"Karaoke" (1996) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Daniel Feeld is a screenwriter with pains in his gut and a new screenplay called "Karaoke", about a...

Plot Keywords:

Karaoke | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Keeley Hawes	...	Linda Langer (4 episodes, 1996)
Albert Finney	...	Daniel Feeld (3 episodes, 1996)
Richard E. Grant	...	Nick Balmer (3 episodes, 1996)
Hywel Bennett	...	Arthur 'Pig' Mallion (3 episodes, 1996)
Roy Hudd	...	Ben Baglin (3 episodes, 1996)
Saffron Burrows	...	Sandra Sollars (3 episodes, 1996)
Ian McDiarmid	...	Oliver Morse (3 episodes, 1996)
Simon Donald	...	Ian (3 episodes, 1996)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Waiter (Movie) (3 episodes, 1996)
Neil Stuke	...	Peter (Movie) (3 episodes, 1996)
Anna Chancellor	...	Anna Griffiths (2 episodes, 1996)
Liz Smith	...	Mrs.Baglin (2 episodes, 1996)
Alison Steadman	...	Mrs.Haynes (2 episodes, 1996)
Kate O'Toole	...	Staff Nurse (2 episodes, 1996)
Fay Ripley	...	Club Barmaid (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Directed by
Renny Rye		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Writing credits
Dennis Potter		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Produced by
Peter Ansorge	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Alison Barnett	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Kenith Trodd	....	producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Michael Wearing	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Rosemarie Whitman	....	producer (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Original Music by
Christopher Gunning		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Cinematography by
Ashley Rowe		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Film Editing by
Clare Douglas		(3 episodes, 1996)

Series Casting by
Mary Selway		(4 episodes, 1996)
Sarah Trevis		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Design by
Gary Williamson		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Art Direction by
Sarah Jane Cornish		(4 episodes, 1996)
Paul Cross		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Costume Design by
Janty Yates		(4 episodes, 1996)

Series Makeup Department
Alan Boyle	....	makeup artist: Albert Finney (4 episodes, 1996)
Elaine Davis	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1996)
Carmel Jackson	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1996)
Dorka Nieradzik	....	hair designer / makeup designer (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Management
Shelley Powell	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adam Goodman	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)
Sallie Anne Hard	....	third assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)
Jo Marshall	....	third assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Art Department
John Bohan	....	construction coordinator (4 episodes, 1996)
Judy Farr	....	set dresser (4 episodes, 1996)
Sarah Hauldren	....	assistant art director (4 episodes, 1996)
Robin Heinson	....	painter (4 episodes, 1996)
Chas Johnson	....	property master (4 episodes, 1996)
Dave Morris	....	property buyer (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Sound Department
Mark Auguste	....	sound editor (4 episodes, 1996)
Simon Firsht	....	sound maintenance (4 episodes, 1996)
Dominic Lester	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1996)
John Midgley	....	sound recordist (4 episodes, 1996)
Robin O'Donoghue	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1996)
Clive Osborne	....	boom operator (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Visual Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	visual special effects (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Catherine Brandish	....	clapper loader (4 episodes, 1996)
Ian Clark	....	focus puller (4 episodes, 1996)
Kevin Higgins	....	grip (4 episodes, 1996)
Kevin Rudge	....	clapper loader (4 episodes, 1996)
Andrew Taylor	....	gaffer (4 episodes, 1996)
John Whickman	....	best boy (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Trewin	....	costume assistant (4 episodes, 1996)
Marion Weise	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Editorial Department
Wendy Edgar-Jones	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 1996)
Mark Lane	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 1996)

Series Other crew
Lindy Davies	....	performance consultant (4 episodes, 1996)
Sam Donovan	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1996)
Lisa Gravelle	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1996)
Sarah Hammond	....	assistant to producers (4 episodes, 1996)
Alexandra Harris	....	assistant to producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Vivien Jordan	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 1996)
Sandra Nixon	....	production accountant (4 episodes, 1996)
Jane Soans	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1996)
Jo Thomas	....	assistant to producers (4 episodes, 1996)
Mariam Vossough	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1996)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation
• Whistling Gypsy Production

Distributors

• Bravo Cable

Runtime:

50 min (4 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

In the 'Dennis Potter' interview "Seeing the Blossom", Dennis Potter comments that he wrote "Karaoke" and its sequel "Cold Lazarus" based on the simple writer's premise: "If you wanted to make the world a better place, who would you kill?"

Movie Connections:

References The Shining (1980)

Breathtaking

Quite simply, this is a stunning example of how good writing for television can be. Or writing, period, for that matter. It doesn't hurt that the cast, led by the indomitable Albert Finney, give uniformly great performances, but as with all of Dennis Potter's work, it's the virtuosity of the writing that reels you in, making you laugh hysterically in between (or sometimes during) scenes of unbelieveable sadness or poignancy. He was a true gem. I taped this miniseries when it was on Bravo five or six years ago and just watched it again for only the second time, and once again, it took my breath away. Viva Potter!