“Some people said they felt uncomfortable. Others said there was nothing going on,” he said.

“But I then continued and confronted the person who was mentioned.”

Reilly says he got a vehement and angry denial from the person concerned.

“I then contacted the network, because I felt we had a decision… I contacted senior officials at the network and contacted the parents of the other person who is suggested was involved.

“Our first priority at all times was the young person in question.

“All we were really working on was gossip and innuendo. But that had to be acted upon. And so we did act upon it.”

Reilly says he hired a full time chaperone and told the senior crew to be on alert. He says he couldn’t act any further without a formal complaint.

“It was flatly denied. No complaint was ever made, but action had to be taken.

“You cannot sack or name someone and ruin their entire career on rumour and innuendo. That is morally and legally not acceptable. This is the dilemma we were all faced with.”

Reilly, whose series has enjoyed the status of being Australia’s longest-running sitcom ever, was angry about the show’s reputation being tarnished by the claims and the man at the centre of the scandal.

“If I ever see him again it will be far too soon,” he said.

Grimshaw was direct with her questions to Reilly.

“I put it to you that you knew what was being done to Sarah Monahan,” she said.

“She was young girl who took people into her confidence and people tried to help her. And who would they go to to help her but you? And you said, ‘Keep this a secret. This remains a secret. Tell nobody. Otherwise you will not work again.’”

“I categorically deny that,” said Reilly. “I cannot say it any more times. It’s just not true.”

On Monday ACA has an interview with Sarah Monahan.

The plea for financial support carries a switch off deadline of June 30th 2010.

NITV, which airs home-grown shows including Marngrook Footy Show, The Barefoot Rugby League Show, Yaarnz, Yarramundi Kids, Letterbox, Grounded, and Momentum, broadcasts in the Sydney Metropolitan Area, Geelong, Ballarat, Mildura, via Foxtel, Optus and Austar and on 147 terrestrial transmitters in remote areas of Australia.

A Press Release from NITV follows:

NITV has been on air since July 2007. We have earned the support and trust of Indigenous viewers and other Australians. NITV has utilized the talents of Indigenous writers, directors, journalists and producers to make programs in genre ranging from music to health, sport, news, current affairs, culture and children’s programs. Most of NITV’s content is made, not bought.

The Australian Government has not yet committed to a future for NITV.

This means we will have to switch off NITV from midnight 30 June 2010. We need your support.

Please send your messages of support to friends@nitv.org.au

OR write to Minister Garrett, the minister NITV’s portfolio comes under directly at

The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP
Title: Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts.
Parliament House Contact
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

To send an email, go to www.aph.gov.au/P_Garrett_MP/ then click ‘contact form’

The accused, now aged 18, was one of two individuals who assaulted Gay.

Gay was assaulted in Marrickville in June 2008, being punched repeatedly and kicked in the face while on the ground, before flagging down a passing bus.

The teen and a juvenile co-accused then attacked chef Daniel Owen, 31, in his driveway. Owen was found dead, lying face down in a pool of blood.

The teenager, who pleaded guilty, cannot be named because he was a juvenile at the time of the offences. He was sentenced to a minimum term of 12 years and nine months in prison.

His co-accused, aged 16 at the time, was sentenced in February to a minimum of 10 years and six months’ prison.

Source: smh.com.au

Following a handful of films, Parker made his TV debut in Dragnet in 1954 but it was as Disneyland’s Davy Crockett, with its iconic theme tune “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (even this little Davy was known to warble that one!) that he became famous. Kids grabbed up Davy Crockett lunch boxes, toy Old Betsy rifles, buckskin shirts and trademark fur caps. Parker only made 7 appearances as the pioneer character.

In the 1960s he found more success as a frontiersman again when he landed the lead in Daniel Boone, a role he played for six years. He also produced several episodes of the show.

In 1970, he retired from acting and launched a successful career in real estate before a brief return in 1974 with his own sitcom, The Fess Parker Show. He also grew grapes for prize-winning wines.

A spokeswoman says Parker died of natural causes at his Santa Ynez home near the Fess Parker Winery on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.

Source: Associated Press, IMDb

The Herald Sun notes O’Loughlin described Irwin as “a ‘bit creepy’ before doing an over-the-top impersonation of the child star’s voice. She then made a gesture indicating Bindi was crazy, before miming a slap across the child star’s face.”

But Irwin was defended by Chris Durling, of Bindi’s Crocmen, who was also a guest, describing her as gorgeous and down to earth.

“What you see is what you get,” Durling said.

Irwin has also been an ABC brand with her children’s series Bindi the Jungle Girl previously aired by the broadcaster.

Some comments on the ABC’s messageboard hit back at O’Loughlin saying:

-”What a shame you have to have a guest on your show making such degrading comments about a little girl who brings so much joy to children everywhere.”

- “Alan told her though-what was it he called her again? A mean-spirited, bitter old hag or words to that effect? Of course he was only joking but it was a very fitting description…..”

-”No. 11 year old children are not “fair game”. Ever heard of the anti bullying movement in recent years?”

