• A Conversation with Jerry Herman
• Movie: Full Metal Jacket
• Movie: Gladiator
• Movie: Chicken Little
• RocKwiz

All three series will come to an end when this season’s 13-episode orders expire.

Daisies’ creator Bryan Fuller said he had been holding out hope that high-ranking advocates for his show could have worked some magic.

Dirty Sexy stars William Baldwin and Seth Gabel told TVGuide.com earlier this week that they were just finishing their own 13th episode, and urged fans to tune in, or see the Darling family take its leave.

Eli Stone was considered the longest shot of the three.

According to TVGuide an insider from at least one of the three shows says that as long as new episodes are on the air, there is always that slim chance that improved ratings could provide a glimmer of hope.

Seven has just announced the return of Dirty Sexy Money along with the premiere of Eli Stone for summer. Nine has promised Pushing Daisies for summer.

Source: TV Guide

Both Ugly Betty and Eli Stone air twice weekly.

Seven also continues Heroes, Prison Break, The Amazing Race, The Rich List, The Unit, repeats of How I Met Your Mother, A Touch of Frost and Bones.

Both Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone have just been all but axed in the US.

Sun Nov 30
6:00 Seven News
6:30 The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie
7:00 Hot Property
7:30 Seven Wonders of the Industrial World rpt
8:30 Holby Blue
9:40 A Touch of Frost rpt

Mon Dec 1
6:00 Seven News
6:30 Today Tonight
7:00 How I Met Your Mother rpt
7:30 The Rich List
8:30 Bones rpt
9:30 Bones rpt
10:30 Scrubs
11:00 Kath & Kim (US)
11:30 Last Comic Standing

Tue Dec 2
6pm Seven News
6:30pm Today Tonight
7:00 How I Met Your Mother rpt
7:30 Ugly Betty
8:30 Eli Stone
9:30 Dirty Sexy Money
10:30 Prison Break
11:30 Man’s Work

Wed Dec 3
6pm Seven News
6:30pm Today Tonight
7:00 How I Met Your Mother rpt
7:30 Air Crash Investigations
8:30 Las Vegas
9:30 The Unit
10:30 Prison Break
11:30 Disorderly Conduct Caught on Tape

Thu Dec 4
6pm Seven News
6:30pm Today Tonight
7:00 How I Met Your Mother rpt
7:30 Ugly Betty
8:30 Eli Stone
9:30 The Amazing Race
10:30 Heroes
11:30 Man’s Work

Fri Dec 5
6pm Seven News
6:30pm Today Tonight
7:00 How I Met Your Mother rpt
7:30 Better Homes and Gardens summer series
8:30 Special Cirque du Soleil
9:30 Movie 24: Redemption
11:25 Disorderly Conduct Caught on Tape

Sat Dec 6
6:30 Brittania High
7:30 Dance Machine
8:30 Movie: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Kindly link to this site when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks!

The online EPG has the full 14 days, along with some extra search functions. For its 450,000 iQ and iQ2 subscribers it means extra use of the Remote Record function.

Executive of Sales & Product, Patrick Delany said, “The 14 Day Online Guide lets you search through all movies, no matter what channel, by a range of parameters including genre, title, or a tailored keyword, then simply click the mouse to select the movies you like and send these straight to the iQ. You can easily create a library of movies to watch at home, available at any time.”

The television version will remain at 7 days.

Press Release:
FOXTEL has expanded its FOXTEL Online Guide – a user-friendly internet version of its popular onscreen television Electronic Program Guide (EPG) – to view and search programming information now up to 14 DAYS in advance. 14 DAYS of comprehensive programming guide information available online showing what’s on and when liberates users to better plan their TV viewing.

For over 450,000 FOXTEL iQ and iQ2 subscribers in Australia, the 14 DAY FOXTEL Online Guide also allows them to use REMOTE RECORD functionality two weeks in advance.

