At TCA, BBC America Shows It Knows Forest From Trees

PASADENA — Although we’ll have to get a ruling from cable’s partymeister Chuck Klein, it seems BBC America’s veteran PR hand Jo Petherbridge may have received enough votes last night to take her rightful place in the party throwers hall of fame. GSN’s Cindy Ronzoni: Please make some room.

BBC America’s recreation of Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest on the lawn of the The Ritz-Carlton Pasadena was a delightful masterpiece (although the relatives of the roast pigs carved up by a medieval waiter’s knife might not squeal in agreement).

Having had the pleasure of attending a bevy of Ms Petherbridge’s soirees, we must say last evening’s was the topper. The attention to detail was the most impressive part. While it’s not a great compliment, the food was the best of the tour — heck, there were actually a selection of vegetables on the menu. But on top of that Jo had the good sense to provide places to consume the victuals, stuffing the large tent with medieval-appropriate long wooden tables, silver goblets and plates.

Then she peopled the tent with English-accented wenches, lusty and busty. And there was a medieval band playing the greatest hits of the 1500s, taking requests (I was surprised they didn’t know the 3rd mass of Josquin Des Prez) and featuring not one but two sackbuts (the trombone’s precursor).

Several TCA critics were amazed that music could be made without electricity. There was also a strolling magician, who could have doubled for Henry the 8th. The little touches included torches leading to the tent and plenty of trees around and inside the place. Even the centerpieces were clever, combining some of the first fresh fruits the critics have seen in days and nuts.

The only things missing were a court jester, an outbreak of the black plague and a pack of stray dogs, roaming the tent for scraps of food thrown from the tables.

Earlier posts:

• "Ya Gotta Love TCA When…"

• "At TCA, The Food Network Rules"