A Word About EastEnders on Dish Network...

I have heard from quite a few of you who watch the current EastEnders episodes on Dish Network's Pay-Per-View channel, and are upset and worried because it is currently unavailable. I've also just seen an online article stoking the fear fires, with a headline claiming 'Dish Drops EastEnders', but that article looks (to me) like it was planted to garner publicity for the source (something we've seen before), and has little relation to the facts (which is why I'm not posting it here). If you have seen it, do not let it alarm you. From what I have gathered, you should not be alarmed at all. If you read this statement below, put out by Dish and BBC Worldwide, you'll see this could possibly be something fantastic for all of us:
 
"The EastEnders TV series is temporarily unavailable as a new distribution model is being finalized by Dish and BBC Worldwide. We regret any inconvenience and remain committed to promptly returning this content to our customers."

This statement does not say 'dropped' or cancelled. It says temporarily unavailable. It says they are committed to returning it. It looks positive to me. The alarmist article mentioned above has little relation to the actual statement. The article is entirely negative, and by the way, it is also negative about EastEnders itself, referring to the truly fabulous storyline and episodes around the 30th anniversary as, 'stunt programming'. Somehow, I doubt any fan who watched that story arc would dismiss it that way.

We have no more details other than the statement at this time, but here's why this statement COULD indicate something great: Many people could never get Dish Network, either because of their location or because it meant they had to give up certain channels (like PBS). But Dish has a new streaming TV service, called SlingTV. To get this service you do not need to have the actual satellite Dish (which is what prevents most people from getting it). Anyone with internet can get their streaming service. If they start offering current EastEnders episodes on their subscription streaming service, everyone in the US will be able to watch EastEnders! And if that happens, everybody wins. Imagine THAT!

It could be that this is the BBC's way of cleaning up all the pirate stuff and getting paid for their content - and the BBC should be paid for their content! Since BBCAmerica cancelled EastEnders, most fans, desperate to watch the current episodes, have been left relying on methods that are unreliable and dodgy. There are even people (pirates) hijacking BBC iPlayer and charging people a subscription fee! This could correct all that. The BBC has a great product (EastEnders) that people in the US want to buy, but there has been no way for them to distribute it. This could be the answer for everyone. It could help the BBC recover the revenue it deserves (and needs to keep the show going strong), and give fans across the country a way to easily watch EastEnders! FINALLY! Keep your fingers crossed that this it it!

Here's another reason to be positive: Dish Network has always treated EastEnders fans well. Fans need to remember that. After BBCA cancelled the show in 2003, Dish Network was the only place that listened to fans and offered us a way to watch (though unfortunately, most of us don't have access to it). Streaming would fix that.

I think that for now at least, Dish should be given the benefit of the doubt that they are trying to do the right thing. Stay tuned to see how this plays out, and by all means, stay positive because there is every reason to be! . . .

That's my opinion based on what I've seen. 
~Deborah Gilbert

***This article was originally published in The E20 Chronicles, the FREE EastEnders e-newsletter. If you'd like a free subscription, just email me at: E20Launderette @ gmail.com

Downton Abbey: The Downton Dish

If you love Downton Abbey (like I do) check out The Downton Dish, my cheeky, weekly recap of this fabulous period drama on PBS Thirteen New York's website. I am so thrilled that Thirteen asked me to write this blog for them, and I hope it gives you a giggle.

A new Downton Dish is posted each Sunday night at 10PM EST, just as that week's Downton Abbey episode is ending on Masterpiece Classic. Each week I count down the Top 5 Moments of that Downton Abbey episode, as well as post (what I call) The Dowager Countessdown, the Top 5 lines from Maggie Smith. You can read the Downton Dish here:

http://www.thirteen.org/downton-abbey/category/the-downton-dish/

And of course, I'm sure you'll have your own Top Downton Abbey Moments, so please jump in and post them in the comments section of each Downton Dish entry.

So stop on by and start dishing! I'll have Carson set out some tea for you.

Cheers!

