Stephen Fry's 21st Century Firsts
This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. (June 2021) |
Stephen Fry's 21st Century Firsts is a 2020 television documentary in which Stephen Fry explores the "top 21 ‘firsts’ of the 21st century"[1] in the millennium's coming of age year[2] and the change in daily life caused by these.
Synopsis
Stephen Fry presents day-to-day innovations in medicine, technology, sports, culture and society accompanied by experts, celebrities and ordinary people and how these affected daily life.[3][4] It also depicts how these "are now taken for granted, but Fry reveals how they have transformed our lives."[2] The "polymath Fry" goes on to "[ask] what the next two decades [may] have in store for us."[5]
Production
Jo Clinton-Davis, from ITV, commissioned Spun Gold TV's producer Louise Quayle[1] and executive producer Bridget Boseley[6] to make the documentary, which was directed by Christian Watt.[1] The one-off 90-minute special[7] aired simultaneously on ITV and STV at 8:30 p.m. on 30 December 2020.[3][8][9] It was rebroadcast on ITV at 12:10 a.m. on 31 December 2020.[10]
Reception
Daniel Furn, from Radio Times, called it "[a] fitting reflection as we near the New Year,"[19] while The Irish Times' David Courtney named it one of the "46 of the best shows to watch this holiday week."[20] Moreover, Huff Post's Ash Parcival christened it one of "the 50 best shows you won't want to miss,"[21] and Yahoo! News added it to its list of "[t]he best shows on UK telly."[22] Additionally, TellyMix's Josh Darvill asserted that it "[i]lustrated with a rich mix of archive, [turning] the clock back 20 years and [the audience will] witness the great pace of change and ponder what the next 20 years will bring.[4] Nonetheless, The Courier's Paul Whitelaw wasn't as lauditive, calling it an "uttelry pointless list show [presented by] cosy centrist tech-lover [Fry]" and that "this broling cultural stew, deserves hours of analysis." Whitelaw noted that "Fry admitted that it was a whistle-stop tour, but that was no excuse for a programme in which Harry Potter trampled over the election of Barack Obama and the voice of Greta Thunberg," and went on to allege that "Fry was just picking up a festive paycheque."[23] Upon the documentary's release, The National, inspired by the use of the number twenty-one, noted that "[t]hose born that year are now coming of age, while others who were 21 back then have discovered whether or not life really does begin at 40."[9]
References
- ^ ISSN 0042-2738. Archived from the originalon 22 October 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ ISSN 1756-3224. Archived from the originalon 30 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b Brett, Susan (27 December 2020). "New Year's TV 2020: What to watch this week (December 28 – January 3)". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b Darvill, Josh (30 December 2020). "What's On TV tonight? Top picks for Wednesday, 30 December". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Goodhart, Benjie (15 December 2020). "What's on: Christmas and New Year TV guide 2020". SAGA. Saga plc. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Layton, Mark (20 April 2021). "Wag Entertainment hires Bridget Boseley as first creative director". Television Business International. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Stephen Fry brings Firsts to ITV". C21 Media. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b Gilbert, Gerard (30 December 2020). "What's on TV tonight: Stephen Fry recounts the 21st century's biggest breakthroughs so far". i. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ ISSN 2057-231X. Archived from the originalon 30 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Woolston, Hope (30 December 2020). "New Year's Eve 2020 TV schedule: Everything you can watch on the last day of 2020". Essex Chronicle. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the originalon 30 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Baker, Emily (8 December 2020). "Christmas TV guide 2020: The factual highlights of the TV schedule, from Dancing on Thin Ice to Dynasties". i. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISSN 1756-3224. Archived from the originalon 14 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISSN 9976-1874. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Richardson, Anne (30 December 2020). "Today's TV [Ulster Region]". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Bradley, Charlie (30 December 2020). "Stephen Fry's Brexit error in 'myth-busting' video about leaving EU". Daily Express. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISSN 0033-8060. Archived from the originalon 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the originalon 8 February 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Percival, Ash (12 December 2020). "Christmas TV Guide 2020 – The 50 Best Shows To Feast Your Eyes On". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Arnold, Ben; Johnson, Amy (21 December 2020). "2020 Christmas TV guide: The best shows on UK telly". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Whitelaw, Paul (2 January 2021). "TV previews: Dundee-set 'potboiler' Traces amongst highlights of Paul Whitelaw's coming week". The Courier (Dundee). Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.