FOXTEL Executive of Sales & Product, Patrick Delany said: “FOXTEL offers great home entertainment value and it’s 14 DAY Online Guide applies the computing power of a PC to search through 30,000 hours of programming and find exactly what you enjoy watching. The Guide is particularly powerful as a result of its connection to our iQ – search for shows across 14 DAYS then simply click the mouse to send them straight to your iQ and never miss your favourite TV shows again.”

“A great example of using the 14 DAY Online Guide is the movie category. FOXTEL has nine dedicated, 24/7 movie channels plus lots of movies on other channels – there are literally hundreds of movies broadcast across a 14 DAY period – but it’s often hard to find the ones you want.

“The 14 DAY Online Guide lets you search through all movies, no matter what channel, by a range of parameters including genre, title, or a tailored keyword, then simply click the mouse to select the movies you like and send these straight to the iQ. You can easily create a library of movies to watch at home, available at any time.”

FOXTEL’s 14 DAY Online Guide is accessible from any internet connection simply by visiting www.foxtel.com.au and clicking “TV Guide”. It’s available to both FOXTEL subscribers and non-subscribers.

REMOTE RECORD is a free service for FOXTEL subscribers to record programs on the iQ or iQ2 by using the Online Guide. To use REMOTE RECORD subscribers register and set up a free online account which is connected to their FOXTEL subscription. Once logged in simply click, drag and drop programs to record and a message is sent to the iQ or iQ2 to record. These recorded programs will appear in the iQ or iQ2 Planner up to 14 DAYS in advance.

The FOXTEL Online Guide also has an exciting range of additional enhanced features, not available on its current television EPG that make this free service handy for subscribers to use. This includes being able to conduct advanced searches for programs available on FOXTEL’s more than 100 channels and services, including searching by program title, genre, attribute or channel. For example, users can search for “all movies with a G classification”, “all programs with closed captioning” or “all soccer matches for the next seven days”, and all at the click of a mouse.

FOXTEL’s television EPG will continue to show programming up to seven days in advance.

Amended.

The final episode of 60 Minutes will give SBS a bit of free publicity this weekend, with a story on Britain’s Top Gear, the day before it returns to our screens in a new series. In some small mercy, at least it’s the end of the ratings season. It would have hurt Nine’s Mondays a lot more if screened earlier in the year.

Most cross-promos on 60 Minutes have been for Nine shows. It previously featured a Lisa McCune story as Sea Patrol was launching, and another on David Attenborough and Gordon Ramsay.

But the Top Gear story isn’t the first time it’s profiled another network’s acquisitions. At least they can say they’re not biased?

The final 60 Minutes also features a story on Thomas Beattie, who became pregnant after a sex change, and a look back over the show’s best stories for 2008.

It airs 7:30pm Sunday on Nine.

Press Release:
Mr Mum
When we heard it, probably just like you, we thought it was a hoax. A pregnant man? A real life

Mr Mum? But then there was THAT photo. Thomas Beattie a bearded 33-year-old bloke with a baby bump that simply couldn’t be denied. A few months back amidst an international media storm, Thomas gave birth to a baby girl, Susan. In fact, such was the fuss that the Beattie family went into hiding. On Sunday night, Thomas and his wife, Nancy, have emerged to speak to Barbara Walters about their extraordinary medical journey. There’s also another big surprise in store, too.

Reporter: Barbara Walters
Producers: Alan Goldberg, Katie Thomson

Rev Heads
They’re three middle-aged rev-heads, the unlikeliest of stars. But, believe me, this scruffy trio are big and not just with the blokes. Their motoring program, “Top Gear”, is now one of the most watched shows on the planet, the BBC’s hottest property. What’s made Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May so popular is their irreverent, off-the-wall humour. Top Gear’s as much about craziness as cars. And, as Cameron Williams discovered, these guys are really out there. Driving to the North Pole, dragging off a jet fighter. You name it, they’ll give it a go.

