeners]]'', ''[[Drifters (TV series)|Drifters]]'' and ''[[Plebs (TV series)|Plebs]]'' were doing well."<ref name="RTSHit"/> Taylor was learning to play the trumpet{{efn|Taylor had been performing as half of the comedy duo Ginger and Black,<ref name="RTSHit"/> in which his partner could play numerous instruments while he couldn't play any.<ref name="RTSPanel"/>{{rp|3:20}}}} and this interest led him to write about a black jazz band in the 1920s.<ref name="RTSTravel"/> While acting on post-apocalyptic romantic-comedy ''[[Cockroaches (TV series)|Cockroaches]]'', Taylor decided to use a [[high concept]] and added time travel.<ref name="RTSPanel"/>{{rp|3:50}} He wrote a [[spec script]] with the [[working title]] ''Black to the Future'',{{efn|The working title ''Black to the Future'' was changed following objections from [[Universal Pictures]], which owns the rights to ''[[Back to the Future]]''.<ref name="RTSHit"/> This film was referenced in the series&nbsp;2 premiere, in which three of the quartet say they'd never seen it.}}<ref name="RTSHit"/> which was later changed to ''Blackwards'' and then ''Timewasters''.<ref name="CarsonRenaissance"/><ref name="RTSHit"/><ref name="BCGInterview"/><ref name="KhaleeliSubverted"/> Although racial themes run throughout the programme, Taylor has said that it is "first and foremost ... a comedy."<ref name="RTSHit"/>
 
''Timewasters'' is Taylor's first project writing for scripted television. He worked with an editor provided by [[Big Talk Productions]], who were producing ''Cockroaches'' for ITV, and improved his script over a few drafts.<ref name="RTSHit"/> According to Taylor, the programme came at a time when there were "discussion[s] about putting more black talent on screen".<ref name="RTSHit"/> His spec script drew interest from ITV,<ref name="RTSPanel"/>{{rp|4:35}} which commissioned a rehearsal reading.<ref name="RTSPanel"/>{{rp|7:10}} Casting was made through auditions; though the main cast hadn't worked together before, they had a quick chemistry and studio executives thought they were longtime friends.<ref name="RTSHit"/><ref name="RTSPanel"/>{{rp|8:40}} Taylor then worked with [[Barunka O'Shaughnessy]] and through a series of drafts they improved the humour and pacing of his stories for the first series.<ref name="RTSHit"/>
Line 194 ⟶ 200:
 
=== Music ===
The cast took lessons to act like they could play their instruments, but don'tdo not play any music in the series.<ref name="RTSTravel"/><ref name="BCGInterview"/>
 
[[Nick Foster]] and Oli Julian composed the original music for the programme and arranged the jazzy covers of modern songs.<ref name="LBBscore"/> Foster posted the ''Timewasters Season One Original Soundtrack'' on his [[SoundcloudSoundCloud]] account.<ref name="S1OST"/> Cover songs include "[[Hey Ya!]]", "[[Return of the Mack]]",<ref name="GizmodoReview"/> and "[[Back to Black (song)|Back to Black]]".<ref name="GGA"/>
 
Songs in series 2 include "[[This Is How We Do It]]" (episode 1), "[[Flowers (Sweet Female Attitude song)|Flowers (In the Pouring Rain)]]" (episode 2), "[[Brown Sugar (D'Angelo song)|Brown Sugar]]" and "[[The Cleftones|My Angel Lover]]" (episode 3), "[[Do You Really Like It?]]" (episode 4), and "[[No Letting Go (song)|No Letting Go]]" (episode 5).
Line 291 ⟶ 297:
== Planned US remake ==
 
