Duran Duran takes over BBC4

It was a proud moment for Duranies everywhere, and especially in the U.K., as Duran Duran took over BBC4 for an evening on June 29.

Sandwiched between episodes of "Top of the Pops" featuring Duran and the band's David Lynch-directed "Unstaged" concert were two hours of new programming. One, a 40th anniversary bash/documentary "There's Something You Should Know" was followed by "A Night In."

"A Night In" is a showcase for the camaraderie among the four remaining original members. They watch clips of their biggest influences from the worlds of music, TV, movies, and more. They're still in awe of Bowie and Bolan and still love the movie that helped start it all, "Barbarella." It's a satisfying look behind the scenes at what makes Duran tick.

But the gem of the evening was "There's Something You Should Know." While the program was billed as a documentary, it was more of a look back at the band's career highlights, much like the David Bowie special "Five Years." There was an extensive focus on the band's self-titled debut album and "Rio."

The members of Duran are back where it all began, Birmingham, at the site of the Rum Runner club and in the seats of a classic Citroen, the band's original "tour bus." There, Simon, John, Nick, and Roger reminisce about the early days, listening to an original Duran demo tape on the car's cassette player. It's clear from the way that the four originals interact with one another that the magic's still there. Jokes come easy, and the others refer to Simon affectionately as "Charlie," just like in the old days.

There are stops at other Duran career high points, and visits with Duranie luminaries like Mark Ronson, Nile Rodgers, Cindy Crawford, and in a bit of a surprise, Boy George. Ronson and John Taylor drop in at the iconic building of Capitol Records. Ronson, who has produced much of the band's recent work, is still every bit the Duranie, definitively stating that "nobody really wanted to give you credit for the fact that everybody was a great musician."

"Notorious" is represented, as we're reminded that Rodgers still thinks of Duran as his second band. Sure, we know these facts, but isn't it good that now the world knows, too?

Duran is criminally underrated, passed over most notably for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame despite a 40-year career. The BBC's math is based on the year 1978, a date the band itself has used often over the years; however, Duran has more recently pushed that date forward on its calendar.

Although the main focus is the '80s, "There's Something" also revisits "The Wedding Album," "Astronaut," and "Paper Gods." Simon talks with his old choirmaster, and Nick commiserates with suit designer Anthony Price. There are shortfalls: much of Andy's contributions, and Warren's entirely, are glossed over. But the program does a great job of covering the bases in just an hour.

Overall, "There's Something" is a good reminder for the general public that Duran is still deserving of the recognition that so many young fans gave the band so many years ago.