The E20 Chronicles: A New Book About EastEnders to Benefit Children In Need

In the last two years we have published 2 issues of The E20 Chronicles magazine to help support EastEnders on PBS in the US, and it has been very successful. We are always happy to support PBS, but we thought we'd also like to support a children's charity as well, and so we are!

Announcing the E20 Chronicles Book to benefit Children In Need!

This 80 page book, is full of fabulous exclusive interviews with EastEnders actors, writers (and even a producer) including Barbara Windsor, Shane Richie, Pam St Clement, Patsy Palmer, Leslie Grantham, Martine McCutcheon, John Partridge, Nina Wadia, June Brown and more! It is available now on-line, and 100% of the profits go to the BBC's Children In Need telethon. It is available in both the US & the UK (and there is no overseas shipping charge).

To preview and/or buy this fabulous book (see the Table of Contents), just click this link:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2561006

It's a fun read for a great cause. Enjoy!

*At The E20 Chronicles, our mission is to use our love of EastEnders to help non-profit organizations, and we do this entirely as volunteers.

Second Issue of the E20 Chronicles Now Available

Hey Easties,

We have been busy little bees getting the second Issue of the E20 Chronicles together for WLIW/Channel 21, New York, and other PBS stations, and now it's here!

The first issue was used by 6 different PBS stations to raise a lot of dosh to help keep EastEnders on the air in the US. And since the response was so great, we have created a second issue, whose sole purpose (beyond entertaining all you rabid Easties) is to be used as a pledge gift for PBS.

This issue features all brand new, exclusive interviews, not available anywhere else; interviews with Barbara Windsor, Pam St. Clement, Gary Beadle, Lucy Speed, Leslie Grantham, Derek Martin, Jane Slaughter, and Tony Jordan.

You'll learn all kinds of new things about EastEnders and the creative people who bring it to you.

The E20 Chronicles is a full size, full color magazine, and a solid read; 44 pages of articles and pictures with no advertisements. And it is available only by pledging to support EastEnders on PBS.

To make your pledge to support EastEnders on WLIW, and get your E20 Chronicles, go to their website by clicking here: WLIW Pledge Gift Page

*Once you get there, click on the 'Search the Full Catalogue' button, then type EastEnders into the search bar, and viola, you're on the EastEnders Pledge Gift page. And when there, you'll see that you can also pledge for the first issue of the E20 Chronicles, as well as that fabulous 25th Anniversary/Sgt Pepper parody print.

**If you are an EastEnders fan from Minnesota, you can get your E20 Chronicles by pledging to PBS Station TPT: www.tpt.org

**And please note: If you are watching EastEnders on a different PBS station, where you got your E20 Chronicles last time, don't fret, you'll be able to get the new one from your station as soon as your EastEnders pledge drive rolls around. But if you don't want to wait til then, you can always pledge to WLIW now!

Keep supporting EastEnders on WLIW (and every other PBS station that broadcasts it), and enjoy the latest E20 Chronicles!

**You can watch EastEnders in the New York area on WLIW/Channel 21, Wednesday nights at 10PM.

The E20 Chronicles: A Magazine Created to Support EastEnders on PBS

Greetings Easties,

I've been keeping a BIG secret from you Easties, but now it's time to reveal all:

For the last six months or so we've been working on a brand new Pledge Gift for WLIW: The E20 Chronicles Magazine. See the cover at right.

Though while this is a paper version of the E20 Chronicles newsletter, it has one very BIG difference: While my weekly e-newsletter contains a collection of articles from various sources, THIS paper edition contains all NEW, all ORIGINAL interviews and articles that were created just for this magazine; created just to be a pledge gift for PBS, and have never been published anywhere else.

The ONLY way to get this one-off magazine is to pledge to PBS for it. And you do NOT want to miss reading these fabulous, new interviews.

WLIW is offering the E20 Chronicles Magazine at the $60 pledge level, and you can get it by clicking here:

WLIW Pledge Gift Page.

This will take you to WLIW's main Pledge Gift page. When you get there, just type 'EastEnders' into the search box & the page with the EastEnders gifts will come up.