In 2019, Taylor stated that he was in talks with [[LL Cool J]] as a potential producer for a US remake of the series for CBS.<ref name="RTSHit"/><ref name="CarsonRenaissance"/> In early 2021, it was announced that a US remake of ''Timewasters'' was in development at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], under showrunner [[Lauren Ashley Smith]] with Lawrence Taylor, Kenton Allen and Matthew Justice (Big Talk Productions) also executive producing. The remake would be set in New York City and explore the [[Harlem Renaissance]] while contrasting the black experience of 2021 with that of 1926.<ref name="DeadlineRemake"/><ref name="NewYorker"/> The untitled project was being developed for ABC through [[CBS Studios]].<ref name="DeadlineDeal"/> It was reported that a pilot was scheduled to be filmed in early 2021, following COVID-19 delays.<ref name="BCGuspilot"/><ref name="Deadlineuspilot"/> However, a lack of press releases or reportage after August&nbsp;2021 suggests that it did not go into production.▼
In 2019, Taylor stated that he was in talks with [[LL Cool J]] as a potential producer for a US remake of the series for CBS.<ref name="RTSHit"/><ref name="CarsonRenaissance"/>
 
▲In early 2021, it was announced that a US remake of ''Timewasters'' was in development at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], under showrunner [[Lauren Ashley Smith]] with Lawrence Taylor, Kenton Allen and Matthew Justice (Big Talk Productions) also executive producing. The remake would be set in New York City and explore the [[Harlem Renaissance]] while contrasting the black experience of 2021 with that of 1926.<ref name="DeadlineRemake"/><ref name="NewYorker"/>
 
==See also==
Line 310 ⟶ 314:
 
<ref name="DeadlineRemake">{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/lauren-ashley-smith-developing-u-s-remake-of-british-time-travel-comedy-timewasters-in-the-works-at-abc-1234679842/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |title=Lauren Ashley Smith Developing U.S. Remake Of British Time-Travel Comedy 'Timewasters' In the Works at ABC |first=Peter |last=White |date=25 January 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723012518/https://deadline.com/2021/01/lauren-ashley-smith-developing-u-s-remake-of-british-time-travel-comedy-timewasters-in-the-works-at-abc-1234679842/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="DeadlineDeal">{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/lauren-ashley-smith-overall-deal-cbs-studios-1234821098/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |title=Lauren Ashley Smith Inks Overall Deal With CBS Studios |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=24 August 2021 |access-date=5 January 2025 }}</ref>
 
<ref name="Deadlineuspilot">{{cite news |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |title=Big Talk CEO Kenton Allen on 'The Offenders' Renewal; Getting 'Back' Back On Channel 4/Sundance; The End Of 'Friday Night Dinner' |first=Jake |last=Kanter |date=13 January 2021 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/big-talk-kenton-allen-the-offenders-back-friday-night-dinner-1234670955/ |access-date=5 January 2025 }}</ref>
 
<ref name="RTSTravel">{{cite web |url=https://rts.org.uk/DanielLawrenceTaylor |title=Daniel Lawrence Taylor: People like us never get to time travel |first=Ed |last=Gove |publisher=[[Royal Television Society]] |date=30 September 2017 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828200908/https://rts.org.uk/daniellawrencetaylor |url-status=live }}</ref>
Line 317 ⟶ 325:
<ref name="RTSFocus">{{cite web |url=https://rts.org.uk/event/production-focus-timewasters |title=Production Focus: Timewasters |author=<!--staff writers only--> |publisher=[[Royal Television Society]] |date=3 April 2019 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828181425/https://rts.org.uk/event/production-focus-timewasters |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="RTSPanel">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RaGJtjDys0 |title=Timewasters: Production Focus {{!}} RTS London |publisher=[[Royal Television Society]] |date=3 April 2019}}</ref>
 
<ref name="RTSRock">{{cite web |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/rocknroll-windrush-itv2s-timewasters-visit-1950s |title=From rock'n'roll to Windrush: ITV2's Timewasters visit the 1950s |first=Kate |last=Holman |publisher=[[Royal Television Society]] |date=11 March 2019 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828181211/https://rts.org.uk/article/rocknroll-windrush-itv2s-timewasters-visit-1950s |url-status=live }}</ref>
Line 336 ⟶ 344:
 
