_Channel\^Variable

FTA SHR %

Network ABC1

11.3%

Network ABC2

2.4%

Network ABC3

0.9%

Network ABC News 24

0.8%

Network ABC TTL

15.4%

Network 7

23.6%

Network 7TWO

5.2%

Network 7mate

5.8%

Network 7 TTL

34.7%

Network 9

19.8%

Network GO!

4.3%

Network Gem

2.3%

Network 9 TTL

26.4%

Network TEN

10.9%

Network ONE

2.9%

Network ELEVEN

3.3%

Network TEN TTL

17.1%

Network SBS ONE

5.1%

Network SBS TWO

1.2%

Network NITV

0.1%

Network SBS TTL

6.4%

Free to Air:  25-54 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air:  18-49 demographics (Overnight)

Free to Air:  16-39 demographics (Overnight)

© OzTAM Pty Limited 2013. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM. Program performance and ranking information subject to change when not based on final program logs. Ranking information is for individual episodes.

After all, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Twin Peaks.

The latest, Bates Motel from Carlton Cuse (Lost), Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights) and Anthony Cipriano, may not be as ground-breaking, but it’s not without its charms.

As the name suggests, Bates Motel is set in the land of Psycho and in this case it’s a prequel.

We meet 17 year old Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) as they move into the old house behind a closed, run-down motel in Oregon (a reassembled Psycho house still stands on the Universal Studios lot, not far from Desperate Housewives‘ Wisteria Lane).

Norma and Norman are depicted as moving into the house, having bought the motel to begin a new chapter in their lives. They are still recovering from the death of Norman’s father, who has suffered a gruesome death. What is significant here however, is that while this serves as a prequel to Psycho, it’s set in the present (Wentworth has similarly bent the timeline rules).

Mother and son are especially close in this tale (I can’t help but wonder about an Oedipus complex bubbling away here), with Norma protective of Norman from his new female school friends, together with several scenes of affection to the exclusion of all other characters. In Bates Motel, it’s mother and son against the world.

Norman does meet Emma Decody (Olivia Cooke), a new-found school friend suffering Cystic Fibrosis, while Norma is confronted by an angry Keith Summers, whose family was forced by the bank into selling the house and motel. The first episode will also introduce the inquisitive Sheriff Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) and his Deputy Zack Shelby (Mike Vogel). Norman later uncovers a mystery that will chart a longer series arc.

Gaunt Freddie Highmore makes for a convincing younger Anthony Perkins, who goes to great lengths to protect his mother. Vera Farmiga (Source Code, Up in the Air), who reminds me of Felicity Huffman, has the most layers to her manipulative character and is the more interesting of the two.

While the story has a contemporary setting, the designers have sought to give the show old-fashioned sensibilities. They drive old cars and the shy, reserved Norman dresses in conservative clothes.

Sustaining the interest across a series will be part of the challenge here, however the opening episode is a strong start and it deftly balances character, movie mythology and enough thrills with a solid cast.

Bates Motel airs 8:30pm Sunday on FOX8.

But Adam Boland told News Limited, “We honestly haven’t made a decision about an on air date.”

If the show is on air by December it could pick up some traction over summer, when hosts on rival programmes start taking holidays.

Boland is also developing a partner morning programme for TEN (despite the network foolishly dumping The Circle last year).

Former Australian Idol co-host James Mathison is said to be among early contenders to host the new breakfast show, chasing 18-49 year olds.

Mathison was one of the 5 names originally announced as part of the core team for The Project.

That’s because on Wednesday night his documentary series Head First pulled some good numbers for the broadcaster.

Bradley tweeted: “Just got word from @ABC2 that Wed night’s episode of #HeadFirst was *drum roll*……the highest overnight figures for a single ep of an ABC2-commissioned program EVER.”

The episode featured Bradley meeting with a number of transgender people, including teenagers. It didn’t hurt that he appeared on Adam Hills Tonight directly before on ABC1.