***More details below on why we all need to pledge now.

For this project, in recent months, I was lucky enough to interview June Brown (Dot), Nicholas Bailey (dishy Dr. Trueman), Shaun Williamson (Barry), Shane Richie (Alfie), Michelle Collins (Cindy) and producer John Yorke. I also interviewed our favorite London cabbie Tony Walker, as well as Enda Bardon, who gets us all caught up on John's recovery and return to EastEnders. In addition, I knew the magazine would not be complete without a tribute to Gretchen Franklin (Ethel), so I asked her good friend Stephen to write a piece about her for us. And also Wendy Richard's husband John was generous enough to allow me to interview him about Wendy. And there are a couple of other goodies in there to top it all off. In fact, there are lots of goodies. There is information, here in these exclusive interviews, that I have never read anywhere else. It is a full size magazine & 44 pages of dishy goodness. And all for YOU!

This one-off E20 Chronicles magazine is a unique pledge gift that EVERY EastEnders fan will love.

And if that weren't enough, there's a $125 pledge package that's even more amazing: How can that be, you say? What can be more amazing than the E20 Chronicles on paper?? Well Easties, it's THIS:

We were able to get WLIW a limited number of art prints of this FABULOUS EastEnders 25th Anniversary parody of the Sgt Pepper album cover!! (All of those people on the cover are now EE actors! It is just TOO COOL!) These prints are 12x12", (ready for framing), printed on art paper with archival inks. And do you know what 'archival' means, Easties? It means that in 50 years, your great grandchildren will be able to go to The Antiques Road Show and say, 'I don't know what it is. It was always hanging in the living room.' At which time, the appraiser will say, 'This print was a limited edition offering, available in the US, only by pledging to WLIW. It's now worth a gazillion dollars!' Yes, your great grandchildren, set for life because you pledged to support EastEnders on WLIW! (***OK, so future antiques appraisals not guaranteed: It is possible that this predicted outcome is just the result of an over-active imagination. But it COULD happen! Anything can happen when you pledge to support another year of EastEnders on WLIW).

So for a pledge of $125, you get:

A copy of the E20 Chronicles Magazine

The 25th Anniversary print
AND the Dot Cotton Tote bag!! (such a deal!)

We put alot of time and effort into putting this magazine together & we did it for one reason only: To create a pledge gift that will encourage you Easties to PLEDGE to keep EastEnders on the air! And we cannot underestimate just how IMPORTANT it is that you PLEASE PLEDGE NOW!

****Why do we need to pledge now?: It is a simple reality of the current economy that pledges are down across the board. And even though WLIW has always supported us, (and they truly have), they are getting new financial pressures from above. The simple fact is EastEnders HAS TO carry its own weight, in WLIW's budget. WLIW has been very responsive to EastEnders fans - even offering this E20 Chronicles magazine at the $60 pledge level is in response to those who have said they'd like to pledge for a premium gift but can't afford the higher level gifts recently offered. The last pledge drive (in August) was for last year's episodes. We now need to pledge for 2010, and it is critical, I'd say, just as critical as it was 5 years ago, that all those who want EastEnders to continue to please make your pledge now.

So now it's your turn Easties! It is time to get pledging! The time is now. If you want EastEnders to continue on WLIW, it is now or never. Here again is the link to the page on WLIW's website where you can put in your pledge: Please pledge for EastEnders by clicking here: WLIW Pledge Gift Page. (Then type 'EastEnders' into the search box).If you want EastEnders to continue on WLIW, it is time to make your voices heard by making your pledge. If you have any questions, just ask.
THANK YOU!

Cheers,
The Launderette Ladies

**To those Easties in other PBS station areas: so far WLVT in Allentown, and UNC in North Carolina have also signed on to offer the E20 Chronicles magazine as a pledge gift on ther upcoming pledge drives. Hopefully other PBS stations will as well - if your station isn't on the list, please let them know about this and pass along the email address of the Launderette. And to all you unaffiliated Easties out there - especially train riders - who'd like a copy of the E20 Chronicles magazine (or the package with the print) we hope you'll pledge to WLIW for them. THANK YOU!

