News Archive:
TV’s night of double acts
Sunday night was very probably a first in Australian television, as two commercial networks broadcast two different shows from the one building as Rove and Dancing with the Stars went head to head last night.
At Global Studios, South Melbourne (formerly 7 studios), the building was bursting at the seams with entertainment, audiences and variety. There was everyone from Hollywood celebrity to radio and sports stars and it all ran like clockwork. Even the foyer had to be divided into two, with one door for Rove and another for Dancing.
The traffic was …
Torchwood
At long last, Captain Jack Harkness returns to save Cardiff. 10:30pm tonight on TEN.
City Homicide
Australian Idol
Boston Legal
Australian Story
Shameless
Little Britain: USA
A little look at the American edition of Little Britain sees the familiar antics of Lou and Andy, in the US. The series airs on HBO later in September.
Oddly, even the laugh track sounds different to the Brits. Methinks they’re about their comedy of the offence is about to take the US by storm.
NBC renews Chuck
NBC has ordered a full second season of Josh Schwartz’s Chuck, ensuring at least 22 episodes of the show. It made the order after viewing the first six episodes of the second season.
In Australia Nine owns the rights to this series about an “average computer-whiz-next-door” who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working in the CIA; the message embeds the only remaining copy of the world’s greatest spy secrets into Chuck’s brain. It stars Zachary Levi (pictured).
13 episodes of the series …
"Remember him with love"
As family, friends, the television industry and fans are still coming to terms with the tragic passing of All Saints’ Mark Priestley this week, Seven’s website has been inundated with messages of condolence.
There are over 1000 comments from viewers, totalling 100 pages. His death at the age of 32, as with that of Charmaine Dragun last year, will shatter the illusion that life in the television spotlight is a ‘charmed life.’
Mark’s former girlfriend, who split with him only three weeks ago, has issued a statement….
Airdate: Alfred Hitchcock season
If ever there was a reason to stay in on Saturday nights (well apart from SBS’ new schedule) its for a season of Hitchcock mysteries coming to ABC next month.
David Stratton will present five classic films beginning with James Stewart and Grace Kelly in the 1954 film, Rear Window (yes that’s the one The Simpsons parodied with Bart supposedly seeing Ned Flanders kill Maude).
The films will screen on ABC2 from September 20.
Starting Saturday September 20 on ABC2 at 8:30pm, …
Seven awarded for caption services
Channel Seven was awarded this week for its closed caption services by the Deafness Forum of Australia.
Seven was acknowledged twice with The 2008 Award for Free-to-air Television Captioning for services “above and beyond” in captioning. And The Members Choice Award was won for Seven’s captioning of Sunrise. The latter is considered significat given it is voted for by Forum members themselves.
Seven also operates Austext, which carries news, finance information, weather, lottery results, a TV guide and other information. This is conducted from Brisbane’s broadcast centre….
UFO doco to shoot in Oz
The History Channel is planning to send a team of documentary makers to Australia to investigate UFO sightings.
The American documentary makers will shoot an episode of the cable television series UFO Hunters. The show is filming its second season after its first series proved a huge success in the United States.
According to the show’s website: “The team’s access to UFO evidence is unparalleled and their expertise allows them to quickly identify bogus claims of UFOs.
“We are looking at an …
Supermarket wars
Four Corners fared well in this site’s recent current affairs survey, so here’s a heads up on Monday’s episode. It looks at the supermarket monopolies of Woolworths and Coles and how it affects everyone from consumers to farmers.
One liquor merchant struggling to compete with their prices says, “In the 36 years I’ve been in our two shops I’ve had 12 armed hold-ups, 11 with a gun and one with a machete, and the biggest predator we face is this company here.”
Press Release:
Next on …
Gone: Betty, Trinny & Susannah. Returning: Family Guy, American Dad
Poor Betty. She can save the day on screen, but not off…
Seven has pulled Ugly Betty from its schedule again, effective immediately.
Last night the show rated a disappointing 573,000 viewers, beaten by a repeat of Law and Order: SVU (1.08m) and the AFL / NRL Footy Shows (1.02m). The show only returned for one episode after being removed in June. Seven trailed with a 25% evening share to Nine’s 30.4%, TEN was close with 23.6%.
Trinny & Susannah Undress the …
Airdate: US Open
Nine is set to screen the US Open from September 5-8 in early morning sessions live from Flushing Meadows.
Ken Sutcliffe and Tim Gilbert will host while John Newcombe, Fred Stolle and Mark Woodforde will provide commentary.
Press Release:
Channel Nine will present exclusive free-to-air coverage of the 2008 US Open, the last tennis grand slam tournament of the year, from September 5 through to the men’s singles final on September 8.
Ken Sutcliffe and Tim Gilbert will host Nine’s coverage …
Hope for Access 31
Perth’s now-defunct community television station Access 31 has been thrown a lifeline from a wealthy Chinese businessman.
Ma Xi Bo, owner of Perth Chinese Radio and the Oriental Post, has offered a substantial amount to get the station back on air.
General manager of Mr Ma’s Perth Chinese Media Group, Len Fretwell, said Mr Ma was very community minded and wanted to see the station viable.
“Mr Ma would like to see - and he can afford to do it - Access 31 continue for the benefit …