The show will get another lift next week when Timeshifted numbers are added.

His final episode next week sees him with an Indigenous community, living under the Intervention.

The show is called Blachman, hosted by Thomas Blachman, and has unsurprisingly attracted widespread criticism. Author Knud Romer called the show “a claustrophobic strip club which only serves to cement classic concepts of male dominance.”

But others see it more artistically, while Blachman maintains that Denmark has become a “penis-less” society and men must reclaim their status.

It’s been called the most sexist and misogynistic program on television. But its creators claim it’s a celebration of women, designed to stimulate thought and debate.

This week, Dateline’s Amos Roberts goes behind the scenes of Denmark’s Blachman – the controversial public broadcast show in which a naked woman stands silently in front of two men while they discuss and analyse her body.

The show’s host, ex-X Factor judge and jazz musician Thomas Blachman describes the program as a mix of avant-garde art and social experiment.

“I just thought, ‘wow, this is crazy, let’s do it and see what happens. Because it’s needed – to provoke.”

Blachman features different naked women each week, ranging from teenagers to the elderly. While the analysis between Blachman and his rotating cast of well-known male guests is undeniably sexualised, the women’s bodies often become a catalyst for broader discussions about the modern Danish man.

Blachman and his guests frequently praise the women’s naked bodies while discussing their own male insecurities, fears and shortcomings. Some commentators, including women who have appeared on the show, say that this is evidence that Blachman is in fact not sexist but a tribute to women.

“The female body is thirsting for words, a man’s words” Blachman says. “So I approach you with the noble ambition of re-positivising the woman’s view of the man’s view of the woman.”

Many critics aren’t convinced though. Lotte Hansen, blogger and commentator at the Berlingske newspaper, has campaigned to have the show pulled before it even went to air.

“Are we really so low in 2013?” Hansen asks. “They should stop this phony intellectualisation about this because that’s not true – they should just call it what it is.”

Tuesday 9.30pm on SBS ONE.

Join us on Monday night as we chat to Joe Weisberg, the executive producer of TEN’s new spy series, The Americans. Joe talks to us about his hit show, his own experiences as a former CIA officer, and whether spies are really a thing of the past. Comedian Meshel Laurie also joins us at the desk to talk about National Reconciliation Week which is celebrated across Australia between May 27 and June 3. The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey — the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.

On Tuesday, basketball superstar Andrew Bogut drops in for a chat, and we meet 16-year-old Gen Y genius Jack Andraka, who spends his spare time trying to save millions of lives from cancer. Jack shot to global fame after a brilliant science breakthrough that has stunned the medical world.

Multiple sclerosis is a common neurological disease affecting over 23,000 Australian adults. On Wednesday, it’s World MS Day and comedian Tim Ferguson joins us live at the desk to talk about his battle with MS and the Kiss Goodbye to MS campaign, that has been running throughout May. Fresh from The Biggest Loser: The Next Generation finale on Tuesday night, we chat to this year’s winning team about their journey and hopes for a healthier future.

On Thursday, we meet Julie Allen who has spent her life helping others. From Aussie teens in crisis, to protecting abused women in the Solomon Islands, there is no limit to how far she will go to rescue those in trouble. Now this super mum, who has overcome personal tragedy and taken 29 foster children under her care, is pursuing a personal passion she’s never had the chance to explore. With the support of all who know her, Julie is firing up her love of cooking and taking on the biggest kitchen challenge in the country…TEN’s MasterChef Australia.

On Friday, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris join us at the desk ahead of the premiere of MasterChef Australia on Sunday night. Plus Lehmo meets Liam Haven, a brave young veteran on a new kind of mission. Liam, who was left blinded by shrapnel during an explosion when he was serving in Iraq, has adjusted to life with the help of his guide dog, Omen. He plans to raise one million dollars for the Soldier On charity by walking from Canberra to Sydney.

6:30pm weeknights on TEN.