***Update: More PBS Stations now offering the E20 Chronicles as a pledge gift during their March Pledge Drives, including:

UNC-TV, North Carolina (www.unctv.org)

Houston PBS, Houston, Texas (www.houstonpbs.org)

WPBS, Watertown, New York (www.wpbs.org)

TPT, Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota (www.tpt.org)

WLVT, Allentown, Pennsylvania (www.wlvt.org)

WETA, Washington DC (www.weta.org)

The Blokes of Walford (& the Launderette Ladies) Wish You a Happy Holiday!

Here at the Launderette, it gets a little dull just watching the smalls go around in the dryer. So we decided to create this little video greeting for you fellow Easties. To view the video, just click here.

The E20 Chronicles

Are you getting 'The E20 Chronicles'?? If not, and you're an EastEnders fan, you should be! But what is it?

'The E20 Chronicles' is a FREE, weekly e-newsletter about all things EastEnders, and published by The ever-loving Launderette Ladies. It will keep you up to date on everything that's happening with EastEnders, as well as what's happening in the EastEnders fan community over here in the States.

Want to get in on the fun? Just drop us a line here at the Launderette: E20Launderette at gmail.com

We've got nothing else to do here but watch the smalls go around in the dryer, so you'll be doing us a favor. We love bringing wayward EastEnders fans in from the cold. Join us!

Raising a Glass to Wendy Richard

This past Sunday we had a great knees-up at NYC's own Queen Vic, Swing 46, in honor of Wendy Richard, who passed away last month. In attendance were a fabulous crowd of Easties from far and wide, including a surprisingly large group of hearty souls who came all the way from WETA-ville (the Washington DC area). We came, we ate, we drank, we laughed, we cried, we had a chin wag, and we raised a glass to the unforgettable Wendy Richard & Pauline Fowler.

As we gave our toast, we were graced by a lovely message from Wendy's husband, John, by way of Judy (who wore a veddy proper British hat just for the occassion). Judy helped lead the successful drive to save EE on WETA. She was also lucky enough to meet Wendy a few years ago at her local pub in London, and afterwards they kept in touch. Judy emailed John to let him know about our brunch, and he sent a message for her to read to us. He spoke of how much Wendy appreciated her fans in the US, and had even spoken up on our behalf (to the BBC heads) after the current episodes were cancelled here, and that she appreciated every card and letter she got.

We were sincerely touched that John would take the time, especially at this difficult time, to offer us this greeting.

After the toast, we watched 'EE Revealed:Goodbye Pauline' as well as the tribute to Wendy that was broadcast in the UK the night she passed away. In addition, because of the turn in the storyline that took place last Friday night's episodes on PBS (where it was Christmas 2002), we also watched the 'EE Revealed: Jamie Mitchell' special. And to cheer everyone up before we departed, we watched a clip of Grant & Phil channeling their inner Chippendale, (ie; 'Kung Fu Fighting') on the big screen. (YouTube does not do this gem justice - this clip begs to be viewed on a big screen, in a room full of squealing Easties). And to round off the afternoon, we all passed around a big Easter card to send across the pond, to cheer John & Enda Bardon.

Thanks to all the Easties who came on Sunday. It was truly a terrific crew! Thank yous also have to go out to Jan in California & Christine in Arkansas for providing me with the DVDs for us to screen. And as always, a big, big THANK YOU to Judith at Swing 46, on Manhattan's famed Restaurant Row, for allowing us to make her club our very own Queen Vic!

Monthly EastEnders Synopsis from Union Jack News

Overture: We are starting to realize that maybe Jack's interest in Tanya has more to do with him getting revenge on his brother Max, than interest in Tanya. And note, I said 'we'. Tanya is still oblivious. Maybe. And why wouldn't she be? Who would you rather sit across from at the dinner and breakfast table (not to mention all the bits in-between)? Hunka hunka burnin' luv Jack, or ginger, weasely Max? Jack's next trick to get to Easy Street is to get Tanya and the kids away from the Square, and living in France (like Tomorrow) before Max realizes they're gone. They already bought the new digs and sold their house on the Square, before the fly in the ointment, Daddy's Girl Abi finds out and promptly cals Max. Max sees a lawyer and will do anything to get custody and keep his kids from being taken out of the country. Could that mean spilling the beans about that little overlooked detail (which Jack knows nothing about): Tanya attempting to bury him alive?...

