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Post by GreenEyesToo on Jul 28, 2011 22:28:06 GMT
I had forgotten that PBS always puts a "clue" in their ending credits for Masterpiece Mystery itself (not the credits for Zen or whatever mystery program is running). They just put certain letters in the credits in red type, to form a word. When I remembered tonight, I went back to look at last week's word, which was just "Z-E-N-O." (Guess PBS is stuck on that idea, even though it wasn't in the books.)But it was, Rueful! I'm reading Cabal right now and..... ***SPOILERS***......the anonymous letter sent to the newspapers, implicating the Vatican in the Ruspanti death, refers to "Dottor Aurelio Zeno" falsifying the results of his investigation. It's on p75 of my copy (the version with Rufus on the cover). I have a feeling he might be referred to as Zeno again later in the book, too. |
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Post by kissmekate on Jul 29, 2011 8:03:08 GMT
I think I remember at least one more occasion where someone mistakenly called him Zeno in the books (but I don't remember which one that was).
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Post by rueful on Jul 29, 2011 18:58:17 GMT
Ignoring the fact that they are calling all the way back to Middlemarch (PBS likes to only list shows that were on Masterpiece), I wondered about that "Zeno" thing. Where did they get that? I don't remember that from the books, but it has been a little while since I read them. Am I just being forgetful? Well, Rueful, we are fangirls of Rufus, of course we jumped to read the books. (And we are thankful, because the books are fantastic.) But I don't think the tv people did the same thing. It is more likely they did some internet search. For example: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Zen or something similar. "Palazzo Zen, residenza della famiglia Zeno (o Zen secondo la dizione veneziana)" Well I've read all the books now and watched the DVD's many times and I have not read or heard anyone call him 'Zeno'!!! Hmmm, I guess I have my answer: "Yes, I'm just forgetful!" Thanks, GE2 and Kate. Good excuse for me to reread the books. ;D Wichi, you are just trying to stir up more Jacob/Zen trouble, aren't you?! <gasp> Moi?!?!?!? ;D Vous!  |
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Post by kygal on Aug 1, 2011 10:56:08 GMT
Now I can really be lazy. Have all three on dvr. Ratking is so good. Thought they did another good job with the cuts. I was worried at what they may leave out...its all so good. The more I have watched, I really enjoyed his "relationship" with the prosecutor. Would love to see if/how that would evolve if more episodes were made.
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Post by rueful on Aug 1, 2011 13:03:15 GMT
I also was pretty content with last night's cuts. The big one I noticed was the scene at the end with the prosecutor, asking her to be lenient with Tania's husband. That scene was good, because it showed (again) that he's decent but not above wheeling and dealing to get his way, but plotwise, it was dispensible.
Since last night, I've see a lot of positive comments on Twitter and several disappointed comments from people who are just discovering that the BBC didn't renew Zen. I hope this might generate some interest from a British tv network in making more.
Edited to add: At the end of the program there was a very brief video (probably less than a minute) of Rufus called "A Masterpiece Moment" in which he reflected on his favorite memory from Middlemarch. He described the scene where he warmed up the crowd for Brooke, and then Brooke's speech is a disaster. He said Robert Hardy is a wonderful actor and he enjoyed watching him "flail around." Sorry I can't reproduce the video (and I can't find it on PBS's website), but maybe one of our other talented ladies can do it.
Also, this week's "red letter" word in the ending credits was "Golden Dagger" which is the mystery writers' award Michael Dibdin won for Ratking.
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Post by moosie on Aug 1, 2011 19:55:14 GMT
 I'm one of the devastated many (I hope) who just learned that this is it! I thought perhaps I had missed earlier ones, or at least had new ones to look forward to. Beautiful people, scenery, photography! The problem with BBC is apparently too many male detectives/too much violence.  There can't be too many of one of them is Zen as played by Sewell. I hope someone picks them up. What a terrific show! Is there a campaign?
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Post by chocolate on Aug 1, 2011 20:32:16 GMT
Oh! One new member, tiptoeing in this thread!!!
There was a FB campaign...but i think we will just have to wait. That was it, sorry to disappoint you, moosie. We have been devastated here for months.
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Post by rueful on Aug 2, 2011 1:18:52 GMT
Hi, Moosie! Welcome! It was really disappointing that such an excellent show was cancelled on the whim of the idiot-in-charge of the BBC. It was well-reviewed in the UK and I think had decent ratings there. Hard to know what the ratings in the US are, since PBS doesn't announce them, but the press was certainly positive. Here is a link to the facebook page that Chocolate mentioned, in case you want to express yourself there. www.facebook.com/DetectiveZenAlso, if you'd like to to introduce yourself to other members of The Rooftop, please feel free to start a new thread in the Members section.  |
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Post by PrairieGirl on Aug 2, 2011 1:54:49 GMT
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Post by chocolate on Aug 2, 2011 6:09:09 GMT
PrairieGirl, you know we love you, don't you! I will post those on FB today. Thanks for spending the time to make them. |
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Post by welshdragon on Aug 2, 2011 14:29:34 GMT
Another really nice review from Ruth - booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/Hi Moosie, welcome to the board - we are all really disappointed that a new series won't be happening. You'll have to do like the rest of us - buy the DVD and watch it over and over and .....! |
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Post by kissmekate on Aug 2, 2011 14:40:07 GMT
Oh, thanks for the link, that's a very nice review again. I love how she gets all gushy over Rufus Abso-freaking-lutely. When re-watching "Cabal" yesterday, I was once again amazed by just how subtle this man's acting is. Give him that Emmy NOW, please! Awwww, yes!  |
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Post by moosie on Aug 2, 2011 15:30:27 GMT
Thanks! I really am a roo-kie. I don't recall seeing Sewell on tv or in the movies (I know...). But I will look into his work. I so enjoyed his acting--just the smallest change of expression says so much! My husband was even engrossed! I'm not familiar with the books, either, but.... I'm discouraged that whenever a worthwhile program appears, it quickly disappears. It's discouraging not only because I no longer have that program, but because generally the replacement is junk. I did tell BBC what I thought of it all--their reply was all about the new shows they were bringing on.
I'm not on facebook, I'm afraid.
I guess I will buy the DVD. Does it have all of the program, or is it cut? Had I known all this, I would have recorded the shows! What was that BBC guy thinking!!
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Post by kissmekate on Aug 2, 2011 15:52:28 GMT
Actually, I'm not sure if that guy at the Beeb has been thinking at all! But do get the DVD set, I think they should have the full-length episodes plus an interesting Making Of. The books are excellent reading, too - the first three have even been reissued with the lovely Signore Zen on the cover Have fun getting acquainted with more of Rufus's work. You'll be in for some nice surprises! |
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Post by judypatooty on Aug 2, 2011 16:25:50 GMT
Welcome moosie!! Thank you, prairiegirl!! Thank you, welshdragon!! And now, an interesting tie-in to the PBS showing of Zen ... Zen Recipes from chef/author/PBS cooking show star Lidia Bastianich: www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/zen/recipes.html |
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I'm one of the devastated many (I hope) who just learned that this is it! I thought perhaps I had missed earlier ones, or at least had new ones to look forward to. Beautiful people, scenery, photography! The problem with BBC is apparently too many male detectives/too much violence. 
There can't be too many of one of them is Zen as played by Sewell. I hope someone picks them up. What a terrific show! Is there a campaign?
