2008 Mardi Gras viewing guide

This weekend marks the 30th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and Olivia Newton-John will appear at the Party to sing Xanadu.

In 1978 a protest march in response to the US Stonewall riots was broken up by Sydney police. Within a year it had already become a pivotal event for the local gay community, with 3000 marchers. It is now recognised as the biggest gay parade in the world.

By 1994 the ABC presented its first telecast of the Parade in an edited highlights package, attracting record Sunday figures. In 1997 TEN gave the event its first commercial broadcast. It has also been a pay per view event on Foxtel.

Last year the parade was a pay-per-view webcast. This year the parade is again absent from television screens, but there are a handful of programmes scheduled to keep you in the party mood, on ABC, SBS and Foxtel.

Saturday March 1

[V/10:00pm] Perfect 10
[Ovation/10:30pm] Ladies Please.
[History/11:00pm] 18th Century Gay Underworld

[SBS/11:40pm] SOS…Shorts On Screen – Le Weekend – A young, cynical French film student comes to London for the weekend to make a film project for his course. Disillusioned by his London experience, he’s befriended by a stranger who shows him a side of the city, and himself, that he never would have seen. The story unfolds through his Super 8 film footage. (From the UK, in French, English subtitles); One End Stands – A young lesbian’s scenic tour through her frustration and desire as she dives into the saucy trials and tribulation of getting a date (From Australia, in English); Two Minutes After Midnight – A young man strikes out while trying to pick up a hunk in a gay club. Later in the men’s room he meets an angel who gives him the ability to change into the person of one’s dreams (From the UK, in English); Hoi Maya – One day two old ladies meet unexpectedly at the hairdressers. The unexpected encounter takes the two aback at first. Memories of their joint youth are awakened, and suppressed feelings begin to rise. (From Switzerland, in Swiss German) M

Sunday Mar 2
[ABC/3:00 am] RAGE. Mardi Gras musical special includes The Gossip, Kylie, Deee-Lite, Faithless featuring Boy George, Sylvester, Love Tattoo, Itche-E & Scratch-E, Paul Mac, Fischerspooner, Cyndi Lauper, Bronski Beat, Patrick Hernandez, Bearforce 1, Rufus Wainwright, Antony & The Johnsons, kd lang and more.