Reporter: Cameron Williams
Producer: Jonathan Harley

A Year to Remember
It’s usually our “first commandment” here at 60 MINUTES. Keep your eyes wide open - on tomorrow - and the next big story. But, once a year, we look back over our shoulder, at the way it was, the stories that stick in the memory, yours and ours. The spectacular, inspiring, the heart-breaking and the things that still give us hope or a smile. Come with us on a journey back through 2008.
Reporter: Peter Harvey

A co-host is yet to be announced.

“It’s a real honour to host,” says Kate. “As a kid we’d always watch the Carols on the TV at home. And now to be up there on that stage is amazing.

“I think the Carols make everyone stop and enjoy the Christmas spirit. Everyone gets caught up in Christmas shopping and getting ready for the day, and the Carols give everyone a moment to let the Christmas spirit wash over.”

The Gold Logie winner, who followed her years on Home and Away with radio work, is also in the cast of Nine’s Underbelly prequel.

The annual Sydney event, now in its 26th year, will air on Seven on Saturday December 20th.

So which Seven personality should co-host with Ritchie? Any suggestions?

Press Release:
Kate Ritchie is returning home to Channel 7 to host this year’s Woolworths’ Carols in the Domain.

As the event celebrates its 26th year with the biggest line-up of Australia’s top voices, Kate is excited to mark her second year as co-host.

“It’s a real honour to host,” says Kate. “As a kid we’d always watch the Carols on the TV at home. And now to be up there on that stage is amazing.

“I think the Carols make everyone stop and enjoy the Christmas spirit. Everyone gets caught up in Christmas shopping and getting ready for the day, and the Carols give everyone a moment to let the Christmas spirit wash over.”

An announcement on Kate’s co-host and the stars set to join her on stage to sing the nation’s favourite Christmas carols will be made in the near future.

The free concert is broadcast live on Channel 7 across the country on Saturday, December 20 from Sydney’s Domain.

Woolworths’ Carols in the Domain brings Australians together to celebrate the songs and spirit of Christmas. It also provides crucial support to The OASIS Youth Support Network, The Salvation Army’s response to youth homelessness.

Woolworths’ Carols in the Domain is proudly presented by MLC and Telstra.

While it only takes one vote to put you in the running to be considered for a finalist, a little fan-push might help persuade some judges, especially if they aren’t locals!

If you would like to help TV Tonight get to the finalist line (which will be an achievement in itself) you only need to go to Weblog Awards then scroll down to the bottom of the comments to find TV Tonight (search for comment at 4:07am Nov 20) and press the ‘+ button’.

This is the preferred method and doesn’t require any registration.

To leave a comment to vote for TV Tonight you can register with the site. Takes a little more time.

A little lovin’ never goes astray in the blogosphere!

David.

On Monday December 1st Mario and Melissa head on an overseas assignment which sees them stop off in Thailand and Egypt.

It’s just as well John Howard isn’t still PM, because he probably wouldn’t warm to the storyline, particularly one coming from a public broadcaster.

The couriers offer to transport the ashes of an Australian soldier killed in Iraq back to Australia as a publicity stunt to promote the company….

As well as the regular cast of Paul Fenech, Melissa Tkautz, Ian Turpie, Angry Anderson and Amanda Keller the episodes will guest star Brendan Jones, Russell Gilbert,John Mangos, Rob Shehadie and Bessie Bardot,

The double eps air 8:30pm Monday December 1 and 8 on SBS.

Seven jobs are believed to have been chopped.

Imparja scrapped its half hour daily bulletins last year and relaunched its news service with the flagship weekly current affairs show Footprints.

The station was founded on a charter of providing local content for its Aboriginal ownership base but now mainly relays content from the Nine Network.

On its website the station proudly claims Imparja Television is ‘Australia’s last truly independent TV station, broadcasting across 5 States and Territories.’ Its Double Trouble originally-produced programme airs on Nine and is nominated for an AFI Award.

Sources say the news service will cease at the end of next week.

Source: ABC

Laws and his manager John Fordham are said to have explored options with Meakin over a cosy lunch.