- “The bagging of Bindi Irwin went on and on, to the obvious discomfort of Chris.”

But others disagreed:

-”Absolutely correct about the exploitation, they are all strange and thank god for people like Fiona who are not affraid to say it.”

-”I am not concerned about comments referring to Bindi Irwin as a freak show. In fact I tend the think it is the best description of how she is being used by some people to be this “all entertaining, extremely optimistic, plastic, perpetually smiling, always-money making” child star.”

Irwin is not alone in child stars being the subject of humour as Nikki Webster and Matthew Krok can surely attest.

Source: Herald Sun, ABC

NB: As the subject of this story involves a minor, TV Tonight will publish comments that are written respectfully of the issues at hand.

The annual announcement will take place at the Ivy Pool Bar in Sydney.

TV Week Editor, Nicole Byers said, “The announcement of the TV Week Logie nominations is such a highly anticipated event for both TV fans and the industry, it will be great to have Charlie and Gigi there to share the news of who is up for this year’s awards.”

Pickering was one of the males shortlisted for Best New Talent contenders.

Update: The nominations announcement can be seen via live crosses on Sunrise and Today.

The 2010 TV Week Logie Awards will be held on 2nd May at Melbourne’s Crown Casino.

Matthew ‘Mossy’ Moss, the NSW Detective who showed his skill and his heart on the Seven hit series, had applied to appear on MasterChef Australia, but never even got as far as a first audition.

“Never got a word. Never got a look in,” he says. “I put the application in and I wasn’t even sighted off Nobbys.”

Nobbys Beach, in Newcastle, is another of Mossy’s uniquely Australian metaphors. When he was eliminated this week he said that meeting the other contestants on the show was like being “hit in the arse with a rainbow.”

But MasterChef missed out on casting the man and his expressions when it didn’t respond to his audition application.

“I sent it in and there was nothing. I’m still waiting,” he says.

“But what you miss out on the merry-go-round you pick up on the ferris wheel.”

The ferris wheel turned out to be My Kitchen Rules. After his kids saw the auditions ad his wife Gabe put in the application, pretending to be him. They were eventually selected to represent New South Wales, becoming the first to be featured in the series as an instant restaurant.

One of his defining moments was in the second dinner party when as a guest of rival Victorian team Clint and Noah, he stepped into their kitchen to encourage the despairing duo. It set he and Gabe apart from other teams that were being characterised as bitchy.

“When the young blokes in Melbourne had their dinner party and got smashed on the entree and belted on the main I went in just to give them a bit of a leg up to say ‘Don’t drop the ball, everything’s ok.’ It wasn’t a competition for me, it was all about the food. I would have entered this competition for a packet of Minties!” he says.

“It’s like wanting to see your mates do well when you know they can do better, rather than have them with their bottom lip down. So I just went in and said ‘You’re alright boys, continue on and do your best,’” he says.

“It wasn’t put on. I genuinely and sincerely felt sorry for the boys because they got smashed.”

When he was eliminated on Tuesday night with Gabe, Moss’ emotions began to spill. Now he speaks highly about his experience, of both the culinary lessons and the friends he has made. As a Reality TV graduate, it is heartening to hear him champion the experience.

“I was bitterly disappointed that it wasn’t to be, but onwards and upwards. It was a great experience and a tremendous journey. The knowledge that I’ve collected over the last 4 months is unforgettable. It’s not something I could read in a book or watch on DVD.

“And to become good mates with Manu as well has been great.”

Moss, who developed his interest in cooking during the last 12 months of working in the Homicide Squad, says he would love to have his own lifestyle series. He isn’t sure how it would fit with his current job with NSW Police, but concedes it would be a good problem to have.

“I’d really like a cooking show, to teach people how to cook if they don’t have any skills. To show them that it’s not that hard. I think people sometimes make it a bit more complicated than it is and I’d love to crack it for a TV show,” he says.

“Maybe Gabe could do a bit of dessert work as well.”

And as for that line about being ‘hit in the arse with a rainbow?’

“I picked it up many years ago,” he laughs. “But it’s one I pull out of the golf bag when the circumstances are appropriate.”

My Kitchen Rules Grand Final airs 7:30pm Monday on Seven.

Meldrum is unable to appear due to his contract with Seven / Foxtel.

While the Australian Idol judge will appear on the first episode, it seems no deal is yet done.

I hope they make the most of this and pepper his segment with those Marcia Hines grabs, “Right on Daryl & Ossie” and “This show is deep.”

The Daily Telegraph notes Daryl Somers is believed to have successfully lured back Ernie Carroll as Ossie Ostrich, Livinia Nixon and Jackie Macdonald.

The show returns in April.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Appearing on Today Tonight, Mayer said he had heard the rumour.

“It was a long time ago. At the time I thought it would be dealt with if it was true. Someone would deal with it. Someone from Production, maybe, would deal with it,” he said.

“It’s something that was very sad. As far as clearing my name… of course… that’s why I am here.”