Elsewhere, with paedophile Tony unable to control Whitney like he used to, he has now started punishing her by shutting her out & pretending to be interested in Bianca. And it looks like he's set his eye on new little girls - namely vulnerable Lauren Branning. He's also trying to get Ricky out of the house, but Pat says it's her house & she's having none of it...

Across the Square, it's a hard knock life for Jane Beale who's been leading a double life for months; sneaking around behind Ian's back, while telling him she's at the gym. But Ian finally realizes she's been lying to him, and he has plenty of experience with wives lying to him, so one night he follows her and discovers her horrible secret: She's a stand-up comedian! Her stage name is 'Mrs. Beale', and as he sits in the back of the audience, unknown to Jane, he is, at first, amused. Then she starts telling jokes about 'Mr. Beale', and their sex life. Apparently, something was missing. Ouch. He later confronts her, in a disturbing scene, where he tries to be a sexy brute (as opposed to the wimpy way Mrs. Beale describes him in her act), and when rebufffed, he tells her he KNOWS. She says lighten up, I don't need anything but you. He says it's either him or the comedy. Seriously...

Elsewhere, due to the new Great Depression, The Masoods are forced to sell their post office...Garry tries, once more, to get Dawn to notice he's alive...Big Mo almost gets nicked for selling stolen underwear on the stall (don't ask)...Bradley tries to fix their relationship by rushing Stacy into marriage but she balks, and under intense questioning from Bradley, (who clearly hasn't learned his interogation techniques from anyone at Walford nick, who can never get anyone to ever confess to anything), admits that she loves him as a friend, but isn't attracted to him. So, it's over and Stacy, who's never fully dressed without a scowl, is back living with the Slaters...

Over at the Vic, it's like Picadilly Circus: Phil Warbucks is luved up with Suzy Branning Hannigan, whose main activity, when not coming very close to secretly getting it on with Peggy's Archie, is trying to get Phil to buy her expensive stuff like fur coats. Then there's Billy, who despite his history, somehow gets approved to foster recently orphaned, Jay, who thinks he's gonna like it there. But Jay is a very angry boy, and things aren't going well. Then there's Peggy, who under Archie's repressive thumb, has gone from mutton dressed as lamb, to mutton dressed as Michelle Fowler circa 1986. Rounding it off is Sean and the very pregnant Roxy (who, for some reason, Dad Archie keeps trying to keep away from her sister Ronnie, whom he clearly hates and tortures every chance he gets, by manipulating her and blocking her from anyone and everything she loves). But there seems to be a little ticking surprise package, that everyone is unaware of, thrown into the mix: Danielle who has now been hired as the cleaner at the Vic. Turns out she has a locket with a picture of the young Ronnie in it - just like Ronnie has a locket with a picture of the infant her Dad forced her to give up for adoption in it. If you haven't yet guessed, it's all very 'Annie' (on acid). When Ronnie had said she wanted to try to find her baby, Dad said he'd heard the child died, and for some bizarre reason, even though Ronnie tells anyone who'll listen that her dad is a liar, she believes him. But hmmm...seems her daughter is alive, and came to find her, and has been living in the Square for weeks, and nobody knows it's HER. Maybe they'll get a New Deal for Christmas this year (What am I saying? It will be the usual holiday bloodbath with the famerlee).

And they said Broadway was dead...

Signed, Your Faithful Reporter,
Deborah Gilbert
AKA Ishcabibble

**Pick up a copy of Union Jack News at a British specialty shop near you. It is available across the US. Or for more info, go to www.ujnews.com

Duf-Duf: A Brief History...

(Did you know that that iconic episode-ending drumbeat, called the duf-duf, has a history all its own? Read on...)