<ref name="BCGInterview">{{cite web |author=<!--staff writers--> |title=Timewasters Interview |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |date=9 October 2017 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/timewasters/interview/timewasters/ |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828181151/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/timewasters/interview/timewasters/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="BCGuspilot">{{cite web |author=<!--staff writers--> |title=Timewasters to be piloted in America |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |date=13 January 2021 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/6161/timewasters-usa/ |access-date=5 January 2025 }}</ref>
 
<ref name="GizmodoReview">{{cite web |first=Cheryl |last=Eddy |title=''Timewasters''{{'}} Time-Travel Adventures Are Definitely Not a Waste of Time |url=https://gizmodo.com/timewasters-time-travel-adventures-are-definitely-not-a-1847081036 |website=[[Gizmodo]] |date=15 June 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828181154/https://gizmodo.com/timewasters-time-travel-adventures-are-definitely-not-a-1847081036 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Line 347 ⟶ 357:
<ref name="BSA">{{cite web |url=https://www.britishscreenwritersawards.com/2018.html |title=The British Screenwriters' Awards 2018 |publisher=London Screenwriters Festival |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828181154/https://www.britishscreenwritersawards.com/2018.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="ETVA">{{cite web |title=Edinburgh TV Awards 2018 |date=7 March 2018 |publisher=Edinburgh International Television Festival |url=https://www.thetvfestival.com/whats-on/awards-2018/ |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922115003/https://www.thetvfestival.com/whats-on/awards-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="GGA">{{cite web |first=Melody |last=McCune |url=https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/timewasters-season-1-review/ |title=Timewasters Season 1 Is a Charming, Innovative Dive Into Time Travel |website=Geek Girl Authority |date=3 June 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828181150/https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/timewasters-season-1-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Line 371 ⟶ 381:
<ref name="JustFocus">{{cite web |first=Agathe |last=Devionot |date=13 June 2021 |title=Critique Timewasters Episode 1: la série britannique à l'univers so jazzy |language=fr |trans-title=Timewasters Episode 1 review: the British series with a so jazzy universe |url=https://www.justfocus.fr/series/critique-series/critique-timewasters-episode-1-la-serie-britannique-a-lunivers-so-jazzy.html |website=Just Focus |access-date=30 August 2021 |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831132655/https://www.justfocus.fr/series/critique-series/critique-timewasters-episode-1-la-serie-britannique-a-lunivers-so-jazzy.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="S1OST">{{cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/nickfostermusic/sets/timewasters-season-one-ost-oli-julian-nick-foster |title=Stream Nick Foster {{!}} Listen to Timewasters Season One OST |access-date=30 August 2021 |website=Soundcloud[[SoundCloud]] |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831132653/https://soundcloud.com/nickfostermusic/sets/timewasters-season-one-ost-oli-julian-nick-foster |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="LBBscore">{{cite web |url=https://www.lbbonline.com/news/manners-mcdades-nick-foster-and-oli-julian-score-new-comedy-series-timewasters |title=Manners McDade's Nick Foster and Oli Julian Score New Comedy Series "Timewasters' |access-date=30 August 2021 |publisher=Little Black Book |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831132654/https://www.lbbonline.com/news/manners-mcdades-nick-foster-and-oli-julian-score-new-comedy-series-timewasters |url-status=live }}</ref>
Line 378 ⟶ 388:
 
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt7333970}}
 
*[https://www.bigtalkproductions.com/production/timewasters/ ''Timewasters''] at [[Big Talk Productions]] website
*{{YouTube|0CSwBtqE-64|''Timewasters'' series 1 trailer}}
*{{YouTube|4RaGJtjDys0|''Timewasters:Production Focus''}} – panel discussion hosted by the [[Royal Television Society]]
*[https://soundcloud.com/nickfostermusic/sets/timewasters-season-one-ost-oli-julian-nick-foster ''Timewasters'' Season One Original Soundtrack] at [[SoundcloudSoundCloud]]
 
[[Category:2010s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:2017 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2019 British television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s time travel television series]]
[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Big Talk Productions]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Television series set in 1958]]
[[Category:British time travel television series]]
[[Category:RacismTelevision inshows televisionabout racism]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timewasters"