Category: TV

Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind Written By Amber Benson will have its UK Premiere on Friday, 24 July on Channel 5

7/18/2020

After years of working as a successful novelist on her Calliope Reaper-Jones series and The Echo Park Coven Trilogy and co-authoring The Ghosts of Albion series with Christopher Golden, Amber is developing a growing body of work as a writer for television.

She researched and wrote the scripts for Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer and Terror in The Woods for the Lifetime network describing the events surrounding two real-life tragic murder cases. In 2019 she got the chance to pen a fictional murder mystery for the small screen when she wrote the teleplay for Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind for Hallmark which aired on their Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel in the USA.

The Morning Show Mysteries series centers on Billie Blessings (Holly Robinson Peete) a successful restaurateur who also hosts the cooking segment on Wake Up West Coast a popular TV show. Billie was once suspected of murder but after clearing her name with the help of Detective Ian Jackson (Rick Fox) the pair remained friends and occasionally find themselves at the heart of another mystery.

In A Murder In Mind Billie comes to the aid of a friend and former employee who has recently got her big break in the lead role of brand-new TV drama Kelso's Law. Excitement turns to horror as a dead body is uncovered. The finger of suspicion soon falls on Billie's friend after it's revealed that she was being blackmailed by the victim. Billie again teams up with Detective Jackson in a race against time to clear her friend and uncover the identity of the killer.

The exciting news for Amber fans in the UK is that Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind will have it’s UK Premiere on Friday, 24 July at 2:15 PM on Channel 5 and at 3:15 PM on Channel 5+1.

There are different channel numbers depending on which digital TV platform you use I would check on-screen guides and any local channel listings for the correct channel numbers. At this stage I don't know if it will be available to viewers on demand via the Channel 5 website, if it is I will post a separate update to let fans know.

At present there isn't much information on the Channel 5 website, click here to view the listing. I've also embedded the US trailer below so you can get a taste of the movie.

I'm thrilled that UK fans will now have the chance to see and enjoy Amber's script in what promises to be an exciting mystery.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with the making of Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind. We have no connection to Hallmark or Channel 5. This post is for informational purposes only, we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting movie written by Amber Benson.

Amber was the Special Guest on The Debut Episode of The Femme Fatale Podcast

7/4/2020

A few days ago, the debut episode of The Femme Fatale Podcast was released. Amber was the special guest for the first in a brand-new series brought to you by the team behind The Femme Fatale Film Festival.

The Femme Fatale Film Festival was established three years ago with the aim of giving young female-identifying filmmakers the chance for their voices to be heard and to have their work shown on the big screen, to find out more click here.

The brand-new podcast will feature a series of interviews with female-identifying guests to talk about their careers in the entertainment industry. Amber was delighted to be the guest for the first ever episode which was hosted by Femme Fatale Film Festival founder and director Astrid Mohr.

Amber discusses her career in the entertainment industry having worked as an actress, producer, director, a successful novelist and now a writer for television. Together they discuss experiences of film festivals, Amber has experienced them as an actor and director as well as a film festival programmer herself. Amber reveals some of the positive and negative things she has experienced as a woman in the industry. She also talks about the key themes she likes to explore when writing and a whole lot more. This is a fascinating interview and a must listen for any Amber fan.

To listen to this episode of The Femme Fatale Podcast simply click the link below.

https://femmefatalefilmfestival.podbean.com/e/episode-1-amber-benson/

The podcast is also available to listen to and download via the Podbean app available for iOS and Android devices from their respective app stores. It's now also available via Apple podcasts. There is also a free transcript of the podcast available, to access it click here. As a disabled person myself I think it's fantastic that the podcast is available in another format and it’s not something I've ever seen before so well done to Astrid and her team.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to get this update online sooner it's been a busy few days for me, but I hope everyone enjoys this interesting and very enjoyable interview.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with The Femme Fatale Film Festival or The Femme Fatale Podcast. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting podcast featuring Amber Benson.