6:30pm Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story
7:30pm Queen – Live In Rio
8:34pm Queen: The Magic Years
9:38pm Queen And Paul Rogers – Rock The Cosmos
10:42pm Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

The cycle is repeated at 11:43pm

Rank

Consolidated

Overnight

Increase
000s

1

1,301,000

1,301,000

1,000

2

1,237,000

1,237,000

0

3

1,118,000

1,042,000

76,000

4

1,073,000

1,056,000

16,000

5

980,000

965,000

15,000

6

952,000

903,000

49,000

7

945,000

874,000

71,000

8

925,000

918,000

6,000

9

905,000

854,000

52,000

10

853,000

832,000

21,000

11

770,000

674,000

96,000

12

763,000

761,000

2,000

13

746,000

687,000

60,000

14

701,000

650,000

52,000

15

671,000

670,000

0

16

660,000

603,000

58,000

17

650,000

647,000

3,000

18

638,000

578,000

60,000

19

620,000

606,000

13,000

20

612,000

601,000

10,000

• Funny As: Wil Anderson
• Movie: Snowtown
• Death in Paradise
• Bondi Vet
• Saturday Night Live

This episode also won Australian Story a Logie Award.

It will feature interviews and other material from those closest to Mrs Hawke in her final days plus an introduction by Ita Buttrose.

The death of the former First Lady is generating a huge groundswell of public affection and mourning.

She has been described as Australia’s Eleanor Roosevelt.

With close cooperation from the family, Australian Story will showcase the highlights of a courageous, ground-breaking and sometimes tumultuous life, marked by public service as well as personal triumphs and hard knocks.

Monday, May 27 at 8pm on ABC1.

On The Kyle and Jackie O Show today, Bridges was asked “Are you guys are dating?”

“Yes I guess you could kind of say that.”

But quizzes on whether she would use the phrase “In a relationship” on Facebook, she said no.

Tabloids and paparazzi have been pursuing the couple since rumours of their romance emerged.

Until now Bridges has said, “We’re mates and we work together. That’s it.”

She has also given an interview to Who magazine to be published next week.

However the de facto wife of Willis has also told Woman’s Day magazine “Steve and Michelle’s affair was a shock to everyone.”

Over to you, Dirty Laundry Live…

While debate rages over Australia’s border security, there’s growing evidence that the greatest threat to Australia’s national security potentially comes from foreign computer hackers. Few in government or business will admit the full extent of the break-ins, with one expert calling it a “dirty little secret”.

This week Four Corner’s reporter Andrew Fowler reveals that hackers, working from locations overseas, have targeted key Federal Government departments and major corporations in Australia. Their intention is to steal national security secrets and vital business information.

In one case, an Australian company that supplies secret communications equipment used by military across the globe had its computer network hacked. It appears the hackers accessed the system holding vital design information involving a military radio system. The break-in meant secure communications used by Australia’s allies could be compromised.

Speaking with security specialists and insiders, Four Corners also details a number of specific high level break-ins involving Government departments. In each case it explains how the security system might have been breached.

A deafening silence surrounds this issue. Companies won’t speak about the break-ins because they fear it will alarm clients and shareholders. Governments refuse to speak up because inevitably they will be asked, who is doing this? The answer is uncomfortable.

A number of people, including former government advisors in cyber security, claim the digital trail leads to China. Although it’s unclear if the hackers are working for the Chinese Government, those same experts believe that any company doing significant business in China must assume it will be the target of corporate espionage.

Monday 27th May at 8.30pm on ABC1.

The series, in which troubled souls are confronted by family and friends, will be ending at 13 seasons.

“As Intervention comes to an end, we’re proud to have paved the way for such an original and groundbreaking series,” said David McKillop, executive vp programming at A&E Network and Bio Channel.

“We’re honored to have been a part of the 243 interventions since its premiere in March of 2005, leading to the 156 individuals that are currently sober to this day.” (Ed: Really?)