Who knew there was this phenomenon called 'duf-duf'??
Sure, I'd noticed that the writers of the BBC's official fortnightly EastEnders e-mailed newsletter always signed off, 'duf-duf', but I just thought it was one of those charmingly British ecentricities that make absolutely no sense (like prawn flavoured crisps).

Turns out it's a lot more than that. At dinner with Troy Titus-Adams (Nina the Vic barmaid), we came to find out that the duf-duf is a highly prized honour. So prized, that upon receiving a new script, EastEnders actors will quickly look to the last page to see who gets the duf-duf.

And the Fleet Street wags will always query, 'Did you get a duf-duf?' This made me wonder: What are the origins of this duf-duf phenomenon? Has anyone ever studied this? It turns out that a team from the BBC has been investigating the issue, and has found that the duf-duf predates EastEnders by thousands of years.

It all started to become clear a few years ago, when British anthropologists were called to Lascaux, France, to assist the French in their ongoing study of the Cro-Magnon-era cave paintings. To their surprise, a newly discovered cave painting looked remarkably like Dot holding a fag. (Duf-duf.)

Intrigued, these scholars fanned out across the globe and began searching for evidence of the duf-duf throughout history. Here are just a few examples of what they found:

* At Oxford University, the BBC team consulted with a doctoral candidate whose dissertation had been held up for years while this perennial student agonized over the meaning of a particular text by Nostradamus. The text in question read, 'Sauntering publican; beware the approaching daffodils. Bang. Splash. Duf-duf. Resurrection'.

The student's questions have now been answered, and with medication, she has been able to move on with her life.

* At Yeshiva University, a recently updated (and more accurate) translation of the original Aramaic text of the Torah shows that the duf-duf appears there as well - a multitude of times. For example, Abraham is holding the knife aloft, about to sacrifice Isaac on the altar, when he hears the voice of
God say, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa Abe, lighten up! I was just messing with you.'

Abraham freezes, looks skyward (close-up), and Isaac sighs heavily (close-up). Duf-duf.

Torah scholars are nonplussed over this revelation, as evidenced by the reaction of young Talmudic student Avi Friedman, whose only question for the BBC investigators was, 'Do you think you can get Madonna to come to my bar mitzvah?' Duf-duf.

* In an attic in Trenton, New Jersey, the new owners of an 18th century farmhouse found a diary hidden in the eves. It belonged to one Jonah Able Attux (1752-1810.) Mr. Attux was a volunteer in George Washington's army; apparently a Minuteman (this, according to Mrs. Attux's diary). Duf-duf.

In one poignant excerpt, Mr. Attux describes a rare first-hand account of Washington crossing the Delaware. Until now, it had been thought Washington bravely led his troops to surprise the British army, however we now know they were just going out for a pint.

The diary excerpt reads, 'We rowed, and rowed our tiny boat; our hands frozen; the biting cold, choppy water splashing into the boat and drenching our tattered uniforms but the promise of free drinks pushed us onward. On several occasions we almost capsized due to the stance of General Washington.

Finally, a private in the back could take no more and called out, 'Oy! George! Sit down you drama queen, you're rocking the boat!'

But General Washington did not sit. He merely looked pained, as if he'd gotten another splinter in his lip, and muttered, 'Someday our new republic will offer a free dental plan for all'. Duf-duf.

*The British royal family has been connected with the duf-duf ever since Tudor times when Anne Boleyn rebuffed the gift of a new chapeau from her husband King Henry VIII, (who most scholars believe is the antecedent to Phil Mitchell). Anne is reported to have said, 'You know, Hank, I'm really not a hat person. Do you think you could get me something shiny?'

The resulting thwack was followed by the predictable duf-duf (as well as Henry's mother harping loudly about the way he treats his famerlee, and his dawning realization that he had, once again, lopped the head off the wrong woman). Duf-duf.

So, by these examples, we see that, when we watch EastEnders, we are part of a long and distinguished history, which was oft forgotten until historian Simon May sought to remind us with a catchy tune. Duf-duf...

©Deborah Gilbert, 2004