OnTV: PBS Unleashes ‘Dracula’
Masterpiece Theatre Does Bram Stoker for TV
Another year, another Dracula, this time on PBS’ venerable Masterpiece Theatre. Does the world really need yet another version of the popular horror classic that has inspired legions of enthusiastic fans to devote themselves to the pursuit of blood-drenched, fear-inducing fantasy concoctions for all manner of media? I myself wondered until I learned that the lead role of Count Dracula is played by one of my personal favorites, British actor Marc Warren, who has thoroughly won me over in such U.K. television shows as Prime Suspect, The Vice, Doctor Who, and Hustle. The PBS production, which begins tonight at 9pm*, is all the better for his presence.
Masterpiece Theatre’s take on the 1897 novel emphasizes the parallels between the effects of Dracula’s bloodsucking on unfortunate victims’ bodies and those of syphilis, a common affliction in Victorian times that waged a similarly vicious battle on the body after entering the bloodstream. If not properly treated, syphilis could (and still can) gradually inflict considerable damage—including to the brain, heart, and nervous system—causing all types of irrevocable problems ranging from dementia to even death. Does anything sound familiar here?
In tonight’s adaptation, Dracula journeys to England to assist a troubled married couple after the husband asks the Transylvanian to cure his syphilis. Of course, things do not go exactly as planned, and vampire expert Dr. Abraham Van Helsing (David Suchet of the long-running Agatha Christie mystery series Poirot) has to intervene. Strict fans of earlier versions will likely see their anxieties over unfaithfulness allayed, for much of the original mythology of Dracula is present in the telefilm, as well, such as central characters (including Jonathan Harker and Lucy Westenra) and familiar settings (the Count’s creepy castle). Judging from Masterpiece Theatre’s track record, viewers have nothing at all to worry about then except enjoying the show.
Other New Stuff on TV Tonight
- ABC: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (7:00); Desperate Housewives (9:00); Brothers & Sisters (10:01)
- BBC America: Footballer$ Wives: Overtime (10:00)
- CBS: 60 Minutes (7:00); The 49th Annual Grammy Awards (8:00)
- CSPAN: Q & A (8:00); Road to the White House 2008 (9:30)
- The CW: Reba (7:30); 7th Heaven (8:00)
- Discovery: MythBusters (8:00)
- ESPN: NBA Basketball (8:00)
- FNC: War Stories With Oliver North (10:00)
- Food Network: Emeril Live (8:00); Iron Chef America (9:00); Challenge (10:00)
- Fox: The Simpsons (8:00); King of the Hill (8:30); Family Guy (9:00); American Dad (9:30)
- HBO: Rome (9:00); Extras (10:00)
- HGTV: House Hunters International (8:30); Dream House (10:00); What’s With That House? (10:30)
- MSNBC: Meet the Press (10:00)
- MTV: I’m from Rolling Stone (11:00)
- NBC: Grease: You’re the One That I Want (7:00); The Apprentice: Los Angeles (9:00); Crossing Jordan (10:00)
- Oxygen: Tease (9:00)
- PBS: Nature (8:00*)
- Sci Fi: The Dresden Files (9:00); Battlestar Galactica (10:00)
- Showtime: The L Word (10:00)
- TLC: American Chopper (10:00)
- VH1: Surreal Life Fame Games (9:00); Hogan Knows Best (10:00); Shooting Sizemore (10:30)
*All PBS times may vary—Check your local listings to verify them
All times are PM and EST/Eastern Standard Time
Marc Warren Dracula photo courtesy of PBS