Mayer, who played Simon Kelly from 1987-1991 said he had no reason to doubt Monahan, noting “she was always an honest person.”

A Current Affair, which on Wednesday featured reactions from Julie McGregor and Chris Truswell, again stated it had new information from others connected with the show which it would pursue.

Last night a doorstop interview with Producer Gary Reilly was met with a polite “no comment.” Reilly was categorically not the person implicated in the allegations, said ACA host Tracy Grimshaw.

The new series starts in the US today.

Check this out…

(language or concepts may offend)

-Northern Australia – encompassing the Northern Territory and Queensland
-South Eastern Australia – encompassing the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
-Western Australia.

Senator Stephen Conroy introduced legislation into Parliament today to assist viewers in remote digital blackspots, as part of the switch from analogue television. The satellite system, estimated at $40m a year, was announced in January.

“The Bill will help broadcasters provide the same number of digital television services to all Australians wherever they live, whether they access television through terrestrial transmission or via satellite,” Senator Conroy said.

“The legislation also requires commercial broadcasters to provide all local news and information programs to the satellite service licensee, and will ensure that viewers who rely on satellite are able to access their local news as soon as possible after bulletins commence on the terrestrial channel.”

The Government will refer the legislation to the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee.

A subsidy was also flagged in January for ‘eligible households,’ estimated at 247,000, towards the installation of domestic satellite dishes.

Source: dbcde

Two new seasons of Escape from Scorpion Island have been approved for CBBC and ABC, to again be filmed in Australia.

Each 26×30 min season will once again put ten children from the U.K. and Australia, ages 11 to 13, through a series of Survivor-style challenges.

Last June Tim Brooke-Hunt, ABC TV’s executive head of children’s TV, told TV Tonight how much he loved the series. “I was thrilled, it was my first commission to go to air,” he said.

“The show originated in the UK with CBBC. We came in on their second year but they’re now lining up for the next series, and we will come in then.”

Now announcing the commission, Brooke-Hunt said, “Following on from the great on-air and on-line success of Escape from Scorpion Island last year, we are thrilled this award-winning program will be back on ABC TV in 2010.

“We are also delighted that the series will be once again be filmed in Australia, featuring Australian and British kids, and co-produced by Freehand and The Foundation (UK).”

Michael Bourchier, EP for Freehand Productions in Australia said,“Seasons four and five of Scorpion are going to be gobsmackingly exciting! The show is so popular with its audience because of the thrills and spills and also because the series is constantly evolving. The new Scorpions that the team have designed are going to be surprising, engaging and take the game play to a whole new level.”

Season Five will follow in 2011.

Please note: The contestants have been chosen and filming will begin in April.

Refer all enquiries to ABC, kids!2

Updated.

This time the celebrity was actually the victim, with police arriving to a domestic involving CSI’s Gary Dourdan and his girlfriend.

TMZ reports police were called to a home in Venice, California, where they found Dourdan scratched up. They arrested his girlfriend Maria Asis del Alamo who was taken to the station and booked on misdemeanor domestic battery. She is now free on bail.

The website couldn’t help but note “Maria is 5′8″, 110 lbs. Gary is 6′2″ and his fighting weight is 190.”

Source: TMZ

The HBO series starring Steve Buscemi will air in the US later this year.

The slip required surgery on his knee and thigh while the show has had to continue on with its production.

The Daily Telegraph reports that celebrity chef Matt Moran (The Chopping Block, MasterChef Australia) has had to step in as a frequent guest to cover for Mehigan, who is expected to return this weekend thanks to a pair of crutches.

Mehigan’s absence will impact on the show in later weeks.

The newspaper also quotes rival sources (or is that sauces?) acknowledging that My Kitchen Rules has been partly designed to undermine viewer interest in the cooking genre.

But with figures topping 1.5m this week, could it have possibly done the opposite?

I wouldn’t be surprised if almost every one of those MKR viewers actually wants more, and they will get it in the form of MasterChef. Could it possibly have just reminded them why they enjoyed TEN’s show last year in the first place?

And then there is the Matt Preston factor -easily the television find of 2009. As enjoyable as MKR has been, nobody comes close to his theatrical, exuberant personality.

But the key to the show’s good fortune will be its casting. Word is that after the country got a look at the show the first time around, some real zingers have stepped up to be noticed this year. Expect the quality of food to soar.

Source (sauce): Daily Telegraph

The Knights, Sharks and Warriors will not have a single game on Nine for at least the first seven rounds of the competition. The Panthers and Raiders have been allocated only one Sunday match on Nine in the first seven weeks.

“There needs to be equality across the board because it’s not a level playing field at the moment,” Sharks boss Richard Fisk told the Daily Telegraph.

He has called on a system similar to the AFL which ensures a guaranteed fair share of free-to-air games.

Last year, the Sharks, Roosters and Warriors all had less than six matches on Nine. The Broncos had 18 and Dragons 15.

But Nine’s deal with the NRL does not expire until the end of 2012. It could be a long wait for true equity.

Source: news.com.au