Five more episodes will air in the US.

The show airs in Australia on Bio.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

There I was watching a pilot for an improvisation show Spontaneous Saturday on SBS 2 when suddenly comedians Toby Truslove and Cal Wilson were sliding down a floor that had been filmed from an angle for comic effect.

But wait a minute. “Aren’t Toby and Cal doing SlideShow for Seven,” I thought to myself?

They sure are, along with a few other faces from Spontaneous Saturday. So was I watching an idea that Seven pinched? SBS rejected? Or something else entirely…..?

After a bit of digging, here’s what I have come up with.

Last year SBS threw a little (emphasis on little) bit of money to some new entertainment pilots and Freehand produced two pilots of Spontaneous Saturday for a Saturday night timeslot on SBS ONE. Hosted by actor Geoff Paine, the show consists mostly of theatresport-type games.

SlideShow is currently being filmed by Shine Australia  for Seven and is based on a long-running French format. It’s not clear if there was a casting consultant common to both formats, but the pool of renowned improvisational performers is fairly limited.

SBS is yet to decide if it will commission Spontaneous Saturday to a series, but it has arguably lost some of the talent now, so it’s unlikely.

As TV Tonight has noted this week, two of the other pilots Vive Cool City and The Trevor Ashley Show also aired on SBS 2 this week.

Caterina de Nave SBS Commissioning Editor for Drama, Comedy and Entertainment said, “The idea was to spread a little bit of money around to see what Entertainment ideas were about, to see what talent lay out there we might not know about, or not know enough about.

“We felt better to TX the pilots than not TX. See the pilots in the context of a channel.”

If you want to check out Spontaneous Saturday, one more pilot will screen at 8:40pm next Monday on SBS 2. That’s Monday, not Saturday.

Set on the picturesque Great Barrier Reef, the new one hour action adventure family drama will delight viewers and provide a perfect escape from the winter blues.

Gold Logie winner Lisa McCune (Sea Patrol, Blue Heelers) co-produces and leads a stellar cast including Rohan Nichol (Killing Time, Red Dog), Matt Day (Tangle, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo), Richard Brancatisano (Underbelly: Razor, Home and Away), Andrew Ryan (Underbelly: Squizzy, Tomorrow When The War Began), Tasneem Roc (Crownies, East West 101, Spirited), German actress Susan Hoecke (Sturm der Liebe, Der Lehrer), Rod Mullinar (Satisfaction, Shortland St), Kristof Piechocki (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and newcomers Justin Holborow (Neighbours) and Chloe Bayliss (Dance Academy).

Running the remote Hope Island Clinic, Sam Stewart (Lisa McCune) is an accomplished doctor, who with her team, looks after the residents of all the neighbouring islands, as well as the holidaymakers and thrill seekers who visit the area. Not only a GP, Sam is a single mother with a free spirit and a determination – for an unusual hobby: venom.

Network Ten Executive Producer, Drama, Rick Maier said: “What’s not to love? Reef Doctors showcases Lisa McCune and the Great Barrier Reef – both National treasures. A return to broad-appeal family viewing, and perfect escapist entertainment on a cold winter’s night.”

Earlier this month AACTA announced new awards for Best Cinematography in Television; Best Editing in Television; Best Sound in Television; Best Original Music Score in Television; Best Production Design in Television; and Best Costume Design in Television.

But the replacement of six documentary-specific craft awards with general TV categories, has been interpreted as a downgrading of the documentary form.

Documentary craft Awards Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Sound in a Documentary have been abolished.

Spokespeople from OzDox, Australia’s organisation for documentary professionals, say they find the results of the AACTA’s consultation process and the changes to the AACTA Awards completely unacceptable.

OzDox has called for a representative from the documentary community to be at the table for all future negotiations regarding the AACTA Awards. They have also asked for the lost Documentary Awards reinstated until a satisfactory consultation process has been undertaken.