Also, Hulu has a start date for their UK outpost, but first let's look at some the fine offerings on Hulu from their new partner Disney.
ABC's Better Off Ted (Hulu link)
The best new comedy of the year in my humble opinion. (When the time comes and I have the energy to fight off the angry villagers I'll tell you exactly what I think of the opening episodes of Parks & Recreation.) They have the episodes 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this season posted. Episode five was Win Some, Dose Some, which has some great business for Andrea Anders playing Linda, whose pictured here because I know Toby will appreciate that.
Maybe the episode has some music clearance issues? I dunno, but it's very funny and you'll just have to buy the first season DVD. No release date yet, but I'll keep you updated. Interesting, you can watch that ep at Amazon On Demand, here's the icon to click below.
I've posted the fourth episode, Racial Insensitivity, after the jump. It's the first clip. Great satire on corporate political correctness gone tech gone wrong in the one where the new "green" sensors that turn the lights on and off can't recognize African-Americans, including our lab guy Lem. It's my favorite episode so far.
See my interview with Malcom Barrett and Jonathan Slavin who play Lem and Phil respectively at this link.
ABC's Desperate Housewives (Hulu link)
A commenter at Hulu asks (and let's just place a big sic before the whole thing):
I thought I'd answer him: Dude (and it is a guy, btw), it's not about you. Go buy some DVDs. I have friends on staff at this show and they need the one-tenth of one-half of one-third of a point to support their eBay habits so open your wallet.
Disney's syndicated Legend of the Seeker (Hulu link)
I've watched a few minutes of a couple of episodes of this on the occasional lazy weekend afternoon. Why? Check out the pic below.
See? That's why. That's star Craig Horner. He's short, but what the hell, everyone's the same height on my TV. And I'll never meet him. Hey, if the guy's gonna do the swords and sorcery thing shirtless he needs to put up with a little objectification, even from middle aged gays.
I'll post the 2-hour (broadcast length) pilot as the second clip after the jump for you. You're welcome.
Also new to Hulu is that improbably sexy doctor show, McScrewy and McDiagnosy or whatever they call it, and The Superstars, not improved, btw, by including a celebrity component and moving it to prime time.
Nothing yet from Disney Channel nor ABC Family, but they are reportedly to come.
Hulu UK, according to their daily the Telegraph, will go live in September:
According to senior sources close to the UK negotiations, Hulu is trying to sign a deal with both commercial broadcasters in the next few weeks, for a roll-out of the service by September.
Hulu is also understood to be in talks with the BBC as it is hoping to cash in on the gap left by the disallowed Project Kangaroo, the proposed VoD service from BBC Worldwide, ITV, and Channel 4 which was blocked by the Competition Commission earlier this year.
A source close to the negotiations said: “Hulu is proposing to launch this September with 3,000 hours of American content, as well as material from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. It will be playing catch-up in the short-term until it has enough British TV content and will need a unique selling point in the short term.”
Pundits are predicting Hulu will follow the British VoD pattern and allow access to the British TV partners’ content the night after it broadcasts, making it available for 30 days.
More as it develops.