Amber To Perform As Part of Retrospecs Online Show This Sunday 28th of June

6/24/2020

Amber announced a few days ago via Twitter that she will be performing in the first RetroSpecs this Sunday, 28th of June.

This is the first in a series of online shows, RetroSpecs sees a group of actors perform a spec script. These are sample scripts for popular TV shows written by professional writers who were at the beginning of their careers. Spec scripts were common in the US television industry for many years.

In this performance the cast will be reading a spec script for Buffy the Vampire Slayer written in 2002 by Julie Plec who would go on to be the creator and showrunner for supernatural series The Vampire Diaries amongst others.

I'm excited to hear this script which will be a story from the Buffyverse that very few people will have heard before. As many of you will know Amber is a former Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member herself having played the role of Tara Maclay for three seasons. Amber is an amazing actor and I’m sure it will be thrill for Buffy fans to have a former cast member bringing character(s) to life.

Joining Amber in the cast will be:

Isabella Gomez from One Day at a Time
Percy Daggs III from Veronica Mars
Arielle Kebbel Ballers/Midnight Texas, and more
David Anders iZombie and The Vampire Diaries
Lexi Underwood from Little Fires Everywhere

As I mentioned earlier RetroSpecs is an online event that will take place on the House Seats website which aims to bring live shows from theatre and comedy clubs to people via the Internet while supporting good causes. Proceeds from RetroSpecs will go to Color of Change the USA's largest online racial justice organisation. To find out more about their work click here.

The event will also benefit The Writers Guild Foundation a non-profit organisation that aims to preserve and promote the history and craft of writing for the screen. To find out more about their work click here.

RetroSpecs will take place on Sunday, 28 June at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET which is after checking again time today 28/6/20/ midnight UK time.

The House Seats website have also said RetroSpecs will be available for 48 hours after the event to view on demand for anyone who has purchased a ticket.

To find out more and to get your ticket for what I think is a unique event click the link below.

https://houseseats.live/2020/06/28/retrospecs-6-13/

I hope everyone who is planning to watch has a great time.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with RetroSpecs or any of its partners and or the organisations involved. We own nothing and are not involved in any way with any of the television shows mentioned within. These are solely the property of their individual copyright holders. This post is for informational purposes only, we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting online event featuring Amber Benson.

Channel 4 Is The New Home Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer On UK Television From 1 June

6/3/2020

Exciting news for Amber Benson fans, Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a brand-new home on UK television with free to air broadcaster Channel 4 from 1 of June 2020.

In a deal agreed with The Walt Disney Company all 7 seasons will be available free on Channel 4’s streaming service All 4 on demand on line or via All 4 App, as well as every weeknight on E4 the broadcaster’s free to air digital channel.

This will give Amber fans the chance to see her in the iconic and much loved role of Tara Maclay who made her debut in "Hush" (season 4). Buffy is still an iconic television show and much loved by audiences.

Buffy is still attracting new generations of fans even today so with this in mind if you are a first-time viewer there will be some spoilers below.

Amber played Tara Maclay for 3 seasons. Her shy smile, honesty, and loyalty made a her big hit with fans. Amber's dramatic exit from the show in 2002 was extremely controversial, especially among the LGBTQ community, and still provides a big talking point for fans to this day.

Tara & Willow (Alyson Hannigan) were the first long term openly gay couple on a US network television show. Amber played the role of Tara with both honesty and sensitivity, which earned her much deserved praise. The role had a big impact on her life, and Amber continues to support the LGBTQ community.

Whether you’re a long-time fan like myself or new to the show you can access seasons 1 to 7 on demand via streaming service All 4. Simply sign up free or if you’re an existing user login at https://www.channel4.com and start streaming. To watch via your mobile device you can also download All 4 App for IOS and Android.

Buffy is also being shown every weeknight on E4 from the very beginning. Sorry I wasn't able to post this update prior to 1 June. The good news is with All 4 you can catch up on any episodes you’ve missed. E4 is available on multiple free to air and pay TV platforms, check digital channel guides and your provider for details.