Seven’s new Sunday Night current affairs program was probably discussed, notes Confidential, with Laws keen to step up to the fireside chat role which will be missing from the box when Andrew Denton signs off from Enough Rope next month.

“Lawsie is not a spent force and if the right opportunity came along, he would certainly have a look,” his manager said.

Meakin also confirmed the lunch when contacted yesterday saying: “He had some things to say and I listened. He’s an old mate, but there’s no deals done.”

Earlier this month Laws told A Current Affair he had paid child support for his grandchildren in lieu of his “neglectful” son. He only agreed to be interviewed if it was aired unedited.

Source: news.com.au

The first one, in which Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman appeared to plug their film Australia, was arguably newsworthy.

Winfrey’s endorsement of the film, enthused on her own makeshift Aussie porch, was a brief American love affair with the country. Not to mention a big boon to the success of the film. Nine has a deal with 20th Century Fox to promote the film (which led to Tuesday’s edition devoted entirely to the red carpet premiere). But the Winfrey moment was news and reported by most media.

Last night ACA revisited the Winfrey show for an interview with Brad Pitt and (ever so briefly) Cate Blanchett, for their new film.

Introduced by Tracy Grimshaw, the entire segment thereafter was edited Oprah moments, without any additional reporting. What was the human interest story here? Brad loves working with Cate? And where was the journalism? Sandwiched into a live to air broadcast from storm-affected Brisbane suburbs, it detracted from ACA’s more-serious news pitch.

Last week a thoughtful Grimshaw told TV Tonight she didn’t always get her way on the editorial of the show. If ACA plans on passing off more segments from other programmes as stand-alone segments, perhaps producers should consider paying more attention to the ideas of the host.

Otherwise, maybe Nine could just set about acquiring the rights to Oprah from TEN and air the whole bloody thing…

Trevor Marmalade, who has been with the show since its inception, is believed to be in contract negotiations with Nine.

Marmalade yesterday would not be drawn. “It is all news to me,” he said. “I have not really had any discussions with the network. I would have thought it would have been business as usual.”

Channel TEN’s Peter Helliar has been mentioned as a possible recruit, according to the Herald Sun.

But a Nine spokeswoman said: “Trevor is under contract at Channel 9 and we have not spoken to Peter Helliar.”

Helliar, who appears on Rove and Before the Game, would seem an unlikely candidate alongside the antics of Sam Newman. But the speculation, added to the addition of James Brayshaw to the Sunday Footy Show, does hint at future change for the show -including whether Eddie McGuire should return to a hosting role.

Meanwhile, what of the NRL Footy Show? It’s been on thin ice for much of the year, and its Grand Final edition limped out with just 319,000 viewers.

Source: Herald Sun

The UK TV channel will screen the one-off special on Christmas night.

With guest appearances by Gordon Ramsay, David Tennant, George Michael and Clive Owen, this 85 minute special is bound to be the perfect antidote to a day with the relatives.

As it stands this is the finale of the Extras run, however Gervais recently said on his website: “Steve  (Merchant) must have seen the thing in the press about me thinking about doing another Extras Special. He’s in LA at the moment but the story that went out across America was that, although I would consider it, I thought Steve would take some convincing. Well I got an email today from him saying he’s up for it. I started work on it immediately. Does anyone know Al Pacino?”

The 2007 special premieres Thursday December 25 at 9:30pm on UKTV.

Press Release:
Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant sign off in style, bringing the multi-award-winning, critically acclaimed Extras to an emotional and emphatic end. Former ‘background artist’ Andy Millman has achieved fame and fortune. His transformation from bit-part stand-in to household name is now complete. And he has the new, hot-shot agent to prove it. But best friend Maggie is finding life harder to fathom, as her luck has gone from bad to worse and she’s on the breadline doing cleaning jobs to make ends meet. Andy’s hit sitcom has suffered so many changes that it bears no resemblance to his original idea. As his discontentment grows, could he pull the plug on his own show>

Stars: Ricky Gervais, Steven Merchant, Ashley Jensen, and guest starring George Michael, Clive Owen, David Tennant, Gordon Ramsay

“…this 85-minute, star-studded Extras finale is sensationally good … This is the best sort of comedy - honest, unexpected, moving, deeply felt and gloriously funny. It is the highlight of the Christmas telly.” The Times

• In Treatment
• The Stepfather
• Home and Away
• Ice Road Truckers
• rage

Uhlich defeated Shanina Shaik (right), 17, from Victoria and Courtney Chircop, 18, from Western Australia.

