The folks over at BBC America recently realized that our nation’s interest in British television is not limited to Benny Hill. In turn, they have been kind enough to start airing a hefty crop of shows currently airing in the UK. Their latest offering, Hotel Babylon, is actually based on a book by British journalist Imogen Edwards-Jones, and, just like the novel, it serves as a steamy, fictionalized exposé of life at a five-star London hotel.
More so than the high-drama serial antics of shows like Footballer’s Wives, Hotel Babylon tries to bring back the steamy prime time soaps of the 70s and 80s and does so quite effectively – with an impressive lack of camp given its country of origin. Each episode sees the different high-profile guests bring their own dramatic baggage to the hotel, forcing the staff of the Babylon to sort it all out while remaining very much on top of their own, internal issues. It’s not unlike Fantasy Island – had Ricardo Montalban and Tattoo been very hot and British and everyone’s fantasy been to get laid.
Hotel Babylon works because it provides viewers with the same service its fictional locale gives its guests: a slick, stimulating, one-of-a-kind experience that offers a satisfying respite from the world outside. The bright, saturated colors and smooth camera work carry you from room to room with the staff – all of whom are convincing enough to compensate for the frequently annoying character actors who frequent the hotel. Max Beeseley (Glitter – really), in particular, stands out as Charlie, the new general manager. Charlie is as charming as someone in his position needs to be, and Beesley plays him like a scrappy Daniel Craig – and that is a good thing.
Bravo is currently trying to capitalize on the sensational antics inside hotels of this nature with their new reality series Welcome to the Parker. Unfortunately for them, real life is hardly as fun or glamorous as Hotel Babylon. Worth a watch whenever, it’s the kind of show best left sitting on your DVR or TiVo for when you’re craving an hour of television that requires zero mental legwork but isn’t at all mindless.
Hotel Babylon airs Wednesday nights at 9pm as a part of BBC America’s “Wicked Wednesdays.”