To read Channel 4’s official announcement of the news and more details of the deal click here.

I'm pleased that long time fans and new viewers will have the chance to watch Amber in her most famous role on TV in the UK again, enjoy everyone.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved with broadcaster Channel 4, Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The Walt Disney Company. We own nothing, this post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another chance to see Amber Benson on UK television.

A Family Christmas Gift - A New Movie Written By Amber Benson

12/23/2019

Exciting news for Amber fans this festive season, she has written A Family Christmas Gift a brand new TV movie for the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel.

The movie centres on Amber, a busy New York-based executive played by Holly Robinson Pete who is persuaded by her Aunt Dora (Patti Labelle) to join her for Christmas in Colorado and help plan the annual Christmas concert.

Holly Robinson Pete's name may be familiar to Amber fans as she plays the role of Billie Blessings in Morning Show Mysteries. Amber wrote the script/teleplay for A Murder In Mind and Death By Design two movies in the popular series earlier this year.

Amber revealed back in September to fans attending an online Twitter party that she'd written a new Christmas movie for Hallmark. However she was unable to release any further details at the time. I've been keeping a keen eye on Hallmark’s listings for a while looking for news. I had a hunch that A Family Christmas Gift was the movie Amber had been referring to however I couldn't confirm this ahead of its premiere yesterday (22nd of December) in the USA. A friend in America has since confirmed that not only did Amber write the original story for the movie she also co-wrote the teleplay/script with Alex Wright.

The good news is that A Family Christmas Gift will be shown again tomorrow (24th of December) at 3:00 PM/2:00c. To find out more about the movie, view the trailer and see showing times throughout the holiday period, click the link below.

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/a-family-christmas-gift

The Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel is available in North America and Canada via a range of cable providers, for details click the link.

Everyone at AmberBenson.TV is delighted that Amber has been able to add to her growing body of work as a writer for television and we wish her every success with the movie. We hope everyone who was able to watch the movie enjoys this festive treat. If and when it becomes available to watch in the UK I will let you know.

In the meantime I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays as they say across the pond.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with the writing or production of A Family Christmas Gift. All rights belong to Amber Benson and Hallmark. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting movie written by Amber Benson.

Holiday Wishes Starring Amber Benson To Be Shown On UK TV This Friday

12/10/2019

Great news for UK Amber Benson fans as Holiday Wishes will be shown on TV this week. Holiday Wishes is a fun festive movie in which Amber plays Danni Hartford. A professional party planner who’s asked by a client to drive her spoiled teenage daughter Britney to a school Christmas dance.

Britney crosses paths with high school new girl Katie and each of them make Christmas wishes that go awry. Danni decides to help the teenagers put things right and in the process she might find something that she's been looking for.

This year I was able to find a trailer that I hadn't seen before so I've embedded it below. However it does contain spoilers so if you haven’t had a chance to watch Holiday Wishes before I would avoid the trailer for now.

Holiday Wishes will be shown at 5 AM on Friday the 13th of December on Sony Movies Christmas which is available on Sky Channel 319, Freeview Channel 50, Virgin Media Channel 424, and Freesat Channel 303. It will also be shown one hour later at 6AM on Sony Movies Christmas +1. Where available check channel guides and listings for details.

Watching Holiday Wishes is one of my Christmas traditions and I'll definitely be watching or setting my Sky box to record it. If you’ve never seen it before check it out, it’s a must see for Amber fans.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with the making or production of Holiday Wishes, we own nothing. We have no connection to Sony Movies Christmas. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another chance to see a Christmas movie starring Amber Benson.

Amber Has Written The Script For Morning Show Mysteries: Death By Design For The Hallmark Network

6/13/2019

Amber recently added to her growing body of work as a writer for television penning the script/teleplay for Morning Show Mysteries: Death By Design. This is the second movie in the Morning Show Mystery Series that Amber has written following on from a Murder In Mind which had its premiere earlier this year.