“I feel out of this world,” he said.

“It really is a dream come true. A dream I didn’t hold until this competition.

“To be alongside Shanina in the final was an absolute honour. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, she typifies beauty.”

Rhys wins a contract with Chadwick Model Management, be represented by New York Model Management, a trip to NY and a photo spread in Marie Claire.

Seven’s series was its attempt to mirror the success of Foxtel’s Australia’s Next Top Model, but attracted considerable criticism for tawdry stunts, expecting minors to participate in semi-naked photo shoots, and throwing in Seven’s newest property Stephanie Rice in a 90 second scene.

Ratings for the show have struggled to sustain over 1m viewers.

Schoolteacher Rhys even raised eyebrows with his sexy photo shoots, particularly given he teaches at a Catholic primary school.

“I really am so determined to go on with this and make a mark for myself in the industry,” he said.

A major legal case by the the Australian film and television industry against iiNet is set to become a test case in the battle against downloaded movies and TV shows.

Channel Seven is one of several companies to file action in the Federal Court against one of the country’s biggest internet service providers, along with Village Roadshow, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox and Disney.

Adrianne Pecotic, executive director of the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), said the action followed a five-month investigation by the industry.

“We identified thousands of infringements of copyright by iiNet’s customers and we provided iiNet with about 18 separate notices of those infringements and, unfortunately, iiNet did not do anything to address that copyright infringement,” she told The Age.

Pecotic said she would not rule out further action against other internet providers. But she was not interested in targeting individual downloaders at this stage.

The companies are seeking a ruling that iiNet infringed copyright by failing to stop users from engaging in illegal file sharing over BitTorrent networks. They want an order forcing iiNet to prevent its customers from engaging in copyright infringement over its network.

Mark White, chief operating officer of iiNet, said he was unaware of the legal action when contacted today.

Internet providers have argued that the courts already provide adequate remedies for copyright holders and they should not be forced to police their users.

“This is a very important test case for the internet industry in Australia,” said Peter Coroneos, chief executive of the Internet Industry Association.

“It will test the effect of the safe harbour provisions that were introduced with the US free trade agreement, which provides immunity for ISPs in certain circumstances such as transmission, hosting, caching and referencing activities.”

The case will be back before the court on December 17

Source: The Age

Press Release (iiNet):

iiNet (ASX:IIN) will vigorously defend the Federal Court action filed today by a selection of film and television industry organisations alleging that iiNet has encouraged customers to download films illegally.

iiNet’s Managing Director Michael Malone said iiNet does not in any way support or encourage breaches of the law, including infringement of copyright.

“In reality, iiNet has been leading the industry in making content available legally through our Media Lounge, including agreements with iTunes, ABC iView, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Cruizin’, Macquarie Digital TV, NASA Television, Barclays Premier League football, Drift Racing 2007 and classic highlights of golf’s four Majors,” Mr Malone said.

Mr Malone said iiNet had not breached any laws and had repeatedly passed on copyright holders’ complaints to law enforcement agencies for investigation.

He said iiNet had advised the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) that their complaints had been forwarded to law enforcement agencies and that they should follow the matter up with them.

iiNet’s Customer Relations Agreement clearly spells out that customers must comply with the law and that our service must not be used “to commit an offence or to infringe another person’s rights”.

“iiNet cannot disconnect a customer’s phone line based on an allegation. The alleged offence needs to be pursued by the police and proven in the courts. iiNet would then be able to disconnect the service as it had been proven that the customer had breached our Customer Relations Agreement,” Mr Malone said.