The series centers on Billie Blessings (Holly Robinson Peete) a successful restaurateur turned talk show host. Billie was once suspected of murder but after clearing her name with the help of Detective Ian Jackson (Rick Fox) the pair remained friends and occasionally find themselves at the heart of another mystery.

In Death By Design Billie’s best friend Marian is hired to redecorate the TV studio. Work comes to an end when Marian’s twin sister is found murdered and naturally Billie and Ian are on the case hot on the trail of the killer.

As regular visitors to AmberBenson.TV will know I pride myself on providing all the latest news on Amber's projects as quickly as I can. On this occasion however I somehow missed the premiere of Death By Design. I only discovered it had premiered earlier this week. I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to post an update before the premiere but of course it's fantastic that Amber has written another mystery for television.

Death By Design premiered on the 28th of April on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel available via cable providers in the USA. To find out more visit the movie's dedicated page on the Hallmark Murders and Mysteries website and its page on IMDb too. (Click the hyperlinks)

At the moment I don't know when Death By Design is due to be shown again. I will do my best to keep everyone informed. As ever please feel free to leave any information in the comments section below this post or contact us through our email and social media feeds.

I hope everyone who has the opportunity to watch it will enjoy it and as ever we wish Amber good luck with this project.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with the writing or production of Morning Show Mysteries: Death By Design. We have no connection to Hallmark or IMDb. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting TV movie written by Amber Benson.

Amber's Appearance On Lez Hang Out Live Now Released As A Podcast

5/14/2019

Last month Amber was a guest on a special live edition of Lez Hang Out Live which was part of CLEXACON. This is the first and largest multi-fandom event that aims to bring together LGBTQ fans, allies and content creators to celebrate positive representations of LGBTQ women in media, held at the Tropicana Hotel Las Vegas Nevada.

Along with hosts Leigh and Ellie Amber discusses Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Amber's experience playing Tara Maclay and the importance of Willow and Tara's relationship. They also look at Buffy and Faith’s friendship and why they should have been gay. The good news is this live edition has now been released as a podcast so fans who couldn't be there in person can listen to it.

Guests at CLEXACON have multiple commitments as part of the event so this special live edition is split into two sections. Amber is the guest for the first half and then comedian Kia Barnes discusses the movie Dumplin’.

To listen for free to Lez Hang Out Live click the link below:

Disclaimer: There are discussions of mature themes throughout the podcast.

https://lezhangoutpod.com/blog/2019/5/13/sbg-26-live-from-clexacon-sbg-buffy-and-faith-and-dumplin-with-amber-benson-and-kia-barnes

It is taken me longer than I would have liked to post this update, I have been busy with work commitments recently. When the podcast was first released I had trouble finding a link to it. I’d like to thank my friend and fellow Amber fan Katie who found the podcast on acast (click hyperlink).

This podcast is a must for any fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Amber of course.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with Lez Hang Out Live and/or CLEXACON. All characters mentioned within the podcast are the property of the copyright holders, we own nothing. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting podcast featuring Amber Benson.

Amber Has Written The Script For Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind For The Hallmark Network

3/12/2019

Here is some exciting news for fans, Amber has written the script/teleplay for the upcoming TV movie Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind. The latest TV movie in Hallmark’s Morning Show Mysteries series.

The series centers on Billie Blessings (Holly Robinson Peete) a successful restaurateur turned talk show host. Billie was once suspected of murder but after clearing her name with the help of Detective Ian Jackson (Rick Fox) the pair remained friends and occasionally find themselves at the heart of another mystery.

In a Murder In Mind Billie comes to the aid of a friend and former employee who has recently got her big break in the lead role of brand-new TV drama Kelso's Law. Excitement turns to horror as a dead body is uncovered. The finger of suspicion soon falls on Billie's friend after it's revealed that she was being blackmailed by the victim. Billie again teams up with Detective Jackson in a race against time to clear her friend and uncover the identity of the killer.

Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind will have its premiere on Sunday, the 14th of April at 9 PM/8C on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries available via cable in the USA, for a full list of cable providers click here.

For more information and to see a trailer for Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind click here. You can also visit it’s official IMDb page and check out a great article on the Hallmark Movie Fanatics Tumblr page (click the hyperlinks for more). I’d like to thank my friend and fellow Amber fan Katie for sending this information my way.

Amber recently wrote two original movies for The Lifetime Network, Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer and Terror In The Woods both telling the story of two harrowing murder cases.

Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind gives Amber the chance to write a fictional murder mystery for the small screen and everyone at AmberBenson.TV is delighted she will have another opportunity to add to her growing body of work as a television writer and we are looking forward to seeing what Amber has in store for these popular characters.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with the writing or production of Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder In Mind. We have no connection to Hallmark or the Hallmark Movie Fanatics Tumblr page or IMDb. This post is for informational purposes only we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting TV movie written by Amber Benson.

Two Movies Starring Amber Benson Are Now Available In The UK Via Amazon Instant Video

12/31/2018

Yesterday while I was setting up my brand-new smartphone I signed into the Amazon Instant Video app and I thought I'd see if there were any new additions to movies available. I was delighted to discover that two movies starring Amber have been added which to the best of my knowledge have never been available in the UK before.

The first of which is 7 Things To Do Before I'm 30 starring Amber as Lori Maddison

After her life hits some bumps in the road Lori decides to return home to try and figure out her next move. While exploring a childhood bedroom she discovers a list of 7 things she planned to do before turning 30 written years earlier. With just a few days left before her birthday she challenges herself to finish this list. To do it she’ll have to face her fears, confront her past and dare to do something new and hopefully get her life back on track.

7 Things To Do Before I'm 30 years is still one of my all-time favourite movies starring Amber. The part of Lori was written specifically for her and she gets a rare opportunity to lead a cast. Lori is charming, funny and kind the only problem is she doesn't believe in herself, Amber brings her to life brilliantly and this is a must see for Amber fans.

The film was originally released in 2008 made for the Lifetime Network. It has never been shown on UK TV (to the best of my knowledge) nor is it available on DVD in the UK although it could be imported from Australia. Thanks to Amazon Instant Video it’s widely available in the UK for what I believe to be the very first time. Click the link below and you'll see a variety of options. You can buy the movie, rent it for a limited time and it's even currently available for free to customers with an Amazon prime subscription.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Do-Before-Im-30/dp/B07JJ6V87L/ref=tmm_aiv_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546112800&sr=8-2

The second movie is The Griddle House

The Griddle House was released earlier this year, starring alongside Amber is her former Buffy The Vampire Slayer co star Clare Kramer and fellow Buffyverse actor Charisma Carpenter. The Griddle House is actually the first opportunity Charisma and Amber have had to work together.

The movie tells the story of Jack Benson (Alex Shaffer) who’s on a search for his birth mother believing her to be one of three women Tiny (Amber Benson), Mae-Bee (Charisma Carpenter), Francis (Clare Kramer) all of whom are connected to a diner known as The Griddle House.

The Griddle House was released on region one DVD this summer and while it can be shipped to the UK I know some people prefer to buy only region 2 DVDs. At the moment as far as I'm aware there are no plans for a UK DVD release. As with 7 Things To Do Before I'm 30 it is available to buy, rent and it's also available free to Amazon prime customers. With Amazon Instant Video you can stream and/or download these movies to watch on a variety of different devices including smartphones, smart TVs, tablets and desktop computers and more. To find out more about The Griddle House click the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B07JGK7GSL/ref=pd_cbs_318_3

I'm delighted these movies are now more widely available to UK fans and if you haven't been able to see them before check them out you won't be disappointed.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in the production or distribution of 7 Things To Do Before I'm 30 or The Griddle House. We have no connection to Amazon instant video this post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about some exciting movies starring Amber Benson.